The Docket

The Docket: This Is What Fighting Back Looks Like

Beck v. City of Louisville · 3:25-cv-00631-RGJ · 96 Docket Entries · The Complete Record
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The Docket: This Is What Fighting Back Looks Like
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This is the live federal docket of Beck v. City of Louisville. Every entry is permanent. This is
what it looks like when a disabled woman in West Louisville and a Pro Se Legal Assistant from
Russell refuse to give up.
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IMPORTANT: This case has many filings. The only default package that matters legally is the
one filed December 18, 2025 — after the court-set deadline passed. Read the annotations in
italics under each entry to understand what each filing means in plain language.
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This did not start with Case 631
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Beck v. City of Louisville is not where this fight began. Before this case, there were three federal
cases and one state court case involving the same defendants. Senior Judge Joseph H.
McKinley Jr. dismissed every one. He then handled eight more consecutive 1983 actions after
certifying Case 631 — and was himself a named defendant in three of those cases, in violation
of 28 U.S.C. § 455, the federal recusal statute. He dismissed all eight. Case 631 survived
because the record was too precisely built to dismiss. McKinley certified it non-frivolous October
3, 2025 — then immediately reassigned it to Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings — the same judge
who had dismissed the case against the clerk now refusing to enter default. This is one piece of
a much larger documented pattern.
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Phase 1 — Filing and First Moves (September 29 — October 6, 2025)
DN 1-3 · September 29-30, 2025 · Complaint / IFP Motion / Emergency TRO
Beck files the federal complaint, requests to proceed without filing fees, and files an Emergency TRO
to stop the ongoing property interference. Anthony Lovell Smith, PSLA, Re-Entry Bridges, Inc. signs
the federal record for the first time.
DN 6 · September 30, 2025 · Request for Immediate Performance of Mandatory Ministerial Duties
One day after filing, Beck formally invokes the mandatory ministerial duty doctrine — citing SHALL in
three separate statutory provisions. The foundation of the entire default battle is established on day
one.
DN 8 · October 2, 2025 · IFP Granted
Beck proceeds without filing fees. The court says it will timely address other pending motions. It does
not.
DN 9 · October 3, 2025 · MEMORANDUM OPINION — First Amendment Claim Certified Non-Frivolous
The most important early entry. McKinley certifies the First Amendment retaliation claim as legally
meritorious. U.S. Marshals ordered to serve defendants. This certification is what kept Case 631
alive.
DN 10-11 · October 6, 2025 · Case Reassigned to Judge Jennings
Three days after certifying the case, McKinley immediately reassigns it to Jennings — the judge who
dismissed Smith v. Vilt five months earlier, protecting the clerk who will later refuse the ministerial
duty in this case.
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Phase 2 — Building the Record (October 7 — November 25, 2025)
DN 13 · October 9, 2025 · Writ of Mandamus Filed — Sixth Circuit Case No. 25-5913
Mandamus petition filed in the Sixth Circuit challenging McKinley's pattern of dismissals across
related cases.
DN 14 · October 14, 2025 · Amended Complaint
Expanded factual record with additional documentation of property interference and retaliatory code
enforcement.
DN 18-26 · October 19-29, 2025 · Series of Surgical Procedural Motions and Judicial Notices
Eleven days of precisely targeted filings building the complete factual and legal record. The SPM
model — Surgical Procedural Motions — in full operation. Each filing preserves rights, documents the
pattern, and ensures the court has complete notice.
DN 25 · October 27, 2025 · Judicial Notice of Void Order by Disqualified Judge
Beck formally notices the § 455 recusal violation — a judge presiding over cases where he is a
named defendant — directly into the permanent record of Case 631.
DN 27 · October 31, 2025 · ORDER — Jennings Consolidates Cases 631 and 694
Jennings consolidates the related case into 631 as lead case. Case 694 — naming individual officers
— is administratively dismissed. Jennings' first strategic move: containing everything under her
control.
