Aguirre v. Custom Image Pros LLC ( 2023 )

1 WO 2 3 4 5 6 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 7 FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA 8 9 Raul Aguirre, No. CV-23-00334-PHX-MTL 10 Plaintiff, ORDER 11 v. 12 Custom Image Pros LLC, et al., 13 Defendants. 14 15 Plaintiff Raul Aguirre (“Aguirre”) moves for default judgment against Defendants 16 Custom Image Pros LLC, Timothy Simpson, and Jane Doe Simpson (now known as Jamie 17 L. Simpson) (collectively, the “Defendants”), pursuant to Rule 55(b)(2) of the Federal 18 Rules of Civil Procedure. (Doc. 15.) For the following reasons, the Court grants the Motion 19 for Entry of Default Judgment (the “Motion”), and shall award Aguirre $13,150 plus post- 20 judgment interest at the applicable statutory rate against Defendant Custom Image Pros 21 LLC, with $6,460 of that amount to be held jointly and severally against all Defendants.1 22 I. BACKGROUND 23 As the Clerk of Court has entered default (Doc. 11), the Court takes the Complaint’s 24 factual allegations as true. See Geddes v. United Financial Group, 559 F.2d 557, 560 (9th 25 Cir. 1977). (“The general rule of law is that upon default the factual allegations of the 26 1 Brigette Maggio, a rising second-year law student at the Antonin Scalia Law School at 27 George Mason University, assisted in drafting this Order. 28 1 complaint, except those relating to the amount of damages, will be taken as true.”). 2 The Complaint alleges claims of failure to pay overtime and failure to pay minimum 3 wages in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”), failure to pay minimum 4 wages in violation of the Arizona Minimum Wage Act (“AMWA”), and failure to pay 5 wages due and owing in violation of the Arizona Wage Act (“AWA”). (Doc. 1 ¶¶ 91-113.) 6 On or around late-January 2023, Aguirre began working for Defendants as a manual 7 laborer. (Id. ¶ 33.) According to its website, Defendant Custom Image Pros LLC is an “all- 8 inclusive image marketing, design, and production company located in Phoenix, AZ.” 9 (Id. ¶ 12.) Aguirre’s primary duties included making luminous letters for signs, putting 10 lights on letters, and assembling letters for signs for Defendants. (Id. ¶ 34.) Defendants 11 agreed to pay Aguirre an hourly rate of $25. (Id. ¶ 35.) Aguirre was treated as an employee, 12 as defined by the FLSA, 29 U.S.C. § 201 et seq. (Id. ¶ 39.) This was shown through: 13 Defendants’ controlling Aguirre’s schedule, Defendants having the exclusive right to hire 14 and fire Aguirre, Defendants’ supervision over Aguirre’s work and adherence to 15 Defendants’ rules when doing so, Defendants’ decision not to pay Aguirre overtime, 16 Aguirre’s lack of opportunity for profit or loss in the business, Aguirre’s lack of ability to 17 refuse work assigned to him, and Aguirre’s inability to work for other 18 companies. (Id. ¶¶ 40-42.) 19 Aguirre was hired as a permanent employee, generally working in excess of 40 20 hours per week for approximately three workweeks. (Id. ¶ 42(f).) Aguirre was assigned the 21 same hourly rate of pay, regardless of the number of hours worked in a workweek, and 22 regardless of whether he worked in excess of 40 hours in a workweek. (Id. ¶ 37.) During 23 his time working for Defendants, Aguirre worked approximately 50 hours per 24 week. (Id. ¶ 45.) Defendants paid Aguirre three times, via Zelle.2 (Id. ¶¶ 46-49.) Beyond 25 the three payments totaling to that of $950, Defendants did not pay Aguirre any additional 26 2 On or about January 27, 2023, Defendants paid Aguirre $100 via Zelle. (Doc. 1 ¶¶ 46- 27 47.) On or about February 4, 2023, Defendants paid Aguirre $250 via Zelle. (Id. ¶ 48.) On 28 or about February 11, 2023, Defendants paid Aguirre $600 via Zelle. (Id. ¶ 49.) 