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BAY AREA PAINTERS AND TAPERS PENSION TRUST FUND v. J&C FUENTES PAINTING & DECORATING CO., INC., C12-2930 CW. (2014)

Court: District Court, N.D. California Number: infdco20140702878 Visitors: 9
Filed: Jul. 01, 2014
Latest Update: Jul. 01, 2014
Summary: AMENDED JUDGMENT PURSUANT TO STIPULATION CLAUDIA WILKEN, District Judge. THIS SERVES TO AMEND the Judgment Pursuant to Stipulation ("Stipulation") entered into on July 12, 2012 between Plaintiffs BAY AREA PAINTERS AND TAPERS PENSION TRUST FUND, et al. (collectively, "Plaintiffs" or "Trust Funds") and Defendant J & C FUENTES PAINTING & DECORATING CO., Inc., a California Corporation and/or any of its alter ego and/or successor entities, which required Defendant to pay delinquent amounts due to P
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AMENDED JUDGMENT PURSUANT TO STIPULATION

CLAUDIA WILKEN, District Judge.

THIS SERVES TO AMEND the Judgment Pursuant to Stipulation ("Stipulation") entered into on July 12, 2012 between Plaintiffs BAY AREA PAINTERS AND TAPERS PENSION TRUST FUND, et al. (collectively, "Plaintiffs" or "Trust Funds") and Defendant J & C FUENTES PAINTING & DECORATING CO., Inc., a California Corporation and/or any of its alter ego and/or successor entities, which required Defendant to pay delinquent amounts due to Plaintiffs for the months of December 2011 through April 2012. Defendant has requested that the Stipulation be amended to include additional amounts due to Plaintiffs and to extend the current payment plan. This document, referred to hereinafter as the "Amended Stipulation," shall, upon execution by all parties, supersede the previous Stipulation and become the operating document between the parties.

IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED and AGREED by and between the parties hereto, that this Amended Judgment shall be entered in the within action in favor of Plaintiffs and against Defendant as follows:

1. Defendant entered into a valid Collective Bargaining Agreement with the District Council 16 of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (hereinafter "Bargaining Agreement"). This Bargaining Agreement has continued in full force and effect to the present time.

2. CARLOS FUENTES acknowledges that he is the RMO/CEO/President of J&C FUENTES PAINTING & DECORATING CO., INC. and that he specifically consents to the Court's jurisdiction. Mr. Fuentes also confirms that he is personally guaranteeing the amounts due pursuant to the terms of this Amended Stipulation and further acknowledges that all affiliates, related entities and successors in interest to J&C FUENTES PAINTING & DECORATING CO., INC. and/or any subsequent entity wherein Mr. Fuentes is a principal shall also be bound by the terms of this Stipulation as Guarantors, and also consent to this Court's jurisdiction. 3. Defendant is currently indebted to the Trust Funds as follows:

Balance Due on Stipulation: Liquidated damages 12/11 - 4/12* $10,930.42 20% Liquidated Damages Incurred During Stipulation: July 2012 Liquidated Damages for late-paid contributions $5,416.02 Aug. 2012Liquidated Damages for late-paid contributions $7,797.31 Sept. 2012 Liquidated Damages for late-paid contributions $7,505.47 Oct. 2012 Liquidated Damages for late-paid contributions $9,573.21 Nov. 2012 Liquidated Damages for late-paid contributions $7,999.81 ___________ Subtotal Liquidated Damages $49,222.24 Attorneys' Fees (6/7/12 - 5/6/14) $8,539.50 Costs (6/7/12 - 3/14/14) $227.68 ___________ Subtotal Attorneys' Fees and Costs $8,767.18 Balance on Stipulation: $57,989.42 Current Delinquencies: July 2013 20% Liquidated damages $7,147.57 5% per annum Interest (9/1/13 - 9/18/13) $88.12 ___________ $7,235.69 August 2013 Contributions $73,295.26 11/27/13 payment ($20,000.00) 3/24/14 payment ($10,000.00) Subtotal $43,295.26 20% Liquidated damages $14,659.05 5% per annum interest (10/1/13 - 11/27/13) $582.34 5% per annum interest (11/28/13 - 3/24/14) $846.88 5% per annum interest (3/25/14 - 5/16/14) $314.34 _________ $59,697.87 September 2013 Contributions $45,567.61 20% Liquidated Damages $9,113.52 5% per annum Interest (11/1/13 - 3/14/14) $836.45 5% per annum Interest (3/15/14 - 5/16/14) $387.01 ___________ $55,904.59 October 2013 Contributions $44,515.15 20% Liquidated Damages $8,903.03 5% per annum Interest (12/1/13 - 3/14/14) $634.19 5% per annum Interest (3/15/14 - 5/16/14) $378.07 ___________ $54,430.44 ____________ TOTAL $235,258.01 * Liquidated damages were conditionally waived on condition that employer remain current in contributions through November 2013. This did not occur.

