Fazeli v. Management Team Valet LLC et al

Filing 88

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER: The Court ENTERS an ORDER OF DEFAULT JUDGMENT against Defendant. Further, the Court GRANTS in part and DENIES in part Plaintiff's request for damages. Specifically, the Court GRANTS Plaintiff's request for atto rney's fees in the amount of $14,783.30, and Plaintiff's request for costs in the amount of $500.00. However, the Court DENIES without prejudice Plaintiff's request for unpaid wages and liquidated damages in the amount of � 36;82,737.28. The Court ORDERS Plaintiff to supplement the record as addressed no later than 10/20/2018. Plaintiff should include along with his supplemental briefing any and all time sheets, pay stubs, work logs, or other evidence that he may have t o substantiate the length of his employment, hourly rates, hours he worked, proof of deductions, or provide an affidavit explaining why he is unable to supply the requested documents. Failure to comply with any of these requirements may result in Plaintiff's lawsuit being dismissed without prejudice. (Ordered by Judge Jane J. Boyle on 9/21/2018) (zkc)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
DALLAS DIVISION

PEYMAN FAZELI,
Plaintiff,
v.
REZA SALEH,
Defendant.

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CIVIL ACTION NO. 3:16-CV-749-B

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
The Court entered a Conditional Order of Default Judgment under Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure 37(b) and 55 against Defendant Reza Saleh on August 2, 2018, and requested that
Plaintiff brief the Court on several issues addressed below. See Doc. 83. Before the Court is Plaintiff
Peyman Fazeli’s Brief in Support of Final Default Judgment Against Defendant. Doc. 87. For the
reasons discussed below, the Court ENTERS an ORDER OF DEFAULT JUDGMENT against
Defendant. Furthermore, the Court GRANTS in part and DENIES in part Plaintiff’s request for
damages.
I.
BACKGROUND
On March 17, 2016, Plaintiff filed this case alleging multiple Fair Labor Standards Act
(FLSA) violations against Defendant Reza Saleh. See Doc. 1, Pl.’s Original Compl., ¶ 3. Plaintiff
stated that he had been employed as a valet driver by Defendant’s valet service for the three years
prior to this lawsuit, up until approximately June 15, 2015. Doc. 46, Pl.’s Second Am. Compl., ¶ 17.
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During his employment, Defendant applied a tip credit towards Plaintiff’s minimum wage but
prevented Plaintiff from keeping all the tips he received by allegedly requiring a portion of tips be
paid to management. Id. ¶¶ 19–20. Also, Plaintiff alleged that Defendant deducted an estimated
$2,000.00 from Plaintiff’s wages to cover the cost of repairs to a vehicle that was damaged during the
course of Plaintiff’s valet duties. Doc. 87-2, Fazeli Decl., ¶ 9. Further, Plaintiff stated that he worked
in excess of forty hours during “weeks covered by this lawsuit” but never received overtime pay from
Defendant. Doc. 46, Pl.’s Second Am. Compl., ¶ 21. Thus, Plaintiff claimed that Defendant willfully
failed to employ a proper tip pool, failed to pay lawful minimum wages, and failed to pay lawful
overtime wages—all in violation of the FLSA. Id. ¶ 3.
Defendant has failed to cooperate at almost every stage of this case. On April 30, 2018,
Plaintiff filed a Notice Regarding Mediation (Doc. 63) explaining that because defense counsel “has
been unable to reach his client, Reza Saleh, for multiple months” no mediation had occurred by the
court-ordered deadline. Doc. 63, Pl.’s Notice Regarding Mediation, 1. In response, defense counsel
confirmed that Defendant had stopped all communications with the attorney. Doc. 65, Joint Status
Report, 2. Due to Defendant’s unresponsiveness, defense counsel filed a Motion to Withdraw (Doc.
68) which the Court granted on June 11, 2018 (Doc. 69). Since then, Defendant has repeatedly
indicated both with his actions and in communications with the Court that he does not plan to
defend the case:
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June 15, 2018: Defendant responded to the Court’s Order directing
Defendant to advise whether he intended to continue litigating this case by
stating that he had no financial means or energy to hire an attorney. Doc. 70,
Def.’s Resp.
July 12, 2018: The parties’ designated mediator filed a Notice in which she
stated that the parties failed to mediate by the Court-ordered deadline
because “Defendant, Reza Saleh, has informed us that he is not in position to
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•

