Pav et al v. Moreno
Filing
17
OPINION & ORDER denying 13 Motion to Vacate - For the foregoing reasons, Moreno's motion to vacate the default judgment pursuant to Rule 60(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure is denied in its entirety. SO Ordered by Judge Sandra J. Feuerstein on 9/24/2019. (Tirado, Chelsea)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
--------------------------------------------------------------X
In the Matter of the Complaint of MARK PAV
and JOSEPH WISSLER, as Owners of a 1998,
24-foot Chaparral 2335, for Exoneration from or
Limitation of Liability,
Petitioners.
--------------------------------------------------------------X
FEUERSTEIN, J.
FILED
CLERK
11:38 am, Sep 24, 2019
U.S. DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
LONG ISLAND OFFICE
OPINION & ORDER
17-CV-1113 (SJF)(GRB)
On February 27, 2017, petitioners Mark Pav (“Pav”) and Joseph Wissler (collectively,
“petitioners”), as owners of a 1998, twenty-four (24)-foot Chaparral 2335 (the “Vessel”),
commenced this action pursuant to the Limitation of Liability Act, 46 U.S.C. § 30501, et seq.,
and Rule F of the Supplemental Rules for Admiralty or Maritime Claims and Asset Forfeiture
Actions of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (“Supplemental Rule F”), for exoneration from
or limitation of liability for all claims and/or losses arising out of a collision between two (2)
vessels while on navigable waters of the United States, in the Great South Bay in the vicinity of
Lindenhurst, New York, on July 20, 2014 (the “Accident”).
On March 1, 2017, this Court issued an order (the “Order Restraining Suits”), inter alia,
(i) directing (A) that the Clerk of the Court issue a Notice “to all persons asserting claims or suits
with respect to which the Complaint seeks Exoneration from or Limitation of Liability
admonishing them to file their respective claims with the Clerk of this Court, in writing, and to
serve on the attorneys for the Petitioners a copy thereof, on or before the 17th day of April, 2017,
or be defaulted; and that if any claimant desires to contest either the right to Exoneration from or
the right to Limitation of Liability, such claimant shall file and serve on the attorneys for the
Petitioners . . . an Answer to the Complaint on or before the said date, unless the claim has
included an Answer to the Complaint, so designated, or be defaulted[,]” (Docket Entry [“DE”] 4
1
at p. 2) (emphasis omitted), and (B) that the Notice be published in the Suffolk Times, a weekly
newspaper, once a week for four (4) successive weeks before the return date thereof, and copies
of the Notice be mailed by petitioners to “every person known to have any claim against the
Vessel or Petitioners, or to their attorneys,” (id. at p. 3); and (ii) restraining, staying and
enjoining “the further prosecution of any and all actions, suits and proceedings already
commenced and the commencement or prosecution [t]hereafter of any and all suits, actions, or
proceedings of any nature and description whatsoever in any Court . . . against the Petitioners, . .
. and/or the Vessel, and the taking of any steps and the making of any motion in such actions,
suits or proceedings except in this action, to recover damages for or in respect to the aforesaid
alleged [A]ccident . . . until the hearing and determination of this action. . . .” (Id.) As a result, a
personal injury action commenced by Roldando Moreno (“Moreno”) against Pav in the Supreme
Court of the State of New York, County of Suffolk (“the state court”), on or about September 23,
2016, which Pav removed to this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1333, 1441 and 1446, on
October 20, 2016, Moreno v. Pav, No. 16-cv-5865 (“the underlying action”), was stayed pending
a determination of this action. 1
On March 9, 2017, the Clerk of the Court issued the “Notice of Complaint for
Exoneration from or Limitation of Liability” (the “Notice”) providing, inter alia, (i) that “all
persons, firms, entities or corporations, having any claim or suit against Petitioners arising or
resulting from the [A]ccident must file a Claim as provided in [Supplemental Rule F], with the
Clerk of the Court, . . . and must deliver or mail to the attorneys for the Petitioners, . . . a copy on
During an initial pretrial conference in the underlying action on December 13, 2016, i.e., prior to the
commencement of this admiralty action, inter alia, the Court set July 14, 2017 as the deadline for the completion of
all discovery in that action. Thus, the parties were given seven (7) months to complete discovery in the underlying
action. The minute entry for proceedings held before the Honorable Gary R. Brown, United States Magistrate Judge,
in the underlying action on March 1, 2017, i.e., approximately three (3) months later, indicates, inter alia, that the
parties were “handling discovery without issue.” Approximately one (1) week later, the Court entered the Order
Restraining Suits.
