Russo v. Pelican Partners International S. de R.L. de C.V. et al
Filing
18
ORDER: Plaintiff's Motion for Entry of Default Judgment 11 is granted; Plaintiff has up to and including 7/13/16 to file a supplemental briefnot to exceed two pageson the issue of establishing an accrual date for purposes of determining pre-ju dgment interest on the award of damages; if Plaintiff fails to file his supplemental brief by 7/13/16, the Clerk shall enter judgment in favor of Plaintiff for the amount of $233,910; Plaintiff's Motion for Entry of Judgment Under Rule 54(b) 16 , and Plaintiff's Motion for Ruling 17 are denied as moot as judgment by default has been entered against all remaining Defendants in the matter. Signed by Senior Judge James A Teilborg on 7/5/16. (REW)
WO
1
2
3
4
5
6
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
7
FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA
8
9
Michael Louis Russo,
No. CV-15-02001-PHX-JAT
Plaintiff,
10
ORDER
11
v.
12
Pelican Partners International S. de R.L. de
C.V., et al.,
13
14
Defendants.
15
Pending before the Court is Plaintiff Michael Russo’s motion for default judgment
16
against Defendants Pelican Partners International S. de R.L. de C.V. (“Pelican
17
International”), and Pelican Partners International, LLC (“Pelican Partners”), pursuant to
18
Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b). (Doc. 11). No response has been filed by Defendants. The Court
19
will grant the motion.
20
21
I.
Background
22
This action commenced on October 6, 2015, when Plaintiff’s Complaint was filed.
23
(Doc. 1). The Defendants named in this action failed to answer the Complaint or file any
24
motion to dismiss in accordance with Federal and Local Rules. On November 25, 2015,
25
upon application, the Clerk of the Court entered default against Pelican International and
26
Pelican Partners pursuant to Rule 55(a). (Doc. 10). Plaintiff thereafter filed the pending
27
motion for default judgment. (Doc. 11).
28
On February 25, 2016, this Court Ordered Plaintiff to show cause why Defendants
1
Jonathan Beck and Alessandra Beck should not be dismissed from the action for failure
2
to serve in accordance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m). (Doc. 14). Following the March 1
3
hearing, the Becks were dismissed.1 (Doc. 15). Plaintiff subsequently filed a Motion for
4
Entry of Judgment pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(b),2 (Doc. 16), and renewed his motion
5
for default judgment. (Doc. 17 at 2). Since the default was entered on November 25,
6
2015, neither Pelican International nor Pelican Partners have responded in any capacity.
7
Upon entry of default, the factual allegations of the Complaint, except those
8
relating to the amount of damages, are taken as true. Yoo v. Arnold, 615 Fed. Appx. 868,
9
870 (9th Cir. 2015); Fair Housing of Marin. v. Combs, 285 F.3d 899, 906 (9th Cir. 2002);
10
Televideo Systems, Inc. v. Heidenthal, 826 F.2d 915, 917 (9th Cir. 1987). The Court thus
11
accepts as true the well-pleaded facts contained in the Complaint. (Doc. 1).
12
13
II.
Default Judgment
14
Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(a) establishes that “[w]hen a party against whom a judgment for
15
affirmative relief is sought has failed to plead or otherwise defend as provided by these
16
rules . . . the clerk shall enter the party’s default.” Once a default has been entered, and a
17
defendant fails to appear to move to set aside the default, then the Court may enter a
18
default judgment pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b)(2). The “general rule” with respect to
19
default judgments is that they “are ordinarily disfavored,” as “[c]ases should be decided
20
upon their merits whenever reasonably possible.” Eitel v. McCool, 782 F.2d 1470, 1472
21
(9th Cir. 1986) (citing Pena v. Sequros La Comercial, S.A., 770 F.2d 811, 814 (9th Cir.
22
1985)). Nonetheless, “[g]ranting default judgment is within the court’s discretion.”
23
EEOC v. Recession Proof United States LLC, No. 11-CV-01355-PHX-BSB, 2013 U.S.
24
Dist. LEXIS 171524, at *8 (D. Ariz. Aug. 19, 2013).
25
1
26
27
28
At the hearing, Plaintiff acknowledged that the Becks should be dismissed from
the case and urged the Court to do so.
2
As the Becks have been dismissed from this action, Plaintiff has moved for
default judgment against all remaining Defendants, rendering Plaintiff’s Rule 54(b)
motion unnecessary. The Court understands that Plaintiff filed the aforementioned
motion at the Court’s request.
