Opinion
19 Civ. 5723 (GBD) (JLC)
01-24-2020
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER
:
On June 19, 2019, Plaintiffs Interglobo Customs Broker, Inc. ("ICB") and Interglobo S.R.L. ("SRL") commenced this action against Defendant Sunderland Brothers Company for failure to pay amounts due for services related to the transportation of Defendant's cargo. (Compl., ECF No. 1.) On August 27, 2018, this Court granted a default judgment against Defendant and referred the matter to Magistrate Judge James L. Cott for an inquest on damages. (Order, ECF No. 17; see also Order of Reference, ECF No. 16.) Pursuant to an order by Magistrate Judge Cott, Plaintiffs submitted a memorandum of law in support of their motion for default judgment, an affidavit from their counsel, an affidavit from an officer of Plaintiff ICB, accompanying exhibits, and an affidavit of service. (Mem. of Law, ECF No. 20; Aff. of Francesco di Pietro, ECF No. 21; Aff. of Vincent Farina, ECF No. 22; Aff. of Service, ECF No. 23.) Defendant did not file a response to Plaintiffs' submissions.
Before this Court is Magistrate Judge Cott's November 14, 2019 Report and Recommendation (the "Report"), recommending an award to Plaintiff ICB of $12,468.86 in damages, prejudgment and postjudgment interest calculated by the Clerk of Court, $1,941.53 in attorneys' fees, and $200 in costs, and an award to Plaintiff SRL of $27,631 in damages, prejudgment and postjudgment interest calculated by the Clerk of Court, and $200 in costs. (Report, ECF No. 24, at 1.) Magistrate Judge Cott advised the parties that failure to file timely objections to the Report would constitute a waiver of those objections on appeal. (Id. at 25.) No objections have been filed. Having reviewed the Report for clear error and finding none, this court ADOPTS the Report in full.
The relevant factual and procedural background is set forth in greater detail in the Report and is incorporated by reference herein.
I. LEGAL STANDARD
A court "may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the findings or recommendations" set forth in a magistrate judge's report. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C). A magistrate judge's report to which no objections are made is reviewed for clear error. See Edwards v. Fischer, 414 F. Supp. 2d 342, 346-47 (S.D.N.Y. 2006) (citations omitted). Clear error is present when, "upon review of the entire record, [the court is] left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed." United States v. Snow, 462 F.3d 55, 72 (2d Cir. 2006) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).
II. THE REPORT CORRECTLY CALCULATES PLAINTIFFS'
DAMAGES AND ATTORNEYS' FEES AND COSTS
Magistrate Judge Cott also correctly determined, as a preliminary matter, that personal jurisdiction over Defendant is proper under the forum selection clause of the Customs Power of Attorney and Standard Terms and Conditions of Service agreement entered into between Plaintiff ICB and Defendant, as well as under New York's long-arm statute. (See Report at 6-10.) --------
Magistrate Judge Cott conducted a comprehensive and careful inquest and issued the Report recommending that this Court award damages as specified in the Report. (Report at 24.) This Court has reviewed the Report, and finds no error, clear or otherwise. Accordingly, this Court adopts Magistrate Judge Cott's recommended judgment regarding damages and attorneys' fees and costs for the reasons stated in the Report.
III. CONCLUSION
Magistrate Judge Cott's Report is ADOPTED. Defendant is ordered to pay Plaintiff ICB $12,468.86 in damages, prejudgment and postjudgment interest calculated by the Clerk of Court as set forth in Parts II.D.2 and II.E of the Report, $1,941.53 in attorneys' fees, and $200 in costs.
Defendant is also ordered to pay Plaintiff SRL $27,631 in damages, prejudgment and postjudgment interest calculated by the Clerk of Court as set forth in Parts II.D.3 and II.E. of the Report, and $200 in costs. Dated: New York, New York
January 24, 2020
SO ORDERED.
/s/_________
GEORGE B. DANIELS
United States District Judge