Yes, the California case register is very confusing, and it's unfortunate that the case documents aren't available online for free.  (By the way, California courts are all over the map on this one; some counties allow easy, free online access to all filings; others jealously guard them and charge a fee; and still others don't post anything online.)  I just went back and looked at the register, and it looks like the following happened: (1) on Sep 5, 2012, CWRN filed the summons and complaint, (2) on Nov 2, 2012, CWRN filed a local San Diego Superior Court form regarding its inability to serve the summons and complaint on the GEO defendants, (3) on Nov 21, 2012, CWRN filed proofs of service of the summons and complaint on the GEO defendants, (4) on Dec 21, 2012, CWRN requested entry of default and defaults were entered against the GEO defendants; (5) on Jan 25, 2013, the GEO defendants filed a motion to set aside the defaults; (6) that motion was originally set for hearing on Jun 7, 2013, it was later rescheduled to Aug 23, 2013, and, just today (whoa, huh?!), it was rescheduled to Oct 18, 2013; and (7) in the meantime, the GEO defendants have filed a motion to compel arbitration, but the Court has denied that motion, pending the outcome of the motion to set aside the defaults.  Given that the motion to set aside the defaults has been continued to Oct 18, 2013, I'm seriously wondering if the California court is somehow postponing the hearing on the motion to set aside the defaults, etc. with an eye to the Texas case.  (Note, too, I just checked the Texas case register, and it looks like the Court just recently signed an order that Robert Cotton and CWRN attend oral deposition on Aug 23, 2013.)