MARTIN REIDINGER, District Judge.
The Plaintiffs TBR International, Inc. ("TBR International) and Ernane B. Dos Santos ("Dos Santos") initiated this action against Defendants Lonestar Trading Company, LLC ("Lonestar Trading") and Pedro Barreto ("Barreto") on August 2, 2012. [Doc. 1-2]. The Defendants removed the action to this Court on August 31, 2012. [Doc. 1]. In January 2014, the Court allowed Defendants' counsel to withdraw. [Doc. 32]. Lonestar Trading was given until January 24, 2014 to file a notice of appearance of new counsel. [
On April 4, 2014, the Court entered an Order directing Barreto to show cause why he failed to attend the parties' March 11, 2014 mediation. [Doc. 56]. When Barreto failed to respond to the Court's Order, the Court directed the Clerk to make an entry of default against him. [Doc. 56]. The Clerk entered default against Defendant Barreto on April 26, 2014. [Doc. 58].
On April 30, 2014, the Plaintiffs filed the present motion, seeking the entry of a default judgment against both Defendants. [Doc. 59].
Rule 55 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides for the entry of a default when "a party against whom a judgment for affirmative relief is sought has failed to plead or otherwise defend." Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(a). Once a defendant has been defaulted, the plaintiff may then seek a default judgment. If the plaintiff's claim is for a sum certain or can be made certain by computation, the Clerk of Court may enter the default judgment. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b)(1). In all other cases, the plaintiff must apply to the Court for a default judgment. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b)(2). The Court may then conduct a hearing to determine the amount of damages, establish the truth of any allegation by evidence, or investigate any other matter necessary to enter or effectuate judgment.
The following facts as set forth in the Amended Complaint [Doc. 9] are deemed admitted.
TBR International is a New York corporation which is authorized to do business in the State of North Carolina. Dos Santos is a citizen and resident of Miami Springs, Florida. [Doc. 9 at ¶ 1]. Lonestar Trading is a currently inactive Nevada registered limited liability company. Barreto is a California resident and is the registered agent of Lonestar Trading. [
On or about November 16, 2010, Dos Santos and Barreto entered into an agreement regarding the sale of various gemstones. [
An assortment of gems were shipped to Barreto in November 2010, and Barreto accepted the shipped items. [
In February 2012, Dos Santos received two (2) checks payable on Lonestar's account with Bank of America and signed by Barreto. One check was in the amount of $37,037.00, and the second check was in the amount of $4,000.00. These checks represented a partial payment of the monies owed by the Defendants to the Plaintiffs. [
The Plaintiffs have repeatedly made demand upon the Defendants for payment of all monies owed and payable under the contract herein alleged, and Defendants have failed and refused to make any payments thereon. [
In their motion for default judgment, the Plaintiffs seek the entry of a judgment in the amount of $97,000 against the Defendants, jointly and severally, as damages for monies owed under the parties' contract.
To establish a claim for breach of contract under North Carolina law, a plaintiff must show: (1) the existence of a valid contract and (2) a breach of the terms of that contract.
With respect to the amount of damages, the Plaintiffs seek the entry of a judgment in the amount of $97,000 against the Defendants, jointly and severally, for monies owed under the parties' contract. The Plaintiffs' Amended Complaint and supporting affidavits, however, establish only that the Defendants agreed to purchase a variety of gemstones for a sum certain, that being $84,000.00. The Plaintiffs have not presented any evidence to support their claim for an award of $97,000.00 for the Defendants' breach of contract. Accordingly, the Plaintiffs' judgment shall be limited to $84,000.00, the amount owed under the contract.