-2-
1
Plaintiff moves the Court to exercise its discretion and enter default judgment
2
against Defendants Pelican International and Pelican Partners for each of the Complaint’s
3
claims. In determining whether default judgment is appropriate, the Court is guided by
4
consideration of the following factors: “(1) the possibility of prejudice to the plaintiff, (2)
5
the merits of plaintiff’s substantive claim, (3) the sufficiency of the complaint, (4) the
6
sum of money at stake in the action; (5) the possibility of a dispute concerning
7
material facts; (6) whether the default was due to excusable neglect, and (7) the strong
8
policy underlying the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure favoring decisions on the merits.”
9
Eitel, 782 F.2d at 1471-72 (citation omitted). The Court will address each of the
10
applicable factors in turn.
11
12
A.
Possible Prejudice to Plaintiff
13
The first Eitel factor weighs in favor of granting Plaintiff’s motion, as Plaintiff
14
will be prejudiced if default judgment is not entered in its favor. As noted supra, at no
15
point have Defendants responded to this action, and the record reflects that Plaintiff gave
16
proper notice. (Docs. 6, 7). If the motion for default judgment is not granted, Plaintiff
17
“will likely be without other recourse for recovery.” PepsiCo, Inc. v. Cal. Sec. Cans., 238
18
F. Supp. 2d 1172, 1177 (C.D. Cal. 2002); see also United States v. $86,496.00 in United
19
States Currency, No. CV-07-1693-PHX-DGC, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 115052, at *4-5
20
(D. Ariz. July 1, 2008) (citation omitted).
21
22
B.
Merits of Plaintiff’s Claims
23
Where, as here, a default has been entered, the factual allegations of the Complaint
24
are taken as true. However, for this factor to weigh in favor of granting a motion for
25
default judgment, a plaintiff must plead sufficient facts to “state a claim on which it may
26
recover, which often requires establishing a prima facie case.” Getty Images (US), Inc. v.
27
Virtual Clinics, No. C13-0626JLR, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12449, at *8-9 (W.D. Wash.
28
Jan. 31, 2014) (citing Danning v. Lavine, 572 F.2d 1386, 1388 (9th Cir. 1978)); see also
-3-
1
Cripps v. Life Ins. Co. of N. Am., 980 F.2d 1261, 1267 (9th Cir. 1992). Thus, the Court
2
must analyze each of Plaintiff’s four distinct claims against Defendants: (1) breach of
3
contract; (2) breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing; (3) negligent
4
misrepresentation by omission; and (4) negligence per se.3
5
6
1.
7
The Complaint first alleges that Defendants breached a written contract between
8
themselves and Plaintiff. The Court notes at the outset that Plaintiff failed to attach to the
9
Complaint any of the documents relied upon in support of his claim, which is
10
perplexing.4 Nonetheless, upon entry of default, the factual allegations of the Complaint,
11
excepting damages, are taken as true. Yoo, 615 Fed. Appx. at 870. Having reviewed the
12
Complaint, the Court finds that Plaintiff has made out a prima facie claim.
Breach of Contract
13
A breach of contract clam requires proof of the existence of a contract, breach, and
14
resulting damages. Thomas v. Montelucia Villas, LLC, 302 P.3d 617, 621 (Ariz. 2013).
15
Here, the Complaint alleges that on September 29, 2002, Plaintiff “executed a purchase
16
and sale agreement” with Defendants “to purchase a condominium unit at Bella Sirena”
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
3
Plaintiff’s Complaint contains a section titled “Unlawful Acts (ARS § 12-2301 et
seq.).” (Doc. 1 at 9-10). This portion of the Complaint, however, appears to be a basis for
claiming treble damages, as opposed to a separate cause of action against Defendants. In
any event, the Court finds that Plaintiff has pleaded insufficient facts and proffered
insufficient evidence to be entitled to default judgment on this issue. The Complaint
simply asserts that “Pursuant to the Unlawful Acts statutes, [P]laintiff is entitled to
compensatory damages in the amount of $233,910.00, treble damages, as well as
attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in connection with this action. (Id. at 10). Likewise,
Plaintiff’s motion for default judgment simply asserts that under the “Unlawful Acts”
statutes of the state of Arizona, he is entitled to treble damages. (Doc. 11-1 at 44). The
Complaint only cites to A.R.S. § 13-2301 et seq., which is the entire Arizona criminal
code. § 13-2301 itself is a definitional section, and the Complaint notes or discusses no
other statutory provisions. Plaintiff has therefore failed to provide the Court with any
basis to establish a justification to award treble damages, and the motion is denied as to
this point.
4
In determining whether Plaintiff has stated a meritorious claim based on the facts
pleaded in the Complaint, the Court may consider “evidence on which the complaint
‘necessarily relies’ if: (1) the complaint refers to the document; (2) the document is
central to the plaintiff's claim; and (3) no party questions the authenticity of the copy . . .
.” Marder v. Lopez, 450 F.3d 445, 448 (9th Cir. 2006) (discussing what the court may
consider in a motion to dismiss).
