Source: http://ca.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20191112_0015650.ECA.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2019-12-16 12:26:44
Document Index: 447563033

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 636', '§ 371', '§ 3001', '§ 3205', '§ 3002', '§ 3002', '§ 1673', '§ 3011', '§ 3202', '§ 3202', '§ 3205', '§ 3205', '§ 3205']

ANGELITA LEON, Defendant and Judgment Debtor. ETTON PISTACHIO OF TERRA BELLA, INC., DBA SETTON FARMS, and its Successors and Assignees Garnishee.
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FINAL ORDER OF GARNISHMENT (WAGES)
Currently pending before the Court is the United States' request for findings and recommendations regarding issuance of a final garnishment order (the “Application”) against the nonexempt disposable wages of the defendant and judgment debtor, Angelita Leon (“Defendant”) from her employer, Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella, Inc., dba Setton Farms (the “Garnishee”). (Doc. No. 9.) The matter was referred to the undersigned pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Local Rule 302(c)(7).
On June 5, 2009, pursuant to a plea agreement with the United States, Defendant entered a plea of guilty to one count of an indictment charging her with conspiracy in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. United States v. Angelita Leon, Case No. 1:09-cr-00006-LJO-SKO-1, Doc. Nos. 24, 26. On February 19, 2010, Defendant was sentenced to thirty-six months of probation and ordered to pay a statutory assessment of $100.00 and $38, 067.48 in restitution. Id. at Doc. No. 56. According to the United States, as of October 7, 2019, Defendant owes restitution in the amount of $14, 026.26 and a ten percent (10%) penalty of $1, 402.63. (Doc. No. 9 at 1-2.)
In an attempt to collect the restitution and special assessment owed, the United States filed an application for a writ of continuing garnishment (wages) against Defendant's disposable earnings from the Garnishee. (Doc. No. 1.) The Clerk of Court issued the writ of garnishment August 21, 2019. (Doc. No. 3.) The United States subsequently served the Garnishee and Defendant with copies of the writ and related documents. (Doc. Nos. 2, 5.) The documents served on Defendant advised her, among other things, of her rights to claim exemptions to garnishment and request a hearing on their claims, request a hearing to quash the writ, and/or object to the Garnishee's answer of garnishee (the “Answer”) and request a hearing thereon. (Doc. No. 5.)
The Garnishee filed its acknowledgement of service and Answer on September 19, 2019, stating that the Defendant is an employee of the Garnishee and identifying the applicable pay period and amount of disposable earnings. (Doc. No. 6.) The Garnishee served the Answer on Defendant on September 6, 2019. (Doc No. 6.) The United States now seeks a final order of garnishment pursuant to section 3205(c)(7) of the Federal Debt Collections Procedure Act (“FDCPA”), 28 U.S.C. §§ 3001, et seq., against Defendant's wages from the Garnishee. (Doc. No. 9.)
Pursuant to the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act, the United States may enforce a judgment imposing a fine, including restitution, in accordance with the practices and procedures for enforcing a civil judgment under the FDCPA. United States v. Mays, 430 F.3d 963, 965, n.2 (9th Cir. 2005). The FDCPA sets forth the “exclusive civil procedures for the United States . . . to recover a judgment on. . . an amount that is owing to the United States on account of . . . restitution.” Id. at 965.
The FDCPA permits the Court to “issue a writ of garnishment against property (including nonexempt disposable earnings) in which the debtor has a substantial nonexempt interest and which is in the possession, custody, or control of a person other than the debtor, in order to satisfy the judgment against the debtor.” 28 U.S.C. § 3205(a). “Disposable earnings” is defined as “that part of earnings remaining after all deductions required by law have been withheld.” 28 U.S.C. § 3002(5). “Nonexempt disposable earnings, ” in turn, “means 25 percent of disposable earnings, subject to section 303 of the Consumer Credit Protection Act.” 28 U.S.C. § 3002(9). The principal restriction imposed by the Consumer Credit Protection Act is that garnishment of an individual's disposable earnings is limited to twenty-five percent of the debtor's weekly earnings. 15 U.S.C. § 1673(a)(1). Additionally, “the United States is entitled to recover a surcharge of 10 percent of the amount of the debt in connection with the recovery of the debt, to cover the cost of processing and handling the litigation and enforcement . . . of the claim for such debt.” 28 U.S.C. § 3011(a).
The government is required by the FDCPA to provide the judgment debtor with notice of the commencement of garnishment proceedings. 28 U.S.C. § 3202(b). The judgment debtor then has twenty days after receipt of the notice to request a hearing. 28 U.S.C. § 3202(b). After the garnishee files an answer, and if no hearing is requested within the required time period, the Court must promptly enter an order directing the garnishee as to the disposition of the judgment debtor's property. 28 U.S.C. § 3205(c)(7).
Here, Defendant's nonexempt disposable earnings are subject to garnishment under the FDCPA. See 28 U.S.C. § 3205(a). The United States provided Defendant with notice of the garnishment proceedings on August 29, 2019. (Doc. No. 5.) The documents served on Defendant her of her rights to claim exemptions and request a hearing on her claims, request a hearing to oppose the writ, and object to the Answer and request a hearing. (Id.) Defendant was further advised of the applicable deadlines for exercising these rights under the FDCPA. (Id.) Neither Defendant nor any other person filed any exemption claims, objections, requests for hearing, or other response in this garnishment action and their time to do so has now expired. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 3205(c)(7), as no hearing was requested during the applicable time period, the Court will recommend that an order issue directing the Garnishee as to the disposition of Defendant's nonexempt disposable wages.
III.ORDER AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Accordingly, it is HEREBY ORDERED that the United States is directed to serve a copy of these findings and recommendations on the Garnishee and Defendant and file proof of such service within ...