Synovus Bank v. James et al

Filing 16

ORDER granting 14 Motion for Default Judgment as set out. Signed by Honorable G Ross Anderson, Jr on 8/14/14.(alew, )

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA
GREENVILLE DIVISION

Synovus Bank,

)
)
Plaintiff,
)
)
v.
)
)
Katherine S. James and Timothy D.
)
James,
)
)
Defendants.
)
_________________________________ )

C/A No.: 6:14-cv-02260-GRA

ORDER
(Written Opinion)

This matter comes before this Court on Plaintiff’s Motion for Default Judgment.
ECF No. 14. Upon careful consideration of the record of this case, the Court finds
that the Defendants were properly served with the Complaint and failed to answer or
otherwise defend the action, and that the Clerk of Court has duly entered default
against Defendants. The Court further finds that in light of Defendants’ failure to
answer the Complaint, there is no genuine issue of material fact to be submitted to
the Court, and Plaintiff is entitled to judgment by default.
On June 10, 2014, Plaintiff, “a banking corporation organized and existing
under and pursuant to the laws of the State of Georgia, with its principal place of
business in Columbus, Georgia,” filed suit against Defendants, who are both
residents of Greenville County, South Carolina.

ECF No. 1.

Plaintiff sought to

recover unpaid money due to Plaintiff under a promissory note executed by
Defendants. Id. Plaintiff’s Complaint included the Notice required by the Fair Debt
Collection Practices Act as well as a copy of the promissory note and security
agreement, which was issued on March 10, 2011 in favor of Plaintiff in the amount of

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$84,157.02, plus interest and other potential charges. ECF Nos. 1-1 & 1-2. Plaintiff’s
Complaint states that “Defendants have defaulted in payment of the Note for failing to
make the monthly payment due April 10, 2012, and all monthly payments due
thereafter, and for failing to pay the loan in full upon its maturity on March 10, 2014.”
ECF No. 1.
Plaintiff served each Defendant with a copy of the Summons, Complaint,
Exhibits, Answers to Local Civil Rule 26.01 Interrogatories, and Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 7.1 Disclosure on June 13, 2014 pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 4(e)(2)(B) by leaving a copy of the documents at each Defendants
dwelling or usual place of abode with a person of suitable age and discretion who
resides there. ECF Nos. 7 & 8. Plaintiff obtained an entry of default as to each
Defendant on July 10, 2014 pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55(a), as
neither Defendant filed an answer by July 7, 2014 as required by Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 12(a)(1)(A). ECF Nos. 10, 11, 12. Plaintiff has now moved for default
judgment against Defendants.

ECF No. 14.

Defendants have not responded to

Plaintiff’s Motion and the time for response has passed. See ECF No. 14.
Plaintiff’s Motion “requests that a Default Judgment be entered against
Defendants Katherine S. James and Timothy D. James in the amount of
$102,510.06.” Id. Plaintiff’s Motion states that as of July 15, 2014, Defendants now
owe the “principal sum of $84,139.99, plus interest in the amount of $9,512.13, plus
late charges in the amount of $272.00, plus advances for 2011 and 2012 property
taxes in the amount of $5,540.29, for a total of $99,464.41.” ECF Nos. 14 & 14-1.
The promissory note signed by Defendants also provides that Defendants shall pay

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Synovus Bank its cost of collection and reasonable attorneys’ fees in the event of
Defendants’ default. ECF Nos. 14 & 14-1. The affidavit of Tara C. Sullivan, attorney
for Plaintiff, states that Plaintiff has incurred $2,500.00 in attorneys’ fees and $545.65
in costs. ECF Nos. 14 & 14-2.
This Court finds attorneys’ fees in the amount of $2,500.00, as set forth in the
Plaintiff’s Motion, to be reasonable and finds that the record supports awarding costs
in the amount of $545.65. Accordingly, Plaintiff’s judgment shall include an award for
reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs in the amount of $3,045.65. This Court also
finds that Judgment based on the principal sum of $84,139.99, plus interest in the
amount of $9,512.13, plus advances for 2011 and 2012 property taxes in the amount
of $5,540.29 is proper, but does not find late charges in the amount of $272.00 to be
proper. Therefore, Judgment will be entered in favor of Plaintiff in the amount of
$102,238.06.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Plaintiff’s Motion for Default Judgment is
GRANTED and judgment will be entered in favor of the Plaintiff in the amount of
$102,238.06.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

August 14 , 2014
Anderson, South Carolina

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