District Council 16 Northern California Health and Welfare Trust Fund et al v. Western Addition Drywall, Inc. et al

Filing 69

ORDER by Judge Edward M. Chen Granting 61 Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment. (emcsec, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 10/26/2018)

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1 2 3 4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 5 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 6 7 8 DISTRICT COUNCIL 16 NORTHERN CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND WELFARE TRUST FUND, et al., Plaintiffs, 9 10 United States District Court Northern District of California 11 12 v. Case No. 16-cv-02427-EMC ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT Docket No. 61 WESTERN ADDITION DRYWALL, INC., et al., Defendants. 13 14 Plaintiffs in this case are as follows: 15 (1) District Council 16 Northern California Health & Welfare Trust Fund and its Trustees; 16 (2) Bay Area Painters and Tapers Pension Trust Fund and its Trustees; 17 (3) District Council 16 Northern California Journeyman and Apprentice Training Trust 18 19 20 Fund and its Trustees; and (4) District Council 16 of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (“District Council 16”). 21 They have filed an ERISA action against the following defendants for, inter alia, failure to comply 22 with an audit and failure to pay contributions to the above Trust Funds, see Compl. ¶¶ 15-16: 23 (1) Western Addition Drywall, Inc. (“WAD”); and 24 (2) James Bealum. 25 Currently pending before the Court is Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment or, in the 26 alternative, summary adjudication. The motion seeks relief against WAD only, and not Mr. 27 Bealum. It appears that Mr. Bealum died in 2016. See Stafford Decl. ¶ 6 (testifying that Plaintiffs 28 were informed by defense counsel that he had passed away). WAD failed to file a written 1 opposition to Plaintiffs’ motion. In addition, WAD failed to make an appearance at the hearing on 2 the motion. Having considered the papers submitted, as well as the oral argument of counsel and 3 all other evidence of record, the Court hereby GRANTS Plaintiffs’ motion. I. 4 5 A. FACTUAL & PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND Status of WAD As an initial matter, the Court takes into consideration that, at the time Plaintiffs filed suit 6 7 against WAD in May 2016, it was a suspended corporation. See Compl. ¶ 3. On September 12, 8 2018, the day before Plaintiffs filed the pending motion, they checked the status of WAD on the 9 California Secretary of State website. WAD was still listed as a suspended corporation. See 10 Minser Decl. & Ex. D. There is no indication that that status has changed since that date. That being the case, WAD cannot defend itself in this action (and, in fact, has not defended United States District Court Northern District of California 11 12 itself, as noted above, by failing to file a written opposition). As the Ninth Circuit has explained: 13 “The capacity of a corporation to sue or be sued shall be determined by the law under which it was organized.” F.R.Civ.P. 17(b). See Chicago Title and Trust Co. v. Forty-One Thirty-Six Wilcox Bldg. Corp., 302 U.S. 120, 125-26 (1937). Wawona is a California corporation, which mandates the application of California law. The relevant California law, Cal. Rev. and Tax Code § 23301, provides that the rights, powers and privileges of a corporation may be suspended for nonpayment of taxes. It is well-settled that a delinquent corporation may not bring suit and may not defend a legal action. Reed v. Norman, 48 Cal. 2d 338, 343 (1957). Nor may the delinquent corporation appeal an adverse ruling. Boyle v. Lakeview Creamery Co., 9 Cal. 2d 16, 19 (1937). However, once the corporate powers are reinstated, the corporation may defend an action. Traub Co. v. Coffee Break Service, Inc., 66 Cal. 2d 368, 371 (1967). 