-4-
1
in Mexico. (Doc. 1 at 3). The facts further allege that on May 8, 2004, the parties
2
executed a “Promise of Trust” which obligated Defendants to transfer ownership of the
3
property and title to the unit through an “irrevocable transfer of ownership trust, known
4
as a fideicomiso in Mexico.” (Id. at 4). During the intervening months, Plaintiff tendered
5
a down payment on the unit, and made several installment payments, totaling $233,910
6
towards the purchase of the condominium, completing Plaintiff’s obligations under the
7
agreement. The Promise of Trust further committed Defendants “to warrant and defend
8
[Plaintiff’s] clear title to the unit.” Defendants have failed to deliver clean title to
9
Plaintiff, and have failed to defend Plaintiff’s title. A construction dispute arose in
10
2006—which Plaintiff was never made aware of—and in 2014, Plaintiff learned from the
11
condominium’s Homeowners Association that the resolution of the “construction
12
dispute” resulted in a judgment that stripped Plaintiff of ownership of the property. (Id. at
13
5-6). At no point was Plaintiff given title to the property, at no point did Defendants
14
inform Plaintiff of legal proceeding that could affect his status as owner, and at no point
15
did Defendants endeavor to defend Plaintiff’s title.
16
Based on the preceding facts, taken as true, Plaintiff has made out a prima facie
17
case that he entered into a written agreement with Defendants, carried out his contractual
18
obligations, and that Defendants failed to carry out their own obligations when they failed
19
to deliver title to the unit to Plaintiff. It follows that Defendants have breached, and
20
Plaintiff has suffered $233,910 in damages, the amount tendered to Defendants for
21
delivery of clean title to the at-issue property.
22
23
2.
Breach of the Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing
24
Arizona recognizes the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, an implied
25
covenant present in all contracts, as a matter of law. See United Dairymen of Ariz v.
26
Shugg, 128 P.3d 756, 760 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2006) (recognizing that “[a]ll contracts as a
27
matter of law include the implied duties of good faith and fair dealing, and contract
28
damages are available for their breach”). “A party can breach the implied covenant of
-5-
1
good faith and fair dealing without breaching an express provision of the underlying
2
contract.” Id. (citing Beaudry v. Ins. Co. of the West, 50 P.3d 836, 841 (Ariz. Ct. App.
3
2002)). Breach of this implied covenant may occur where a party acts “in ways not
4
expressly included in the contract but which nonetheless bear adversely on the other
5
party’s reasonably expected benefits of the bargain.” Id. (citing Bike Fashion Corp. v.
6
Kramer, 46 P.3d 431, 435 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2002)). Stated another way, “[t]he implied
7
covenant of good faith and fair dealing prohibits a party from doing anything to prevent
8
the other contracting parties from receiving the benefits of the agreement.” Enyart v.
9
Transamerica Ins. Co., 985 P.2d 556, 561 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1998).
10
Plaintiff’s Complaint alleged two instances of Defendants’ behavior that constitute
11
breach the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing: (1) Defendants failed to
12
timely deliver clean title of the condominium property to Plaintiff; and (2) Defendants
13
failed to “mount a defense in litigation in Mexico against [Plaintiff’s] equitable title to the
14
subject property.” (Doc. 1 at 8). Plaintiff has also asserted that these identical failures by
15
Defendants constitute breach of contract’s express terms. (Id.). Although a party need not
16
violate the express terms of a contract to breach the implied covenant of good faith and
17
fair dealing,” Wells Fargo Bank v. Ariz. Laborers, Teamsters & Cement Masons Local
18
No. 395 Pension Trust Fund, 38 P.3d 12, 29 (Ariz. 2002) (citation omitted), these actions
19
are plainly consistent with acting in a way to prevent the other party from “receiving the
20
benefits of the agreement.” Enyart, 985 P.2d at 561. The Complaint alleges that
21
Defendants accepted payment of $233,910.00 from Plaintiff over a period of two years,
22
frequently reassured Plaintiff that they were endeavoring to fulfill their contractual
23
obligations, failed to deliver clean title to the property, failed to ever notify Plaintiff of
24
any ongoing litigation in Mexico concerning the property, and failed to mount a good
25
faith defense on Plaintiff’s behalf. Plaintiff has pleaded a prima facie claim that
26
Defendants breached the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
27
Plaintiff has presented no evidence to indicate that the contract between himself
28
and Defendants allowed for the recovery of liquidated damages. Accordingly, ordinary
-6-
1
contract damages are the “proper measure of damages for this breach.” United Dairymen
2
of Ariz., 128 P.3d at 762 (citing Enyart, 985 P.2d at 561).
3
4
3.