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pay for mediation.” Doc. 78, Corrected Notice of Mediation Status.
July 18, 2018: Defendant emailed the court and stated, “I have no financial
means to hire an attorney or even do mediation and have no intention [of]
respond[ing] to these people.” Email from Reza Saleh to Boyle Orders (July
18, 2018, 4:03 p.m. CST).
August 1, 2018: Defendant failed to appear at a hearing held by Magistrate
Judge Rebecca Rutherford regarding Plaintiff’s Motion to Compel Discovery
Responses. Doc. 81, Minute Entry.

Following these events, on August 2, 2017, the Court entered a conditional Order of Default
Judgement against Defendant under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37(b). See Doc. 83. In the
Order, Plaintiff was directed to submit briefing that included: (1) why default judgment is
appropriate under the circumstances; (2) whether there is sufficient basis in the pleadings for
judgment; and (3) evidence concerning damages and attorney’s fees. Id. at 3. Plaintiff filed his Brief
in Support of Final Default Judgment on September 4, 2018. Doc. 87. Again, the Defendant failed
to respond. Plaintiff’s motion is therefore ripe for review.
II.
LEGAL STANDARDS
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 37(b) and 55 are pertinent to default judgment in
circumstances like those of this case. “Rule 37(b)(2)(c) authorizes a district court to strike pleadings
of and enter a default judgment against a party that fails to comply with a discovery order.” U.S. For
Use of M–CO Const., Inc. v. Shipco Gen., Inc., 814 F.2d 1011, 1013 (5th Cir. 1987). However, “[a]
default judgment or dismissal under Rule 37(b) requires a clear record of delay or contumacious
conduct.” Compass Bank v. Villarreal, 2011 WL 1740270, at *5 (S.D. Tex. May 5, 2011). Thus,
before granting a default judgment for failure to comply with discovery orders under Rule 37(b), the
Fifth Circuit considers the following four factors:

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(1) whether the violation was willful or in bad faith rather than simply
due to inability to comply, (2) whether less drastic sanctions would
effect the goals of Rule 37(b), (3) whether the violation prejudiced
the opposing party's trial preparation, and (4) whether the client
knew of or participated in the violation or simply misunderstood a
court order or innocently hired a derelict attorney.
Shipco, 814 F.2d at 1013. When the four factors of Rule 37(b) are met, the court may enter default
judgment against the defendant under Rule 55. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b)(2); see Compass Bank, 2011WL
1740270, at *5.
Rule 55 authorizes an entry of default judgment when a properly noticed party fails to appear
in a case, appears but fails to file a pleading, or “fail[s] to . . . otherwise defend” the lawsuit. Fed. R.
Civ. P. 55(a). In any of these scenarios, the claimant “is not entitled to a default judgment as a
matter of right, even where the defendant is technically in default.” Lewis v. Lynn, 236 F.3d 766, 767
(5th Cir. 2001) (quoting Ganther v. Ingle, 75 F.3d 207, 212 (5th Cir. 1996)). Whether to issue
default judgment is “committed to the discretion of the district judge.” Lewis, 236 F.3d at 767
(quoting Mason v. Lister, 562 F.2d 343, 345 (5th Cir. 1977)). “[D]efault judgments are a drastic
remedy, not favored by the Federal Rules and resorted to by courts only in extreme situations.” Id.
(quoting Sun Bank of Ocala v. Pelican Homestead and Savings Ass’n, 874 F.2d 274, 276 (5th Cir.
1989)). Default judgments are typically appropriate only when a party has abandoned the case and
“the adversary process has been halted because of [the] essentially unresponsive party.” Sun Bank of
Ocala, 874 F.2d at 276 (citations omitted). In considering a motion for default judgment, a court
accepts as true the well-pleaded allegations of facts in the complaint. Nishimatsu Constr. Co. v.
Houston Nat’l Bank, 515 F.2d 1200, 1206 (5th Cir. 1975).

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III.
ANALYSIS
A.

