Pamela Day v. Dustin Boyer

O [1] JS-5 [7] United States District Court [8] Central District of California [10] Case №. 2:19-cv-01669-ODW (RAOx) 11 PAMELA DAY, 12 Plaintiff, ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO 13 v. SET ASIDE DEFAULT JUDGMENT [33] 14 DUSTIN BOYER, 15 Defendant. 16 I. INTRODUCTION 17 The Court previously granted in part Plaintiff Pamela Day’s Renewed Motion 18 for Entry of Default Judgment. (Order Granting Default J., ECF No. 22.) Defendant 19 Dustin Boyer moves to set aside the default judgment. (“Motion”). (Mot. to Set 20 Aside Default J. (“Mot.”), ECF No. 33.) The Motion is fully briefed. (See Opp’n, 21 ECF No. 46; Reply, ECF No. 48.) For the following reasons, the Court GRANTS 22 Boyer’s Motion.1 23 II. BACKGROUND 24 A. Factual Background 25 Day and Boyer were involved in a cryptocurrency (“MobileCoin”) investment 26 that fell through. (See Mot. 9–14; Decl. of Dustin Boyer (“Boyer Decl.”) ¶¶ 4–21, [27] 28 1 Having carefully considered the papers filed in connection with the Motion, the Court deemed the matter appropriate for decision without oral argument. Fed. R. Civ. P. 78; C.D. Cal. L.R. 7-15. 1 ECF No. 34; Compl. ¶¶ 5–10, ECF No. 1.) Through a friend, Boyer received an 2 opportunity to invest $1 million in a new cryptocurrency called MobileCoin. (Boyer 3 Decl. ¶ 6.) The initial cryptocurrency offering (“ICO”) was scheduled to close on 4 December 31, 2017. (Id.) To invest in the MobileCoin ICO, investors purchased 5 Ethereum, an existing cryptocurrency, and deposited it into a publicly viewable digital 6 wallet that Boyer had created. (Id. ¶ 7.) 7 At the end of December, Day and Boyer communicated regarding Day’s 8 interest in participating in the MobileCoin ICO and Day deposited her Ethereum into 9 Boyer’s digital wallet for that purpose. (Compl. ¶ 7; Boyer Decl. ¶¶ 10–14.) Boyer 10 asserts he informed Day that (1) the initial ICO closing date had been extended to an 11 unspecified date; (2) the terms of the ICO were subject to change; (3) the MobileCoin 12 was not a security; and (4) cryptocurrency investments were very risky and Boyer did 13 not recommend it. (Boyer Decl. ¶¶ 11–13.) Additionally, Boyer contends that he 14 provided Day with the draft Simple Agreement for Future Token (“SAFT”), which set 15 out the proposed terms of the ICO. (Id. ¶¶ 12, 17.) The SAFT stated the MobileCoin 16 was not a security, the ICO’s terms were not yet final, and specified there were 17 significant risks involved. (Id.) 18 Day alleges that, on January 5, 2018, Boyer confirmed that he had advanced the 19 Ethereum and purchased the MobileCoin on Day’s behalf. (Compl. ¶¶ 7–8.) She 20 claims that Boyer comingled her funds with his and, when the ICO did not proceed, 21 Boyer refused to return her investment. (See id. ¶ 10.) Boyer asserts he never told 22 Day that he had purchased the MobileCoin on her behalf because the purchase was not 23 possible until the ICO closed, which never happened. (See Boyer Decl. ¶¶ 14, 17, 18.) 24 He contends he never commingled Day’s investment and has attempted to return 25 Day’s Ethereum, to no avail. (See id. ¶¶ 19–24.) When the ICO did not proceed, 26 Boyer refunded the other investors’ Ethereum by moving the Ethereum into digital 27 wallets each investor created for this purpose or to other websites the investors 28 designated to receive the cryptocurrency. (Id. ¶ 18.) However, Boyer asserts that Day 1 refused to provide him with a digital wallet to which Boyer could refund the 2 Ethereum. (Id. ¶¶ 9, 18.) Consequently, he created a wallet for Day and transferred 3 her Ethereum there, where it remains to this day. (Id. ¶¶ 9, 18–24.) 4 B. Procedural Background 5 On March 7, 2019, Day filed this lawsuit. (See Compl.) Day asserted twelve 6 causes of action against Boyer including: sale of unregistered securities (claims one 7 and two), acting as an unlicensed broker-dealer (three and four), false or misleading 8 statements in connection with the sale of securities (five and six), fraud (seven), 9 breach of fiduciary duty (eight), conversion (nine), breach of contract (ten), unjust 10 enrichment (eleven), and money had and received (twelve). (Id. ¶¶ 11–84.) When 11 Boyer did not timely respond to the Complaint, after prompting from the Court, Day 12 requested entry of default, which the Clerk entered on May 13, 2019. (Req. Entry 13 Default, ECF No. 12; Default, ECF No. 13.) After further prompting from the Court, 14 Day moved for entry of default judgment. (Appl. Default J., ECF No. 15.) The Court 15 denied Day’s first motion for entry of default judgment as deficient, and she 16 subsequently renewed the motion. (Renewed Mot. Entry Default J., ECF No. 20.) On 17 January 21, 2020, the Court granted in part Day’s renewed motion. (Order Granting 18 Default J. 14.) The Court entered judgment for Day on her first, second, fifth through 19 tenth, and twelfth causes of action. (Id.) 20 In late February 2020, Boyer learned of the default judgment through a mutual 21 friend. (Boyer Decl. ¶ 25.) He moved to set aside the default judgment in July 2020. 