1 wages for the duration of his employment. (Id. ¶ 50.) Throughout his employment with 2 Defendants, Aguirre continually reached out to Defendant Timothy Simpson asking when 3 he would be paid in full for the work he performed. (Id. ¶ 51.) Defendant Timothy Simpson 4 continually responded acknowledging that he owed Aguirre the money sought and stated 5 that he would pay Aguirre after receipt of additional funds from various projects. (Id. ¶ 52.) 6 After Aguirre continued to inquire Defendant Timothy Simpson regarding nonpayment of 7 wages due and owing, Simpson terminated Aguirre’s employment on or about February 8 17, 2023. (Id. ¶ 44.) 9 Aguirre filed this Complaint alleging FLSA, AMWA, and AWA claims. (Id. ¶¶ 91- 10 113.) Aguirre seeks monetary damages for the Workweeks 1-4 missing wages, federal and 11 state liquidated damages, as well as attorneys’ fees and costs. (Id. ¶¶ 1, 5, 88-90, 98 (A) – 12 (E), 103 (A) – (E), 108 (A) – (E), 113 (A) – (D)); (Doc. 15 at 4-9, 12-14.) In total, excluding 13 attorneys’ fees and costs and post-judgment augmentation, Aguirre is requesting $13,150 14 against Custom Image Pros LLC, and of that $13,150, against Defendants Custom Image 15 Pros LLC, Timothy Simpson, and Jamie L. Simpson in the amount of $6,460, jointly and 16 severally. (Doc. 15 at 14.) Aguirre further requests that the Court allow him to file a motion 17 for attorneys’ fees and costs following the award of a default judgment. (Id.) Aguirre 18 requests that damages be augmented further by post-judgment interest pursuant to 28 19 U.S.C. § 1961. (Id.) 20 Despite being served with the Complaint and Summons (Docs. 7, 8, 9), Defendants 21 failed to file an answer, respond to the Complaint, or even file a notice of appearance. 22 Aguirre attempted to resolve this dispute outside of litigation by way of executing a 23 Settlement Agreement on April 4, 2023, but Defendants never paid Aguirre. (Doc. 15-2.) 24 Because Defendants failed to pay Aguirre by April 30, 2023, as agreed upon in the 25 Settlement Agreement, and have also failed to answer or otherwise respond to the 26 Complaint, Aguirre now moves for default judgment against Defendants. 27 II. LEGAL STANDARD 28 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55(a) provides that the Clerk of the Court must 1 enter a party’s default “[w]hen a party against whom a judgment for affirmative relief is 2 sought has failed to plead or otherwise defend, and that failure is shown by affidavit or 3 otherwise.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(a). Once a party has been defaulted, the court may enter a 4 default judgment. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b). 5 In determining whether to grant a default judgment, “[t]he general rule of law [is] 6 that upon default the factual allegations of the complaint, except those relating to the 7 amount of damages, will be taken as true.” Televideo Systems Inc. v. Heidenthal, 826 F.2d 8 915, 917-18 (9th Cir. 1987). 9 While a plaintiff must prove damages when seeking a default judgment, this 10 evidentiary burden is “relatively lenient.” Elektra Entertainment Group v. Bryant, 2004 11 WL 783123, at *2 (C.D. Cal. 2004). In determining damages, the Court may properly rely 12 on declarations submitted by the Plaintiff. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b)(2). 13 III. JURISDICTION, VENUE, AND SERVICE 14 “When entry of default is sought against a party who has failed to plead or otherwise 15 defend, a district court has an affirmative duty to look into its jurisdiction over both the 16 subject matter and the parties.” Tuli v. Republic of Iraq, 172 F.3d 707, 712 (9th Cir. 1999). 