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 United States v. 2.61 Acres of Land, 791 F.2d 666, 668 (9th Cir. 1985). Because WAD cannot defend itself as a suspended corporation, the Court focuses on the 22 23 evidence provided by Plaintiffs. 24 B. Evidence Submitted by Plaintiffs 25 1. 2011 Master Agreement 26 On November 18, 2011, WAD signed the 2011 Master Agreement with District Council 27 16. See Christophersen Decl., Ex. A (2011 Master Agreement). The 2011 Master Agreement 28 remained in force until June 30, 2014, and thereafter renewed for one-year periods absent notice 2 1 2 3 by a party. See Christophersen Decl., Ex. A (2011 Master Agreement, art. 15). Article 13 of the Master Agreement concerns payments to trust funds. • Section 1 of Article 13 provides as follows: “This Agreement requires 4 contributions to be made on behalf of all employees of the Employer performing 5 work covered under the terms of this Agreement in accordance with Wage 6 Schedule A to [certain] Trust Funds,” including the three Trust Funds at issue in the 7 instant case. Christophersen Decl., Ex. A (2011 Master Agreement, art. 13, § 1) 8 (emphasis added). 9 • Section 2 of Article 13 provides that the Trust Agreements for the Trust Funds are “incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Agreement,” including 11 United States District Court Northern District of California 10 any amendments to the Trust Agreements adopted after the date of the Master 12 Agreement. Christophersen Decl., Ex. A (2011 Master Agreement, art. 13, § 2). 13 See, e.g., Christophersen Decl., Ex. C (Trust Agreement for District Council 16 14 Northern California Health and Welfare Trust Fund) (in § III.A, providing for 15 “Employer contributions required by a Contribution Agreement” and, in § III.D, 16 providing that “[e]ach Employer shall maintain such time records, checks, . . . or 17 other such records relating to employment for which contributions are payable 18 hereunder, sufficient (1) to determine whether it has satisfied all obligations to the 19 Trust”). 20 • Section 4 of Article 13 provides that “contributions based on hours worked in a 21 particular month shall be payable under this Agreement on or before the fifteenth 22 (15th) day of the following month (the ‘due date’) and will be deemed delinquent 23 if not received by the end of the month, at which time liquidated damages shall be 24 incurred and interest assessed as of the first day of the next month.” 25 Christophersen Decl., Ex. A (2011 Master Agreement, art. 13, § 4(b)) (emphasis 26 added). “The amount of liquidated damages shall be the greater of twenty percent 27 (20% of the delinquent contributions . . . or one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) per 28 month, or the interest accrued until those contributions . . . are paid, whichever is 3 1 greater.”1 Christophersen Decl., Ex. A (2011 Master Agreement, art. 13, § 4(c)) 2 (emphasis added). “Interest shall be assessed . . . at such rate as the Trustees of the 3 Trust Funds may determine.” Christophersen Decl., Ex. A (2011 Master 4 Agreement, art. 13, § 4(c)) (emphasis added). The Trust Agreement for District 5 Council 16 Northern California Health and Welfare Trust Fund – which is 6 representative of the other Trust Agreements, see Christophersen Decl. ¶ 8 – 7 provides that interest is “at the rates prescribed from time to time pursuant to the 8 Underpayment Rate of Internal Revenue Code Section 6621, or such other 9 reasonable rates as the Joint Board may from time to time establish.” Christophersen Decl., Ex. C (Trust Agreement for District Council 16 Northern 11 United States District Court Northern District of California 10 California Health and Welfare Trust Fund) (§ III.C.3). It appears that the Trustees 12 have now “determined that interest is assessed at 5% of the delinquent 13 contributions, from the date an employer becomes delinquent until the 14 contributions are paid.” Christophersen Decl. ¶ 11; see also Stafford Decl. ¶ 13 15 (stating the same). • 16 Section 4 of Article 13 also provides that “attorney’s fees and . . . other