United States of America v. Milfort

Filing 16

ORDER granting 15 Motion to Vacate 10 Default Judgment. Vacating 10 Default Judgment. Signed by Judge Robert N. Scola, Jr. on 2/9/2018. (ls)

United States District Court
for the
Southern District of Florida
United States of America, Plaintiff,
v.
Alix Milfort, Defendant.

)
)
) Civil Action No. 12-61786-Civ-Scola
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)

Order Granting Motion to Vacate and Vacating Default Judgment
The United States of America asks the Court to vacate a default
judgment entered against the Defendant Alix Milfort for recovery of a student
loan debt. The Plaintiff contends that the Department of Education discharged
the Defendant’s debt after receiving and approving a Loan Discharge
Application. (ECF No. 15.) For the reasons that follow, the Court grants the
motion (ECF No. 15) and vacates the default final judgment as to the
Defendant (ECF No. 10).
“[D]efaults are seen with disfavor because of the strong policy of
determining cases on their merits.” Florida Physician’s Ins. Co. v. Ehlers, 8 F.3d
780, 783 (11th Cir. 1993). Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b), a court
may relieve a party from a default judgment for the following reasons: (1)
mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect; (2) newly discovered
evidence; (3) fraud, misrepresentation, or other misconduct; (4) the judgment is
void; (5) the judgment has been satisfied, released, or discharged; or (6) any
other reason justifying relief from the operation of the judgment. Fed. R .Civ. P.
60(b). In evaluating the applicability of subdivisions (1), (2), (3), (5), and (6), a
court is afforded broad discretion in determining when a default judgment
should be set aside. See Ostane v. Jim Wright Marine Const., Inc., No. 1060168-CIV, 2010 WL 3385048, at *2 (S.D. Fla. Aug. 24, 2010) (Cohn, J.).
The Plaintiff’s motion appears to be based on Rule 60(b)(5), in that the
Plaintiff argues that debt was discharged by the Department of Education, and
therefore counsel’s belief that a satisfaction of judgment would not be sufficient
to demonstrate that the Plaintiff’s obligation was canceled. As a result, the
Plaintiff contends that the Defendant is entitled to have the default judgment
vacated.
Upon review, the Court agrees, and grants the Plaintiff’s motion to vacate
the default final judgment in this case. This case shall remain closed.

Done and ordered at Miami, Florida, on February 9, 2018.
________________________________
Robert N. Scola, Jr.
United States District Judge
Copies to:
Counsel of record via CM/ECF
Alix Milfort
4216 NW 52nd Avenue
Lauderdale Lakes, Florida 33319