Maurice Patrick v. Saxon Mortgage, Inc.

MEMORANDUM

Maurice Patrick appeals pro se from the district court’s order denying his motion for default judgment, and its judgment dismissing his diversity action for failure to serve the summons and complaint in a timely manner. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 . We review for an abuse of discretion. Oyama v. Sheehan (In re Sheehan), 253 F.3d 507, 511 (9th Cir.2001) (dismissal for failure to serve summons and complaint in a timely manner); Eitel v. McCool, 782 F.2d 1470, 1471 (9th Cir.1986) (denial of default judgment). We affirm.

The district court did not abuse its discretion by denying Patrick’s motion for default judgment because Patrick never properly served the summons and complaint on defendant. See Direct Mail Specialists, Inc. v. Eclat Computerized Techs., Inc., 840 F.2d 685, 688 (9th Cir.1988) (“A federal court does not have jurisdiction over a defendant unless the defendant has been served properly under Fed.R.Civ.P. 4.”).

The district court did not abuse its discretion by dismissing the action without prejudice because Patrick failed to establish good cause for his failure to serve properly the summons and complaint or other grounds warranting an…