1
2
or before the 17th day of April, 2017 or be defaulted[;]” and (ii) that “any claimant desiring to
contest Petitioners’ right either to Exoneration from or Limitation of Liability shall file an
Answer to the Complaint on or before the aforesaid date as required by Supplemental Rule ‘F’ of
the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and deliver or mail a copy to the attorneys for the
Petitioners, or be defaulted.” (DE 5). Petitioners served notice of entry of the complaint, the
Order Restraining Suits and the Notice upon counsel for Moreno, i.e., the plaintiff in the
underlying action and the only known potential claimant in this action, on or about March 13,
2017. (See Petitioners’ Motion for Default [“Default Mot.”], Ex. B [DE 8-2]). In addition, the
Notice was published in the Suffolk Times once a week for four (4) weeks, commencing on
March 30, 2017. (Id., Ex. C [DE 8-3]).
During an initial pretrial conference before this Court on May 18, 2017, at which Charles
Teixeira, Esq., appeared on behalf of Moreno, (see DE 6), inter alia, the Court granted Moreno a
forty-five (45) day extension of time, i.e., until July 2, 2017, to file and serve a claim and answer
to the complaint herein, and scheduled a status conference for July 12, 2017. Although Moreno
filed an “Answer to Plaintiff’s Complaint for Exoneration from or Limitation of Liability” in the
underlying action on July 2, 2017, asserting, inter alia, seven (7) affirmative defenses 2, that
answer did not assert a claim or counterclaim against petitioners. (See DE 9 in No. 16-cv-5865) 3.
Moreno never filed a claim, and never filed an answer in this action.
The affirmative defenses are numbered “First” through “Eighth,” but the answer omits a sixth affirmative defense.
(DE 9 in No. 16-cv-5865).
2
Although Moreno attempts to attribute the incorrect filing of the answer in the underlying case to “an attorney[]
who is no longer with the firm,” (Moreno’s Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion to Vacate Default Judgment
[“Moreno Mem.”] at p. 6), the docket in the underlying action indicates that the answer was electronically filed by
Joseph Dell, Esq., a principal of Dell & Dean, PLLC (“D&D”), counsel of record for Moreno. (DE 9 in No. 16-cv5865). The answer was electronically signed by Michael C. O’Malley, Esq. (Id.).
3
3
During the status conference before this Court on July 12, 2017, at which Christopher
Dean, Esq., a principal of D&D, appeared on behalf of Moreno, (see DE 7), inter alia,
petitioners’ counsel raised the issue of Moreno’s default in this action, i.e., his failure to file a
claim and answer in this action, and the Court set a briefing schedule for petitioners to move for
a default judgment against him, requiring the motion to be served by July 20, 2017; any
opposition to be served by July 31, 2017; and any reply to be served, and the motion filed, by
August 10, 2017. 4 Although petitioners served and filed a motion in accordance with that
briefing schedule, (see DE 8 and 9-1 [Ex. A]), Moreno never served any opposition or response
thereto, nor did he ever seek an extension of time to do so; and he provides no satisfactory
explanation for his failure to do so. 5
Contrary to Moreno’s contentions in his reply brief, (i) the Court did not “grant[] [him] an extension to file
opposition to Petitioners’ default motion by July 31, 2017[,]” and (ii) his filing of an answer in the underlying action
on July 2, 2017 did not “render[] Petitioners [sic] default motion moot.” (Moreno’s Reply Affirmation in Support of
Motion to Vacate Default Judgment [“Reply”] at p. 6). Indeed, the briefing schedule for petitioners’ default
judgment motion was not entered until after Moreno’s answer was filed in the underlying action. Accordingly, and
since Moreno’s counsel was clearly advised at the July 12, 2017 conference, i.e., after the answer had been
erroneously filed in the underlying action, that Moreno was in default in this action and that petitioners would be
moving for the entry of a default judgment against him, counsel’s purported belief that Moreno’s “opposition papers
were no longer necessary,” (id. at p. 7), was not reasonable. The Court also notes that Moreno does not submit an
affidavit from Mr. Dean, i.e., the attorney who appeared at the July 12, 2017 conference, in support of that
explanation, which was raised for the first time in Moreno’s reply affirmation. Indeed, that newly advanced
explanation is seemingly inconsistent with Moreno’s explanation in his original memorandum of law, i.e., that an
unidentified attorney who is no longer associated with D&D erroneously filed the answer in the underlying case and
“[t]hereafter, a Motion for Default was filed but as the docket reflects, there were no filings that were sent to the
undersigned.” (Moreno Mem. at p. 1) (emphasis added). In other words, Moreno’s initial explanation for his failure
to oppose petitioners’ default judgment motion was that his counsel did not receive notice via ECF when the motion
was filed; his later explanation is that be believed he did not have to file any opposition because the motion was
moot.