expenses 17 incurred in connection with the delinquency” shall be assessed. Christophersen 18 Decl., Ex. 1 (2011 Master Agreement, art. 13, § 4(c)) (emphasis added); see also 19 Christophersen Decl., Ex. C (Trust Agreement for District Council 16 Northern 20 California Health and Welfare Trust Fund) (in § III.E, providing that a “Trust may 21 institute legal proceedings to compel an audit, to collect delinquent Employer 22 contributions, liquidated damages, interest, attorneys’ fees and other costs of 23 collection, including collection agency fees and audit fees”; that “[t]he Employer 24 shall reimburse the Trust . . . for all reasonable attorneys’ fees, audit fees, court 25 costs, collection agency fees, and all other reasonable expenses or contributions of 26 whatever nature incurred in connection with such suit or claim, including any and 27 28 1 Liquidated damages are smaller if delinquencies are paid prior to the filing of a lawsuit. See Christophersen Decl., Ex. A (2011 Master Agreement, art. 13, § 4(c)). 4 1 all appellate proceedings therein”; and that “[t]he Employer shall reimburse the 2 Trust for all reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in legal action brought to 3 compel an audit of Employer’s records, notwithstanding that no underpayments 4 were determined due on audit”). • 5 Section 4 of Article 13 further provides that the Trust Funds “shall be allowed to 6 inspect the payroll records of any Employer . . . , with reasonable written notice to 7 ascertain if the provisions of this Agreement are being complied with.” 8 Christophersen Decl., Ex. A (2011 Master Agreement, art. 13, § 4(h)) (emphasis 9 added). • 10 Similarly, § 5 of the Article 13 provides that The Trust Funds may require an United States District Court Northern District of California 11 Employer “to submit . . . any information relevant to the administration of the 12 Trust. Upon notice in writing from the Trust Funds, an Employer must permit an 13 accountant, or agent of an accountant, of the Board of Trustees to enter upon the 14 premises of such Employer . . . during business hours to examine and copy 15 records.” Christophersen Decl., Ex. A (2011 Master Agreement, art. 13, § 5) 16 (emphasis added). 17 2. 2015 Master Agreement 18 On October 16 2015, WAD entered into the 2015 Master Agreement with District Council 19 16. See Christophersen Decl., Ex. B (2015 Master Agreement). The 2015 Master Agreement 20 remained in force until June 30, 2018, and thereafter renewed for one-year periods absent notice 21 by a party. See Christophersen Decl., Ex. B (2015 Master Agreement, art. 15). 22 23 The 2015 Master Agreement contains the same basic terms discussed above in reference to the 2011 Master Agreement. 24 3. 25 Plaintiffs have provided evidence that WAD has violated the Master Agreements and/or 26 27 28 Violations of Master Agreements/Trust Agreements Trust Agreements. The specific violations are itemized below. WAD “has failed to comply with an audit of its records. The audit period is March 1, 2013 through the date of the audit.” Christophersen Decl. ¶ 13. (The audit request was made on 5 1 December 23, 2015. See Nicolette Decl. ¶ 4). Although Plaintiffs obtained some payroll 2 documentation as part of settlement discussions, Plaintiffs have not obtained all relevant records. 3 See, e.g., Minser Decl. ¶¶ 16-17 (testifying that, in May 2018, “I received some payroll 4 documentation . . . covering a portion of the audit period” but “Plaintiffs have received no other 5 information necessary to complete the audit”); Nicolette Decl. ¶¶ 7-8 (testifying that, “[i]n May 6 2018, I received from payroll records’ but “the records do not fully cover the Testing Period” – 7 “payroll records are missing for the following time periods:” March-December 2013, January-July 8 2014, and June 2016-present). 