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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN 

SOUTHERN DIVISION 

Derek Reed, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

GFI Holdings, LLC, and John 

Guzzardo, 

Defendants. 

________________________________/

Case No. 14-cv-14842 

Hon. Judith E. Levy 

Mag. Judge R. Steven Whalen 

ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR DEFAULT 

JUDGMENT [8]

 On April 15, 2015, this matter came before the Court on plaintiff 

Derek Reed’s motion for default judgment against defendants GFI 

Holdings, LLC and John Guzzardo pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b)(2). 

(Dkt. 8.) A hearing was held and oral argument was heard. 

 Plaintiff is entitled to judgment as to the unpaid overtime wages 

as compensation for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 

(“FLSA”) 29 U.S.C. 201, et seq. Judgment is also entered as to 

liquidated damages pursuant to 29 U.S.C. § 216(b) for the overtime 

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damages. Plaintiff is also entitled to judgment on plaintiff’s retaliation 

claims brought under the FLSA and Whistleblowers’ Protection Act of 

1980 MCL 15.361, et seq. Pursuant to 29 U.S.C. § 216(b), the Court 

also awards liquidated damages in an amount equal to the plaintiff’s 

retaliation damages. 

ACCORDINGLY, JUDGMENT IS HEREBY ENTERED against 

defendants in accordance with the prayer of the complaint in this action 

as follows: 

1. JUDGMENT IS HEREBY ENTERED, pursuant to 29 U.S.C. § 

216(b), in favor of plaintiff and against defendants in the total 

amount of $25,655.00. This sum represents the unpaid overtime 

damages and an equal amount in liquidated damages. 

2. FURTHER, JUDGMENT IS HEREBY ENTERED, pursuant to 29 

U.S.C. § 215(a)(3) and M.C.L. § 15.362, in favor of plaintiff and 

against defendants in the total amount of $58,320.00. This sum 

represents the retaliation damages and an equal amount in 

liquidated damages. 

a. The judgment shall be deemed satisfied upon defendants’ 

delivery to: 

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Gold Star Law, P.C. 

2701 Troy Center Dr., Ste. 400 

Troy, Michigan 48084 

of a certified check or cashier’s check in the amount of 

$83,975.00 made payable to the order of the “Gold Star Law, 

P.C. Trust Account” and referencing “Reed—14-cv-14842” on 

the face of the check. 

3. FURTHER, it is ORDERED that plaintiff shall recover from 

defendants post-judgment interest pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1961; 

and it is further 

4. ORDERED that a true copy of this judgment shall be served on 

defendants within 10 days of entry; and it is further 

5. ORDERED that defendants pay the costs of this action, including 

attorney’s fees. 

 IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: May 8, 2015 s/Judith E. Levy___________ 

Ann Arbor, Michigan JUDITH E. LEVY 

 United States District Judge 

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

 The undersigned certifies that the foregoing document was served 

upon counsel of record and any unrepresented parties via the Court’s 

ECF System to their respective email or First Class U.S. mail addresses 

disclosed on the Notice of Electronic Filing on May 8, 2015. 

 s/Amanda Chubb__________ 

 AMANDA CHUBB 

 Case Manager 

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