JACQUELINE SCOTT CORLEY, Magistrate Judge.
In this enforcement action brought under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act ("ERISA"), Plaintiffs bring a Motion for Default Judgment ("Motion") seeking entry of default judgment, an award of outstanding employee benefit contributions, liquidated damages and interest, and an injunction requiring an audit of books and records. (Dkt. No. 83-1.) After carefully reviewing the record, and having had the benefit of oral argument on May 23, 2013, the Court Orders as follows.
Each of the Plaintiffs,
Defendant Clifton Enterprises, Inc., dba Nichols Plumbing & Heating ("Nichols"), an employer within the meaning of ERISA Section 3(5) and 29 U.S.C. § 1002(5), is a signatory to a Master Labor Agreement ("MLA") between the Pipe Trades Council No. 36 of the Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing & Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada, AFL-CIO and Mechanical Contractors Council of Central California, and various trust agreements establishing each of the Plaintiffs (collectively, the "Agreements"). (Id. at ¶ 14.) Pursuant to the Agreements, Nichols agreed to remit fringe benefit contributions for all work performed by its covered employees, with said payments to be received by Plaintiffs at their place of business on or before the fifteenth calendar day of each successive month. (Id. at ¶ 15.) "Nichols further agreed that all delinquent contributions, except for contributions owed to [the Labor-Management Fund], shall be subject to liquidated damages in the amount of twenty percent (20%) of the delinquent contributions" if Plaintiffs are forced to initiate legal action upon said contributions. (Id. at ¶ 18; see also Dkt. No. 83-3 at Art. XIX, Sec. 2.) In addition, Nichols further agreed that all delinquent contributions and liquidated damages shall be subject to interest at a rate of 12% per annum from the fifteenth calendar day of each successive month. (Dkt. No. 1 ¶ 19; see also Dkt. No. 83-3 at Art. XIX, Sec. 2, Art. XXXIII, Sec. 4.)
The Complaint, filed November 9, 2011, alleges that Nichols has failed to pay contributions due for work performed by its employees totaling $25,266.05. (Id. at ¶ 26.) These delinquent contributions arise from work performed in December 2010, January 2011, and February 2011. (Dkt. No. 83-2 ¶ 6.) After filing the Complaint, Plaintiffs conducted an audit of Nichols' financial and payroll records, which determined that Nichols had underreported and underpaid certain fringe benefit contributions for March, April, and May 2011, totaling an additional $23,385.60. (See Dkt. No. 83-1 at 7; see also Dkt. No. 83-5 ¶ 4.)
The Complaint further alleges that Defendants Barbara Anna Clifton ("Ms. Clifton"), Charles Lee Clifton Sr. ("Mr. Clifton Sr."), Charles Lee Clifton Jr. ("Mr. Clifton Jr."), and Robert Lawrence Clifton ("Mr. R. Clifton")—as individuals who were Nichols' corporate officers or who otherwise exercised authority or control over the management or disposition of said assets—owed a fiduciary duty to Plaintiffs, and may be personally held liable for losses suffered by the plan with respect to 1) amounts that were withheld from employees' wages by an employer for contribution to the plan (employee contributions), and 2) contributions owed for the use of non-union labor. (Dkt. No. 1 ¶¶ 8-11, 41, 44.)
Defendants failed to answer or otherwise appear and Defendants' default was entered by the Clerk pursuant to Rule 55(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. (See Dkt. Nos. 17 (Clifton Enterprises, Inc., dba Nichols, Ms. Clifton, Mr. Clifton Jr., and Mr. R. Clifton), 32 (Mr. Clifton Sr.), and 69 (CRB).) Plaintiffs filed the present Motion on March 29, 2013. In the Motion, Plaintiffs request: 1) an order directing Defendants to pay $65,830.16 in unpaid contributions, liquidated damages, and interest; and 2) an order requiring that CRB submit to an audit. (Dkt. No. 83-1 at 18.) Plaintiffs served Defendants with the Motion by mail. (Dkt. No. 83-7.) With the exception of Mr. R. Clifton, Defendants have not appeared or responded to the Motion, and the deadline for opposing the motion has passed. See Civil L.R. 7-3(a).