17 Aguirre asserts claims arising under the FLSA, the AMWA, and the AWA. (Doc. 1 ¶¶ 91- 18 113.) This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over claims arising out of federal law, 19 including the FLSA, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331 and 29 U.S.C. § 201, et seq. This Court 20 also has subject matter jurisdiction pursuant 28 U.S.C. § 1367 because Aguirre’s state law 21 claims, under both the AMWA and the AWA, are so related to his FLSA claim that the 22 Court has supplemental jurisdiction over them. Venue and personal jurisdiction 23 requirements are also satisfied because Custom Image Pros LLC “regularly conduct[s] 24 business in and [has] engaged in the wrongful conduct . . . in . . . this judicial district.” (Id. 25 ¶ 9); 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b)(2). 26 Custom Image Pros LLC and its owners or managers, Timothy Simpson and Jamie 27 L. Simpson, regularly conduct business, have offices, and maintain business agents in 28 Arizona, and Aguirre is a resident of the state of Arizona. (Id. ¶¶ 10-11, 14.) Accordingly, 1 the Court has jurisdiction over the parties. 2 Timothy Simpson and Jamie L. Simpson were served with the Complaint and 3 Summons on March 1, 2023. (Docs. 8, 9.) Timothy Simpson is a registered statutory agent 4 for Custom Image Pros LLC and was served on its behalf on March 1, 2023. (Doc. 7.) 5 IV. ANALYSIS 6 Once a default is entered, the district court has discretion to grant default judgment. 7 See Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b)(2); Aldabe v. Aldabe, 616 F.2d 1089, 1092 (9th Cir. 1980); Brooke 8 v. Sai Ashish Inc., 2021 WL 4804220, at *5 (E.D. Cal. 2021) (explaining that default 9 judgment “is a two-step process: an entry of default judgment must be preceded by an entry 10 of default”). 11 The following factors are to be considered when deciding whether default judgment 12 is appropriate: 13 (1) the possibility of prejudice to the plaintiff; (2) the merits of 14 the claim; (3) the sufficiency of the complaint; (4) the sum of money at stake; (5) the possibility of a dispute concerning 15 material facts; (6) whether default was due to excusable 16 neglect; and (7) the strong policy underlying the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure favoring a decision on the merits. 17 18 Eitel v. McCool, 782 F.2d 1470, 1471–72 (9th Cir. 1986); New Gen, LLC v. Safe Cig, LLC, 19 840 F.3d 606, 616 (9th Cir. 2016). As the party seeking default judgment, Aguirre “bears 20 the burden of demonstrating to the Court that the complaint is sufficient on its face and that 21 the Eitel factors weigh in favor of granting default judgment.” Ronald Norris v. Shenzhen 22 IVPS Tech. Co., 2021 WL 4844116, at *2 (D. Ariz. Oct. 18, 2021). Aguirre also bears the 23 burden of proving all damages. Philip Morris USA, Inc. v. Castworld Products, Inc., 219 24 F.R.D. 494, 498 (C.D. Cal. 2003). 25 A. The First, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Eitel Factors 26 In cases like this, in which the Defendants have not responded nor participated in 27 any litigation, the “first, fifth, sixth, and seventh [Eitel] factors are easily addressed.” 28 Zekelman Industries Inc. v. Marker, 2020 WL 1495210, at *3 (D. Ariz. 2020). 1 The first factor weighs in favor of default judgment because denying Aguirre’s 2 Motion will leave him “without other recourse for recovery.” PepsiCo, Inc. v. California 3 Security Cans., 238 F.Supp.2d 1172, 1177 (C.D. Cal. 2002). Prejudice would exist if 4 Aguirre’s Motion were denied because he would lose the right to a “judicial resolution” of 5 his claims. See generally Elektra Entertainment Group, Inc. v. Crawford, 226 F.R.D. 388, 6 392 (C.D. Cal. 2005). Aguirre has also tried to settle this matter without success due to the 7 Defendants’ lack of action and payment on their part. (Doc. 15 at 10; Doc. 15-2.) Due to 8 Defendants’ failure to pay Aguirre’s minimum and overtime wages, or respond to 9 Aguirre’s Complaint, the only appropriate recourse Aguirre has is through litigation and 10 this Motion. 11 Next, the fifth factor weighs in favor of default judgment because the well-pleaded 12 factual allegations in the Complaint are taken as true, and there is no “genuine dispute of 13 material facts” that would preclude granting the Motion. PepsiCo, 238 F.Supp.2d at 1177. 