Trustees of the IBEW Local Union No. 488 Pension Fund et al v. Norland Elec, Inc

Filing 21

ORDER (see attached) directing Plaintiffs to file a status report and appropriate notice or motion for entry of default on or before May 30, 2014. If Plaintiffs fail to comply with the attached Order, their action will be dismissed pursuant t o Rule 41(a), D. Conn. L. Civ. R., "for failure to prosecute" and also failure to comply with pre-trial "deadlines established by the Court pursuant to [Local] Rule 16." Signed by Judge Charles S. Haight, Jr. on May 19, 2014. (Dorais, L.)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT
TRUSTEES of the I.B.E.W. LOCAL UNION
NO. 488 PENSION FUND, HEALTH
INSURANCE FUND, ANNUITY FUND,
EDUCATIONAL FUND, the LOCAL
LABOR-MANAGEMENT COOPERATION
COMMITTEE and the JOINT
APPRENTICESHIP AND TRAINING
COMMITTEE; TRUSTEES OF THE
NATIONAL ELECTRICAL BENEFIT FUND
and the NATIONAL LABOR
MANAGEMENT COOPERATION FUND; the
CONNECTICUT CHAPTER OF THE
NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS
ASSOCIATION and the I.B.EW. LOCAL
UNION NO. 488;

No. 3:11 - CV - 709 (CSH)

MAY 19, 2014
Plaintiffs,
v.
NORLAND ELECTRIC, INC.,
NORLAND ELECTRIC, LLC.

and

Defendants.

ORDER
HAIGHT, Senior District Judge:
In the present action, plaintiff trustees of various union pension, health, annuity, educational,
and benefit funds ("Plaintiffs") seek to collect from their employer, Norland Electric, Inc. and its
alleged successor, Norland Electric, LLC (collectively "Defendants"), delinquent contributions due
to said funds under a governing collective bargaining agreement. On March 1, 2013, pursuant to the
Court's Ruling [Doc. 16], granting "Plaintiffs' Motion for leave to Amend Complaint" [Doc. 15],

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Plaintiffs electronically filed their Amended Complaint [Doc. 17], adding Norland Electric, LLC as
a defendant. In addition to electronic service, the Amended Complaint and Summons were served
personally by a State Marshal at Defendants' Southbury business address. In particular, the State
Marshal "served the summons on Timothy P. Norris, 154 Jacob Road, Southbury, CT, who [was]
designated by law to accept service of process" on behalf of Defendants "on 3/18/2013." Doc. 20,
p. 2. Defendants were required to answer or respond to the Amended Complaint within twenty-one
days of service: on or before April 8, 2013. See Doc. 16, p. 12; Doc. 18-20; see also Fed. R. Civ.
P. 12(a)(1) (A)(i) (in general, "[a] defendant must serve an answer within 21 days after being served
with a summons and complaint").
To date, Defendants have neither answered nor made a motion in response to the Amended
Complaint. In addition, Plaintiffs have failed to file a motion for entry of default against Defendants
or to otherwise prosecute. Pursuant to Rule 55(a), Fed. R. Civ. P., when "a party against whom a
judgment for affirmative relief is sought has failed to plead or otherwise defend," the plaintiff may
show, by affidavit or otherwise, that such a default has occurred and the clerk then enters the party's
default. Thereafter, "[i]f the plaintiff's claim is for a sum certain or a sum that can be made certain
by computation, the clerk—on the plaintiff's request, with an affidavit showing the amount
due—must enter judgment for that amount and costs against a defendant who has been defaulted for
not appearing . . ." Id. 55(b)(1). "In all other cases, the party must apply to the court for a default
judgment." Id. 55(b)(2).
Where, on the Court's record, the Defendants have defaulted and Plaintiffs have failed to
prosecute, the Court enters the following ORDER:
1.

On or before May 30, 2014, Plaintiffs must file a status
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report with the Court, informing the Court of the reason(s)
Plaintiffs have failed to prosecute (e.g., the matter has settled
or Plaintiffs wish to withdraw the action) and, if appropriate,
an accompanying notice (e.g., of settlement or voluntary
withdrawal).

2.

Alternatively, with the requisite status report, Plaintiffs may
file a motion for entry of default, accompanied by an affidavit
factually establishing the occurrence of Defendants' default,
in compliance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(a).

If Plaintiffs fail to comply with this Order by May 30, 2014 – i.e., fail to file a status report
accompanied by either an appropriate notice or motion for entry of default – their action will be
dismissed pursuant to Rule 41(a), D. Conn. L. Civ. R., "for failure to prosecute" and also failure to
comply with pre-trial "deadlines established by the Court pursuant to [Local] Rule 16."
So Ordered.
Dated: New Haven, Connecticut
May 19, 2014
/s/Charles S. Haight, Jr.
CHARLES S. HAIGHT, JR.
Senior United States District Judge

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