When a court is considering whether to enter a default judgment it has "an affirmative duty to look into its jurisdiction over both the subject matter and the parties." In re Tuli, 172 F.3d 707, 712 (9th Cir. 1999). Here, the Court has subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to 29 U.S.C. § 1132 (empowering ERISA plan fiduciaries to bring civil actions to enforce plan terms). The Court has personal jurisdiction because Nichols and CRB are California corporations that engage in business activities in the Northern District of California. Personal jurisdiction over the individual Defendants arises from service upon those individuals in California. (See Dkt. Nos. 10, 12, 13, 18); Burnham v. Super. Ct., 495 U.S. 604, 610-11 (1990).
A court is also required to "assess the adequacy of the service of process on the party against whom default is requested." Bd. of Trs. of the N. Cal. Sheet Metal Workers v. Peters, No. 00-0395, 2000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19065, at *2 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 2, 2001). Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(e) provides that service in accordance with California law is proper. Under California law, a corporation may be served by delivering a copy of the summons and of the complaint to the person designated as agent for service of process. See Cal. Civ. P. Code § 416.10(a). Here, Nichols' and CRB's agents for service of process were personally served with the Summons and Complaint. (Dkt. Nos. 11 (Nichols), 63 (CRB).) In addition, each of the four individually named Defendants were personally served with the Summons and Complaint pursuant to California law. See Cal. Civ. P. Code § 415.10.
After entry of default, a court may grant default judgment on the merits of the case. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 55. The factual allegations of the complaint, except those concerning damages, are deemed to have been admitted by the non-responding party. Geddes v. United Fin. Grp., 559 F.2d 557, 560 (9th Cir. 1977). "The district court's decision whether to enter a default judgment is a discretionary one." Aldabe v. Aldabe, 616 F.2d 1089, 1092 (9th Cir. 1980). A court should consider the following factors in determining whether to enter default judgment:
Eitel v. McCool, 782 F.2d 1470, 1471-72 (9th Cir. 1986).
The majority of the Eitel factors support default judgment. First, if the Motion were to be denied, then Plaintiffs would likely be left without a remedy given Defendants' failure to appear or otherwise defend this action. See Pepsico, Inc. v. Cal. Sec. Cans, 238 F.Supp.2d 1172, 1177 (C.D. Cal. 2002). Second, because Defendants have not answered the Complaint or otherwise appeared in this action, the possibility of a dispute concerning material facts is unknown. Third, Plaintiffs properly served Defendants and there is no evidence in the record that Defendants' failure to appear and otherwise defend this action was the result of excusable neglect. Fourth, the sum of money being sought by Plaintiffs is reasonable in that it is tailored to the specific misconduct of Defendants; namely, Defendants' failure to pay the contributions, which they allegedly assumed responsibility for under the MLA. See Pepsico, 238 F. Supp. 2d at 1176 (stating that "the court must consider the amount of money at stake in relation to the seriousness of Defendant's conduct"). Finally, although the seventh Eitel factor, which favors decisions on their merits, weighs against default judgment, the Court finds that this factor is not dispositive.
Having determined that on balance the Eitel factors discussed above support Plaintiffs' Motion, the Court turns to the merits of Plaintiffs' substantive claims and the sufficiency of the evidence (the second and third Eitel factors). These factors essentially require Plaintiffs to state a claim on which it may recover. Danning v. Lavine, 572 F.2d 1386, 1388 (9th Cir. 1978). Plaintiffs' Complaint seeks a finding of liability as to Nichols, the individual Defendants, and CRB.
