RODNEY W. SIPPEL, District Judge.
This matter is before me on plaintiffs' unopposed motion for summary judgment as to defendants Auto Plaza Wentzville, Inc. and VAD Realty, LLC. Plaintiffs seek a ruling that these defendants are jointly and severally liable for the ERISA withdrawal liability assessed against defendant Mid-Town Auto Plaza Ford, Inc. Default judgment was entered against defendant Mid-Town on May 23, 2014, after plaintiffs and Mid-Town arbitrated the issue of the withdrawal liability assessment in accordance with the Multiemployer Pension Plan Amendments Act (MEPPA), 29 U.S.C. § 1381,
ERISA, as amended by MEPPA, provides that, in situations such as these, "all employees of trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) which are under common control shall be treated as employed by a single employer and all such trades or businesses as a single employer." 29 U.S.C. § 1301(b)(1). Trades or businesses under common control with the withdrawing employers are jointly and severally liable for the principal employer's withdrawal liability. Here, plaintiffs have presented persuasive evidence that defendants meet the definition of "common control group" and are jointly and severally liable for the withdrawal liability assessment because all three businesses are owned by Nadir Djaveherian. Moreover, plaintiffs have presented evidence that Auto Plaza Wentzville — a car dealership — and VAD Realty — a real estate sales business — were engaged in a "trade or business" for purposes of ERISA. This evidence is uncontroverted as Auto Plaza Wentzville and VAD Realty have not opposed summary judgment, and their time for doing so expired long ago. However, in the interests of justice, I will afford defendants one final opportunity to tell me why I should not grant plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment. I will not grant any extensions of time, and failure to comply with this Memorandum and Order will result in the entry of summary judgment against defendants Auto Plaza Wentzville and VAD Realty for the reasons stated in plaintiffs' summary judgment papers and this Memorandum and Order.
Accordingly,