Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_15-cv-05325/USCOURTS-cand-4_15-cv-05325-5/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 791
Nature of Suit: Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)
Cause of Action: 29:1451 E.R.I.S.A.

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

PENSION PLAN FOR PENSION TRUST 

FUND FOR OPERATING ENGINEERS, et 

al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS 

TESTING, INC., et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 15-cv-05325-DMR 

ORDER TO SUBMIT SUPPLEMENTAL 

BRIEFING IN SUPPORT OF MOTION

FOR DEFAULT JUDGMENT

Re: Dkt. No. 20

On April 15, 2016, Plaintiffs Pension Plan for Pension Trust Fund for Operating Engineers

filed a motion for default judgment. [Docket No. 20.] After reviewing the motion, the court 

requested supplemental briefing, which Plaintiff timely filed. [Docket Nos. 39, 41.] The court 

now requests additional briefing.

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’ request for $2,454,916.00 in withdrawal liability is not sufficiently supported.

See MDJ at 1, 7, 9. Plaintiffs claim that the principal owed by Defendant Construction Materials 

Testing, Inc. (“CMT”) is based upon calculations provided by Horizon Actuarial Services, LLC

(“Horizon”), the Plaintiffs’ actuary. Trento Decl. [Docket No. 22] at ¶ 7. Plaintiffs have attached 

a letter from Johnathan Feldman, a consulting actuary for Horizon, stating that based on Horizon’s 

calculations, CMT’s withdrawal liability is $$2,454,916.00. Trento Decl., Ex. B. However, Mr. 

Feldman’s letter regarding CMT’s withdrawal liability is not under oath, and his letter does not 

Case 4:15-cv-05325-YGR Document 45 Filed 07/15/16 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

explain in detail how Horizon determined CMT’s withdrawal liability. The amount requested by 

Plaintiffs is too large to be awarded on a motion for default judgment without a sufficient record 

and a sworn affidavit justifying the sum in detail. See Pension Plan for Pension Tr. Fund for 

Operating Eng’rs v. Dynamic Consultants, Inc., No. 3:12-CV-00487-WHA, 2012 WL 3629046, at 

*3 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 21, 2012) (denying motion for default judgment requesting $1,094,355 in 

unpaid ERISA contributions without prejudice where the sum was not supported by a sworn 

record justifying the sum in detail). 

Additionally, Plaintiffs request ten percent (10%) per annum in interest on the unpaid 

liability under Section X(B) of the Trust’s Withdrawal Liability Procedures adopted on May 24, 

2010 (“Procedures”). Trento Decl. at ¶ 9. Plaintiffs note that interest is calculated on the 

Accelerated Withdrawal Liability of $2,454,916.00 is $304,674.21, and requests the interest 

continue to accrue at a rate of $672.57 until paid in full. MDJ at 7. Plaintiffs refer to the Trento 

declaration, which has the same interest calculation of $304,674.21 but reports a daily accrual rate 

of $672.58. Plaintiffs shall clarify the rate they are requesting and make changes to the accrued 

interest request as necessary.

Plaintiff shall submit additional briefing by 9:00 a.m. on July 20, 2016, to address the 

above deficiencies in the motion for default judgment. Any opposition or statement of nonopposition is due no later than July 25, 2016.

The hearing on the motion for default judgment set for July 28, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at 1301 

Clay Street, Oakland, California remains on calendar. 

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

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

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: July 15, 2016

______________________________________

Donna M. Ryu

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 4:15-cv-05325-YGR Document 45 Filed 07/15/16 Page 2 of 2