Laborers' Pension and Laborers' Welfare Fund for the Health and Welfare Department of the Construction and General Laborers' District Council of Chicago Vicinity and James S. Jorgensen v. Pry Precast Erectors, Inc.

Filing 35

MOTION by Plaintiffs James S. Jorgensen, Laborers' Pension Fund and Laborers' Welfare Fund of the Health and Welfare Department of the Construction and General Laborers' District Council of Chicago and Vincinity for judgment in sum certain (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - D, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Hamada, Angie)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
EASTERN DIVISION
LABORERS’ PENSION FUND and
LABORERS’ WELFARE FUND OF THE
HEALTH AND WELFARE DEPARTMENT
OF THE CONSTRUCTION AND GENERAL
LABORERS’ DISTRICT COUNCIL OF
CHICAGO AND VICINITY, and JAMES S.
JORGENSEN, Administrator of the Funds,
Plaintiffs,
v.
PRY PRECAST ERECTORS, INC.,
Defendant.

)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)

Case No. 10-C-6988
Judge Aspen

PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION FOR PROVE-UP OF DAMAGES
Plaintiffs, Laborers’ Pension Fund and Laborers’ Welfare Fund of the Health and Welfare
Department of the Construction and General Laborers’ District Council of Chicago and Vicinity
(collectively the “Funds”), and James S. Jorgensen, pursuant to Rule 55 of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure, by their attorney, move for an Entry of Default Judgment in Sum Certain against
Defendant Pry Precast Erectors, Inc. (hereinafter “defendant” or “Company”). In support of this
Motion, Plaintiffs state:
1.

On October 29, 2011, plaintiffs filed a complaint under Section 301(a), of the Labor

Management Relations Act, 29 U.S.C. § 185(a), as amended, and Section 502(a)(3) of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act, 29 U.S.C. § 1132(a)(3), as amended, seeking to compel defendant
to submit payment for delinquent amounts owed pursuant to an audit for the time period of
September 5, 2009 through June 30, 2010; to submit to an audit; and to submit from September 5,
1

2009 forward benefits and dues reports and contributions..
2.

Pry Precast Erectors, Inc. is a dissolved Illinois corporation owned by Krista Pry, who

also served as its President.
3.

Plaintiffs attempted personal service on the Company’s registered agent without

success. As a result, on December 27, 2010, plaintiffs served Registered Agent Mary Leber by filing
an Affidavit of Compliance for Service on Secretary of State Under the Business Corporation Act.
On April 7, 2010, the Court entered default against the Company. [Docket No. 7].
4.

As established by the Funds’ Field Representative, Michael Christopher, the Funds’

auditors from Richard J. Wolf and Company, Inc. reviewed the defendant’s records reflecting
contributions due to the Funds for the period from September 5, 2009 through June 30, 2010 The
audit report reflects principal contributions owed to the Welfare, Pension, Training, LDCLMCC,
CCA, and LECET funds, and for Union dues in the total amount of $96,993.06. (See, Michael
Christopher Affidavit, Exhibit A ¶3; the audit report, Ex. B(1)). The Company contested the audit,
claiming it paid benefits to another pension fund on behalf of several employees. As a result, the
Funds revised the audit and the revised audit report reflects principal contributions owed to the
Welfare, Pension, Training, LDCLMCC, CCA, and LECET funds, and for Union dues in the total
amount of $24,548.56. (See, Michael Christopher Affidavit, Ex. A, Ex. B(2)).
5.

According to the collective bargaining agreement and the respective Trust

Agreements to which the defendant is bound, payment is also owed for liquidated damages in the
amount of 20% (twenty percent) of the unpaid or late contributions to the Welfare, Pension, and
Training funds, and 10% (ten percent) of the principal amount of delinquent contributions to the
LDCLMCC, CCA and LECET funds, and for Union dues. Additionally, interest is calculated at the
2

prime rate (as charged by Chase Bank) plus two percent is owed for all delinquencies. As
established by the affidavit of Mr. Christopher, the liquidated damages to the Welfare, Pension and
Training funds amount to $4,352.33, and the liquidated damages to the LDCLMCC, MCIAF, CCA,
LECET and CISCO funds, and for Union dues, amount to $278.69. Interest is due in the amount of
$26,737.18. (Mr. Christopher’s affidavit, Ex. A, ¶ 4). These amounts are further detailed in the
summary chart Mr. Christopher prepared, which is attached to Plaintiff’s Motion for Default
Judgment as Exhibit C.
6.

The cost of the audit billed to the Funds was $600.00, which the defendant is also

obligated to pay, based on the respective Trust Agreements to which it is bound. (Mr. Christopher’s
affidavit, Ex. A, ¶6).
7.

Plaintiffs are entitled to attorneys’ fees and costs under ERISA, 29

U.S.C.§1132(g)(2)(B). The attached affidavit of Angie Cowan Hamada establishes the amount of
attorneys’ fees incurred in this matter are $4,630.00, and $616.50 in costs, which consist of court
filing fees and service fees. (See, Affidavit of Angie Cowan Hamada, Exhibit D). Costs related to
subpoenas may be taxed as costs under 28 U.S.C. § 1980. Little v. Mitsubishi Motors North
America, Inc., 514 F.3d 699, 701 (7th Cir. 2008).
WHEREFORE, plaintiffs request entry of a judgment against Pry Precast Erectors, Inc., in
a total amount of $35,026.08.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Angie Cowan Hamada
One of plaintiffs’ attorneys
ALLISON, SLUTSKY & KENNEDY, P.C.,
230 W. Monroe Street Suite 2600
3

Chicago, IL 60606
[phone]
January 18, 2012

4