Opinion
CV 11-8126-PCT-PGR
03-28-2012
Gingerbread House, Inc., Plaintiffs, v. Montana Builders, LLC, et al., Defendants.
ORDER
Before the Court is Plaintiff Gingerbread House's motion for entry of default judgment. (Doc. 16.)
On August 17, 2009, Defendant Montana Builders entered into a contract with the United States to furnish materials and perform labor for the construction of the Pine Flat Camp Ground Project. (Doc. 1, ¶ III.) On August 26, 2009, Montana Builders, as principal, and Defendant Surety Partners delivered their bond to the United States as required by the Miller Act, 40 U.S.C. § 3133. (Id., ¶VI.) On October 6, 2009, Gingerbread House entered into a contract with Montana Builders. (Id., ¶VII.)
Gingerbread House furnished labor and equipment under the contract. (Id., ¶VIII.) The reasonable and agreed value of such labor was $281,329, of which Montana Builders has paid $250,745, leaving a balance due of $30,584. (Id.) Gingerbread House performed extra labor and provided additional materials with a reasonable value of $7,021.50, which Montana Builders has not paid. Payment was due August 20, 2010. (Id.)
On August 15, 2011, Gingerbread House filed a complaint under the Miller Act. (Doc. 1.) Defendants failed to answer and on December 2, 2011, default was entered under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55(a). (Doc. 14.) Gingerbread House now moves for default judgment. (Doc. 16.)
After a default has been entered and the defendant fails to appear or move to set aside the default under Rule 55(c), the Court may, on the plaintiff's motion, enter a default judgment. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b)(2). Granting default judgment is within the Court's sound discretion. See Albade v. Aldabe, 616 F.2d 1089, 1092 (9th Cir. 1980). The Court may consider such factors as the possibility of prejudice to the plaintiff, the merits of the substantive claim, the sufficiency of the complaint, the sum of money at stake, the possibility of a dispute concerning material facts, whether the default was due to excusable neglect, and the policy favoring decisions on the merits. See Eitel v. McCool, 782 F.2d 1470, 1471-72 (9th Cir. 1986).
In considering these factors, all factual allegations in the plaintiff's complaint are taken as true, except those relating to damages. TeleVideo Sys., Inc. v. Heidenthal, 826 F.2d 915, 917-18 (9th Cir. 1987). A plaintiff is required to prove all damages sought in the complaint.
Taking the allegations in the complaint as true, as required by Defendants' default, the Court finds that Gingerbread House is entitled to default judgment under the factors set forth in Eitel, 782 F.2d at 1471-72. The claim is meritorious. Gingerbread House will be prejudiced and potentially left without recourse for recovery if default judgment is denied. There are no disputes concerning the relevant facts. It is unlikely that Defendants' default is the result of excusable neglect.
Gingerbread House seeks judgment of in the amount of $39,130.18, consisting of the principal sum of $37,605.50, $1094.68 for attorneys' fees, and $430.00 in costs. (Doc. 16.) In support, Gingerbread House has submitted counsel's affidavit and statements of costs and fees. (Docs. 12, 13, Exs. 1, 2.) The Court finds that these amounts are reasonably calculated and sufficient to prove Plaintiff's damages.
Accordingly,
IT IS ORDERED granting Gingerbread House's motion for entry of default judgment (Doc. 16) against Montana Builders, LLC, and Surety Partners, LLP, in the amount of $39,130.18, consisting of the principal sum of $37,605.50, $1094.68 for attorneys' fees, and $430.00 in costs.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court shall enter judgment accordingly.
____________
Paul G. Rosenblatt
United States District Judge