DAVID BRAMLETTE, District Judge.
Before the Court is Plaintiff Home Bank, N.A. ("Home Bank")'s Motion for Default Judgment (Doc. 8).
Plaintiff Home Bank
Home Bank served GTO and John Tarver ("Tarver") with a Summons and a copy of its Complaint on May 4, 2019. Docs. 4, 5. Pursuant to FED. R. Civ. P. 12(a), the defendants' responsive pleadings were due by May 28, 2019. The defendants failed to appear, plead, or otherwise defend prior to the expiration of that date. On June 5, 2019, Home Bank filed a motion for entry of default, and the Clerk of this Court entered default against the defendants. Doc. 6.
This litigation arises from nonpayment of two promissory notes. In August 2018, GTO executed and delivered a promissory note to Home Bank in the amount of $219,590.67, together with interest thereon at the fixed rate of 6.000% per annum based on a year of 360 days, computed on a 365/360 basis, with a final payment of all unpaid principal and interest being due on August 21, 2023. Doc. 1, p. 2; see Doc. 1-1. Home Bank refers to this promissory note as "Note 1." In consideration of Home Bank's extending credit to GTO, Tarver executed and delivered to Home Bank a continuing guaranty. Doc. 1, p. 2;
GTO allegedly failed to pay Note 1 according to its terms. Doc. 1, p. 2. Home Bank "exercised its rights under the terms of Note 1 to accelerate the balance due." Doc. 1, p. 3. Home Bank asserts that it made demand on GTO to pay the balance due on March 11, 2019. Doc. 1, p. 3;
Home Bank states that in December 2014, GTO executed and delivered a promissory note to Home Bank in the amount of $399,917.23, together with interest thereon at the fixed rate of 5.500% per annum based on a year of 360 days, computed on a 365/360 basis, with a final payment of all unpaid principal and interest being due on November 25, 2019. Doc. 1, pp. 3-4;
GTO allegedly failed to pay Note 2 according to its terms. Doc. 1, p. 2. Home Bank "exercised its rights under the terms of Note 2 to accelerate the balance due." Doc. 1, p. 4. Home Bank made demand on GTO to pay the balance due on March 11, 2019. Doc. 1, p. 4;
For relief, Home Bank seeks a judgment against GTO and John Tarver, individually, on Note 1 for a total of $214,777.01
After applying for and obtaining an entry of default, the plaintiff moved for entry of a default judgment. The plaintiff followed the proper Rule 55 sequence, but that, by itself, is no guarantee that a default judgment will be entered against the defendants.
Entries of default are generally disfavored in the law.
To recover on a promissory note, Home Bank must show that (1) the defendant signed it; (2) Home Bank is the present owner or holder; and (3) the note is in default.
Note 1 is signed by John Tarver as member/manager of GTO, which is listed on Note 1 as the borrower. Doc. 1-1, p. 3. Note 2 is signed by George Tarver as member/manager of GTO and John Tarver as member of GTO, which is listed on Note 2 as the borrower. Doc. 1-4, p. 3. Home Bank is listed on both notes as the lender. Doc. 1-1, p. 1; Doc. 1-4, p. 1. Home Bank alleges that GTO has failed to pay the notes according to their terms. Doc. 1, pp. 3-4. The Court finds that Home Bank has produced sufficient evidence to recover on the promissory notes at issue.
Applying factors listed above to the action at hand, the Court finds that grounds for default judgment are clearly established. Home Bank's Motion for Default Judgment [Doc. 68] shall be GRANTED.
Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiff Home Bank's Motion for Default Judgment (Doc. 8) is GRANTED.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff Home Bank will submit to the Court a proposed Final Judgment within ten (10) days from entry of this Order.
SO ORDERED.
Doc. 8-1, p. 2.