Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_05-cv-04287/USCOURTS-cand-3_05-cv-04287-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 790
Nature of Suit: Other Labor Litigation
Cause of Action: 29:1132 E.R.I.S.A.: Employee Benefits

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States District C

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For the Northern District of California

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

NORTHWEST ADMINISTRATORS, INC.,

Plaintiff,

 v.

 WEST COAST CONCRETE MIXER, INC.,

Defendant.

 /

No. C 05-04287 CRB

ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR

DEFAULT

This is an ERISA action for delinquent contributions to a trust fund. Now before the

Court is plaintiff’s motion for default judgment. Defendant has not answered the complaint

and has not otherwise communicated with the Court. After carefully considering the papers

filed by plaintiff, the Court concludes that oral argument is unnecessary, see Local Rule 7-

1(b), and GRANTS the motion for default judgment.

BACKGROUND

A. Procedural History

Plaintiff filed this ERISA action to recover liquidated damages for late contributions

for the months of June through September 2005. Plaintiff also seeks interest, attorneys’ fees,

and costs. Defendant was served with the complaint, but it has failed to answer or otherwise

communicate with the Court. Default was entered on July 7, 2006. Plaintiff now moves for

entry of default judgment. 

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B. The Evidence In The Record

Defendant entered into a collective bargaining agreement with Teamsters Local Union

No. 150 which requires that pension contributions be paid on behalf of covered employees to

the Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Trust Fund (the “cba”). Defendant also

executed an Employer-Union Pension Certification. The cba and certification require

defendant to pay pension contributions to the plaintiffs on behalf of covered workers and

provides that contributions are due no later than the 10th day of the following month. A

contribution is considered delinquent unless the plaintiff receives the contribution by that

date. 

The agreements provide further that the defendant shall pay liquidated damages in an

amount equal to 20 percent of the amount of contributions due, plus interest on the overdue

amount and attorneys’ fees. 

The evidence establishes that defendant made late payments for the months of June,

July, August and September 2005. All of these contributions were paid in November 2005,

after this lawsuit was filed; however, because they were late, defendant owes $3,518.90 in

liquidated damages. Despite plaintiff’s demand for payment, defendant has not paid this

amount nor the interest owed on the liquidated damages. 

DISCUSSION

ERISA provides that

[e]very employer who is obligated to make contributions to a multiemployer

plan under the terms of a collectively bargained agreement shall to the extent

not inconsistent with law, make such contributions in accordance with the

terms and conditions of such plan or such agreement.

29 U.S.C. § 1145. ERISA also authorizes an award of interest on delinquent and unpaid

contributions, as well as liquidated damages and attorneys fees and costs in an action for

collection of contributions. See 29 U.S.C. § 1132(g). In the Ninth Circuit, to qualify for an

award of statutory liquidated damages, unpaid contributions must exist at the time the lawsuit

was filed. See Idaho Plumbers & Pipe Fitters Health and Welfare Fund v. United

Mechanical Contractors, Inc., 875 F.2d 212, 215 (9th Cir. 1989). Defendant owed delinquent

contributions at the time plaintiff initiated this lawsuit.

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G:\CRBALL\2005\4287\orderredefaultjudgment.wpd 3

As the allegations of the complaint are accepted as true, and as the evidence

establishes that defendant owes plaintiff a sum certain, plaintiff’s motion for a default

judgment is GRANTED in the total amount of $5,066.37. This amount consists of $3,518.90

in liquidated damages, $212.47 in interest, $720.00 in attorneys’ fees, and $615.00 in costs. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: Nov. 20, 2006 

CHARLES R. BREYER

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 3:05-cv-04287-CRB Document 29 Filed 11/20/06 Page 3 of 3