Whether Default Judgment is Appropriate
In deciding whether default judgment is appropriate, the Court considers the four factors

outlined in Shipco. Applying them to this case, the Court finds they weigh in favor of default.
First, although Defendant stated that he does not have the financial means to hire a new
attorney, his inability to pay for counsel does not prevent the Court from finding his violations
“willful . . . rather than simply due to inability to comply.” See King v. Galluzo Equip. & Excavating
Inc., 223 F.R.D. 94, 98 (E.D.N.Y. 2004) (court found on motion to set aside default judgment that
defendants’ default was willful despite defendants’ inability to pay for legal counsel) (citing Rinieri
v. News Syndicate Co., 385 F.2d 818, 823 (2d Cir. 1967) (“If a party lacks funds it is not given to him
to decide ex parte that he is justified in not prosecuting his suit and is thus free to ignore the rules
of the courts.”)); see also Doc. 70, Def.’s Resp., 1 (Defendant confirmed receiving the Court’s June
11, 2018 Order, which granted defense counsel’s Motion to Withdraw and informed Defendant that
unless new counsel was hired he would be proceeding pro se). Since the time Defendant chose to
proceed pro se, he has been “willfully” unresponsive: Defendant failed to respond to Plaintiff’s
discovery requests (Doc. 72-1, Pl.’s First Set Interrogs.), Defendant failed to appear at a hearing held
by Magistrate Judge Rebecca Rutherford regarding Plaintiff’s Motion to Compel Discovery (Doc. 81,
Minute Entry), and Defendant failed to respond to the Order on Plaintiff’s Motion to Compel
Discovery Responses (Doc. 82). Even outside the discovery context, Defendant has also failed to
respond to Plaintiff’s Second Amended Complaint (Doc. 46), the Conditional Order of Default
Judgment against Defendant (Doc. 83), and Plaintiff’s Brief in Support of Final Default Judgment
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Against Defendant (Doc. 87). Indeed, Defendant has explicitly indicated to the Court that he has
no intention of responding to Plaintiff’s claims. Email from Reza Saleh to Boyle Orders (July 18,
2018, 4:03 p.m. CST).
Second, a less drastic sanction cannot achieve the goals of Rule 37(b). Rule 37(b) provides
seven possible sanctions:
(1) directing that the matters embraced in the order or other designated facts be
taken as established for purposes of the action, as the prevailing party claims; (2)
prohibiting the disobedient party from supporting or opposing designated claims or
defenses, or from introducing designated matters in evidence; (3) striking pleadings
in whole or in part; (4) staying further proceedings until the order is obeyed; (5)
dismissing the action or proceeding in whole or in part; (6) rendering a default
judgment against the disobedient party; or (7) treating as contempt of court the
failure to obey any order except an order to submit to a physical or mental
examination.
Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(b)(2)(A)(i–vii). Since Defendant is defending this action against Plaintiff, striking
the pleadings, staying further proceedings, or dismissing the action would be inappropriate,
Considering the other available sanctions, and in light of Defendant’s “deliberately obstructive
conduct,” default judgment is the foreseeable and appropriate response required to effect the goals
of Rule 37(b). See Jones v. La. State Bar Ass’n, 602 F.2d 94, 97 (5th Cir. 1979) (finding that default
judgment was appropriate when the district court was faced with a defendant’s “repeated refusal to
comply with a valid order”).
Third, Defendant’s violations prejudiced the opposing party’s trial preparation. Litigation of
Plaintiff’s claim against Defendant—which has been ongoing since March of 2016—has been halted
by Defendant’s refusal to participate in the case. Defendant failed to respond to Plaintiff’s requests
for interrogatories. See Doc. 72-1, Pl.’s First Set Interrogs. Defendant subsequently failed to appear
at a hearing held by Magistrate Judge Rebecca Rutherford regarding Plaintiff’s motion to compel
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discovery requests (Doc. 81, Minute Entry) and also failed to respond to the Order on Plaintiff’s
Motion to Compel Discovery Responses (Doc. 82). As a result, Plaintiff’s ability to prepare for trial
was substantially prejudiced. See Compass Bank, 2011 WL 1740270, at *6 (holding that a defendant’s
failure to cooperate with the scheduling of a deposition and failure to respond to request for written
discovery substantially prejudiced the plaintiff’s ability to prepare for trial).
Fourth, Defendant knowingly participated in the violation of the discovery request. This is
evidenced by Defendant’s explicit indication to the Court that he has no intention of responding to
Plaintiff’s claims. See Email from Reza Saleh to Boyle Orders (July 18, 2018, 4:03 p.m.
CST)(Defendant stating, “I have no financial means to hire an attorney or even do mediation and
have no intention [of] respond[ing] to these people.”). Furthermore, there is no evidence before the
court to indicate that Defendant intends to litigate this case and participate in the judicial
process. Therefore, the Court concludes that default judgment is proper.
B.