22 (See Mot.) Boyer seeks to set aside the default judgment under Federal Rule of Civil 23 Procedure (“Rule”) 60(b)(1) based on excusable neglect. (See id. at 7.) 24 III. LEGAL STANDARD 25 “Motions to vacate a default judgment . . . are cognizable under [Rule] 60(b).” 26 TCI Grp Life Ins. Plan v. Knoebber, 244 F.3d 691 , 695 (9th Cir. 2001), overruled on 27 other grounds by Egelhoff v. Egelhoff ex rel. Breiner, 532 U.S. 141 , 147–50 (2001). 28 “Rule 60(b)(1) . . . grants district courts discretion to relieve a party from a judgment 1 or order for reason of ‘mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect.’” Id. 2 “Although the application of Rule 60(b) is committed to the discretion of the district 3 courts,” the Ninth Circuit has explained that, “as a general matter, Rule 60(b) is 4 ‘remedial in nature and . . . must be liberally applied.’” Id. at 695–96 (quoting Falk v. 5 Allen, 739 F.2d 461, 463 (9th Cir. 1984)). “More specifically, in applying the general 6 terms of Rule 60(b) to default judgments, [the Ninth Circuit] has emphasized that such 7 judgments are ‘appropriate only in extreme circumstances; a case should, whenever 8 possible, be decided on the merits.’” Id. at 696 (quoting Falk, 739 F.2d at 463). 9 The factors that govern lifting entries of default under Rule 55(c), sometimes 10 referred to as the “Falk factors,” also govern vacating a default judgment under 11 Rule 60(b). Id. at 696–97 (“[T]he Falk factors are . . . quite sufficient . . . to guide 12 district courts’ exercise of discretion under Rule 60(b)(1) in the context of default 13 judgments.”). The court may deny a motion to set aside an entry of default judgment 14 if the moving party fails to meet its burden as to any of the three factors: (1) the 15 moving party’s culpable conduct leading to the default; (2) the moving party’s 16 meritorious defense; or (3) the nonmoving party’s prejudice from setting aside the 17 default. See id. at 696. However, “it would still be within a district court’s discretion 18 to grant the motion.” Yagman v. Galipo, No. CV 12-7908-GW (SHx), 2013 WL 19 1287409, at *9 (C.D. Cal. Mar. 25, 2013) (citing Brandt v. Am. Bankers Ins. Co., 653 20 F.3d 1108 , 1112 (9th Cir. 2011) (affirming district court’s setting aside of default 21 judgment where, although defendant’s conduct was culpable, defendant had 22 meritorious defenses and plaintiff would not be prejudiced)). “[W]here [a] defendant 23 seeks timely relief from the judgment and has a meritorious defense, doubt, if any, 24 should be resolved in favor of the motion to set aside the judgment.” Meadows v. 25 Dominican Republic, 817 F.2d 517, 521 (9th Cir. 1987). 26 IV. DISCUSSION 27 Boyer contends the Falk factors favor setting aside the default judgment. 28 (Mot. 7.) Day asserts Boyer’s Motion is untimely and that Boyer fails to meet his 1 burden under the Falk factors. (Opp’n 6–8.) The Court first considers the timeliness 2 of Boyer’s Motion before turning to the Falk factors.2 3 A. Timeliness 4 A motion for relief under Rule 60(b) must be made within a reasonable time, 5 and if based on excusable neglect, no more than one year after entry of judgment. 6 Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(c)(1). However, if the court finds that “the defendant was guilty of 7 laches or unreasonable delay,” the court may find the motion untimely even if it was 8 made within a year. Meadows, 817 F.2d at 520–21. Whether a delay is reasonable 9 “depends upon the facts of each case, taking into consideration the interest in finality, 10 the reason for delay, the practical ability of the litigant to learn earlier of the grounds 11 relied upon, and prejudice to other parties.” Ashford v. Steuart, 657 F.2d 1053 , 1055 12 (9th Cir. 1981) (per curiam). 