Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-3_11-cv-08012/USCOURTS-azd-3_11-cv-08012-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 130
Nature of Suit: Miller Act
Cause of Action: 40:270 Miller Act

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WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Cemex Construction Materials South,

LLC; United States for the use and benefit

of Cemex Materials South LLC, 

Plaintiffs, 

vs.

Grady’s Quality Excavating Inc.; Grady L.

Hopson; Cheryl L. Hopson; Ronald F.

Wilson; Montana Builders LLC, 

Defendants. 

_________________________________

Cheryl L. Hopson; Grady L. Hopson;

Grady’s Quality Excavating Inc.

Cross Claimants

vs.

Montana Builders LLC; Ronald F. Wilson

Cross Defendants

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No. CV-11-8012-PCT-FJM

ORDER

The United States, through the Department of Agriculture, entered into a contract with

defendant Montana Builders, LLC, for a construction project at Oak Creek Complex-Pine

Flat Campground (the “Project”). Montana Builders, as the general contractor on the Project

and pursuant to the Miller Act, 40 U.S.C. § 3131(b)(2), furnished a payment bond to the

Case 3:11-cv-08012-FJM Document 48 Filed 10/06/11 Page 1 of 3
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United States. Defendant Ronald Wilson is surety on the payment bond. Montana Builders

contracted with defendant Grady’s Quality Excavating as subcontractor on the Project.

Grady’s in turn contracted with plaintiff Cemex Construction Materials South, LLC, for the

purchase of construction materials. Cemex filed this action against Grady’s and its principals

for their failure to pay Cemex for materials in the principal amount of $48,465.58. Cemex

also named as defendants Montana Builders and Ronald Wilson as surety under the payment

bond pursuant to the Miller Act. See 40 U.S.C. § 3133(b)(2). Grady’s in turn filed a crossclaim against Montana Builders and Wilson, for Montana Builder’s failure to pay Grady’s

under the subcontract. When Montana Builders and Wilson failed to answer, Cemex sought

and was granted default judgment against Montana Builders and Wilson in the amount of

$48,465.58, plus interest (doc. 42). 

We now have before us Grady’s motion for default judgment (doc. 44), and motion

for attorney’s fees (doc. 45) against Montana Builders and Wilson.

Grady’s filed a cross-claim against Montana Builders and Ronald Wilson for work

and materials Grady’s furnished in the principal sum of $61,963.05, pursuant to the

subcontract between Grady’s and Montana Builders. Montana Builders and Wilson were

served with the cross-claim on June 21, 2011 (docs. 33, 34), but neither filed an answer. The

clerk of the court entered default against Montana Builders and Wilson in favor of Grady’s

on July 15, 2011. Grady’s now seeks entry of default judgment and contends that its claim

is for a sum certain in the principal amount of $61,963.05, plus interest. Grady’s claim is

sufficiently supported by affidavit (doc. 44 at 5-7). Therefore, we grant Grady’s motion for

entry of default judgment against Montana Builders and Ronald Wilson in the amount of

$61,963.05, plus interest at the rate of one and one half percent from the date the payment

was due until paid in full. See A.R.S. § 32-1129.02(H). 

In its motion for default judgment, Grady’s also asks for attorney’s fees in the amount

of $15,154.00 and costs in the amount of $494.00 that it claims it “is obligated to pay to

Cemex as a direct result of Montana Builders failure to pay Grady’s” (doc. 44 at 2). Grady’s

provides no authority or documentary support for its claim for these fees and costs and

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therefore we do not include them in the default judgment.

Grady’s also filed a separate motion for attorney’s fees in the amount of $6,539.50,

pursuant to A.R.S. § 12-341.01, and taxable costs in the amount of $430.40, for amounts it

incurred in attempting to collect the debt owed by Montana Builders. Grady’s claim is

sufficiently supported by affidavit, therefore we grant Grady’s motion for attorney’s fees and

costs in the amount of $6,969.90.

IT IS ORDERED GRANTING Grady’s motion for default judgment (doc. 44)

against Montana Builders and Ronald Wilson in the amount of $61,963.05, plus interest at

the rate of one and one half percent from the date the payment was due until paid in full. See

A.R.S. § 32-1129.02(H). 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED GRANTING Grady’s motion for attorney’s fees and

costs (doc. 45) against Montana Builders and Wilson n the amount of $6,969.90.

DATED this 5th day of October, 2011.

Case 3:11-cv-08012-FJM Document 48 Filed 10/06/11 Page 3 of 3