Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_15-cv-05765/USCOURTS-cand-4_15-cv-05765-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 791
Nature of Suit: Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)
Cause of Action: 29:1132 E.R.I.S.A.: Employee Benefits

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SOLANO-NAPA COUNTIES 

ELECTRICAL WORKERS HEALTH AND 

WELFARE TRUST, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

ZACHARY ALAN CAMERON,

Defendant.

Case No. 15-cv-05765-YGR (DMR)

ORDER TO SUBMIT SUPPLEMENTAL 

BRIEFING IN SUPPORT OF MOTION 

FOR DEFAULT JUDGMENT; SETTING 

HEARING ON MOTION

Re: Dkt. No. 13

On February 24, 2016, Plaintiffs1filed a motion for default judgment. [Docket No. 13.] 

The motion was referred to the undersigned by the Hon. Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers for a Report 

and Recommendation. [Docket No. 14.] 

Having reviewed that motion, this court determines that Plaintiffs did not brief their 

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). 

Plaintiffs seek $15,363.51 in audit fees on the basis that the shortages revealed by the audit 

meet the conditions, such that they are entitled to “incurred audit fees” under the terms of the 

Collection Procedures for the Trust Fund. MDJ at 13. However, Plaintiffs have not supported this 

claim for relief with proper evidence, such as a sworn affidavit stating that they incurred 

$15,363.51 in audit fees. 

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

 

1

Plaintiffs are Solano-Napa Counties Electrical Workers’ Health and Welfare Trust, Solano-Napa 

Counties Electrical Workers’ Pension Trust, Solano-Napa Counties Electrical Workers’ Profit 

Sharing Plan, Solano-Napa Counties Joint Electrical Education and Training Trust, Solano-Napa 

Counties Labor Management Cooperation Trust, and National Electrical Fund (collectively 

“Trusts”); International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 180 (hereinafter “Union”); and 

Dan Broadwater and Greg Armstrong who are trustees and fiduciaries of each trust.

Case 4:15-cv-05765-YGR Document 20 Filed 04/07/16 Page 1 of 2
2

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

United States District Court

Northern District of California

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 $5,401.50 in attorneys’ fees. Ling Decl. ¶ 5. Plaintiffs’ request for 

attorneys’ fees only included one invoice for hours worked in December 2015 for the amount of 

$1,505.92. Ling Decl., Ex. A. The remainder of attorneys’ fees sought was based on estimates of 

time worked. Ling Decl. ¶ 4. Plaintiffs must submit a more detailed accounting sufficient to 

support Plaintiff’s requested award of reasonable attorneys’ fees for litigating this action, such that 

the court may determine whether the time spent was “excessive, redundant, or otherwise 

unnecessary.” Hensley v. Eckerhart , 461 U.S. 424, 434 (1983); see also N.D. Cal. Civ. L.R. 54-5. 

Plaintiffs shall submit supplemental briefing to support the amount they seek to recover in 

incurred audit fees and attorneys’ fees by April 11, 2016, to address the above deficiencies in the 

motion for default judgment. 

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: April 7, 2016

______________________________________

Donna M. Ryu

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 4:15-cv-05765-YGR Document 20 Filed 04/07/16 Page 2 of 2