Court Opinion

ID: 2666065
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-04-04 08:29:30.995182+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:17:51.509078
License: Public Domain

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
                             FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

 INTERNATIONAL PAINTERS AND
 ALLIED TRADES INDUSTRY PENSION
 FUND, et al.,

    Plaintiffs,                                             Civil Action No. 9-2108 (CKK)
      v.

 BRIGHTON PAINTING COMPANY, d/b/a
 Brighton Painting Co. Inc.,

    Defendant.

                                   MEMORANDUM OPINION
                                       (April 19, 2010)

       Plaintiffs International Painters and Allied Trade Industry Pension Fund (“Pension Fund”),

Gary J. Meyers, in his official capacity as fiduciary of the Pension Fund, the Political Action

Together Fund (“PAT Fund”), and the Painters and Allied Trades Labor Management Cooperation

Initiative (“LMCI”) (collectively, “Plaintiffs”), filed a Complaint in this case against Defendant

Brighton Painting Company, on November 9, 2009, alleging that Defendant failed to pay the proper

amount of contributions owed under the relevant collective bargaining agreements and related

agreements. See Compl., Docket No. [1]. Although properly and timely served with the Complaint

and Summons, Defendant failed to respond to the Complaint, and the Clerk of the Court, upon the

filing of an affidavit of default by Plaintiffs, entered default against Defendant on January 11, 2010.

See Clerk’s Entry of Default, Docket No. [5]. Presently before the Court is Plaintiffs’ [6] Motion

for Default Judgment. Having thoroughly considered Plaintiffs’ submissions, the attachments

thereto, applicable case law, statutory authority, and the record of the case as a whole, the Court

shall GRANT Plaintiffs’ [6] Motion for Default Judgment, for the reasons stated below.
                                         I. BACKGROUND

       Plaintiffs filed the Complaint in the above-captioned matter on November 9, 2009. See

Compl. As set forth in the Complaint, Plaintiffs assert that Defendant is bound through its

collective bargaining agreements with one or more local labor unions or district councils affiliated

with the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, AFL-CIO, CLC (“Labor Agreements”),

and that Defendant has also signed onto and agreed to abide by the terms of the Agreement and

Declaration of Trust of the Fund (“Trust Agreement’) and the plan documents for the ERISA Funds

(as defined below) administered by the Pension Fund and Meyers (“Plan Agreements”). Id. ¶¶ 16-

17; see also id., Ex. 1 (Labor Agreements), Ex. 2 (Trust Agreement), Ex. 3 (Plan Agreement).

Pursuant to the terms of those agreements, Plaintiffs assert that they are entitled to a monetary award

in the amount of the unpaid contributions, liquidated damages, interest on the unpaid contributions,

as well as costs, audit expenses and attorneys’ fees. Id. ¶ 18.

       According to the allegations in the Complaint, the Pension Fund is an employee pension

benefit plan as defined under the Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”),

29 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq. Compl. ¶ 5. It is the fiduciary and plan administrator for the International

Painters and Allied Trade Industry Pension Plan (“Pension Plan”) and the International Painters and

Allied Trade Industry Annuity Plan (“Annuity Plan”). Id. ¶ 4. In addition, together with Plaintiff

Meyers, it is the authorized collecting fiduciary and agent for the following multi-employer,

employee benefit and employee pension benefit plans: the Finishing Trades Institute (“FTI”), the

PAT Fund, and LCMI (collectively with the Pension Plan and the Annuity Plan, the “ERISA

Funds”). Id. ¶ 8.

       As explained in the declaration of Thomas Montemore, Assistant to the Fund Administrator

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for the Pension Fund, the Pension Fund provides retirement income to employees represented by the

International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, AFL-CIO-CFL. Pls.’ Mot. for Def. J., Docket

No. [6], Ex. 1 (Declaration of Thomas Montemore) (hereinafter “Montemore Decl.”), ¶ 2.