13 Boyer brought his Motion six months after entry of judgment and five months 14 after he claims to have learned of it, both durations well within the presumptive 15 one-year timeframe of Rule 60(c). Further, the Court does not find the delay 16 unreasonable in light of all circumstances. The Court entered judgment on January 17 21, 2020. (J., ECF No. 23.) Boyer asserts that he did not learn of the lawsuit until a 18 mutual friend informed him of the default judgment in late February 2020, after he 19 had moved across country from California to Massachusetts. (Boyer Decl. ¶¶ 25–26.) 20 He explains that, following the move, it took time to raise funds and obtain counsel to 21 file the Motion, which was filed as soon as possible, on July 17, 2020. (Id.) 22 Additionally, a world-wide pandemic was ongoing during this time, and continues to 23 disrupt lives and businesses today.3 Further, although the interest in finality here may [24] 25 2 The Court DENIES Boyer’s Request for Judicial Notice (ECF No. 35) because the Court need not judicially notice documents in filed in this matter to consider them. See Gerritsen v. Warner Bros. 26 Ent. Inc., 112 F. Supp. 3d 1011, 1034 (C.D. Cal. 2015) (“An accurate citation will suffice.”). The Court does not reach Boyer’s Evidentiary Objections (ECF No. 48-2) because the Court does not [27] rely on the statements to which Boyer objects in resolving the Motion. 28 3 See World Health Organization, Timeline: WHO’s COVID-19 response, https://www.who.int/ emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/interactive-timeline (last visited Dec. 31, 2020); 1 be heightened because the time for appeal has passed, that interest is also reduced 2 because there is no decision on the merits. See Ashford, 657 F.2d at 1055 (noting that 3 when the time for appeal has passed, the interest in finality is heightened); TCI Grp., 4 244 F.3d at 696 (explaining that, where there has been no merits decision, “the finality 5 interest should give way fairly readily, to further the competing interest in reaching 6 the merits of a dispute”). Finally, as discussed further below, Day has not shown that 7 she will be prejudiced if the Court sets aside the default judgment. 8 Considering the totality of circumstances, the Court cannot find the five-month 9 delay here “unreasonable.” See Gravatt v. Paul Revere Life Ins. Co., 101 F. App’x 10 194, 196 (9th Cir. 2004) (finding six-month delay not unreasonable where the record 11 reflected no prejudice to the opposing party, “the most important factor”); cf. Brafman 12 v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., 606 F. App’x 374 , 375–76 (9th Cir. 2015) (affirming 13 finding that eleven-month delay was unreasonable, despite reason of attorney’s illness, 14 where party was aware of litigation and failed to take numerous opportunities to 15 engage in action before dismissal). Accordingly, the Court declines to reject Boyer’s 16 Motion as untimely. 17 B. The Factors 18 Next, the Court examines the Falk factors: (1) Boyer’s culpable conduct leading 19 to the default; (2) Boyer’s meritorious defenses; and (3) Day’s prejudice. TCI Grp., 20 244 F.3d at 696. On balance, and in light of the strong policy that a case should, 21 whenever possible, be decided on the merits, see Falk, 739 F.2d at 463, the Court 22 finds the default judgment should be set aside. 23 1. Culpability 24 “[N]eglect may be excusable when the defendant can provide a ‘credible, good 25 faith explanation negating any intention to take advantage of the opposing party, 26 interfere with judicial decisionmaking, or otherwise manipulate the legal process.’” [27] 28 Center for Disease Control, Things You Need to Know, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/ your-health/need-to-know.html (last visited Dec. 31, 2020). 1 Yagman, 2013 WL 1287409 , at *10 (quoting TCI Grp., 244 F.3d at 697). In contrast, 2 neglect is typically inexcusable when “there is no explanation of the default 3 inconsistent with a devious, deliberate, willful, or bad faith failure to respond.” TCI 4 Grp., 244 F.3d at 698. Courts have considered a “bevy of equitable considerations,” 5 including travel, familiarity with the legal process, and consultation with lawyers. Id. 6 at 697–700 (summarizing cases considering these factors). Ultimately, a defendant’s 7 “careless failure to timely respond to a complaint does not rise to the level of 8 intentional, culpable conduct unless other equitable factors weigh heavily against 9 setting aside a default.” Whitaker v. GGET Larchmont LLC, No. CV 19-9411-DMG 10 (JCx), 2020 WL 1972291 , at *2 (C.D. Cal. Mar. 17, 2020) (citing United States v. 11 Signed Pers. Check No. 730 of Yubran S. Mesle, 615 F.3d 1085, 1092 (9th Cir. 2010)). 