When will a court grant or deny default judgment?

Whether to grant or deny default judgment is within the discretion of the court. See Aldabe v. Aldabe, 616 F.2d 1089, 1092 (9th Cir. 1980). In exercising this discretion, the court considers the following factors: (1) the possibility of prejudice to the plaintiff if relief is denied; (2) the substantive merits of plaintiff's claims; (3) the sufficiency of the claims raised in the complaint; (4) the sum of money at stake; (5) the possibility of a dispute concerning material facts; (6) whether the default was due to excusable neglect; and (7) the strong policy favoring decisions on the merits when reasonably

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possible. See Eitel v. McCool, 782 F.2d 1470, 1471-72 (9th Cir. 1986). Regarding the last factor, a decisions on the merits is impractical, if not impossible, where defendants refuse to defend.