Hawkins v. Ibarra et al
Filing
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ORDER denying 35 Motion for Default signed by Magistrate Judge Barbara A. McAuliffe on 10/30/2015. (Lundstrom, T)
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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HOMER EARL HAWKINS,
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Plaintiff,
v.
S. IBARRA, et al.,
Defendants.
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1:14-cv-00009-AWI-BAM (PC)
ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION
FOR DEFAULT
(ECF No. 35)
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Plaintiff Homer Earl Hawkins (“Plaintiff”) is proceeding pro se in this civil rights action
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filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The action was removed to this Court on January 2, 2014.
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This action currently proceeds on Plaintiff’s claim for excessive force in violation of the Eighth
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Amendment against Defendant Ibarra.
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On October 29, 2015, Plaintiff filed a motion for entry of default against Defendant
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Ibarra. Plaintiff argues that because Defendant Ibarra did not file and serve a motion for
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summary judgment under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 for failure to exhaust
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administrative remedies by the March 8, 2015 deadline for such a motion in this matter,
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Defendant Ibarra has defaulted and failed to comply with a court order. (ECF No. 35.)
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Entry of default is appropriate as to any party against whom a judgment for affirmative
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relief is sought that has failed to plead or otherwise defend as provided by the Federal Rules of
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Civil Procedure and where that fact is made to appear by affidavit or otherwise. Fed. R. Civ. P.
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55(a). After entry of default, the plaintiff can seek entry of default judgment. Fed. R. Civ. P.
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55(b)(1) and (2). “Default judgments are generally disfavored, and whenever it is reasonably
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possible, cases should be decided upon their merits.” In re Hammer, 940 F.2d 524, 525 (9th Cir.
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1991) (internal punctuation and citations omitted).
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Entry of default is not appropriate here. Contrary to Plaintiff’s assertions, Defendant
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Ibarra was not required to file any Rule 56 motion for summary judgment for failure to exhaust
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administrative remedies. Rather, filing such a motion is optional, depending on whether it is
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supported by the facts and laws relevant to this matter. The March 8, 2015 deadline in the
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scheduling order was a deadline by which that motion was to be filed if Defendant Ibarra
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intended to move for summary judgment on those grounds. Defendant Ibarra has declined to do
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so here, but by doing so he has not failed to comply with the Court’s order or defaulted.
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Plaintiff is also reminded that Defendant Ibarra has moved for summary judgment under
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Rule 56 based on other grounds, in a motion timely filed and served on October 19, 2015. (ECF
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No. 28.) Concurrently with the motion, Plaintiff was provided a warning regarding his
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obligations in opposing summary judgment. (ECF No. 32.) Plaintiff should review these
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materials and comply with his obligations.
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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiff’s motion for default (ECF No.
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35) is DENIED.
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IT IS SO ORDERED.
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Dated:
/s/ Barbara
October 30, 2015
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A. McAuliffe
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UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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