Plaintiffs claim that Nichols violated ERISA by failing to provide timely payments and reports pursuant to the MLA. These allegations are sufficient to state a claim under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a). See 29 U.S.C. § 1145 ("Every employer who is obligated to make contributions to a multiemployer plan under the terms of the plan or under the terms of a collectively bargained agreement shall, to the extent not inconsistent with law, make such contributions in accordance with the terms and conditions of such plan or such agreement."). The claims are further substantiated by the factual record. As discussed above, Plaintiffs have offered evidence that Nichols entered into the MLA. The MLA, through the Agreements, imposes liability on delinquent employers for liquidated damages, unpaid interest and attorney's fees in addition to any unpaid contributions. Plaintiffs' Complaint alleges that Nichols has failed to pay contributions due for work performed by its employees during the months of December 2010 through February 2011. (Dkt. No. 1 at ¶ 24.) In addition, Nichols has failed to report or pay contributions for the months of March 2011 through May 2011. (See Dkt. No. 83-5.) Plaintiffs have provided adequate documentation supporting these allegations. (See Dkt. No. 83-4, Ex. C (Nichols' Report of Contributions for Dec. 2010 through Feb. 2011); see also Dkt. No. 83-5 (audit report of Nichols' unreported and unpaid hours for Mar. 2011 through May 2011).) In addition, Plaintiffs provide an accounting of liquidated damages incurred by Plaintiffs in support of the Motion. (See Dkt. No. 83-2 ¶ 8.) Accepting all factual allegations as true, Plaintiffs have stated a claim for relief.
Nichols breached its agreement with Plaintiffs when it failed to report or pay contributions for the periods listed above. Nichols' default triggered the filing of the instant suit for recovery, in response to which Nichols has taken no action. Based on the foregoing, Plaintiffs are entitled to default judgment on this claim against Nichols.
Plaintiffs also seek default judgment against Defendants Ms. Clifton, Mr. Clifton Sr., and Mr. Clifton Jr. as individuals liable for all of Nichols' unpaid contributions.
As a threshold matter, Plaintiffs' motion for default goes beyond what Plaintiffs claimed in the Complaint. Specifically, Plaintiffs' Complaint alleges a single claim against the individual Defendants: breach of fiduciary duty with respect to their management or disposition of 1) amounts that were withheld from an employee's wages by an employer for contribution to the plan (employee contributions), and 2) contributions owed for the use of non-union labor. (Dkt. No. 1 ¶¶ 8-11, 41, 44.) Plaintiffs' Complaint does not claim that the individual Defendants are personally liable for unpaid employer contributions beyond those amounts owed for use of non-union labor. The claim for failure to pay all required contributions is made against only Nichols and the Doe defendants. (Id. at ¶¶ 23-30.) Plaintiffs nonetheless baldly request that the Court find the individual Defendants jointly and severally liable for all the amounts Nichols owes. Plaintiffs do not explain why the Court should find the scope of liability so broad even though the allegations in the Complaint did not put the individual Defendants on notice.
At the hearing, Plaintiffs argued that the fiduciary duty claim does allege that the individual Defendants are liable for all unpaid employer contributions, citing to a reference to "delinquent fringe benefit contributions" in paragraph 44. (Id. at ¶ 44.) However, read in context, "delinquent fringe benefit contributions" refers to unpaid employee contributions, not employer contributions. As noted above, paragraph 41 identifies two kinds of plan assets: employee contributions and contributions owed for the use of non-union labor. Paragraphs 42 and 43, respectfully, discuss these two types of contributions only. Then, in paragraph 44, Plaintiffs allege that the individual Defendants
(Id. (emphasis added).) Because paragraph 44 refers to "those contributions," yet does not explicitly refer to the employee contributions just previously discussed in paragraphs 41 and 42, the only logical conclusion is that "delinquent fringe benefit contributions" as used in paragraph 44 refers to the just-discussed employee contributions. If Plaintiffs wish to seek all unpaid employer contributions from the individual Defendants, the operative complaint must allege as much. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(c) ("A default judgment must not differ in kind from, or exceed in amount, what is demanded in the pleadings.").
The Court accordingly recommends that any individual liability imposed on the individual Defendants is commensurate to their liability as alleged in the Complaint; that is, unpaid employee contributions and unpaid employer contributions for the use of non-union labor. Plaintiffs, however, have failed to inform the Court of the amount of unpaid employee contributions or to even specify whether their motion seeks such unpaid contributions. In addition, Plaintiffs do not delineate between unpaid employer contributions for the use of non-union labor and unpaid employer contributions incurred for other reasons.
