Filed: Aug. 15, 2018
Latest Update: Aug. 15, 2018
Summary: MOTION FOR JUDGMENT IN SUM CERTAIN CHARLES R. NORGLE , District Judge . NOW COME the Plaintiffs, by and through their attorneys, and in their Motion for Judgment in Sum Certain, state as follows: 1. Plaintiffs filed their Complaint on May 3, 2018, seeking a judgment on an ERISA fringe benefit contributions audit. 2. Plaintiffs served Defendant on July 25, 2018. 3. Defendants failed to answer or otherwise plead to Plaintiffs' Complaint within the 21 days afforded by rule. 4. Defendants
Summary: MOTION FOR JUDGMENT IN SUM CERTAIN CHARLES R. NORGLE , District Judge . NOW COME the Plaintiffs, by and through their attorneys, and in their Motion for Judgment in Sum Certain, state as follows: 1. Plaintiffs filed their Complaint on May 3, 2018, seeking a judgment on an ERISA fringe benefit contributions audit. 2. Plaintiffs served Defendant on July 25, 2018. 3. Defendants failed to answer or otherwise plead to Plaintiffs' Complaint within the 21 days afforded by rule. 4. Defendants a..
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MOTION FOR JUDGMENT IN SUM CERTAIN
CHARLES R. NORGLE, District Judge.
NOW COME the Plaintiffs, by and through their attorneys, and in their Motion for Judgment in Sum Certain, state as follows:
1. Plaintiffs filed their Complaint on May 3, 2018, seeking a judgment on an ERISA fringe benefit contributions audit.
2. Plaintiffs served Defendant on July 25, 2018.
3. Defendants failed to answer or otherwise plead to Plaintiffs' Complaint within the 21 days afforded by rule.
4. Defendants are in default.
5. Per the affidavit of Plaintiffs' auditor, Defendant is delinquent to the Plaintiff Funds in the following amounts: $25,682.44 in contributions; $2,568.24 in liquidated damages; and $1,389.10 in audit costs. See Ex. A.
6. Per the affidavit of Plaintiffs' counsel, Plaintiffs have incurred $1,650.00 in costs and attorneys' fees in the instant action and the attempted collection of Defendant's delinquency. See Ex. B.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs ask this Court to enter the Order attached to this Motion as Exhibit C.
Exhibit A
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS EASTERN DIVISION
TRUSTEES OF THE WILL COUNTY LOCAL
174 CARPENTERS PENSION TRUST FUND
and WILL COUNTY LOCAL 174 WELFARE
FUND,
No. 18 CV 4346
Plaintiffs,
Judge: Norgle
v.
Magistrate Judge Gilbert
PROSTAR SURFACES, INC., a Wisconsin
Corporation,
Defendant.
DECLARATION OF RICHARD J. WOLF
Richard J. Wolf, subject to the laws of perjury and pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1746, states as follows:
1. I am the owner and president of Richard J. Wolf & Company, Inc. The Plaintiff Funds' employ my firm to perform employer payroll and records compliance reviews, frequently referred to as wage and/or fringe benefit contribution audits. We have performed hundreds of audits for Plaintiffs.
2. In the course of an audit, we review the signatory employer's individual payroll records and journals, time logs and time cards, check registers, tax records, bank statements, and union contribution reports to determine if the employer complied with its wage and contribution obligations,
3. Around May 2, 2018, Richard J. Wolf & Company audited the books and records of Prostar Surfaces, Inc. for the period from September 1, 2016 through March 31, 2018. The fringe benefit contributions audit revealed the following arrearages to the Plaintiff Funds: $25,682.44 in contributions; $2,568.24 in liquidated damages; and $1,389.10 in audit costs, for a total of $29,639.78 due.
4. A copy of the audit report detailing our findings is attached to my Declaration.
Executed on: 8/5/18
______
Date
____________________
Richard J. Wolf
RICHARD J. WOLF AND COMPANY, INC.
