PATCH OF LAND LENDING, LLC v. 1289 HUDSON, LLC et al

Filing 22

OPINION AND ORDER granting in part and administratively terminating without prejudice Plaintiff's 18 19 and 20 Motions for Default Judgment against Defendants 1289 Hudson, LLC., Christian D. Chavez and Slava Brin: GRANTED TO THE EXTENT tha t it seeks the entry of default judgment on the issue of liability against the defendants 1289 Hudson, LLC., Christian D. Chavez and Slava Brin and ADMINISTRATIVELY TERMINATED WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO THE EXTENT that it seeks the entry of default judgment on the issue of damages against the defendants 1289 Hudson, LLC., Christian D. Chavez and Slava Brin, etc. Signed by Judge Jose L. Linares on 05/01/2017. (ek)

Download PDF
NOT FOR PUBLICATION UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY PATCH OF LAND LENDING, LLC, Plaintiff, : : CIVIL ACTION NO. 17-0027 (JLL) OPINION & ORDER V. 1289 HUDSON, LLC, et al., Defendants. LINARES, District Judge IT APPEARING THAT: 1. This is an action to foreclose upon a coimuercial mortgage and to recover the amount due thereunder. (See dkt. 1 through dkt. 1-6; dkt. 17; dkt. 17-1.)’ The plaintiff has named the following defendants: (a) (b) Christian D. Chavez; (c) Sangeetha Kuppuswami; and (d) 2. 1289 Hudson, LLC; SlavaBrin. The Court possesses diversity jurisdiction over this action. 5—8 (setting forth the citizenship of each party).) çç 28 U.S.C. § (Scc dkt. 1 at 1332; see also Nat’l The Court will refer to documents by the docket entry numbers and the page numbers imposed by the Electronic Case Filing System. City Mortg. Co. v. Stephen, 647 F.3d 78, 82 (3d Cir. 2011) (holding that “[a]lthough foreclosure actions are more common in state court, the District Court had diversity jurisdiction”); id. at 80 n.2 (stating that mortgage foreclosure actions are becoming more coiiirnon in the federal courts).2 3. Currently pending before the Court are the plaintiffs three separate motions pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55(b)(2) for the entry of default judgment against 1289 Hudson, LLC, Chavez, and Brin. (See dkt. 18 through dkt. 18-4 (concerning 1289 Hudson, LLC); dkt. 19 through dkt. 19-4 (concerning Chavez); dkt. 20 through dkt. 20-4 (concerning Brin).) Defaults were entered against those three aforementioned defendants before the plaintiff filed the three motions. (Scc unnumbered docket entry following dkt. 14.) See Fed.R.Civ.P. 55(a). The plaintiff has demonstrated that it has served the three motions upon the defendants by providing certificates of service. (Seedkt. 18-4; dkt. 19-4; dkt. 20-4.) 4. However, Kuppuswami has appeared pro se in this action, and she has participated in this litigation by filing an answer. (See dkt. 21.) The plaintiff has not moved for any relief against Kuppuswarni. The plaintiffs predecessor entity initially brought the foreclosure claims in New Jersey state court against 1289 Hudson, LLC, Chavez, Kuppuswarni, and Brin in August 2016. See N.J. Dkt. No. F-22108-16. On January 3, 2017, the foreclosure claims were withdrawn from state court, and were then brought in federal court. 2 2 5. The decision to either enter a default judgment or refuse to enter such a judgment rests in the Court’s discretion. $ç Emcasco Ins. Co. v. Sambrick, 834 F.2d 71, 74 (3d Cir. 1987). 6. It is apparent that the plaintiff intends to continue to prosecute the action against Kuppuswarni, because the plaintiff has not withdrawn the claims that are asserted against her. Thus, a default judgment entered against 1289 Hudson, LLC, Chavez, and Brin at this juncture would not end this litigation, thereby giving rise to piecemeal litigation, the possibility of a double recovery for the plaintiff, and the danger of a logically inconsistent determination as to Kuppuswami. 7. Therefore, the Court grants the parts of the three motions that seek the entry of default judgment only on the issue of liability against 1289 Hudson, LLC, Chavez, and Brin, and administratively terminates the parts of the three motions that seek the entry of default judgment against those defendants on the issue of damages. 8. The plaintiff may seek a judgment on the issue of damages against 1289 Hudson, LLC, Chavez, and Brin when appropriate, i.e., when the liability of Kuppuswami has been ascertained. Fed.R.Civ.P. 55(b)(2) (stating that a district court may conduct a hearing in order to properly effectuate a default judgment). If the plaintiff eventually moves again for judgment on the issue of damages, then the plaintiff should be sure to file a proposed order that specifically sets forth the extent to which any of the defendants are jointly and severally liable for any monetary amounts owed. FOR GOOD CAUSE APPEARING: 3 _________ day of May, 2017, ORDERED that IT IS THEREFORE on this the plaintiffs motion for the entry of default judgment against the defendant 1289 Hudson, LLC (dkt. 18) is resolved as follows: GRANTED TO THE EXTENT that it seeks the entry of default judgment on the issue of liability against the defendant 1289 Hudson, LLC, and ADMINISTRATIVELY TERMINATED WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO THE EXTENT that it seeks the entry of default judgment on the issue of damages against the defendant 1289 Hudson, LLC, and with leave to the plaintiff to move for judgment on the issue of damages against the defendant 1289 Hudson, LLC, when appropriate; and it is further ORDERED that the plaintiffs motion for the entry of default judgment against the defendant Christian D. Chavez (dkt. 19) is resolved as follows: GRANTED TO THE EXTENT that it seeks the entry of default judgment on the issue of liability against the defendant Christian D. Chavez, and ADMINISTRATIVELY TERMINATED WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO THE EXTENT that it seeks the entry of default judgment on the issue of damages against the defendant Christian D. Chavez, and with leave to the plaintiff to move for judgment on the issue of damages against the defendant Christian D. Chavez when appropriate; and it is further ORDERED that the plaintiffs motion for the entry of default judgment against the defendant Slava Brin (dkt. 20) is resolved as follows: 4 GRANTED TO THE EXTENT that it seeks the entry of default judgment on the issue of liability against the defendant Slava Brin, and ADMINISTRATIVELY TERMINATED WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO THE EXTENT that it seeks the entry of default judgment on the issue of damages against the defendant S lava Brin, and with leave to the plaintiff to move for judgment against the defendant Slava Brin on the issue of damages when appropriate; and it is further ORDERED that default judgment is entered in favor of the plaintiff and against the defendants 1289 Hudson, LLC, Christian D. Chavez, and S lava Brin on the issue of liability only. //OSE L. LINARES United States District Judge 5

Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.


Why Is My Information Online?