Filed: Apr. 17, 2015
Latest Update: Apr. 17, 2015
Summary: ORDER ON MOTION FOR DEFAULT JUDGMENT (DKT. #8) ANDREW P. GORDON , District Judge . Plaintiff Angel Gonzalez requests a default judgment against defendant Cosmopolitan Hotels and Resorts, Inc., a local hotel and casino (the "Cosmopolitan"). Gonzalez appears to contend that, because the Cosmopolitan failed to respond to his complaint, he is automatically entitled to default judgment. But to get a default judgment, a plaintiff must establish a number of things, such as that the complaint is su
Summary: ORDER ON MOTION FOR DEFAULT JUDGMENT (DKT. #8) ANDREW P. GORDON , District Judge . Plaintiff Angel Gonzalez requests a default judgment against defendant Cosmopolitan Hotels and Resorts, Inc., a local hotel and casino (the "Cosmopolitan"). Gonzalez appears to contend that, because the Cosmopolitan failed to respond to his complaint, he is automatically entitled to default judgment. But to get a default judgment, a plaintiff must establish a number of things, such as that the complaint is suf..
More
ORDER ON MOTION FOR DEFAULT JUDGMENT (DKT. #8)
ANDREW P. GORDON, District Judge.
Plaintiff Angel Gonzalez requests a default judgment against defendant Cosmopolitan Hotels and Resorts, Inc., a local hotel and casino (the "Cosmopolitan"). Gonzalez appears to contend that, because the Cosmopolitan failed to respond to his complaint, he is automatically entitled to default judgment. But to get a default judgment, a plaintiff must establish a number of things, such as that the complaint is sufficient and that the amount of damages requested is accurate. Gonzalez has not even attempted to make these showings. I therefore deny his motion.
Obtaining a default judgment is a two-step process.1 First, when a defendant fails to properly respond, the plaintiff must request that the clerk enter the defendant's default.2 After the clerk enters default, a party may then seek entry of a default judgment pursuant to Rule 55(b).
Upon entry of default, I take as true the factual allegations in the complaint.3 Nonetheless, "[e]ntry of default does not entitle the [plaintiff] to a default judgment as a matter of right."4 I must consider: (1) the possibility of prejudice to the plaintiff; (2) the merits of the plaintiff's substantive claims; (3) the sufficiency of the complaint; (4) the sum of money at stake in the action; (5) the possibility of a dispute concerning material facts; (6) whether the default was due to excusable neglect; and (7) the strong policy underlying the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure favoring decisions on the merits.5 The plaintiff bears the burden of establishing that her motion for default judgment is warranted.6 As a general rule, default judgments are disfavored.7 Ultimately, whether a default judgment will be granted is within my discretion.8
As explained above, a fact-intensive, seven-factor test guides my decision to grant default judgment. Gonzalez has failed to establish that any of these factors favor default judgment in this case. He does not address his potential prejudice, the merits of his claims, the possibility of disputes as to the material facts, the accuracy of his claimed damages,9 or whether the underlying default resulted from excusable neglect.
Because Gonzalez failed to establish that default judgment is warranted, I deny his motion.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Plaintiff Angel Gonzalez' Motion for Default Judgment (Dkt. # 8) is DENIED.
