Source: http://co.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20180329_0000416.DCO.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 18:17:27+00:00

Document:
HIGHMARK CONSTRUCTION, LLP, and GABRIEL MATTICE, Defendants.
This matter is before the Court on a Motion for Default Judgment and to Strike Answer of Corporate Entity, filed by Plaintiffs Jose Lopez and Ricardo Perez (Plaintiffs, collectively) against Defendants Highmark Construction, LLP and Gabriel Mattice (Defendants, collectively). (Doc. # 37.) For the reasons discussed below, the Court enters a default judgment against Defendants.
The following well-pleaded facts are deemed admitted by Defendants and taken as true for purposes of this order. See, e.g., Olcott v. Del. Flood Co., 327 F.3d 1115, 1125 (10th Cir. 2003) (stating that upon default, the defendant admits the plaintiff's allegations).
Defendant Highmark Construction, LLP is a construction business in Colorado that is owned and managed by Defendant Gabriel Mattice. (Doc. # 1 at ¶¶ 1, 10-11.) Plaintiff Jose Lopez worked as a construction laborer for Defendants from September 2015 to April 2017, totaling about eighty-three weeks. (Doc. # 37-3 at ¶¶ 1, 5.) Plaintiff Perez worked as a laborer for Defendants from January 2017 to March 2017, for a total of twelve weeks. (Doc. # 37-4 at ¶¶ 1, 5.) During their employment, Defendants failed to pay Plaintiffs (1) overtime wages for hours worked beyond forty each workweek; (2) wages for travel time; and (3) wages for break periods required under Colorado law.
On December 7, 2017, the Court held a second Scheduling Conference. (Doc. ## 25-27.) Neither Defendant appeared at the conference. (Doc. # 27.) On December 8, 2017, the Court ordered both Defendants to show cause by January 8, 2018, why default should not be entered against them for failure to appear at the second Scheduling Conference in violation of court orders. (Doc. # 28.) To date, neither Defendant has responded to the show cause order, nor has Defendant Highmark Construction filed an answer in this case.
On March 13, 2018, the Clerk of Court entered default as to both Defendants. (Doc. # 36.) That same day, Plaintiffs filed the instant Motion for Default Judgment, requesting damages for earned but unpaid wages and an award of attorney's fees and costs.
Default judgment may be entered against a party who fails to appear or otherwise defend. Fed.R.Civ.P. 55. In order to obtain a judgment by default, the moving party must follow the two-step process described in Rule 55: “first, he or she must seek an entry of default from the Clerk of the Court under Rule 55(a); second, after default has been entered by the Clerk, the party must seek default judgment according to the strictures of Rule 55(b).” Richfield Hospitality, Inc. v. Shubh Hotels Detroit, LLC, No. 10-cv-00526-PAB-MJW, 2011 WL 3799031, at *2 (D. Colo. Aug. 26, 2011).
At step two, the decision to enter default judgment is “committed to the district court's sound discretion.” Olcott v. Delaware Flood Co., 327 F.3d 1115, 1124 (10th Cir. 2003) (quoting Dennis Garberg & Assocs. v. Pack-Tech Int'l Corp., 115 F.3d 767, 771 (10th Cir. 1997)). Nonetheless, “there must be a sufficient basis in the pleadings” for default judgment to be entered, since a party in default “does not admit mere conclusions of law.” Bixler v. Foster, 596 F.3d 751, 762 (10th Cir. 2010).
A defendant who fails to answer, plead, or otherwise defend an action is deemed to have admitted the well-pleaded factual allegations of the complaint as true. See, e.g., Olcott, 327 F.3d at 1125 (stating that upon default, the defendant admits the plaintiff's allegations); see also Personal Indus. Loan Corp. v. Forgay, 240 F.2d 18, 20 (10th Cir. 1956) (“By failing to appear and permitting a default judgment to be entered, [defendant] admitted only facts well pleaded.”). In addition, the court accepts the undisputed facts set forth in any affidavits and exhibits. Deery American Corp. v. Artco Equip. Sales, Inc., No. 06-cv-01684-EWN-CBS, 2007 WL 437762, at *3 (D.Colo. Feb. 6, 2007) (unpublished).

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