4
The initial explanation proffered by Moreno, i.e., that his counsel did not receive notice via ECF when petitioners’
default judgment motion was filed because D&D was not designated as his counsel of record on the docket,
(Moreno Mem. at pp. 1 and 6), is disingenuous since petitioners served the motion upon him by mailing it to
D&D’s last known address. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 5(b). Moreno does not deny receipt or service of the motion, much
less present any evidence contradicting petitioners’ affidavit of service. (DE 9-1 [Ex. A]). In any event, Mr. Dean
was advised of the briefing schedule for petitioners’ default judgment motion at the July 12, 2017 status conference
and, thus, knew that petitioners were required to serve the motion by July 20, 2017. A quick glance of the docket on
July 21, 2017 would have revealed to Moreno’s counsel that the motion had in fact been filed in accordance with the
Court’s briefing schedule, and he would have had ample opportunity to file any opposition thereto by the July 31,
2017 deadline set forth in the Court’s briefing schedule.
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4
By order dated January 29, 2018, this Court granted petitioners’ unopposed motion
pursuant to Rule 55(b)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure for entry of a default judgment
against Moreno and all other potential claimants in this action. On January 31, 2018, a default
judgment was entered against Moreno “and any person and/or entity with any claim for injury,
damage and/or loss arising or resulting from the Accident who has not filed a claim in this action
by July 2, 2017,” inter alia, barring all such persons and entities “from filing any claims in this
or any other proceeding arising or resulting from the Accident, with prejudice.” Moreno never
filed a notice of appeal of the default judgment order or judgment.
During a status conference in the underlying action on April 12, 2018, at which Kristen
Sinnott, Esq., an associate for D&D, appeared on behalf of Moreno, the Court dismissed the
underlying action based upon the default judgment entered in this action. (DE 10 in 16-cv-5865).
On May 10, 2018, Moreno filed a notice of appeal of the minute order dismissing the
underlying action. However, by mandate issued on September 5, 2018, the United States Court
of Appeals for the Second Circuit dismissed Moreno’s appeal, deeming the case in default for his
failure to timely file the forms required by Local Rule 12.1(b)(1) of the Local Rules and Internal
Operating Procedures of the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (“Local Rule 12.1”). 6 (DE
12 in 16-cv-5865).
In his reply, Moreno indicates that “the actual reason [his] appeal was dismissed was because the court informed
Respondent [Moreno] because of the default that was entered in this case on January 29, 2018, [his] original action
that was stayed as a result of the initiation of the amorality [sic] action was in default[;] . . . [and] instructed him to
cure the default first by making the within application and then he could appeal the dismissal of the original action.”
(Reply at p. 7). Moreno submits no evidence in support of that assertion, and includes no details regarding who at
“the court” allegedly instructed him as such; to whom “the court” purportedly spoke; when that discussion(s)
occurred, etc. The mandate issued by the Second Circuit on September 5, 2018 indicates: “A notice of appeal was
filed on May 10, 2018. Appellant’s Form C and D were due May 24, 2018. The case is deemed in default. IT IS
HEREBY ORDERED that the appeal will be dismissed effective July 9, 2018 if the forms are not filed by that date.”
(DE 12 in 16-cv-5865) (emphasis omitted). Subsections (a) and (b)(1) of Local Rule 12.1 require that Form C, a
“Civil Appeal Pre-Argument Statement,” “along with the addenda required by th[at] form;” and Form D, a “Civil
Appeal Transcript Information Form,” be filed in all counseled civil cases within fourteen (14) days after a notice of
appeal is filed. Local Rule 12.1(d) provides that a failure to do so “may result in dismissal of the appeal.” Moreover,
even assuming, arguendo, that Moreno was instructed by the Second Circuit to make the instant motion to vacate
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5
On January 28, 2019, i.e., more than nine (9) months after Moreno’s counsel clearly
knew about the default judgment entered in this action, and just three (3) days before the one (1)year deadline expired pursuant to Rule 60(c)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Moreno
filed the instant motion to vacate the default judgment entered in this action pursuant to Rule
60(b)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. For the reasons set forth below, Moreno’s
motion is denied.
