1 2 3 4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 5 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 6 7 BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE Case No. 22-cv-07696-JD LABORERS HEALTH AND WELFARE 8 TRUST FUND FOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, et al., ORDER RE DEFAULT JUDGMENT 9 Plaintiffs, 10 v. 11 ARTURO SOLORZANO MUNOZ, 12 Defendant. 13 14 Plaintiffs, the Boards of Trustees (the Board) for various trust funds under an employee 15 benefit plan, sued defendant Arturo Solorzano Munoz dba Solorzano Landscape Construction 16 (Solorzano), for breach of a collective bargaining agreement and to compel an audit under section 17 502 of Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), 29 U.S.C. § 1132. See Dkt. 18 No. 1. Although Solorzano was personally served with the summons and complaint, Dkt. No. 11 19 at 2, he never appeared in the case or otherwise communicated with the Court, and the Clerk 20 entered default. Dkt. No. 17. The Board asks for a default judgment requiring Solorzano to 21 submit to the audit and awarding the Board its reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. Dkt. No. 20. 22 I. DEFAULT JUDGMENT 23 Under Rule 55(b)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a party may apply to the 24 Court for entry of judgment by default. “The district court’s decision whether to enter a default 25 judgment is a discretionary one.” Aldabe v. Aldabe, 616 F.2d 1089, 1092 (9th Cir. 1980). The 26 Court may consider the following factors in deciding whether to grant the motion: 27 (1) the possibility of prejudice to plaintiff, (2) the merits of plaintiff’s substantive claim, (3) the sufficiency of the complaint, (4) the sum of concerning the material facts, (6) whether the default was due to 1 excusable neglect, and (7) the strong policy underlying the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure favoring decisions on the merits. 2 3 Eitel v. McCool, 782 F.2d 1470, 1471-72 (9th Cir. 1986). 4 A. Eitel Factors 5 1. Merits of the Claim and Sufficiency of Complaint 6 The second and third Eitel factors -- the merits of the claim and the sufficiency of the 7 complaint -- are generally considered together because after the entry of default, well-pleaded 8 factual allegations in the complaint are taken as true, except as to the amount of damages. Fair 9 Hous. of Marin v. Combs, 285 F.3d 899, 906 (9th Cir. 2002). 10 The allegations in the complaint are sufficient to prevail on a claim under Section 1132 of 11 ERISA. ERISA authorizes a fiduciary to bring a civil action to “enforce … the terms of the plan,” 12 29 U.S.C. § 1132(a)(3), and the Trustees are fiduciaries of the asserted Trust Funds. See Dkt. 13 No. 20-4, §§ 13(C) & 14(C). Solorzano is required by contract, see Dkt. No. 20-7, to submit to a 14 records audit “[u]pon receipt of a written request from the Board.” Dkt. No. 20-6 § 7. Solorzano 15 did not submit to an audit despite multiple written requests. Dkt. No. 1 ¶¶ 14-15; Dkt. No. 20-1 16 ¶¶ 23-25; Dkt. Nos. 20-11 & 20-12. Consequently, Solorzano is in breach of the terms of the 17 benefit plan. 18 2. Remaining Eitel Factors 19 The remaining factors also weigh in favor of granting default judgment. The Board will be 20 prejudiced if an audit is not granted because it will be unable to investigate whether Solorzano has 21 fulfilled his obligations to the Trust Funds, and consequently will be left without a remedy for the 22 suspected ERISA violations. See Bd. of Trs. of the Laborers Health & Welfare Tr. Fund for N. 23 Cal. v. Contractors Chem., Inc., No. 14-cv-04159-JD, 2015 WL 4692440, at *2 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 6, 24 2015). The sum of the money at stake ($5,643.45 in attorney’s fees and costs) is relatively small 25 and tailored to the Board’s efforts to rectify the violation. Id. Because defendant was served with 26 multiple demands and a lawsuit but has not appeared, there is no indication that the default is due 27 to excusable neglect, that the material facts are subject to dispute, or that a decision on the merits 1 B. Plaintiff’s Requested Relief 2 1. Mandatory Injunctive Relief 3 The Board has requested a mandatory injunction directing Solorzano to submit to an audit 4 of records for the period of January 2017, through the last completed quarter. Dkt. No. 20 at 17. 