Negligent Misrepresentation by Omission
5
Plaintiff’s Complaint also includes a claim for “negligent misrepresentation by
6
omission.” (Doc. 1 at 10). Plaintiff alleges that Defendants were “acutely aware of the
7
disputes and legal actions that threatened the clean title to [Plaintiff’s] property” and thus
8
are liable to Plaintiff under this theory of recovery for failing to disclose that they would
9
be unable to deliver clean title, and for failing to disclose “that legal actions had
10
commenced in the United States and Mexico that directly threatened title to the subject
11
property.” (Id. at 10-11).
12
“Arizona common law has, under some circumstances, imposed on a seller a duty
13
to disclose.” Alaface v. National Inv. Co., 892 P.2d 1375, 1384 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1994); see
14
also Hill v. Jones, 725 P.2d 1115 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1985); Frazier v. Southwest Sav. And
15
Loan Ass’n, 653 P.2d 362 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1982). Generally, “[a] duty to speak . . . will be
16
imposed on a party to a business transaction ‘if he knows that the other is about to enter
17
into it under a mistake as to facts basic to the transaction, and that the other, because of
18
the relationship between them, the customs of the trade or other objective circumstances,
19
would reasonably expect a disclosure of those facts.” Alaface, 892 P.2d at 1384-85
20
(quoting Frazier, 653 P.2d at 367-68). Where a party “has such knowledge, then a duty
21
will be imposed to exercise reasonable care to disclose such facts to the other party.” Id.
22
(quoting Frazier, 653 P.2d at 367-68). Stated in other terms, “[s]uppression of a material
23
fact which a party is bound in good faith to disclose is equivalent to a false
24
representation.” Leigh v. Loyd, 244 P.2d 356, 358 (Ariz. 1952).
25
The duty to disclose is amplified when “disclosure would correct a mistake of the
26
other party as to a basic assumption on which that party is making the contract and if
27
nondisclosure amounts to a failure to act in good faith and in accordance with reasonable
28
standards of fair dealing.” Hill, 725 P.2d at 1118 (citation omitted). In terms of
-7-
1
crystalizing a test, the Arizona Court of Appeals has looked favorably on the test
2
articulated by the Florida Supreme Court, recognizing that “where the seller of a
3
[property] knows of facts materially affecting the value of the property which are not
4
readily observable and are not known to the buyer, the seller is under a duty to disclose
5
them to the buyer.” Id. (quoting Johnson v. Davis, 480 So.2d 625, 629 (Fla. 1985)).
6
Plaintiff’s principal theory of recovery under this claim centers on Defendants’
7
knowledge that they could not deliver clean title to the Plaintiff’s property when the
8
parties entered into a contractual agreement. (Doc. 1 at 10). The Complaint alleges that in
9
“mid” 2002, Plaintiff was solicited by Defendants to purchase a condominium unit. (Id. at
10
3). On September 29, 2002, Plaintiff executed a purchase and sale agreement. (Id.). On
11
March 30, 2002, Plaintiff made a down payment to Defendants for $60,727.5 (Doc. 11-1
12
at 9). On January 31, 2003, Plaintiff made an installment payment of $45,545.75. (Id.).
13
Plaintiff thereafter made three identical, additional installment payments between
14
September 15, 2003, and May 14, 2004. (Id.). In total, Plaintiff made eight payments to
15
Defendants totaling $235,537.10.6 (Id.). On May 8, 2004, a “Promise of Trust” agreement
16
was executed between the parties, which obligated Defendants to “transfer ownership of
17
the unit to [Plaintiff] via an irrevocable transfer of ownership trust, known as a
18
fideicomiso in Mexico.” (Doc. 1 at 4). The Promise of Trust further committed
19
Defendants to “warrant and defend [Plaintiff’s] clear title to the unit.” (Id. at 5).
20
Despite the Complaint’s allegation that Defendants had knowledge of “legal
21
actions [that] had commenced in the United States and Mexico that directly threatened
22
title to the subject property,” (Doc. 1 at 11), a review of the Complaint reveals that the
23
only mention of any “legal actions” is restricted to a 2006 “construction dispute [that]
24
25
26
27
5
The Court notes that Plaintiff made a down payment six months prior to signing
any written agreement with Defendants. Plaintiff does not account for the discrepancy,
and does not allege sufficient facts to establish why the down payment preceded entering
into a written agreement by such a large period of time.
6
28
Three payments totaling $1,627.10 were also made to Defendants. (Doc. 11-1 at
9). Two are listed as “tax” payments and one is listed as an “option” payment. (Id.). The
record does not establish what these expenditures account for.
