Filed: Jul. 03, 2018
Latest Update: Jul. 03, 2018
Summary: LETTER ORDER ESTHER SALAS , District Judge . Dear Counsel: Pending before the Court is Plaintiff's motion for default judgment against Defendant A to Z Trading LLC. (D.E. No. 59). Default judgment is an extreme sanction. See Poulis v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 747 F.2d 863 , 867-68 (3d Cir. 1984) (citing Nat'l Hockey League v. Metro. Hockey Club, Inc., 427 U.S. 639 , 643 (1976)). Courts generally should avoid default judgment in favor of reaching the merits. See Zawadski de Buen
Summary: LETTER ORDER ESTHER SALAS , District Judge . Dear Counsel: Pending before the Court is Plaintiff's motion for default judgment against Defendant A to Z Trading LLC. (D.E. No. 59). Default judgment is an extreme sanction. See Poulis v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 747 F.2d 863 , 867-68 (3d Cir. 1984) (citing Nat'l Hockey League v. Metro. Hockey Club, Inc., 427 U.S. 639 , 643 (1976)). Courts generally should avoid default judgment in favor of reaching the merits. See Zawadski de Bueno..
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LETTER ORDER
ESTHER SALAS, District Judge.
Dear Counsel:
Pending before the Court is Plaintiff's motion for default judgment against Defendant A to Z Trading LLC. (D.E. No. 59).
Default judgment is an extreme sanction. See Poulis v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 747 F.2d 863, 867-68 (3d Cir. 1984) (citing Nat'l Hockey League v. Metro. Hockey Club, Inc., 427 U.S. 639, 643 (1976)). Courts generally should avoid default judgment in favor of reaching the merits. See Zawadski de Bueno v. Bueno Castro, 822 F.2d 416, 420 (3d Cir. 1987). Consequently, where "default is entered against [only] some defendants in a multi-defendant case, the preferred practice is for the court to withhold granting default judgment until the action is resolved on its merits against non-defaulting defendants." Animal Sci. Prods., Inc. v. China Nat'l Metals & Minerals Imp. & Exp. Corp., 596 F.Supp.2d 842, 849 (D.N.J 2008) (citing Frow v. De La Vega, 82 U.S. 552 (1872)).
Here, Defendant Abderrazak Zakaria has been litigating this matter on its merits. Accordingly, the Court withholds granting default judgment against Defendant A to Z Trading LLC. See Animal Sci. Prods., 596 F. Supp. 2d at 849. Plaintiff's motion for default judgment is DENIED without prejudice.
The Clerk of Court shall TERMINATE docket entry number 59.
SO ORDERED.