4. Defendant/Guarantor shall conditionally pay the amount of $151,212.60, representing all of the above amounts, less liquidated damages in the amount of $84,045.41, which represents all but $5,000 of the $89,045.41 in liquidated damages above. The condition for waiver is full compliance with all terms of this Amended Stipulation, including but not limited to timely receipt of payment of all amounts due herein, on or before the dates specified in this Amended Stipulation. The waiver shall be granted only if all obligations under this Amended Stipulation are timely met. Compliance with this Amended Stipulation requires performance of all obligations under this agreement as follows:

(a) On or before December 1, 2013, Defendant was to pay $20,000 as a first payment toward the above amounts due. Plaintiffs acknowledge receipt of that payment on November 27, 2013, as reflected above, and of a subsequent $10,000 payment made on March 24, 2014, also reflected above;

(b) On or before May 25, 2014 and no later than the 25th day of each month thereafter for a period of eighteen (18) months, through and including October 25, 2015, Defendant shall deliver to Plaintiffs $8,750.00. However, as an accommodation to Defendant, the first payment shall be $4,450.00; the second payment shall include the balance due for May, and the full payment for June, together totaling $13,050.00. Thereafter, payments shall continue at $8,750.00 per month.

(c) Payments may be timely made by joint check, which shall be endorsed by Defendant/Guarantor prior to submission by Plaintiffs;

(d) Defendant shall have the right to increase the monthly payments at any time, without penalty;

(e) Payments shall be applied first to unpaid interest and then to unpaid principal. The unpaid principal balance shall bear interest from May 8, 2014, at the rate of 5% per annum in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement and Plaintiffs' Trust Agreements.

(f) Payments shall be made payable to the "District Council 16 Northern California Trust Funds" and delivered to Muriel B. Kaplan at Saltzman & Johnson Law Corporation, 44 Montgomery Street, Suite 2110, San Francisco, CA 94104, or to such other address as may be specified by Plaintiffs, to be received on or before the 25th day of each month.

(g) Defendant/Guarantor shall pay all additional costs and attorneys' fees incurred by Plaintiffs in connection with collection and allocation of the amounts owed by Defendant to Plaintiffs under this Amended Stipulation, regardless of whether or not there is a default herein.

(h) Prior to October 25, 2015, the deadline for the final conditional payment hereunder, Plaintiffs shall advise Defendant/Guarantor in writing of the remaining amounts due, including any additional amounts claimed pursuant to the terms of this Amended Stipulation, which shall include, but not be limited to, any additional interest, liquidated damages incurred during the term of this Stipulation or any not subject to the conditional waiver, and attorneys' fees and costs incurred in this matter. Any additional amounts due pursuant to the provisions hereunder shall be paid in full with the final conditional stipulated payment, upon demand by Plaintiffs;

(i) Following payment of the last conditional monthly payment under the Amended Stipulation, Defendant/Guarantor will be advised as to whether they have met the terms of the condition for the waiver of liquidated damages. If so, the condition will be met upon bank clearance of Defendant/Guarantor's last payment of the final balance due and confirmation that Defendant's account is otherwise current. In that event, Plaintiffs will file a Notice of Satisfaction of Judgment with the Court. However, if only a partial waiver is granted or if no waiver is granted, monthly payments will continue until all liquidated damages due have been paid. Failure to comply with any of the above terms shall constitute a default of the obligations under this Agreement and the provisions of ¶ 11 shall apply.

