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ARTICA v. J.B. CUSTOM MASONRY & CONCRETE, INC., 09-CV-3796 (RER) (2012)

Court: District Court, E.D. New York Number: infdco20120723747 Visitors: 7
Filed: Jul. 20, 2012
Latest Update: Jul. 20, 2012
Summary: AMENDED SUPPLEMENTAL MEMORANDUM & ORDER RAMON E. REYES, Jr., Magistrate Judge. This brief Order serves to amend the 7/16/2012 Supplemental Order in two respects: 1. Liability on Assault and Battery Claims Plaintiff Ernesto Galeano is entitled to $482,611.30 in damages for his assault and battery claims. Defendants' liability is as follows: Defendants Alfredo "Joe" Battaglia, J.B. Custom Masonry & Concrete, Inc., J.B. Holding & Property Corp., J.B. Residential, LLC, and Salvatore Mannino ar
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AMENDED SUPPLEMENTAL MEMORANDUM & ORDER

RAMON E. REYES, Jr., Magistrate Judge.

This brief Order serves to amend the 7/16/2012 Supplemental Order in two respects:

1. Liability on Assault and Battery Claims

Plaintiff Ernesto Galeano is entitled to $482,611.30 in damages for his assault and battery claims. Defendants' liability is as follows: Defendants Alfredo "Joe" Battaglia, J.B. Custom Masonry & Concrete, Inc., J.B. Holding & Property Corp., J.B. Residential, LLC, and Salvatore Mannino are jointly and severally liable for $52,611.30, which represents compensatory damages and prejudgment interest. Defendants Alfredo "Joe" Battaglia, J.B. Custom Masonry & Concrete, Inc., J.B. Holding & Property Corp., and J.B. Residential, LLC are jointly and severally liable for $350,000.00 in punitive damages, for which they are solely responsible. Defendant Salvatore Mannino is liable for $80,000.00 in punitive damages, for which he is solely responsible.

2. Liability for Attorney's Fees and Costs

Plaintiffs are entitled to an award of $443,975.40 for attorney's fees and costs. "The allocation of fee liability between defendants is not mandated but rather is within the discretion of the district court." See Marisol A. ex rel. Forbes v. Giuliani, 111 F.Supp.2d 381, 390 (S.D.N.Y. 2000) (citing Koster v. Perales, 903 F.2d 131, 139 (2d Cir.1990)). "When allocating fees, the Court should make every effort to achieve the most fair and sensible solution that is possible." Id. (internal quotation marks omitted). In allocating fee liability, courts consider the relative culpability of the parties and the time spent litigating against each defendant. Id. Here, the jury found Salvatore Mannino liable only for Galeano's assault and battery claims against him, which comprise a very small proportion of the damages awarded for what was overwhelmingly a muti-Plaintiff action about wage and hour violations pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act and the New York Labor Law. Additionally, Mannino is liable only for state law claims where attorney's fees are generally not recoverable. See Baker v. Health Mgmt. Sys., Inc., 98 N.Y.2d 80, 88 (2002) ("The American Rule provides that attorney's fees are incidents of litigation and a prevailing party may not collect them from the loser unless an award is authorized by agreement between the parties, statute or court rule.") (citation and quotation marks omitted). I therefore find that Salvatore Mannino is not liable for attorney's fees and costs.

The 7/16/2012 Order is hereby amended in accordance with the foregoing, and any part of that Order inconsistent herewith is vacated.

Source:  Leagle

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