Whether There is a Sufficient Basis for Judgment in the Pleadings
Due to his default, Defendant is deemed to have admitted the allegations set forth in the

Amended Complaint. Nonetheless, the Court must review the pleadings to determine whether
Plaintiff can establish a viable claim for unpaid wages under the FLSA. See Nishimatsu, 515 F.2d at
1206 (noting that “default is not treated as an absolute confession by the defendant of his liability
and of the plaintiff’s right to recover”). Based on the following pleadings, the Court finds that
Plaintiff has established a viable claim for relief under the FLSA.
First, Plaintiff alleges that Defendant “knowingly, willfully, or with reckless disregard”
required Plaintiff to “pay a portion of his tips received each shift to management . . . in violation of
requirements for legal tip pools.” Doc. 46, Pl.’s Second Am. Compl., ¶¶ 20, 26–27 (citing 29 U.S.C.
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§ 203(m)of the FLSA, which states that an “employer may not keep tips received by its employees
for any purposes”). Additionally, Defendant allegedly failed to pay Plaintiff overtime wages after
“Plaintiff was required to work in excess of 40 hours during weeks covered by this lawsuit” in
violation of § 207(a)(1) of the FLSA, which dictates that no employer shall employ his employees
for a workweek longer than forty hours “unless such employee receives compensation for his
[overtime hours] at a rate not less than one and one-half times the regular rate at which he is
employed.” Doc. 46, Pl.’s Second Am. Compl., ¶ 21; 29 U.S.C. § 207(a)(1). Furthermore, Defendant
allegedly deducted an estimated $2,000.00 to cover the cost of repairs for a vehicle that was damaged
while Plaintiff was on the job in violation of 29 U.S.C. § 206. See Doc. 87-2, Fazeli Decl., ¶ 9.
Having reviewed Plaintiff’s factual allegations, (Doc. 87, Br. Supp. Final Default J., 10–13),
which the Court accepts as true based on Defendant’s default, the Court finds that these allegations
establish violations of the FLSA. See Nishimatsu Constr., 515 F.2d at 1206. Consequently, the Court
finds that there is a sufficient basis for judgment on Plaintiff’s pleading.
C.

Damages
“A defendant’s default concedes the truth of the allegations of the Complaint concerning the

defendant’s liability, but not damages.” Ins. Co. of the W. v. H&G Contractors, Inc., 2011 WL
4738197, at *4 (S.D. Tex. Oct. 5, 2011) (citing Jackson v. FIE Corp., 302 F.3d 515, 524–25 (5th Cir.
2002)). Normally damages are not to be awarded without a hearing or a demonstration by detailed
affidavits establishing the necessary facts. See United Artists Corp. v. Freeman, 605 F.2d 854, 857 (5th
Cir. 1979). However, if the amount of damages can be determined with mathematical calculation
by reference to the pleadings and supporting documents, a hearing is unnecessary. James v. Frame,
6 F.3d 307, 310 (5th Cir. 1993).
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Plaintiff requests unpaid wages and liquidated damages under the FLSA. In addition, he
requests attorney’s fees and costs. The Court considers each of these requests in turn.
1.

Unpaid Wages
a.

