Guardian Life Insurance Company of America v. Taylor et al

Filing 19

Opinion and Order granting default judgment against defendant Rhonda Taylor. Judge Sara Lioi on 10/17/2017. (P,J)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
EASTERN DIVISION

THE GUARDIAN LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY OF AMERICA,

PLAINTIFF,
vs.
RHONDA TAYLOR, et al.,

DEFENDANTS.

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CASE NO. 5:16CV3004

JUDGE SARA LIOI

OPINION AND ORDER
GRANTING DEFAULT
JUDGMENT AGAINST
DEFENDANT RHONDA
TAYLOR

Before the Court is the motion of plaintiff, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of
America (“plaintiff”), for default judgment against defendant Rhonda Taylor (“Taylor”). (Doc.
No. 17.) Taylor has not responded to the motion.
On December 12, 2016, plaintiff filed a complaint in interpleader against Taylor and
defendant Kathy Radovic (“Radovic”), pursuant to Rule 22 of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure and 28 U.S.C. § 1335. (Doc. No. 1 [“Compl.”].) Plaintiff alleges Taylor and Radovic
are adverse claimants to the proceeds of a life insurance policy (the “Policy”) for Dana M.
Radovic (“decedent”). The crux of the complaint is that both Radovic and Taylor are listed as
beneficiaries on the Policy, and that the amount of the beneficiary designations exceed 100% of
the Policy proceeds. (Id. ¶¶ 16, 17.)
Taylor was served on January 6, 2017, and the summons was returned executed on
January 13, 2017. (Doc. No. 5 (Return).) Plaintiff applied to the Clerk of Court for entry of

default against Taylor, and, on August 24, 2017, default was entered against Taylor. (Doc. No.
14 (Default Entry).)
Fed. R. Civ. P. 55 contemplates a two-step process in obtaining a default judgment
against a defendant who has failed to plead or otherwise defend. First, a plaintiff must request
from the Clerk of Court an entry of default. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(a). If the plaintiff’s claim is not
for “a sum certain or a sum that can be made certain by computation,” the plaintiff must apply to
the Court for a default judgment. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b). Upon entry of default judgment, the
factual allegations of the complaint are accepted as true. United States v. Conces, 507 F.3d 1028,
1038 (6th Cir. 2007) (citations omitted).
Default judgment may be entered against a defendant who fails to answer an interpleader
complaint. Guardian Life Ins. Co. v. Rowe, No. 1:17cv547, 2017 WL 4286687, at *3 (N.D. Ohio
Sept. 27, 2017) (“‘A named interpleader defendant who fails to answer the interpleader
complaint and assert a claim to the res forfeits any claim of entitlement that might have been
asserted’ if service was properly effected upon them.”) (quoting Sun Life Assur. Co. of Canada
(U.S.) v. Conroy, 431 F. Supp. 2d 220, 226 (D.R.I. 2006) (further citation omitted)); Usable Life
Co. v. Gann, No. 1:09cv77, 2009 WL 4348588, at *2 (E.D. Tenn. Nov. 24, 2009) (citation
omitted). By failing to answer or otherwise defend her stake in the funds at issue in the
interpleader claim, the defaulting party forfeits her interest in the funds at issue in an interpleader
action and her interest is terminated upon entry of a default judgment. Gann, 2009 WL 4348588,
at *2 (citing Conroy, 431 F. Supp. 2d at 226).
Default against Taylor is warranted. Although she was served with the complaint, Taylor
has not filed an answer or otherwise defended her interest in the interpleader funds. Nor did
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Taylor file a response to the motion for default judgment. By defaulting, Taylor has forfeited her
right to pursue an interest in the Policy proceeds.
Accordingly, and for the foregoing reasons, it is ORDERED, ADJUDGED and
DECREED that judgment shall be entered against defendant Taylor.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: October 17, 2017
HONORABLE SARA LIOI
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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