I.
BACKGROUND
The complaint alleges that on July 20, 2014, the Vessel “was traveling upon the
navigable waters of the United States, on the great South Bay in the vicinity of Lindenhurst, in
Suffolk County, New York, when a 2014 Yamaha personal watercraft operated by Roldando
Moreno collided with the Vessel.” (Complaint [“Compl.”], ¶ 3).
On September 23, 2016, Moreno commenced the underlying action in the state court
seeking to recover damages for personal injuries he allegedly sustained as a result of Pav’s
negligence, (Compl., ¶ 4), which petitioners subsequently removed to this Court pursuant to 28
U.S.C. §§ 1333, 1441 and 1446.
On February 27, 2017, petitioners commenced this action pursuant to the Limitation of
Liability Act, 46 U.S.C. § 30501, et seq., and Supplemental Rule F, seeking exoneration from or
limitation of liability for all claims and/or losses arising out of the Accident.
Pursuant to the Order Restraining Suits and the Notice issued in accordance therewith,
inter alia, all claims or suits against petitioners “arising or resulting from the [A]ccident” were
the default judgment in this action, he proffers no explanation for his delay of approximately four (4) months after
the mandate issued, and until only three (3) days before the one (1)-year deadline to make such a motion under Rule
60(c)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure expired, to file the motion.
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required to be filed and served in this action on or before April 17, 2017, or would “be
defaulted.” Petitioners caused the Notice to be published in the Suffolk Times, a weekly
newspaper, once a week for four (4) weeks, commencing on March 30, 2017; and served the
Notice upon counsel for Moreno, i.e., the only known potential claimant in this action, in
accordance with Supplemental Rule F. (See Default Mot., Ex. B and C).
The Court subsequently granted Moreno a forty-five (45) day extension of time, i.e., until
July 2, 2017, to serve and file a claim and answer in this action. Nonetheless, Moreno never filed
a claim or answer in this action. Although Moreno filed an answer with affirmative defenses in
the underlying action, he did not assert any claim or counterclaim against petitioners therein. In
addition, Moreno, inter alia, never served any opposition or response to petitioners’ motion for a
default judgment; never sought an extension of time to do so, or to file a late claim in this action;
and delayed for no less than nine (9) months from when his counsel clearly had notice that a
default judgment had been entered in this action to seek any relief therefrom.
Moreno now moves to vacate the default judgment entered in this action pursuant to Rule
60(b)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
II.
DISCUSSION
A default judgment was entered in this action because petitioners complied with all of the
requirements of Supplemental Rule F, but no potential claimant, including Moreno, filed a claim
against them in this action as required by Supplemental Rule F(5). See, e.g. Matter of Complaint
of Wild Florida Airboats, LLC, No. 6:16-cv-2207-Orl-31GJK, 2017 WL 3891777, at * 3 (M.D.
Fla. Aug. 29, 2017), report and recommendation adopted, 2017 WL 3877598 (M.D. Fla. Sept. 5,
2017) (“[I]n cases under [Supplemental Rule F], default judgment will be entered against any
7
potential claimant who has failed to respond to notice of a complaint for exoneration from or
limitation of liability within the established notice period, provided that the notice complies with
the rules and is: 1) sent to every person known to have made any claim against the vessel at
issue; and 2) published in a newspaper once a week for four consecutive weeks prior to the date
fixed for the filing of claims.”); accord In re Narod, No. 13-cv-554, 2013 WL 3491088, at *3
(E.D.N.Y. July 10, 2013); In re Columbia Leasing LLC, 981 F. Supp. 2d 490, 495 (E.D. Va.
2013); Matter of S&W Marine, Inc., No. 16-cv-17645, 2017 WL 2955358, at * 1 (E.D. La. Mar.
6, 2017); In re Beauvois, No. 2:10-cv-480-FtM-36SPC, 2010 WL 5055833, at * 3 (M.D. Fla.
Dec. 3, 2010).