Courts have found defendants individually liable for, among other things, unpaid contributions "[w]here a collective bargaining agreement specifically provides for personal liability of a corporate officer." Emp. Painters' Trust Health & Welfare Fund v. Bessey, 2009 WL 3347588, at *3 (W.D. Wash. Oct. 15, 2009). It is generally required that the corporate officer have executed the document binding him or her to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement to be held personally liable. See Emp. Painters' Trust Health & Welfare Fund v. Landon Const. Grp., 2011 WL 5864648, at *3 (W.D. Wash. Nov. 22, 2011) (collecting cases and finding that "where courts have considered whether to uphold personal liability provisions in collective bargaining agreements, the question of whether the officer at issue signed the contract has been a key consideration").
Plaintiffs contend that the following MLA provision defining "Individual Employer" imposes liability on all individual Defendants:
(Dkt. No. 83-3 at Art. I, Sec. 3.)
Plaintiffs argue that three of the four underlying Trust Agreements also impose fiduciary liability on the individual Defendants. The Court agrees in part.
Defendants in an ERISA action can be individually liable where they are fiduciaries of the employee benefit plans. See Yeseta v. Baima, 837 F.2d 380, 383-384 (9th Cir. 1988). ERISA provides, in relevant part, that "a person is a fiduciary with respect to [an employee benefit] plan to the extent he exercises any discretionary authority or discretionary control respecting management of such plan or exercises any authority or control respecting management or disposition of its assets." 29 U.S.C. § 1002(21)(A)(i) (emphasis added). In general, employer contributions that are owed pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement do not become plan assets until they are paid over to the Trust. See Cline v. Industrial Maintenance Eng'g & Contr. Co., 200 F.3d 1223, 1234 (9th Cir. 2000) ("Until the employer pays the employer contributions over to the plan, the contributions do not become plan assets over which fiduciaries of the plan have a fiduciary obligation; this is true even where the employer is a fiduciary of the plan."). There is a "commonly applied exception" to this rule, which allows unpaid contributions to be treated as assets where "the plan document itself identifies unpaid employer contributions as a plan asset." Bos v. Bd. of Trs. of Carpenters Health & Welfare Trust Fund for Cal., 2013 WL 943520, at *3 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 11, 2013) (collecting cases). In contrast, employee contributions to benefit plans that are withheld by their employer from their wages are plan assets, even if not yet delivered to the plan. See 29 C.F.R. § 2510.3-102(a) ("[T]he assets of the plan include amounts (other than union dues) that a participant . . . pays to an employer, or amounts that a participant has withheld from his wages by an employer, for contribution to the plan."); see also Nelson v. EG & G Energy Measurements Grp., Inc., 37 F.3d 1384, 1391 (9th Cir. 1994) (holding that in light of 29 C.F.R. 2501.3-102(a) "the employee contributions should have been considered plan assets at the time they could reasonably have been segregated").
Plaintiffs filed with the Court what they assert are the underlying Agreements for three of the four trust funds. However, one of the Agreements governs the "Pipe Trades District Council No. 36 Journeyman and Apprenticeship Training Trust Fund,"
In addition to establishing that unpaid contributions are plan assets, Plaintiffs must adequately allege that each of the individual Defendants exercised some "authority or control respecting management or disposition of its assets." 29 U.S.C. § 1002(21)(A)(i). ERISA Section 3(21)(A) has been interpreted as requiring "a broad definition of fiduciary." See Ariz. State Carpenters Trust Fund v. Citibank, 125 F.3d 715, 720 (9th Cir. 1997); Bd. of Trs. of the Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Indus. Health and Welfare Trust Fund v. J.R.D. Mech. Servs., Inc., 99 F.Supp.2d 1115, 1120 (C.D. Cal. 1999) ("Unlike the common law definition under which fiduciary status is determined by virtue of the position a person holds, ERISA's definition is functional.") (internal quotation marks omitted); see also Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. v. Bruch, 489 U.S. 101, 113 (1989) ("[O]ne is a fiduciary to the extent he exercises any discretionary authority or control."). "[A] person's actions, not the official designation of his role, determine whether he enjoys fiduciary status." Acosta v. Pac. Enters., 950 F.2d 611, 618 (9th Cir. 1992).