-8-
1
arose between” Pelican International and the General Contractor it had retained to
2
construct the property at issue in this action.7 (Id. at 5). The Complaint mentions no other
3
legal action, either in the United States or Mexico, and the above-mentioned action is
4
what ultimately led to Plaintiff losing ownership of his condominium unit. (Id. at 6). The
5
duty to speak “will be imposed on a party to a business transaction ‘if he knows that the
6
other is about to enter into it under a mistake as to facts basic to the transaction.’”
7
Alaface, 892 P.2d at 1385 (emphasis added) (quoting Frazier, 653 P.2d at 367-68). Here,
8
the parties entered into a contractual agreement on September 29, 2002, or, at the latest,
9
May 8, 2004, when the Promise of Trust agreement was executed. (Doc. 1 at 4). The
10
Complaint contains no pleaded facts suggesting that Defendants had knowledge—at that
11
time—of current or likely to arise legal actions that would threaten their ability to deliver
12
clean title to the property. Accordingly, the Complaint fails to plead sufficient facts to
13
establish a claim of negligent misrepresentation by omission.
14
15
4.
Negligence Per Se
16
Plaintiff’s final claim is one for negligence per se, alleging that Defendants failed
17
to deliver to him at any point a Subdivision Public Report, as is required by A.R.S. § 32-
18
2181 et seq. (2015). (Doc. 12-14). A violation of a statute enacted to protect public
19
safety, such as the subdivision disclosure statutes, constitutes negligence per se. Alaface,
20
892 P.2d at 1385.
21
Plaintiff correctly notes that Arizona law provides that “before offering subdivided
22
lands for sale or lease, the owner, agent or subdivider must notify the real estate
23
commissioner in writing of the intention to do so.” Alaface, 892 P.2d at 1381 (citing
24
A.R.S. § 32-2181 (A)). “The owner, agent or subdivider must then furnish each
25
prospective buyer of a subdivision lot with a copy of the report.” Id. (citation omitted). At
26
7
27
28
An exhibit attached to Plaintiff’s Motion for Default Judgment, (Doc. 11-1 at
11), suggests that the “legal action[]” the Complaint alleges was in fact “filed in 2005 by
seven Mexican citizens against Pelican Partners, the developer of the resort.” Whether the
suit was initiated in 2005 or in 2006 is not dispositive. Both dates fall after the parties to
this action executed a contractual agreement to purchase a condominium.
-9-
1
no point have Defendants furnished Plaintiff with a copy of this report.
2
Nonetheless, Plaintiff has failed to point to any statutory provision, or state
3
regulation, indicating that the Arizona subdivision disclosure statutes apply to a Mexican
4
corporate entity and a Washington limited liability company8 agreeing to sell a
5
condominium unit located in Mexico to an Arizona resident. Moreover, provisions of the
6
Arizona Revised Statutes indicate that the legislation was intended to regulate the
7
subdivision and sale of property located in Arizona. See A.R.S. § 32-2181 (A)
8
(establishing that a map of the subdivision must be “filed in the office of the county
9
recorder in which the subdivision is located” along with data concerning local public
10
schools, sewage and solid waste collection, water, electricity, gas and telephone lines”).
11
The Court, after reviewing the subdivision disclosure statutes, A.R.S. § 32-2181 et seq.,
12
was similarly unable to readily discern whether the legislation applies to foreign
13
corporations selling subdivided property outside of the state of Arizona. Absent any
14
indication to the contrary, the Court finds that Plaintiff has failed to establish that
15
Defendants were required by Arizona law to furnish him with a copy of a Subdivision
16
Public Report under A.R.S. § 32-3183 (A).
17
In sum, Plaintiff has alleged four claims against Defendants, and the pleaded facts,
18
taken as true, make out a meritorious claim of breach of contract and breach of the
19
covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Although two claims failed to state a valid claim
20
for relief, the meritorious claims are central to the action, involving the parties’ written
21
agreement to sell a condominium being developed by Defendants. Accordingly, while
22
only half of Plaintiff’s claims have merit, the second Eitel factor weighs slightly in favor
23
of granting Plaintiff’s motion for default judgment.
24
25
C.
The Sufficiency of the Complaint
The Ninth Circuit has suggested that the third Eitel factor requires that Plaintiff’s
26
27
28
8
2).
Pelican Partners is registered in Arizona as a foreign corporate entity. (Doc. 1 at
- 10 -
1
Complaint “state a claim on which the [plaintiff] may recover.” Danning, 572 F.2d at
2
1388. Based on the Court’s analysis of the merits of Plaintiff’s breach of contract and
3
covenant of good faith and fair dealing claims, nothing suggests that the Complaint fails
4
to “state a claim on which the [plaintiff] may recover,” or that it fails to state a facially
5
plausible claim for relief. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009). The third Eitel
6
factor thus favors granting the motion for default judgment.
7
8
D.
Amount at Stake
9
In considering the fourth Eitel factor, the Court must examine “the sum of money
10
at stake in relation to the seriousness of Defendant[s’] conduct.” PepsiCo, Inc., 238 F.