9 10 United States District Court Northern District of California 11 WAD paid contributions for July-November 2015 but the payments were late and so liquidated damages ($3,750) and interest ($1,850.32) are due. See Christophersen Decl. ¶ 18. For December 2015, WAD self-reported that $32,286.40 were due in contributions but 12 WAD did not make the payment on time. Subsequently, WAD partially paid, leaving a balance of 13 $16,129.30 still due. See Christophersen Decl. ¶¶ 14-15. Liquidated damages are due for the 14 delinquency ($6,457.28). Interest is also assessed ($207.74 + $2,002.26 = $2,210). 15 16 17 WAD failed to report and pay contributions for May-July 2016 and July 2017-present. See Christophersen Decl. ¶ 17. Based on WAD’s failure to comply with the agreements, Plaintiffs’ counsel has incurred 18 costs totaling $1,171.76. See Stafford Decl. ¶ 12. In addition, Plaintiffs’ counsel has incurred fees 19 totaling $30,101.50 for work performed from January 11, 2016, through September 7, 2018. See 20 Stafford Decl. ¶ 10. 21 • Decl. ¶ 10(a). 22 23 • • 28 Mr. Froehle. Hourly rate of $215; 7.2 hours. $1,548 total. See Stafford Decl. ¶ 10(c). 26 27 Ms. Russell. Hourly rate of $215-230; 26.2 hours. $5,747 total. See Stafford Decl. ¶ 10(b). 24 25 Ms. Stafford. Hourly rate of $220-$235; 10.6 hours. $2,362 total. See Stafford • Mr. Minser. Hourly rate of $215-230; 42.5 hours. $9,773.50 total. See Stafford Decl. ¶ 10(d). 6 • 1 Ms. Cotterill (paralegal). Hourly rate of $125-135; 81.6 hours. $10,671 total. See Stafford Decl. ¶ 10(e). 2 • 3 TOTAL = $30,101.50. See Stafford Decl. ¶ 11. This sum represents a total of 168.1 hours (including paralegal hours). 4 II. 5 6 A. DISCUSSION Legal Standard Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 provides that a “court shall grant summary judgment 7 [to a moving party] if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and 9 the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). An issue of fact is 10 genuine only if there is sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to find for the nonmoving party. 11 United States District Court Northern District of California 8 See Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248-49 (1986). “The mere existence of a 12 scintilla of evidence . . . will be insufficient; there must be evidence on which the jury could 13 reasonably find for the [nonmoving party].” Id. at 252. At the summary judgment stage, evidence 14 must be viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party and all justifiable inferences 15 are to be drawn in the nonmovant's favor. See id. at 255. 16 B. 17 18 19 20 21 Audit In their motion for summary judgment, Plaintiffs assert that they have a right to audit WAD’s records and that WAD has failed to comply with their audit request. Plaintiffs have adequately established that they have a right to audit WAD’s records. That right comes from the Master Agreements which specifically allow for an inspection. • The Master Agreements provide that the Trust Funds “shall be allowed to inspect 22 the payroll records of any Employer . . . , with reasonable written notice to 23 ascertain if the provisions of this Agreement are being complied with.” 24 Christophersen Decl., Ex. A (2011 Master Agreement, art. 13, § 4(h)) (emphasis 25 added). 26 • The Master Agreements also provide that The Trust Funds may require an 27 Employer “to submit . . . any information relevant to the administration of the 28 Trust. Upon notice in writing from the Trust Funds, an Employer must permit an 7 1 accountant, or agent of an accountant, of the Board of Trustees to enter upon the 2 premises of such Employer . . . during business hours to examine and copy 3 records.” Christophersen Decl., Ex. A (2011 Master Agreement, art. 13, § 5) 4 (emphasis added). 