Koch Minerals Sārl et al v Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela - United States District Court for the District of Columbia Civil Action No. 2017-2559 - Memorandum Opinion by Magistrate Judge Zia M Faruqui - 23 December 2020
Country
Year
2020
Summary
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Plaintiffs, Koch Minerals Sārl ("Koch Minerals") and Koch Nitrogen International Sārl ("Koch Nitrogen"), filed this suit against Defendant, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ("Venezuela"), seeking recognition of and judgment on an arbitral award issued by the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes ("ICSID"). See ECF No. 7 (Am. Compl.), ļļ 1, 8. The clerk entered default after Venezuela did not appear more than a year after they received service. See ECF No. 21-1 (Pls.' Aff. for Default), ļ 11; ECF No. 24 (Clerk's Entry of Default). Plaintiffs promptly moved for default judgment. See ECF No. 25. A few months later, Venezuela made its first appearance, filing a Motion to Set Aside the Entry of Default and to Dismiss. See ECF No. 30. The Court now grants Venezuela's Motion to Set Aside Default but denies its Motion to Dismiss. Having set aside default, the Court also denies Plaintiffs' Motion for Default Judgment as moot.
Koch Minerals Sārl and Koch Nitrogen International Sārl v. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (ICSID Case No. ARB/11/19).