14 Similarly, because Defendants were properly served (Docs. 7-9) and it is unlikely 15 that their failure to answer was due to excusable neglect, the sixth factor tips in favor of 16 entering default judgment. See Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp. v. Streeter, 438 17 F.Supp.2d 1065, 1071-1072 (D. Ariz. 2006). 18 The seventh factor—favoring decisions on the merits—generally weighs against 19 default judgment; however, “Rule 55(b) ‘indicates that this preference, standing alone, is 20 not dispositive.’” PepsiCo, 238 F.Supp.2d at 1177. This factor alone is not sufficient to 21 preclude the entry of default judgment in this case. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. v. 22 Caridi, 346 F.Supp.2d 1068, 1073 (C.D. Cal. 2004) (explaining that the seventh Eitel factor 23 “standing alone, cannot suffice to prevent entry of default judgment for otherwise default 24 judgment could never be entered” and Courts have concluded that “this factor does not 25 weigh very heavily.”) Defendants have been aware of the lawsuit since March 1, 2023, and 26 have had ample time to answer or respond, but have chosen not to participate. This factor 27 weighs neutral in granting default judgment. 28 1 B. The Second and Third Eitel Factors 2 The second and third Eitel factors—the merits of the claim and the sufficiency of 3 the complaint—are “often analyzed together and require courts to consider whether a 4 plaintiff has state[d] a claim on which [it] may recover.” Vietnam Reform Party v. Viet Tan- 5 Vietnam Reform Party, 416 F.Supp.3d 948, 962 (N.D. Cal. 2019). Before turning to 6 whether Aguirre has stated a claim on which he may recover, the Court must analyze 7 Aguirre’s employee status within the FLSA, the AMWA, and the AWA. 8 i. FLSA Claims 9 The FLSA defines an “employee” as “any individual employed by an employer.” 10 29 U.S.C. § 203(e)(1). It defines an “employer” as “any person acting directly or indirectly 11 in the interest of an employer in relation to an employee.” Id. § 203(d). The Court finds 12 Custom Image Pro LLC’s classification of Aguirre to be that of an 13 employee. (Doc. 1 ¶¶ 39-42, 79.) Custom Image Pros LLC had the authority to hire and 14 fire employees, supervised and controlled work schedules and the conditions of 15 employment, determined the rate and method of payment, and maintained employment 16 records in connection with Aguirre’s employment with Defendants. (Id. ¶ 13.) Custom 17 Image Pro LLC also directed and exercised control over Aguirre’s work and wages at all 18 relevant times. (Id. ¶¶ 26, 87.) These allegations, taken as true, support that Custom Image 19 Pro LLC was an employer of Aguirre. 20 Defendants Timothy Simpson and Jamie L. Simpson are also classified as 21 employers pursuant to the FLSA. (Id. ¶ 15.) Defendant Custom Image Pros LLC is subject 22 to liability under the FLSA and Defendants Timothy Simpson and Jamie L. Simpson are 23 subject to individual liability under the FLSA because they acted in the interest of 24 Defendants in relation to Custom Image Pros’ employees. (Id.) As owners or managers of 25 Custom Image Pros, Defendants Timothy Simpson and Jane Doe Simpson had the 26 authority to hire and fire employees, supervise and control work schedules or the conditions 27 of employment, determine the rate and method of payment, and maintain employment 28 records in connection with Aguirre’s employment with Defendants. (Id. ¶¶ 14-15.) The 1 Court finds that Custom Image Pro LLC is an employer and Aguirre was an employee of 2 Custom Image Pro LLC under the FLSA. 3 ii. AMWA Claims 4 The AMWA, like the FLSA, defines an “employee” as “any person who is or was 5 employed by an employer.” A.R.S. § 23-362(A). It defines an “employer” as “any 6 corporation proprietorship, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, 7 association, political subdivision of the state, individual or other entity acting directly or 8 indirectly in the interest of an employer in relation to an employee.” A.R.S. § 23-362(B). 