Abdelkadir v. United States Postal Service et al

Filing 24

ORDER denying Plaintiff's 23 Motion for Default Judgment. Signed by U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour.(MW) (cc: Plaintiff with copy of 11 Answer, Defendant Carrington via USPS)

Case 2:20-cv-01725-JCC Document 24 Filed 09/07/21 Page 1 of 2

THE HONORABLE JOHN C. COUGHENOUR

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON
AT SEATTLE

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MOHAMED ABDELKADIR,

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v.

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ORDER

UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE, CJ
MARLEY, and TERRELL T. CARRINGTON,
Defendants.

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Plaintiff,

CASE NO. C20-1725-JCC

Before the Court is Plaintiffs’ second motion for default judgment. (Dkt. No. 23). The
Court has considered Plaintiff’s briefing and the relevant record and hereby DENIES the motion
for the reasons explained below.
Plaintiff filed his first motion for default on July 21, 2021, seeking default judgment
against Defendant Carrington even though Mr. Carrington has appeared and answered in this
case. (See Dkt. Nos. 11, 21.) The Court denied that motion because default judgment is only
available against a defendant who has been properly served and who fails to appear and defend.
(See Dkt. No. 22 (citing Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(a)). Plaintiff’s second motion for default judgment is
meritless for the same reason.
Plaintiff argues, however, that Mr. Carrington failed to serve his answer on Plaintiff.
(Dkt. No. 23 at 1–2.) Mr. Carrington’s answer, however, appends a certificate of service which

ORDER
C20-1725-JCC
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Case 2:20-cv-01725-JCC Document 24 Filed 09/07/21 Page 2 of 2

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states that Mr. Carrington indeed served his answer on Plaintiff. (Dkt. No. 11 at 2.) Even if this

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certification were untrue, that would not justify entering default, which the Court cannot do

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unless a defendant fails “to plead or otherwise defend.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(a). Rule 55(a) says

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nothing about service of a responsive pleading, which is governed by Rules 5 and 12 of the

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Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

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Accordingly, Plaintiff’s motion (Dkt. No. 23) is DENIED with prejudice. It is further

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ORDERED that:

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1.

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The Court will not consider any further motions for default judgment in this

matter from Plaintiff;
2.

Mr. Carrington must continue to comply with Rule 5(a)(1) and (b) regarding

service of papers on other parties;
The Clerk is DIRECTED to mail Plaintiff a copy of this order, which shall include a copy
of Mr. Carrington’s answer (Dkt. No. 11).

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DATED this 7th day of September 2021.

A

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John C. Coughenour
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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ORDER
C20-1725-JCC
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