Rule 55(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides that a “court may set aside an
entry of default for good cause, and it may set aside a final default judgment under Rule 60(b).”
Moreno moves to vacate the default judgment entered in this action pursuant to Rule 60(b)(1) of
the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which provides, in relevant part, that “[o]n motion and just
terms, the court may relieve a party or its legal representative from a final judgment, order, or
proceeding for . . . (1) mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect . . . .” A motion
under Rule 60(b) “must be made within a reasonable time--and for reasons (1), (2), and (3) no
more than a year after the entry of the judgment or order or the date of the proceeding.” Fed. R.
Civ. P. 60(c)(1).
Although “[a] motion to vacate a default judgment is addressed to the sound discretion of
the district court[,]” New York v. Green, 420 F.3d 99, 104 (2d Cir. 2005) (quotations and
citations omitted); accord S.E.C. v. McNulty, 137 F.3d 732, 738 (2d Cir. 1998), the Second
Circuit has expressed a strong “preference for resolving disputes on the merits.” Green, 420 F.3d
at 104 (quotations and citation omitted); see also State St. Bank & Trust Co. v. Inversiones
8
Errazuriz Limitada, 374 F.3d 158, 168 (2d Cir. 2004) (“Default judgments are generally
disfavored and are reserved for rare occasions. . . . As such, the criteria for vacating a default
judgment pursuant to Rule 60 . . . should be construed generously.” (quotations and citations
omitted)). “Accordingly, in ruling on a motion to vacate a default judgment, all doubts must be
resolved in favor of the party seeking relief from the judgment in order to ensure that to the
extent possible, disputes are resolved on their merits.” Green, 420 F.3d at 104.
“When a district court decides a motion to vacate a default judgment pursuant to the
provisions of Rule 60(b), the court’s determination must be guided by three principal factors: (1)
whether the default was willful, (2) whether the defendant demonstrates the existence of a
meritorious defense, and (3) whether, and to what extent, vacating the default will cause the
nondefaulting [sic] party prejudice.” State St. Bank, 374 F.3d at 166-67 (quotations and citation
omitted); accord McNulty, 137 F.3d at 738. “A court need not consider all three criteria,
however, because its determination that the default was willful is sufficient to support the denial
of a motion to vacate.” Jaramillo v. Vega, 675 F. App’x 76 (2d Cir. Jan. 31, 2017) (summary
order) (citing Bobrow Greenapple & Skolnik v. Woods, 865 F.2d 43, 44 (2d Cir. 1989) (per
curiam)); see also United States v. Chesir, 526 F. App’x 60, 62 (2d Cir. June 6, 2013) (summary
order) (“[T]he district court’s identification of willfulness would, by itself, support its refusal to
vacate the challenged default judgment. . . .”); De Curtis v. Ferrandina, 529 F. App’x 85, 86 (2d
Cir. July 16, 2013) (summary order) (“Of the[] [three] factors, willfulness carries the most
weight. Though each factor is to be considered, a ‘default should not be set aside when it is
found to be willful.’” (quoting Action S.A. v. Marc Rich & Co., Inc., 951 F.2d 504, 507 (2d Cir.
1991))).
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A. Willfulness
Since “[t]he basic purpose of default judgment is to protect parties from undue delayharassment[,]” Green, 420 F.3d at 108 (quotations and citation omitted), the Second Circuit has
“held that willfulness in the context of a judgment by default requires something more than mere
negligence, such as egregious or deliberate conduct, although the degree of negligence in
precipitating a default is a relevant factor to be considered.” Id. (quotations and citation omitted);
see also McNulty, 137 F.3d at 738 (“We have interpreted ‘willfulness,’ in the context of a
default, to refer to conduct that is more than merely negligent or careless.”)
“On the other hand, the court may find a default to have been willful where the conduct
of counsel or the litigant was egregious and was not satisfactorily explained.” McNulty, 137 F.3d
at 738; accord Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local 2, Albany, N.Y. Pension Fund v.
Moulton Masonry & Constr., LLC, 779 F.3d 182, 186 (2d Cir. 2015). “Thus, defaults have been
found willful where, for example, an attorney failed, for unexplained reasons, to respond to a
motion for summary judgment[;] . . . or failed, for flimsy reasons, to comply with scheduling
orders[;] . . . or failed, for untenable reasons, after defendants had ‘purposely evaded service for
months,’ to answer the complaint[;] . . . or failed, for incredible reasons, to appear for a
scheduled pretrial conference and unaccountably delayed more than 10 months before moving to
vacate the ensuing default.” McNulty, 137 F.3d at 738-39 (citations omitted). Contrary to
Moreno’s contention, (see Moreno Mem. at 6), neither a strategic decision to default, nor bad
faith, must be demonstrated for a court to find that a default was willful. See Gucci Am., Inc. v.
