KeyBank, National Association v. Clarke County Healthcare LLC et al

Filing 38

Order denying 37 Supplemental MOTION for Attorney Fees to Motion for Default Judgment filed by KeyBank, National Association as to Resurgence, as set out. Miscellaneous deadline set for 1/19/2016 for plaintiff to file an Amended Supplement, as set out. Signed by Judge Kristi K. DuBose on 1/11/2016. (cmj)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA SOUTHERN DIVISION KEY BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff, ) ) ) v. ) ) CLARKE COUNTY HEALTHCARE, LLC, ) et al., ) Defendants. ) CIVIL ACTION 15-00151-KD-B ORDER This matter is before the Court on the Supplement to Plaintiff’s Motion for Default Judgment against Defendant Resurgence Health Group, LLC, seeking an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. I. (Doc. 33, 37). Background On June 5, 2006, Resurgence Health Group, LLC (a Georgia LLC) (Resurgence) executed a Guaranty, covering a Master Lease Agreement (agreement) simultaneously executed between General Electric Capital Corporation (GE) and Clarke County Hospital (Clarke) for the lease of a Philips 16-slice CT Scanner with Bone Density Package and Medrad Injector (equipment). (Doc. 1-1; Doc. 33-1 (Aff. Barnes)1). On August 16, 2006, the equipment was accepted by Clarke and certified as properly delivered and installed. (Doc. 33-1 (Aff. Barnes)). Pursuant to the agreement, Clarke agreed to make monthly payments of $9,538.92 for 60 months, starting on May 15, 2006. (Doc. 1-1). Additionally, GE could assign the Guaranty without the Guarantor’s consent as well as proceed against the Guarantor by suit or otherwise collect monies due/guaranteed with or without notice/demand, with or without joinder of Clarke. (Id.) On February 1, 2009, Clarke defaulted on the Agreement by failing to make payments as required 1 Litigation Coordinator for Plaintiff. 1 and further failed to make payments as scheduled on January 1, 2010, May 1, 2010, June 1, 2010 and July 1, 2010. (Doc. 1-4 at 2). On July 27, 2010 GE assigned its interest in the agreement to Plaintiff. Barnes)). (Doc. 33-1 (Aff. On July 29, 2010, Plaintiff sent Clarke a Notice of Right to Cure Default by paying the amount due of $37,821.48 within 21 days, or all remaining payments would be accelerated and the process of repossession of the equipment may be initiated. (Id.) Plaintiff also informed Clarke that it would be responsible for any collection fee costs, repossession fees, costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees/costs. (Id.) Clarke did not cure the default within the timeframe allotted. On September 21, 2010, Plaintiff accelerated the debt, declared the agreement to be in default, and demanded $237,784.94 as due and owing within 10 days. repossessed the equipment. (Doc. 33-1 (Aff. Barnes)). (Id.; Doc. 1-5). Plaintiff then On April 8, 2011, Plaintiff sent Clarke notice of intent to sell the equipment it had repossessed, by private sale, notifying Clarke of a right to redeem via payment of $211,885.94 plus costs. redeem the equipment before it was sold. (Id.; Doc. 1-6). Clarke did not exercise its right to (Doc. 33-1 (Aff. Barnes)). On January 8, 2015, Plaintiff issued a Notice of Deficiency to Clarke, demanding payment of $98,487.08 within ten days (the amounts due after the equipment had been sold – an offset). payments. (Doc. 1-7). Clarke made no (Doc. 33-1 (Aff. Barnes)). Under the terms of the Guaranty associated with the agreement, Plaintiff (as GE’s assignee) may proceed against the Guarantor – Resurgence – to collect the amounts due from Clarke. 