Christofferson v. All Pure Pool Service of Central California, Inc ( 2020 )

Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 1 of 53 1 2 3 4 5 6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 7 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 8 9 ROBERT E. CHRISTOFFERSON, et al., Case No. 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB 10 Plaintiffs, FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS RECOMMENDING GRANTING 11 v. PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION FOR ENTRY OF DEFAULT JUDGMENT 12 ALL PURE POOL SERVICE OF CENTRAL CALIFORNIA, INC., et al., (ECF Nos. 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 90, 92, 93, 94) 13 Defendants. OBJECTIONS DUE WITHIN FOURTEEN 14 DAYS 15 16 Currently before the Court is Plaintiffs’ motion for default judgment filed on May 4, 17 2020. (ECF No. 81.) On June 10, 2020, the Court held a hearing on the motion for default 18 judgment via videoconference, at which Counsel Keith White appeared on behalf of Plaintiffs, 19 and no appearances were made on behalf of Defendants. (ECF No. 94.) Having considered the 20 moving papers, the declarations and exhibits attached thereto, arguments presented at the June 21 10, 2020 hearing, as well as the Court’s file, the Court issues the following findings and 22 recommendations. 23 I. 24 BACKGROUND 25 A. Procedural History 26 Plaintiffs Robert Christofferson and Sandra Christofferson (“Plaintiffs”) filed this action 27 on October 4, 2018, bringing claims for breach of contract, money on common counts, claim and 28 delivery, and breach of guaranty against Defendants All Pure Pool Service of Central California, 1 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 2 of 53 1 Inc. (“All Pure”), All Pure Pool & Spa, Inc. (“APPS”), Jack Carter as Trustee of the of the Carter 2 Family Trust (“Jack Carter”), Susie Carter as Trustee of the Carter Family Trust (“Susie Carter”) 3 (Jack Carter and Susie Carter are collectively referred to herein as the “Carters”) (“Trustee” shall 4 refer to their capacity as Trustees of the Carter Family Trust),1 Phil Zavala, and Julie Zavala 5 (Phil Zavala and Julie Zavala are collectively referred to herein as the “Zavalas”) (all named 6 Defendants are collectively referred to herein as the “Defendants”). (ECF No. 1.) Defendants 7 All Pure and APPS were served with the originally filed complaint on November 15, 2018, and 8 the summonses were returned executed and filed on November 26, 2018. (ECF No. 5.) 9 Defendant Jack Carter was served as Trustee on November 16, 2018, and Defendant Susie Carter 10 was served as Trustee on November 20, 2018, with the summonses for the Carters returned 11 executed and filed on November 28, 2018. (ECF Nos. 6, 7.) Defendants Phil Zavala and Julie 12 Zavala were served on November 28, 2019, with the summonses returned executed and filed on 13 December 31, 2018. (ECF Nos. 10, 11.) 14 No Defendants filed a responsive pleading, a motion to dismiss, or otherwise appeared in 15 this action. On January 23, 2019, the Court issued an order requiring Plaintiffs to either advise 16 the Court of the status of the action or file a request for entry of default. (ECF No. 12.) On 17 January 24, 2019, Plaintiffs filed a notice of settlement, and on January 28, 2019, the Court 18 issued an order requiring dispositive documents to be filed within sixty days. (ECF Nos. 13, 14.) 19 On March 21, 2019, Plaintiffs requested additional time to file dispositive documents, and stated 20 in the request that they had informed Defendants that Defendants had to either accept the terms 21 of the pending settlement agreement or file a responsive pleading no later than March 25, 2019. 22 (ECF No. 15.) On March 22, 2019, the Court issued an order: (1) requiring Defendants to file a 23 responsive pleading on or before March 25, 2019 if a settlement agreement was not reached; (2) 24 granting Plaintiffs’ request for an extension to file dispositive documents; (3) requiring Plaintiffs 25 to file either dispositive documents if a settlement was reached or a request for entry of default, 26 1 The Carters were not named in their individual capacities in either the originally filed complaint nor the first 27 amended complaint. (ECF Nos. 1, 30.) Following the Court’s highlighting of this issue at the hearing on the previous motion for default judgment, the Carters are now named in both their individual and Trustee capacities in 28 the second amended complaint. (ECF No. 59.) 2 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 3 of 53 1 on or before April 29, 2019; and (4) requiring Plaintiffs to serve a copy of the order on 2 Defendants within two days of entry of the order. (ECF No. 16.) 3 On April 3, 2019, Plaintiffs filed a request for entry of default and served the request on 4 Defendants through electronic service as well as by postal mail. (ECF No. 18.) On April 3, 5 2019, the Clerk of the Court entered the default of all Defendants. (ECF No. 22.) 2 On April 4, 6 2019, pursuant to the Plaintiffs’ Rule 41 notice, the Court dismissed all Doe Defendants in the 7 action. (ECF No. 23.) 8 On April 4, 2019, the District Judge assigned to this action issued an order to show cause 9 as to why the case should not be dismissed due to insufficient pleading of citizenship of the 10 parties and failure to establish diversity jurisdiction. (ECF No. 24.) On April 17, 2019, 11 Plaintiffs submitted a response to the order to show cause and supporting declarations. (ECF 12 Nos. 25, 26, 27.) On May 2, 2019, the District Judge issued an order discharging the April 4, 13 2019 order to show cause and ordered Plaintiffs to file a first amended complaint within fourteen 14 days of service of the order. (ECF No. 29.) The May 2, 2019 order also specified that because 15 the Defendants had defaulted for failing to appear in the action, and because the to be filed first 16 amended complaint was to cure jurisdictional defects identified in the order to show cause and 17 would not establish a new claim for relief, no further service of the amended complaint on the 18 Defendants was necessary to proceed with the action. (Id.) On May 7, 2019, Plaintiffs filed a 19 first amended complaint. (First Am. Compl. (“FAC”), ECF No. 30.) 20 On June 25, 2019, the Court issued an order requiring Plaintiff to file a motion for default 21 judgment within sixty days of service of the order. (ECF No. 32.) On August 2, 2019, Plaintiffs 22 filed an application for default judgment and supporting materials. (ECF Nos. 33, 34, 35, 36.) 23 On August 23, 2019, the Court ordered supplemental briefing to address the following 24 matters prior to the hearing on the motion for default judgment: (1) whether the Carters were 25 required to be named and served in their individual capacities rather than solely as trustees; (2) 26 whether the UCC filing acknowledgement forms had lapsed leaving security interests 27 2 As discussed below, the April 3, 2019 entry of default was vacated on October 7, 2019, pursuant to the Court’s 28 order granting Plaintiff’s request to vacate the entry of default. (ECF No. 57.) 3 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 4 of 53 1 unperfected; (3) whether offsets from the sale of collateral were properly delineated in Plaintiffs’ 2 proposed order; (4) the application of the Eitel factors to the application for default judgment; 3 and (5) the need for time records to assess the requested attorneys’ fees. (ECF Nos. 40, 41.) On 4 August 23, 2019, Plaintiffs requested a continuance of the hearing on the instant application to 5 allow for additional time to submit supplemental briefing. (ECF No. 42.) On August 26, 2019, 6 pursuant to Plaintiffs’ request, the Court continued the hearing until September 11, 2019, and 7 extended the due date for supplemental briefing until September 4, 2019. (ECF No. 43.) 8 On September 4, 2019, Plaintiffs filed supplemental materials addressing the issues 9 highlighted by the Court. (ECF Nos. 46, 47, 48, 49, 50.) On September 11, 2019, the Court held 10 a hearing on Plaintiffs’ motion for default judgment. (ECF No. 52.) Counsel Keith White 11 appeared on behalf of Plaintiffs and no Defendants made an appearance. (Id.) In response to the 12 Court’s questions at the hearing, Plaintiffs requested a continuance of the hearing. The Court 13 continued the hearing to October 16, 2019, and ordered Plaintiffs shall file a status report along 14 with any necessary supplemental briefing on or before October 2, 2019. (ECF No. 51.) 15 On October 2, 2019, Plaintiffs filed a status report and an ex parte request: (1) to 16 withdraw the application for entry or default judgment and vacate entry of default; and (2) for 17 leave to file a second amended complaint. (ECF No. 54.) On October 7, 2019, the Court granted 18 Plaintiffs’ request and: (1) withdrew Plaintiff’s application for default judgment filed on August 19 2, 2019; (2) vacated the entries of default entered on April 3, 2019; and (3) granted leave for 20 Plaintiffs to file a second amended complaint. (ECF No. 57.) 21 On October 11, 2019, Plaintiffs filed a second amended complaint, the operative 22 complaint in this matter. (Second Am. Compl. (“SAC”), ECF No. 59.) On December 17, 2019, 23 Plaintiff apparently filed erroneous proofs of service showing All Pure and APPS were served on 24 November 15, 2018. (ECF Nos. 62, 63.) Also on December 17, 2019, Plaintiffs filed proofs of 25 service showing service of the second amended complaint on: (1) Jack Carter in an individual 26 capacity on November 30, 2019; (2) Jack Carter as Trustee on November 30, 2019; (3) Susie 27 Carter in an individual capacity on November 30, 2019; (4) Susie Carter as Trustee on November 28 30, 2019; and (5) Phil Zavala on November 12, 2019. (ECF Nos. 64, 65, 66, 67, 68.) On 4 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 5 of 53 1 February 4, 2020, Plaintiffs filed a proof of service demonstrating service of the second amended 2 complaint on Julie Zavala on January 2, 2020. (ECF No. 69.) On February 28, 2020, Plaintiffs 3 filed proofs of service demonstrating service on APPS and All Pure on November 8, 2019. (ECF 4 Nos. 70, 71.) 5 On March 4, 2020, Plaintiffs filed a request for entry of default and a declaration of 6 counsel Darryl J. Horowitt in support of the request. (ECF Nos. 72, 73.)3 On March 4, 2020, the 7 Clerk of the Court entered default against Defendants: (1) APPS; (2) All Pure; (3) Jack Carter; 8 (4) Susie Carter; (5) Julie Zavala; and (6) Phil Zavala. (ECF Nos. 74, 75 76, 77, 78, 79.) The 9 entry of defaults for Jack Carter and Susie Carter do not delineate as to whether the entry of 10 default pertains to their individual capacity or capacity as Trustee. (ECF Nos. 76, 77.) 11 On March 5, 2020, the Court ordered Plaintiffs to file a motion for default judgment 12 within sixty (60) days of entry of the order. (ECF No. 80.) On May 4, 2020, Plaintiffs filed a 13 motion for default judgment against all Defendants on the second amended complaint along with 14 supporting materials. (ECF Nos. 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90.)4 15 On May 5, 2020, the Court set a hearing on the motion for default judgment to be held on 16 June 10, 2020, and ordered Plaintiffs to serve a notice of the hearing on Defendants. (ECF No. 17 91.) On May 5, 2020, Plaintiffs filed a notice demonstrating the order had been served on 18 Defendants via postal mail and electronic service to certain email addresses. (ECF No. 92.) On 19 June 9, 2020, Plaintiffs filed a supplemental declaration notifying the Court that since the time of 20 the filing of the motion for default judgment, negotiations continued and Defendants had made 21 two additional payments of $3,000.00, for a total of $6,000.00. (ECF No. 93.) 22 On June 10, 2020, the Court held a hearing on the motion for default judgment via 23 3 Both the request for entry of default and supporting declaration refer to all Defendants generally, however, they 24 only refer to Defendants Jack Carter and Susie Carter as Trustees and do not expressly refer to them in their individual capacity in the first portion of the document containing the initial text of the request. (Id.) The second 25 portion of each of the documents do refer to Jack Carter and Susie Carter as being served in both their individual and Trustee capacities, and refer to all defendants generally as “Defendants.” (Id.) The Court addresses this issue 26 further below, infra Section III(B). 27 4 Three of these filings were proposed orders that were apparently filed containing errors, before a final fourth and final proposed order was filed. (ECF Nos. 86, 88, 89, 90.) 28 5 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 6 of 53 1 videoconference. (ECF No. 94.) Counsel Keith White appeared on behalf of Plaintiffs, however 2 no Defendants made an appearance at the hearing.5 (Id.) On June 11, 2020, in response to the 3 Court’s questions presented at the hearing concerning the accounting calculations, Plaintiffs’ 4 counsel filed a supplemental declaration addressing such questions, and further applying the two 5 recent payments of $3,000.00 to the accounting calculations. (ECF No. 95.) 6 B. Factual Allegations in the Complaint and Supported by Declarations 7 The Court turns to the allegations of the second amended complaint, the operative 8 complaint in this action, and notes supporting testimony and documentation submitted through 9 the application for default judgment and supporting materials. (SAC; Decl. Robert 10 Christofferson Supp. Appl. Default J. (“Robert Decl.”), ECF No. 83; Mem. P & A Supp. Appl. 11 Default J. (“Mem.”), ECF No. 84; Req. Judicial Notice Supp. App. Default J. (“Req. Notice”), 12 ECF No. 85.) The Court’s summary and comments made herein in this section are hereby 13 incorporated into the Court’s discussion section of this findings and recommendations below, 14 infra Section III. 15 1. The Parties Entered into Agreements for the Sale and Purchase of the Companies 16 In January of 2012, Plaintiffs were the owners of Defendant All Pure, a swimming pool 17 servicing company in Fresno, California, and were interested in selling the company. (Mem. 9; 18 SAC ¶ 8; Robert Decl. ¶¶ 7, 12.)6 Defendants the Carters and the Zavalas were interested in 19 purchasing All Pure because they already owned APPS and wanted to add to their established 20 pool business. (Mem. 9; SAC ¶ 9; Robert Decl. ¶ 11.) 21 On January 3 and 5, 2012, Plaintiffs and Defendants the Carters and Zavalas entered into 22 agreements to memorialize the terms of the purchase of All Pure, including: (1) a Stock Sale and 23 Purchase Agreement dated January 3, 2012 (the “Agreement”) (SAC ¶ 10, Ex. A, ECF No. 59-1 24 5 The hearing was held via videoconference due to the COVID-19 public health situation and associated limitations on physical access to the courthouse. Plaintiffs were served with a notice setting the hearing. (ECF Nos. 91, 92.) 