Joshua S. Headrick v. Jerod Gott

Summary

The United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois orders the Clerk to enter default against Defendant Jerod Gott under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55(a) after he failed to respond to the First Amended Complaint. The Court directs Plaintiff to move for default judgment by February 24, 2026, and warns that failure to do so may result in dismissal for failure to prosecute or comply with a court order.

Holdings

1. Default must be entered against Defendant Gott because he failed to plead or otherwise defend after being served and given an extended deadline to respond.
2. Defendant could not rely on 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(g) to avoid default because the Court specifically ordered him to file a reply or other appropriate responsive pleading.

Questions Presented

1. Whether default should be entered against a defendant who, after service and an extended deadline, failed to plead or otherwise defend.
2. Whether the Prison Litigation Reform Act permitted Defendant to avoid responding and thereby avoid entry of default after the Court specifically ordered him to file a reply.

Disposition

other