Plaintiffs' allegations are adequate as to each individual Defendant. In detailing their breach of fiduciary duty claim, Plaintiffs allege that with respect to employee contributions and certain unpaid employer contributions (amounts owed for non-union work) the individual Defendants "exercised authority or control over the disposition of all of those contributions . . . or that they have the formal or practical authority to direct others to do so." (Dkt. No. 1 ¶ 44.) Further, the allegation specific to Ms. Clifton states that she "was the [CEO] and President of Nichols for the entire time at issue herein, or that she otherwise exercised discretionary authority and control over the management and disposition of monies and other assets by, or on behalf of, Nichols." (Dkt. No. 1 ¶ 8.) In addition, a publicly available California Department of Consumer Affairs' website represents that Ms. Clifton has been CEO and President of Clifton Enterprises since 1998. (See Dkt. No. 96-1, Ex. B.) Ms. Clifton was also the company's signatory to the MLA, demonstrating that she had at least some control over the unpaid contributions. Regarding Mr. Clifton Sr. and Mr. Clifton Jr., the allegations are likewise sufficient. (See Dkt. No. 1 ¶ 9 (alleging that Mr. Clifton Sr. "was an officer of Nichols for the entire time at issue herein, or that he otherwise exercised discretionary authority and control over the management and disposition of monies and other assets by, or on behalf of, Nichols"), ¶ 10 (alleging that Mr. Clifton Jr. "was the Responsible Managing Officer of Nichols for the entire time at issue herein, or that he otherwise exercised discretionary authority and control over the management and disposition of monies and other assets by, or on behalf of, Nichols"); see also Dkt. No. 96-1, Ex. B (designating Mr. Clifton Sr. as "officer" and Mr. Clifton Jr. as "RMO").) Taken together, the allegations, which are established as true due to the individual Defendants' failure to respond to them, adequately allege that the individual Defendants exercised some authority and control over the unpaid contributions in their roles at the company.
The Court accordingly recommends that default judgment on Plaintiffs' fiduciary duty claim be granted as to unpaid employee contributions and unpaid amounts for non-union work due to the Health Fund and the Pension Fund.
Plaintiffs also contend that CRB, identified in the Complaint as DOE 1, is "likewise liable for all monies owed, either as the directors or shareholders of Nichols, persons certifying the monthly contribution reports, alter egos, double-breasted shops or some other theory of liability." (Dkt. No. 1 ¶ 29; see also Dkt. No. 83-1 at 6-7.) Plaintiffs' Motion narrows these various theories of liability to CRB's role as the "alter-ego and double-breasted shop of Nichols." (Dkt. No. 83-1 at 15.) The Complaint, however, does not include any factual allegations to support their legal conclusion that CRB is somehow liable for Nichols' unpaid contributions. In determining liability after a defendant's default has been entered, the Court deems only those allegations that are well-pled as true. See Fair Hous. of Marin v. Combs, 285 F.3d 899, 906 (9th Cir. 2002); see also Cripps v. Life Ins. Co. of N. Am., 980 F.2d 1261, 1267 (9th Cir. 1992) ("[N]ecessary facts not contained in the pleadings, and claims which are legally insufficient, are not established by default."). Accordingly, the Court ordered Plaintiffs to show cause ("OSC") as to why CRB should be found jointly and severally liable for Nichols' unpaid contributions notwithstanding that the Complaint is devoid of well-pled factual allegations regarding CRB's status as Nichols' alter-ego and/or "double-breasted shop."
Plaintiffs' response to the OSC includes new factual allegations and legal analysis regarding CRB's liability. (See Dkt. No. 96 at 5-8.) Rule 55 provides that "[t]he court may conduct hearings or make referrals . . . [to] establish the truth of any allegation by evidence." Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b)(2)(C). Thus, while CRB's liability is not established through its default, the Court may accept affidavits and other evidence to establish the truth of Plaintiffs' allegations.