25 Information concerning the public phone line was posted on the public calendar, along with a directive to contact the courtroom deputy for videoconference access information. The public phone line was available during the entirety 26 of the hearing, and no appearances were made by Defendants, Defendants did not contact the courtroom deputy, and no filings prior to or after the hearing were made by Defendants. (ECF No. 94.) 27 6 All references to pagination of specific documents pertain to those as indicated on the upper right corners via the 28 CM/ECF electronic court docketing system. 6 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 7 of 53 1 at 1-59; Robert Decl. ¶ 14, Ex. A, ECF No. 83-1 at 1-59); (2) a Supplement to Stock Sale and 2 Purchase Agreement dated January 3, 2012 (the “Supplement”) (SAC ¶ 10, Ex. B, ECF No. 59-1 3 at 60-62; Robert Decl. ¶ 15, Ex. B, ECF No. 83-1 at 60-62); (3) a Promissory Note dated January 4 3, 2012 (the “Note”), in the amount of $975,000 (SAC ¶ 10, Ex. C, ECF No. 59-1 at 63-67; 5 Robert Decl. ¶ 16, Ex. C, ECF No. 83-1 at 63-67); (4) a Consulting Agreement dated January 3, 6 2012 (the “Consulting Agreement”) (SAC ¶ 10, Ex. D, ECF No. 59-1 at 68-71; Robert Decl. ¶ 7 17, Ex. D, ECF No. 83-1 at 68-71); (5) a Guaranty executed by All Pure in favor of Plaintiffs 8 (the “All Pure Guaranty”) (SAC ¶ 10, Ex. E, ECF No. 59-1 at 72-75; Robert Decl. ¶ 18, Ex. E, 9 ECF No. 83-1 at 72-75); (6) a Guaranty executed by APPS in favor of Plaintiffs (the “APPS 10 Guaranty”) (SAC ¶ 10, Ex. F, ECF No. 59-1 at 76-80; Robert Decl. ¶ 19, Ex. F, ECF No. 83-1 at 11 76-80); (7) a Security Agreement executed by All Pure, as debtor, in favor of Plaintiffs (the “All 12 Pure Security Agreement”) (SAC ¶ 10, Ex. G, ECF No. 59-1 at 81-92; Robert Decl. ¶ 20, Ex. G, 13 ECF No. 83-1 at 81-92); (8) a Security Agreement executed by APPS, as debtor, in favor of 14 Plaintiffs (the “APPS Security Agreement”) (SAC ¶ 10, Ex. H, ECF No. 59-1 at 93-104; Robert 15 Decl. ¶ 21, Ex. H, ECF No. 83-1 at 93-104); and (9) a Security Agreement executed by the 16 Carters and the Zavalas as debtors, in favor of Plaintiffs (the “Carter and Zavala Security 17 Agreement”) (SAC ¶ 10, Ex. I, ECF No. 59-1 at 105-110; Robert Decl. ¶ 22, Ex. I, ECF No. 83- 18 1 at 105-110). (Mem. 9.) 19 To perfect the All Pure Security Agreement and APPS Security Agreement, Plaintiffs 20 recorded a UCC-1 financing statement with the California Secretary of State for the security 21 agreements. (SAC ¶ 11, Exs. J, K, ECF No. 59-1 at 111-120; Robert Decl. ¶ 23, Exs. J, K, ECF 22 No. 83-1 at 111-120.) Prior to the expiration of the UCC-1 financing statements, on January 4, 23 2017, Plaintiffs filed UCC continuation amendments, extending the UCC-1 financing statements 24 through January 9, 2022. (SAC ¶ 11, Exs. L, M, ECF No. 59-1 at 121-128; Req. Notice, Exs. 1- 25 2, ECF No. 85 at 4-11.)7 26 7 The UCC-1 Financing Statements filed with the previous motion for default judgment had lapsed on January 9, 2017. (ECF No. 30-1 at 112, 117.) The Court ordered supplemental briefing to address the issue. (ECF No. 40.) 27 On September 4, 2019, Plaintiffs filed supplemental briefing and a request for judicial notice of documents showing Plaintiffs had recorded continuation amendments extending the date of lapse until January 9, 2022. (ECF Nos. 46, 28 48.) Turning to the instant motion for default judgment, the UCC continuation amendments were not attached to the 7 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 8 of 53 1 To perfect Plaintiffs’ security interest in the stock pledged in the Carter and Zavala 2 Security Agreement, the Carters and the Zavalas each executed an “Assignment Separate from 3 Certificate.” (SAC ¶ 12, Exs. N, O, ECF No. 59-1 at 129-132; Robert Decl. ¶ 24, Exs. L, M, 4 ECF No. 83-1 at 121-124.) 5 2. Plaintiffs’ Performance 6 On January 5, 2012, pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and the Supplement, 7 Plaintiffs transferred a total of 2,000 shares of All Pure to the Carters and the Zavalas (1,000 8 shares to each), which constituted all of the shares of All Pure held by Plaintiffs. (Mem. 10; 9 SAC ¶ 13; Robert Decl. ¶ 25.) Plaintiffs proffer that they have performed all terms and 10 conditions of each of the agreements, including the Agreement, the Note, and the Consulting 11 Agreement. (Mem. 10; SAC ¶ 14.; Robert Decl. ¶ 26.) 12 3. Breach of the Agreement 13 First, pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, the Carters as Trustees,8 the Zavalas, All 14 Pure, and APPS, were required to purchase the inventory of All Pure at market value. (Mem. 10; 15 SAC ¶ 15; Robert Decl. ¶¶ 27-29.) Plaintiff alleges the Defendants failed to pay for 972 bottles 16 of acid that they took possession of in June of 2011, valued at $998.62, despite the continuous 17 acknowledgment that this amount is due to Plaintiffs. (Id.) 18 Second, pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, Plaintiffs were entitled to the balance of 19 funds that existed in All Pure’s checking account prior to the purchase, however, in or about 20 March of 2012, after the close of the sale of All Pure, and without the consent or authorization of 21 Plaintiffs, the Carters as Trustees, the Zavalas, All Pure, and APPS, withdrew $14,733.45 in such 22 funds. (Mem. 11; SAC ¶ 16; Robert Decl. ¶¶ 30-31.) Defendants have failed to reimburse 23 24 second Amended Complaint nor the declaration of Plaintiff Robert. Instead, counsel submitted such documentation in a request for judicial notice. (ECF No. 85.) The Court accepts the filing and takes judicial notice of: (1) the recorded UCC financing statement amendment/continuation filing number 17-75643301, which extended the lapse 25 date to January 9, 2022 of original filing number 12-7296635667 (ECF No. 85 at 5-7); and (2) the recorded UCC financing statement amendment/continuation filing no. 17-75643291 which extended the lapse date to January 9, 26 2022 of original filing number 12-7296631128 (ECF No. 85 at 9-11). See, e.g., Neilson v. Union Bank of California, N.A., 290 F. Supp. 2d 1101, 1114 (C.D. Cal. 2003). 27 8 The Carters were only signatories to the Agreement in their capacity as Trustees. (ECF No. 83-1 at 2, 13.) 28 8 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 9 of 53 1 Plaintiffs for this amount despite acknowledging such an amount is due. (SAC ¶ 16; Robert 2 Decl. ¶ 31; Decl. Darryl J. Horowitt Supp. Appl. Default J. (“Horowitt Decl.”), Ex. 1, ECF No. 3 82 at 15.) 4 4. Breach of the Note 5 Pursuant to the terms of the Note, the Carters (individually and Trustees), and the 6 Zavalas, were required to pay monthly payments on the first day of each month. (Mem. 11; SAC 7 ¶ 17; Robert Decl., Ex. C.) Plaintiffs contend that on October 1, 2017, the Carters and the 8 Zavalas failed to pay Plaintiffs the monthly payment due on the Note for October of 2017, and 9 thereafter Plaintiffs argue the Carters and the Zavalas continued to fail to pay the monthly 10 payments due on the Note for the months of November and December of 2017, as well as the 11 months of January, February, May, July, August, and September of 2018, and then continuing 12 through to the present as of the time of the filing of this action. (Mem. 11; SAC ¶ 18; Robert 13 Decl. ¶¶ 33-37; Horowitt Decl.. Ex. 2, ECF No. 82 at 20.) 9 14 Plaintiff Robert has kept an account history of all payments on the Note (the “Note 15 Ledger”), the Note Ledger has been provided to Plaintiffs’ attorney for the calculation of interest 16 penalties, and Robert declares that Defendants made “no further payments thereafter until the 17 two $100,000.00 payments made in September 2019.”10 (Robert Decl. ¶¶ 35-36, Ex. N, ECF No. 18 36-1 at 125-129.) Plaintiffs argue the breach of the Note accelerated the full balance due on the 19 Note in the sum of $798,375.52 as of June 1, 2018, plus late fees in the amount of $450.00. 20 (Robert Decl. ¶ 37.) 21 5. Breach of the Consulting Agreement 22 Pursuant to the terms of the Consulting Agreement, Plaintiffs allege All Pure was 23 required to pay to Plaintiff Robert Christofferson the sum of $600,000.00 for consulting services, 24 9 The Court has reviewed the ledgers, and although Plaintiffs state that payments were missed for October of 2017 and January of 2018, it appears payments are noted for October of 2017 and January of 2018, however the October 25 payment is noted as late and states it was received in November. (ECF No. 83-1 at 133.) Nonetheless, it appears both of these payment are correctly included in the amortization calculation program and spreadsheet utilized by 26 counsel. (ECF No. 82 at 56-57.) 27 10 Further, as discussed herein, immediately prior to the hearing on the motion for default judgment, Plaintiffs notified the Court of two additional payments totaling $6,000.00. (ECF Nos. 93, 95.) 28 9 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 10 of 53 1 payable in monthly installments in the amount of $5,000.00, commencing February 1, 2012, and 2 continuing on the first of each month until the full sum of $600,000.00 is paid. (SAC ¶ 20; 3 Robert Decl. ¶ 38.) Plaintiffs allege that on October 1, 2017, All Pure failed to pay to Plaintiffs 4 the monthly payment due, and thereafter, continued to fail to timely pay the monthly payments 5 due on the Consulting Agreement for the months of November and December of 2017, and 6 January, February, May, July, August, and September of 2018, and continuing thereafter. (Mem. 7 12; SAC ¶ 20; Robert Decl. ¶ 40-42.) 11 8 The Consulting Agreement further provides that any breach of the Note would also 9 constitute a breach of the Consulting Agreement, and thus by virtue of the breach of the Note, 10 “the Carters and Zavalas have further breached the terms of the Consulting Agreement.” (Mem. 11 12; Robert Decl., Ex. D.; SAC ¶ 22.)12 12 Plaintiff Robert declares he has kept an account history of all payments on the Consulting 13 Agreement (the “Consulting Ledger”), the Consulting Ledger has been provided to Plaintiffs’ 14 attorney for the calculation of interest penalties, and Robert declares that a total of eighteen 15 payments have been missed. (Robert Decl. ¶¶ 42-44, Ex. O, ECF No. 36-1 at 130-136.) 16 Plaintiffs allege the total amount owed for breach of the Consulting Agreement is $240,000.00,13 17 11 All Pure was a party to the Consulting Agreement, however the Carters and Zavalas were not parties, and All 18 Pure was not named in the third cause of action for breach of the Consulting Agreement in the original complaint nor the first amended complaint. In the previously filed motion for default judgment, Plaintiffs alleged the Carters 19 and Zavala were liable under the Consulting Agreement, however, at the hearing discussed the issue that only All Pure was a party to the Consulting Agreement, and All Pure was not named in the third cause of action for breach of 20 the Consulting Agreement. All Pure is now named in the third claim for relief for breach of the Consulting Agreement. (SAC at 9-10, ¶¶ 40-45.) The Court notes that Plaintiff Robert’s declaration still erroneously states that 21 it was the Carters and Zavalas that failed to make the monthly payments. (Robert Decl. ¶¶ 38-43.) However, this error does not impact the Court’s ultimate finding of a breach by All Pure. 22 12 It is unclear here whether Plaintiffs meant to state that All Pure had breached the Consulting Agreement, as it is 23 All Pure that is the direct party to the Consulting Agreement. 13 The Court has reviewed the Consulting Ledger, and notes that the formatting appears inconsistent and is difficult 24 to decipher because the columns are cutoff and appear on different pages. Nonetheless, it appears that that, in line with the Court’s review of the Note Ledger above, the payment for October 2017 was in fact paid, although it was 25 marked late and paid on November 4, 2017. (ECF No. 83-1 at 133, 136.) Additionally, the Consulting Ledger reflects a payment was in fact made in January of 2018. (Id.) It appears that the Consulting Ledger ends after a 26 non-payment is entered for May of 2018. (ECF No. 83-1 at 133.) The Consulting Ledger reflects a total of four entries where a notation of “no consulting fees paid” is entered: (1) November 2017; (2) December 2017; (3) 27 February 2018; and (4) May 2018. (ECF No. 83-1 at 133.) Despite the incomplete entries for missed payments, the Consulting Ledger appears to accurately reflect the total paid by Defendants under the Consulting Agreement in the 28 amount of $360,000.00 ( [$55,000.00 for 2012] + [$60,000.00 for 2013] + [$60,000.00 for 2014] + [60,000.00 for 10 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 11 of 53 1 plus late fees in the amount of $450.00,14 for the eighteen missed payments. (Mem. 12; Robert 2 Decl. ¶ 43; SAC ¶ 43.) 3 6. Breach of the Guaranties 4 Plaintiffs contend that pursuant to the terms of the guaranties signed by All Pure and 5 APPS, each guarantor guaranteed performance of the Agreement, the Note, and the Consulting 6 Agreement, and in the event of a breach by the Carters or Zavalas on either the Note and/or 7 Consulting Agreement, the guarantors were obligated to pay to Plaintiffs the amounts owed 8 under the Agreement, Note and/or the Consulting Agreement. (Mem. 12; SAC ¶ 23; Robert 9 Decl. ¶¶ 49-52.)15 Because of the breach of the Note and Consulting Agreement, ALL Pure and 10 APPS are obligated to pay to Plaintiffs all amounts owed, but not paid by the Carters and 11 Zavalas. (Id.) Despite demand, All Pure and APPS have not paid the money owed under the 12 guaranties. (Id.) 13 2015] + [$60,000.00 for 2016] + [$50.000.00 for 2017] + [$15,000.00 for 2018] ), leaving a total of $240,000.00 out of the original $600,000.00 of principal balance remaining unpaid. (ECF No. 83-1 at 134-136.) In the previous 14 motion for default judgment and supporting materials, Plaintiffs demanded a lesser amount, $220,125.00 in principal owed, in addition to $450.00 in late fees for eighteen missed payments, for a total of $220,575.00, in the previous 15 filings. (ECF No. 34 at 13) At the hearing held on the previous motion for default judgment, the Court highlighted this accounting issue. Plaintiffs have now addressed this discrepancy and now agree $240,000.00 in principal 16 balance remains. (Robert Decl. ¶ 43.) 17 14 As the Court noted at the June 10, 2020 hearing, Plaintiffs apparently omitted these late fees from the calculation of damages. At the hearing, counsel acknowledged these fees were in fact omitted and Plaintiffs accept their 18 omission, and thus those fees are not included in the damages calculation below. (ECF No. 94.) 