Opinion
2:24-cv-02064-SHL-tmp
07-10-2024
REVIVAL RESTORATION SERVICES, LLC, Plaintiff, v. UNITED ROOFING AND CONSTRUCTION, LLC, Defendant.
ORDER DENYING WITHOUT PREJUDICE PLAINTIFF'S MOTION FOR DEFAULT JUDGMENT
SHERYL H. LIPMAN CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Before the Court is Plaintiff Revival Restoration Services, LLC's (“Revival”) Motion/Application for Default Judgment, filed July 9, 2024. (ECF No. 18.) Because entry of default was not sought first, the Motion for Default Judgment is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55 establishes a two-step process for obtaining default judgment “[w]hen a party against whom a judgment for affirmative relief is sought has failed to plead or otherwise defend.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 55(a). First, if “that failure is shown by affidavit or otherwise, the clerk must enter the party's default.” Id. Second, unless Rule 55(b)(1) applies, “the party must apply to the court for a default judgment.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 55(b)(2).
Even though Defendant United Roofing and Construction, LLC has yet to answer or otherwise respond, this motion for default judgment is still premature. Revival must initiate “the first step, seeking entry of default from the clerk of court.” See Dahl v. Kanawha Inv. Holding Co., 161 F.R.D. 673, 683 (N.D. Iowa 1995). Because that first step has not been completed, the motion “for default judgment [is] not on the proper procedural footing.” Id.
Accordingly, Revival's Motion for Default Judgment is DENIED WITHOUT
PREJUDICE. The Clerk's Office is DIRECTED to mail this Order to the following address:
United Roofing and Construction, LLC c/o Ken Sparrow 35711 Washington Loop Rd., #171 Punta Gorda, FL 33982
IT IS SO ORDERED.