LIVINGSTON v. WILLIAMS

Filing 24

ORDER VACATING DEFAULT. Defendant's Motion to Vacate Entry of Default 19 is GRANTED. Plaintiff's Motion for Default Judgment 15 is TERMINATED AS MOOT. Defendant shall answer, move, or otherwise respond to the complaint on or before June 14, 2024. Signed by Magistrate Judge Leda D. Wettre on 6/5/2024. (qa, )(n/m)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY
BRADLEY TALMADGE
LIVINGSTON,

Civil Action No.
24-1056 (CCC) (LDW)

Plaintiff,
ORDER VACATING DEFAULT

v.
MERLYN WILLIAMS,
Defendant.

THIS MATTER having come before the Court by way of defendant Merlyn Williams’
Motion to Vacate Clerk’s Entry of Default (ECF No. 19); and
WHEREAS in a complaint filed March 8, 2024, pro se plaintiff Bradley Talmadge
Livingston alleges that defendant Williams “destroyed my mail and throwing away my important
documents and belongings looking through my personal information.” (ECF No. 1); and
WHEREAS Williams was served with the summons and complaint on April 14, 2024,
making her answer due on May 6, 2024. (ECF No. 13); and
WHEREAS pro se plaintiff requested Clerk’s Entry of Default against defendant
Williams, and the Clerk of Court entered default pursuant to Rule 55(a) of the Federal Rules of
Civil Procedure, on May 7, 2024, one day after her answer was due. (ECF No. 14); and
WHEREAS pro se plaintiff moved for entry of Default Judgment one day later, on May
8, 2024. (ECF No. 8); and
WHEREAS on June 1, 2024, less than one month after her answer was originally due,
defendant appeared by counsel and filed the instant Motion to Vacate Default. (ECF No. 19); and

WHEREAS by letter dated June 1, 2024, pro se plaintiff opposes vacatur “due to the
disorderly conduct of defendant,” by which the Court understands plaintiff to be accusing
defendant of dodging service of process. (ECF No. 20); and
WHEREAS pursuant to Rule 55(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Court
“may set aside an entry of default for good cause.”; and
WHEREAS the decision whether to set aside entry of default rests within the Court’s
discretion, and that discretion is guided by the Third Circuit’s strong preference that cases be
decided on the merits. United States v. $55,518.05 in U.S. Currency, 728 F.2d 192, 194-95 (3d
Cir. 1984) (“[T]his court does not favor entry of defaults or default judgments. We require
doubtful cases to be resolved in favor of the party moving to set aside the default judgment so that
cases may be decided on their merits.” (quotation omitted)); and
WHEREAS the Court considers four factors to determine whether good cause exists to
vacate default: “(1) whether lifting the default would prejudice the plaintiff; (2) whether the
defendant has a prima facie meritorious defense; (3) whether the defaulting defendant’s conduct
is excusable or culpable; and (4) the effectiveness of alternative sanctions.” Emcasco Ins. Co. v.
Sambrick, 834 F.2d 71, 73 (3d Cir. 1987); and
WHEREAS this action has been pending for only three months, and there is no suggestion
that vacating default at this early stage and requiring pro se plaintiff to pursue the action on the
merits would prejudice him in any way; and
WHEREAS defendant has proffered several potentially meritorious defenses, namely that
the complaint fails to state a claim for any cognizable civil cause of action or provide a basis for
federal subject matter jurisdiction. (Cintron Cert. ¶¶ 9-19, ECF No. 19-3); and

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WHEREAS defendant’s delay in retaining counsel and responding to the complaint was
caused by financial difficulties, (Id. ¶ 22), which the Court finds to be excusable and not the result
of bad faith or culpable conduct; and
WHEREAS there is no need to impose any alternative sanctions given the brief duration
of defendant’s delay in appearing and the lack of prejudice to pro se plaintiff; and
WHEREAS having considered the Certification of Mark J. Cintron in support of the
Motion to Vacate Default, pro se plaintiff’s June 1, 2024 opposition, (ECF No. 20), as well as
three letters from plaintiff dated June 1 and 2, 2024, (ECF Nos. 21, 22, 23), the Court finds good
cause to vacate default; therefore,
IT IS on this day, June 5, 2024, ORDERED that:
1. Defendant’s Motion to Vacate Entry of Default (ECF No. 19) is GRANTED.
2. Plaintiff’s Motion for Default Judgment (ECF No. 15) is TERMINATED AS MOOT.
3. Defendant shall answer, move, or otherwise respond to the complaint on or before June
14, 2024.
4. The Clerk of Court is directed to serve a copy of this Order on pro se plaintiff by U.S. Mail.
s/ Leda Dunn Wettre
Hon. Leda Dunn Wettre
United States Magistrate Judge

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