19 15 Plaintiff’s memorandum first states the guaranties guaranteed performance of the Agreement, but then excluded the Agreement from the next sentence stating the amounts the guarantors were obligated to pay. (Mem. 12.) The 20 Court notes that the All Pure Guaranty first only refers to the Carters in the Trustee capacity, but then Debtor is defined to include the Carters in both capacities. (ECF No. 59-1 at 73.) The All Pure Guaranty defines indebtedness 21 “in its most comprehensive sense,” and expressly includes the Note, “and any and all advances, debts, obligations, and liabilities made, incurred, or created previously, now or later . . . ” (ECF No. 59-1 at 73.) The APPS Guaranty 22 similarly defines indebtedness, but also expressly includes the Consulting Agreement in the definition. (ECF No. 59-1 at 77.) The APPS Guaranty appears to mistakenly omit Defendant Julie Zavala from the definition of Debtor, 23 although Julie Zavala is mentioned in the prior sentence. (ECF No. 59-1 at 77.) Further the Court notes that the APPS Guaranty provides that if “Guarantor is not i[n] default under this Guaranty Agreement, and further provided there is no Event of Default under that certain Promissory Note . . . and finally provided there is no item of default 24 by Debtor under that certain Consulting Agreement . . . then this Guaranty Agreement will terminate on January 3, 2015.” (ECF No. 59-1 at 79.) The All Pure Guaranty does not appear to have such provision. (ECF No. 59-1 at 73- 25 75.) Plaintiffs contend the Note and Consulting Agreement were breached on October of 2017, after this referenced date, but do contend the Agreement was breached as early as 2011. (Robert Decl. ¶¶ 27-43.) The Court declines to 26 further wade into the potential import of these facts, given Defendants have not appeared in this action and have not mounted any challenge to the enforcement of these agreements, and thus admitted all material facts alleged in 27 Plaintiff’s complaint. See Garamendi, 683 F.3d at 1080; PepsiCo, Inc. v. California Sec. Cans, 238 F. Supp. 2d 1172, 1177 (C.D. Cal. 2002) (“Upon entry of default, all well-pleaded facts in the complaint are taken as true, except 28 those relating to damages.”). 11 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 12 of 53 1 While Plaintiffs’ memorandum does not specify that it was All Pure that would have 2 breached the Consulting Agreement and not the Carters and Zavalas (Mem. 12), the second 3 amended complaint specifies that APPS guarantied All Pure’s performance of the Consulting 4 Agreement, and specifies that in the event of a breach by the Carters (individually or Trustees), 5 the Zavalas in either the Agreement and/or Note, or All Pure’s breach of the Consulting 6 Agreement, the guarantors were obligated to pay Plaintiffs the amounts owed by the Carters 7 (individually and as Trustees), and the Zavalas under the Agreement and/or Note, and All Pure 8 under the Consulting Agreement. (SAC ¶ 23.) 9 By the failure of APPS and All Pure to pay Plaintiffs the amounts due under these 10 agreements, APPS and All Pure are in breach of the terms of the guaranties. (Robert Decl. ¶ 52.) 11 Plaintiffs contend that except for two additional $100,000.00 payments made in September of 12 2019, no other payments have been made, leaving the principal sum of $1,009,819.80, exclusive 13 of interest, late fees, attorneys’ fees, and costs. (Robert Decl. ¶ 51.)16 14 7. Breach of the Security Agreements 15 The All Pure Security Agreement, the APPS Security Agreement, and the Carter and 16 Zavala Security Agreement (collectively the “Security Agreements”), each provide that any 17 failure to pay Plaintiffs the amount owed under the Note, the Consulting Agreement, or both, 18 would constitute a breach of the respective security agreement. (Mem. 12; SAC ¶ 25; Robert 19 Decl., Exs. G, H, I.) The Security Agreements further provide that in the event of a default, 20 Plaintiffs could exercise all rights a secured party can exercise under the California Commercial 21 Code, including assembling the collateral identified in the respective security agreement and 22 allowing Plaintiffs to enter their business locations to take possession of such collateral, giving 23 notice of public or private sale, disposing of collateral in a commercially reasonable manner and 24 applying the proceeds of the sale to the amounts due and owing as a result of the breach of the 25 Security Agreements. (Mem. 13; SAC ¶ 26.) 26 Plaintiffs argue that by failing to pay Plaintiffs the amounts owed under the Note and the 27 16 Again, immediately prior to the hearing on this motion, Plaintiffs’ notified the Court of additional payments 28 totaling $6,000.00 made by Defendants. (ECF Nos. 93, 95.) 12 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 13 of 53 1 Consulting Agreement, Defendants have breached the terms of the respective security 2 agreements. (Mem. 13; SAC ¶ 27; Robert Decl. ¶ 44.) Thus, Plaintiffs charge that Defendants 3 were obligated to assemble all of the collateral identified in the respective security agreements 4 and allow Plaintiffs to enter their business locations and take possession of the collateral. (Mem. 5 13; SAC ¶ 28; Robert Decl. ¶ 44-48.) In Plaintiff Robert’s declaration, the presumptive location 6 of the collateral is identified as 3237 E. Malaga, Fresno, California 93725, or another location 7 only known to Defendants. (Robert Decl. ¶ 46.) Robert declares a belief that none of the 8 collateral is being held by Defendants for any tax purpose, and believes the current market value 9 is less than $500,000.00. (Robert Decl. ¶¶ 47-48.) 10 8. Notification of Breach, Demand for Payment, and Payments Completed 11 On January 24, 2018, Plaintiffs’ counsel provided written notice to Defendants notifying 12 them of the breaches of the agreements underlying this action, and requesting performance under 13 the agreements, requesting turnover of the property identified as collateral in the agreements, and 14 requesting full payment due under the guaranties. (Robert Decl. ¶ 53; Horowitt Decl., Ex. 1.) 15 Since the drafting of the second amended complaint, Defendants have submitted two 16 separate payments in the amount of $100,000.00. (Robert Decl. ¶ 54.) The first was received on 17 September 10, 2019, and the second payment was received on September 25, 2019. (Id.) Robert 18 declares he has deferred to counsel on how to apply these payments to the amount owed and 19 counsel has calculated the amounts owed in interest and principal. ( Mem. 13; Horowitt Decl. ¶¶ 20 33-45.) Further, immediately prior to the hearing on this motion, Plaintiffs’ notified the Court of 21 additional payments totaling $6,000.00 made by Defendants, and submitted additional calculations 22 of damages based on these additional payments. (ECF Nos. 93, 95.) 23 II. 24 LEGAL STANDARD FOR DEFAULT JUDGMENT 25 “Our starting point is the general rule that default judgments are ordinarily disfavored,” 26 as “[c]ases should be decided upon their merits whenever reasonably possible.” NewGen, LLC 27 v. Safe Cig, LLC, 840 F.3d 606, 616 (9th Cir. 2016) (quoting Eitel v. McCool, 782 F.2d 1470, 28 1472 (9th Cir. 1986). Pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 55, obtaining a default 13 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 14 of 53 1 judgment is a two-step process. Entry of default is appropriate as to any party against whom a 2 judgment for affirmative relief is sought that has failed to plead or otherwise defend as provided 3 by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and where that fact is made to appear by affidavit or 4 otherwise. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(a). After entry of default, a plaintiff can seek entry of default 5 judgment. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b). Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55(b)(2) provides the 6 framework for the Court to enter a default judgment: 7 (b) Entering a Default Judgment. 8 (2) By the Court. In all other cases, the party must apply to the court for a default judgment. A default judgment may be entered against a minor or 9 incompetent person only if represented by a general guardian, conservator, or other like fiduciary who has appeared. If the party against whom a 10 default judgment is sought has appeared personally or by a representative, that party or its representative must be served with written notice of the 11 application at least 7 days before the hearing. The court may conduct hearings or make referrals--preserving any federal statutory right to a jury 12 trial--when, to enter or effectuate judgment, it needs to: 13 (A) conduct an accounting; 14 (B) determine the amount of damages; 15 (C) establish the truth of any allegation by evidence; or 16 (D) investigate any other matter. 17 Fed. R. Civ. P. 55. 18 The decision to grant a motion for entry of default judgment is within the discretion of the 19 court. PepsiCo, Inc. v. California Security Cans, 238 F.Supp.1172, 1174 (C.D. Cal. 2002). The 20 Ninth Circuit has set forth the following seven factors (the “Eitel factors”) that the Court is to 21 consider in exercising its discretion: 22 (1) the possibility of prejudice to the plaintiff, (2) the merits of plaintiff's substantive claim, (3) the sufficiency of the complaint, (4) the sum of money at stake in the 23 action; (5) the possibility of a dispute concerning material facts; (6) whether the default was due to excusable neglect, and (7) the strong policy underlying the Federal 24 Rules of Civil Procedure favoring decisions on the merits. 25 Eitel, 782 F.2d at 1471-72. 26 Generally, once default has been entered, “the factual allegations of the complaint, except 27 those relating to damages, will be taken as true.” Garamendi v. Henin, 683 F.3d 1069, 1080 (9th 28 Cir. 2012) (quoting Geddes v. United Fin. Grp., 559 F.2d 557, 560 (9th Cir. 1977)); see also Fed. 14 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 15 of 53 1 R. Civ. P. 8(b)(6) (“An allegation--other than one relating to the amount of damages--is admitted if 2 a responsive pleading is required and the allegation is not denied.”). “However, necessary facts 3 not contained in the pleadings, and claims which are legally insufficient, are not established by 4 default.” Cripps v. Life Ins. Co. of North America, 980 F.2d 1261, 1267 (9th Cir. 1992) (“In 5 reviewing a default judgment, this court must take the well-pleaded factual allegations of [the 6 complaint] as true.”). Accordingly, the amount of damages must be proven at an evidentiary 7 hearing or through other means. Microsoft Corp. v. Nop, 549 F.Supp.2d 1233, 1236 (E.D. Cal. 8 2008). The relief sought must not be different in kind or exceed the amount that is demanded in 9 the pleadings. Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(c). 10 III. 11 DISCUSSION 12 Plaintiffs seek default judgment and request monetary damages, property offered as 13 collateral through the security agreements, attorneys’ fees, and costs. The Court first determines 14 whether the Court properly has jurisdiction in this matter, and then turns to the Eitel factors to 15 determine the appropriateness of entering default judgment. 16 A. Jurisdiction 17 Initially, the Court considers whether it has jurisdiction in this action. Plaintiffs brought 18 this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332. District courts have original jurisdiction of all civil 19 actions between citizens of different States in which “the matter in controversy exceeds the sum 20 or value of $75,000, exclusive of interest and costs.” 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a). This requires 21 complete diversity of citizenship and the presence “of a single plaintiff from the same State as a 22 single defendant deprives the district court of original diversity jurisdiction over the entire 23 action.” Abrego v. The Dow Chemical Co., 443 F.3d 676, 679 (9th Cir. 2006) (citations 24 omitted). A corporation is deemed to be a citizen of any State by which it has been incorporated 25 and of the State where it has its principal place of business. Lincoln Prop. Co. v. Roche, 546 26 U.S. 81, 94 (2005) (citing 28 U.S.C. § 1332(c)(1)). 27 Plaintiffs are citizens of the State of Florida. (SAC ¶¶ 1, 3; Robert Decl. ¶ 5-6.) 28 Defendant All Pure is a California corporation and its principal place of business is the County of 15 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 16 of 53 1 Fresno, California. (SAC ¶ 4; Robert Decl. ¶ 10.) Defendant APPS is a California corporation 2 with its principal place of business in the County of Los Angeles, California. (SAC ¶ 5; Robert 3 Decl. ¶ 10.) Defendants the Carters are citizens of the State of California. (SAC ¶ 6; Robert 4 Decl. ¶ 9.) Defendants the Zavalas are citizens of the State of Colorado. (SAC ¶ 7; Robert Decl. 5 ¶ 8.) 6 Absent an attack to the allegations in the complaint, the allegations of citizenship are 7 accepted as true. NewGen, LLC, 840 F.3d at 610. As Plaintiffs are citizens of Florida and 8 Defendants are citizens of California and Colorado, complete diversity of citizenship exists. The 9 amount in controversy in the is action is well beyond $75,000.00, so the jurisdictional 10 requirement is met. (SAC at 19-22) 11 Accordingly, the Court finds that it has subject matter jurisdiction over this action 12 pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a). 13 B. Procedural Requirements 14 “A default judgment may be entered against a minor or incompetent person only if 15 represented by a general guardian, conservator, or other like fiduciary who has appeared.” Fed. 16 R. Civ. P. 55. In counsel’s declaration in support of the request for entry of default, counsel 17 declares that none of the Defendants are minors, incompetent persons, persons in the military, or 18 otherwise exempt from default judgment. (Decl. Darryl Horowitt Supp. Req. Entry Default ¶ 5, 19 ECF No. 73.) 20 As a general rule, the Court considers the adequacy of service of process before 21 evaluating the merits of a motion for default judgment. See J & J Sports Prods., Inc. v. Singh, 22 No. 1:13-CV-1453-LJO-BAM, 2014 WL 1665014, at *2 (E.D. Cal. Apr. 23, 2014); Penpower 23 Tech. Ltd. v. S.P.C. Tech., 627 F. Supp. 2d 1083, 1088 (N.D. Cal. 2008); Mason v. Genisco 24 Tech. Corp., 960 F.2d 849, 851 (9th Cir. 1992) (stating that if party “failed to serve [defendant] 25 in the earlier action, the default judgment is void and has no res judicata effect in this action.”). 26 Service of the summons and complaint is the procedure by which a court having venue and 27 jurisdiction of the subject matter of the suit obtains jurisdiction over the person being served. 28 Mississippi Publishing Corp. v. Murphree, 326 U.S. 438, 444–45 (1946); see Direct Mail 16 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 17 of 53 1 Specialists, Inc. v. Eclat Computerized Techs., Inc., 840 F.2d 685, 688 (9th Cir. 1988) (“A 2 federal court does not have jurisdiction over a defendant unless the defendant has been served 3 properly under Fed. R. Civ. P. 4.”). 4 “Rule 4 is a flexible rule that should be liberally construed so long as a party receives 5 sufficient notice of the complaint.” Direct Mail, 840 F.2d at 688 (quoting United Food & 6 Commercial Workers Union v. Alpha Beta Co., 736 F.2d 1371, 1382 (9th Cir. 1984)). However, 7 “without substantial compliance with Rule 4, ‘neither actual notice nor simply naming the 8 defendant in the complaint will provide personal jurisdiction.’ ” Direct Mail, 840 F.2d at 688 9 (quoting Benny v. Pipes, 799 F.2d 489, 492 (9th Cir.1986)). “Once service is challenged, 10 plaintiffs bear the burden of establishing that service was valid under Rule 4.” Brockmeyer v. 11 May, 383 F.3d 798, 801 (9th Cir. 2004) (citations omitted). “[A] signed return of service 12 constitutes prima facie evidence of valid service which can be overcome only by strong and 13 convincing evidence.” SEC v. Internet Solutions for Bus., Inc., 509 F.3d 1161, 1163 (9th Cir. 14 2007). 15 As described above, Plaintiffs have submitted signed returns of service demonstrating 16 Defendants were served with the second amended complaint, the operative complaint in this 17 action. (ECF Nos. 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71.) No challenges to service have been presented 18 to the Court. The Court finds it has proper jurisdiction over Defendants. 19 On March 4, 2020, the Clerk of the Court entered default against Defendants: (1) APPS; 20 (2) All Pure; (3) Jack Carter; (4) Susie Carter; (5) Julie Zavala; and (6) Phil Zavala. (ECF Nos. 21 74, 75 76, 77, 78, 79.)17 22 17 As noted above, both the request for entry of default and supporting declaration refer to all Defendants generally, 23 however, they only refer to Defendants Jack Carter and Susie Carter as Trustees and do not expressly refer to them in their individual capacity in the first portion of the document containing the initial text of the request. (ECF Nos. 72, 73.) The second portion of each of the documents do refer to Jack Carter and Susie Carter as being served in 24 both their individual and Trustee capacities, and refer to all defendants generally as “Defendants.” (Id.) The Court recommends construing and accepting the requests for entry of default and entries of default against Jack Carter and 25 Susie Carter as encompassing and providing notice against them in both their individual and Trustee capacities, given they were named in both capacities in the second amended complaint and served in both capacities, the 26 requests for entry of default reference such service in both capacities, and requested entry of default against all Defendants in the Second Amended Complaint. These Defendants were sufficiently on notice, and the entries of 27 default do not delineate between their capacities, and entered default against “Jack Carter,” and Susie Carter.” The Court notes that when Jack Carter and Susie Carter were previously only named in their capacities as Trustees, the 28 entry of default similarly did not identify the default was taken in the Trustee capacity. (ECF No. 22.) 17 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 18 of 53 1 C. The Eitel Factors Weigh in Favor of Granting Default Judgment 2 As discussed below, the Court finds that consideration of the Eitel factors weighs in favor 3 of granting default judgment in favor of Plaintiffs. 4 1. Prejudice to Plaintiffs if Default Judgment is Not Granted 5 Plaintiff originally filed this action on October 4, 2018. (ECF No. 1.) If default 6 judgment is not entered, Plaintiffs are effectively denied a remedy for the violations alleged until 7 such time as the Defendants in this action decide to appear in the litigation, which may never 8 occur. As described above, all Defendants named in this action were served with the operative 9 complaint, and summonses were returned executed. (ECF Nos. 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71.) 10 No Defendants have filed a responsive pleading or otherwise appeared in the action, none have 11 filed objections challenging service or any opposition to the instant motion for default judgment, 12 and none appeared for the hearing on the instant application. (ECF No. 94.) The Court 13 highlights that on January 24, 2019, Plaintiffs filed a notice of conditional settlement, which 14 while not executed, evidences the fact that the Defendants were in fact involved in negotiations 15 with Plaintiffs, yet despite the apparent breakdown in the settlement negotiations, have 16 nonetheless failed to make an appearance in this action. (ECF No. 13.) Plaintiffs have also 17 made additional payments in September of 2019, following the filing of the second amended 18 complaint, and further payments after the filing and service of the motion for default judgment, 19 and thus appear aware of this ongoing litigation and pending motion for default judgment. (ECF 20 Nos. 92, 93, 95.) 21 Plaintiffs have alleged ongoing breaches of various agreements involving substantial 22 amounts of money over a long period of time, Plaintiffs provided notice and made demand for 23 performance prior to filing lawsuit, and properly pursued their claims and entered default. For 24 all of these reasons, the Court finds Plaintiffs would be substantially prejudiced if default 25 judgment is not granted and finds this Eitel factor weighs in favor of granting default judgment 26 in favor of Plaintiffs. 27 2. The Merits of Plaintiffs’ Substantive Claims and Sufficiency of Complaint 28 The second and third Eitel factors instruct the Court to evaluate the merits of the 18 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 19 of 53 1 substantive claims alleged in the complaint as well as the sufficiency of the complaint itself. It is 2 appropriate for the Court to analyze these two factors together. AMUR Equip. Fin., Inc. v. CHD 3 Transp. Inc., No. 117CV00416AWISKO, 2017 WL 5477379, at *5 (E.D. Cal. Nov. 15, 2017); 4 F.D.I.C. v. Quest, F.S., Inc., No. SACV 10-00710 DOC, 2011 WL 2560428, at *2 (C.D. Cal. 5 June 27, 2011). In doing so, the Court looks to the complaint to determine if the allegations 6 contained within are sufficient to state a claim for the relief sought. Danning v. Lavine, 572 F.2d 7 1386, 1388 (9th Cir. 1978). 8 Above, infra Section I(B), the Court summarized the allegations contained in the second 9 amended complaint and correlated the testimonial support from Plaintiff Robert’s declaration, 10 and counsel Horowitt’s declaration, that were submitted in support of the application for default 11 judgment. The Court incorporates Section I(B) here by way of reference. 12 a. Plaintiffs’ Causes of Action for Breach of Contract 13 The first cause of action is by all Plaintiffs against the Carters in their capacity as 14 Trustees only, the Zavalas, All Pure, and APPS, for breach of the Agreement. (SAC ¶¶ 29-33.) 15 The second cause of action is by all Plaintiffs against the Carters individually and as Trustees, 16 and the Zavalas, for breach of the Note. (SAC ¶¶ 34-39.) The third cause of action is by 17 Plaintiff Robert against All Pure for breach of the Consulting Agreement. (SAC ¶¶ 40-45.)18 18 Under California law, the elements for a cause of action for breach of contact are: (1) the 19 contract; (2) a plaintiff’s performance or excuse for nonperformance; (3) a defendant’s breach of 20 the contract; and (4) damage to plaintiff resulting from the breach. Prop. California SCJLW One 21 Corp. v. Leamy, 25 Cal.App.5th 1155, 1162, 236 Cal.Rptr.3d 500, 505 (Ct. App. 2018). 22 Plaintiffs have established the entering into and existence of: (1) the Agreement, dated 23 January 3, 2012, between Plaintiffs and the Carters as Trustees, the Zavalas, All Pure, and APPS; 24 (2) the Note, dated January 3, 2012, between Plaintiffs and the Carters individually and as 25 Trustees, and the Zavalas, jointly and severally agreeing to the payment obligations of the Note; 26 27 18 The original complaint and first amended complaint did not name Defendant All Pure in the third cause of action for breach of the Consulting Agreement. (ECF Nos. 1, 30.) Following the concerns voiced at the hearing on the 28 previous motion for default judgment, Plaintiffs now name All Pure in the third cause of action. (ECF No. 59.) 19 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 20 of 53 1 and (3) the Consulting Agreement, dated January 3, 2012, between Plaintiff Robert 2 Christofferson and Defendant All Pure. (SAC ¶ 10, Exs. A, C, D; Robert Decl. ¶¶ 14, 16, 17, 3 Exs. A, C, D.) 4 Plaintiffs have established that they performed their obligations under the Agreement, the 5 Note, and the Consulting Agreement. (Mem. 15; SAC ¶¶ 13-14; Robert Decl. ¶¶ 25-26.) 6 Plaintiffs have alleged and demonstrated breach of the Agreement by the Carters as 7 Trustees, the Zavalas, All Pure, and APPS, for: (1) retaining inventory without payment; and (2) 8 improper withdrawal of bank account funds, and retention of the funds despite demand. (SAC ¶¶ 9 15-16; Robert Decl. ¶¶ 27-31.)19 Plaintiffs have alleged and demonstrated breach of the Note by 10 the Carters as Trustees and individually, and the Zavalas. (SAC ¶¶ 17-18; Robert Decl. ¶¶ 33- 11 37, Ex. N.) Plaintiffs have alleged and demonstrated breach of the Consulting Agreement by All 12 Pure. (SAC ¶¶ 20-22; Robert Decl. ¶¶ 38-43.)20 13 Plaintiffs have sufficiently alleged and demonstrated damages flowing from the breach of 14 the Agreement, breach of the Note, and breach of the Consulting Agreement. (SAC ¶¶ 15-22; 15 Robert Decl. ¶¶ 27-43.) 16 In addition to attaching the agreements as exhibits to the complaint, Plaintiffs have also 17 submitted a declaration and exhibits in support of the instant motion for default judgment. 18 Defendants have failed to respond to Plaintiffs’ complaint and thus have admitted these 19 allegations. See Garamendi, 683 F.3d 1069 at 1080; Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(b)(6). For all of these 20 reasons, the second and third Eitel factors weigh in favor of entering default judgment on: (1) 21 Plaintiffs’ first cause of action for breach of the Agreement against the Carters as Trustees only, 22 the Zavalas, All Pure, and APPS; (2) Plaintiffs’ second cause of action for breach of the Note 23 against the Carters as Trustees and individually, and the Zavalas; and (3) Plaintiff Robert’s third 24 19 Although the second amended complaint and memorandum reference all Defendants, Plaintiff Robert’s 25 declaration only references the Carters and Zavalas as not paying for the inventory and withdrawing the funds. And only references All Pure as retaining the funds. (Robert Decl. ¶¶ 27-31.) 26 20 As discussed above, while the second amended complaint was amended to reflect the fact that only Defendant All 27 Pure was a party to the Consulting Agreement, Plaintiff Robert’s declaration still refers to the Carters and Zavalas as failing to adhere to the Consulting Agreement. Nonetheless, the Court finds Plaintiffs have established breach by 28 All Pure. 20 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 21 of 53 1 cause of action against All Pure for breach of the Consulting Agreement. 2 b. Plaintiffs’ Causes of Action for Breach of Guaranty 3 Plaintiffs’ fourth cause of action is against All Pure for breach of guaranty under the All 4 Pure Guaranty, and Plaintiffs’ fifth cause of action is against APPS for breach of guaranty under 5 the APPS Guaranty. (SAC ¶¶ 46-61.) 6 Under California law, the elements for a breach of guaranty claim are generally the same 7 as the elements for a breach of contract claim: (1) existence of the guaranty agreement; (2) 8 plaintiff’s performance or excuse for nonperformance; (3) defendant’s breach; and (4) resulting 9 damage to plaintiff. TBK Bank, SSB v. Singh, No. 117CV00868LJOBAM, 2018 WL 1064357, 10 at *4 (E.D. Cal. Feb. 23, 2018), report and recommendation adopted, No. 11 117CV00868LJOBAM, 2018 WL 3055890 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 21, 2018); Alwood v. Montecalvo, 12 No. CV1408139MMMPJWX, 2015 WL 13306204, at *6 (C.D. Cal. Nov. 3, 2015); Rancho 13 Mountain Properties, Inc. v. Gray, No. 11-CV-00358 BEN BLM, 2012 WL 1192755, at *2 (S.D. 14 Cal. Apr. 9, 2012), aff’d, 578 F. App’x 662 (9th Cir. 2014). 15 Plaintiffs have established the entering into and the existence of the guaranty contracts: 16 (1) the All Pure Guaranty was executed by All Pure in favor of Plaintiffs on January 3, 2012; and 17 (2) the APPS Guaranty was executed by APPS in favor of Plaintiffs on January 3, 2012. (SAC ¶ 18 10, Exs. E, F; Robert Decl. ¶¶ 18-19, Exs. E, F.) Plaintiffs have established that they performed 19 their obligations under these agreements. (SAC ¶ 14; Robert Decl. ¶ 26.) The Court also finds 20 Plaintiffs have established breach of the guaranties and damages flowing from breach of the 21 guaranties. (SAC ¶¶ 23-24, 46-61; Robert Decl. ¶¶ 49-52.) Plaintiffs allege that pursuant to the 22 terms of each of the guaranties signed by All Pure and APPS, each guarantor guaranteed 23 performance of the Agreement and the Note, and in the event of a breach by the Carters or 24 Zavalas in paying the Note, the guarantors were obligated to pay to Plaintiffs the amounts owed 25 by the Carters and the Zavalas. (SAC ¶ 23-24, 46-61; Robert Decl. ¶¶ 49-52.) The Court finds 26 that Plaintiffs have established breach of the guaranties through breach of the Note and 27 Agreement and failure of the guarantors to pay the amount due under the Note and Agreement 28 following the breach. (Id.) 21 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 22 of 53 1 Additionally, under the APPS Guaranty, APPS guaranteed All Pure’s performance of the 2 Consulting Agreement, and in the event of a breach by All Pure in paying the amounts due under 3 the Consulting Agreement, APPS was obligated to pay Plaintiffs the amount owed by All Pure 4 under the Consulting Agreement. (SAC ¶¶ 54-61; Robert Decl. ¶¶ 49-52.) Plaintiffs have 5 adequately established breach of the APPS Guaranty (Robert Decl. ¶¶ 51-52), and thus the Court 6 finds that Defendant APPS is also liable for the balance due under the Consulting Agreement 7 under the APPS Guaranty. 8 Accordingly, the Court finds these factors weigh in favor of granting default judgment in 9 favor of Plaintiffs fourth cause of action for breach of the All Pure Guaranty and imposing 10 liability of All Pure for the obligations of the Carters and Zavalas under the Note and Agreement. 11 Additionally, the Court finds these factors weigh in favor of granting default judgment in favor 12 of Plaintiffs’ eighth cause of action for breach of the APPS Guaranty and imposing liability on 13 APPS for the obligations of the Carters and Zavalas under the Note and Agreement, as well as 14 the liability of All Pure under the Consulting Agreement. 15 c. Plaintiffs’ Causes of Action for Possession of Personal Property Pursuant to the Security Agreements 16 17 Plaintiffs’ sixth cause of action is against All Pure for possession of personal property, 18 seeking the return of collateral secured under the All Pure Security Agreement and acquired 19 through entering into the Agreement, Note, Consulting Agreement, and All Pure Security 20 Agreement. (SAC ¶¶ 62-68.) Plaintiffs’ seventh cause of action is against APPS for possession 21 of personal property, seeking the return of collateral secured under the APPS Security 22 Agreement and acquired through entering into the Agreement, Note, Consulting Agreement, 23 Guaranties, and APPS Security Agreement. (SAC ¶¶ 69-75.) Plaintiffs’ eighth cause of action is 24 against the Carters, as trustees and individually, and the Zavalas, for possession of personal 25 property, seeking return of collateral secured under the Carter and Zavala Security Agreement, 26 the Agreement, Note, Consulting Agreement, and Guaranties. (SAC ¶¶ 76-83.) 