Opinion
Civil Action No. 09-581.
July 26, 2010
ORDER
For the reasons that follow, Plaintiffs' Motion for entry of default judgment (Doc. 53) will be granted.
On June 18, 2010, Magistrate Judge Cathy Bissoon entered an Order scheduling a Conference to discuss former defense counsel's request to withdraw their appearance. See text Order dated Jun. 18, 2010. In advance of the Conference, the Court advised the Defendant-corporations that they could not appear in federal court without licensed legal counsel. See text Order dated Jun. 17, 2010; see also Jun. 18th text Order (at conference, Defendants' corporate representatives would be called upon to discuss "the timely entry of appearance of substitute counsel on Defendants' behalf," or, alternatively, "entry of judgment in favor of Plaintiffs in the event that Defendants [were] unable . . . to secure appropriate legal representation"), aff'd on appeal to Dist. Ct. by Mem. Order dated Jun. 22, 2010 (Doc. 46).
Judge Bissoon held the Conference on June 24, 2010, and, thereafter, she placed on the record Conference Minutes indicating that: "Defendants ha[d] been made aware of the consequences of [their counsel's] withdrawal"; "Defendants indicate[d] that they ha[d] no intention of securing alternative counsel"; and that, in any event, Defendants had until July 2, 2010 to secure the appearance of substitute counsel. See Min. Entry for Conf. on Jun. 24, 2010 (Doc. 49). July 2nd has come and gone, and no counsel have entered an appearance on behalf of Defendants.
As the Court already has determined, corporations may not proceed in federal court " pro se." See discussion supra; see also Evanston Ins. Co. v. Layne Thomas Builders, Inc., 2010 WL 1213433, *2 (D. Del. Mar. 26, 2010) (holding same, citation omitted); Star Pacific Corp. v. Star Atlantic Corp., 2009 WL 3380608, *2 (D. N.J. Oct. 20, 2009) (same). Where corporate defendants, having been so advised, fail to timely secure the entry of licensed counsel, an entry of default judgment is warranted. See, e.g., Evanston at *2; Star Pacific at *1-2.
In this case, Defendants have made clear that they have no intention of securing legal representation. Under the circumstances, Defendants cannot appropriately defend this lawsuit, and, absent an entry of default judgment, Plaintiffs effectively will be denied the ability to timely prosecute their claims. Plaintiffs' Motion for entry of default judgment (Doc. 53), therefore, is GRANTED.
Although the undersigned questions the degree to which a Poulis determination is necessary, the Court also finds entry of default judgment warranted under Poulis factors 1 (personal responsibility); 2 (prejudice to the adversary); 4 (willfulness), and 5 (ineffectiveness of alternative sanctions). See Harrington v. All American Plazas, Inc., 2010 WL 2710573, *2-3 (D. N.J. Jul. 7, 2010) (holding same). The same is true under the three-factor test regarding entry of default judgment, as applied in Evanston. Compare id., 2010 WL 1213433 at *2 (addressing prejudice to plaintiff, culpability of defendant, and availability of litigable defenses) with discussions supra (noting wilfulness of Defendants' failure to retain counsel, their inability to appropriately defend this lawsuit, and resulting prejudice to Plaintiffs).
Consistent with the foregoing, DEFAULT JUDGMENT is granted in favor of Plaintiffs, and against Defendants, with respect to liability. Plaintiffs' Motion does not request a damages calculation, and one cannot be made without additional proceedings. See Pls.' Mot. at ¶ 15 (requesting that "damages . . . be calculated at a later time"); compare Compl. (Doc. 1) (asserting product liability and related claims, and requesting unspecified amount in damages) with Bank of America, N.A. v. Hewitt, 2009 WL 1635365, *2 (D. N.J. Jun. 10, 2009) ("[w]hile a default judgment constitutes an admission of liability, the quantum of damages remains to be established by proof unless the amount is liquidated or susceptible of mathematical computation") (citation to quoted source omitted).
By August 9, 2010, Plaintiffs shall file a motion proposing procedures for determining damages under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55(b)(2). If Plaintiffs seek a jury determination, they shall identify legal authority demonstrating their entitlement to the same. Compare id. (authorizing courts to conduct damages hearings, subject to "any federal statutory right to a jury trial") with Compl. (demanding jury trial).
If Plaintiffs do not wish to immediately proceed to a damages determination, their counsel may, instead of a motion, file by August 9, 2010, notice (ECF category "Notice (Other)") with the Court proposing an alternative course of action.
IT IS SO ORDERED.