9 As the AMWA shares the same definition of employee as the FLSA, the Court’s reasoning 10 as to Aguirre’s employee status under the FLSA applies here as well. Custom Image Pro 11 LLC is also an employer because it is an enterprise operating in Maricopa County, Arizona 12 that controlled Aguirre’s work and wages at all relevant times. (Doc. 1 ¶¶ 13, 31.) As a 13 result, the Court finds that Custom Image Pro LLC is an employer and Aguirre was an 14 employee of Custom Image Pro LLC under the AMWA. 15 iii. AWA claims 16 Like the FLSA and the AMWA, the AWA defines an “employee” as “any person 17 who performs services for an employer under a contract of employment either made in this 18 state or to be performed wholly or partly within this state.” A.R.S. § 23-350(2). The AWA 19 defines “employer” as “any individual, partnership, association, joint stock company, trust 20 or corporation, the administrator or executor of the estate of a deceased individual or the 21 receiver, trustee or successor of any of such persons employing any person.” A.R.S. § 23- 22 350(3). Additionally, Custom Image Pro LLC is also an employer because it is an 23 enterprise operating in Arizona that controlled Aguirre’s work and wages at all relevant 24 times. (Doc. 1 ¶¶ 13, 31.) Aguirre claims that while working for Custom Image Pro LLC 25 he resided in Arizona. (Id. ¶ 10.) For these reasons, Custom Image Pro LLC is an employer 26 and Aguirre is an employee under the AWA. (Id. ¶¶ 20, 22, 24, 25.) 27 Thus, the Court finds that Aguirre has properly stated a claim on which he can 28 recover, and the second and third Eitel factors weigh in favor of granting default judgment. 1 C. The Fourth Eitel Factor 2 Under the fourth Eitel factor, “the [C]ourt must consider the amount of money at 3 stake in relation to the seriousness of the Defendants’ conduct.” See PepsiCo, 238 4 F.Supp.2d at 1176 (C.D. Cal. 2002). Additionally, “[i]f the sum of money at stake is 5 completely disproportionate or inappropriate, default is disfavored.” See Twentieth 6 Century Fox Film Corporation, 438 F.Supp.2d at 1071 (D. Ariz. 2006). 7 Here, Aguirre seeks the unpaid minimum and overtime wages he is owed under the 8 FLSA, the AMWA, and the AWA along with liquidated damages. Aguirre is requesting 9 $13,150 plus pre- and post-judgment interest pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1961, and to later 10 request attorneys’ fees and costs following the award of a default judgment. (Doc. 15 at 11 14.) Of this $13,150 total, Aguirre is requesting that Defendant Custom Image Pros LLC 12 be liable for the entire amount, and all Defendants be jointly and severally liable for $6,460. 13 (Doc. 15 at 13.) For the claims listed in the Complaint, the Court finds that the amount 14 requested is reasonable and not disproportionate or inappropriate. Accordingly, the fourth 15 Eitel factor favors the entry of default judgment. 16 D. Damages 17 Having found that entry of default judgment is appropriate, the Court must next 18 address “the ‘amount and character’ of relief to award.” HTS, Inc. v. Boley, 954 F.Supp.2d 19 927, 947 (D. Ariz. 2013) (referencing 10A Wright, Miller, & Kane, 2688 at 63); See also 20 James v. Frame, 6 F.3d 307, 310 (5th Cir.1993) (district court has “wide latitude” in 21 determining the amount of damages to award upon default judgment). 22 Aguirre requests $13,150 in damages against Defendant Custom Image Pros LLC, 23 and of that $13,150, an amount of $6,460 against all Defendants, jointly and severally. 24 (Doc. 15 at 14.) 