BHATT v. FUENTES et al

Filing 55

LETTER ORDER granting #36 Motion to Set Aside Default; Defendants are directed to file answers no later than 1/6/2017. The #23 Motion for Default Judgment is Denied as moot. Signed by Magistrate Judge Tonianne J. Bongiovanni on 12/19/2016. (km)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY
[phone]
CHAMBERS OF

U.S. COURTHOUSE
402 E. STATE STREET, RM 6052
TRENTON, NJ 08608

TONIANNE J. BONGIOVANNI
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

December 19, 2016
LETTER ORDER
Re:

Chaula S. Bhatt v. Joseph Fuentes, et al
Civil Action No. 16-2081 (FLW)

Dear Counsel and Ms. Bhatt:
Currently pending before the Court is VG Labs, Inc. (“VG Labs”) and Srinivas Guntuka’s
(“Defendant Guntuka”) (collectively “Defendants”) motion to set aside default. (Docket Entry
No. 36). Plaintiff Chaula S. Bhatt (“Plaintiff”) opposes Defendant’s motion. (Docket Entry
No. 38).
Pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 55(c), “the court may set aside an entry of default for good
cause.” Defendants state that the “default was caused by Defendants being located outside the
State of New Jersey and trying to find legal counsel.” (Defs.’ Letter Br. in Supp. of Mot. at 2).
Defendant Guntuka notes that prior to obtaining counsel, he attempted to get an extension to
answer but was not permitted to do so because he needed a New Jersey attorney to represent VG
Labs. (Id.) Plaintiff argues that the “court should not allow continued breaking of all rules by
defendants who have already broken multiple local Rules of Civ. Process by not answering the
complaint on purpose in spite of timely service of summons upon them...” (Pl.’s Opp. at 1).
The Court finds that good cause exists to set aside the entry of default. Defendants’

motion to set aside default is GRANTED. Plaintiff’s motion for Default Judgment is DENIED
AS MOOT. Defendants are directed to file answers no later than January 6, 2017.
The Clerk of the Court is directed to terminate Docket Entry Nos. 23 and 36.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

__/s/ Tonianne J. Bongiovanni_______
TONIANNE J. BONGIOVANNI
United States Magistrate Judge