Acosta v. Bratcher

343 F. Supp. 3d 108
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. New York
DecidedOctober 31, 2018
Docket6:18-CV-06015 EAW
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 343 F. Supp. 3d 108 (Acosta v. Bratcher) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Acosta v. Bratcher, 343 F. Supp. 3d 108 (W.D.N.Y. 2018).

Opinion

ELIZABETH A. WOLFORD, United States District Judge

INTRODUCTION

Plaintiff R. Alexander Acosta, Secretary of Labor for the United States Department of Labor ("Plaintiff") commenced this action pursuant to the Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA"), 29 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq. , on January 5, 2018. (Dkt. 1). Plaintiff seeks to obtain relief for breaches of fiduciary duty under ERISA § 409 and to enjoin acts and practices which violate the provisions of Title I of ERISA from defendants Jeffrey Bratcher; Sarah Bratcher; Global Tradequest, Inc. dba Buyquest, Inc. ("Global Tradequest"); and Global Tradequest *111401(k) PSP & Trust ("the Plan") (collectively "Defendants") for allegedly failing to forward contributions withheld from employee wages to the Plan. (Dkt. 1).

Presently before the Court is a proposed consent order and judgment ("proposed Consent Judgment") for approval. (Dkt. 16). For the reasons set forth below, the Court finds the proposed Consent Judgment to be acceptable.

BACKGROUND

The following alleged facts are drawn from the complaint. Jeffrey Bratcher was the President of Global Tradequest, and Sarah Bratcher was the General Manager of Global Tradequest. (Dkt. 1 at ¶¶ 7, 9). The Plan was an employee benefit plan within the meaning of 29 U.S.C. §§ 1002(2) and (3) and covered the employees of Global Tradequest. (Id. at ¶ 5). Both Jeffrey and Sarah Bratcher exercised discretionary authority or control respecting management of the Plan and its assets and had discretionary authority or responsibility in administering the Plan. (Id. at ¶¶ 8, 10). Additionally, Sarah Bratcher was a limited trustee of the Plan, and Global Tradequest was the plan administrator. (Id. at ¶¶ 6, 11).

The Plan's governing documents provided that participating employees would contribute to individual retirement accounts via payroll deductions. (Id. at ¶ 12). Global Tradequest and Sarah Bratcher were supposed to deposit the contributions withheld from the employees' paychecks into said individual accounts. (Id. at ¶ 13). Employees could also apply for a loan from the Plan that they repaid with interest. (Id. at ¶ 14). Between November 16, 2014, and February 16, 2017, Global Tradequest, Sarah Bratcher, and Jeffrey Bratcher failed to deposit at least $23,612.19 in employee contributions and loan repayments into the Plan. (Id. at ¶ 15). This money was never segregated from Global Tradequest's general assets (Id. at ¶ 16), and as a result, the employees lost the opportunity to realize at least $872.28 in interest. (Id. at ¶ 17).

On January 5, 2018, Plaintiff filed the instant lawsuit, asking for injunctive and monetary relief. (Id. at 6). On August 14, 2018, the proposed Consent Judgment was filed. (Dkt. 16).

DISCUSSION

I. Standard for Approving a Consent Judgment

"[T]he proper standard for reviewing a proposed consent judgment involving an enforcement agency requires that the district court determine whether the proposed consent decree is fair and reasonable, with the additional requirement that the 'public interest would not be disserved' ... in the event that the consent decree includes injunctive relief." S.E.C. v. Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. , 752 F.3d 285, 294 (2d Cir. 2014) (quoting eBay, Inc. v. MercExchange, L.L.C. , 547 U.S. 388, 391, 126 S.Ct. 1837, 164 L.Ed.2d 641 (2006) ); see Chao v. Slutsky , No. CV 01-7593(SLT)(ETB), 2009 WL 3174757, at *3 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 27, 2009) (stating the standard for approving a proposed ERISA consent order is "whether the settlement is fair, adequate and reasonable, and not a product of collusion." (internal quotation omitted) ), declined adoption on other grounds by Chao v. Slutsky , No. 01-CV-7593 (SLT)(ETB), 2009 WL 3174711 (E.D.N.Y. Oct. 2, 2009).

"[I]n evaluating the proposed [c]onsent [d]ecree, deference is accorded to a government agency ... and other parties proposing the settlement. Further, the policy of encouraging settlements is particularly strong where the settlement is proposed by a government agency acting in the public interest."

*112United States v. Gen. Elec. Co. , 460 F.Supp.2d 395, 401-02 (N.D.N.Y. 2006) (citations omitted), aff'd sub nom. Town of Ft. Edward v. United States , No. 06-5535-CV, 2008 WL 45416 (2d Cir. Jan. 3, 2008). "It is well settled that the function of the reviewing court is not to substitute its judgment for that of the parties to the decree but to assure itself that the terms of the decree are fair and adequate and are not unlawful, unreasonable, or against public policy." United States v. Hooker Chems. & Plastics Corp. , 540 F.Supp. 1067, 1072 (W.D.N.Y. 1982), aff'd , 749 F.2d 968 (2d Cir. 1984). "Absent a substantial basis in the record for concluding that the proposed consent decree does not meet these requirements, the district court is required to enter the order." Citigroup , 752 F.3d at 294 ; see United States v. Mason Tenders Dist. Coun. of Greater N.Y. , No. 94 Civ. 6487 (RWS), 1994 WL 742637 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 27 1994) (approving a consent decree for a lawsuit filed under ERISA).

II. The Proposed Consent Judgment Is Fair and Reasonable

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Bluebook (online)
343 F. Supp. 3d 108, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/acosta-v-bratcher-nywd-2018.