Opinion
1:23-cv-00502-JPH-MKK
05-26-2023
STEPHEN KNOWLES Trustee, et al., Plaintiffs, v. KINGERY & SONS CONSTRUCTION, INC. Clerk's Entry of Default Entered on 5/12/2023, Defendant.
ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR DEFAULT JUDGMENT
JAMES PATRICK HANLON, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
On March 21, 2023, Plaintiffs filed a complaint against Defendant, Kingery & Sons Construction, Inc., seeking damages for unpaid employer contributions under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA"). Dkt. 1. Defendant has not responded or defended this case. On May 12, 2023, the clerk entered default against the Defendant. Dkt. 9. Plaintiffs have moved for default judgment. Dkt. [10]. For the reasons that follow, that motion is DENIED without prejudice.
A. Liability
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55 creates a two-step process for a party seeking default judgment. See VLM Food Trading Int'l, Inc. v. Illinois Trading Co., 811 F.3d 247, 255 (7th Cir. 2016). First, the plaintiff must obtain an entry of default from the Clerk. Fed.R.Civ.P. 55(a). Upon default, the well-pleaded allegations in the complaint relating to liability are taken as true. VLM Food, 811 F.3d at 255. Second, after obtaining entry of default, the plaintiff may seek an entry of default judgment. Fed.R.Civ.P. 55(b).
Here, an entry of default was entered against Kingery & Sons, dkt. 9, and Plaintiffs seek default judgment, dkt. 10. Therefore, the allegations in the complaint, when taken as true, establish liability and the Court must determine damages. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 55(b).
B. Damages
While the Court must accept as true allegations relating to liability, damages must be proven to a "reasonable certainty." e360 Insight v. The Spamhaus Project, 500 F.3d 594, 602 (7th Cir. 2007). A hearing is required unless "the amount claimed is liquidated or capable of ascertainment from definite figures contained in the documentary evidence or in detailed affidavits." Id.
Plaintiffs request default judgment for $9,649.01 in arrears and audit costs. Dkt. 10. In support, they provide only an affidavit from the firm that completed the audit for Plaintiffs. Dkt. 10-1. The affidavit recites the amounts that the audit report found be in arrears and the amount charged for the audit. Id. That is the only evidence about Plaintiffs' damages-they have not submitted the audit report or any records or summaries of the information on which it relied or explained how the damages were calculated. See id.
The affidavit is not enough, standing alone, to support a default judgment. The Court must be able to determine damages "from definite figures contained in the documentary evidence or in detailed affidavits." e360 Insight, 500 F.3d at 602 (emphasis added). The affidavit here is unsupported by any exhibits and does not explain how damages were calculated. Cf. McCleskey v. Eason Constr. LLC, No. 1:21-cv-1250-JPH-DLP, 2022 WL 3646967, at *1-*2 (S.D. Ind. Aug. 23, 2022) (finding damages established by an affidavit with supporting spreadsheets that itemized damages); Tr. of Int'l Painters & Allied Trades Local No. 47 v. Mid-States Painting Co., No. 1:20-cv-1560-JPH-DLP, 2021 WL 5235113, at *1 (S.D. Ind. Nov. 8, 2021) (same). Plaintiffs' motion for default judgment is therefore DENIED without prejudice. Dkt. [10].
This is the third time since December 2021 that Plaintiffs' counsel has moved for default judgment before this Court while neglecting to provide a detailed affidavit or spreadsheet that explains how damages are calculated. See McCleskey v. Eason Constr. LLC, No. 1:21-cv-1250-JPH-DLP, 2021 WL 6297591 (S.D. Ind. Dec. 20, 2021); McCleskey v. JMY Plastering Specialist LLC, No. 1:22-cv-1718-JPH-KMB, 2022 WL 18284966 (S.D. Ind. Dec. 19, 2022). Counsel is admonished to provide the requisite information when moving for default judgment in the future.
SO ORDERED.