Willful default / no meritorious defenseJuly 12, 2022
The court denied the defendants' motion to vacate the entries of default, holding that the defaults were willful and that the defendants failed to present a meritorious defense.
Court source ↗Saladino, MD v. Frank Tufano
7:20-cv-09346 · U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
Closed / post-judgment proceedingsDefault judgment / injunctionNew York
CourtU.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
FiledNovember 7, 2020
StatusClosed / post-judgment proceedings
OutcomeDefault judgment / injunction
Final dispositionDefault judgment / injunction; post-judgment proceedings continued
JurisdictionNew York
Pro seMixed
Current / transferee court—
Transferred case—
Defendants
- Frank Tufano
- Frankie's Free-Range Meat, LLC
Source record
This page separates court findings, party filings, research classifications and public statements. Unknown or unresolved fields remain labelled as such.
Outcome and research status
Outcome reason: The action proceeded by default after the defendants failed to answer the amended complaint. In July 2022 the court denied a motion to vacate the entries of default, finding the defaults willful and no meritorious defense. A default judgment/injunction was entered Jan. 30, 2025; post-judgment motions and appeal-related activity continued through at least June 2026.
Research status: Source-backed through June 2026
Research notes: Tufano was initially represented, counsel was relieved Feb. 23, 2021, and he was permitted to proceed pro se. The Jan. 29, 2026 Opinion & Order denied motions to vacate the inquest, file a third-party complaint, disqualify the judge/demand a trial, and stay proceedings; it struck the improperly filed third-party complaint. On June 11, 2026 an emergency stay pending appeal was denied.
Related litigation
- Dispute group: Saladino-related litigation
Court findings
Default judgment and injunctionJanuary 30, 2025
A later federal R&R recounts that Saladino obtained a default judgment on Jan. 30, 2025 enjoining Tufano from, among other things, making public statements that Saladino copied, plagiarized, stole or improperly used Tufano's or another party's work.
Court source ↗Post-default motions denied; third-party complaint strickenJanuary 29, 2026
The court denied Tufano's motions to vacate the inquest, file a third-party complaint, disqualify the court/demand a trial, and stay the proceedings, and struck the improperly filed third-party complaint. In denying a stay, it noted the defendants had willfully defaulted and caused significant delay.
Court source ↗Emergency stay pending appeal deniedJune 11, 2026
The court denied an emergency motion to stay judgment pending appeal, stating that the motion largely reasserted arguments previously raised and rejected and identified no new facts, evidence or controlling authority warranting a stay.
Court source ↗Chronology events
Sequence does not by itself prove motive or causation.
Prior litigation filed
Paul Saladino filed the earlier S.D.N.Y. action against Tufano.
Source ↗Counsel withdrawal granted
The court granted defense counsel's motion to be relieved and permitted Tufano to proceed pro se, directing him to state by March 18 whether he would retain new counsel or proceed pro se.
Source ↗Certificate of default entered
After no answer was filed to the amended complaint, a certificate of default was entered against Tufano.
Source ↗Motion to vacate default denied
The court denied the motion to vacate the entries of default, finding the defendants' default willful and that they failed to show a meritorious defense.
Source ↗Adverse court order
S.D.N.Y. entered a default judgment enjoining Tufano from, among other things, making public statements that Saladino copied, plagiarized, stole, or improperly used Tufano's work.
Source ↗Multiple post-default motions denied
The court denied motions to vacate the inquest, file a third-party complaint, disqualify the court/demand a trial, and stay proceedings, and struck the improperly filed third-party complaint.
Source ↗Emergency stay pending appeal denied
The court denied an emergency stay pending appeal, stating that the motion largely reasserted arguments previously raised and rejected and presented no new facts, evidence or controlling authority justifying a stay.
Source ↗Secondary sources
Commentary from former counsel or other secondary sources is retained separately from court findings and primary-source records.
Saladino v. Frank Tufano 20-cv-9346 – Decision on Mr. Tufano's Motion to Vacate His DefaultFebruary 16, 2026
Davis summarizes the representation/default chronology in C100 and points readers to the Jan. 29, 2026 Opinion & Order. The underlying court record independently confirms counsel was relieved Feb. 23, 2021, no answer was filed, default followed, and the earlier motion to vacate default was denied after the court found willful default and no meritorious defense.
Evidentiary treatment: Blog commentary is secondary. Court findings about default, motions, and representation are recorded in COURT_FINDINGS only where supported by the court opinions/docket.
Secondary source ↗Public video statements
Public statements are displayed separately from court findings.
Adverse-court reaction / judicial allegation00:00
Will this CORRUPT JUDGE Help Paul Saladino GET AWAY WITH IT!?
Public statement attacking a judge in litigation involving Paul Saladino; useful as chronology/context, not proof of corruption.
Video source ↗