25 The total compensatory damages of $13,150 Aguirre is seeking consists of: $6,460, 26 which comprises of $5,4603 in trebled unpaid minimum wage damages and $1,000 in 27 liquidated unpaid overtime and $6,690 in unpaid non-minimum wage and non-overtime 28 3 The $5,460 engulfs the $1,475 in unpaid federal minimum wages. (Doc. 15 at 12.) 1 damages for workweeks 1-4. (See Doc. 15-1, ¶¶ 8-18); see also 29 U.S.C. § 216(b); A.R.S. 2 § 23-364. A.R.S. § 23-355. 3 Of this $13,150 total, Aguirre is requesting that Defendant Custom Image Pros LLC 4 be liable for the entire amount, and all Defendants be jointly and severally liable for $6,460. 5 (Doc. 15 at 13.) Additionally, Aguirre requests that the Court allow him to file a motion 6 for attorneys’ fees and costs should the Court grant default judgment. (Doc. 15 at 13-14.) 7 Aguirre further requests that these amounts be augmented further by post-judgment interest 8 pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1961. (Doc. 15 at 14.) 9 Rule 54(c) requires that a default judgment “not differ in kind from, or exceed in 10 amount, what is demanded in the pleadings.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(c). Aguirre does not request 11 damages “different in kind” or in excess of those requested in his Complaint and his 12 Motion. (Doc. 1 ¶¶ 88-90, 98, 103, 108, 113.); (Doc. 15-1 ¶¶ 15-28.) Aguirre also provided 13 sufficient notice of the potential award through his Complaint, enabling Defendants “to 14 decide whether to respond to the complaint in the first instance.” Fisher Printing Inc. v. 15 CRG LTD II LLC, 2018 WL 603299, at *3 (D. Ariz. 2018). 16 The Court may enter a default judgment without a damages hearing when, as here, 17 “the amount claimed is a liquidated sum or capable of mathematical calculation.” HTS, 18 Inc., 954 F.Supp.2d at 947 (quoting Davis v. Fendler, 650 F.2d 1154, 1161 (9th Cir. 1981)). 19 In this action, the requested damages are capable of mathematical calculation because they 20 are comprised of hours worked by Aguirre, the amount in pay he was entitled to receive, 21 and statutory multipliers. See Million v. Pindernation Holdings LLC, 2023 WL 2813684, 22 at *5 (D. Ariz. 2023.) The requested damages are also supported by Aguirre’s Motion, his 23 Declaration, and other attached exhibits. (Docs. 15, 15-1, 15-2); see Doe v. United States, 24 2018 WL 2431774, at *8 (D. Ariz. 2018) (“In determining damages, a court can rely on 25 declarations submitted by the plaintiff[.]”) (citing Philip Morris USA, Inc., 219 F.R.D. at 26 498)). 27 The Court finds that Aguirre has sufficiently established the requested damages. 28 (Docs. 15, 15-1, 15-2.) Therefore, the Court will enter default judgment in the amount of 1|| $13,150 against Defendant Custom Image Pros LLC plus post-judgment interest, with 2|| $6,460 of that amount being held jointly and severally against all Defendants. Additionally, 3 || post-judgment interest will be added to this award. Should Aguirre seek attorneys’ fees and costs, he shall file his fee application with the Court.’ V. CONCLUSION 6 Accordingly, 7 IT IS ORDERED granting the Motion for Entry of Default Judgment (Doc. 15.) 8 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED awarding Raul Aguirre $13,150 plus post-judgment 9|| interest at the applicable statutory rate against Defendant Custom Image Pros LLC, with || $6,460 of that amount to be held jointly and severally against all Defendants, Custom || Image Pros LLC, Timothy Simpson, and Jamie L. Simpson. 12 IT IS FINALLY ORDERED directing the Clerk of the Court to close this action 13 || and to enter judgment accordingly. 14 Dated this 26th day of June, 2023. 15 WMichak T. Shure M Michael T, Liburdi 18 United States District Judge 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 4 Following this award of default judgment, the Court will allow Plaintiff to move for reasonable attorneys’ fees pursuant to Local Rule of Civil Procedure 54.2. -ll-