Post Office Box 591
Palos Park, Illinois 60464
(708) 923-0909
Fax (708) 923-0910
May 10, 2018
Board of Trustees of the Various
Fringe Benefit Funds of the
Carpenters Local 174
RE: Prostar Surfaces Inc. (5300)
We have performed a fringe benefit contribution compliance audit of Prostar Surfaces Inc., for the period from September 1, 2016 through March 31, 2018. The audit encompassed the comparison of individual earnings records to certain payroll tax and fund reports and a review of the general disbursement records.
The comparison and review indicate that the employer has not complied with its fringe benefit contribution requirements and owes the following amounts:
FUND AMOUNT
WELFARE $ 9,388.18
PENSION 14,626.44
WGIAT 86.14
APPR 493.30
ALLIANCE 15.66
INTL PROMO 78.30
LMF 211.42
SUP RET 783,00
__________
Sub Total $25,682.44
10% Liq. Damages $ 2,568.24
__________
Sub Total $28,250.68
Audit Cost $ 1,389.10
__________
TOTAL $29,639.78
__________
In addition, the employer could not provide proof of a current wage and fringe benefit bond.
WILL COUNTY CARPENTERS LOCAL UNION NO. 174 — COMMERCIAL
Prostar Surfaces Inc.
YEAR: 2017
UNREPORTED HOURS 1/17-12/17
S.S. # Flags Type Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total
Barker, Anthony Hours - - - - 140.00 - - - - - - - 140.00
xxx-xx-xxxx
Madrid, Joe Hours - - - 76.50 91.00 - - - - - - - 167.50
xxx-xx-xxxx
Marquez, Raul Hours - - - 73.50 - - - - - - - - 73.50
xxx-xx-xxxx
Mental, Garret Hours - - - - 59.50 - - - - - - - 59.50
xxx-xx-xxxx
Neuman, Robert Hours - - - 77.50 124.00 - - - - - - - 201.50
xxx-xx-xxxx
Smith, Jeffrey Hours - - - - 91.00 - - - - - - - 91.00
xxx-xx-xxxx
Ward, Mondrell Hours - - - 38.00 12.00 - - - - - - - 50.00
xxx-xx-xxxx
TOTAL HOURS - - - 265.50 517.50 - - - - - - - 783.00
AMOUNT DUE TO FUNDS: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total
WELFARE $ - $ - $ - $ 3,183.35 $ 6,204.83 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 9.388.18
PENSION $ - $ - $ - $ 4,959.54 $ 9,666.90 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 14.626.44
WGIAT $ - $ - $ - $ 29.21 $ 56.93 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 86.14
APPR $ - $ - $ - $ 167.27 $ 326.03 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 493.30
ALLIANCE $ - $ - $ - $ 5.31 $ 10.35 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 15.66
INTL PROMO $ - $ - $ - $ 26.55 $ 51.75 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 78.30
LMF $ - $ - $ - $ 71.69 $ 139.73 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 211.42
SUPP RET $ - $ - $ - $ 265.50 $ 517.50 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 783.00
TOTAL $ - $ - $ - $ 8,708.42 $16,974.02 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 25,682.44
Rates: 6/1/16 to 5/31/17
WELFARE 11.99 ALLIANCE 0.02
PENSION 18.68 INTL PRO 0.10
WGIAT 0.11 LMF 0.27
APPR 0.63 DUES
SUPP RET 1.00
45.35
WILL COUNTY CARPENTERS LOCAL UNION NO. 174 — COMMERCIAL
Prostar Surfaces Inc.
RICHARD J. WOLF AND COMPANY, INC.
