Opinion
5:12-cv-132
11-28-2012
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. ROBERT A. STEINKAMP, Defendant.
APPEARANCES: MANFREDI LAW GROUP, PLLC Attorneys for Plaintiff ROBERT A. STEINKAMP Defendant pro se OF COUNSEL: JOHN S. MANFREDI, ESQ.
(MAD/ATB)
APPEARANCES:
MANFREDI LAW GROUP, PLLC
Attorneys for Plaintiff
ROBERT A. STEINKAMP
Defendant pro se
OF COUNSEL:
JOHN S. MANFREDI, ESQ.
Mae A. D'Agostino, U.S. District Judge:
MEMORANDUM-DECISION AND ORDER
I. INTRODUCTION
On January 21, 2012, Plaintiff United States of America ("Plaintiff") commenced this action alleging that Defendant defaulted on a promissory note. See Dkt. No. 1. On March 1, 2012, Plaintiff moved for an entry of default, which was entered by the Clerk of the Court on March 5, 2012. See Dkt. Nos. 4, 5.
Currently before the Court is Plaintiff's motion for entry of a default judgment against Defendant pursuant to Rule 55(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. See Dkt. Nos. 6, 7.
II. DISCUSSION
A. Standard of Review
"Generally, 'Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55 provides a two-step process that the Court must follow before it may enter a default judgment against a defendant.'" United States v. Simmons, No. 5:10-CV-1272, 2008 WL 685498, *2 (N.D.N.Y. Mar. 2, 2012) (quoting Robertson v. Doe, No. 05-CV-7046, 2008 WL 2519894, *3 (S.D.N.Y. June 19, 2008)). "'First, under Rule 55(a), when a party fails to "plead or otherwise defend . . . the clerk must enter the party's default.Id. (quotation omitted); see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(a). "'Second, pursuant to Rule 55(b)(2), the party seeking default is required to present its application for entry of judgment to the court."' Id. (quotation omitted). "'Notice of the application must be sent to the defaulting party so that it has an opportunity to show cause why the court should not enter a default judgment."' Id. (quotation omitted); see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b)(2).
"When a default is entered, the defendant is deemed to have admitted all of the well-plead factual allegations in the complaint pertaining to liability." Bravado Int'l Grp. Merchandising Servs., Inc. v. Ninna, Inc., 655 F. Supp. 2d 177, 188 (E.D.N.Y. 2009) (citing Greyhound Exhibitgroup, Inc. v. E.L.U.L. Realty Corp., 973 F.2d 155, 158 (2d Cir. 1992)). "While a default judgment constitutes an admission of liability, the quantum of damages remains to be established by proof unless the amount is liquidated or susceptible of mathematical computation." Flaks v. Koegel, 504 F.2d 702, 707 (2d Cir. 1974) (citations omitted); see also Bravado Int'l, 655 F. Supp. 2d at 189 (citation omitted). "[E]ven upon default, a court may not rubber-stamp the non-defaulting party's damages calculation, but rather must ensure that there is a basis for the damages that are sought." Robertson v. Doe, No. 05-CV-7046, 2008 WL 2519894, *3 (S.D.N.Y. June 19, 2008). "The burden on is on the plaintiff to establish its entitlement to recovery." Bravado Int'l, 655 F. Supp. 2d at 189 (citation omitted). "While 'the court must ensure that there is a basis for the damages specified in a default judgment, it may, but need not, make the determination through a hearing."' Id. at 190 (quotation omitted).
B. Application
In the present matter, Plaintiff has established through its complaint and attached exhibit that it is entitled to judgment in its favor. The complaint and summons were properly served on February 2, 2012. See Dkt. No. 3. Return of service was filed on February 13, 2012. See id. Moreover, Plaintiff has complied with the requirements set forth in Local Rule 55.2(b) to the extent required for the Court to grant Plaintiff's motion as to liability. As such, Defendant has defaulted within the meaning of Rule 55(b)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the following factual allegations are deemed true for purposes of establishing liability. See United States v. Beam, No. 6:12-CV-0087, 2012 WL 1802316, *2 (N.D.N.Y. May 17, 2012) (holding that by failing to answer the plaintiff's complaint or respond to this motion, the defendant "has effectively conceded" that he is subject to the terms of the promissory note, and is liable for the money owed).
