Opinion
Civil Action 2:15-CV-946
06-26-2015
BOARDS OF TRUSTEES OF THE OHIO LABORERS' FRINGE BENEFIT PROGRAMS, Plaintiffs, v. CROWE CONSTRUCTION, INC.. Defendant.
Judge Marbley
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
This is an action for unpaid fringe benefit contributions, liquidated damages, and interest allegedly owed certain employee benefits plans pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement. Plaintiffs, the trustees of four trust funds, assert claims under ERISA, 29 U.S.C. § 1132, and the LMRA, 29 U.S.C. § 185. Defendant Crowe Construction, Inc. ("defendant"), was served with a summons and a copy of the Complaint on April 4, 2015, see ECF 3, but has failed to plead or otherwise defend this action. Plaintiff applied to the Clerk for entry of default, Plaintiffs' Application for Entry of Default Against Defendant, ECF 6, and the Clerk entered default pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(a) on June 25, 2015. Entry of Default, ECF 7. This matter is now before the Court on Plaintiffs' Motion for Default Judgment, ECF 8.
Plaintiffs have established that defendant entered into an agreement with a local union affiliated with the Laborers' District Council of Ohio, AFL-CIO, by which defendant agreed to pay contributions to the funds, by the 15 of each month, on behalf of its employees working within the work jurisdiction of the union. ECF 10, Exhibits A, B. The Affidavit of Plaintiffs' Contractor Relations Manager, attached to Plaintiffs' Motion for Default Judgment as ECF 8-2, establishes that defendant owes $19,868.09 in unpaid fringe benefit contributions for the period August 2014 through May 2015. Id. at ¶ 3; ECF 10, Exhibit C. Plaintiffs are entitled to liquidated damages, interest, and attorney fees on these unpaid contributions. 29 U.S.C. § 1132(g)(2); Mich. Carpenters Council Health & Welfare Fund v. C.J. Rogers, Inc., 933 F.2d 376 (6th Cir. 1991). Plaintiffs have established that defendant owes $3,746.10 in liquidated damages and interest on the unpaid contributions through May 2015. Affidavit of Plaintiffs' Contractor Relations Manager, ¶ 3; ECF 10, Exhibit C.
Plaintiffs seek an award of attorney's fees in the amount of $1,976.25, for 7.75 attorney hours billed at the rate of $255 per hour. Plaintiffs' Motion for Default Judgment, p. 4; ECF 10, Exhibit D. Plaintiffs have provided evidentiary support that the number of hours billed and the hourly rate charged are reasonable. Plaintiffs' Affidavit in Support of Their Motion for Default Judgment, attached to Plaintiffs' Motion for Default Judgment as ECF 8-1; ECF 10, Exhibit D.
Plaintiffs are therefore entitled to judgment in the amount of $23,614.19 in unpaid fringe benefit contributions, liquidated damages, and prejudgment interest, and an award of attorney's fees in the amount of $1,976.25.
Accordingly, it is RECOMMENDED that Plaintiffs' Motion for Default Judgment, ECF 8, be GRANTED. It is FURTHER RECOMMENDED that the Clerk enter judgment against defendant and that plaintiffs Boards of Trustees of the Ohio Laborers' Fringe Benefit Programs have and recover from Crowe Construction, Inc., the sum of Twenty Three Thousand Six Hundred Fourteen Dollars and Nineteen Cents ($23,614.19), including unpaid fringe benefit contributions through May 2015, prejudgment interest, and liquidated damages, and a reasonable attorney's fee in the amount of One Thousand Nine Hundred Seventy-Six Dollars and Twenty-Five Cents ($1,976.25), plus interest from the date of judgment at the rate of one percent (1%) per month.
If any party seeks review by the District Judge of this Report and Recommendation, that party may, within fourteen (14) days, file and serve on all parties objections to the Report and Recommendation, specifically designating this Report and Recommendation, and the part thereof in question, as well as the basis for objection thereto. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b). Response to objections must be filed within fourteen (14) days after being served with a copy thereof. Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b).
The parties are specifically advised that failure to object to the Report and Recommendation will result in a waiver of the right to de novo review by the District Judge and of the right to appeal the decision of the District Court adopting the Report and Recommendation. See Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140 (1985); Smith v. Detroit Fed'n of Teachers, Local 231 etc., 829 F.2d 1370 (6th Cir. 1987); United States v. Walters, 638 F.2d 947 (6th Cir. 1981). June 26, 2015
s/Norah McCann King
Norah MCann King
United States Magistrate Judge