27 In briefing, Plaintiffs cite the elements for conversion as follows: (1) Plaintiffs have the 28 right to the property; (2) Defendants interfered with Plaintiffs’ rights to the property by 22 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 23 of 53 1 knowingly or intentionally refusing to return the property upon demand; (3) Plaintiffs did not 2 consent to the Defendants’ interference; (4) harm to Plaintiffs; and (5) Defendants’ conduct was 3 a substantial factor in causing Plaintiffs’ harm. (Mem. 19, citing Judicial Council of California 4 Civil Jury Instruction 2100; Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1712; 3379.) Plaintiffs also cite the remedy of 5 claim and delivery, and California Commercial Code § 9601 for its provision allowing reduction 6 of a claim to judgment, foreclosure, or other enforcement after default. (Mem. 20-21.) 7 The Court finds the complaint and moving papers sufficiently allege and demonstrate 8 Plaintiffs are entitled to return of the personal property secured by the security agreements and 9 described therein.21 “One who wrongfully withholds personal property from another who is 10 21 Despite not expressly labeling their cause of action as one of conversion but rather possession of personal 11 property, because the complaint presents all elements of a cause of action for conversion pursuant to the security agreements, the Court may construe the claim as conversion despite the labeling of the cause of action. See 12 Sateriale v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., 697 F.3d 777, 782 (9th Cir. 2012) (“We focus on the substance of the plaintiffs’ claims, not the plaintiffs’ labels.”); Sholiay v. Fed. Nat. Mortg. Ass’n, No. CIV 2:13-00958, 2013 WL 5569988, at *3 (E.D. Cal. Oct. 9, 2013) (citing Sateriale and construing wrongful foreclosure claim as a breach of 13 contract claim), aff’d, 627 F. App x 654 (9th Cir. 2015); SMSW Enterprises, LLC v. Halberd Corp., No. CV 13- 01412 BRO SPX, 2015 WL 1457605, at *8 (C.D. Cal. Mar. 30, 2015) (construing claim labelled injunctive relief as 14 one for breach of contract as the substance of the allegations contained such elements); China Cent. Television v. Create New Tech. (HK) Ltd., No. CV1501869MMMAJWX, 2015 WL 12732432, at *11 (C.D. Cal. Dec. 7, 2015) 15 (despite plaintiffs’ labeling of claim as trademark infringement and unfair competition, [g]iven the content of the allegations that comprise the cause of action, the court construe[d] the claim as a false designation of origin claim.”); 16 Zekelman Indus. Inc. v. Marker, No. CV-19-02109-PHX-DWL, 2020 WL 1495210, at *7 (D. Ariz. Mar. 27, 2020) (despite describing “claim for ‘unfair competition’—a term that doesn't appear in the text of Section 1125(a) . . . 17 because paragraph 90 of the complaint contains a specific reference to ‘a false designation of origin,’ and because (as discussed below) the liability analysis under Section 1125(a)(1)(A) is relatively straightforward, the Court will 18 construe Count Three as a false association claim.”); Hisamatsu v. Niroula, No. C-07-04371-JSW EDL, 2009 WL 4456392, at *5 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 22, 2009) (although plaintiff “should have brought an action for the bounced check 19 under that statutory provision as opposed to a ‘tort in action’ claim . . . pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8, ‘[p]leadings should be construed so as to do justice,’ and therefore the Court may construe the claim as one 20 brought under section 1719.”), report and recommendation adopted in part sub nom. Hisamaatsu v. Niroula, No. C 07-04371 JSW, 2009 WL 4456391 (N.D. Cal. Nov. 30, 2009); Diversified Prod. Indus. Ltd. v. Skyline Steel, LLC, 21 No. CV0803288GAFMANX, 2009 WL 10698408, at *3 (C.D. Cal. Mar. 11, 2009) (“The Court treats the ‘anticipatory breach of contract’ claim as falling under the general breach of contract claim. In addition, the Court 22 construes Plaintiff’s negligent interference claim (count eight) as a negligent interference with prospective economic advantage claim because it does not appear that a claim of negligent interference with contract is cognizable under 23 California law.”). Further, Plaintiffs also establish a claim for recovery of specific personal property, whether construed as 24 akin to an action for replevin or otherwise. Brown v. Stroud, No. CV 08-2348 VRW, 2011 WL 13312050, at *7 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 28, 2011) (“The essential elements of an action for recovery of specific personal property are (1) the 25 plaintiff’s right to possession of tangible property at the time of commencement of the action and (2) the defendant’s actual and wrongful possession of the property . . . Defendant’s argument that replevin is not a separate claim for 26 relief is incorrect. [R]eplevin is a common law remedy that permits the prevailing party to recover both personal property and incidental damages from an unlawful possessor. In federal courts, replevin is a remedy specifically 27 approved by rule, as governed by the appropriate state law . . . In California, the equivalent of the common law writ of replevin is an action for recovery of specific personal property. . . Therefore, the court rejects defendants’ 28 assertion that the Estate’s claim is merely a remedy, and not a substantive claim.”) (internal citations and quotation 23 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 24 of 53 1 entitled to it under a security agreement may be liable for conversion.” Messerall v. Fulwider, 2 199 Cal. App. 3d 1324, 1329, 245 Cal. Rptr. 548, 550 (Ct. App. 1988), reh’g denied and opinion 3 modified (Apr. 26, 1988); In re Bailey, 197 F.3d 997, 1000 (9th Cir. 1999) (“Under California 4 law, one who wrongfully withholds personal property from another who is entitled to it under a 5 security agreement may be liable for conversion.”); In re Thiara, 285 B.R. 420, 428 (B.A.P. 9th 6 Cir. 2002) (same). The California Commercial Code provides that after default, a secured party 7 may take possession of the collateral: “(1) Pursuant to judicial process[; or] (2) Without judicial 8 process, if it proceeds without breach of the peace.” Cal. Com. Code § 9609(a)-(b). Further, the 9 Code provides that: “(a) After default, a secured party has the rights provided in this chapter and, 10 except as otherwise provided in Section 9602, those rights provided by agreement of the parties,” 11 and a secured party may: “(1) Reduce a claim to judgment, foreclose, or otherwise enforce the 12 claim, security interest, or agricultural lien by any available judicial procedure.” Cal. Com. Code 13 § 9601(a). 14 marks omitted); Borges v. Farrar, No. F040810, 2003 WL 22725357, at *6 (Cal. Ct. App. Nov. 20, 2003) (“Once a 15 judgment is reached in an action for the recovery of personal property, one of several outcomes is possible depending upon which party then has actual possession of the property. If the plaintiff prevails, but does not have 16 possession, he or she is entitled to specific recovery of the property, or if delivery is not possible, to its value plus damages for its taking and detention.”); Fuhu, Inc. v. Toys “R” US, Inc., No. 12CV2308-WQH-WVG, 2013 WL 17 12097569, at *15 (S.D. Cal. Mar. 1, 2013) (“We conclude that an action in conversion affords the proper remedy for the relief sought by the plaintiff. If a party converts the personal property of another, it matters not by what means 18 the conversion is effected, the owner of the property may either proceed in conversion for damages for the wrongful act or in replevin to recover the specific property or damages if it cannot be restored.”) (quoting Shaw v. Palmer, 65 19 Cal. App. 441, 449 (1924)); Washington v. Neloms, No. B294088, 2020 WL 614816, at *1 (Cal. Ct. App. Feb. 10, 2020) (“The operative complaint asserted claims for recovery of specific personal property (often referred to as 20 ‘claim and delivery’), and conversion.”); see also Borges, 2003 WL 22725357, at *5 (“To add to the confusion, the underlying action incorporates to some degree the three common law forms of action available against a defendant 21 who has committed the tort of conversion of personal property: an action for specific recovery of the property when the original taking was unlawful (‘replevin’); an action for specific recovery when the original taking was not 22 unlawful (‘detinue’); and an action only for damages for the value of the property taken (‘trover and conversion’). (5 Witkin, Cal. Procedure, supra, Pleading, § 651, pp. 107-109.) However, a statutory action for the specific recovery 23 of personal property, whether in the nature of replevin or detinue, permits the recovery of the property’s value if the property itself cannot be returned. (§ 667.) Thus, the only significant difference between specific recovery and conversion in such an action is the measure of damages, and the action itself is often termed simply one for 24 conversion.”) (unpublished); Eleanor Licensing LLC v. Classic Recreations LLC, 21 Cal. App. 5th 599, 612, 230 Cal. Rptr. 3d 511, 522 (Ct. App. 2018) (“As Classic emphasizes in its reply brief, Eleanor Licensing and Halicki did 25 not plead or attempt to prove a cause of action for conversion. However, they did plead, and the trial court ruled they had proved, a cause of action for recovery of specific personal property, a code-based cause of action (see Code 26 Civ. Proc., § 627), often incorrectly referred to as a ‘claim and delivery action.’ ”); Goldie v. Bauchet Properties, 15 Cal. 3d 307, 320, 540 P.2d 1, 10 (1975); Bmo Harris Bank N.A. v. Singh, No. 116CV00482DADSAB, 2016 WL 27 5798841, at *7 (E.D. Cal. Oct. 4, 2016) (“An action for claim and delivery requires a plaintiff to show a right to possession and the defendant’s wrongful possession of the property at issue.”). 28 24 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 25 of 53 1 Under California law, a security interest is enforceable against a debtor if: “(1) Value has 2 been given[;] (2) [t]he debtor has rights in the collateral or the power to transfer rights in the 3 collateral to a secured party[;] . . . [and] (3) (A) The debtor has authenticated a security 4 agreement that provides a description of the collateral.” Cal. Com. Code § 9203(b); Marshall 5 Wealth Mgmt. Grp., Inc. v. Santillo, No. 18-CV-03510-LHK, 2019 WL 79036, at *7 (N.D. Cal. 6 Jan. 2, 2019); United States v. Uptergrove, No. 1:10-CV-01598-RMW, 2012 WL 639482, at *5 7 (E.D. Cal. Feb. 24, 2012) (“Under California Commercial Code Section 9203(b)(3)(A), a 8 security interest in personal property is created by a security agreement between a debtor and the 9 secured party.”); ERA Franchise Sys., Inc. v. Brager & Assocs., Inc., No. 10 1:06CV1861LJONEW, 2007 WL 2238161, at *7 (E.D. Cal. Aug. 2, 2007) (“California law 11 provides that an enforceable security interest is created when (1) the debtor has signed a security 12 agreement containing a description of the collateral . . . (2) value has been given, and (3) the 13 debtor has rights in the collateral beyond mere possession”), report and recommendation adopted 14 sub nom. ERA Franchise Sys., Inc. v. Brager & Assocs., No. 106CV1861LJONEW, 2007 WL 15 2409603 (E.D. Cal. Aug. 21, 2007). 16 California law has conformed its law with the Uniform Commercial Code (“UCC”). Cal. 17 Comm. Code § 9101; Santillo, 2019 WL 79036, at *7. Under the UCC, to sign a document is to 18 authenticate it. Santillo, 2019 WL 79036, at *7 (citing In re Wharton, 563 B.R. 289, 298 (B.A.P. 19 9th Cir. 2017)). 20 Plaintiffs have established the entering into the All Pure Security Agreement executed by 21 All Pure as debtor, in favor of Plaintiffs. (SAC ¶ 10, Ex. G, ECF No. 59-1 at 81-92; Robert 22 Decl. ¶ 20, Ex. G, ECF No. 83-1 at 81-92.) The All Pure Security Agreement describes 23 collateral that secures all existing and future indebtedness of the Carters as Trustees and 24 individually, the Zavalas, APPS, and/or All Pure as debtors to Plaintiffs as secured parties, 25 including the Note, the Consulting Agreement, the All Pure Guaranty, and the APPS Guaranty. 26 (Id.) The collateral is described as “the following property, whether now owned or owing to, or 27 hereafter acquired by or arising in favor of, Debtor, including under any trade names, styles, or 28 derivations of Debtor, and whether owned by or consigned by or to, or leased from or to, Debtor, 25 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 26 of 53 1 and regardless of where located”: (1) all accounts; (2) all chattel paper; (3) all contracts; (4) all 2 equipment; (5) all general intangibles; (6) all goods); (7) all instruments and letters of credit; (8) 3 all intellectual property; (9) all inventory; (10) all investment property; (11) all deposit accounts; 4 (12) all money, cash, or cash equivalents; and (13) “[t]o the extent not otherwise included, all 5 proceeds and products of the foregoing and all accessions to, substitutions and replacements for, 6 and rents and profits of each of the foregoing.” (ECF No. 59-1 at 85-86.) The signatories are 7 Plaintiffs Robert and Sandra as the secured parties, and All Pure as debtor, signed by Jack Carter 8 as President on behalf of All Pure. (ECF No. 59-1 at 92.) 9 Plaintiffs have established the entering into the APPS Security Agreement executed by 10 APPS as debtor, in favor of Plaintiffs. (SAC ¶ 10, Ex. H, ECF No. 59-1 at 93-104; Robert Decl. 11 ¶ 21, Ex. H, ECF No. 83-1 at 93-104.) The APPS Security Agreement describes collateral that 12 secures all existing and future indebtedness of the Carters as Trustees and individually, the 13 Zavalas, APPS, and/or All Pure as debtors to Plaintiffs as secured parties, including the Note, the 14 Consulting Agreement, the All Pure Guaranty, and the APPS Guaranty. (Id.) The collateral is 15 described as “the following property, whether now owned or owing to, or hereafter acquired by 16 or arising in favor of, Debtor, including under any trade names, styles, or derivations of Debtor, 17 and whether owned by or consigned by or to, or leased from or to, Debtor, and regardless of 18 where located”: (1) all accounts; (2) all chattel paper; (3) all contracts; (4) all equipment; (5) all 19 general intangibles; (6) all goods); (7) all instruments and letters of credit; (8) all intellectual 20 property; (9) all inventory; (10) all investment property; (11) all deposit accounts; (12) all 21 money, cash, or cash equivalents; and (13) “[t]o the extent not otherwise included, all proceeds 22 and products of the foregoing and all accessions to, substitutions and replacements for, and rents 23 and profits of each of the foregoing.” (ECF No. 59-1 at 97-98.) The signatories are Plaintiffs 24 Robert and Sandra as the secured parties, and APPS as debtor, signed by Jack Carter as President 25 on behalf of APPS. (Id. at 104.) 