11
Supp. 2d at 1176-77. “If the sum of money at stake is completely disproportionate or
12
inappropriate, default judgment is disfavored.” Gemmel v. Systemhouse, Inc., No. CIV
13
04-198-TUC-CKJ, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 81469, at *12 (D. Ariz. Jan. 3, 2008). Here,
14
Plaintiff seeks damages totaling $233,910,9 plus interest, a considerable amount.
15
However, Plaintiff merely seeks damages to recover the payments he made under the
16
contract with Defendants. Further, Plaintiff has proffered documentary evidence to
17
establish that from March 30, 2002, to May 14, 2004, he made five total payments to
18
Defendants totaling $233,910 in exchange for title to the property at issue in this action.
19
(Doc. 11-1 at 9). This matches the amount sought by Plaintiff in his motion as damages.
20
(Doc. 11-2 at 2). Thus, while Plaintiff seeks substantial recovery, it is no more than the
21
amount necessary to make him whole for damages incurred under the breached contract,
22
and the sum is not “completely disproportionate or inappropriate.” Gemmel, 2008 U.S.
23
Dist. LEXIS 81469, at *12. The fourth Eitel factor favors granting default judgment.
24
25
26
E.
Possible Dispute Concerning Material Facts
Neither Pelican International nor Pelican Partners have responded to this action.
27
9
28
Plaintiff seeks $701,730.00 in damages, asserting that he is entitled to treble
damages under Arizona law. The Court has previously found that Plaintiff has failed to
establish that treble damages are warranted. The actual damages sought total $233,910.
- 11 -
1
The Complaint was filed on October 6, 2015, (Doc. 1), and the record reflects that the
2
aforementioned Defendants were served on November 2, 2015. (Doc. 6). On November
3
25, 2015, Plaintiff applied for an entry of default, (Docs. 7,8), which was entered by the
4
Clerk of the Court on the same day. (Doc. 10). In the intervening seven months, no
5
answer was filed, and no relief was sought from the Clerk’s entry by Defendants. Upon
6
entry of default, the factual allegations of a Complaint, except those relating to the
7
amount of damages, are taken as true. Yoo, 615 Fed. Appx. at 870. There is no dispute
8
concerning material facts, and this factor weighs in favor of granting default judgment.
9
Getty Images (US), 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12449, at *11-12 (citation omitted) (noting
10
that “[w]hen default has been entered, courts find that there is no longer the possibility of
11
a dispute concerning material facts because the court must take the plaintiff’s factual
12
allegations as true”); Landstar Ranger, Inc. v. Parth Enters., Inc., 725 F. Supp. 2d 916,
13
921 (N.D. Cal. 2010) (noting that where a plaintiff “has supported its claims with ample
14
evidence, and defendant has made no attempt to challenge the accuracy of the allegations
15
in the complaint, no factual disputes exist that preclude the entry of default judgment”).
16
17
F.
Whether Default Was Due to Excusable Neglect
18
Defendants have not responded to this action since it was filed, and through their
19
Statutory Agents, were personally served with the Complaint on November 2, 2015.
20
(Doc. 6). Neither Defendants, nor any retained counsel, have offered an explanation for
21
the failure to meet the deadlines associated with this action. Nearly seven months has
22
elapsed between the Clerk’s entry of judgment, and this Court’s consideration of
23
Plaintiff’s motion for default judgment. It is therefore highly unlikely that Defendants’
24
“failure to answer and the resulting default was a result of excusable neglect.” Gemmel,
25
2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 81469, at *13; Shanghai Automation Instrument Co. v. Kuei, 194
26
F. Supp. 2d 995, 1005 (N.D. Cal. 2001) (finding that no excusable neglect occurred
27
where the defendants “were properly served with the Complaint, the notice of entry of
28
default, as well as the papers in support of the instant motion”).
- 12 -
1
2
G.
Policy Underlying the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
3
The final factor—the strong policy underlying the Federal Rules of Civil
4
Procedure favoring decisions on the merits—at least initially appears to weigh against
5
default judgment. “Cases should be decided upon their merits whenever reasonably
6
possible.” Eitel, 782 F.2d at 1472. But the mere presence of Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b)
7
indicates that “this preference, standing alone, is not dispositive.” PepsiCo, Inc., 238 F.
8
Supp. 2d at 1177. Rule 55 permits termination of a case before the Court hears the merits
9
whenever a defendant fails to defend against an action. Moreover, the failure of
10
Defendants to contest the Complaint or seek relief from the Clerk’s entry of default
11
“makes a decision on the merits impractical, if not impossible.” PepsiCo, Inc., 238 F.