12 Here, Boyer’s failure to respond appears to be the result of carelessness and 13 negligence, not necessarily bad faith. In January 2019, Day’s attorney informed 14 Boyer that Day was considering filing a lawsuit. (Decl. of Jim Bauch (“Bauch Decl.”) 15 Ex. A, ECF No. 46-2.) Boyer consulted a lawyer who advised him that Day’s claims 16 lacked merit and she would not likely file suit, so Boyer did not anticipate the legal 17 action. (Reply 5; Boyer Decl. ¶ 25.) Boyer contends that he does not recall ever 18 receiving a Summons and Complaint, notwithstanding Day’s Proof of Service, nor 19 notice of default or default judgment. (Mot. 8–9; Boyer Decl. ¶¶ 26–28.) He admits 20 that he had a regular practice of throwing away junk mail without reviewing it and 21 asserts that, in any event, he would not have appreciated the significance of something 22 legal because of his inexperience with legal matters and lack of education. (Boyer 23 Decl. ¶¶ 2, 26–28.) 24 Although these excuses for Boyer’s failure to respond are weak, the Ninth 25 Circuit’s approach to this factor is “forgiving, accepting even weak reasons if they 26 reveal mere negligence and carelessness[, not] deviousness or willfulness.” Yagman, [27] 2013 WL 1287409 , at *11 (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting E & J Gallo 28 Winery v. Cantine Rallo S.p.A, 430 F. Supp. 2d 1064, 1088 (E.D. Cal. 2005)). 1 Nothing before the Court indicates Boyer’s conduct was “designed to obtain strategic 2 advantage in the litigation.” TCI Grp., 244 F.3d at 698. All he might achieve is the 3 opportunity to defend against Day’s claims on the merits. Although Boyer’s conduct 4 was certainly not prudent, it is more appropriately characterized as neglectful rather 5 than devious or deliberate. See, e.g., Anyang Xinyi Elec. Glass Co. v. B & F Int’l 6 (USA) Inc., No. CV-15-00862-BRO (AJWx), 2016 WL 7435482 , at *5 (C.D. Cal. 7 Aug. 4, 2016) (finding conduct neglectful, not culpable, where the defendant admitted 8 through declarations that it misrepresented facts to the process server as a policy of 9 avoiding unsolicited salespersons and never received the summons and complaint). 10 Although willfulness could possibly be inferred from the facts, those facts could also 11 be explained in a way inconsistent with bad faith. The Court therefore declines to find 12 Boyer’s conduct culpable. 13 Day urges the Court to find Boyer acted culpably based on his practice of 14 throwing away his mail and alleged avoidance of service. (Opp’n 7–8.) However, 15 Boyer attests in his declaration that he does not recall ever being served, he had no 16 intent to avoid service, and if he had been aware of the lawsuit he would have retained 17 counsel and defended himself. (Boyer Decl. ¶¶ 27–28.) Further, Day’s revised proof 18 of service, now signed more than a year after she contends such service was 19 completed, appears questionable, and increasingly so in light of Boyer’s sworn 20 denials. (Compare Bauch Decl. Ex. E (proof of service indicating service on April 18, 21 2019 but revised and signed on July 21, 2020), with Proof of Service, ECF No. 10 22 (initially filed and dated April 19, 2019).) Faced with these conflicting facts, the 23 Court must resolve doubts in favor of setting aside the default judgment. See 24 Meadows, 817 F.2d at 521 . 25 Finally, even were the Court to find Boyer’s conduct culpable, the Ninth Circuit 26 has upheld the decision to set aside a default judgment even when a defendant’s 27 conduct was culpable, where the defendant had meritorious defenses and the plaintiff 28 would suffer no prejudice. See Brandt, 653 F.3d at 1112 (emphasizing that the 1 inquiry is, “at bottom an equitable one,” and that a district court may exercise its 2 discretion to deny the motion if it finds the defendant culpable, “but [it] need not.” 3 (emphasis added)). As discussed below, Boyer has presented meritorious defenses 4 and Day will suffer no prejudice from allowing the case to be decided on its merits. 5 2. Meritorious Defense 6 The next factor considers whether a defendant has a meritorious defense. TCI 7 Grp., 244 F.3d at 700. A defense is meritorious if “there is some possibility that the 8 outcome of the suit after a full trial will be contrary to the result achieved by the 9 default.” Haw. Carpenters’ Tr. Funds v. Stone, 794 F.2d 508 , 513 (9th Cir. 1986). 