Joe Hand Promotions, Inc. v. Wing Spot Chicken & Waffles, Inc.

920 F. Supp. 2d 659, 2013 WL 394000, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12718
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Virginia
DecidedJanuary 30, 2013
DocketAction No. 4:12cv64
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 920 F. Supp. 2d 659 (Joe Hand Promotions, Inc. v. Wing Spot Chicken & Waffles, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Virginia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Joe Hand Promotions, Inc. v. Wing Spot Chicken & Waffles, Inc., 920 F. Supp. 2d 659, 2013 WL 394000, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12718 (E.D. Va. 2013).

Opinion

FINAL ORDER

REBECCA BEACH SMITH, Chief Judge.

This matter comes before the court on plaintiffs Motion for Default Judgment against defendant The Wing Spot Chicken [661]*661& Waffles, Inc. (ECF No. 12), filed on October 9, 2012. The matter was referred to a United States Magistrate Judge by Order of October 26, 2012, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 72(b), to conduct hearings, including evidentiary hearings, if necessary, and to submit to the undersigned proposed findings of fact, if applicable, and recommendations for the disposition of the motion.

The United States Magistrate Judge’s Report and Recommendation was filed on January 9, 2013. The magistrate judge recommended granting plaintiffs Motion for Default Judgment against defendant, The Wing Spot Chicken & Waffles, Inc., and an award of damages.

By copy of the report and recommendation of the magistrate judge, the parties were advised of their right to file written objections thereto. The court has received no objections to the magistrate judge’s report and recommendation, and the time for filing same has expired. The court does hereby adopt and approve in full the findings and recommendations set forth in the Report and Recommendation of the United States Magistrate Judge filed January 9, 2013. Accordingly, the plaintiffs Motion for Default Judgment against The Wing Spot Chicken & Waffles, Inc. is GRANTED. The plaintiff is AWARDED statutory damages in the amount of $4,000.00; additional damages for defendant’s willful action in the amount of $27,000.00; attorneys fees in the amount of $1,500.00; and court costs in the amount of $500.00. The court further ORDERS that Count III of the plaintiffs Complaint be DISMISSED. The Clerk shall enter judgment for the plaintiff to this effect.

The Clerk shall forward a copy of this Final Order to all parties of record.

It is so ORDERED.

REPORT & RECOMMENDATION

TOMMY E. MILLER, United States Magistrate Judge.

This matter comes before the Court for entry of judgment of default in favor of the plaintiff, Joe Hand Promotions, Inc., and against the defendant, The Wing Spot Chicken & Waffles, Inc. The plaintiff filed this Motion for Default Judgment on October 9, 2012. ECF No. 12. The defendants did not respond within the proper time for a response, making the Motion ripe for decision. This Motion was referred to the undersigned on October 26, 2012. ECF No. 13. Based on the filings in this case, the undersigned RECOMMENDS that the plaintiffs motion be GRANTED and damages be awarded.

I. PROCEDURAL HISTORY

The plaintiff filed this suit against four defendants on May 2, 2012. ECF. No. 1. Four summonses were issued on May 3, 2012 for defendants Linda Ensley, Walter Ricks, the Wing Spot Chicken & Waffles, Inc., and Omonte Ward. The lawsuit alleged a violation of the Federal Communications Act of 1934, as amended. 47 U.S.C. §§ 553, 605 (2012).

On June 14, 2012 a copy of the summons and complaint was mailed to the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission as service of process on the defendant, the Wing Spot Chicken & Waffles, Inc. The other defendants in the case were not served, and on September 26, 2012, pursuant to Rule 4(m) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, those defendants were terminated from the case. ECF No. 11.

On August 14, 2012, the plaintiff requested an entry of default against the defendant as the defendant’s time to answer the complaint had run. ECF No. 7. On August 30, 2012, the Clerk of this Court submitted an Entry of Default as to [662]*662the defendant. ECF No. 8. This Motion was filed on October 9, 2012, and based on the lack of a response by the defendant, the Motion is ripe.1

II. JURISDICTION AND VENUE

For this Court to render default judgment, the Court must have subject matter and personal jurisdiction over the defendant and the claims. Additionally, venue must be proper. Based on the facts of this case, the Court holds both subject matter jurisdiction over the case and personal jurisdiction over the defendant. Similarly, venue is proper.

(a) Subject Matter Jurisdiction

A federal district court has subject matter jurisdiction over claims that arise from federal law. See 28 U.S.C. § 1331 (2012). The plaintiffs claims arise from Section 705 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended in 47 U.S.C. § 553, 605 (2012). See Pl.’s Comp. 1. Because the plaintiffs claims arise under a federal statute, this Court holds proper subject matter jurisdiction.

(b) Personal Jurisdiction

Personal jurisdiction over a defendant is established when a defendant has sufficient “minimum contacts with [the forum state] such that the maintenance of the suit does not offend ‘traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice,’ ” Int’l Shoe Co. v. Washington, 326 U.S. 310, 316, 66 S.Ct. 154, 90 L.Ed. 95 (1945) (quoting Milliken v. Meyer, 311 U.S. 457, 463, 61 S.Ct. 339, 85 L.Ed. 278 (1941)), and when the defendant is subject to the personal jurisdiction of the courts of general jurisdiction of the forum state. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 4(k)(1)(A). Additionally, there must be “effective service of process” to provide this Court with personal jurisdiction. See Int’l Shoe Co., 326 U.S. at 316-17, 66 S.Ct. 154.

There is no doubt that the statutory and constitutional requirements for personal jurisdiction are satisfied because the defendant is a commercial business located in Hampton, Virginia. See Pi’s. Mot. for Default J. 4. A business within the state clearly has sufficient minimum contacts with the forum state, and that business is subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of Virginia under Code of Virginia § 8.01-328.1.

(c)Service of Process

The remaining question is whether there was effective service of process on the defendant. On November 16, 2012, the Court issued a Show Cause Order, requiring the plaintiff to show how its service of process comported with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Virginia statutes. ECF No. 15. The plaintiff responded on December 5, 2012. ECF No. 16. The response satisfied the Court’s concerns over service of process.

In this case, service of process was done by mailing a copy of the summons and complaint to the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission (SCC) on June 14, 2012. Pi’s Mot. for Default J. 2-3.

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920 F. Supp. 2d 659, 2013 WL 394000, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12718, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/joe-hand-promotions-inc-v-wing-spot-chicken-waffles-inc-vaed-2013.