Bern v. Empire State Renovators LLC

CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedMarch 2, 2023
Docket1:22-cv-08096
StatusUnknown

This text of Bern v. Empire State Renovators LLC (Bern v. Empire State Renovators LLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bern v. Empire State Renovators LLC, (S.D.N.Y. 2023).

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK Case No. 1:22-cv-08096-AKH KERRY BERN, Plaintiff, Vv. EMPIRE STATE RENOVATORS LLC, Defendant.

FINAL JUDGMENT AND PERMANENT INJUNCTION THIS CAUSE is before the Court upon plaintiff Kerry Bern’s (“Plaintiff”) Motion for Default Final Judgment (the “Motion”) [D.E. \°:]. The Court has considered the Motion, has noted the Clerk’s default against defendant Empire State Renovators, LLC (“Defendant”), and is otherwise advised in the premises. Pursuant to Rule 55 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Court concludes that Plaintiff has met his burden of showing that he is entitled to a final default judgment as to Defendant. Plaintiff has also met his burden of showing that he is entitled to permanent injunctive relief against Defendant as specified herein. Accordingly, it is ORDERED AND ADJUDGED as follows: 1. Findings of Fact! i. Plaintiff is an accomplished professional photographer who specializes in architectural and real estate photography.

1 A district court must exercise “independent judgment” in adopting a party’s proposed findings. Bright v. Westmoreland Cnty., 380 F.3d 729, 731-32 (3rd Cir. 2004). In this case, the Court has independently analyzed the evidence presented and has adopted only those findings which the Court has independently deemed appropriate under the circumstances,

2, Plaintiff offers high-quality architecture and interior photography throughout the Des Moines, Iowa region. 3. Plaintiff, as an architectural photographer, blends his artistic ability with technical + skill. He takes pride in focusing on quality rather than quantity. 4. Plaintiff's expertise, dedication, and image quality makes him different from other photographers in the area. 5. In July 2020, Plaintiff created a professional photograph of the interior of a single- family home titled “07-20-6897-HBA” (the “First Photograph”): Ge ee ee cn SB Set a Se Res ST aes

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6. InJuly 2020, Plaintiff created another professional photograph of the interior of a single-family home titled “07-20-6917-HBA” (the “Second Photograph”):

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7. The First Photograph and the Second Photograph are collectively referred to herein as the “Work.” 8. The Work was registered by Plaintiff with the Register of Copyrights on September 20, 2020 and was assigned Registration No. VA 2-219-507. A copy of the Certificate of Registration pertaining to the Work is attached to the Complaint as Exhibit A thereto. 9. Plaintiffis the owner of the Work and has remained the owner at all times material hereto. 10. Defendant is a home remodeling company that specializes in brownstone and condo remodeling in Manhattan, NY. 11. Defendant advertises/markets its business primarily through its website (https://empirestaterenovators.com/), social media (e.2., https://Awww.facebook.com/empirestaterenovators/), and other forms of advertising. 12. In February 2021 (after Plaintiff's above-referenced copyright registration of the Work), Defendant published the Work on its website (at https://empirestaterenovators.com/services/complete-apartment-remodeling/) in connection with a description of its services: © 2g ereisocectansansord □□□ entice hing & + @ 3 bi re en onc ee © o> eS eel | B / ea ae aha 7

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13. Acopy of the screenshot of Defendant’s website, displaying the copyrighted Work, is attached to the Complaint as Exhibit B thereto. 14. Defendant is not and has never been licensed to use or display the Work. Defendant never contacted Plaintiff to seek permission to use the Work in connection with its website/advertising or for any other purpose. 15, Defendant utilized the Work for commercial use — namely, in connection with the marketing and advertising of its business. 16. Upon information and belief, Defendants located a copy of the Work on the internet and, rather than contact Plaintiff to secure a license, simply copied the Work for its own commercial use. 17. Through his ongoing diligent efforts to identify unauthorized use of his photographs, Plaintiff first discovered Defendant’s unauthorized use/display of the Work in August 2021. 18. Following Plaintiff's discovery of Defendant’s infringement, Plaintiff (through counsel) sent (via Federal Express and e-mail) one (1) infringement notice to Defendant to notify it of the impermissible use. Plaintiff's counsel sent at least three (3) subsequent e-mails to Defendant and attempted three (3) phone calls in an attempt to negotiate a reasonable license for the use of the Work. On July 8, 2022, Plaintiff’s counsel spoke with Defendant (through its agent, Mr. Joseph Coello) who said he believed Plaintiff had the wrong channels and hung up. Subsequent attempts to communicate with Defendant were ignored. Ii. Conclusions of Law A. Applicable Legal Standards Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55 sets forth two steps to obtain a default judgment. First, when a defendant fails to plead or otherwise defend a lawsuit, the clerk of court may enter a clerk’s

default. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55fa). Second, after entry of the clerk’s default, the Court may enter default judgment against the defendant so long as the defendant is not an infant or incompetent. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b)(2). “A defendant's default concedes the truth of the well-pleaded allegations in the complaint as to him.” Virgin Records Am., Inc, v. Yancy, No. 5:05-CV-370 (FIS/GHL), 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 50763, at *2-3 (N.D.N.Y. Aug. 5, 2005). “Moreover, ‘[t]he defendant, by his default, admits the plaintiff's well-pleaded allegations of fact, is concluded on those facts by ihe judgment, and is barred from contesting on appeal the facts thus established.” Id. at *3 (quoting Nishimatsu Constr. Co., Ltd. v. Houston Nat'l Bank, 515 F.2d 1200, 1206 (Sth Cir. 1975)). The Court must review the sufficiency of the complaint before determining if a moving party is entitled to default judgment. See Brown v. Gabbidon, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 35134 (S.D.N.Y. May 14, 2007); Sony Pictures Home Entm't, Inc. v. Chetney, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13314, 4-5 (S.D.N-Y. 2007). “While a complaint... does not need detailed factual allegations,” a plaintiffs obligation to show its entitlement to relief “requires more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007). If the admitted facts are enough to establish liability, the Court must then ascertain the appropriate amount of damages and enter final judgment in that amount. See Nishimatsu Constr, Co., 515 F.2d at 1206. An evidentiary hearing on damages is not required by Rule 55, and it is within the Court’s discretion to choose whether to hold such a hearing. See Fed, R. Civ. P. 55(b)(2); Coventry Enters, Ltd. Liab. Co. v, Sanomedics Int'l Holdings, Inc., 2017 U.S, Dist. LEXIS 122615, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. July 25, 2017); Cement & Concrete Workers Dist. Council Welfare Fund_v. Metro Found.

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Bern v. Empire State Renovators LLC, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bern-v-empire-state-renovators-llc-nysd-2023.