Local Rule 55.2 mandates that a party submitting a motion for entry of default judgment must also submit "a statement showing the principal amount due, not to exceed the amount demanded in the complaint, . . . a computation of the interest to the day of judgment, a per diem rate of interest, and the costs and taxable disbursements claimed." LOCAL RULES N.D.N.Y. 55.2(a). Also in accordance with Local Rule 55.2, Plaintiff has amply demonstrated that Defendant is not in the military service and that he is not an infant or incompetent. See Dkt. Nos. 4, 7; Local Rules N.D.N.Y. 55.2(a)(2).
On or about October 4, 1995, Defendant executed a promissory note to secure a loan of $5,488.00 from the United States Department of Education. See Dkt. No. 1-1 at 2. The loan was disbursed for $3,500.00 and $1,988.00 on October 19, 1995 and January 24, 1996, at a variable rate of interest to be established annually. See id. Plaintiff demanded payment according to the terms of the note, and Defendant defaulted on August 30, 1997. See id.
Plaintiff has credited a total of $8,040.43 in payments from all sources, including Treasury Department offsets, to the balance. See id. After application of these payments, Defendant now owes Plaintiff the following as of March 16, 2011:
Principal: $2,526.11See id. Moreover, according to the Certificate of Indebtedness, interest accrues on the principal at the rate of 3.27 % per annum, which equals a daily rate of $0.23. See id.
Interest: $651.82
Total: $3,177.94
Plaintiff requests that the Court enter judgment for the remainder of the loan together with pre-judgment and post-judgment interest, and an award of costs.
As discussed, Plaintiff contends that Defendant remains indebted for the unpaid principal balance of the loan of $2,526.11. Plaintiff has supported its claim with a Certificate of Indebtedness, which was prepared, under penalty of perjury, by a loan analyst from the Department of Education. See Dkt. No. 1-1. These facts satisfy the Court that a default judgment should include the remaining loan amount of $2,526.11.
Pursuant to 34 C.F.R. § 682.410, Plaintiff is also entitled to the amount of interest accrued on the loan at the rate agreed to by the borrower in the promissory note. That regulation, and those under the same part, was promulgated by the Department of Education for the purpose of administering various federal student loan programs, and requires that "the guaranty agency" "charge the borrower interest on the amount owed . . . at a rate that is the greater of," among other rates, the one "established by the terms of the borrower's original promissory note." 34 C.F.R. § 682.410(b)(3)(i).
In the present case, Defendant agreed to an interest rate of 3.27 % per annum. See Dkt. No. 1-1. Using this rate, Plaintiff has calculated that, as of March 16, 2011, Defendant owed prejudgment interest of $651.83. See id. Since March 16, 2011, prejudgment interest has continued to accrue on the loan at the 3.27% rate, or $0.23 per day. See id. As such, including today (the date of judgment), 624 days have passed and, therefore, Defendant owes an additional $143.52 in prejudgment interest. When added to the unpaid principal and prejudgment interest already calculated, the total amount due under the promissory note through today, November 28, 2012, is $3,321.46.
Moreover, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1961(a), Plaintiff is also entitled to post-judgment interest, which it has sought here. The rate of such interest, as set forth in section 1961(a), "shall be calculated from the date of entry of judgment, 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 the date of the judgment." 28 U.S.C. § 1961(a) (internal footnote omitted).
In addition to the principal and interest on the loan, Plaintiff seeks $55.00 for the cost of service of process. An award of costs is proper when the Government is a party to the action. See 20 U.S.C. § 1091a(b)(1); 28 U.S.C. § 2412(a)(1)-(2). As such, the Court awards Plaintiff the requested costs in the amount of $55.00. See United States v. Washington, No. 08-CV-5083, 2009 WL 6636862, *3 (E.D.N.Y. Dec. 14, 2009).
III. CONCLUSION
After carefully reviewing Plaintiff's submissions and the applicable law, and for the reasons stated herein, the Court hereby
ORDERS that Plaintiff's motion for default judgment is GRANTED; and the Court further
ORDERS that damages are awarded in the following amounts:
(1) unpaid principal and prejudgment interest through November 28, 2012 of $3,321.46;
(2) post-judgment interest accruing at the statutory rates as discussed above; and
(3) costs in the amount of $55.00; and the Court further
Initially, Plaintiff requested that the Court award reasonable attorney's fees, but it withdrew that request on April 9, 2012. See Dkt. No. 8.
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ORDERS that Plaintiff shall serve a copy of this Memorandum-Decision and Order on Defendant by Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested, and file the returned receipt using the Court's electronic filing system; and the Court further
ORDERS that the Clerk of the Court shall enter judgment in Plaintiff's favor and close this case.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: November 28, 2012
Albany, New York
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Mae A. D'Agostion
U.S. District Judge