Deutsche Bank National Trust Company v. Boyd et al

Filing 34

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER, GRANTING motion to vacate the judgment in this case (Doc. 31 ); VACATES the judgment (Doc. 29 ) and REINSTATES this case;ORDERS Deutsche Bank to SHOW CAUSE, why its claims as to the unserved defendants should not be dismissed without prejudice pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m) for failure to serve process in a timely manner; and ORDERS that a Final Pretrial Conference is set for September 13, 2013, at 9:30 a.m. and a Bench Trial is set for September 23, 2013, at 9:00 a.m. Signed by Judge J. Phil Gilbert on 7/31/2013. (jdh)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY,
AS TRUSTEE OF ARGENT SECURITIES, INC., ASSET
BACKED PASS THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES
2003-W5, UNDER THE POOLING AND SERVICING
AGREEMENT DATED AS OF OCTOBER 1, 2003,

Case No. 12-cv-714-JPG-PMF

Plaintiff,
v.
GARY BOYD, JACQUELINE J. BOYD, CURRENT
SPOUSE OR CIVIL UNION PARTNER, IF ANY, OF
GARY BOYD, CURRENT SPOUSE OR CIVIL UNION
PARTNER, IF ANY, OF JACQUELINE J. BOYD,
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and UNKNOWN
OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS,
Defendants.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter comes before the Court on the motion to vacate the judgment in this case filed
by plaintiff Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, As Trustee Of Argent Securities, Inc.,
Asset Backed Pass Through Certificates, Series 2003-W5, Under The Pooling And Servicing
Agreement Dated As Of October 1, 2003 (“Deutsche Bank”) (Doc. 31). The United States has
responded to the motion (Doc. 32), and Deutsche Bank has replied to that response (Doc. 33).
On June 6, 2013, the Court dismissed this case with prejudice as to the United States
pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b) for failure to prosecute. The Court found
Deutsche Bank had failed to obey a court order to appear for the Final Pretrial Conference and had
failed to prosecute this case by failing to comply with discovery rules and by failing to appear.
The Court further dismissed the claims as to all the other defendants, none of whom had been
served, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m) for failure to serve in a timely manner.
The Court has reviewed the briefing on the motion and finds it is appropriate to vacate the

judgment in this case. Judgment of dismissal with prejudice as to the claims involving the United
States is too harsh in the circumstances of this case without prior warning and/or imposing lesser
sanctions first. Dismissal without prejudice as to the other defendants is too harsh without giving
Deutsche Bank an opportunity to show good cause or excusable neglect for its failure to timely
serve those defendants. However, the denial of the motion for summary judgment will not be
vacated in light of Deutsche Bank’s failure to carry the burden of proving entitlement to judgment
as a matter of law.
Accordingly, the Court:


GRANTS the motion to vacate the judgment in this case (Doc. 31);



VACATES the judgment (Doc. 29) and REINSTATES this case;



ORDERS Deutsche Bank to SHOW CAUSE on or before August 9, 2013, why its claims
as to the unserved defendants should not be dismissed without prejudice pursuant to
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m) for failure to serve process in a timely manner; and



ORDERS that a Final Pretrial Conference is set for September 13, 2013, at 9:30 a.m. and a
Bench Trial is set for September 23, 2013, at 9:00 a.m. These dates will remain on the
calendar unless the Court specifically notifies the parties otherwise.

IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED: July 31, 2013
s/J. Phil Gilbert
J. PHIL GILBERT
DISTRICT JUDGE

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