Unpaid Minimum Wages

As of May 25, 2009, the federal minimum wage rate is $7.25 per hour. 29 U.S.C. §
206(a)(1)(C). Because Defendant failed to utilize a proper tip-credit, Plaintiff claims he is owed
$23,961.60 in unpaid minimum wages from March 17, 2013, through June 15, 2015. Doc. 87-2,
Fazeli Decl., Table 1. Plaintiff arrives at this figure by multiplying the average minimum number of
hours he worked each week (40) by his total weeks of employment (117) by the difference between
the rate of minimum wage and the reduced rate he was paid under the tip-credit provision ($5.12).
Id. The Court finds Plaintiff’s request problematic because Plaintiff provides nothing other than his
own terse declaration to support his request. There are no time sheets, pay stubs, work logs, or other
evidence to substantiate the length of his employment, his hourly rate, or the hours he worked.
Though the Court accepts as true the allegations that Plaintiff makes with respect to his underlying
claim, it is nonetheless reluctant to grant Plaintiff’s request for damages absent any supporting
documents. C.f. Bullion v. Transtec Sys., Inc, 2008 WL 4218119, at *2 (S.D. Fla. Sept. 15,
2008)(plaintiff “submitted detailed affidavit to establish claimed damages”); Carazani v. Zegarra, 972
F. Supp. 2d 1, 15 (D.D.C. July 3, 2013)(plaintiff provided employment contract, prevailing wage
determination policy guidance from Employment and Training Administration, prevailing wage rates
for housekeepers in area, and weekly tabulation of hours she worked to support her claims). In light
of these deficiencies and the Fifth Circuit’s disinclination to award damages absent a hearing or
detailed affidavits establishing the necessary facts, the Court denies Plaintiff’s request for $23,961.60
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in unpaid minimum wages.
b.

Unpaid Overtime Wages

The FLSA generally requires an employee to pay overtime compensation (at a rate of one and
one-half times the regular rate of pay) to an employee after he has worked over forty hours in one
week. 29 U.S.C. § 207(a). Plaintiff claims he is owed $16,407.04 in unpaid overtime wages from
March 17, 2013, through June 15, 2015. Doc. 87, Fazeli Decl., Table 1. He arrives at this figure by
multiplying the average number of overtime hours he worked each week (20 hours per week the first
65 weeks, 4 hours per week the last 52 weeks) by his total weeks of employment (65 weeks at 20
hours overtime, 52 weeks at 4 hours overtime) by his overtime rate ($10.88). Id. Similarly to the
request for unpaid minimum wages, the Court finds Plaintiff’s request problematic because Plaintiff
provides nothing but his declaration to support his request. Though the Court accepts as true the
allegations that Plaintiff makes with respect to his underlying claim, it is nonetheless reluctant to
grant Plaintiff’s request for damages absent any supporting documents. C.f. Gibbs v. Parr Mgmt., LLC,
2013 WL 2355048, at *1 (N.D. Tex. May 29, 2013)(plaintiff provided affidavit listing dates and
work hours to support overtime claim); Bell v. Able Sec. & Investigations, Inc., 2011 WL 2550846, at
*1 (N.D. Tex. June 28, 2011)(plaintiff provided timekeeping records to support overtime claim).
Thus, the Court denies Plaintiff’s request for $16,407.04 in unpaid overtime wages.
c.

Improper Payroll Deduction

The FLSA mandates an unconditional minimum wage that an employer cannot alter. 29
U.S.C. § 206. The Fifth Circuit has held that “payroll deductions to compensate for debts owed by
an employee to his employer were impermissible if they operated to reduce income below the wage
floor prescribed by the FLSA.” Brennan v. Heard, 491 F.2d 1, 3 (5th Cir. 1974), overruled on other
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grounds by McLaughlin v. Richland Shoe Co., 486 U.S. 128, 130–31 (1988) (citing Brennan v. Veterans
Cleaning Serv., Inc., 482 F.2d 1362, 1369–70 (5th Cir. 1973)(holding that an employer’s deductions
from an employee’s paycheck to cover the cost of destruction to the employer’s truck were
impermissible because they reduced the employee’s net wage below the statutory minimum)).
Plaintiff claims he is owed $2,000.00 for improper payroll deductions for the cost of repairs to a
vehicle that was damaged during the course of his valet duties in February of 2013. Doc. 87-2, Fazeli
Decl., ¶ 9. However, Plaintiff’s request is problematic because Plaintiff provides nothing but his
declaration to support his request. Plaintiff does not include pay stubs or other evidence of the
deductions. Though the Court accepts as true the allegations that Plaintiff makes with respect to his
underlying claim, it is nonetheless reluctant to grant Plaintiff’s request for damages absent any
supporting documents. Thus, the Court denies Plaintiff’s request for $2,000.00 in improper payroll
deductions.
2.

