No. 25-6461

Michael Anthony Christopher Cochren, II v. White Castle System, Inc., et al.

Lower Court: Eighth Circuit
Docketed: 2025-12-31
Status: Pending
Type: IFP
Response WaivedIFP
Tags: court-clerk-duties default-judgment federal-rules-civil-procedure record-falsification service-of-summons waiver-of-service
Key Terms:
SocialSecurity Privacy Jurisdiction
Latest Conference: 2026-02-20
Question Presented (from Petition)

Introductory Statement: White Castle System, Inc.'s redundant counsel improperly waived service, outside of FRCP 4(d), and nullified a summons. This case questions:

1. Whether the Clerk's Office for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri is issuing summonses correctly.

2. Whether Clerk #3, on the case management team, intentionally entered White Castle's Waiver of the Service of Summons form inaccurately on September 23rd, 2024, violating the Oath of Office of Clerks and Deputies, and furthering Clerk #3's crime, under U.S.C. § 2073, of making a fictitious record regarding proof of service documentation.

3. Whether the district court's Clerk's Office obliterated, or only concealed, White Castle's return summons, and Cochren's actual proof of service documentation, filed on October 10th, 2024, committing a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. § 2071.

4. Whether it is clearly erroneous to deny recording a default, under FRCP 55(a), while relying on inaccurate information entered into the court's electronic record instead of documents filed in support.

5. Whether White Castle System, Inc.'s counsel willfully violated court rules by suggesting, themselves, to respond to Cochren's complaint later than 21 days, pursuant to FRCP 12(a)(1)(A)(ii), without waiving service of a summons, before being served with process, pursuant to FRCP 4(d)(3). (Precedent setting material.)

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether the Clerk's Office for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri improperly issued or processed summonses and service documentation

Docket Entries

2026-02-05
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/20/2026.
2026-01-28
Waiver of right of respondent White Castle System, Inc. to respond filed.
2025-10-07
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due January 30, 2026)
2025-09-22
Application (25A301) granted by Justice Kavanaugh extending the time to file until October 10, 2025.
2025-09-11
Application (25A301) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from October 9, 2025 to October 10, 2025, submitted to Justice Kavanaugh.

Attorneys

Michael A.C. Cochren
Michael Anthony Christopher Cochren II — Petitioner
White Castle System, Inc.
Alan L. RupeLewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP, Respondent