Opinion
CIVIL ACTION NO. 2:09cv20-KS-MTP.
July 30, 2009
ORDER
THIS MATTER is before the court on the Plaintiff's Motion for Default Judgment [18]. Having reviewed the motion, the entire record in this matter and applicable law, the court finds that the motion should be denied.
In the motion, Plaintiff asks the court to enter a default judgment against Defendants Dr. Ron Woodall and April Meggs, based on the fact that they have not answered the complaint nor otherwise appeared in this action. The Process Receipts and Returns filed on May 18, 2009 [16] [17] indicate that process was served on a "Danny Perry" at 506 S. President Street in Jackson, Mississippi. There is nothing of record establishing that Mr. Perry is authorized to accept service of process on behalf of Defendants. Based on the foregoing, it does not appear that process has been properly served pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 4(e). Thus, entry of default judgment is not appropriate. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 55; Arceneaux v. Davisdon, 325 F. Supp. 2d 742, 744 (S.D. Miss. 2004) (holding that default judgment may not be entered unless there has been valid service of process).
The Order [9] directing issuance and service of the summons and complaint provided the following address for both Defendants: South Mississippi Correctional Institution, 22689 Highway 63 North, Leakesville, MS 39451.
Moreover, even if Defendants had been properly served, "a party is not entitled to a default judgment as a matter of right, even where the defendant is technically in default." Lewis v. Lynn, 236 F.3d 766, 767 (5th Cir. 2001) ( quoting Ganther v. Ingle, 75 F.3d 207, 212 (5th Cir. 1996)). "In fact, '[d]efault judgments are a drastic remedy, not favored by the Federal Rules and resorted to by courts only in extreme situations.'" Id. ( quoting Sun Bank of Ocala v. Pelican Homestead Sav. Ass'n, 874 F.2d 274, 276 (5th Cir. 1989)). Finally, this action is subject to the Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which provides that "[n]o relief shall be granted to the plaintiff unless a reply has been filed." 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(g)(1).
IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED that Plaintiff's Motion for Default Judgment [18] is denied.
By separate Order, this court shall direct the clerk of court to re-issue summonses for Defendants Woodall and Meggs and shall direct the U.S. Marshall to serve process upon them at the address provided by the court.
SO ORDERED