Accepting Plaintiffs' evidence submitted outside the Complaint, the Court concludes that Plaintiffs have established that CRB is liable for Nichols' debts as Nichols' alter ego. Regarding Plaintiffs' theories of liability, the Ninth Circuit has stated:
S. Cal. Painters & Allied Trades, Dist. Council No. 36 v. Rodin & Co., 558 F.3d 1028, 1031-32 (9th Cir. 2009) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted); see also UA Local 343 v. Nor-Cal Plumbing, Inc., 48 F.3d 1465, 1471 (9th Cir. 1995). "Double-breasted operations are those in which the same contractor owns both union and non-union companies. Double-breasting is legal as long as it is not engaged in for the purpose of avoiding collective bargaining obligations." S. Cal. Painters, 558 F.3d at 1031 n.2 (citations omitted).
As explained above, both the alter ego theory and single employer theory require a threshold finding that the two employers are a single employer. "The criteria for determining whether two firms constitute a single employer are (1) common ownership, (2) common management, (3) interrelation of operations, and (4) centralized control of labor relations." Nor-Cal, 48 F.3d at 1471. "No one factor is controlling nor need all criteria be present. The most important factor is centralized control of labor relations, which can be demonstrated either by showing common control of day-to-day labor matters, or by showing that the person in charge of the union company's labor relations made the decision that the second company would be non-union." Id. (internal citations omitted).
The Court concludes that Plaintiffs have established that each of the factors is present. Regarding common ownership, the webpage print-outs from the California Department of Consumer Affairs website shows that Mr. Clifton Jr. owns 10% or more of both Nichols and CRB. (Dkt. No. 96-1, Ex. A.) The companies also share common management in that Ms. Clifton is CEO and President of Nichols as well as an officer of CRB; Mr. Clifton Jr. is the Responsible Managing Officer ("RMO") of Nichols as well as the RMO, CEO, and President of CRB. (Id. at Ex. B.) The operations of the companies are interrelated because both companies purport to be doing business as "Nichols Plumbing & Heating," (id. at Ex. A), they share the same purpose of providing residential plumbing services, (id. at ¶ 12), the licenses for both entities share identical classifications, (id. at Ex. A), Ms. Clifton and Mr. Clifton Jr. are contractors licensed with both entities, (id. at Ex. C), and there is some evidence that the companies shared, at least for a time, the same business address (id. at ¶ 9). Finally, regarding the centralized control of labor relations, Plaintiffs submit the declaration of Mario Maciel, a business agent and organizer for UA Local 62, who testifies based on information and belief that Mr. Clifton Jr. "managed and oversaw the activities" of Nichols and Mr. Clifton Jr. "performs those same duties at CRB/Nichols." (Id. at ¶ 14.) Given Mr. Clifton Jr.'s centrality to both entities, it is logical to infer from the record that Mr. Clifton Jr. was responsible for both entities' day-to-day labor matters.
Plaintiffs must not only make the threshold showing that the two firms constituted a single employer, "but also must show that [CRB] was created in an attempt to avoid the obligations of [Nichols'] collective bargaining agreement through a sham transaction or a technical change in operations." Nor Cal, 48 F.3d at 1472; see also S. Cal. Painters, 558 F.3d at 1032 (internal quotation marks omitted) ("The alter ego doctrine is designed to prevent employers from escaping their collective bargaining obligations by shifting work to non-union firms they also own."). "The alter ego doctrine applies if two entities function as a single employer and the non-union entity is being used in a sham effort to avoid collective bargaining obligations, . . . rather than for the pursuit of legitimate business objectives untainted by union animus." S. Cal. Painters, 558 F.3d at 1032 (internal quotation marks omitted); see also Resilient Floor Covering Pension Fund v. M&M Installation, Inc., 630 F.3d 848, 854 (9th Cir. 2010) (recognizing that while the alter ego test set out in Nor Cal is normally applied to bind the non-union employer to the signatory's continuing CBA, the test may also be applied to oblige the non-union employer to pay the signatory's debts). Finally, the alter ego doctrine "usually comes into play when a new legal entity has replaced the predecessor." Stardyne, Inc. v. N.L.R.B., 41 F.3d 141, 152 (9th Cir. 1994).
