Turpen v. Arby's #5-6012

Filing 20

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER granting 16 Motion to Set Aside Clerks Entry of Default. Signed by District Judge Carlos Murguia on 7/7/17. Mailed to pro se party Laurel E. Turpen by regular and certified mail. (Certified Tracking Number: 7015 0920 0001 7045 8799) (kao)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF KANSAS
LAUREL E. TURPEN,
Plaintiff,
v.

Case No. 16-2596

ARBY’S #5-6012,
Defendant.

MEMORANDUM & ORDER
Pro se plaintiff Laurel E. Turpen brings this action against defendant Arby’s #5-6012 alleging
employment discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Plaintiff filed her complaint in
forma pauperis on August 29, 2016. Summons was executed on defendant on September 29, 2016 and
defendant took no responsive action. The Clerk entered default against defendant on May 15, 2017
(Doc. 15). This matter is before the court on defendant’s Motion to Set Aside Clerks Entry of Default
(Doc. 16). Defendant asks the court to set aside the entry of default claiming it was not properly
served, that plaintiff will not be prejudiced, and that it has valid defenses to plaintiff’s claims. Plaintiff
failed to respond to defendant’s motion.
Rule 55(c) allows a court to aside an entry of default “for good cause. . . .” The good cause
requirement is a “lesser standard for the defaulting party than the excusable negligence which must be
shown for relief from judgment under Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(b).” Pinson v. Equifax Credit Info. Servs.,
Inc., 316 F. App’x 744, 750 (10th Cir. 2009) (quoting Dennis Garberg & Assocs., Inc. v. Pack-Tech
Int’l Corp., 115 F.3d 767, 775 n.6 (10th Cir. 1997)). The principal factors in determining whether a
defendant has met the good cause standard are (1) whether the default was the result of defendant’s
culpable conduct; (2) whether the plaintiff would be prejudiced if the default should be set aside; and

-1-

(3) whether the defendant presents a meritorious defense. Id. (citing Dierschke v. O’Cheskey (In re
Dierschke), 975 F.2d 181, 183 (5th Cir. 1992)). The court may consider other factors as well.
Guttman v. Silverberg, 167 F. App’x. 1, 4 (10th Cir. 2005).
It is within the court’s discretion whether to set aside a default; however, “the preferred
disposition of any case is upon its merits and not by default judgment.” Gomes v. Williams, 420 F.2d
1364, 1366 (10th Cir. 1970).
Here, defendant has made a sufficient showing to justify setting aside the entry of default.
First, the default was not the result of defendant’s culpable conduct, as defendant raises valid issues
with service of process. Further, defendant sets forth numerous meritorious defenses to plaintiff’s
claims, including failure to exhaust administrative remedies. See Khader v. Aspin, 1 F.3d 968, 970
(10th Cir. 1993) (noting, “[e]xhaustion of administrative remedies is a jurisdictional prerequisite to
instituting a Title VII action in federal court.”).
The court finds that defendant has shown good cause to set aside the default and grants
defendant’s motion.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that defendant’s Motion to Set Aside Clerks Entry of
Default (Doc. 16) is granted.
Dated July 7, 2017, at Kansas City, Kansas.

s/ Carlos Murguia
CARLOS MURGUIA
United States District Judge

-2-