Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-02753/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-02753-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 791
Nature of Suit: Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)
Cause of Action: 29:1002 E.R.I.S.A.: Employee Retirement

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RUSSELL E. BURNS, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

EMPIRE ENGINEERING & 

CONSTRUCTION, INC., et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 15-cv-02753-DMR 

ORDER TO SUBMIT SUPPLEMENTAL 

BRIEFING IN SUPPORT OF MOTION 

FOR DEFAULT JUDGMENT

Re: Dkt. No. 23

On February 24, 2016, Plaintiffs filed a motion for default judgment. [Docket No. 23.] 

Having reviewed that motion, this court determines that Plaintiffs did not brief its entitlement to 

the entry of default judgment pursuant to the factors enumerated in the Ninth Circuit’s decision in 

Eitel v. McCool, 782 F.2d 1470, 1471-72 (9th Cir. 1986). 

In order to recover damages after securing a default judgment, a plaintiff must prove the 

relief it seeks by submitting proper evidence by way of a sworn affidavit. Bd. of Trs. of the 

Boilermaker Vacation Trust v. Skelly, Inc., 389 F. Supp. 2d 1222, 1226 (N.D. Cal. 2005); see 

Pepsico, Inc. v. Cal. Sec. Cans, 238 F. Supp. 2d 1172, 1175 (C.D. Cal. 2002) (citing Televideo 

Sys., Inc. v. Heidenthal, 826 F.2d 915, 917-18 (9th Cir. 1987)). 

Plaintiffs claim 10% interest and liquidated damages as applied to all late paid and unpaid 

contributions. The Complaint and motion identify the months Plaintiffs claims they are entitled to 

interest and liquidated damages, but fail to provide information showing how the amounts of 

interest and liquidated damages for each month were calculated.

1 Compl. ¶15; Mot. at 2. 

Plaintiffs’ chart, which provides the sum of interest and liquidated damages for all late paid 

contribution months, is insufficient for the court to assess whether these calculations are correct. 

 

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Plaintiffs only indicate the contribution amounts for April, May, and June of 2015 to indicate 

how they assessed the contributions due for unreported months. Hayner Decl. ¶15. 

Case 3:15-cv-02753-RS Document 30 Filed 03/25/16 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

See Hayner Decl. ¶ 16. Plaintiffs shall supplement their motion for default judgment by providing 

the court with information showing how they calculated, for each month, the interest and 

liquidated damage amounts they are claiming. 

The Hayner Declaration states that once a lawsuit has been filed, the Bargaining and Trust 

Agreements provide that liquidated damages are calculated at 20% of the delinquent contributions. 

Hayner Decl. ¶ 10. Plaintiffs claim that they are entitled to liquidated damages at 20% of their late 

paid contribution for January- June 2015. MDJ at 14. Plaintiffs filed this lawsuit on June 18, 

2015. Plaintiffs must provide support for the 20% liquidated damages calculation prior to the 

filing of the lawsuit. 

Plaintiff shall submit additional briefing by April 4, 2016, to address the above 

deficiencies in the motion for default judgment. Any opposition or statement of non-opposition is 

due no later than April 11, 2016.

Immediately upon receipt of this Order, Plaintiffs shall serve Defendants with a copy 

of this Order and file a proof of service with the court. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 25, 2016

______________________________________

Donna M. Ryu

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 3:15-cv-02753-RS Document 30 Filed 03/25/16 Page 2 of 2