33-1 (Aff. Barnes); Doc. 33-2). (Doc. Plaintiff contends that based on the Guaranty, Resurgence guaranteed payment to GE and its assignees without set-off or counterclaim, as well as waived notice of Acceptance of Guaranty and any notice of default on behalf of Clarke. (Id.) Plaintiff adds that Resurgence also irrevocably and unconditionally waived all statutory, contractual, common law, 2 equitable and other claims against Clarke or its assets by reason of any amounts paid or collected or due. (Id.) Plaintiff asserts that Resurgence guaranteed payment of all losses, costs, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses arising due to Clarke’s default or its own default. (Id.) As such, Plaintiff demanded payment of Clarke’s debt as guaranteed by Resurgence; Resurgence refused to pay. (Doc. 33-1 (Aff. Barnes)). On March 20, 2015, Plaintiff sued Resurgence for breach of guaranty. (Doc. 1). Plaintiff seeks recovery of $98,487.08 plus accruing interest. Resurgence was served on June 25, 2015 via service on CT Corporation System, 1201 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA, 30361, its registered agent. Resurgence has failed to timely plead or otherwise defend. 33). (Docs. 19, 24). Plaintiff asserts that (Docs. 24-1 (Decltn. Fleming), 24-2, Plaintiff adds that the State of Georgia has not administratively dissolved Resurgence and it remains listed on the Georgia Secretary of State corporate database as an “Active/noncompliance” business. (Docs. 24-1 at 2, 24-2, 24-3). On July 17, 2015, Plaintiff requested entry of a Clerk’s default against Resurgence for its failure to plead or defend. Clerk entered a Rule 55(a) Default against Resurgence. moved for a default judgment against Resurgence. II. (Doc. 24). (Doc. 25). On July 21, 2015, the On August 25, 2015, Plaintiff (Doc. 33). Default Judgment On December 10, 2015, the Court entered a default judgment in favor of Plaintiff and against Resurgence finding as follows, in relevant part (Doc. 35): The Court is satisfied that Resurgence has notice of the default proceedings against it. Additionally, a Clerk’s Rule 55(a) default was entered against Resurgence in accordance with Rule 55(a) for failure to plead, answer or otherwise defend this case. Moreover, there is a sum certain which can be made ascertainable before the Court, from which a default judgment can be entered without a hearing. Securities and Exchange Commission v. Smyth, 420 F.3d 1225, 1231-1232 (11th Cir. 2005) (“Judgment of default awarding cash damages could not properly be entered without a hearing unless the amount claimed is a liquidated sum or one capable of mathematical calculation) (internal quotes and citations omitted); Id. at n.13 (noting that an “evidentiary hearing is not a per se requirement; indeed, Rule 55(b)(2) speaks of evidentiary hearings in a permissive 3 tone....We have held that no such hearing is required where all essential evidence is already of record[]”)….Further, …[t]he Court is satisfied that the well-pleaded allegations of the Complaint state a basis for relief as to the claims asserted and that there is a substantive, sufficient basis for the relief Plaintiff seeks. Specifically, Plaintiff asserts a breach of guaranty claim against Resurgence, as Clarke’s guarantor, for Clarke’s failure to comply with the terms of the agreement. The agreement and Guaranty are governed by the laws of the State of Wisconsin. (Doc. 1-1 at 7 at Section 23(e); Doc. 1-8). Upon consideration of the evidence submitted by Plaintiff and the well-pleaded allegations of the Complaint, default judgment is due to be entered against Resurgence….As to the elements for breach of guaranty, the Court finds that the well-pleaded allegations and evidence submitted establish: 1) the existence of a contract creating obligations flowing from Resurgence to Plaintiff (the Guaranty); 2) a breach of those obligations (Resurgence’s failure to pay amounts due and owing under the Guaranty); and 3) damages from the breach (including non-payment of the amounts due under the Lease (and Guaranty), accruing interest, remarketing expenses (after repossession and resale of equipment) etc.). Specifically, the evidence shows execution of the Guaranty by Resurgence. The Guaranty explains Resurgence’s principal obligation and terms of the Guaranty itself, including that it guaranteed payment without set-off or counterclaim and guaranteed payment of all losses, costs, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses due to Clarke’s default (or its own). Plaintiff relied on the Guaranty. The evidence indicates that Clarke defaulted under the Lease, which was guaranteed by Resurgence, due to its failure to pay the sums due and owing under the