The record sufficiently establishes that CRB was created in an attempt to avoid Nichols' unpaid contributions. CRB was formed only after Plaintiffs, in a previous action, filed suit against Nichols seeking unpaid contributions under ERISA. (See Dkt. No. 96-1 ¶ 18.) That is, the state license board issued CRB's contractor's license on August 2, 2011; Plaintiffs filed suit against Nichols on February 10, 2011. (See id at ¶ 18 & Ex. A.) Nichols failed to appear in that case and default judgment was entered against it. See Case No. 11-00463, Dkt. Nos. 11, 51. Given the timing of CRB's formation, in addition to the almost identical nature and composition of the two enterprises, the Court concludes that CRB was established in an attempt to continue Nichols' operations while avoiding Nichols' liability for failure to abide by its collective bargaining obligations. The alter ego doctrine operates to prevent precisely such an evasion.
Because the Court concludes that CRB is Nichols' alter ego, the court recommends that CRB be found liable for Nichols' unpaid contributions.
Because the Court has already found that CRB is liable as Nichols' alter ego, the Court need not decide whether CRB is also liable under the single employer doctrine.
Once a court has determined default liability, the plaintiff must then establish that the requested relief is appropriate. See Geddes, 559 F.2d at 560. Under ERISA, an employee benefit plan that obtains judgment in its favor in an action under 29 U.S.C. § 1132 shall be entitled to the following forms of relief: (1) unpaid contributions; (2) interest on the unpaid contributions; (3) liquidated damages, not in excess of 20% of the unpaid contributions; (4) reasonable attorney's fees and costs; and (5) other legal or equitable relief in the discretion of the court. See 29 U.S.C. § 1132(g)(2) (stating that the court "shall award" these types of relief) (emphasis added). The Court must use its discretion and consider Plaintiffs' requested relief in light of the statute.
Plaintiffs seek to recover unpaid contributions for the following months: December 2010 ($10,273.05); January 2011 ($7,342.80); February 2011 ($7,650.20); March 2011 ($7,737.20); April 2011 ($9,268.40); May 2011 ($6,380.00). (See Dkt. No. 83-1 at 10; Dkt. No. 83-4, Ex. C; Dkt. No. 83-5.) The unpaid contributions for March through May 2011 were not specifically alleged in the Complaint, having been discovered through an audit of Nichols' records in June 2012. (See Dkt. No. 83-5 ¶ 4.) The Court may nonetheless award Plaintiffs those delinquent contributions along with those unpaid contributions included in the Complaint. The Complaint gave Defendants notice that Plaintiffs were seeking compliance with its audit request, and that Defendants would be expected to pay further past-due amounts discovered by the audit. (See Dkt. No. 1 ¶ 22.) Nonetheless, Defendants still failed to appear or otherwise defend themselves in this action. In addition, courts routinely retain jurisdiction in ERISA default judgment actions so that plaintiffs "may submit further motions and declarations after the audit as to amounts owed." Walters v. Shaw/Guehnemann Corp., 2004 WL 1465721, at *3 (N.D. Cal. Apr. 15, 2004); see also, e.g., Bd. of Trs. v. KMA Concrete Constr. Co., 2011 WL 7446345, at *6 (N.D. Cal. Dec. 20, 2011) (retaining jurisdiction to account for further delinquencies discovered by an audit after proper showing by the plaintiff); Bd. of Trs. v. RBS Wash. Blvd, LLC, 2010 WL 145097, at *6-7 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 8, 2010) (same). Finally, courts in this District have granted relief for delinquent contributions that come due after the filing of the complaint, without requiring amendment of the complaint. See Local 81 v. Wedge Roofing, 811 F.Supp. 1398, 1401-02 (N.D. Cal. 1992); see also Bay Area Painters v. Alta Specialty, 2008 WL 114931, at *4 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 10, 2008) ("Courts in the Ninth Circuit have made a limited exception to [the requirement that default judgment be constrained by the remedies sought in the complaint] for delinquent contributions that come due after a complaint is filed on the basis that such an approach is consistent with the legislative intent underlying ERISA."). Thus, the Court may grant Plaintiffs the unpaid contributions that were incurred by Nichols, but not discovered by Plaintiffs, before the filing of the Complaint.