5 Cf. Bd. of Trs. v. Charles B. Harding Constr., Inc., No. C-14-1140 EMC, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6 175680 , at *15-16 (N.D. Cal. Dec. 18, 2014) (“‘Where a Fund's trust documents, to which an 7 employer has bound itself, specifically provide that Fund trustees can examine any of the 8 employer's records, an employer must comply with such agreed upon obligations.’”) (citing, inter 9 alia, Central States, Southeast & Southwest Pension Fund v. Central Transport, Inc., 472 U.S. 10 United States District Court Northern District of California 11 559 (1985)). In addition, there is an independent source for the right to inspect that comes from 29 12 U.S.C. § 1132. Subsection (g) provides that, “[i]n any action under this title by a fiduciary for or 13 on behalf of a plan to enforce section 515 [29 U.S.C. § 1145 (delinquent contributions)] in which a 14 judgment in favor of the plan is awarded, the court shall award the plan . . . (E) such other legal or 15 equitable relief as the court deems appropriate.” 29 U.S.C. § 1132(g)(2)(E). See International 16 Painters & Allied Trades Indus. Pension Fund v. R.W. Amrine Drywall Co., Inc., 239 F. Supp. 2d 17 26, 31 (D.D.C. 2002) (“ERISA authorizes the court to provide for other legal or equitable relief as 18 the court deems appropriate [under 29 U.S.C. § 1132(g)(2)(E)]. This relief can include an 19 injunction requiring a defendant to permit, and cooperate with, an audit of its books and 20 records.”). 21 Plaintiffs have established not only the right to inspect but also that WAD “has failed to 22 comply with an audit of its records. The audit period is March 1, 2013 through the date of the 23 audit.” Christophersen Decl. ¶ 13. (The audit request was made on December 23, 2015. See 24 Nicolette Decl. ¶ 4). Plaintiffs have admitted that they obtained some payroll documentation as 25 part of settlement discussions, but they have provided evidence that they have not obtained all 26 relevant records. See, e.g., Minser Decl. ¶¶ 16-17 (testifying that, in May 2018, “I received some 27 payroll documentation . . . covering a portion of the audit period” but “Plaintiffs have received no 28 other information necessary to complete the audit”); Nicolette Decl. ¶¶ 7-8 (testifying that, “[i]n 8 1 May 2018, I received from payroll records’ but “the records do not fully cover the Testing Period” 2 – “payroll records are missing for the following time periods:” March-December 2013, January- 3 July 2014, and June 2016-present). Accordingly, Plaintiffs are summary judgment on the audit. 4 5 C. Contributions, Liquidated Damages, and Interest 6 Plaintiffs assert that they have the right to contributions, and the right to liquidated 7 damages and/or interest if there are delinquent contributions (unpaid or late), and that WAD failed 8 to pay all contributions owed which means that contributions are due, as well as liquidated 9 damages and/or interest. 10 United States District Court Northern District of California 11 12 Plaintiffs have adequately established that they have the right to contributions. Both the Master Agreements and Trust Agreements require employers to make contributions. • The Master Agreements provide as follows: “This Agreement requires 13 contributions to be made on behalf of all employees of the Employer performing 14 work covered under the terms of this Agreement in accordance with Wage 15 Schedule A to [certain] Trust Funds,” including the three Trust Funds at issue in the 16 instant case. Christophersen Decl., Ex. A (2011 Master Agreement, art. 13, § 1) 17 (emphasis added). 18 • The Master Agreements also provide that the Trust Agreements for the Trust 19 Funds are “incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Agreement,” 20 including any amendments to the Trust Agreements adopted after the date of the 21 Master Agreement. Christophersen Decl., Ex. A (2011 Master Agreement, art. 13, 22 § 2). See, e.g., Christophersen Decl., Ex. C (Trust Agreement for District Council 23 16 Northern California Health and Welfare Trust Fund) (in § III.A, providing for 24 “Employer contributions required by a Contribution Agreement” and, in § III.D, 25 providing that “[e]ach Employer shall maintain such time records, checks, . . . or 26 other such records relating to employment for which contributions are payable 27 hereunder, sufficient (1) to determine whether it has satisfied all obligations to the 28 Trust”). 