Contributions are made to the Pension Fund by employers pursuant to the terms of the Labor

Agreements discussed above. Id. ¶ 7. Signatory employers are required to submit monthly

contributions on behalf of all employees in the bargaining unit pursuant to the rates of contributions

set forth in the Labor Agreements. Id. Defendant is one such signatory employer obligated to make

contributions to the Pension Fund under the terms of its Labor Agreements and the Trust

Agreement. Id. ¶ 6. The Labor Agreements entered into by Defendant provide that for each hour

worked by an employee performing work under the agreements, Defendant is obligated to pay, in

addition to wages, contributions to the Pension Fund. Id. ¶ 7. Pursuant to a payroll audit conducted

by the Pension Fund, Plaintiffs have determined that Defendant owes delinquent contributions for

the period of January 2004 through December 2008 for all ERISA Funds in the amount of

$17,411.99. Id. ¶ 8.

       In addition to unpaid contributions, pursuant to Section 10.10 of the Plan Agreement,

Plaintiffs assert that Defendant owes interest on the unpaid contributions, determined in accordance

with the rate of interest for underpayment of federal income taxes as set forth in 26 U.S.C. § 6621,

from the date due until the date paid as well as liquidated damages equal to twenty percent of the

unpaid contributions or the amount of interest due, whichever is great. Id.; see also Plan

Agreement, §§ 10.12(b)(2)&(3). Plaintiffs have also calculated that interest on the unpaid

contributions for all ERISA Funds, from the date due until January 19, 2010, totals $3,142.20.

Montemore Decl. ¶ 8(b). In addition, Plaintiffs have calculated that they are entitled to $3,482.41 in

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liquidated damages, which amount equals twenty percent of the total unpaid contributions owed. Id.

¶ 8(c).

          Finally, under Article VI, Section 6 of the Trust Agreement, any employer, such as

Defendant, who is delinquent in making contributions is obligated to pay audit costs incurred by the

Pension Fund. Id. ¶ 8(d); see also Trust Agreement, Article VI, § 6. The Pension Fund avers that it

incurred audit costs totaling $3,785.60 resulting from Defendant’s failure to timely pay the required

contributions. Montemore Decl. ¶ 8(d). Defendant is also obligated under Section 10.12 of the Plan

Agreement to pay “reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs” of this action. Plan Agreement, §

10.12(b)(5). As set forth in the Declaration of Jerome A. Flanagan, an attorney with Jennings

Sigmond, P.C., counsel of record for Plaintiffs, Plaintiffs incurred legal fees in the amount of

$6,748.00 and costs in the amount of $519.85, for a total of $7,267.85. Pls.’ Mot. for Def. J., Ex. 2

(Declaration of Jerome A. Flanagan) (hereinafter “Flanagan Decl.”), ¶ 3.

          Defendant was served with the Complaint and Summons on December 1, 2009, and was

therefore required to respond by December 22, 2009. See Return of Service/Affidavit, Docket No.

[3]. Defendant failed to file an answer or otherwise respond to the Complaint, and Plaintiffs

subsequently requested entry of default. See Pls.’ Request to Clerk to Enter Default, Docket No.

[4]. On January 11, 2010, the Clerk of the Court entered default against Defendant. See Clerk’s

Entry of Default, Docket No. [5]. Plaintiffs subsequently filed the instant Motion for Default

Judgment. See Pls.’ Mot. for Default J. As of the date of this Memorandum Opinion and Order,

Defendant has not entered an appearance nor filed any pleadings in this case.

                                       II. LEGAL STANDARD

          Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55(a) provides that the clerk of the court must enter a

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party’s default “[w]hen a party against whom a judgment for affirmative relief is sought has failed to

plead or otherwise defend, and that failure is shown by affidavit or otherwise.” FED . R. CIV . P.

55(a). After a default has been entered by the clerk of the court, a court may enter a default

judgment pursuant to Rule 55(b). FED . R. CIV . P. 55(b). “The determination of whether default

judgment is appropriate is committed to the discretion of the trial court.” Int’l Painters & Allied

Trades Indus. Pension Fund v. Auxier Drywall, LLC, 531 F. Supp. 2d 56, 57 (D.D.C. 2008) (citing

Jackson v. Beech, 636 F.2d 831, 836 (D.C. Cir. 1980)). Upon entry of default by the clerk of the

court, the “defaulting defendant is deemed to admit every well-pleaded allegation in the complaint.”

Int’l Painters & Allied Trades Indus. Pension Fund v. R.W. Armine Drywall Co., Inc., 239 F. Supp.

