Source: http://or.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20140819_0001115.DOR.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2018-04-20 10:48:40
Document Index: 13275272

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 201', '§ 652', '§ 653', '§ 636', '§ 207', '§ 216', '§ 653', '§ 653', '§ 652', '§ 652', '§ 652']

FOREVER YOUNG OREGON, LLC, an Oregon corporation; RONALD ZEMP; and JENNIFER ZEMP; Defendants.
FINDINGS & RECOMMENDATIONS ON MOTION FOR DEFAULT JUDGMENT AND MOTION FOR ATTORNEY FEES AND LITIGATION COSTS
On November 5, 2013, the plaintiff filed this case against the defendants, alleging failure to pay straight time and mandatory overtime wages, in violation of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. § 201 et seq. (" FLSA "), and Oregon wage-and-hour laws, specifically ORS § 652.140 et seq., and ORS § 653.261. Dkt. #1.
On January 10, 2014, a Summons was issued to the Registered Agent for the corporate defendant Forever Young Oregon, LLC. Dkt. #4. On March 18, 2014, an Affidavit of Service was filed showing that on January 16, 2014, a process server served a copy of the summons, Complaint, and Civil Case Management Order on the receptionist for Forever Young's registered agent. In the Affidavit of Service, the process server indicates the receptionist was "authorized to accept service on behalf of the registered agent." Dkt. #10. When Forever Young failed to move or plead in response to the Complaint, on March 13, 2014, the plaintiff filed an ex parte motion for entry of default against Forever Young. At a status conference on April 9, 2014, the Court orally granted the motion for entry of default against Forever Young, see Dkt. #16, and on April 10, 2014, a paper Order of Default was entered to memorialize the Court's ruling. Dkt. #16.
On April 10, 2014, Summonses were issued to the individual defendants Ronald Zemp and Jennifer Zemp. Dkt. #15. Service was accomplished, and default ultimately was entered against both individual defendants on July 14, 2014. Dkt. ##21-24, 26.
The case currently is before the court on the plaintiff's motion for default judgment against the corporate defendant only.[*] Dkt. #17. The plaintiff also has filed a motion for attorney's fees and costs. Dkt. #19. The undersigned submits the following report and recommended disposition of the motions pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B).
Graham alleges Forever Young failed to pay her straight time and overtime wages as required by law, and she also seeks penalty wages under Oregon law. Because Graham's damages cannot be calculated by simple computation, without reference to other evidence, the court considers Graham's motion for default judgment pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55(b) (2). See, e.g., Franchise Holdings II, LLC v. Huntington Restaurants Group, Inc., 375 F.3d 922, 928-29 (9th Cir. 2004) (citation omitted).
Graham's attorney Eric J. Fjelstad has submitted declarations setting forth the step-by-step process he employed to determine the amounts of Graham's unpaid wages under Oregon law, liquidated damages under the FLSA, and statutory penalties under Oregon law. Mr. Fjelstad indicates he made these calculations from detailed records of Graham's work schedules and pay stubs for each pay period. See Dkt. ## 18 & 27.
Graham's First Claim for Relief seeks unpaid overtime wages under the FLSA, which requires payment of at least time-and-a-half for all hours in excess of forty during a work week. 29 U.S.C. § 207(a) (1). Mr. Fjelstad calculates Graham is owed $27, 964.03 in unpaid overtime wages. Dkt. #17, p. 2; Dkt. #27, p. 3. Further, an employer who fails to pay wages due under the Act is liable not only for the amount of the unpaid wages, but also "an additional equal amount as liquidated damages." 29 U.S.C. § 216(b). Thus, Graham claims she is entitled to recover $27, 964.03 in FLSA liquidated damages. Id. The court finds Mr. Fjelstad's calculations are reasonable and accurate, and Graham should be awarded FLSA damages as requested.
Graham's Second Claim for Relief seeks penalty wages under ORS §§ 653.055(1)(b) and 652.150(2), because Forever Young failed to pay Graham's wages for her final pay period. ORS § 653.055(1)(b) specifies that the civil penalty is calculated as "provided in ORS 652.150." ORS § 652.150 provides that an employer who "willfully fails" to make timely payment of all wages due when an employee's employment ceases, as required by ORS § 652.140, is subject to a penalty equal to the employee's wage rate times eight hours per day for the number of days the wages remain unpaid, up to a maximum of thirty days. The "willful" requirement in the statute does not contain a malice component; "it merely indicates that the act or omission was purposeful and not the product of inadvertence." Young v. Oregon, 340 Or. 401, 409, 133 P.3d 915, 919 (2006). The evidence in the present case indicates Forever Young's failure to pay Graham's final wages was not the product of inadvertence. Graham's counsel sent Forever Young two letters requesting payment of Graham's unpaid wages, but the company still failed to pay the wages Graham was due. See Dkt. #1, 11, 20 & 21; Dkt. #17, p. 3; Dkt. #18, 15; Dkt. #27, p. 3. The court finds Forever Young "willfully" failed to pay Graham's wages upon termination as required by ORS § 652.140. Because Graham's final wages remained unpaid for longer than thirty days, her statutory penalty is limited to thirty days of work (240 hours) times Graham's last hourly rate of $16.15 per hour; i.e., $3, 876.00. See Dkt. #27, p. 3. The court finds Graham is entitled to a penalty under Oregon law in the amount of $3, 876.00, for Forever Young's willful failure to pay the wages Graham was due when she ceased her employment. Graham also is entitled to recover post-judgment interest at a rate equal to "the weekly average 1-year constant maturity Treasury yield, as published by the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System, for the calendar week preceding." 28 U.S.C. 1961(a). Graham indicates the applicable rate for the week prior to the filing of her motion for default judgment (i.e., the week ending April 11, 2014) was 0.10%. Dkt. #17, p. 3. The court's judgment should provide for interest from the date of judgment at 0.10% per annum.
Graham moves for attorney fees in the amount of $5, 570.92 for 18.57 hours of attorney time, and costs of $470.00 (consisting of the ...