SUMMARY REPORT TOTAL
ADDITIONAL UNREPORTED TOTAL
WELFARE $ - $ 9,388.18 $ 9,388.18
PENSION $ - $ 14,626.44 $ 14,626.44
WGIAT $ - $ 86.14 $ 86.14
APPR $ - $ 493.30 $ 493.30
ALLIANCE $ - $ 15.66 $ 15.66
INTL PROMO $ - $ 78.30 $ 78.30
LMF $ - $ 211.42 $ 211.42
SUPP RET $ - $ 783.00 $ 783.00
________ ___________ ___________
TOTAL $ - $ 25,682.44 $ 25,682.44
WILL COUNTY CARPENTERS LOCAL UNION NO. 174 — COMMERCIAL
Prostar Surfaces Inc.
RICHARD J. WOLF AND COMPANY, INC.
** GRAND TOTAL **
WELFARE $ 9,388.18
PENSION $ 14,626.44
WGIAT $ 86.14
APPR $ 493.30
ALLIANCE $ 15.66
INTL PROMO $ 78.30
LMF $ 211.42
SUPP RET $ 783.00
___________
TOTAL $ 25,682.44
Exhibit B
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS EASTERN DIVISION
TRUSTEES OF THE WILL COUNTY LOCAL
174 CARPENTERS PENSION TRUST FUND
and WILL COUNTY LOCAL 174 WELFARE
FUND,
No. 18 CV 4346
Plaintiffs,
v.
Judge: Norgle
Magistrate Judge Gilbert
PROSTAR SURFACES, INC., a Wisconsin
Corporation,
Defendant.
DECLARATION OF ANDREW S. PIGOTT
Andrew S. Pigott, subject to the laws of perjury and pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1746, states as follows:
1. I am Andrew S. Pigott, an associate attorney at Arnold & Kadjan, LLP, which represents the Plaintiff Funds.
2. Arnold & Kadjan bills Plaintiffs at a rate of $275.00 per hour.
3. Arnold & Kadjan's billing rate is within the market norm for ERISA collections work.
4. Arnold & Kadjan's billing rate is reasonable, as demonstrated by Plaintiffs' payment of bills at that rate.
5. Arnold & Kadjan's attorneys have spent at least 6.0 hours litigating this matter.
6. Arnold & Kadjan has billed or will bill Plaintiffs $1,650.00 for its attorneys' work in this matter.
Executed on: 8/16/18
_______
Date
______________________
Andrew S. Pigott
Exhibit C
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS EASTERN DIVISION
TRUSTEES OF THE WILL COUNTY LOCAL
174 CARPENTERS PENSION TRUST FUND
and WILL COUNTY LOCAL 174 WELFARE
FUND,
No. 18 CV 4346
Plaintiffs,
v.
Judge: Norgle
Magistrate Judge Gilbert
PROSTAR SURFACES, INC., a Wisconsin
Corporation,
Defendant.
ORDER ON PLAINTIFFS' MOTION FOR JUDGMENT IN SUM CERTAIN
THE CAUSE coming before the Court on Plaintiffs' Motion for Judgment in Sum Certain, due notice given, and the Court fully advised in the premises, THE COURT MAKES THE FOLLOWING FINDINGS:
1. Plaintiffs filed their Complaint on May 3, 2018, seeking judgment on an ERISA fringe benefit contributions audit.
2. Plaintiffs served Defendant on July 25, 2018.
3. Defendants failed to answer or otherwise plead to Plaintiffs' Complaint within the 21 days afforded by rule.
4. Defendants are in default.
5. Per the affidavit of Plaintiffs' auditor, Defendant is delinquent to the Plaintiff Funds in the following amounts: $25,682.44 in contributions; $2,568.24 in liquidated damages; and $1,389.10 in audit costs.
6. Per the affidavit of Plaintiffs' counsel, Plaintiffs have incurred $1,650.00 in costs and attorneys' fees in the instant action and the attempted collection of Defendant's delinquency.
WHEREFORE, THE COURT HEREBY ORDERS:
Judgment is entered in favor of Plaintiffs and against Defendant PROSTAR SURFACES, INC. in the amount of $31,289.78.
Entered: _____________________________
Date
By: _________________________________
Hon. Charles Norgle
U.S. District Judge
