Opinion
11 Civ. 4952 (PKC) (KNF)
06-11-2012
UMAR ALLI, Plaintiff, v. CAPTAIN STEWARD-BOWDEN (1225), OFFICER VICTOR (14410), OFFICER ALCEUS (18380), OFFICER DIXON (17963), OFFICER ARKHURST (18507), HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, PRISON HEALTH SERVICES, KATHLEEN MUNLEY, Defendants.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
KEVIN NATHANIEL FOX
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
Umar Alli, acting pro se, served the complaint on the individually named defendants on February 1, 2012. On March 6, 2012, a city of New York assistant corporation counsel, assigned to represent Kathleen Munley, sent a letter to the Court, stating:
Without appearing on their behalf or making any representations as to the adequacy of service of process, this office respectfully requests that Your Honor sua sponte grant individually named defendants Captain L. Steward-Bowden, Officer Victor, Officer Alceus, and Officer Arkhurst an enlargement of time until March 23, 2012, to respond to the complaint.On March 15, 2012, the Court denied the request, stating:
Inasmuch as [the assistant corporation counsel] does not represent Captain L. Steward-Bowden, Officer Victor, Officer Alceus or Officer Arkhurst-and may never do so-the instant application is improper. Should [the assistant corporation counsel] determine to represent these individuals he will be free to make any application on their behalf he believes is reasonable and appropriate.On March 21, 2012, "Lisa Steward-Bowden, Lydon Victor, Anderson Alceus, Terrence Dixon, Sandy Arkhurst, and Kathleen Mulvey" served and filed their answer.
On or about April 19, 2012, the plaintiff attempted to file a motion for judgment by default. On April 30, 2012, the Pro Se Office returned the plaintiff's motion to him stating, inter alia:
The motion papers received by the Pro Se Office were forwarded to Judge Fox for consideration pursuant to Rule 5(d)(2)(B), (4) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Judge Fox has directed this Office to return the motions to you because there is no basis at this time for an entry of default against Defendants. A review of the Court's docket indicates that Defendants filed an Answer to your complaint on March 21, 2012. See docket entry # 21 on the enclosed docket sheet.
On May 17, 2012, the plaintiff filed a "Motion for Reconsideration of the Court's Order Denying Plaintiff's Motion for Default Judgment." In that motion, the plaintiff asks the Court to "reconsider its decision in the dated April 30th 2012 letter denying Plaintiff's request for default judgment" because the individually named defendants' "untimely answer to [the] complaint did not cure default," and no finding of good cause for setting aside default is warranted.
The April 30, 2012 letter sent to the plaintiff by the Pro Se Office states erroneously that "Judge Fox has directed this Office to return the motions to you because there is no basis at this time for an entry of default against Defendants." Since the defendants were served with the summons and complaint on February 1, 2012, their answer was due to be served on February 22, 2012. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(a)(1)(A). The defendants failed to serve their answer within the time prescribed by Rule 12(a)(1)(A), and they did not seek an enlargement of time to answer either prior to or after the expiration of their time to answer, which was February 22, 2012. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(a)(1). The defendants were in default when they failed to serve the answer timely, as required by Rule 12(a)(1)(A)(i).
The plaintiff's motion for reconsideration includes, as an exhibit, his motion for judgment by default, which was returned to him by the Pro Se Office on April 30, 2012, as well as his arguments concerning; (i) the defendants' failure to answer timely; and (ii) the lack of good cause to set aside the default, pursuant to Rule 55(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Since the Court did not deny the plaintiffs motion for judgment by default, no basis exists for the plaintiffs reconsideration motion. The Court interprets the plaintiffs motion for reconsideration liberally, see Burgos v. Hopkins, 14 F.3d 787, 790 (2d Cir. 1994), and deems it a motion to strike the defendants' answer and for judgment by default. Therefore, (1) on or before June 25, 2012, the defendants shall serve and file their response to the motion; and (2) on or before July 9, 2012, the plaintiff may serve and file any reply. Dated: New York, New York
June 11, 2012
SO ORDERED:
___________
KEVIN NATHANIEL FOX
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
Copy mailed to: Umar Alii