Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-02088/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-02088-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 891
Nature of Suit: Agricultural Acts
Cause of Action: 07:499 Agricultural Commodities Act

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07cv2088

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

FORTUNE GROWERS, LLC, a Nevada

limited liability company,

Plaintiff,

vs.

SOUTHERN CITRUS, INC., et al.,

Defendants.

 

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Case No.: 07cv2088-JAH 

ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S

MOTION FOR DEFAULT

JUDGMENT

On April 7, 2008, this Court held a hearing on Plaintiff’s Motion for Default Judgment.

Counsel for the Plaintiff appeared telephonically. Defendants failed to appear, despite having

been properly served with notice of this hearing. For the reasons orally stated by the Court on

the record and based upon the following, this Court GRANTS Plaintiff’s motion.

BACKGROUND

On November 14, 2007, Plaintiff Fortune Growers, Inc. (“Plaintiff”) filed a first

amended complaint (FAC) against Defendants Southern Citrus, Inc., Hana Gibo, Sabah

Youkhanna and Broadway Farmers Market, Inc. (collectively “Defendants”) alleging various

violations of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (“PACA”), 7 U.S.C. § 499a, et seq.,

as well as common law offenses in connection with the sale of certain produce. See Doc. No.

17. On December 2, 2007, Plaintiff served Defendants, Southern Citrus, Hana Gibo, and

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Broadway Farmers Market, with summonses and the FAC by personal service. See Doc. Nos.

19, 20 and 21. Plaintiff also attempted to serve Defendant Youkhanna by personal service, but

was unsuccessful. Plaintiff then petitioned the Court to allow Plaintiff to serve Youkhanna by

publication. Doc. No. 22. This Court granted Plaintiff’s request. Doc. No. 23. On January

11, 2008, Plaintiff filed an affidavit demonstrating that Plaintiff served Defendant Youkhanna

by publication. Doc. No. 24.

All Defendants have failed to plead or otherwise defend against the action as required

by the summons and provided by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. On January 24, 2008,

Plaintiff filed a Motion for Clerk’s Entry of Default as to all Defendants, see Doc. No. 25, and

the clerk entered default on January 28, 2008. See Doc. No. 26. The instant motion for entry

of default judgment by the court was filed on February 12, 2008. Doc. No. 30. No opposition

has been received. 

LEGAL STANDARD

Rule 55(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides that default judgment may

be entered by the Clerk of Court if the amount sought is “for a sum certain or for a sum which

can by computation be made certain.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b)(1). In all other cases, the

application must be made to the court. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b)(2). “If, in order to enter

judgment or to carry it into effect, it is necessary to take an account or to determine the amount

of damages . . . , the court may conduct such hearings or order such references as it deems

necessary and proper.” Id. No judgment by default may be entered against “an infant or

incompetent person.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b)(2). In addition, particular procedures must be

followed before default judgment is entered against military personnel. 50 U.S.C. Appendix

§ 521.

A defendant’s default does not automatically entitle the plaintiff to a court-ordered

judgment. See Draper v. Coombs, 792 F.2d 915, 924-25 (9th Cir. 1986). Rather, granting or

denying relief is entirely within the court’s discretion. See id. For relief to be granted, the

plaintiff is required to state a claim and provide proof of all damages sought in the complaint.

See Eitel v. McCool, 782 F.2d 1470 (9th Cir. 1986). The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure also

provide that “[a] judgment by default shall not be different in kind or exceed in amount that

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prayed for in the [complaint].” Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(c).

DISCUSSION

At the hearing on this matter on April 7, 2008, Plaintiff requested that its motion for

default judgment be granted pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b). Plaintiff submitted a declaration

by Attorney Steven M. De Falco in support of the motion for default judgment. The

declaration attests to the debt owed to Plaintiff under PACA as set forth in the FAC and the

costs, fees and interests due Plaintiff. Plaintiff has proven damages in the principal amount of

$115,266.40. Plaintiff also seeks taxable costs in the sum of $1,815.00, pre-judgment interest

in the sum of $4,165.66, and attorneys’ fees equaling $9,306.00, all of which qualify for

protection under PACA. The total amount of Plaintiff’s request is $130,553.06.

Defendants did not appear at the hearing or present a reasonable excuse for failing to

defend this action. Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:

1. Fortune Growers, LLC’s Motion for Default Judgment is GRANTED.

2. Judgment is entered in favor of Fortune Growers, LLC and against Defendants

Southern Citrus, Inc., Hana Gibo, Sabah Youkhanna, and Broadway Farmers

Market, Inc., jointly and severally, in the principal amount of $115,266.40, along

with taxable costs in the sum of $1,815.00, pre-judgment interest in the sum of

$4,165.66, and attorneys’ fees equaling $9,306.00 for a total judgment amount

of $130,553.06.

3. Post-judgment interest shall accrue on the above individual amounts at the

current post-judgment rate per annum pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1961 from the date

of the entry of this Judgment until paid in full.

DATED: April 9, 2008

JOHN A. HOUSTON

United States District Judge

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