Stevens v. Hiller
Filing
15
ORDER denying 13 Motion for Default Judgment Against Defendant Linda Hiller. Signed by Judge Edmund A. Sargus on 5/9/2022. (cmw)(This document has been sent by regular mail to the party(ies) listed in the NEF that did not receive electronic notification.)
Case: 2:21-cv-01577-EAS-KAJ Doc #: 15 Filed: 05/09/22 Page: 1 of 2 PAGEID #: 69
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
EASTERN DIVISION
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ex rel.,
SHELLEY PATRICIA STEVENS,
Plaintiff,
v.
LINDA HILLER,
Case No. 2:21-cv-1577
Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr.
Magistrate Judge Kimberly A. Jolson
Defendant.
ORDER
This matter is before the Court on Plaintiff’s Motion for Default Judgment Against
Defendant Linda Hiller (ECF No. 13). Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55 “contemplates a twostep process in obtaining a default judgment against a defendant who has failed to plead or
otherwise defend.” Columbus Life Ins. Co. v. Walker-Macklin, No. 1:15-cv-535, 2016 WL
4007092, at *2 (S.D. Ohio July 26, 2016). First, a plaintiff must request an entry of default from
the Clerk of Courts. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(a). Second, after the Clerk’s entry of default, the plaintiff
may obtain a default judgment. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b).
Here, Plaintiff applied to the Court for default judgment against Defendant under Rule
55(b)(2). However, Plaintiff has not yet requested an entry of default from the Clerk of Courts,
and the Clerk has not entered default under Rule 55(a). Thus, because Plaintiff may only apply to
the Court for a default judgment after obtaining an entry of default under Rule 55(a), Plaintiff’s
motion is not proper procedurally. See Sieber v. Estate of McRae, No. 1:11-CV-111, 2012 WL
689033, at *1 (W.D. Ky. Feb. 29, 2012) (holding same).
Even if the motion was procedurally proper, the Court would not grant it on substantive
grounds. Plaintiff argues that she is entitled to default judgment because the Defendant failed to
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Case: 2:21-cv-01577-EAS-KAJ Doc #: 15 Filed: 05/09/22 Page: 2 of 2 PAGEID #: 70
answer or otherwise respond by December 13, 2021. Defendant thereafter filed an answer on
February 28, 2022. Even though the answer is late, the Court will accept it because both parties
have submitted delayed filings, there is no prejudice to the plaintiff, and no bad faith by the
defendant. See, e.g., Morgan v. Gandalf, Ltd., 165 F. App’x 425, 430 (6th Cir. 2006) (affirming a
district court’s decision to accept the defendants’ eight-month-late answer because there was no
prejudice to the plaintiff and no evidence of bad faith by the defendants).
Accordingly, Plaintiff’s Motion for Default Judgment (ECF No. 13) is DENIED
WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
5/9/2022
DATE
s/Edmund A. Sargus, Jr.
EDMUND A. SARGUS, JR.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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