Gillespie v. Federal National Mortgage Association et al

Filing 27

ORDER DENYING 25 Motion for Entry of Default. Signed by Judge Mark Lane. (td)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
AUSTIN DIVISION
PATRICIA GILLESPIE,
Plaintiff,
V.
FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE
ASSOCIATION, a/k/a FANNIE MAE, and
FIRST
HORIZON
HOME
LOAN
CORPORATION,
Defendants.
____________________________________
FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE
ASSOCIATION,
Counter-Plaintiff,
V.
PATRICIA GILLESPIE,
Counter-Defendant.

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A-15-CV-0137-LY-ML

ORDER
Before the Court are Counter-Plaintiff Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie
Mae”)’s Counter-Claim [Dkt. #16] and Motion for Entry of Default [Dkt. #25]. 1 Default may
be entered when a party against whom judgment is sought has failed to plead or otherwise
defend. FED. R. CIV. P. 55(a). However, a counter-defendant’s duty to appear or defend is not
triggered until service of counter-claim. FED. R. CIV. P. 12(a)(1)(B). The docket of this case does
not reflect any return of service showing the counter-claim was effectively served upon the pro
se Counter-Defendant, Patricia Gillespie. (Counter-Plaintiff mistakenly points to Docket No. 19
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All pending nondispositive motions in the above-styled cause have been referred to the undersigned by
United States District Judge, Lee Yeakel, for resolution pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A), Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 72, and Rule 1(c) of Appendix C of the Local Rules of the United States District Court for the Western
District of Texas. Likewise, all dispositive motions have been referred to the undersigned for a Report and
Recommendation as to the merits pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b), Rule 72 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure,
and Rule 1(d) of Appendix C of the Local Rules of the United States District Court for the Western District of
Texas.

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as evidence of service of the counter-claim, but this document is a certified mail receipt relating
to the Magistrate Court’s Report and Recommendation on the Plaintiff’s original claim for relief.
The counter-claim itself, Docket No. 16, contains a certificate of service indicating it was sent to
Patricia Gillespie by regular mail and certified mail, but no certified mail receipt appears in the
record.) Absent some proof that Patricia Gillespie was effectively served, Counter-Plaintiff is
not entitled to an entry of default. FED. R. CIV. P. 55(a). Accordingly, the motion for entry of
default is DENIED.
The undersigned also notes Counter-Plaintiff should be aware that the federal rules
suggest dismissal of an action may be appropriate when service is not timely made. FED. R. CIV.
P. 4(m). Because the counter-claim has been pending for more than 120 days, with no evidence
that the pro se Counter-Defendant received effective service of process, it is ORDERED that
Counter-Plaintiff shall provide competent proof of service of the counter-claim upon Patricia
Gillespie within fourteen (14) days of the entry of this Order.

SIGNED November 30, 2015.
_______________________________
MARK LANE
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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