5 In particular, it asks to inspect the following records: 6 California Quarterly Report of Wages, Form DE-6; Federal Tax Forms W-3/W-2 and 1069/1099; Payroll Registers/Journals; 7 Individual Earnings Records; Source Records, including time cards and time card summaries for all employees; contribution reports for 8 all trust funds; workers’ compensation reports; certified payroll reports; personnel records indicating job classifications and 9 hire/termination dates; cash disbursement journal; vendor invoices; copies of subcontract agreements; cash receipts journal; general 10 ledger; job cost records; records of related entities; and any other books and records that may be necessary to complete the auditor’s 11 determination or provide additional explanation. 12 The request is granted because Solorzano agreed to permit inspection of “any information, data, 13 report or documents reasonably relevant to and suitable for the purposes of Plan administration,” 14 and to permit an onsite audit of “books, records, papers or reports” that are “necessary to 15 determine whether [Solorzano] is making full and prompt payment of all sums required to be paid 16 by him … to the Fund.” Dkt. No. 20-6. The enumerated employment records are “reasonably 17 relevant” to “Plan administration” and also appear “necessary” to verify Solorzano’s compliance 18 with the plan terms. Id. 19 2. Attorney’s Fees and Costs 20 The Board asks for reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. It says that it is entitled to an 21 award under Article IV, Section 3 of the Trust Agreement, which provides: “If any Individual 22 Employer defaults in the making of Contributions or payments and if the Board … files any suit 23 … there will be added to the obligation of the Individual Employer who is in default … reasonable 24 attorney’s fees, [and] costs[.]” Dkt. No. 20-5. A fee award under this provision is denied, because 25 the Board has not yet established that Solorzano is in default. The complaint allegation that 26 plaintiffs “are informed and believe that an inspection of Solorzano’s books and records will show 27 unpaid” contributions is a far cry from demonstrating an actual delinquency. Dkt. No. 1 ¶ 16. 1 The Board says in the alternative that prevailing plaintiffs in suits to enforce Section 1145 2 of ERISA are entitled to a mandatory fee award. Dkt. No. 20 at 12 (citing 29 U.S.C. 3 § 1132(g)(2)). But Section 1132(g)(2) is inapposite because it applies to plaintiffs that have 4 prevailed in suits “to enforce section 1145,” 29 U.S.C. § 1132(g)(2), which codifies the obligation 5 “to make contributions … under the terms of the plan,” 29 U.S.C. § 1145. Again, the Board has 6 not prevailed on a claim for unpaid contributions, so it is not entitled to a mandatory fee award 7 under Section 1132(g)(2). See Nw. Adm’rs, Inc. v.
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1 2 3 4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 5 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 6 7 BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE Case No. 22-cv-07696-JD LABORERS HEALTH AND WELFARE 8 TRUST FUND FOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, et al., ORDER RE DEFAULT JUDGMENT 9 Plaintiffs, 10 v. 11 ARTURO SOLORZANO MUNOZ, 12 Defendant. 13 14 Plaintiffs, the Boards of Trustees (the Board) for various trust funds under an employee 15 benefit plan, sued defendant Arturo Solorzano Munoz dba Solorzano Landscape Construction 16 (Solorzano), for breach of a collective bargaining agreement and to compel an audit under section 17 502 of Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), 29 U.S.C. § 1132. See Dkt. 18 No. 1. Although Solorzano was personally served with the summons and complaint, Dkt. No. 11 19 at 2, he never appeared in the case or otherwise communicated with the Court, and the Clerk 20 entered default. Dkt. No. 17. The Board asks for a default judgment requiring Solorzano to 21 submit to the audit and awarding the Board its reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. Dkt. No. 20. 22 I. DEFAULT JUDGMENT 23 Under Rule 55(b)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a party may apply to the 24 Court for entry of judgment by default. “The district court’s decision whether to enter a default 25 judgment is a discretionary one.” Aldabe v. Aldabe, 616 F.2d 1089, 1092 (9th Cir. 1980). The 26 Court may consider the following factors in deciding whether to grant the motion: 27 (1) the possibility of prejudice to plaintiff, (2) the merits of plaintiff’s substantive claim, (3) the sufficiency of the complaint, (4) the sum of concerning the material facts, (6) whether the default was due to 1 excusable neglect, and (7) the strong policy underlying the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure favoring decisions on the merits. 