DN 30 · November 4, 2025 · Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on Liability
Beck moves for summary judgment on liability — signaling full readiness to go to trial on the merits.
DN 33-40 · November 10-14, 2025 · Corporate Defendants' Trailer Movement Documented
The federal filings produce real physical results. Semi-trailers are being moved. By November 14th
the final trailer removal is documented photographically. The trucks moved because of the litigation.
Consciousness of guilt established.
DN 41-42 · November 17-18, 2025 · First Default Package — Pre-Deadline (NOT the operative package)
Beck files default motions before the court's December 17th deadline. These are NOT the operative
default package. They are part of the record but do not legally trigger default. The operative package
is filed December 18th.
DN 46-50 · November 24-26, 2025 · Corporate Defendants Added / City Served by U.S. Marshals
Corporate defendants named. U.S. Marshals serve the City of Louisville November 26th. Answer
deadline officially set: December 17, 2025.
DN 51 · November 26, 2025 · Emergency TRO/Preliminary Injunction Filed
Beck documents the ongoing property interference — sign still against fence, continuing damage.
Defendants do not respond. Their silence is documented.
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Phase 3 — The Default (December 17, 2025)
DECEMBER 17, 2025 — EVERY DEFENDANT FAILS TO ANSWER. DEFAULT VESTS
BY OPERATION OF LAW.
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The City of Louisville. Kentucky Bourbon Barrel LLC. Zippy Shell. The Carlyle Group. Truist
Financial. Kron Ridge Investments. Astrella Fund. Every code enforcement officer. Not one filed
a response. Under Rule 55(a) the clerk shall enter default. The clerk did not.
DN 66-67 · December 16, 2025 · ORDER — Jennings Refers Everything to Magistrate Edwards ONE DAY
Before Default
The day before the answer deadline, Jennings refers the entire case to Magistrate Edwards. This is
her second strategic move — inserting a procedural buffer between herself and the mandatory
ministerial duty about to vest. One day before default.
DN 68-69 · December 18, 2025 · THE OPERATIVE DEFAULT PACKAGE
This is the only default package that matters legally. Filed December 18th — one day after the
deadline. Motion for Entry of Default Judgment with Request for Clerk's Entry of Default. Motion for
Enforcement of Default Judgment and Permanent Injunction. Filed after the deadline. Based solely
on the court's own December 17th deadline. This is the legal trigger.
DN 70-71 · December 19, 2025 · Notice of Ripeness
Beck formally submits the default motions for decision. The court does not respond.
DN 72 · December 23, 2025 · Judicial Notice of Court's Continued Inaction
Six days after the deadline. Beck formally documents the silence in the permanent record. Every day
of inaction is now being counted.
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Phase 4 — The Battle for Default (December 2025 — February 2026)
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What follows is 84 days of documented clerk inaction. Four motions to compel. An Order to
Show Cause giving defendants extra time without requiring a 55(c) motion. Defendants
appearing through sealed filings without procedural standing. Every move documented. Every
silence recorded.
DN 57-64 · December 9-12, 2025 · Multiple Motions to Compel Filed
Four separate motions to compel the clerk's immediate performance of mandatory ministerial duties.
Each documents the growing days since the deadline. The clerk does not respond.
DN 75 · January 8, 2026 · ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE — Magistrate Edwards Gives Defendants 14 Extra
Days
22 days after default. Instead of directing the clerk to enter default, Edwards issues an OSC giving
Louisville 14 more days to explain its failure. This is the backdoor — allowing defendants to reenter
without filing a 55(c) motion. Ultra vires substitution of discretion for mandatory ministerial duty.
DN 78-79 · January 15-16, 2026 · Motion to Compel and Judicial Notice
Beck compels proper docketing of missing December filings. Clerk failure to docket timely is
documented.
