Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_16-cv-00206/USCOURTS-caed-2_16-cv-00206-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 790
Nature of Suit: Other Labor Litigation
Cause of Action: 05:704 Labor Litigation

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ALASTAIR McGUIRE, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

VIGILANT CANINE SERVICES 

INTERNATIONAL, LLC, et al.,

Defendants.

No. 2:16-cv-0206 TLN CKD

FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Pending before the court is plaintiffs’ motion for default judgment against defendant 

Vigilant Canine Services International, LLC.

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 The matter was submitted on the briefs. E.D. Cal. 

L.R. 230(g). The undersigned has fully considered the briefs and record in this case and, for the 

reasons stated below, will recommend that plaintiff’s motion for default judgment be granted.

In this action, plaintiffs allege claims for breach of contract, failure to timely pay all 

wages due and owing upon separation of employment, unfair business practices, violation of the 

Fair Credit Reporting Act, and violation of the California Investigative Consumer Reporting 

Agencies Act. The record reflects that defendant Vigilant Canine Services International, LLC 

(“Vigilant”) was properly served on February 14, 2016. ECF Nos. 4, 5. Default against 

 

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 Plaintiffs do not move for entry of default judgment against defendant Buckley Dikes II 

because this defendant has filed for personal bankruptcy.

Case 2:16-cv-00206-TLN-CKD Document 16 Filed 08/03/16 Page 1 of 3
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defendant Vigilant was entered on June 28, 2016. ECF No. 11. In the motion for default 

judgment, plaintiff seeks damages in the amount of $141,000 and attorneys’ fees and costs in the 

amount of $90,937.41 for the total sum of $231,937.41. 

Entry of default effects an admission of all well-pleaded allegations of the complaint by

the defaulted party. Geddes v. United Financial Group, 559 F.2d 557 (9th Cir. 1977). The court 

finds the well pleaded allegations of the complaint state a claim for which relief can be granted. 

Anderson v. Air West, 542 F.2d 1090, 1093 (9th Cir. 1976). The application for default judgment 

and the exhibits and affidavits attached thereto also support the finding that plaintiffs are entitled 

to the relief in the form of monetary and statutory damages as requested in the prayer for default 

judgment, which does not differ in kind from the relief requested in the complaint. Henry v. 

Sneiders, 490 F.2d 315, 317 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 419 U.S. 832 (1974). The amount sought is 

supported by the affidavits submitted in support of the motion for default judgment. With respect 

to the claimed attorney’s fees and costs, the amount of time actually expended and the hourly rate 

is reasonable. However, plaintiffs seek an additional amount of attorneys’ fees for speculative 

time spent in collecting the judgment. The court will therefore recommend an award only of the 

fees actually expended, i.e. $72,072.10 and costs in the amount of $937.41. There are no policy 

considerations which preclude the entry of default judgment of the type requested. See Eitel v. 

McCool, 782 F.2d 1470, 1471-1472 (9th Cir. 1986) (factors that may be considered by the court 

are possibility of prejudice to the plaintiff, merits of plaintiff’s substantive claim, sufficiency of 

the complaint, sum of money at stake in the action; possibility of a dispute concerning material 

facts; whether the default was due to excusable neglect, and strong policy underlying the Federal 

Rules of Civil Procedure favoring decisions on the merits). 

For the foregoing reasons, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the hearing date of July 13, 

2016 is vacated; and

IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that:

1. Plaintiff’s motion for default judgment (ECF No. 13) be granted; and 

2. Default judgment against defendant Vigilant Canine Services International, LLC be 

entered in the amount of $214,009.51.

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These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge 

assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within fourteen days 

after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written 

objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned 

“Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Failure to file objections 

within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the District Court’s order. Martinez v. 

Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991).

Dated: August 3, 2016

4 mcguire-vcsi0206.def

_____________________________________

CAROLYN K. DELANEY

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:16-cv-00206-TLN-CKD Document 16 Filed 08/03/16 Page 3 of 3