26 Plaintiffs have established the entering into the Carter and Zavala Security Agreement 27 executed by the Carters and the Zavalas as debtors, in favor of Plaintiffs. (SAC ¶ 10, Ex. I, ECF 28 No. 59-1 at 105-110; Robert Decl. ¶ 22, Ex. I, ECF No. 83-1 at 105-110). The Carter and Zavala 26 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 27 of 53 1 Security Agreement describes collateral that secures all existing and future indebtedness of the 2 Carters as Trustees and individually, the Zavalas, APPS, and/or All Pure as debtors to Plaintiffs 3 as secured parties, including the Note, the Consulting Agreement, the All Pure Guaranty, and the 4 APPS Guaranty. (Id.) The collateral is described as (1) one thousand (1,000) shares of the 5 common stock of APPS, represented by share certificate(s) no. 11 registered in the name of the 6 Carter Family Trust and all stock distributions of such; (2) four hundred and ninety (490) shares 7 of the common stock of All Pure, share certificate no. 4 registered in the name of Phil Zavala and 8 Julie Zavala, and all stock distributions of such stock; and (3) five hundred and ten (510) shares 9 of the common stock of All Pure, share certificate no. 3 registered in the name of Jack Carter and 10 Susie Carter as Trustees of the Carter Family Trust, and all stock distributions of such stock. 11 (ECF No. 59-1 at 106.) The signatories are Plaintiffs Robert and Sandra as the secured parties, 12 the Carters as Trustees and individually, and the Zavalas, as debtors. (ECF No. 59-1 at 110.) 13 The three security agreements each provide that the failure of Defendants to pay any 14 amounts owed under the underlying agreements constitutes a breach of the respective security 15 agreements, and further provide that upon default, Plaintiffs may take possession of the secured 16 collateral and that Defendants shall allow Plaintiffs to enter their business locations to take 17 possession of all collateral identified, giving notice of public or private sale, and may exercise all 18 rights and remedies available to a secured creditor, including but not limited to the rights and 19 remedies available under the California Commercial Code. (ECF No. 59-1 at 89-90, 101-102, 20 108-109.) 21 The Court finds the APPS Security Agreement, the All Pure Security Agreement, and the 22 Carter and Zavala Security Agreement, meet the three requirements under California law for 23 enforceability of a security agreement described above. First, value has been given through 24 securing payment of the obligations contained in the agreements. Cal. Com. Code § 9203(b)(1). 25 Second, the debtors had the rights in the collateral or the power to transfer rights in the collateral 26 to the secured parties. Cal. Com. Code § 9203(b)(2). Third, the Court finds Plaintiffs have 27 established that the debtors have “authenticated a security agreement that provides a description 28 of the collateral.” Cal. Com. Code § 9203(b)(3)(A); Santillo, 2019 WL 79036, at *7 (to sign a 27 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 28 of 53 1 document is to authenticate it under the UCC); Century 21 Real Estate, LLC. v. Heritage Real 2 Estate, Inc., No. C06 7809 WDB, 2007 WL 2023552, at *12 (N.D. Cal. July 6, 2007) (noting a 3 security agreement’s description of the collateral “should include some designation of the 4 property conveyed and of the place where it may be found . . . [h]owever the description need 5 not be specific [and ] [a]ll that is required is that the agreement reasonably identif[y] what is 6 described . . . [and] California courts indicate that the description may be less precise when only 7 the rights of the parties to the security agreement are at issue.”) (internal citations and quotation 8 marks omitted). 9 The All Pure Security Agreement identifies the location of the collateral as 3237 E. 10 Malaga, Fresno, California 93725, and the APPS Security Agreement identifies the location of 11 the collateral as 9100 Independence Ave., Chatsworth, California 91311. (ECF No. 59-1 at 88, 12 100.) While the Carter and Zavala Security Agreement does not identify the location of the 13 stock certificates, it identifies an address to serve notice on the debtor parties: P.O. Box 1282, 14 Simi Valley, California 93062. (ECF No. 59-1 at 110.) Further, in Plaintiff Robert’s 15 declaration, the presumptive location of the collateral is identified as 3237 E. Malaga, Fresno, 16 California 93725, or another location only known to Defendants. (Robert Decl. ¶ 46.) Plaintiff 17 declares a belief that none of the collateral is being held by Defendants for any tax purpose, and 18 believes the current market value is less than $500,000.00. (Robert Decl. ¶¶ 47-48.) 19 The Court thus finds the security agreements to be enforceable and that Plaintiffs have 20 established a right to foreclose on the security interests. See Santillo, 2019 WL 79036, at *7 (“In 21 the instant case, value was given by Plaintiffs in exchange for a security interest in transacted 22 assets as set forth in the Agreement, the debtor is in possession and has rights in the collateral, 23 and the debtor has signed a security agreement that provides a description of the collateral . . . 24 This is sufficient to state a claim for foreclosure of a security interest.”). As noted above, “One 25 who wrongfully withholds personal property from another who is entitled to it under a security 26 agreement may be liable for conversion.” Messerall, 199 Cal. App. 3d at 1329; In re Bailey, 197 27 F.3d at 1000. Plaintiffs have sufficiently established breach of the agreements underlying the 28 Security Agreements, specifically the Note, the Consulting Agreement, the All Pure Guaranty, 28 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 29 of 53 1 and the APPS Guaranty. See supra Section I(B); Section III(C)(2)(a)-(b). Through the breach of 2 the agreements described in the security agreements Plaintiffs have established the elements for 3 conversion, or for recovery of specific personal property, however the claim is construed, as 4 described above. See footnote 21, supra; Judicial Council of California Civil Jury Instruction 5 2100; see also Ox Labs, Inc. v. Bitpay, Inc., No. CV 18-5934-MWF (KSX), 2020 WL 1039012, 6 at *7 (C.D. Cal. Jan. 24, 2020) (“Available remedies for conversion include specific recovery of 7 property with damages for its detention and damages based on the value of the property.”) 8 (quoting Flores v. Dep’t of Corr. & Rehab., 224 Cal. App. 4th 199, 206, 168 Cal. Rptr. 3d 204, 9 209 (2014)). Also as noted above, the Commercial Code provides that after default, a secured 10 party may take possession of the collateral: “(1) Pursuant to judicial process[; or] (2) Without 11 judicial process, if it proceeds without breach of the peace.” Cal. Com. Code § 9609(a)-(b). 12 Further, the Code provides that after a default, a secured party may: “(1) Reduce a claim to 13 judgment, foreclose, or otherwise enforce the claim, security interest, or agricultural lien by any 14 available judicial procedure.” Cal. Com. Code § 9601(a); see also Century 21 Real Estate, LLC. 15 v. Heritage Real Estate, Inc., No. C06 7809 WDB, 2007 WL 2023552, at *12–13 (N.D. Cal. July 16 6, 2007) (recommending entering judgment under security agreements pursuant to California 17 Commercial Code § 9601). 18 Accordingly, for all of the above reasons, the Court recommends the district judge enter a 19 judgment for Plaintiffs and against Defendants on Plaintiffs sixth, seventh, and eighth causes of 20 action that permits Plaintiffs to take possession of the collateral secured by the All Pure Security 21 Agreement, the APPS Security Agreement, and the Carter and Zavala Security Agreement. 22 d. Plaintiffs’ Cause of Action for Rights to Stock Shares and Remedies 23 Plaintiffs’ ninth cause of action is against the Carters, as Trustees and individually, and 24 the Zavalas, for a declaratory judgment regarding their rights to the stock shares identified as 25 collateral in the Carter and Zavala Security Agreement. (SAC ¶¶ 84-90.) 26 Under California law, a complaint for declaratory relief must demonstrate: (1) a proper 27 subject of declaratory relief, and (2) an actual controversy involving justiciable questions relating 28 to the rights or obligations of a party. Northfield Ins. Co. v. Garcia, No. 115CV01701DADSKO, 29 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 30 of 53 1 2016 WL 2625934, at *5 (E.D. Cal. May 9, 2016) (citing Brownfield v. Daniel Freeman Marina 2 Hosp., 208 Cal. App. 3d 405, 410 (1989)), report and recommendation adopted, No. 3 115CV01701DADSKO, 2016 WL 8650137 (E.D. Cal. July 22, 2016). Proper subject matter for 4 declaratory relief is described in the California Code of Civil Procedure: 5 Any person interested under a written instrument, excluding a will or a trust, or under a contract, or who desires a declaration of his or her rights or duties with respect to another, 6 or in respect to, in, over or upon property, or with respect to the location of the natural channel of a watercourse, may, in cases of actual controversy relating to the legal rights 7 and duties of the respective parties, bring an original action or cross-complaint in the superior court for a declaration of his or her rights and duties in the premises, including a 8 determination of any question of construction or validity arising under the instrument or contract. He or she may ask for a declaration of rights or duties, either alone or with other 9 relief; and the court may make a binding declaration of these rights or duties, whether or not further relief is or could be claimed at the time. The declaration may be either 10 affirmative or negative in form and effect, and the declaration shall have the force of a final judgment. The declaration may be had before there has been any breach of the 11 obligation in respect to which said declaration is sought. 12 Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 1060; see also Osseous Techs. of Am., Inc. v. DiscoveryOrtho Partners 13 LLC, 191 Cal. App. 4th 357, 364–65, 119 Cal. Rptr. 3d 346, 351–52 (2010) (“Declaratory relief 14 pursuant to this section has frequently been used as a means of settling controversies between 15 parties to a contract regarding the nature of their contractual rights and obligations.”) (citations 16 omitted). 17 Plaintiffs’ description of this claim and requested relief appears to differ between the 18 complaint and the application for default judgment and associated materials. First, in the second 19 amended complaint, the heading for the ninth claim for relief is only brought against the Carters 20 (Trustees and individually), and the Zavalas, for “Rights to Stock Shares and Remedies.” (SAC 21 ¶¶ 84-90.) Thereafter, that section of the complaint describes the Carter and Zavala Security 22 Agreement and the collateral secured by such agreement, namely the stock certificates, and 23 Plaintiffs’ right to such. (Id.) This section does not refer to either the APPS Security Agreement 24 nor the All Pure Security Agreement, nor does it refer to the collateral secured by those 25 agreements. (Id.) In the relief portion of the complaint, Plaintiffs state they seek a declaration 26 that: (1) Defendants have breached their respective contracts and obligations, including the 27 Agreement, Note, Consulting Agreement, All Pure Guaranty, APPS Guaranty, All Pure Security 28 30 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 31 of 53 1 Agreement, APPS Security Agreement, and the Carter and Zavala Security Agreement; and (2) 2 Plaintiffs are entitled to exercise their rights and remedies over the Carter and Zavala Collateral, 3 including, but not limited to, transferring and registering the Carter and Zavala Collateral in their 4 names, or any part of it, and exercise all rights, options, and privileges with respect to the Carter 5 and Zavala Collateral as set forth in the Carter and Zavala Security Agreement. (SAC at 22.) 6 The application for default judgment and supporting materials expand out on the 7 requested declaratory relief and request the relief to encompass the collateral under the APPS 8 Security Agreement and All Pure Security Agreement, and request relief stating: “Judgment in 9 favor of Plaintiffs Robert and Sandra Christofferson against Defendants Jack & Su[s]ie Carter 10 (individually and in their capacity as trustees), Phil & Julie Zavala, All Pure, and APPS 11 determining that Defendants have breached their respective contracts, agreements, and 12 obligations with Plaintiffs including the Agreement, Note, Consulting Agreement, All Pure 13 Guaranty, APPS Guaranty, All Pure Security Agreement, Apps Security Agreement, and the 14 Carter and Zavala Security Agreement and thus, Plaintiffs are entitled to exercise their rights and 15 remedies of the All Pure, APPS, Carter, and Zavala collateral, including but not lim[i]ted to, 16 transferring and registering the Carter and Zavala shares in All Pure and APPS into their names, 17 or any part of it, and to exercise all rights, options, and privileges thereto.” (ECF Nos. 81 at 5, 18 84 at 35; 90 at 5.) In the memorandum in support of the application, Plaintiff states they “are 19 entitled to a binding determination of their rights to certain property, including, but not limited 20 to, possession of the stock shares, and the right to exercise their rights and remedies set out in 21 Paragraph 9 of the Carter and Zavala Security Agreement and any other collateral or remedy 22 consistent with the aforementioned causes of action of the SAC and set out elsewhere in this 23 memorandum.” (Mem. 21.) 24 At the hearing on the motion for default judgment, the Court noted that the declaratory 25 relief requested in Plaintiffs’ motion appeared somewhat more expansive than contained in the 26 ninth cause of action within the second amended complaint. Plaintiffs’ counsel indicated that 27 given the fact that the sixth and seventh claims for relief already provide the needed relief under 28 the APPS Security Agreement and All Pure Security Agreement, declaratory relief would largely 31 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 32 of 53 1 be duplicative and thus essentially unnecessary, and thus Plaintiffs were not objectionable to the 2 Court’s use of the more narrow declaratory relief as requested in the operative pleading. 