10 This burden is not a heavy one. Mesle, 615 F.3d at 1094 . “All that is necessary to 11 satisfy the ‘meritorious defense’ requirement is to allege sufficient facts that, if true, 12 would constitute a defense.” Id. Courts do not assess the veracity of the facts alleged 13 on a motion to set aside judgment; that “would be the subject of the later litigation.” [14] Id. (quoting TCI Grp., 244 F.3d at 700). 15 Boyer offers several possible defenses which, if proven, would alter the 16 outcome of the suit. (See Mot. 16–21.) For instance, each of Day’s securities fraud 17 claims is premised on Day’s allegation that the MobileCoin tokens were securities 18 under federal and California law. (See, e.g., Compl. ¶ 13; Mot. 17.) However, Boyer 19 asserts this allegation is false, that the MobileCoin tokens were not securities under 20 state or federal law, and the SAFT clearly states as much. (Mot. 17; Boyer Decl. ¶ 12, 21 Ex. C (“SAFT”) 4, ECF No. 34.) Thus, Boyer has shown that “there is some 22 possibility that the outcome of the suit after a full trial will be contrary to the result 23 achieved by the default.” Haw. Carpenters’ Tr. Funds, 794 F.2d at 513; see also 24 Mesle, 615 F.3d at 1094 (finding it error to reject defendant’s sworn assertions in 25 support of facts, which, if true, would constitute a meritorious defense). The offered 26 defenses provide sufficient reason for this case to be heard on the merits. [28] 1 3. Prejudice 2 The final Falk factor considers whether the plaintiff will suffer prejudice if the 3 Court sets aside the default judgment. TCI Grp., 244 F.3d at 701. “To be prejudicial, 4 the setting aside of a judgment must result in greater harm than simply delaying 5 resolution of the case.” Mesle, 615 F.3d at 1095 . Similarly, “merely being forced to 6 litigate on the merits cannot be considered prejudicial for purposes of lifting a default 7 judgment.” TCI Grp., 244 F.3d at 701. “Rather, ‘the standard is whether [the] 8 plaintiff’s ability to pursue his claim will be hindered.’” Id. (brackets omitted) 9 (quoting Falk, 739 F.2d at 463). 10 Here, if the Court sets aside the default judgment, Day’s claims will not be 11 hindered as she will have the opportunity to fully litigate the case. The greatest harm 12 that may result would be a delay in the resolution of this matter. Day does not suggest 13 that evidence has been lost or discovery will be more difficult. Cf. id. (discussing that 14 loss of evidence or increased difficulties of discovery may be prejudicial). Rather, 15 Day argues that she has already undertaken efforts to enforce the judgment and 16 litigating further will increase her costs. (Opp’n 8.) But costs do not amount to 17 prejudice sufficient to deny Boyer’s Motion. See TCI Grp., 244 F.3d at 701 (“[T]he 18 ordinary cost of litigating is simply not cognizable under Falk’s prejudice factor.”). 19 As there are only litigation costs and delay here, neither of which constitutes 20 prejudice, setting aside the default judgment will not prejudice Day. See Anyang, [21] 2016 WL 7435482 , at *6 (finding no prejudice where the plaintiff would have full 22 opportunity to litigate case). 23 In sum, the equivocal culpability evidence, presence of meritorious defenses, 24 and lack of prejudice support setting aside the default judgment against Boyer. In 25 light of the Ninth Circuit’s strong preference for deciding cases on the merits, Falk, 26 739 F.2d at 463, and for resolving all doubts in favor of setting aside the default 27 judgment, Meadows, 817 F.2d at 521 , the Court GRANTS Boyer’s Motion.4 [28] 4 In light of the Court’s disposition, Day’s request for fees as a sanction is DENIED. (See Opp’n 9.) 1 V. CONCLUSION 2 For the reasons set forth above, the Court finds this case should be decided on 3 || the merits. Accordingly, the Court GRANTS Boyer’s Motion to Set Aside Default 4|| Judgment. (ECF No. 33.) Boyer is ORDERED to file his Answer within twenty-one 5 || days of the date of this Order and comply with all future procedural deadlines. 6 || Failure to file a timely answer may result in the Court entering default judgment. See 7 || United States v. VanDenburgh, 249 F. App’x 664, 665 (9th Cir. 2007) (finding that a 8 | default judgment was appropriate where the defendant failed to follow court order to 9 || file answer). [10] 11 IT IS SO ORDERED. [12] 13 January 4, 2021 [14] 16 OTIS D. WRIGHT, II 4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE