Ermert v. Caribbean Business Inc. et al

Filing 15

Order Striking Filing and Granting Extension. The Court strikes Morzans filing DE# 13 and therefore denies Ermerts motion, in part, to the extent he asks that the filing be struck, and grants it, in part, with respect to the requested extension DE# 14 . Signed by Judge Robert N. Scola, Jr on 1/6/2021. See attached document for full details. (ebz)

Case 1:20-cv-23803-RNS Document 15 Entered on FLSD Docket 01/07/2021 Page 1 of 2

United States District Court
for the
Southern District of Florida
Falco Ermert, Plaintiff,

)
)
v.
)
) Civil Action No. 20-23803-Civ-Scola
Caribbean Business Inc. and Javier )
Morzan, Defendants.
)
Order Striking Filing and Granting Extension
Plaintiff Falco Ermert, in this copyright infringement case, served
Defendants Javier Morzan and Caribbean Business Inc. on November 4 and
November 9, 2020, respectively. (ECF No. 8, 9.) Neither Defendant timely
responded to the complaint. As a result, Ermert filed a motion for the entry of a
clerk’s default on December 7, 2020. (ECF No. 10.) After the Clerk entered the
default (ECF No. 11), the Court entered an order on its default judgment
procedures (ECF No. 12.) In that order, the Court warned the Defendants that, if
they failed to move to set aside the clerk’s default, or otherwise respond to this
lawsuit, on or before January 4, 2021, a default final judgment may be entered
against them. (Order at 1.) On January 4, Morzan submitted to the Clerk’s office
what he identifies as a motion to dismiss, in which he asks the Court to “clos[e]
th[e] lawsuit against” him. (Morzan’s Mot., ECF No. 13, 1.) Because Morzan’s
submission is improper, the Court strikes it (ECF No. 13) from the docket.
As an initial matter, to the extent Morzan seeks to represent Caribbean
Business, corporations may not litigate a matter pro se. Rowland v. Cal. Men’s
Colony, Unit II Men’s Advisory Council, 506 U.S. 194, 201–09 (1993); Palazzo v.
Gulf Oil Corp., 764 F.2d 1381, 1385 (11th Cir. 1985). In order to appear in this
matter, then, Caribbean must be represented by counsel. Palazzo, 764 F.2d
1385. This means Morzan, unless he is licensed to practice law, cannot
represent Caribbean.
Next, before Morzan can respond to the complaint, he must first succeed
in setting aside the clerk’s default. In order to do that, he must present good
cause. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(c); see also Compania Interamericana Export–Import,
S.A. v. Compania Dominicana de Avacion, 88 F. 3d 948, 951 (11th Cir. 1996).
“‘Good cause’ is a mutable standard, varying from situation to situation. It is
also a liberal one—but not so elastic as to be devoid of substance.” Id. To
determine whether good cause exists, the Court will consider (1) whether the
defaulting parties present a meritorious defense; (2) whether the default was
culpable or willful; and (3) whether setting it aside would prejudice the

Case 1:20-cv-23803-RNS Document 15 Entered on FLSD Docket 01/07/2021 Page 2 of 2

adversary. Id. In the meantime, because the clerk’s default has not been set
aside, Morzan’s attempt to have the case against him dismissed is improper.
At the same time, because Morzan has made an effort to finally participate
in this case, albeit belatedly, Ermert asks for an extension of the deadline to file
his motion for default judgment and notice of joint liability. (Pl.’s Mot., ECF No.
14.) Finding good cause supporting the extension, the Court enlarges the
deadline for these filings until January 20, 2021.
As set forth above, the Court strikes Morzan’s filing (ECF No. 13) and
therefore denies Ermert’s motion, in part, to the extent he asks that the filing be
struck, and grants it, in part, with respect to the requested extension (ECF No.
14).
The Court directs the Clerk to mail copies of this order to the defaulted
parties, at the addresses indicated below.
Done and ordered in Miami, Florida, on January 6, 2021.

________________________________
Robert N. Scola, Jr.
United States District Judge
Copies via U.S. mail to:
Javier Morzan
16558 NE 26th Avenue, Apt. 2C
North Miami Beach, FL 33160
Caribbean Business, Inc.
c/o Tax House Corporation, Registered Agent
1100 South Federal Highway
Deerfield Beach, FL 33441