Liquidated Damages

Next, the Court considers Plaintiff’s request for liquidated damages. A plaintiff is entitled to
liquidated damages equal to the amount of unpaid wages for willful violations of the FLSA. 29 U.S.C.
§ 216(b). “Under the FLSA, a district court may not exercise its discretionary authority to reduce
or to eliminate a liquidated damages award unless the employer first sustains its burden of showing
that its failure to obey the statute was in good faith.” Nero v. Indus. Molding Corp., 167 F.3d 921, 928
(5th Cir. 1999). Plaintiff allegedly complained to Defendant because he “did not think [the tips paid
to management] were fair.” Doc. 87-2, Fazeli Decl., ¶ 4. Plaintiff alleged that Defendant “ignored
[his] complaints, explaining that the management fee system ‘was just the way the company
operated.’ Defendant made it clear that [Plaintiff] either went along with ‘the way the company
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operated,’ or [Defendant] would find another worker who would.” Id. Plaintiff claimed that
Defendant ultimately did not make any changes based on his complaint. Id. Accepting the allegations
that Plaintiff makes with respect to his underlying claim as true and finding that Defendant has failed
to respond to Plaintiff’s Second Amended Complaint (Doc. 46), the conditional Order of Default
Judgment against Defendant (Doc. 83), and Plaintiff’s Brief in Support of Final Default Judgment
Against Defendant (Doc. 87), Defendant has failed to sustain his burden of showing good faith.
Consequently, the Court finds that Plaintiff may be entitled to liquidated damages. However, given
the deficiency in supporting documents for unpaid wages discussed above, the Court denies Plaintiff’s
request for $40,368.64 in liquidated damages.
3.

Attorney’s Fees and Costs

Finally, the Court considers Plaintiff’s request for attorney’s fees and costs. “The FLSA
authorizes a prevailing party in an FLSA proceeding to recover costs and attorney’s fees, and the
award of attorney’s fees . . . is mandatory.” Bell, 2011 WL 2550846, at *3; see 29 U.S.C. § 216(b).
Plaintiff seeks $14,783.30 in attorney’s fees and $500.00 in costs. In support of this request, Plaintiff
submits the declaration of his attorney, Travis Gasper (Doc. 87-5, Gasper Decl.), as well as the
billing records of his law firm, Lee & Braziel, LLP (Doc. 87-6, Time Entries). These detail the charges
and expenses incurred during this litigation.
a.

