INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS LOCAL 825 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT FUNDS AND THE TRUSTEES THEREOF v. CROSSROAD CONSTRUCTION CORP.
Filing
4
OPINION fld. Signed by Judge Kevin McNulty on 7/27/15. (sr, )
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY
INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING
ENGINEERS LOCAL 825 EMPLOYEE
BENEFIT FUNDS AND THE TRUSTEES
THEREOF
Petitioner,
Civ. No. 2:15-0690 (KM)(MAH)
OPINION
V.
CROSSROAD CONSTRUCTION CORP.,
Respondent.
This case comes before the Court on a petition to confirm an arbitration
award. Petitioner, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825
Employee Benefit Funds and the Trustees Thereof (the “Fund”) initiated an
arbitration proceeding against Respondent Crossroad Construction Corp. The
arbitrator found that Crossroad had entered into a collective bargaining
agreement wherein it employed members of the Local 825 union. (Award,’ 1)
The CBA required Crossroad to make contributions to an employee benefit
fund. The Fund alleged that Crossroad had failed to make the required
contributions during the period March 1, 2014 through August 31, 2014.
(Award, 1) Crossroad did not appear before the arbitrator to contest the award.
The arbitrator therefore entered a default judgment in favor of the Fund.
(Award, 1) He ordered Crossroad to pay the following:
•
•
$313.32 in interest
•
I
$25,932.84 in unpaid benefit contributions
$5,186.56 in liquidated damages
Citations to the record will be abbreviated as follows:
“Award” Default Award of Arbitrator, Dkt. No. 1-5, Exh. C.
“Collection Policy” Operating Engineers Local 825 Employee Benefit Fund
Contribution Collection Policy & Procedures,” Dkt. No. 1-4, Exh. B.
“Petition” Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award (Dkt. No. 1).
—
—
—
•
$2,630.78 in attorneys’ fees
•
$800.00 in arbitration fees
(Award, 2)
The Fund has asked the Court to confirm the arbitrator’s award
pursuant to 9 U.S.C.
§
9. Crossroad has not entered an appearance or
otherwise opposed the petition before this Court.
I defer to the arbitrator’s finding that written proof presented to the
arbitrator established a delinquency amount of $25,932.84. (Petition,
J
10;
Award, 2)
I find that the arbitrator’s award of interest at the rate of 2% above prime
is consistent with section 8,
¶
1 of the Collection Policy. I likewise find that the
arbitrator’s award of liquidated damages representing 20% of the delinquent
contributions is consistent with section 8,
¶
2 of the Collection Policy. The
attorney’s fee also appear to be properly calculated. Section 8,
¶
3 of the
Collection Policy provides that the Fund may recover an attorney’s fee
representing 15% of the first $750.00 in delinquent contributions, and 10% of
the amount over $750.00. The attorney’s fee of $2,630.78 appears consistent
with that formula ($750 x 15%
+
10% x 25,182.84
=
$2,630.78). The
arbitrator’s order that Crossroad pay the $800 arbitration fee is consistent with
section 8,
¶
3 of the Collection Policy.
CONCLUSION
I will therefore order that the petition is granted, the arbitration award is
confirmed, and judgment will be entered in the amount of $34,863.50. A
separate order and judgment will issue.
Dated: July 27, 2015
Kevin McN 1
United States District Judge
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