Local 513, International Union of Operating Engineers, AFL-CIO et al v. Petry Excavating, LLC

Filing 18

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER re: 17 MOTION for Default Judgment filed by Timothy J. Sappington, Plaintiff Local Union 513 Annuity Fund, Plaintiff Local Union 513 Joint Apprenticeship Training Fund, Plaintiff Local Union 513 Health and We lfare Fund, Plaintiff Local Union 513 Supplemental Vacation Fund, Plaintiff Local 513, International Union of Operating Engineers, AFL-CIO, Plaintiff Local Union 513 Pension Fund motion is GRANTED. An appropriate Judgment showing Defendant's full liability of $62,243.23 to Plaintiffs shall accompany this Memorandum and Order.. Signed by District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr on 11/20/20. (MRS)

Case: 4:18-cv-01279-SNLJ Doc. #: 18 Filed: 11/20/20 Page: 1 of 2 PageID #: 150

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
EASTERN DIVISION
LOCAL UNION 513 HEALTH AND
WELFARE FUND, et al,
Plaintiffs,
v.
PETRY EXCAVATING, LLC,
Defendant.

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Case Number: 4:18-cv-01279 SNLJ

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court on Plaintiffs’ motion for default judgment (ECF. No. 16)
against Petry Excavating, L.L.C. Plaintiffs are the union and trustees of various employee
benefit plans. Plaintiffs filed this action to recover delinquent contributions owed to them under
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, 29 U.S.C. §§ 185 & 1132.
Clerk’s Entry of Default was entered against Defendant November 28, 2018. In their
motion for default judgment, Plaintiffs seek judgment against Defendant in the amounts of
$45,693.81 in delinquent contributions, $9,138.77 in liquidated damages and pre-judgment
interest, $544.70 in underpaid variances, $5,677.76 in attorneys’ fees, and $1,188.19 in costs.
Further, Plaintiffs seek the imposition of compliance fines in the amount of $12,600.00
associated with Defendant’s unexcused tardiness in complying with this Court’s December 19,
2018 Order compelling an accounting. (ECF No. 8 & 14]). Plaintiffs have provided affidavits
and exhibits supporting these amounts.
“Where default has been entered, the allegations of the complaint, except as to the
amount of damages are taken as true.” Carpenters’ Dist. Council of Greater St. Louis and
Vicinity v. Hard Rock Foundations, LLC, No. 4:13CV01549 AGF, 2013 WL 6037097, at *2 (E.D.

Case: 4:18-cv-01279-SNLJ Doc. #: 18 Filed: 11/20/20 Page: 2 of 2 PageID #: 151

Mo. Nov. 14, 2013) (citation omitted). “In determining the amount of damages for a default
judgment in an ERISA case brought by a plan against an employer, the court may rely on detailed
affidavits or documentary evidence to determine the appropriate sum for the default judgment.”
Painters Dist. Council 2 v. Grau Contracting, Inc., No. 4:10CV02339 AGF, 2012 WL 2848708,
at *1 (E.D. Mo. July 11, 2012) (internal quotation omitted). A plaintiff is entitled to recover all
principal contributions owed pursuant to the payroll examination, plus liquidated damages
totaling twenty percent of the delinquency, interest, attorneys’ fees, and costs. See 29 U.S.C. §
1132(g)(2)(E). Damages must be proven by a preponderance of the evidence. See Iron Workers
St. Louis Dist. v. Arrow Fence, Inc., No. 4:11CV02019 AGF, 2013 WL 991658, at *2 (E.D. Mo.
Mar. 13, 2013).
Upon review of the record,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiffs’ motion for default judgment is
GRANTED. (ECF No. 16).
An appropriate Judgment showing Defendant’s full liability of $62,243.23 to
Plaintiffs shall accompany this Memorandum and Order.

STEPHEN N. LIMBAUGH, JR.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Dated this 20th day of November 2020.

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