DISTRICT COURT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
DIVISION OF ST. THOMAS AND ST. JOHN
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ATLANTIC NATIONAL TRUST LLC,
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Plaintiff,
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3:10-cv-21
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v.
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HENRY E. KARLIN, DEBORAH J.
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KARLIN f/k/a DEBORAH J. JOHNSON,
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BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, FIRSTBANK
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VIRGIN ISLANDS,
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Defendants.
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__________________________________________5
TO:
Matthew J. Duensing, Esq.
Richard H. Dollison, Esq.
ORDER
THIS MATTER came before the Court upon Defendant/Cross-Claimant Bank of
Nova Scotia’s Request For Entry of Default (Docket No. 44) and the Clerk’s Entry of
Default (Docket No. 45).
Entry of default is proper when a party, after being served with process, fails to
plead or otherwise defend within the time allowed.  Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(a).
Bank of Nova Scotia states that “Cross-Claim Defendant Deborah J. Karlin F/K/A
Deborah J. Johnson was personally served with a copy of the Scotiabank Crossclaim . . . as
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Atlantic Nat’l Trust LLC v. Karlin
3:10-cv-21
Order
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evidenced by the affidavit of Renix Charles . . . .”  Affidavit, Request at Attachment #2.  The 
affidavit of Renix Charles states that the Answer and Crossclaim were left with Henry
Karlin at 1-21 and 1-20A Estate Wintberg, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.  Affidavit of Service,
Request at Attachment #3 (Exhibit A).
It cannot be disputed that Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(e)(2)(B) allows service
by “leaving a copy of each at the individual’s dwelling or usual place of abode with
someone of suitable age and discretion who resides there.”  Fed R. Civ. P. 4(e)(2)(B).  In the
matter at bar, however, Bank of Nova Scotia offers no evidence that the address where the
process server left the documents was the dwelling or usual place of abode of Deborah J.
Karlin.  In fact, the evidence is to the contrary, as the process server specifically declares,
“Henry E. Karlin stated that Deborah J. Karlin f/k/a Deborah J. Johnson was no longer
residing in the Virgin Islands.”  Affidavit of Service, Request at Attachment #3 (Exhibit A).
Consequently, the Court finds that Bank of Nova Scotia did not effectuate proper
service upon Deborah J. Karlin, a finding that the Court made previously in its Order
Denying Motion For Service by Publication (Docket No. 41), entered July 15, 2010.
Accordingly, it is now hereby ORDERED:
1.
The Clerk’s Entry of Default (Docket No. 45), entered July 22, 1010, is
VACATED.
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Atlantic Nat’l Trust LLC v. Karlin
3:10-cv-21
Order
Page 3
2.
Defendant/Cross Claimant Bank of Nova Scotia’s Request For Entry of
Default (Docket No. 44) against Deborah Karlin f/k/a Deborah J. Johnson is
DENIED.
ENTER:
Dated: July 22, 2010
/s/ George W. Cannon, Jr.                           
GEORGE W. CANNON, JR.
U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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