Trujillo v. Lakhani et al

Filing 11

ORDER REQUIRING PLAINTIFF TO FILE AMENDED MOTION FOR ENTRY OF DEFAULT JUDGMENT. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that, within five (5) days from the entry of this order, Plaintiff shall file an amended motion for entry of default judgment in compliance with this order. Signed by Magistrate Judge Stanley A. Boone on 3/22/2017. (Hernandez, M)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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JOSE TRUJILLO,
Plaintiff,

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ORDER REQUIRING PLAINTIFF TO FILE
AMENDED MOTION FOR ENTRY OF
DEFAULT JUDGMENT

v.

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Case No. 1:17-cv-00056-LJO-SAB

SHAFIQ S. LAKHANI, et al.,

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(ECF No. 10)

Defendants.

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On March 21, 2017, Plaintiff filed a motion for entry of default judgment in this action.

18 Upon review of the motion, the Court finds it to be deficient.
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Pursuant to Rule 55 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, unless a claim is for a sum

20 certain or a sum that can be made certain by computation, a party must apply to the court for a
21 default judgment.

Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b).

Upon entry of default, the complaint’s factual

22 allegations regarding liability are taken as true. Geddes v. United Financial Group, 559 F.2d
23 557, 560 (9th Cir. 1977); Garamendi v. Henin, 683 F.3d 1069, 1080 (9th Cir. 2012). However,
24 the complaint’s factual allegations relating to the amount of damages are not taken as true.
25 Geddes, 559 F.2d at 560. Accordingly, the amount of damages must be proven at an evidentiary
26 hearing or through other means. Microsoft Corp. v. Nop, 549 F.Supp.2d 1233, 1236 (E.D. Cal.
27 2008).

“[N]ecessary facts not contained in the pleadings, and claims which are legally

28 insufficient, are not established by default.” Cripps v. Life Ins. Co. of North America, 980 F.2d

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1 1261, 1267 (9th Cir. 1992).
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Entry of default judgment is not a matter of right and it is within the discretion of the

3 court whether default judgment should be entered. Shanghai Automation Instrument Co. v.
4 Kuei, 194 F. Supp. 2d 995, 999 (N.D. Cal. 2001); Eitel v. McCool, 782 F.2d 1470, 1471 (9th Cir.
5 1986). The Ninth Circuit has set forth the following factors (“Eitel factors”) for courts to
6 consider in exercising their discretion:
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(1) the possibility of prejudice to the plaintiff, (2) the merits of plaintiff's
substantive claim, (3) the sufficiency of the complaint, (4) the sum of money at
stake in the action; (5) the possibility of a dispute concerning material facts; (6)
whether the default was due to excusable neglect, and (7) the strong policy
underlying the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure favoring decisions on the merits.

10 Eitel, 782 F.2d at 1471-72.
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The moving party should address the Eitel factors in any motion for entry of default

12 judgment. In addition, in determining whether default judgment should be granted, the Court
13 must consider, and the moving party should address, whether this Court has jurisdiction, whether
14 Plaintiff has standing to bring the claims in this action, and the sufficiency of service of process.
15 The current motion for entry of default judgment does not address all areas which the Court
16 needs to consider in determining if default judgment should be entered.
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The Court shall require Plaintiff to file an amended motion for entry of default judgment

18 to correct the deficiencies in the current motion. In the amended motion, Plaintiff shall address
19 any relevant jurisdictional, standing, or service issues, and the Eitel factors.

Specifically,

20 Plaintiff is required to address the sufficiency of the complaint as to each claim for relief on
21 which he seeks entry of default judgment.
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The amended motion for entry of default judgment will supersede the currently filed

23 motion and the Court will only consider the amended motion for entry of default judgment in
24 deciding whether entry of default judgment should be granted.
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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that, within five (5) days from the entry of this

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2 order, Plaintiff shall file an amended motion for entry of default judgment in compliance with
3 this order.
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IT IS SO ORDERED.

6 Dated:

March 22, 2017
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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