Fort Bragg's failure to respond to allegations by the mill site owners adds a new twist in $10–50 million lawsuit over allegedly toxic stormwater and dioxin contamination.
The Clerk entering the Default against the City of Fort Bragg does not constitute a Default Judgment. Only Judge Jon Tiger can make a default ruling. Judge Tiger has set a new deadline for a Joint Case Management Statement for November 11, so the case is not clearly over yet.
(50) "Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Jon S. Tigar: Initial Case Management Conference held on 9/9/2025. Case status discussed. No appearance by the Defendant. Joint Case Management Statement due by 11/12/2025. Further Case Management Conference set for 11/18/2025 at 02:00 PM - Videoconference Only. This proceeding will be held via a Zoom webinar.
"Webinar Access: All counsel, members of the public, and media may access the webinar information at https://www.cand.uscourts.gov/jst
"Court Appearances: Advanced notice is required of counsel or parties who wish to be identified by the court as making an appearance or will be participating in the argument at the hearing. One list of names of all counsel appearing for all parties must be sent in one email to the CRD at jstcrd@cand.uscourts.gov no later than 11/17/2025 at 2:00PM PST.
"Civ LR 77-3(d). Persons granted access to court proceedings held by telephone or videoconference are reminded that photographing, recording, and rebroadcasting of court proceedings, including screenshots or other visual copying of a hearing, is absolutely prohibited.
"Total Time in Court: 6 minutes. Court Reporter: Not Reported. Plaintiff Attorney: David Diepenbrock. Defendant Attorney: No Appearance. (This is a text-only entry generated by the court. There is no document associated with this entry.) (dms, COURT STAFF) (Date Filed: 9/9/2025) (Entered: 09/09/2025)"
And (51) "Clerk's Notice of ENTRY OF DEFAULT against Defendant City of Fort Bragg. (This is a text-only entry generated by the court. There is no document associated with this entry.) (Related documents(s) 49 )(tn, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 9/9/2025) (Entered: 09/09/2025)"
Elise,
Your headline is misleading.
The Clerk entering the Default against the City of Fort Bragg does not constitute a Default Judgment. Only Judge Jon Tiger can make a default ruling. Judge Tiger has set a new deadline for a Joint Case Management Statement for November 11, so the case is not clearly over yet.
The Federal District Court Pacer document system for the Sierra Northern Railway & Mendocino Railway case (https://ecf.cand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/DktRpt.pl?433862) contains two entries for September 9, 2025:
(50) "Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Jon S. Tigar: Initial Case Management Conference held on 9/9/2025. Case status discussed. No appearance by the Defendant. Joint Case Management Statement due by 11/12/2025. Further Case Management Conference set for 11/18/2025 at 02:00 PM - Videoconference Only. This proceeding will be held via a Zoom webinar.
"Webinar Access: All counsel, members of the public, and media may access the webinar information at https://www.cand.uscourts.gov/jst
"Court Appearances: Advanced notice is required of counsel or parties who wish to be identified by the court as making an appearance or will be participating in the argument at the hearing. One list of names of all counsel appearing for all parties must be sent in one email to the CRD at jstcrd@cand.uscourts.gov no later than 11/17/2025 at 2:00PM PST.
"Civ LR 77-3(d). Persons granted access to court proceedings held by telephone or videoconference are reminded that photographing, recording, and rebroadcasting of court proceedings, including screenshots or other visual copying of a hearing, is absolutely prohibited.
"Zoom Guidance and Setup: https://www.cand.uscourts.gov/zoom/.
"Total Time in Court: 6 minutes. Court Reporter: Not Reported. Plaintiff Attorney: David Diepenbrock. Defendant Attorney: No Appearance. (This is a text-only entry generated by the court. There is no document associated with this entry.) (dms, COURT STAFF) (Date Filed: 9/9/2025) (Entered: 09/09/2025)"
And (51) "Clerk's Notice of ENTRY OF DEFAULT against Defendant City of Fort Bragg. (This is a text-only entry generated by the court. There is no document associated with this entry.) (Related documents(s) 49 )(tn, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 9/9/2025) (Entered: 09/09/2025)"
Thank you! You are right. I have corrected the errors. My instinct was to call you, and I should have done that.