Gold Ctr. Jewelry, 158 F.3d 631, 635 (2d Cir. 1998) (holding that bad faith is not “a predicate to
a determination of willfulness” and that “it is sufficient that the defendant defaulted
deliberately.”); accord Bricklayers, 779 F.3d at 187.
10
Moreno attempts to explain only his default in filing an answer in this action; he does not
proffer any explanation for his failure to file a claim. Moreover, the initial explanation proffered
for his default is “flimsy,” at best:
“A Conference was held on May 18, 2017. Mistakenly an attorney who no longer
is with the undersigned’s firm, had advised that Mr. Moreno’s action bearing
Docket No.: 16-cv-05865 [the underlying action] was stayed, due to the pendency
of the within Declaratory [sic] Judgment Action. This attorney was supposed to file
an Answer to the claims of the Petition.”
(Moreno Mem. at p. 1; see also Id. at 6 [“[Moreno’s] sole reason for defaulting on this claim is
because an attorney, who is no longer with the firm, mistakenly filed an Answer to the wrong
docket”]). The first sentence is an accurate statement of fact. With respect to the second
sentence, the former associate of D&D was not “mistaken[]” in his advice: the underlying action
was, in fact, stayed by the Order Restraining Suits issued in this action. Moreno provides no
explanation for how that has any bearing upon his failure to file a claim or answer in this action.
The last sentence omits any reason for the former associate’s alleged failure to file an answer in
this case; and Moreno does not submit an affidavit from that former associate, or anyone
associated with D&D, in support of that explanation.
Moreover, the docket in the underlying action indicates that the answer incorrectly filed
by D&D, on behalf of Moreno, in the underlying action, (Moreno Mem. at pp. 1 and 6), was
electronically filed by Mr. Dell, a principal of D&D. (See DE 9 in 16-cv-5865). In any event,
nowhere does Moreno, or D&D, provide any explanation for their failure to timely file a claim in
this action pursuant to Supplemental Rule F(5). See generally In re Beauvois, 2010 WL
5055833, at * 2 (“Courts have found that Supplemental Rule F(5) requires that a claim be filed
first and prior or contemporaneously with an answer being filed. Simply filing an answer is not
11
sufficient because a person who has not presented a claim for damages may not then answer the
limitation claim and contest the allegations therein.” (citing cases)).
To the extent Moreno is attempting to blame the unidentified former associate of D&D
for all of the purported neglect that led to the entry of a default judgment in this action, the Court
notes that a different attorney, i.e., Mr. Dean, appeared for D&D, on behalf of Moreno, at the
status conference on July 12, 2017. Thus, it was Mr. Dean, a principal of D&D, who was
notified, after the answer had been mistakenly filed in the underlying action, of Moreno’s default
in this action and of the briefing schedule for petitioners’ motion for a default judgment against
him. (See DE 7).
Furthermore, although Moreno denies receiving notice via ECF when the motion for
default judgment was filed in this action, 7 (see Moreno Mem. at pp. 1 and 6), a copy of
petitioners’ motion for a default judgment was served upon D&D, to the attention of Mr. Dell
and Mr. O’Malley, by mail pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 5(b). (See DE 8 at p. 2 and DE 9-1 [Ex.
A]). Moreno does not dispute such service, and submits no evidence to rebut petitioners’
affidavit of service. Moreover, as indicated above, Mr. Dean clearly knew of the briefing
schedule for petitioners’ default judgment motion and could have easily discerned that the
motion had been filed in accordance therewith from even a cursory review of the docket.
In addition, Ms. Sinnott, an associate of D&D, appeared on behalf of Moreno at the status
conference in the underlying action on April 12, 2018 and was informed that a default judgment
had been entered in this action. (See DE 10 in 16-cv-5865). Thus, Moreno’s counsel was clearly
aware of the entry of a default judgment against him in this action for more than nine (9) months
before seeking any relief therefrom, and offers no explanation for such delay.