5. Beginning with contributions due for hours worked by Defendant's employees during the month of April 2014, which are due on May 15, 2014, to be received no later than the last business day of the month, and for every month thereafter, Defendant shall remain current in reporting and payment of any contributions due to Plaintiffs under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement and under all subsequent Collective Bargaining Agreements, if any, and the Declarations of Trust as amended. Defendant shall submit a copy of the contribution report for each month, together with a copy of that payment check, either by email to both mkaplan@sjlawcorp.com and mvalentine@sjlawcorp.com, or by facsimile to Muriel Kaplan at 415-882-9287, concurrently with sending the payment to be received by the Trust Funds on or before the last business day of the month. Failure by Defendant to timely submit copies of current contribution reports and payments as described above shall constitute a default of the obligations under this agreement.

6. Defendant shall make full disclosure of all jobs on which it is working by providing Plaintiffs with an ongoing and updated list of jobs including, but not limited to, the name and address of the job, the start and completion dates, the identity of General Contractor/Owner/Developer, and by providing certified payroll if it is a public works job. Defendant shall submit said updated list each month together with the contribution report (as required by this Amended Stipulation) either by email to both mkapkan@sjlawcorp.com and mvalentine@sjlawcorp.com, or by facsimile to Muriel B. Kaplan at 415-882-9287, on or before the last day of each month. This requirement remains in full force and effect regardless of whether or not Defendant has ongoing work. In this event, Defendant shall submit a statement stating that there are no current jobs. A blank job report form is attached hereto for Defendant's use, as Exhibit A. To the extent that Defendant is working on a Public Works job, or any other job for which Certified Payroll Reports are required, copies of said reports will either be emailed to mkaplan@sjlawcorp.com and mvalentine@sjlawcorp.com or faxed to Muriel Kaplan at 415-882-9287 concurrently with their submission to the general contractor, owner, or other reporting agency. Failure by Defendant to timely submit updated job lists or certified payroll reports shall constitute a default of the obligations under this agreement, which Defendant shall be permitted to cure within ten (10) days' written notice from Plaintiffs to Defendant.

7. Failure by Defendant to remain current in reporting or payment of contributions shall constitute a default of the obligations under this agreement. Any such unpaid or late paid contributions, together with 20% liquidated damages and 5% per annum interest accrued on contributions, shall be added to and become a part of this Judgment and subject to the terms herein. Plaintiffs reserve all rights available under the applicable Bargaining Agreement and Declarations of Trust of the Trust Funds for collection of current and future contributions, and for any additional past contributions not included herein as may be determined by Plaintiffs, pursuant to employee timecards or paystubs, by audit, or other means, and the provisions of this agreement are in addition thereto; Defendant specifically waives the defense of the doctrine res judicata as to any such additional amounts determined as due.

8. Audit: Should the Trust Funds request an audit of Defendant's payroll records in order to confirm proper reporting and payment of contributions pursuant to the Bargaining Agreement, any failure by Defendant to comply with said request shall constitute a default of the obligations under this Agreement, which Defendant shall have ten (10) days to cure from receipt of written notice from Plaintiffs.

(a) In the event that amounts are found due on audit, Plaintiffs shall provide to Defendant a full copy of the audit report and any findings of contributions, liquidated damages, interest and audit fees owed. Defendants shall comply with schedules set by Plaintiffs to contest, clarify, and pay the amounts due.

(b) If Defendant is unable to make payment in full, Defendant may submit a written request to revise this Amended Judgment, to provide for payment of the amounts found due in the audit. If the Amended Judgment is so revised, Defendant shall execute that revision within ten (10) days of Plaintiffs' preparation thereof. Failure to either make payment in full or to execute the revised agreement shall constitute a default of the terms herein. In that event, all amounts found due on audit shall immediately become part of this Amended Judgment if said default is not cured.