2 3 Eitel v. McCool, 782 F.2d 1470, 1471-72 (9th Cir. 1986). 4 A. Eitel Factors 5 1. Merits of the Claim and Sufficiency of Complaint 6 The second and third Eitel factors -- the merits of the claim and the sufficiency of the 7 complaint -- are generally considered together because after the entry of default, well-pleaded 8 factual allegations in the complaint are taken as true, except as to the amount of damages. Fair 9 Hous. of Marin v. Combs, 285 F.3d 899, 906 (9th Cir. 2002). 10 The allegations in the complaint are sufficient to prevail on a claim under Section 1132 of 11 ERISA. ERISA authorizes a fiduciary to bring a civil action to “enforce … the terms of the plan,” 12 29 U.S.C. § 1132(a)(3), and the Trustees are fiduciaries of the asserted Trust Funds. See Dkt. 13 No. 20-4, §§ 13(C) & 14(C). Solorzano is required by contract, see Dkt. No. 20-7, to submit to a 14 records audit “[u]pon receipt of a written request from the Board.” Dkt. No. 20-6 § 7. Solorzano 15 did not submit to an audit despite multiple written requests. Dkt. No. 1 ¶¶ 14-15; Dkt. No. 20-1 16 ¶¶ 23-25; Dkt. Nos. 20-11 & 20-12. Consequently, Solorzano is in breach of the terms of the 17 benefit plan. 18 2. Remaining Eitel Factors 19 The remaining factors also weigh in favor of granting default judgment. The Board will be 20 prejudiced if an audit is not granted because it will be unable to investigate whether Solorzano has 21 fulfilled his obligations to the Trust Funds, and consequently will be left without a remedy for the 22 suspected ERISA violations. See Bd. of Trs. of the Laborers Health & Welfare Tr. Fund for N. 23 Cal. v. Contractors Chem., Inc., No. 14-cv-04159-JD, 2015 WL 4692440, at *2 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 6, 24 2015). The sum of the money at stake ($5,643.45 in attorney’s fees and costs) is relatively small 25 and tailored to the Board’s efforts to rectify the violation. Id. Because defendant was served with 26 multiple demands and a lawsuit but has not appeared, there is no indication that the default is due 27 to excusable neglect, that the material facts are subject to dispute, or that a decision on the merits 1 B. Plaintiff’s Requested Relief 2 1. Mandatory Injunctive Relief 3 The Board has requested a mandatory injunction directing Solorzano to submit to an audit 4 of records for the period of January 2017, through the last completed quarter. Dkt. No. 20 at 17. 5 In particular, it asks to inspect the following records: 6 California Quarterly Report of Wages, Form DE-6; Federal Tax Forms W-3/W-2 and 1069/1099; Payroll Registers/Journals; 7 Individual Earnings Records; Source Records, including time cards and time card summaries for all employees; contribution reports for 8 all trust funds; workers’ compensation reports; certified payroll reports; personnel records indicating job classifications and 9 hire/termination dates; cash disbursement journal; vendor invoices; copies of subcontract agreements; cash receipts journal; general 10 ledger; job cost records; records of related entities; and any other books and records that may be necessary to complete the auditor’s 11 determination or provide additional explanation. 12 The request is granted because Solorzano agreed to permit inspection of “any information, data, 13 report or documents reasonably relevant to and suitable for the purposes of Plan administration,” 14 and to permit an onsite audit of “books, records, papers or reports” that are “necessary to 15 determine whether [Solorzano] is making full and prompt payment of all sums required to be paid 16 by him … to the Fund.” Dkt. No. 20-6. The enumerated employment records are “reasonably 17 relevant” to “Plan administration” and also appear “necessary” to verify Solorzano’s compliance 18 with the plan terms. Id. 19 2. Attorney’s Fees and Costs 20 The Board asks for reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. It says that it is entitled to an 21 award under Article IV, Section 3 of the Trust Agreement, which provides: “If any Individual 22 Employer defaults in the making of Contributions or payments and if the Board … files any suit 23 … there will be added to the obligation of the Individual Employer who is in default … reasonable 24 attorney’s fees, [and] costs[.]” Dkt. No. 20-5. A fee award under this provision is denied, because 25 the Board has not yet established that Solorzano is in default. The complaint allegation that 26 plaintiffs “are informed and believe that an inspection of Solorzano’s books and records will show 27 unpaid” contributions is a far cry from demonstrating an actual delinquency. Dkt. No. 1 ¶ 16. 