Opinion
Case No. 4:14CV00704 AGF
03-23-2015
GREATER ST. LOUIS CONSTRUCTION LABORERS WELFARE FUND, et al., Plaintiffs, v. HILLTOP C & I, INC., Defendant.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court on Plaintiffs' motion for default judgment, as amended. Plaintiffs filed this action to obtain an accounting of Defendant's financial records and to recover unpaid delinquent contributions owed to Plaintiffs, employee benefit funds, pursuant to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, 29 U.S.C. §§ 185 & 1132. Plaintiffs are the union and trustees of various employee benefit plans.
On March 17, 2015, Clerk's Entry of Default was entered as to Defendant. In their motion for default judgment, as amended, Plaintiffs seek judgment against Defendant in the amounts of $4,805.91 for delinquent contributions, $1,059.74 for liquidated damages and pre-judgment interest, $3052.48 for attorneys' fees and court costs, and $744.00 for a payroll compliance examination of Defendant's books and records. Plaintiffs have provided documentation supporting their assertion that they incurred these expenses. (Doc. No. 11-1-10.)
"Where default has been entered, the allegations of the complaint, except as to the amount of damages are taken as true." Carpenters' Dist. Council of Greater St. Louis & Vicinity v. Hard Rock Foundations, LLC, No. 4:13CV01549 AGF, 2013 WL 6037097, at *2 (E.D. Mo. Nov. 14, 2013) (citation omitted). "In determining the amount of damages for a default judgment in an ERISA case brought by a plan against an employer, the court may rely on detailed affidavits or documentary evidence to determine the appropriate sum for the default judgment." Painters Dist. Council 2 v. Grau Contracting, Inc., No. 4:10CV02339 AGF, 2012 WL 2848708, at *1 (E.D. Mo. July 11, 2012) (internal quotation omitted). A plaintiff is entitled to recover all of the principal contributions owed pursuant to the payroll examination, plus liquidated damages totaling twenty percent of the delinquency, interest, attorneys' fees, and costs. See 29 U.S.C. § 1132(g)(2)(E). Damages must be proven by a preponderance of the evidence. See Iron Workers St. Louis Dist. v. Arrow Fence, Inc., No. 4:11CV02019 AGF, 2013 WL 991658, at *2 (E.D. Mo. Mar. 13, 2013).
Upon review of the record,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiffs' motion for default judgment, as amended, is GRANTED. (Doc. Nos. 11 & 15.)
An appropriate Judgment showing Defendant's full liability of $9,662.13 shall accompany this Memorandum and Order.
/s/_________
AUDREY G. FLEISSIG
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Dated this 23rd day of March, 2015.