3 Accordingly, the Court recommends granting default judgment on Plaintiffs’ ninth cause 4 of action and entering a declaratory judgment as follows: (1) Defendants have breached their 5 respective contracts and obligations, including the Agreement, Note, Consulting Agreement, All 6 Pure Guaranty, APPS Guaranty, All Pure Security Agreement, APPS Security Agreement, and 7 the Carter and Zavala Security Agreement; and (2) Plaintiffs are entitled to exercise their rights 8 and remedies over the Carter and Zavala Collateral, including, but not limited to, transferring and 9 registering the Carter and Zavala Collateral in their names, or any part of it, and exercise all 10 rights, options, and privileges with respect to the Carter and Zavala Collateral as set forth in the 11 Carter and Zavala Security Agreement. (SAC at 22.) 12 3. The Sum of Money at Stake in the Action 13 Default judgment is disfavored where large amounts of money are involved or the award 14 would be unreasonable in light of the defendant’s actions. G & G Closed Circuit Events, LLC v. 15 Nguyen, No. 3:11-cv-06340-JW, 2012 WL 2339699, at *2 (N.D. Cal. May 30, 2012). In this 16 action, Plaintiffs are seeking damages in excess of one million dollars in addition to attorneys’ 17 fees. Plaintiffs are also seeking possession of property offered as collateral backing the 18 agreements. While the amount is substantial, the amounts in question are not prospective or 19 subjective as in a medical malpractice or personal injury case where various factors and disputes 20 may impact the amounts, but are rather fully established and objective amounts of money that 21 were agreed to by the parties through the entering of various signed agreements that were 22 performed on in part through ongoing payments before the breaches occurred. 23 Thus, while the amount is substantial, it is not unreasonable in light of the allegations 24 contained in the complaint and supporting documentation. Defendants have failed to appear and 25 dispute the amounts requested in damages. Accordingly, the Court finds this factor is neutral or 26 weighs in favor of granting default judgment. 27 4. The Possibility of a Dispute Concerning Material Facts 28 There is little possibility of dispute regarding the material facts due to the factual 32 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 33 of 53 1 allegations in the complaint being taken as true upon Defendant’s default. Defendants were 2 properly served, have failed to appear, and therefore have admitted all material facts alleged in 3 Plaintiff’s complaint. See Garamendi, 683 F.3d at 1080; PepsiCo, 238 F. Supp. at 1177 (“Upon 4 entry of default, all well-pleaded facts in the complaint are taken as true, except those relating to 5 damages.”). Thus, there is no dispute regarding the material facts due to the factual allegations 6 in the complaint being taken as true upon Defendants’ default. 7 Accordingly, this factor weighs in favor of granting default judgment in favor of 8 Plaintiffs. 9 5. Whether the Default Was Due to Excusable Neglect 10 Defendants have been served with the operative complaint and failed to file a responsive 11 pleading. (ECF Nos. 64-71.) Although served with the application for entry of default and 12 application for default judgment (ECF Nos. 72, 87, 92), Defendants did not subsequently make 13 an appearance or filing in this action, nor file an objection or opposition to the motion for default 14 judgment. Given these facts, there is no indication or evidence that the failure to respond was 15 due to excusable neglect. See Shanghai Automation Instrument Co. v. Kuei, 194 F. Supp. 2d 16 995, 1005 (N.D. Cal. 2001) (“The default of defendant . . . cannot be attributed to excusable 17 neglect. All were properly served with the Complaint, the notice of entry of default, as well as 18 the papers in support of the instant motion.”). 19 Accordingly, the Court finds this Eitel factor weighs in favor of granting default 20 judgment in favor of Plaintiffs. 21 6. The Strong Policy Underlying the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Favoring Decisions on the Merits 22 23 Default judgments are disfavored because “[c]ases should be decided on their merits 24 whenever reasonably possible.” Eitel, 782 F.2d at 1472. However, the policy favoring decisions 25 on the merits does not weigh against entering default judgment whereas here the Defendants’ 26 failure to appear has made a decision on the merits impossible at this juncture. Given the 27 prejudice to Plaintiff if default judgment is not granted as discussed above, and the merits of the 28 allegations contained in the complaint, granting default judgment in this case would not violate 33 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 34 of 53 1 the general policy under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure favoring decisions on the merits. 2 See PepsiCo, 238 F. Supp. 2d at 1177 (“Defendant’s failure to answer Plaintiffs’ Complaint 3 makes a decision on the merits impractical, if not impossible. Under Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(a), 4 termination of a case before hearing the merits is allowed whenever a defendant fails to defend 5 an action.”). 6 Accordingly, the Court finds the policy favoring decisions on the merit does not preclude 7 entering default judgment against Defendants under these circumstances. 8 7. The Eitel Factors Weigh in Favor of Granting Default Judgment 9 Based on the foregoing, the Court finds that the Eitel factors weigh in favor of granting 10 default judgment on all of Plaintiffs’ causes of action, and recommends that Plaintiff’s motion 11 for default judgment be granted. 12 D. Relief Requested 13 Plaintiffs seek principal damages due under the agreements, recovery of personal 14 property pursuant to the security agreements, interest, attorneys’ fees, and the costs of bringing 15 suit in this matter. 16 1. Principal Damages and Interest 17 Under the Agreement, Plaintiffs allege Defendants (Carters only as Trustees), failed to 18 pay the market value of $998.62 for bottles of pool chemicals, and failed to reimburse Plaintiffs 19 for $14,733.45 improperly withdrawn from All Pure business checking account. (Mem. 10-11; 20 Robert Decl. ¶¶ 27-31; SAC ¶¶ 15-16.) 21 Due to the continuing failure to make monthly payments beginning in October of 2017 22 and continuing thereafter, Plaintiffs allege the breach of the Note accelerated the full balance due 23 in the sum of $798,375.52, as of June 1, 2018, plus late fees in the amount of $450.00. (Mem. 24 11, 16; Robert Decl. ¶¶ 34-37, Ex. N; SAC ¶¶ 35-36.) 25 Plaintiffs allege All Pure failed to make monthly payments due on the Consulting 26 Agreement beginning in October 1, 2017, and now the total amount owed for breach of the 27 Consulting Agreement is $240,000.00, plus late fees in the amount of $450.00. (Mem. 12; 28 Robert Decl. ¶¶ 41-44; SAC ¶¶ 21, 43.) 34 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 35 of 53 1 Defendants made two separate payments of $100,000.00 since the drafting of the second 2 amended complaint, the first on September 10, 2019, and the second on September 25, 2019. 3 (Mem. 13; Robert Decl. ¶ 54.) The application of these payments to the amounts owed in 4 interest and principal is delineated in counsel’s declaration. (Mem. 13; Horowitt Decl. ¶¶ 33- 5 45.) Immediately prior to the hearing on this motion, on June 9, 2020, Plaintiffs notified the 6 Court that two additional payments of $3,000.00 each were made following the filing of the 7 motion for default judgment. (ECF No. 93.) The payments are dated May 29, 2020 and June 1, 8 2020. Due to accounting discrepancies identified by the Court and highlighted at the June 10, 9 2020 hearing, on June 11, 2020, Plaintiffs’ counsel filed a supplemental declaration correcting 10 such discrepancies and recalculating damages for the Court to use in confirming the calculated 11 damages. (Post-Hearing Declaration of Keith M. White (“White Decl.”), ECF No. 95.) The 12 declaration further updates the calculations by incorporating and applying the two recent 13 payments of $3,000.00 each. (Id.) 14 Counsel Horowitt declares that on the Note, simple interest was calculated at the rate of 15 8.5% using the amortization program Value. (Horowitt Decl. ¶ 33, Ex. 6.) 16 a. Principal and Interest Prior to September 10, 2019 17 Plaintiffs proffer that prior to the two September 2019 payments, Defendants owed the 18 following amounts in principal damages: (1) $15,732.07 on the Agreement since March 1, 2012; 19 (2) $798,375.52 on the Note since June 1, 2018, with accrued interest of $15,241.28 as of June 1, 20 2018, the date of the last payment; (3) $240,000 as of January 4, 2018 on the Consulting 21 Agreement. (Robert Decl. ¶ 56, Ex. N; Horowitt Decl. ¶ 33-35, Ex. 6; White Decl. ¶ 35.)22 22 Plaintiffs proffer that from March 1, 2012 to September 10, 2019, interest accrued for 23 22 It appears that Plaintiffs omitted adding the $450.00 in late fees that is described as being added to the principal 24 balance in the memorandum. (Mem. 16.) Therein, Plaintiffs state that the total principal balance on the Note prior to the September 2019 payments was $798,825.52, including the $450.00 in fees. (Id.) Although $450.00 in late 25 fees is also referenced in one portion of the memorandum as being applicable to the balance owing on the Consulting Agreement (Mem. 12), another portion does not (Mem. 16). Thus, it appears counsel’s workup here 26 omits any addition of late fees to the principal balances on the Note and Consulting Agreement prior to proceeding to compute interest. At the June 10, 2020 hearing, counsel acknowledged these fees were in fact omitted, and 27 Plaintiffs accept such omission and do not request a recalculation with such fees included, and thus these calculations do not include such late fees. (ECF No. 94.) 28 35 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 36 of 53 1 2,749 days under the Agreement’s balance of $15,732.07 at 10% per annum at a daily rate of 2 $4.31 for a total of $11,848.19, waiving interest between January 4, 2012 through March 1, 3 2012. (White Decl. ¶ 36.)23 4 Plaintiffs proffer that from June 1, 2018 through September 10, 2019, interest accrued for 5 466 days on the Note’s balance of $798,375.52 at a daily rate of $185.92 for a total of 6 $86,638.72, which combined with the accrued interest, the total interest owed on the Note on 7 September 10, 2019, was $101,880.00. (White Decl. ¶ 37.)24 8 Plaintiffs proffer that from January 4, 2018, to September 10, 2019, interest accrued for 9 614 days on the principal amount of $240,000.00 at 10% per annum at a daily rate of $65.75 for 10 a total of $40,370.50. (White Decl. ¶ 38, as correcting Horowitt Decl. ¶ 38.)25 11 b. Application of September 10, 2019 Payment and Interest Prior to September 25, 2019 12 13 Plaintiffs proffer that by applying the September 10, 2019 payment of $100,000.00 to 14 interest first, the payment eliminated the accrued interest on the Agreement, and all but 15 $13,728.19, of the interest on the Note. (White Decl. ¶ 39, as correcting Horowitt Decl. ¶ 39.)26 16 After the September 10, 2019 payment and prior to September 25, 2019 payment, 17 additional interest accrued. Plaintiffs proffer that from September 10, 2019, to September 25, 18 2019, interest accrued for 15 days under the Agreement’s balance of $15,732.07 at 10% per 19 annum at a daily rate of $4.31 for a total of $64.65. (Horowitt Decl. ¶ 41; White Decl. ¶ 41.)27 20 23 Plaintiffs’ original filings made a typo stating the period ended in the year 2020, rather than 2019. (Mem. 25; 21 Horowitt Decl. ¶ 36.) Further, even using the year 2019, the Court found the Plaintiff’s calculation using a span of 2,707 days to be incorrect, and notified Plaintiff of this fact at the June 10, 2020 hearing. Counsel White’s 22 declaration now uses the correct time span of 2,749 days. (White Decl. ¶ 36.) The calculation appears correct: (15,732.07 × 0.1 ÷ 365 = 4.31) (4.31 × 2,749 = 11,848.19). 23 24 Plaintiffs’ original filings utilized a time span of 455 days in the calculation, and finding such time span to be incorrect, notified Plaintiff of this fact at the June 10, 2020 hearing. Counsel White’s declaration now uses the correct time span of 466 days. (White Decl. ¶ 37.) The calculation appears correct: ($798,375.52 × 0.085 ÷ 24 365 = $185.92) ($185.92 × 466 = $86,638.72) ($15,241.28 + $86,638.72 = $101,880.00). , 25 25 The calculation appears correct: ($240,000.00 × 0.10 ÷ 365 = $65.75) ($65.75 × 614 = $40,370.50). 26 26 This calculation appears correct: ($100,000.00 - $11,848.19 = $88,151.81) ($101,880.00 - $88,151.81 = $13,728.19). 27 27 This calculation appears correct: ($4.31 × 15 = $64.65). 28 36 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 37 of 53 1 Plaintiffs proffer that from September 10, 2019, to September 25, 2019, interest accrued 2 for 15 days on the Note’s balance of $798,375.52 at a daily rate of $185.92 for a total of 3 $2,788.80, which when combined with the accrued interest of $13,728.19, makes the total 4 interest owed on the Note on September 25, 2019, $16,516.99. (White Decl. ¶ 42, as correcting 5 Horowitt Decl. ¶ 42.) 28 6 Plaintiffs proffer that from September 10, 2019, to September 25, 2019, interest accrued 7 for 15 days on the Consulting Agreement’s principal amount of $240,000.00 at 10% per annum 8 at a daily rate of $65.75 for a total of $986.25, which when combined with the previously 9 accrued interest, totals $41,356.75. (White Decl. ¶ 43; Horowitt Decl. ¶ 43.) 29 10 c. September 25, 2019 Payment and Interest Thereafter 11 Plaintiffs proffer that after applying the September 25, 2019 payment of $100,000.00 to 12 interest first, the payment eliminates the accrued interest on the Agreement, the Note, and the 13 Consulting Agreement, with $42,061.61 remaining. (White Decl. ¶ 44, as correcting Horowitt 14 Decl. ¶ 44.) 30 15 Thereafter, the remaining amount of the payment was applied to each contract by a 16 percentage calculated by the original amount owed for each contract at the time of the breach, 17 divided by the total amount owed at the time of the breach, and thus: (1) 1.5211% or $639.80 18 was applied to the balance of the Agreement; (2) 77.1950% or $32,469.46 was applied to the 19 Note; and 21.2839% or $8,952.35 was applied to the Consulting Agreement. (White Decl. ¶ 45, 20 as correcting Horowitt Decl. 45.)31 Therefore, as of September 25, 2019, there remained due and 21 28 This calculation appears correct: ($185.92 × 15 = $ 2,788.80) ($2,788.80 + $13,728.19 = $16,516.99). 22 29 This calculation appears correct: ($40,370.50 + $986.25 = $41,356.75). 23 30 This calculation appears correct: ($100,000.00 - $64.65 - $16,516.99 - $41,356.75 = $42,061.61). 24 31 It is unclear precisely how counsel calculated these percentages. For example, taking the amounts discussed above owing at the time of the breach, excluding the $450.00 late fees counsel states was omitted, yields the 25 following similar, but not identical percentages: ($15,732.07 + $798,375.52 + $240,000.00 = $1,054,107.59, the total amount of the three contracts); ($15,732.07 ÷ $1,054,107.59 = 0.0149, or 1.49% on the Agreement); 26 ($798,375.52 ÷ 1,054,107.59 = 0.7573, or 75.73% on the Note); and ($240,000.00 ÷ $1,054,107.59 = 0.2276, or 22.76% on the Consulting Agreement). Nonetheless, the Court recommends accepting the allocation as 27 proffered, given any differences, which may or may not be errors, are minimal given the total sum of the remaining payment was in fact applied to these three agreements’ balances, and these percentages only varied slightly the 28 precise allocation between the agreements. 