12
Supp. 2d at 1177. Accordingly, the final Eitel factor is not sufficient to preclude the Court
13
from entering default judgment.
14
Having reviewed Plaintiff’s motion and analyzed the applicable factors set forth in
15
Eitel, the Court finds that factors one through six weigh in favor of granting Plaintiff’s
16
motion. The final Eitel factor—deciding cases on their merits where reasonably
17
possible—is not sufficient to outweigh the aforementioned six factors. Therefore, for the
18
reasons set forth herein, the Court finds that Plaintiff is entitled to default judgment.
19
20
H.
Damages
21
At the default judgment stage, well-pleaded factual allegations, except those
22
related to damages, are considered admitted and are sufficient to establish a defendant’s
23
liability. TeleVideo Sys., Inc., 826 F.2d at 917–18; Geddes v. United Fin. Grp., 559 F.2d
24
557, 560 (9th Cir.1977). The court must ensure that the amount of damages is reasonable
25
and demonstrated by the plaintiff’s evidence. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b); LG Elecs., Inc. v.
26
Advance Creative Computer Corp., 212 F.Supp.2d 1171, 1178 (N.D. Cal. 2002) (“[T]he
27
evident policy of [Rule 55(b)] is that even a defaulting party is entitled to have its
28
opponent produce some evidence to support an award of damages.”). And “[a] default
- 13 -
1
judgment must not differ in kind from, or exceed in amount, what is demanded in the
2
pleadings.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(c).
3
As discussed supra, Plaintiff seeks actual damages of $233,910, and has asserted
4
that he is entitled to treble damages under Arizona law. The Court previously found that
5
treble damages are not warranted based on the facts contained in the Complaint and
6
Plaintiff’s motion. (Doc. 11). Plaintiff is therefore entitled to $233,910 in ordinary
7
contract damages. United Dairymen of Ariz., 128 P.3d at 762 (citing Enyart, 985 P.2d at
8
561).
9
10
III.
Prejudgment Interest
11
Plaintiff also seeks prejudgment interest on the award of damages.10 (Doc. 1 at
12
15). “Prejudgment interest may be awarded by default judgment only if demanded in the
13
complaint,” Thompson, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 71326, at *41 (citation omitted), as is the
14
case here. Pre-judgment interest is interest that accrues on the amount of a legal award
15
from the time of the injury or damage to the time the judgment is entered by the Court.
16
“In federal diversity actions, Arizona law generally determines the rate of prejudgment
17
interest.” Id. (citing Citicorp Real Estate v. Smith, 155 F.3d 1097, 1107-08 (9th Cir.
18
1998)). Prior to July 20, 2011, the statutory pre-judgment “[i]nterest on any loan,
19
indebtedness, judgment or other obligation” was set at 10%, simple, per year. Envtl.
20
Liners, Inc. v. Ryley, Carlock & Applewhite, 930 P.2d 456, 462 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1996);
21
A.R.S. § 44-1201 (A) (2010). But amendments to the statute, effective July 20, 2011, set
22
the pre-judgment interest rate at “the lesser of ten per cent per annum or at a rate per
23
annum that is equal to one per cent plus the prime rate as published by the board of
24
25
26
27
28
10
Plaintiff’s motion for default judgment appears to seek post-judgment interest
on the award of damages until Defendants satisfy the judgment. (Doc. 11-2 at 2). But the
Complaint plainly seeks “prejudgment interest on the sum certain principal damage
amount of $233,910.00” (Doc. 1 at 15). Because the Complaint must specifically seek
pre-judgment interest in a default judgment action, Thompson v. StreetSmarts, Inc., No.
CV-10-1885-PHX-LOA, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 71326, at *41 (D. Ariz. June 30, 2011)
(citation omitted), and Plaintiff’s did, the Court will treat Plaintiff’s claim as one for prejudgment interest on a liquidated claim of damages.
- 14 -
1
governors of the federal reserve system in statistical release H.15,” unless the parties
2
“specifically contracted for a different rate in writing.” A.R.S. § 44-1201 (B).
3
Under Arizona law, “prejudgment interest on a liquidated claim is a matter of
4
right.” AMHS Ins. Co. v. Mut. Ins. Co., 258 F.3d 1090, 1103 (9th Cir. 2001) (quoting
5
Gemstar Ltd. v. Ernst & Young, 917 P.2d 222, 237 (Ariz. 1996) (en banc)). “A claim is
6
liquidated if the plaintiff provides a basis for precisely calculating the amount owed, and
7
the amount of the claim must be capable of exact calculation on the date of accrual.”
8
Sirrah Enters. v. Wunderlich, 2016 Ariz. App. LEXIS 146, at *14 (Ariz. Ct. App. June 6,
9
2016) (citing Scottsdale Ins. Co. v. Cendejas, 205 P.3d 1128, 1135, 1136 (Ariz. Ct. App.