9 1 And under 29 U.S.C. § 1145, “[e]very employer who is obligated to make contributions to a 2 multiemployer plan under the terms of the plan or under the terms of a collectively bargained 3 agreement shall, to the extent not inconsistent with law, make such contributions in accordance 4 with the terms and conditions of such plan or such agreement.” 29 U.S.C. § 1145; see also 29 5 U.S.C. § 1132(a)(3) (authorizing, inter alia, a fiduciary to bring a civil action to enforce an 6 employer's § 1145 obligation). 7 Plaintiffs have also established the right to liquidated damages and/or interest if there are 8 delinquent contributions. Such is specified by the Master Agreements and/or Trust Agreements. 9 Also, under 29 U.S.C. § 1132(g)(2), a court shall award a fiduciary who prevails in a § 1145 claim not only the unpaid contributions but also (1) interest on the unpaid contributions and (2) an 11 United States District Court Northern District of California 10 amount equal to the greater of (a) the interest on the unpaid contributions, or (b) liquidated 12 damages as specified in the plan (generally not to exceed 20 percent of the unpaid contributions). 13 See 29 U.S.C. § 1132(g)(2). 14 15 Finally, Plaintiffs have established the failure to pay contributions, which means contributions are owed as well as liquidated damages and/or interest. • 16 WAID paid contributions for July-November 2015 but the payments were late and 17 so liquidated damages ($3,750) and interest ($1,850.32) are due. See 18 Christophersen Decl. ¶ 18. • 19 For December 2015, WAD self-reported that $32,286.40 were due in contributions 20 but WAD did not make the payment on time. Subsequently, WAD partially paid, 21 leaving a balance of $16,129.30 still due. See Christophersen Decl. ¶¶ 14-15. 22 Liquidated damages are due for the delinquency ($6,457.28). Interest is also 23 assessed ($207.74 + $2,002.26 = $2,210). • 24 WAD failed to report and pay contributions for May-July 2016 and July 2017present. See Christophersen Decl. ¶ 17. 25 26 Because there is nothing to indicate that the numbers supplied by Plaintiffs are incorrect, 27 Plaintiffs are awarded the sums above on summary judgment, which total $30,396.90. See also 28 Mot. at 9. 10 1 D. Attorney’s Fees and Costs 2 Finally, Plaintiffs claim the right to attorney’s fees and costs pursuant to 29 U.S.C. § 3 1132(g)(2), which provides that, “[i]n any action under this title by a fiduciary for or on behalf of a 4 plan to enforce section 515 [29 U.S.C. § 1145 (delinquent contributions)] in which a judgment in 5 favor of the plan is awarded, the court shall award the plan . . . . (D) reasonable attorney’s fees and 6 costs of the action, to be paid by the defendant.” 29 U.S.C. § 1132(g)(2)(D). The award of 7 attorney’s fees and costs is mandatory, although this is somewhat tempered by the qualification 8 that such be “reasonable.” See Kemmis v. McGoldrick, 706 F.2d 993, 997 (9th Cir. 1983) (noting 9 that § 1132(g)(2), “makes the award of attorney's fees mandatory when the trustees prevail in 10 United States District Court Northern District of California 11 actions to enforce and collect benefit fund contributions”). In the instant case, Plaintiffs’ counsel represents that it has incurred costs totaling 12 $1,171.76. See Stafford Decl. ¶ 12. Also, it has incurred fees totaling $30,101.50 for work 13 performed from January 11, 2016, through September 7, 2018. See Stafford Decl. ¶ 10. 14 • Decl. ¶ 10(a). 15 16 • • • • 25 26 Ms. Cotterill (paralegal). Hourly rate of $125-135; 81.6 hours. $10,671 total. See Stafford Decl. ¶ 10(e). 23 24 Mr. Minser. Hourly rate of $215-230; 42.5 hours. $9,773.50 total. See Stafford Decl. ¶ 10(d). 21 22 Mr. Froehle. Hourly rate of $215; 7.2 hours. $1,548 total. See Stafford Decl. ¶ 10(c). 19 20 Ms. Russell. Hourly rate of $215-230; 26.2 hours. $5,747 total. See Stafford Decl. ¶ 10(b). 