Opinion
No. 1:15-cv-01389-JMS-DKL
01-19-2016
PROASSURANCE INDEMNITY COMPANY, INC., Plaintiff, v. DONALD J. WAGONER, MARILYN L. WAGONER, WAGONER MEDICAL CENTER, LLC, WAGONER MEDICAL CENTER, P.C., D.J. & M.L. WAGONER, INC., ROBERT A. BREWER, WILLIAM G. TERPSTRA, GARY M. HARTMAN, THOMAS K. HEWITT, JOHN M. THOMAS, STEPHEN ROBERTSON as the Administrator of the Indiana Patient's Compensation Fund, LINDA S. RICHARDS LPN, Defendants. STEPHEN ROBERTSON as the Administrator of the Indiana Patient's Compensation Fund, Cross Claimant, v. ROBERT A. BREWER, D.J. & M.L. WAGONER, INC., GARY M. HARTMAN, THOMAS K. HEWITT, WILLIAM G. TERPSTRA, JOHN M. THOMAS, DONALD J. WAGONER, MARILYN L. WAGONER, WAGONER MEDICAL CENTER, LLC, WAGONER MEDICAL CENTER, P.C., Cross Defendants.
Distribution via U.S. Mail: THOMAS K. HEWITT 6615 N. Private Road 110W Brazil, IN 47834 Electronic Distribution via CM/ECF: Douglas Alan Cox beckermurraycox@yahoo.com David Charles Jensen EICHHORN & EICHHORN djensen@eichhorn-law.com Michael Roth EICHHORN & EICHHORN mroth@eichhorn-law.com Robert Jon Feldt EICHHORN & EICHHORN rfeldt@eichhorn-law.com Brett T. Clayton EICHHORN & EICHHORN LLP bclayton@eichhorn-law.com Kevin T. McNamara EICHHORN & EICHHORN LLP kmcnamara@eichhorn-law.com Brett Michael Haworth HENN HAWORTH CUMMINGS brett.haworth@HHCFirm.com David M. Henn HENN LAW FIRM P.C. david.henn@HHCFirm.com John R. Terpstra HINSHAW & CULBERTSON LLP - Schererville jterpstra@hinshawlaw.com Kathryn Birks Harvey HINSHAW & CULBERTSON LLP - Schererville kharvey@hinshawlaw.com Edward D. Thomas LEWIS WAGNER LLP ethomas@lewiswagner.com Richard K. Shoultz LEWIS WAGNER LLP rshoultz@lewiswagner.com A. Richard Blaiklock LEWIS WAGNER, LLP rblaiklock@lewiswagner.com Cynthia A. Bedrick MCNEELY STEPHENSON THOPY & HARROLD cabedrick@msth.com Kyle M. Baker MCNEELY STEPHENSON THOPY & HARROLD kmbaker@msth.com Scott Aaron Milkey MCNEELY STEPHENSON THOPY & HARROLD scott.a.milkey@msth.com John Joseph Morse MORSE LAW FIRM PC morse@morsebickel.com
ORDER
On January 19, 2016, the Court held a hearing on Plaintiff's Motion for Default Judgment as to pro se Defendant Thomas K. Hewitt. [Filing No. 59.] Plaintiff appeared by counsel Brett Clayton. Mr. Hewitt appeared on his own behalf in person. The other parties were not required to attend. [Filing No. 65.] The Court Reporter was Jean Knepley.
Rule 55 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure sets forth a two-step process for a party seeking default judgment. McCarthy v. Fuller, 2009 WL 3617740, at *1 (S.D. Ind. 2009); see also Lowe v. McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 361 F.3d 335, 339 (7th Cir. 2004) ("The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure make a clear distinction between the entry of default and the entry of a default judgment."). First, the plaintiff must obtain an entry of default from the Clerk. Fed. R. Civ. Pro. 55(a). Second, after obtaining that entry, the plaintiff may seek an entry of default judgment. Fed. R. Civ. Pro. 55(b). The plaintiff "is not permitted to bypass the necessary step of obtaining an entry of default" before seeking an entry of default judgment. Golub v. United States Secret Serv., 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 76756, *2-3 (S.D. Ind. 2009).
