Kimble v. Moore et al
Filing
74
ORDER granting 60 Motion to Set Aside Clerk's Entry of Default. Signed by Magistrate Judge Richard L. Bourgeois, Jr. on 11/17/2021. (SWE)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA
RAYMOND KIMBLE, III
CIVIL ACTION
VERSUS
NO. 20-708-JWD-RLB
HILLAR C. MOORE, III, ET AL.
ORDER
Before the Court is a Motion to Set Aside Clerk’s Entry of Default (R. Doc. 60) filed on
behalf of defendant Victor J. Woods, Jr. The Motion is not opposed.
On May 11, 2021 defendant Woods was served. See R. Doc. 37. The defendant failed to
file responsive pleadings and, on August 2, 2021, the Clerk of Court entered the default of
defendant Woods, and others. See R. Doc. 58.
Six days later, defendant Woods filed the instant motion, wherein counsel for the
defendant asserts that the entry of default should be set aside because the delay in filing
responsive pleadings was not willful. Defendant Woods asserts that there was initial confusion
regarding whether he was required to personally respond or if the public defender’s office would
respond on his behalf. Additionally, the summons was received during a changeover of staff and
was inadvertently not noted on the defendant’s calendar. Defendant Woods further asserts that
there would be no prejudice to the plaintiff, and the defendant has a meritorious defense to the
plaintiff’s claims.1
“The court may set aside an entry of default for good cause.” Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 55(c). “We are mindful that ‘good cause’ is not susceptible of precise definition, and
no fixed, rigid standard can anticipate all of the situations that may occasion the failure of a party
1
The defendant filed a Motion to Dismiss (R. Doc. 61) on the same date the instant Motion was filed.
to answer a complaint timely.” In re Dierschke, 975 F.2d 181, 183 (5th Cir. 1992). “In
determining whether to set aside a default decree, the district court should consider whether the
default was willful, whether settling it aside would prejudice the adversary, and whether a
meritorious defense is presented.” Id. These factors are not exclusive, and another factor
includes if defendant acted expeditiously to correct the default. Id. “When ... a defendant's
neglect is at least a partial cause of its failure to respond, the defendant has the burden to
convince the court that its neglect was excusable, rather than willful, by a preponderance of the
evidence.” In re Chinese-Manufactured Drywall Products, 742 F.3d 576, 594 (5th Cir. 2014).
Here, the above factors weigh in favor of setting aside the entry of default. First, the
defendant’s default does not appear willful. Second, the Court does not believe that the plaintiff
would be prejudiced by having to prove the merits of his claims, particularly considering the fact
that this case has no trial date set. Third, it appears that defendant may have a meritorious
defense to the federal claims pending against him. And fourth, the defendant acted expeditiously
in correcting the problem. The entry of default occurred on August 2, 2021, and the defendant
filed the instant Motion and a Motion to Dismiss only days later. See R. Docs. 58 and 60.
In sum, defendant Woods has demonstrated that setting aside the entry of default is
appropriate. Accordingly,
IT IS ORDERED that defendant’s Motion (R. Doc. 60) is GRANTED.
Signed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on November 17, 2021.
S
RICHARD L. BOURGEOIS, JR.
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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