The amounts Plaintiffs seek, however, go beyond what they are due. The documents accompanying Plaintiffs' motion clearly show that Plaintiffs' requested recovery includes unpaid contributions that are owing to other trust funds not a party to this case. (See Dkt. No. 83-5, Ex. A (providing table of funds due to non-parties "Defined Contribution Pension Fund," "Hiring Hall," "Industry Fund," and "UA Intl. Training Fund").) Plaintiffs fail to explain why they are entitled to monies owing to other funds. At the hearing, Plaintiffs represented that at least one of the funds was a bank account for one of the plaintiffs; however, Plaintiffs conceded that some of the funds were unconnected to Plaintiffs. Accordingly, the Court orders Plaintiffs to submit to the Court within 14 days of the date of this Order a revised request for unpaid contributions that reflects only the amount owed to Plaintiffs. Plaintiffs shall explain for each fund or entity they seek to be awarded unpaid contributions, why Plaintiffs should be awarded that fund or entity's portion of the unpaid contributions.
Regarding liquidated damages, Plaintiffs seek liquidated damages for each of the monthly unpaid contributions listed above at a rate of 20%, except for those owed by the Labor Management Fund.
In addition, the Court concludes that Plaintiffs have adequately supported their request for interest on the unpaid contributions owed to them at a rate of 12% per annum. The MLA provides that interest will accrue at a rate of 12% per annum. (See Dkt. No. 83-3 at Art. XIX, Sec. 2, Art. XXXIII, Sec. 4.) Courts in this District have previously upheld higher contractual interest rates in ERISA defaults. See, e.g., KMA Concrete, 2011 WL 7446345, at *5 (1.5% monthly interest); Bd. of Trs. of Laborers Health & Welfare Trust Fund for N. Cal. v. Perez, 2011 WL 6151506, at *10 (N.D. Cal. Nov. 7, 2011) (1.5% monthly interest); Atoll Topui Island, 2007 WL 174409, at *9 (18% annual interest). However, to the extent that Plaintiffs seek interest on unpaid contributions owed to other funds not parties to this suit, Plaintiffs have not shown they are entitled to such interest. Because it appears that Plaintiffs have included amounts owed to other funds in their interest calculation, the Court further orders Plaintiffs to include in their supplemental briefing a revised interest amount.
Plaintiffs also seek an audit of CRB and, perhaps, Nichols.
The MLA requires the employer to submit to an audit at Plaintiffs' request. Specifically, the MLA provides:
(Dkt. No. 83-3 at Art. XIX, Sec. 7). Because the Court has already concluded that CRB is Nichols' alter ego, the requirements of the MLA apply to Nichols as well as CRB. See Resilient Floor, 630 F.3d at 854. Further, the documents which Plaintiffs seek from CRB are consistent with the types of documents designated for auditing in the MLA. (See Dkt. No. 83-1 at 17.) The Court accordingly concludes that CRB is required to submit to Plaintiffs' requested audit. To the extent Plaintiffs seek an audit of Nichols, Plaintiffs do not explain why such an audit is necessary given that Nichols already submitted to an audit in June 2012 following the filing of this lawsuit. If Plaintiffs are seeking to re-audit Nichols, Plaintiffs shall explain in their supplemental briefing why it is necessary for the Court to order such an audit.
Based on the foregoing, the Court orders that Plaintiffs submit supplemental briefing and evidence, within 14 days of the date of this Order, regarding:
1. The amount of unpaid employee contributions and the amount of unpaid employer contributions for non-union work owed by the individual Defendants to Plaintiffs.
2. Contributions, liquidated damages, and interest owed to Plaintiffs in this action.
3. Audit of Nichols.