D&D did not receive ECF notifications because they never filed a claim, answer or notice of appearance on behalf
of Moreno in this action prior to the entry of the default judgment.
7
12
Moreno does not deny that he received the complaint, the Order Restraining Suits or the
Notice; nor could he since he was granted an extension of time to file a claim and answer in this
action during the initial pretrial conference at which his counsel was present. In addition, Moreno
does not deny that his counsel received notice of his default and the briefing schedule for
petitioners’ motion for a default judgment in this action, including the dates by which the motion
and any opposition thereto were to be served; nor does he contend that his failure to file a claim
in accordance with the Notice, Supplemental Rule F and the Court’s order granting him an
extension of time to do so, or to oppose petitioners’ motion for a default judgment in accordance
with the Court’s briefing schedule, were due to circumstances beyond his control. Moreno’s
inaction and outright disregard for this litigation and for court notices, orders and rules, i.e., his
unexplained failure to file a claim in this action, even after being granted an extension of time to
do so; his specious excuse for the incorrect filing of an answer in the underlying action; his
spurious and inconsistent excuses for the failure to oppose or respond in any way to petitioners’
motion for a default judgment; and his unaccountable delay in seeking the vacate the default
judgment entered in this action for more than nine (9) months after his counsel received clear
notice of its entry, warrants a finding that his default in this action was willful. See, e.g.
Bricklayer, 779 F.3d at 187; McNulty, 137 F.3d at 739; United States v. Conolly, 694 F. App’x
10, 13-14 (2d Cir. May 25, 2017) (summary order) (finding that the claimant’s failure “to abide
by the plain language of Supplemental Rule G and the notice provided to him by the
Government” was not excusable neglect).
Moreover, where, as here, “the attorney’s conduct has been found to be willful, the
willfulness will be imputed to the party himself where he makes no showing that he has made
any attempt to monitor counsel’s handling of the lawsuit.” McNulty, 137 F.3d at 740; see, e.g.
13
PMJ Capital Corp. v. Bauco, No. 16-cv-6242, 2018 WL 485973, at * 3 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 18,
2018), appeal withdrawn, No. 18-502, 2018 WL 238616, at * 1 (2d Cir. Apr. 11, 2018). Thus,
based upon the egregiousness of his counsel’s neglect in this action and the lack of a satisfactory
explanation therefor, and the absence of any indication of diligent efforts by Moreno to monitor
his counsel’s handling of this case or “to prevent the default’s occurrence,” McNulty, 137 F.3d at
740, the Court finds that Moreno’s default in this action was willful.
B. Meritorious Defense
“In order to make a sufficient showing of a meritorious defense in connection with a
motion to vacate a default judgment, the defendant need not establish his defense conclusively, .
. . but he must present evidence of facts that, if proven at trial, would constitute a complete
defense[.]” McNulty, 137 F.3d at 740 (quotations and citations omitted); accord State St. Bank,
374 F.3d at 167; Chesir, 526 F. App’x at 62-63. “A defendant seeking to vacate an entry of
default must present some evidence beyond conclusory denials to support his defense.” Enron
Oil Corp. v. Diakuhara, 10 F.3d 90, 98 (2d Cir. 1993); see, e.g. Bricklayers, 779 F.3d at 187
(holding that conclusory denials are insufficient to satisfy the defendant’s “burden of offering
evidence sufficient to establish a complete defense.”); McLean v. Wayside Outreach Dev. Inc.,
624 F. App’x 44, 45 (2d Cir. Dec. 15, 2015) (summary order) (finding that a defense which “is
made only in conclusory terms and is not accompanied by any supporting evidence,” is without
merit). “The test of such a defense is measured not by whether there is a likelihood that it will
carry the day, but whether the evidence submitted, if proven at trial, would constitute a complete
defense.” Enron Oil, 10 F.3d at 98; accord State St. Bank, 374 F.3d at 167. “This standard
14
applies regardless of whether there has been an evidentiary hearing or an opportunity for
discovery.” State St. Bank, 374 F.3d at 167.