9. Any check that is not timely submitted, is submitted by Defendant but fails to clear the bank, or is unable to be negotiated for any reason for which Defendant is responsible shall be a default of this Amended Judgment and ¶ 11 shall apply.

10. If a default under this Amended Stipulation occurs, Plaintiffs shall make a written demand, sent to Defendant/Guarantor by regular mail and by email to jm@jamesmlaw.net, to cure said default within seven (7) days of the date of the notice from Plaintiffs. If Defendant/Guarantor elects to cure said default, and Plaintiffs elect to accept future payments, all such payments shall be made by cashier's check if the default is caused by a failed check.

11. In the event the default is not cured, all amounts remaining due hereunder, as well as any additional amounts due pursuant to the terms herein, shall be due and payable on demand by Plaintiffs as follows:

(a) The entire amount of $235,258.01 as shown in ¶ 3 above, plus interest, reduced by principal payments received by Plaintiffs, but increased by any unpaid contributions then due, including audit findings, if any, plus 20% liquidated damages and 5% per annum interest thereon shall be immediately due, together with any additional attorneys' fees and costs incurred;

(b) A Writ of Execution may be obtained against Defendant/Guarantor and all related entities without further notice, in the amount of the unpaid balance, plus any additional amounts due under the terms herein. The declaration of a duly authorized representative of the Plaintiffs setting forth any payment theretofore made by or on behalf of Defendant/Guarantor, and the balance due and owing as of the date of default, shall be sufficient to secure the issuance of a Writ of Execution;

(c) Defendant/Guarantor waives notice of Entry of Judgment and expressly waives all rights to stay of execution and appeal.

12. Any failure on the part of the Plaintiffs to take any action against Defendant/Guarantor as provided herein in the event of any breach of the provisions of this Amended Stipulation shall not be deemed a waiver of any subsequent breach by the Defendant/Guarantor of any provisions herein.

13. In the event of the filing of a bankruptcy petition by Defendant/Guarantor, the parties agree that any payments made by Defendant/Guarantor pursuant to the terms of this Amended Judgment, shall be deemed to have been made in the ordinary course of business as provided under 11 U.S.C. Section 547(c)(2) and shall not be claimed by Defendant/Guarantor as a preference under 11 U.S.C. Section 547 or otherwise. Defendant/Guarantor nevertheless represents that no bankruptcy filings are anticipated.

14. Should any provision of this Amended Stipulation be declared or determined by any court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, invalid, or unenforceable, the legality, validity, and enforceability of the remaining parts, terms or provisions shall not be affected thereby and said illegal, unenforceable or invalid part, term, or provision shall be deemed not to be part of this Amended Stipulation.

15. This Amended Stipulation is limited to the agreement between the parties with respect to the delinquent contributions and related sums enumerated herein, owed by Defendant to the Plaintiffs. This Amended Stipulation does not in any manner relate to withdrawal liability claims, if any. Defendant acknowledges that the Plaintiffs expressly reserve their right to pursue withdrawal liability claims, if any, against Defendant as provided by the Plaintiffs' Plan Documents, the Trust Agreements incorporated into the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and the law.

16. This Amended Stipulation contains all of the terms agreed by the parties and no other agreements have been made. Any changes to this Amended Stipulation shall be effective only if made in writing and signed by all parties hereto.

17. This Amended Stipulation may be executed in any number of counterparts and by facsimile, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which shall constitute the same instrument.

18. The parties agree that the Court shall retain jurisdiction of this matter until this Judgment is satisfied.

19. All parties represent and warrant that they have had the opportunity to be or have been represented by counsel of their own choosing in connection with entering this Amended Stipulation under the terms and conditions set forth herein, that they have read this Amended Stipulation with care and are fully aware of and represent that they enter into this Amended Stipulation voluntarily and without duress.

Dated: June 23, 2014 J & C FUENTES PAINTING & DECORATING CO., INC. Carlos Fuentes, its RMO

IT IS SO ORDERED

Exhibit A

Source:  Leagle

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