2d 26, 30 (D.D.C. 2002) (internal citation omitted). “Although the default establishes a defendant’s

liability, the court is required to make an independent determination of the sum to be awarded

unless the amount of damages is certain.” Id. (citing Adkins v. Teseo, 180 F. Supp. 2d 15, 17

(D.D.C. 2001)). Accordingly, when moving for a default judgment, the plaintiff must prove its

entitlement to the amount of monetary damages requested. Id. “In ruling on such a motion, the

court may rely on detailed affidavits or documentary evidence to determine the appropriate sum for

the default judgment.” Id.

                                          III. DISCUSSION

       Where, as here, there is a complete “absence of any request to set aside the default or

suggestion by the defendant that it has a meritorious defense, it is clear that the standard for default

judgment has been satisfied.” Auxier Drywall, LLC, 531 F. Supp. 2d at 57 (internal quotation marks

omitted). The Clerk of the Court entered Defendant’s default, and the factual allegations in the

Complaint are therefore taken as true. See R.W. Armine Drywall Co., Inc., 239 F. Supp. 2d at 30.

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The Court finds that Plaintiffs’ Complaint sufficiently alleges facts to support their claims.

Accordingly, Plaintiffs are entitled to default judgment as to Defendant’s liability for its failure to

timely pay contributions as required under the terms of the Labor Agreements, Trust Agreement and

Plan Agreements.

       Although the default establishes a defendant’s liability, the Court must make an independent

determination of the sum to be awarded in the judgment unless the amount of damages is certain.

Adkins, 180 F. Supp. 2d at 17. Here, pursuant to the terms of the Plan Agreement and the Trust

Agreement, Defendant is obligated to pay: (a) the total amount of unpaid contributions still

outstanding for the period of time from January 2004 through December 2008; (2) liquidated

damages equal to twenty percent of the total unpaid contributions; (3) unpaid interest at the rate set

forth in 26 U.S.C. § 6621; and (4) legal costs, attorneys’ fees and audit costs. See Plan Agreement,

§ 10.12(b); Trust Agreement, Article VI, § 6. Defendant’s contractual obligations mirror its

statutory obligations under 29 U.S.C. § 1132(g)(2), which provides that Plaintiffs are entitled to an

award of: (A) the unpaid contributions; (B) interest on the unpaid contributions; (C) liquidated

damages in an amount equal to the greater of (i) interest on the unpaid contributions, or (ii) twenty

percent (or such higher percentage as may be permitted under Federal or State law) of the unpaid

contributions; (D) reasonable attorney’s fees and costs of the action, to be paid by the defendant;

and (E) such other legal or equitable relief as the court deems appropriate.

       As discussed above, Plaintiffs filed the declarations of Montemore and Flanagan in support

of their Motion for Default Judgment. Based on these declarations, the Court finds that Plaintiffs

have established damages in the amount of:

       ! $17,411.99 in unpaid contributions for the time period of January 2004 through
         December 2008;

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       ! $3,482.41 in liquidated damages, which equals twenty percent of the total unpaid
         contributions owed;

       ! $3,142.20 in interest, determined at the rate set forth in 26 U.S.C. § 6621, calculated
         from the date due through January 19, 2010;

       ! $7267.85 in reasonable attorney’s fees and legal costs; and

       ! $3,785.60 in auditing costs.

       Therefore, pursuant to the terms of the relevant agreements and 29 U.S.C. § 1132(g)(2), the

Court shall award Plaintiffs a monetary judgment in the total amount of $27,822.20. In addition,

Plaintiffs request, and the Court finds that they are entitled to, an award of post-judgment interest in

accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 1961. See I.A.M. Nat’l Pension Fund, Plan A, A Benefits v. Slyman

Indus., Inc., 704 F. Supp. 301, 303 (D.D.C. 1989), aff’d 901 F.2d 127, 130 (D.C. Cir. 1990).

Finally, Plaintiffs request, and the Court finds that they are entitled to, an award of all additional

reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs they may incur in the collection and enforcement of this

monetary judgment in accordance with 29 U.S.C. § 1132(g)(2)(D).

                                         IV. CONCLUSION

       For the reasons set forth above, the Court shall GRANT Plaintiffs’ [6] Motion for Default

Judgment and shall enter a judgment for Plaintiffs in the amount of $27,822.20. An appropriate

order accompanies this memorandum opinion.

Date: April 19, 2010

                                                                /s/
                                                               COLLEEN KOLLAR-KOTELLY
                                                               United States District Judge

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