Opinion
Case No. 06-cv-669-JPG.
April 12, 2007
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter comes before the Court on plaintiffs' second motion for default judgment (Doc. 31).
ANALYSIS
The capacity of a partnership to sue or be sued is governed by the law of the state in which the district court sits. Fed.R.Civ.P. 17(b). In Illinois, "A partnership may sue or be sued in the names of the partners as individuals doing business as the partnership, or in the firm name, or both." 735 ILCS 5/2-411. A cursory review of the complaint suggests that plaintiffs have chosen the first option, that is, they have named a now defunct partnership, C M Drwyall Painting, as a defendant in this case by suing "in the names of the partners as individuals doing business as the partnership." They have named a second defendant as well, C M Drywall Painting, Inc.
The Court's reading of the complaint is supported by the form of summonses: plaintiffs served separate summonses on "Michael Clark d/b/a C M Drywall Painting" and "Robert Moore d/b/a C M Drywall Painting." On October 25, 2006, Michael Clark and Robert Moore, by their attorney, filed a joint answer, twice (Docs. 17, 18). The first paragraph of the answer reads as follows: Now Comes the Defendants, Michael Clark and Robert Moore . . . and for their Answer to the Complaint. . . ." The answer does not include any reference to the fact that plaintiffs have apparently named the partnership as a defendant, rather than Clark and Moore individually.
On March 26, 2007, plaintiffs requested entry of default against C M Drywall Painting (Partnership) and C M Drywall Painting, Inc. (Corporation). In this request, plaintiffs indicated that they served Michael Clark, Registered Agent of the Corporation and the Partnership on February 13, 2006. (Doc. 30 ¶ 3). The summons served on February 13, however, names only "C M Drywall Painting, Inc., c/o Mr. Michael Clark, Registered Agent"; it makes no mention of the Partnership. (Doc. 28). As the Court noted above, plaintiffs neither named C M Drywall Painting as a separate entity nor served it as one. For this reason, the Clerk of Court denied plaintiffs' requested default as to C M Drywall Painting. (Doc. 32). Because plaintiffs served C M Drywall Painting, Inc. and the Corporation did not answer, the Clerk defaulted the Corporation. (Doc. 33).
The same day they filed their request for entry of default, plaintiffs also moved for default judgment against both the Partnership and the Corporation. As the Clerk of Court declined to enter default as to the Partnership, the Court DENIES plaintiffs' request to enter a default judgment against it. After reviewing the complaint and the record in this case, the Court hereby GRANTS plaintiffs' motion for default judgment as to the Corporation.
In Dundee Cement Co. v. Howard Pipe Concrete Prod. Inc., 722 F.2d 1319, 1324 (7th Cir. 1983), the Court held, "where liability is joint and several, the entry of default judgment against fewer than all defendants in an action is proper, [but] a damages hearing may not be held until the liability of each defendant has been resolved." Given that the Corporation incorporated May 19, 2005, and plaintiffs claim it assumed the liabilities of the Partnership, it appears that liability in this case is joint and several. Therefore, on the authority of Dundee Cement Co., the Court declines to hold a hearing on damages until such time as the remaining claims this case are resolved.
CONCLUSION
Plaintiffs' motion for default judgment (Doc. 31) is GRANTED with respect to the Corporation and DENIED with respect to the Partnership. The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to enter judgment accordingly at the close of this case.
IT IS SO ORDERED