1 The Board says in the alternative that prevailing plaintiffs in suits to enforce Section 1145 2 of ERISA are entitled to a mandatory fee award. Dkt. No. 20 at 12 (citing 29 U.S.C. 3 § 1132(g)(2)). But Section 1132(g)(2) is inapposite because it applies to plaintiffs that have 4 prevailed in suits “to enforce section 1145,” 29 U.S.C. § 1132(g)(2), which codifies the obligation 5 “to make contributions … under the terms of the plan,” 29 U.S.C. § 1145. Again, the Board has 6 not prevailed on a claim for unpaid contributions, so it is not entitled to a mandatory fee award 7 under Section 1132(g)(2). See Nw. Adm’rs, Inc. v. Albertson’s, Inc., 104 F.3d 253, 257 (9th Cir. 8 1996) (plaintiff must demonstrate existence of a delinquency and obtain a favorable judgment to 9 obtain a mandatory fee award). 10 A discretionary fee award under Section 1132(g)(1) is a different matter. See Dkt. No. 20 11 at 16. This subsection provides that “the court in its discretion may allow a reasonable attorney’s 12 fee and costs of action” to plaintiffs “[i]n any action under this subchapter” “other than an action 13 described in” Section 1132(g)(2). 29 U.S.C. § 1132(g)(1). See also Hardt v. Reliance Standard 14 Life Ins. Co., 560 U.S. 242, 255 (2010) (“[A] fees claimant must show some degree of success on 15 the merits before a court may award attorney’s fees under § 1132(g)(1).”) (internal citation and 16 quotation marks omitted). 17 There is a presumption in favor of a fee award here. See United Steelworkers of Am. v. 18 Ret. Income Plan For Hourly-Rated Emps. of ASARCO, Inc., 512 F.3d 555, 564 (9th Cir. 2008) 19 (“[A]s a general rule, the prevailing party on an ERISA claim is entitled to attorney’s fees, ‘unless 20 special circumstances would render such an award unjust.’”) (quoting Hensley v. Eckerhart, 461 21 U.S. 424, 429 (1983))). 22 Other discretionary factors also favor fee shifting. Our circuit has said that “a district court 23 considering a motion for attorney’s fees under ERISA should apply discretion consistent with the 24 purposes of ERISA, those purposes being to protect employee rights and to secure effective access 25 to federal courts.” Nelson v. EG & G Energy Measurements Grp., Inc., 37 F.3d 1384, 1392 (9th 26 Cir. 1994) (internal citation and quotation marks omitted). The Board seeks to protect the rights 27 of employees under the Trust Agreement and ERISA. 1 The Hummell factors also weigh in favor of a fee award. See Hummell v. S. E. Rykoff & 2 Co., 634 F.2d 446, 453 (9th Cir. 1980); Desharnais v. Unum Life Ins. Co. of Am., No. 22-15336, 3 2022 WL 17817954, at *1 (9th Cir. Dec. 20, 2022) (unpublished). Solorzano ignored the Board 4 and refused to honor his contractual obligations, which indicates “culpability or bad faith.” 5 Hummell, 634 F.2d at 453. Fee shifting is also likely to help “deter” future violations, and the 6 || Board is pursuing this litigation to “benefit all participants and beneficiaries of an ERISA plan.” 7 | Id. 8 Although an award of fees and costs is warranted, the Board has not justified $4,060 in 9 fees. The $1,583.45 in costs are adequately documented and look to be reasonable, see Dkt. 10 || No. 20-14, but the fee request is not sufficiently supported. To justify the attorney’s hourly rate of 11 $350, the Board relies on Welch v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, 480 F.3d 942 (9th Cir. 12 2007), in which, it contends, the Ninth Circuit “approved” rates of $300 to $400 hour in ERISA 5 13 cases. See Dkt. No. 20-13 44. That is not the holding of Welch. In Welch, the court held that an 14 || attorney “bore her burden of demonstrating that $375 to $400 per hour is in line with the 3 15 prevailing market rate by submitting two pieces of evidence: (1) rate determinations in other cases a 16 || litigated by the Kantor & Kantor firm awarding fees at rates between $300 and $375 per hour; and 3 17 (2) declarations from comparable ERISA lawyers attesting that the market sustains a rate above 18 $400 per hour.” Welch, 480 F.3d at 947 (citation omitted). The Board has not submitted either 19 type of evidence. See Dkt. No. 20-13. In light of that lacuna, the fee request is denied. 20 CONCLUSION 21 The Board may file a supplemental statement in support of its request for attorney’s fees 22 and costs by March 29, 2024. The Board will not seek reimbursement for fees incurred while 23 preparing the supplemental statement. 24 IT IS SO ORDERED. 25 Dated: March 5, 2024 26 27 JAMES ATO 28 United fates District Judge