17 18 Ms. Stafford. Hourly rate of $220-$235; 10.6 hours. $2,362 total. See Stafford • TOTAL = $30,101.50. See Stafford Decl. ¶ 11. This sum represents a total of 168.1 hours (including paralegal hours). The costs are reasonable and therefore are awarded. See Stafford Decl. ¶ 12 (representing 27 that the costs consist of “the Complaint filing fee, messenger services to the Court for filing of 28 documents and the service of process on Defendant”). 11 As for fees, while the hourly rates are reasonable, the Court has some concern about the 1 2 number of hours (i.e., 168.1 hours). Although the lawsuit was filed back in May 2016, no real 3 litigation has taken place in the case, except for settlement discussions. The Court therefore 4 applies a 10% “haircut” and reduces the fee request to $27,091.35. Cf. Moreno v. City of 5 Sacramento, 534 F.3d 1106, 1112 (9th Cir. 2008) (stating that “the district court can impose a 6 small reduction, no greater than 10 percent – a ‘haircut’ – based on its exercise of discretion and 7 without a more specific explanation”). 8 E. 9 Retention of Jurisdiction In their proposed order, Plaintiffs ask the Court to retain jurisdiction. This is reasonable particularly because, after the audit is conducted, Plaintiffs will likely want an amended judgment. 11 United States District Court Northern District of California 10 See Harding, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 175680, at *16-17 (noting that “[c]ourts of this district have 12 found such action to be appropriate in ERISA cases”; thus, retaining jurisdiction “with regard to 13 any contributions and/or damages determined to be owed to the Trust Funds after the latest audit 14 has been completed and Harding Construction's monthly contribution reports provided”). III. 15 16 17 18 19 CONCLUSION For the foregoing reasons, the Court grants Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment and orders the following relief. (1) Plaintiffs are awarded $30,396.90, which represents unpaid contributions ($16,129.30), as well as liquidated damages and interest. 20 (2) For the unpaid contributions above ($16,129.30), interest shall continue to accrue at a 21 rate of 5% per annum from September 11, 2018, until paid (in accordance with the 22 Master and Trust Agreements). 23 (3) Plaintiffs are awarded $1,171.76 in costs. 24 (4) Plaintiffs are awarded $27,091.35 in attorney’s fees. 25 (5) Within sixty (60) days of the date of this order, WAD shall provide Plaintiffs with all 26 of the following documents relative to the audit period of March 1, 2013 through the 27 present: 28 • Payroll registers or other documents which show wages paid and hours worked by 12 week; 1 2 • California Quarterly Wage and Withholding Report (Form DE 6/DE 9C); 3 • Monthly transmittals to the Trust showing the names reported for benefits; 4 • Monthly hours summaries or other document used by you to facilitate accurate reporting; 5 6 • Detailed documentation of the Job classifications of employees NOT reported to the Trust; 7 • Cash disbursement Journals (check registers); 9 • 1099's; 10 • Dispatch slips; 11 United States District Court Northern District of California 8 • Monthly transmittals to other Trust Funds; 12 • Time cards for the most recent full quarter of the current year; 13 • Signed collective bargaining agreement, subscriber’s agreement and project labor 14 agreement for the entire testing period, covering the employees who are reported to 15 the Trust; 16 17 • Copies of completed Travel Time Calculation sheets (when travel is reported). Within seventy-five (75) days of the date of this order, Plaintiffs shall either move for an 18 amended judgment based on the results of the audit or shall file a statement stating that no 19 additional relief is sought. If Plaintiffs file a motion, the Court shall resolve that motion and 20 thereafter direct the Clerk of the Court to enter a final judgment. 21 This order disposes of Docket No. 61. 22 23 IT IS SO ORDERED. 24 25 Dated: October 26, 2018 26 27 28 ______________________________________ EDWARD M. CHEN United States District Judge 13

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