Attorney’s fees

The Fifth Circuit has described the basic procedure and standard for determining attorney’s
fees as follows:
The determination of a fees award is a two-step process. First the
court calculates the “lodestar” which is equal to the number of hours
reasonably expended multiplied by the prevailing hourly rate in the
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community for similar work. The court should exclude all time that
is excessive, duplicative, or inadequately documented. Once the
lodestar amount is calculated, the court can adjust it based on the
twelve factors set forth in Johnson v. Georgia Highway Express, Inc.,
488 F.2d 714, 717–19 (5th Cir. 1974).
Smith v. Acevedo, 478 Fed. App’x 116, 124 (quoting Jimenez v. Wood Cty, 621 F.3d 372, 379–80 (5th
Cir. 2010)). The Johnson factors are: (1) time and labor required for the litigation; (2) novelty and
difficulty of the questions presented; (3) skill requisite to perform the legal services properly; (4)
preclusion of other employment; (5) customary fee; (6) whether the fee is fixed or contingent; (7)
limitations imposed by the client or circumstances; (8) amount involved and the result obtained; (9)
experience, reputation, and ability of the attorneys; (10) undesirability of the case; (11) nature and
length of the professional relationship with the client; and (12) awards in similar cases. 488 F.2d at
717–19. Accordingly, the Court will apply the lodestar method and make adjustments, if necessary,
with respect to the Johnson factors.
The first step in the lodestar analysis requires the Court to determine the reasonable number
of hours expended by Plaintiff’s attorneys on the lawsuit, as well as the reasonable hourly rate for the
attorneys involved. Smith, 478 Fed. App’x at 124; Williams v. Kaufman Cnty., 2003 WL 21755913,
at *5 (N.D. Tex. July 30, 2003). Here, Plaintiff’s attorney, Gasper, has provided a time sheet
indicating the amount of work performed in the case. Doc. 87-6, Time Entries. Attorney Jesse
Forester performed 20.4 hours of work at a rate of $275.00 per hour; Attorney Travis Gasper
performed 34.23 hours of work at a rate of $250.00 per hour; Paralegal Jonathan Muriel performed
0.71 hours of work at a rate of $110.00 per hour; Paralegal Eli Rodriguez performed 0.7 hours of work
at a rate of $95.00 per hour; and Law Clerk Ryan Grant performed 4.96 hours of work at a rate of
$95.00 per hour. Id.
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After reviewing Gasper’s declaration as well as his supporting invoice, the Court finds that
the time expended by Gasper, Forester, their paralegals, and their law clerk was reasonable. Nothing
indicates that any individual was billing for “excessive, duplicative, or inadequately documented”
time. See Smith, 478 Fed. App’x at 124. Consequently, the Court accepts these hours as part of its
lodestar calculation.
With respect to the hourly rates, the Court also finds the amounts were reasonable. Gasper
avers that his rate is in line with the range of fees customarily charged in the Dallas, Texas, area by
lawyers with similar experience and expertise. Doc. 87-5, Gasper Decl., ¶ 4. In light of his
declaration, as well as the Court’s own knowledge of rates charged for legal services by attorneys in
the area with similar levels of skill, experience, and competence, the Court is comfortable using his
hourly rate of $250.00. The Court is similarly comfortable using the rate of $275.00 per hour for
Forester, as well as the rates indicated for their paralegals and law clerk.
Accordingly, the Court finds the attorney’s fees to be: (1) $5,610.00 for the attorney Forester
(20.4 hours x $275.00); (2) $8,557.50 for the attorney Gasper (34.23 hours x $250.00); (3) $78.10
for Muriel, the paralegal (.71 hours x $110.00); (4) $66.50 for Rodriguez, the paralegal (.7 hours x
$95.00); and (5) $471.20 for Grant, the law clerk (4.96 hours x $95.00). Considering the twelve
Johnson factors described above, the Court does not think it necessary to make any adjustment to
these figures. Accordingly, Plaintiff’s motion for attorney’s fees is granted in the amount of
$14,783.30.
b.

Costs

Lastly, the Court considers the Plaintiff’s request for costs. A prevailing party in a civil action
is entitled to recover its costs unless a federal statute, the federal rules, or the court provides
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otherwise. Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(d)(1). In addition, pursuant to § 216(b) of the FLSA, the court may
allow costs to be paid by defendant. 29 U.S.C. § 216(b). Taxable court costs include: (1) fees paid
to the clerk and marshal; (2) court reporter fees for all or part of the deposition transcript; (3) witness
fees and related expenses; (4) printing costs; and (5) fees for copies of papers necessarily obtained
for use in the case. 28 U.S.C. § 1920. Here, Plaintiff seeks $500 in costs, namely the filing fee
($400.00) and the service of process fees ($100.00). These are both reasonable and taxable under
the law. See Bullion, 2008 WL 4218119, at *4 n. 4. Therefore, the Court grants Plaintiff’s request for
costs in the amount of $500.00.
IV.
CONCLUSION
For the above-stated reasons, the Court ENTERS an ORDER OF DEFAULT
JUDGMENT against Defendant. Further, the Court GRANTS in part and DENIES in part
Plaintiff’s request for damages. Specifically, the Court GRANTS Plaintiff’s request for attorney’s fees
in the amount of $14,783.30, and Plaintiff’s request for costs in the amount of $500.00. However,
the Court DENIES without prejudice Plaintiff’s request for unpaid wages and liquidated damages
in the amount of $82,737.28. The Court ORDERS Plaintiff to supplement the record as addressed
above no later than October 20, 2018. Plaintiff should include along with his supplemental briefing
any and all time sheets, pay stubs, work logs, or other evidence that he may have to substantiate the
length of his employment, hourly rates, hours he worked, proof of deductions, or provide an affidavit
explaining why he is unable to supply the requested documents. Failure to comply with any of these
requirements may result in Plaintiff’s lawsuit being dismissed without prejudice.

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SO ORDERED.
SIGNED: September 21, 2018.

_________________________________
JANE J. BOYLE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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