Bank of America, N.A. v. Alizadeh et al

Filing 35

ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Kendall J. Newman on 10/8/10 ORDERING that on or before 11/8/10, defendants shall file with the court, and serve on plaintiff, a statement that responds to the following issues: Whether defendants intend to defend the mselves against plaintiff's lawsuit, including whether defendants intend to file a motion to set aside the clerk's entry of default against them, and whether defendants are prepared to promptly proceed in that regard; If defendants indeed i ntend to defend themselves against plaintiff's lawsuit, whether defendants intend to appear through an attorney or attorneys, or whether defendants intend to appear without counsel, a status otherwise referred to as "in propria persona,&quo t; "pro se," or "pro per;" The Clerk of Court shall serve this order by mail on defendants at the following respective addresses, which defendants provided to the court in their 9/7/10 filing. If plaintiff does not oppose the denial of its motion for default judgment and the setting aside of the clerk's entry of default in light of defendants' recent filings, it may file and serve a statement to that effect on or before 11/12/10.(Becknal, R)

Bank of America, N.A. v. Alizadeh et al

Doc. 35

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 This action proceeds before the undersigned pursuant to Eastern District of California Local Rule 302(c)(19) and 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). 1
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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Successor Trustee to LaSalle bank National Association, as Trustee for the Registered Holders of Morgan Stanley Capital I Inc., Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2004-HQ4, a national banking company, Plaintiff, v. ABOLGHASSEM ALIZADEH, and individual, KOBRA ALIZADEH, an individual, Defendants. / Pending before the undersigned is plaintiff's motion for default judgment.1 (Dkt. No. 11.) Plaintiff's motion came before the court for hearing on the undersigned's law and motion calendar on July 8, 2010. (Dkt. No. 17.) At the hearing, the undersigned expressed concerns regarding a number of issues raised by the moving papers and record in this case, including whether defendants were served with process in this case consistent with the Federal ORDER No. 2:09-cv-03557 JAM KJN

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Rules of Civil Procedure. At the hearing, plaintiff's counsel suggested that, if permitted, plaintiff would make efforts to alleviate the court's concerns regarding service of process and would prepare and submit supplemental briefing to address the court's other concerns. The court permitted plaintiff to attempt to re-serve process on defendant and file supplemental briefing. (See Order, July 9, 2010, Dkt. No. 18.) Plaintiff filed supplemental briefing and attempted to re-serve the summons, the complaint, and several other documents on defendants. (See Dkt. Nos. 19-23, 24-33.) It appears that service was successful. In response to being served with process and other documents filed in this matter, defendants Abolghassem and Kobra Alizadeh filed a letter with the court on September 7, 2010, which asserted, in part, that they had not been served with process in this lawsuit until August 16, 2010. (Dkt. No. 27.) This letter indicates that defendants would be able to retain counsel given an unspecified amount of "additional time" to do so. Also on September 7, 2010, defendants filed with the court a letter from defendants to plaintiff's counsel, which includes representations consistent with defendants' letter to the court and expresses "shock" at the fact that plaintiff was unable to serve defendants in this matter when plaintiff's counsel had previously located defendants through defendants' bankruptcy attorney. (Dkt. No. 28.) This second letter further states that defendants "are more than happy to respond, no later than November 8, 2010, to these pleadings." (Id.) On September 8, 2010, plaintiff filed a Notice of Acknowledgment of Receipt of Summons and Complaint, which appears to have been signed by defendant Abolghassem Alizadeh on August 31, 2010. (Dkt. No. 34.) Also on file with the court is an acknowledgment of receipt of the summons and complaint executed by defendant Kobra Alizadeh. It is clear from a supplemental declaration of plaintiff's counsel that plaintiff believes that defendants have purposefully avoided service in this matter in order to delay the proceedings. (See Suppl. Polard Decl., Ex. A.) However, what is unclear is whether defendants truly intend to defend themselves in this action. Although defendants' letters on file with the 2

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court suggest that defendants intend to participate in this litigation, defendants have taken no action since September 7, 2010, to indicate to the court that they intend to defend themselves in this litigation. For example, defendants have not attempted to file an answer to plaintiff's complaint or a motion to set side the clerk's entry of default pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55(c). See also, e.g., United States v. Signed Personal Check No. 730 of Yubran S. Mesle, 615 F.3d 1085, 1091-94 (9th Cir. 2010). Accordingly, before the undersigned files proposed findings and recommendations resolving plaintiff's motion for default judgment, defendants will be ordered to resolve some of the confusion caused by defendants' late appearance and letters filed in this matter. For the reasons stated above, the court HEREBY ORDERS that: 1. On or before November 8, 2010, defendants shall file with the court, and

serve on plaintiff, a statement in writing that responds to the following issues: a. Whether defendants intend to defend themselves against plaintiff's

lawsuit, including whether defendants intend to file a motion to set aside the clerk's entry of default against them, and whether defendants are prepared to promptly proceed in that regard. b. If defendants indeed intend to defend themselves against plaintiff's

lawsuit, whether defendants intend to appear through an attorney or attorneys, or whether defendants intend to appear without counsel, a status otherwise referred to as "in propria persona," "pro se," or "pro per." 2. The Clerk of Court shall serve this order by mail on defendants at the

following respective addresses, which defendants provided to the court in their September 7, 2010 filing: a. Abolghassem Alizadeh 3001 Lava Ridge Court, Suite 300 Roseville, CA 95661 Kobra Alizadeh 3001 Lava Ridge Court, Suite 300 Roseville, CA 95661 3

b.

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3.

If plaintiff does not oppose the denial of its motion for default judgment

and the setting aside of the clerk's entry of default in light of defendants' recent filings, it may file and serve a statement to that effect on or before November 12, 2010. IT IS SO ORDERED. DATED: October 8, 2010

_____________________________________ KENDALL J. NEWMAN UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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