Moreno merely recites the nature of his claim against petitioners in the underlying action
and the affirmative defenses asserted in his answer filed in that action; and conclusorily alleges,
inter alia, that petitioners were negligent and “wholly and/or partially liable” for the Accident. 8
(See Moreno Mem. at 7-9). However, Moreno submits no evidence or facts in support of those
assertions; nor does he submit any evidence, or even a theory, of petitioners’ fault in the
Accident. Accordingly, Moreno’s assertions “amount[] to little more than conclusory denials,”
Green, 420 F.3d at 109-110, and are insufficient to show the existence of a meritorious defense
or claim, particularly given the unrebutted facts and evidence presented by petitioners in
opposition to Moreno’s motion indicating that his affirmative defenses and claims against them
are not likely to be successful.
C. Prejudice
Moreno has not shown a lack of prejudice to petitioners if the default judgment entered in
this action were vacated. See Green, 420 F.3d at 110 (“Defendants offered no evidence
suggesting that the [plaintiff] would not suffer prejudice. . . .”) Contrary to Moreno’s speculative
contention that “the ability for Petitioners to pursue a claim has not been hindered by the entry of
default judgment because had the inadvertent mistake not been made by [D&D] which led to the
entry of the default judgment by the Court, the parties would likely still be engaged in
8
Indeed, in his reply, Moreno does not even address, much less attempt to rebut, the arguments and evidence
presented by petitioners in their opposition to his motion, indicating that he is wholly at fault for the Accident.
Rather, Moreno merely reiterates, verbatim, the nature of his claim against petitioners in the underlying action, and
conclusorily contends that his “multiple meritorious Affirmative Defenses develop questions of fact for which the
undersigned believes, would refute the claims present in Petitioner’s Motion for Declaratory [sic] Judgment that was
granted, solely because no opposition was filed.” (Reply at p. 8).
15
discovery,” (Moreno Mem. at 10; Reply at p. 9), it is more likely that discovery would have been
completed, and indeed this entire case resolved, had Moreno filed a timely claim by the April 17,
2017 deadline in the Notice, or even the July 2, 2017 extended deadline. The parties were given
only seven (7) months to complete discovery in the underlying action and there is no reason why
this Court would give the parties any more time to complete discovery in this action. Hence, had
Moreno not defaulted in this action, discovery would have been completed by no later than
December 18, 2017, i.e., seven (7) months from the date of the initial pretrial conference in this
action; if not sooner since the parties had already engaged in discovery for three (3) months in
the underlying action before it was stayed by the Order Restraining Suits. With discovery
complete, the entire case would probably have been resolved, either on motion, at trial or by
settlement, within the following year.
Moreover, since the Accident occurred on July 20, 2014, more than five (5) years ago, it
is reasonable to believe that discovery has been rendered more difficult by the delay caused by
Moreno’s default, e.g., due to fading memories, unavailable witnesses, etc. See, e.g. Green, 420
F.3d at 110 (indicating that delays which, for example, “thwart plaintiff’s recovery or remedy, . .
. result in the loss of evidence, create increased difficulties of discovery, or provide greater
opportunity for fraud and collusion,” may be sufficient to establish prejudice).
In any event, “[a]n absence of prejudice to the nondefaulting [sic] party would not in
itself entitle the defaulting party to relief from the judgment.” McNulty, 137 F.3d at 738. Since
“[c]ourts have an interest in expediting litigation, and abuses of process may be prevented by
enforcing those defaults that arise from egregious or deliberate conduct, . . . the district court . . .
has discretion to deny the motion to vacate if it is persuaded that the default was willful and is
unpersuaded that the defaulting party has a meritorious defense.” McNulty, 137 F.3d at 738
16
(quotations, alterations and citation omitted); see also State St., 374 F.3d at 174 (“We need not
evaluate whether the vacatur of the default judgment would subject [the plaintiff] to prejudice
because we have concluded that the defendants failed to establish a meritorious defense; the
absence of such a defense is sufficient to support the district court’s denial of the defendants’ . . .
Rule 60(b) motion.”); Commercial Bank of Kuwait v, Rafidain Bank, 15 F.3d 238, 244 (2d Cir.
1994) (holding that a strong showing of prejudice is not required where the willfulness of the
default and the absence of meritorious defenses are established).
Accordingly, for the reasons set forth above, Moreno’s motion to vacate the default
judgment in this action pursuant to Rule 60(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure is denied
in its entirety.
III.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, Moreno’s motion to vacate the default judgment pursuant to
Rule 60(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure is denied in its entirety.
SO ORDERED.
____/s/__Sandra J. Feuerstein___
SANDRA J. FEUERSTEIN
United States District Judge
Dated: September 24, 2019
Central Islip, New York
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