Plaintiff confirmed that it has not moved for a Clerk's entry of default pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55(a). Additionally, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals has instructed district courts not to enter default judgment against a pro se defendant who appeared at a default hearing unless it is clear that the pro se defendant has "exhibited a willful refusal to litigate the case properly." Comerica Bank v. Esposito, 215 Fed. Appx. 506, 508 (7th Cir. 2007). Although Mr. Hewitt attempted to answer Plaintiff's Complaint by mailing his response to Plaintiff's counsel instead of filing it with the Court, as he should have done, the Court finds that he has not shown a willful refusal to litigate this case properly.
For these reasons, the Court DENIED Plaintiff's Motion for Default Judgment. [Filing No. 59.] The Court ORDERED Mr. Hewitt to file an Answer to Plaintiff's Complaint with the Court within 10 days. Mr. Hewitt was directed to the Clerk's Office for further directions and also may find helpful information on the Court's website at http://www.insd.uscourts.gov/filing-without-attorney. Mr. Hewitt was also cautioned that neither the Court nor the Clerk's office can offer him legal advice should he continue to proceed pro se.
As a final matter, the Court notes that although a crossclaim filed in this case references Mr. Hewitt, [Filing No. 54 at 5-6], Mr. Hewitt is not listed on the service distribution list of that filing, [Filing No. 54 at 8]. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5(a)(1)(B) provides that a pleading after the original complaint must be served on every party unless the Court has otherwise ruled, which it has not in this case. Thus, the Court directs the Clerk to REMOVE Mr. Hewitt as a Crossclaim-Defendant listed on the Court's docket until such time as Crossclaim-Plaintiff Stephen Robertson, Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Insurance and Administrator of the Indiana Patient's Compensation Fund, demonstrates proper service upon Mr. Hewitt. The Court reminds all parties that given Mr. Hewitt's pro se status, they are expected to serve him with filings via U.S. Mail at the address listed in the distribution list of this Order. Fed. R. Civ. Pro. 5(b)(2)(C). Mr. Hewitt may consent in writing to service via electronic means if he chooses, but he is under no obligation to do so. Fed. R. Civ. Pro. 5(b)(2)(E).
Date: January 19, 2016
/s/_________
Hon. Jane Magnus-Stinson, Judge
United States District Court
Southern District of Indiana Distribution via U.S. Mail: THOMAS K. HEWITT
6615 N. Private Road 110W
Brazil, IN 47834 Electronic Distribution via CM/ECF: Douglas Alan Cox
beckermurraycox@yahoo.com David Charles Jensen
EICHHORN & EICHHORN
djensen@eichhorn-law.com Michael Roth
EICHHORN & EICHHORN
mroth@eichhorn-law.com Robert Jon Feldt
EICHHORN & EICHHORN
rfeldt@eichhorn-law.com Brett T. Clayton
EICHHORN & EICHHORN LLP
bclayton@eichhorn-law.com Kevin T. McNamara
EICHHORN & EICHHORN LLP
kmcnamara@eichhorn-law.com Brett Michael Haworth
HENN HAWORTH CUMMINGS
brett.haworth@HHCFirm.com David M. Henn
HENN LAW FIRM P.C.
david.henn@HHCFirm.com John R. Terpstra
HINSHAW & CULBERTSON LLP - Schererville
jterpstra@hinshawlaw.com Kathryn Birks Harvey
HINSHAW & CULBERTSON LLP - Schererville kharvey@hinshawlaw.com Edward D. Thomas
LEWIS WAGNER LLP
ethomas@lewiswagner.com Richard K. Shoultz
LEWIS WAGNER LLP
rshoultz@lewiswagner.com A. Richard Blaiklock
LEWIS WAGNER, LLP
rblaiklock@lewiswagner.com Cynthia A. Bedrick
MCNEELY STEPHENSON THOPY & HARROLD
cabedrick@msth.com Kyle M. Baker
MCNEELY STEPHENSON THOPY & HARROLD
kmbaker@msth.com Scott Aaron Milkey
MCNEELY STEPHENSON THOPY & HARROLD
scott.a.milkey@msth.com John Joseph Morse
MORSE LAW FIRM PC
morse@morsebickel.com