-KJN United States of America v. Approximately $20,000.00 in U.S. Currency, No. 2:2011cv00320 - Document 20 (E.D. Cal. 2011)

Court Description: FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS signed by Magistrate Judge Kendall J. Newman on 5/13/2011 RECOMMENDING that 15 the clerk's entry of default as against Ms. McClellan, be set aside in the case bearing the number 2:11-cv-00320-FCD-KJN. The setting aside of Ms. McClellan's entry of default in this case shall not alter the various clerk's entries of default in the two related cases bearing the numbers 2:11-cv-091-FCD-KJN and 2:11-cv-099-FCD-KJN, respectively; Referred to Judge Frank C. Danrell, Jr.; Objections due within 14 days after being served with these F & R's. (Reader, L)

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-KJN United States of America v. Approximately $20,000.00 in U.S. Currency Doc. 20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 11 12 13 Plaintiff, No. 2:11-cv-0320 FCD KJN v. Approximately $20,000 in U.S. CURRENCY, 14 Defendant. 15 FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS / 16 On May 3, 2011, the Clerk of the Court entered default against Audrey McClellan. 17 (Dkt. No. 15.) On May 9, 2011, Ms. McClellan appeared in this action and filed a document 18 entitled “Motion to Set Aside Clerk’s Entry of Default - Plaintiff Consenting.” (Dkt. No. 16.)1 19 Ms. McClellan states that plaintiff has consented to set aside her default in this action (but not 20 the two related cases bearing the numbers 2:11-cv-00091-FCD-KJN and 2:11-cv-00099-FCD- 21 KJN, respectively) on the condition that Ms. McClellan submit a verified claim and answer with 22 her request. (Dkt. No. 16 at 1-2.) A review of the court’s docket reflects that Ms. McClellan 23 filed both a verified claim and an answer on the same day she filed the pending motion to set 24 aside the clerk’s entry of default. (Dkt. Nos. 17, 18.) 25 1 26 This matter proceeds before the undersigned pursuant to Eastern District Local Rule 302(c)(3). 1 Dockets.Justia.com 1 The Federal Rules provide that a “court may set aside an entry of default for good 2 cause . . . .” Fed. R. Civ. Pro. 55(c). To determine “good cause”, a court must “‘consider[ ] three 3 factors: (1) whether [the party seeking to set aside the default] engaged in culpable conduct that 4 led to the default; (2) whether [it] had [no] meritorious defense; or (3) whether reopening the 5 default judgment would prejudice’ the other party. [Citation.] This standard, which is the same 6 as is used to determine whether a default judgment should be set aside under Rule 60(b), is 7 disjunctive, such that a finding that any one of these factors is true is sufficient reason for the 8 district court to refuse to set aside the default.” U.S. v. Signed Personal Check No. 730 of 9 Yubran S. Mesle, 615 F.3d 1085, 1091 (9th Cir. 2010) (quoting Franchise Holding II v. 10 Huntington Rests. Group, Inc., 375 F.3d 922, 925-26 (9th Cir. 2004)). Crucially, however, “a 11 case should, whenever possible, be decided on the merits.” Id. 12 Here, Ms. McClellan’s motion was not set for a hearing date, let alone set to be 13 heard after the 28 day’s notice typically required for civil law and motion matters. E.D. Local 14 Rule 230(b). Ms. McClellan’s motion also did not include a signed stipulation confirming 15 plaintiff’s consent to set aside the default. E.D. Local Rule 143(a)(1). Nevertheless, it appears 16 plaintiff has agreed to the setting aside of the clerk’s entry default as against Ms. McClellan. If 17 Ms. McClellan has accurately represented plaintiff’s consent to setting aside the clerk’s entry of 18 default against her, the undersigned cannot see a reason to recommend denial of the pending 19 motion. To date, plaintiff has not filed an opposition to Ms. McClellan’s motion to set aside the 20 clerk’s entry of default. Accordingly, the undersigned recommends that the clerk’s entry of 21 default as against Ms. McClellan be set aside. If plaintiff takes issue with Ms. McClellan’s 22 characterization of plaintiff’s agreement to set aside the clerk’s entry of default against her, 23 plaintiff shall have the opportunity to object to these Findings and Recommendations as 24 described below. 25 //// 26 //// 2 1 For the foregoing reasons, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that: 2 The clerk’s entry of default as against Ms. McClellan dated May 3, 2011 (Dkt. 3 No. 15), be set aside in the case bearing the number 2:11-cv-00320-FCD-KJN. The setting aside 4 of Ms. McClellan’s entry of default in this case shall not alter the various clerk’s entries of 5 default in the two related cases bearing the numbers 2:11-cv-00091-FCD-KJN and 2:11-cv- 6 00099-FCD-KJN, respectively. 7 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District 8 Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within fourteen 9 days after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written 10 objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Id.; see also E. Dist. Local Rule 304(b). 11 Such a document should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and 12 Recommendations.” Any response to the objections shall be filed with the court and served on 13 all parties within fourteen days after service of the objections. E. Dist. Local Rule 304(d). 14 Failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the District 15 Court’s order. Turner v. Duncan, 158 F.3d 449, 455 (9th Cir. 1998); Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 16 1153, 1156-57 (9th Cir. 1991). 17 18 IT IS SO RECOMMENDED. DATED: May 13, 2011 19 20 21 _____________________________________ KENDALL J. NEWMAN UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 22 23 24 25 26 3

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