10
2009)). The Court finds that Plaintiff’s claim is liquidated, as it is capable of exact
11
calculation. Plaintiff made one down payment and four subsequent installment payments
12
to Defendants totaling $233,910. Moreover, Plaintiff proffered documentary evidence
13
itemizing the payments he made to Defendants. See Scottsdale Ins. Co., 205 P.3d at 1136
14
(citation omitted) (noting that “a demand for a lump sum payment without an itemization
15
is insufficient”). In sum, Plaintiff furnished “data which, if believed, makes it possible to
16
compute the amount [of pre-judgment interest] with exactness, without reliance upon
17
opinion or discretion.” Thompson, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 71326, at *41 (quoting Arizona
18
Title Insurance & T. Co. v. O’Malley Lbr. Co., 484 P.2d 639, 649 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1971)).
19
Plaintiff, however, must also furnish an exact accrual date to be entitled to an
20
award of pre-judgment interest. Under Arizona law, “prejudgment interest on a liquidated
21
claim accrues from the date of demand of a sum certain.” Scottsdale Ins. Co., 205 P.3d at
22
1136 (citing Alta Vista Plaza, Ltd. v. Insul. Specialists Co., Inc., 919 P.2d 176, 178 (Ariz.
23
Ct. App. 1995)). Plaintiff has not presented evidence of any firm date in which he made a
24
demand of Defendants with respect to the $233,910, which would provide Defendants
25
with “sufficient information and supporting data” to determine the amount owed to
26
Plaintiff. Id. (citation omitted). The only reasonable date located in the record is January
27
9, 2014, the date where Plaintiff learned that he no longer owned the Bella Sirena
28
condominium unit he had purchased. (Doc. 1 at 6). This is insufficient to constitute a
- 15 -
1
demand of a sum certain.
2
Accordingly, based on the record before it, the Court cannot award Plaintiff pre-
3
judgment interest on the award of damages, as the Court cannot discern a specific date of
4
accrual, a necessary prerequisite to such an award under Arizona law. The Court will
5
permit Plaintiff to file a supplemental brief to remedy the shortcoming.
6
7
IV.
Attorneys’ Fees
8
The Complaint seeks an award of reasonable and appropriate attorneys’ fees
9
pursuant to A.R.S. § 12-341.01, which allows for the recovery of fees “[i]n any contested
10
action arising out a contract, express or implied.” (Doc. 1 at 15). This is an action arising
11
out of the breach of a contract between the parties. But the Arizona Court of Appeals has
12
defined a “contested action” within the context of A.R.S. § 12-341.01(A) as “one in
13
which the defendant has appeared and generally defends against the claims and demands
14
made by the plaintiff.” Morrison v. Shanwick, 804 P.2d 768, 775 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1990). A
15
number of “Arizona federal judges have recognized Morrison as determinative of
16
Arizona law declining an award of attorneys’ fees incurred in obtaining an uncontested,
17
default judgment.” Baja Devs. LLC v. TSD Loreto Partners, S en C. por A. de C.V., No.
18
CV-09-756-PHX-LOA, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 42551, at *34 (D. Ariz. April 30, 2011);
19
Thompson, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 71326, at *38-39; Lewis v. Smith, No. CV-07-1644-
20
PHX-ROS, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 66321, at *1 (D. Ariz. July 16 2009); BBQ Hut, Inc.
21
v. Maelin Enterprises, LLC, No. CV-06-2050-PHX-FJM, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 109698,
22
at *2 (D. Ariz. July 3 2008). The Court concurs with this reading of Morrison and finds
23
that Plaintiff is not entitled to attorneys’ fees, as this action was not “contested” within
24
the meaning of A.R.S. § 12-341.01 (A).
25
26
V.
Order
27
Accordingly,
28
IT IS ORDERED that Plaintiff’s Motion for Entry of Default Judgment, (Doc.
- 16 -
1
11), is hereby GRANTED.
2
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff has up to and including Wednesday,
3
July 13, 2016, to file a supplemental brief—not to exceed two pages—on the issue of
4
establishing an accrual date for purposes of determining pre-judgment interest on the
5
award of damages.
6
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that if Plaintiff fails to file his supplemental brief
7
by the end of Wednesday, July 13, 2016, the Clerk of the Court shall enter judgment in
8
favor of Plaintiff for the amount of $233,910.
9
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff’s Motion for Entry of Judgment
10
Under Rule 54(b), (Doc. 16), and Plaintiff’s Motion for Ruling re. Doc. 16, (Doc. 17), are
11
DENIED AS MOOT, as judgment by default has been entered against all remaining
12
Defendants in the matter.
13
Dated this 5th day of July, 2016.
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
- 17 -
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?