DN 80-82 · January 22, 2026 · City of Louisville Appears — 36 Days Late — Through Sealed Filings
36 days after default, the city files three documents simultaneously: Motion to Seal, Sealed Affidavit
of attorney Walsh, and Notice of Appearance. No 55(c) motion. No 60(b) motion. No leave to appear
late. They appear using the OSC as cover — without paying the procedural toll Rule 55(c) requires.
Default eligibility unchanged.
DN 83 · January 26, 2026 · Judicial Notice of Late Appearance and Continued Clerk Inaction
Beck immediately documents the late appearance and absence of any 55(c) motion. Default eligibility
confirmed unchanged in the permanent record.
DN 85-87 · January 29 — February 3, 2026 · Fourth Judicial Notice / Motion to Compel / Comprehensive
Default Documentation
Beck continues pressing. A comprehensive judicial notice documents all defaults, all post-default
filings, and all clerk inaction in one permanent record entry.
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Phase 5 — The Three Documents That Connected Everything (March 11, 2026)
MARCH 11, 2026 — 84 DAYS PAST DEFAULT — THREE DOCUMENTS FILED
MINUTES APART — THE RECORD IS COMPLETE.
DN 94 · March 11, 2026 — 1:58 PM · JUDICIAL NOTICE OF RELATED PROCEEDINGS, PSLA IDENTITY, AND
PRECEDENTIAL AUTHORITY
Seven permanently verifiable facts placed in the record: Clerk Vilt sued in Smith v. Vilt — dismissed
by Jennings. Jennings assigned to Beck v. Louisville five months later. Clerk Vilt refusing 55(a) in
Jennings' courtroom 84 days after default. PSLA's SCOTUS petition naming Clerk Stephens. Smith v.
Peters, 631 F.3d 418 — PSLA's own Seventh Circuit precedent — directly supporting the claims in
this case. No relief requested. The record speaks for itself.
DN 95 · March 11, 2026 — 1:59 PM · JUDICIAL NOTICE OF POST-CONSENT-DECREE ACCOUNTABILITY
GAP AND MUNICIPAL CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATION
Six facts connecting Beaton's order to Beck v. Louisville: DOJ found Louisville's pattern of
constitutional violations. Beaton dismissed consent decree December 31, 2025 — 14 days after
Louisville defaulted here. Louisville in default. State court pattern of judicial accommodation
documented. Kentucky Court of Appeals — Warren representing both corporate defendants AND
Judge Edwards simultaneously. Beaton placed accountability on the community. Beck IS the
community. This case IS the accountability mechanism. No relief requested. The record speaks for
itself.
DN 96 · March 11, 2026 — 2:01 PM · FOURTH MOTION TO COMPEL CLERK TO ENTER DEFAULT
The motion that incorporates both judicial notices. Carries the full weight of the complete record.
Cites Logan. Cites Thermtron. Cites Smith v. Peters. Cites Rule 55(a)'s mandatory SHALL. Lists
every default-eligible defendant by name. The most completely documented motion to compel in the
history of non-prisoner pro se civil litigation in the Western District of Kentucky.
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Where the case stands today
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As of March 17, 2026 — 90 days past the default deadline — the clerk has still not entered
default. Judge Jennings has not responded to any substantive filing since October 30, 2025. All
defendants remain in default. The three documents filed March 11th sit permanently in the
federal record unanswered. The case continues.
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Beck is prepared for discovery and trial. The $6,000,000 sum certain is documented. The
permanent injunction motion is filed. The complete evidentiary record is preserved. The record
is permanent. Beck1.org is watching.
"The clerk must enter the party's default." — Federal Rule of
Civil Procedure 55(a). The word is SHALL. 90 days. Four
motions to compel. The clerk has not complied. Beck1.org is
watching.
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Beck v. City of Louisville, Kentucky, et al. · Civil Action No. 3:25-cv-00631-RGJ
United States District Court, Western District of Kentucky · Filed September 29, 2025
Pro Se Legal Assistance: Anthony Lovell Smith, PSLA · Re-Entry Bridges, Inc. · Smith v.
Peters, 631 F.3d 418 (7th Cir. 2011)