Lease. Upon Plaintiff’s written demand for payment, Resurgence failed to pay the sums due and owing under the Guaranty. Moreover, Plaintiff’s reliance on the Guaranty is expressed in the document itself. As such, upon consideration, the Court finds that Plaintiff is entitled to default judgment against Resurgence, for breach of the Guaranty, as a matter of Wisconsin law. *** Plaintiff requests entry of a default judgment against Resurgence in the amount of $98,487.08 plus accruing interest. Upon review of the Guaranty, invoices, notices submitted, Affidavit and Declaration filed in support, the Court is satisfied that the amounts requested are due and owing to Plaintiff by Resurgence. As such, that portion of Plaintiff’s motion for default judgment damages, addressing the breach of guaranty claim against Resurgence, is GRANTED in part such that Plaintiff is awarded $98,487.08. However, Plaintiff also seeks an unspecified amount of accrued late charges….The Court is unable to assess fees and costs/expenses at this juncture. Plaintiff has not provided any supporting documentation regarding its request for attorneys’ fees and costs/expenses, or referenced that portion of either the agreement or Guaranty which provide for recovery of same. Plaintiff has not briefed the propriety for recovery of such fees and costs under Wisconsin law. Likewise, Plaintiff has not provided any attorneys’ billing records, invoices and/or itemized statements, complete information about all of the individuals who billed for legal services or their qualifications/years of experience, and/or whether the fees and costs were reasonably 4 incurred under the relevant state’s law (Wisconsin) governing such awards. As such, Plaintiff shall Supplement its motion, with the requisite support for this request, on or before December 31, 2015….Plaintiff is ORDERED to file, on or before December 31, 2015, a Supplement to its motion addressing the specific amount of accrued costs sought as well as attorneys’ fees and costs/expenses, and further: 1) citing those specific provisions in the relevant agreements which provide for recovery of fees and costs/expenses, and assessing the propriety of recovery of same under Wisconsin law; and 2) attaching whatever materials it deems necessary and appropriate to support its claim for fees and costs/expenses in conjunction with Wisconsin law… *** Additionally, Plaintiff cannot recover the attorneys’ fees and costs sought against Clarke and then also recover that same sum against Resurgence, as such would be yet another double recovery. As such, Plaintiff is ORDERED to specify and delineate in the December 31, 2015 Supplement, those fees and costs incurred relative to Resurgence, versus those incurred relative to Clarke. Plaintiff has now submitted its Supplement (Doc. 37). III. Attorneys’ Fees Plaintiff requests – via the Affidavit of Litigation Coordinator Barnes and Declaration of Daniel C. Fleming -- $10,334.00 in reasonable attorneys’ fees and $1,307.75 in costs/expenses. (Doc. 34-1 (Aff. Barnes); Doc. 37 at 5 (Decltn. Fleming)). However, Plaintiff has submitted fees and costs “jointly and severally” for both Clarke and Resurgence even though they are two (2) different defendants. The Court previously instructed Plaintiff “to specify and delineate in the….Supplement, those fees and costs incurred relative to Resurgence, versus those incurred relative to Clarke.” However, Plaintiff has failed to comply with the Court’s instruction, and thus, the Court is not able to assess the propriety of fees and costs for each particular and distinct defendant. and costs as to Resurgence is DENIED at this time. As such, Plaintiff’s request for fees Plaintiff has leave to file, on or before January 19, 2016, an Amended Supplement which complies with the Court’s prior instruction and delineates those fees and costs for the attorney work associated with Clarke, from those for 5 the attorney work associated with Resurgence. DONE and ORDERED this 11th day of January 2016. /s/ Kristi K. DuBose KRISTI K. DuBOSE UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 6

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