37 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 38 of 53 1 owing: (1) $15,092.27 on the Agreement; (2) $765,906.06 on the Note; and (3) $231,047.65 on 2 the Consulting Agreement. (White Decl. ¶ 45, as correcting Horowitt Decl. ¶ 45; Mem. 17-18.)32 3 Plaintiffs proffer that from September 25, 2019, interest accrues on the Agreement’s 4 principal balance of $15,092.27 at 10% per annum at the daily rate of $4.1349.33 (White Decl. ¶ 5 46, correcting Horowitt Decl. ¶ 46.) Plaintiffs proffer that from September 25, 2019, interest 6 accrues on the Note’s principal balance of $765,906.06 at 8.5% per annum at the daily rate of 7 $178.3617.34 (White Decl. ¶ 47, correcting Horowitt Decl. ¶ 47.) Plaintiffs proffer that from 8 September 25, 2019, interest accrues on the Consulting Agreement’s principal balance of 9 $231,047.65 at 10% per annum at the daily rate of $63.3007. 35 (White Decl. ¶ 48, correcting 10 Horowitt Decl. ¶ 48.) 11 d. Application of the May 29, 2020, and June 1, 2020 Payments 12 In the original declaration submitted notifying the Court of the May 29, 2020, and June 1, 13 2020 payments of $3,000.00 each, Plaintiffs first requested the payments be applied to attorneys’ 14 fees first, and then interest. (ECF No. 93 at 3.) At the hearing, counsel explained the most 15 straightforward and practical application of the payments would be to apply to the accrued 16 interest on the Consulting Agreement, and the post-hearing declaration requests the payments be 17 applied to the accrued interest on the Consulting Agreement. (White Decl. ¶ 48.1)36 18 Plaintiffs proffer that from September 25, 2019, and May 29, 2020, interest accrued for 19 247 days at the daily rate of $63.3007, and thus the Consulting Agreement accrued interest of 20 32 21 This calculation appears correct using the above numbers: (1) Agreement (0.015211 × $42,061.61 = $639.7991) ($15,732.07 - $639.7991 = $15,092.2709); (2) Note (0.77195 × $42,061.61 = $32,469.459) 22 ($798,375.52 - $32,469.459 = $765,906.061); (3) Consulting Agreement (0.212839 × $42,061.61 = $8,952.351) ($240,000.00 - $8,952.351 = $231,047.649). 33 23 This calculation appears correct: ($15,092.27 × 0.10 ÷ 365 = $4.134868). 34 This calculation appears correct: ($765,906.06 × 0.085 ÷ 365 = $178.36168). 24 35 This calculation appears correct: ($231,047.65 × 0.10 ÷ 365 = $63.3007). 25 36 The Court notes that only All Pure was a party to the Consulting Agreement. While one declaration avers that Defendant Phil Zavala made the contact regarding the most recent payments, the declarations do not indicate that 26 Defendants requested the payments to be applied in any particular manner. (ECF Nos. 93; White Decl. ¶ 48.1.) Nonetheless, given the overlapping nature of the parties across the various agreements and guaranties, this does not 27 appear facially improper, and the Court recommends accepting Plaintiffs’ request to apply the payments to the accrued interest on the Consulting Agreement. 28 38 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 39 of 53 1 $15,635.27 through May 29, 2020.37 (White Decl. ¶ 48.1) Plaintiffs proffer that after applying 2 the two $3,000 payments, there remains $9,635.27 of accrued interest on May 29, 2020, and the 3 principal amount and the daily interest rate remains unchanged.38 (White Decl. ¶ 48.1) 4 e. Remaining Principal and Further Interest Calculations 5 Based on all of the above calculations Plaintiff’s proffer the Agreement’s remaining 6 principal is $15,092.27 and accrues daily interest of $4.1349 from September 25, 2019. (White 7 Decl. ¶ 48.2) Plaintiffs proffer the Note’s remaining principal is $765,906.06 and accrues daily 8 interest of $178.3617 from September 25, 2019. (White Decl. 48.3) Plaintiffs proffer that the 9 Consulting Agreement’s remaining principal is $231,047.65, with accrued interest unpaid in the 10 amount of $9,635.27, in addition to daily interest of $63.3007 accruing from May 29, 2020. 11 (White Decl. ¶ 48.4.) 12 The Court finds these amounts due to be fair and accurate. Accordingly, the Court 13 recommends entering default judgment and awarding principal damages and interest in these 14 amounts, with such further interest accruing on the Agreement and Note since September 25, 15 2019, and on the Consulting Agreement since May 29, 2020. 16 2. Recovery of Property Under the Security Agreements 17 Above, infra Sections I(B) and III(C)(2)(c), the Court summarized the property described 18 as collateral within the All Pure Security Agreement, the APPS Security Agreement, and the 19 Carter and Zavala Security Agreement, and found that Plaintiffs were entitled to default 20 judgment on the claims relating to these security agreements, and entitled to recover such 21 property. The Court incorporates Sections I(B) and III(C)(2)(c) here by way of reference. Based 22 on these facts and the discussion incorporated herein, the Court recommends entering judgment 23 allowing Plaintiffs to recover the collateral described in the All Pure Security Agreement, APPS 24 Security Agreement, and the Carter and Zavala Security Agreement. 25 /// 26 37 This calculation appears correct: (247 × $63.3007 = $15,635.27). The Court notes that while one payment was received after May 29, 2020, Plaintiffs have utilized this earlier date in applying the payment, a slight 27 concession that favors Defendants. 28 38 This calculation appears correct: ($15,635.27 - $6,000.00 = $9,635.27). 39 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 40 of 53 1 3. Attorneys’ Fees 2 Plaintiffs are requesting attorneys’ fees in the amount of $82,368.00 pursuant to 3 California Civil Code Section 1717. (Mem. 22-25; Horowitt Decl. ¶ 55.) 4 “In an action involving state law claims, we apply the law of the forum state to determine 5 whether a party is entitled to attorneys’ fees, unless it conflicts with a valid federal statute or 6 procedural rule.” MRO Commc’ns, Inc. v. Am. Tel. & Tel. Co., 197 F.3d 1276, 1282 (9th Cir. 7 1999). California Civil Code Section 1717 allows for the recovery of reasonable attorneys’ fees 8 by the prevailing party in an action involving a contract, when the contract contains an attorneys’ 9 fees provision. Section 1717 provides in relevant part: 10 (a) In any action on a contract, where the contract specifically provides that attorney’s fees and costs, which are incurred to enforce that contract, shall be awarded either to one 11 of the parties or to the prevailing party, then the party who is determined to be the party prevailing on the contract, whether he or she is the party specified in the contract or not, 12 shall be entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees in addition to other costs . . . 13 . . . Reasonable attorney’s fees shall be fixed by the court, and shall be an element of the costs of suit . . . 14 . . . (b)(1) The court, upon notice and motion by a party, shall determine who is the party 15 prevailing on the contract for purposes of this section, whether or not the suit proceeds to final judgment. Except as provided in paragraph (2), the party prevailing on the contract 16 shall be the party who recovered a greater relief in the action on the contract. The court may also determine that there is no party prevailing on the contract for purposes of this 17 section. 18 Cal. Civ. Code § 1717. “Although Section 1717 limits the court’s ability to enforce an attorney 19 fees clause to ‘any action on the contract,’ California courts liberally construe ‘on a contract’ to 20 extend to any action ‘[a]s long as an action ‘involves’ a contract and one of the parties would be 21 entitled to recover attorney fees under the contract if that party prevails in its lawsuit.’ ” In re 22 Baroff, 105 F.3d 439, 442–43 (9th Cir. 1997) (quoting Milman v. Shukhat, 22 Cal.App.4th 538, 23 27 Cal.Rptr.2d 526, 529–30 (1994)). 24 In awarding fees under Civil Code Section 1717, “the fee setting inquiry in California 25 ordinarily begins with the ‘lodestar,’ i.e., the number of hours reasonably expended multiplied by 26 the reasonable hourly rate.” PLCM Grp. v. Drexler, 22 Cal.4th 1084, 1095, 997 P.2d 511, 518 27 (2000), as modified (June 2, 2000). The Court has “broad authority to determine the amount of a 28 reasonable fee.” Id. The Ninth Circuit has explained the lodestar approach as follows: 40 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 41 of 53 1 The lodestar/multiplier approach has two parts. First a court determines the lodestar 2 amount by multiplying the number of hours reasonably expended on the litigation by a reasonable hourly rate. The party seeking an award of fees must submit evidence 3 supporting the hours worked and the rates claimed. A district court should exclude from the lodestar amount hours that are not reasonably expended because they are excessive, 4 redundant, or otherwise unnecessary. Second, a court may adjust the lodestar upward or downward using a multiplier based on factors not subsumed in the initial calculation of 5 the lodestar. The lodestar amount is presumptively the reasonable fee amount, and thus a multiplier may be used to adjust the lodestar amount upward or downward only in rare 6 and exceptional cases, supported by both specific evidence on the record and detailed findings by the lower courts that the lodestar amount is unreasonably low or 7 unreasonably high. 8 Van Gerwin v. Guarantee Mut. Life Co., 214 F.3d 1041,1045 (9th Cir. 2000) (internal citations, 9 footnote, and quotation marks omitted). 10 Thus, under the lodestar method, the Court will first determine the appropriate hourly rate 11 for the work performed, and that amount is then multiplied by the number of hours properly 12 expended in performing the work. Antoninetti v. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc., 643 F.3d 1165, 13 1176 (9th Cir. 2010); McElwaine v. US W., Inc., 176 F.3d 1167, 1173 (9th Cir. 1999). The 14 lodestar amount is to be determined based upon the prevailing market rate in the relevant 15 community. Blum v. Stenson, 465 U.S. 886, 896 (1984); Drexler, 22 Cal.4th at 1095 (“The 16 reasonable hourly rate is that prevailing in the community for similar work.”) (citations omitted). 17 “In determining reasonable hours, counsel bears the burden of submitting detailed time records 18 justifying the hours claimed to have been expended.” Chalmers v. City of Los Angeles, 796 F.2d 19 1205, 1210 (9th Cir. 1986) (citations omitted). “Those hours may be reduced by the court where 20 documentation of the hours is inadequate; if the case was overstaffed and hours are duplicated; if 21 the hours expended are deemed excessive or otherwise unnecessary.” Id. 22 “While in most cases the lodestar figure is presumptively reasonable, ‘in rare cases, a 23 district court may make upward or downward adjustments to the presumptively reasonable 24 lodestar on the basis of those factors set out in [Kerr v. Screen Extras Guild], that have not been 25 subsumed in the lodestar calculation.’ ” Camacho v. Bridgeport Fin., Inc., 523 F.3d 973, 982 26 (9th Cir. 2008) (quoting Gates v. Deukmejian, 987 F.2d 1392, 1402 (9th Cir. 1992)). The Kerr 27 factors are as follows: (1) the time and labor required; (2) the novelty and difficulty of the 28 41 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 42 of 53 1 questions involved; (3) the skill requisite to perform the legal service properly; (4) the preclusion 2 of other employment by the attorney due to acceptance of the case; (5) the customary fee; (6) 3 whether the fee is fixed or contingent; (7) time limitations imposed by the client or the 4 circumstances; (8) the amount involved and the results obtained; (9) the experience, reputation, 5 and ability of the attorneys; (10) the undesirability of the case; (11) the nature and length of the 6 professional relationship with the client; and (12) awards in similar cases. Kerr v. Screen Extras 7 Guild, Inc., 526 F.2d 67, 70 (9th Cir. 1975) (citing Johnson v. Georgia Highway Express, Inc., 8 488 F.2d 714 (5th Cir. 1974)). 9 The Court now turns to the attorneys’ fee provisions contained in the agreements 10 underlying this action. 11 a. The Attorneys’ Fee Provisions in the Relevant Agreements 12 Plaintiffs proffer that the Note, Consulting Agreement, both guaranties, and the security 13 agreements, each contain provisions which allow the prevailing party to recover attorneys’ fees. 14 (Horowitt Decl. ¶ 49.) The Note provides that: “In the event Holder takes any action to enforce 15 any provision of this Note, either through legal proceedings or otherwise, Maker promises to 16 immediately reimburse Holder for reasonable attorneys’ fees and all other costs and expenses so 17 incurred.” (ECF No. 59-1 at 65-66.) The Consulting Agreement provides that: “If any action or 18 other proceeding is brought for the enforcement of this Agreement, or because of any alleged or 19 actual dispute, in connection with any of the provisions of this Agreement, the successful or 20 prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs incurred in 21 that action or proceeding, in addition to any other relief to which it may be entitled.” (ECF No. 22 59-1 at 71.) 23 The All Pure Guaranty and the APPS Guaranty have identical provisions which state that: 24 “Guarantor further agrees, without demand, to immediately reimburse Creditor for all costs and 25 expenses, including attorney fees, incurred in enforcing this Guaranty or collecting the 26 Indebtedness, or in connection with or resulting from the engagement of counsel by Creditor 27 during a restructuring or ‘workout’ of the Indebtedness.” (ECF No. 59-1 at 74, 78.) The All 28 Pure Security Agreement and the APPS Security Agreement contain the following identical 42 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 43 of 53 1 attorneys’ fee provision: “Debtor will pay all costs and expenses of the Secured Party enforcing 2 its rights under this agreement, including reasonable attorney fees.” (ECF No. 59-1 at 90, 102.) 3 Additionally, the Carter and Zavala Security Agreement contains the following provision: 4 “Debtor will pay all costs and expenses of collection, including reasonable attorney fees.” (ECF 5 No. 59-1 at 109.) 6 The Court notes that the Stock Sale and Purchase Agreement itself does not contain an 7 attorney’s fee provision, however the Note is referenced in the Agreement and attached as 8 Exhibit A to the Agreement (ECF No. 59-1 at 2, 16, 64), the Consulting Agreement is referenced 9 in the Agreement and attached as Exhibit B to the Agreement (ECF No. 59-1 at 3, 18, 69), the 10 All Pure Guaranty is referenced in the Agreement and attached as Exhibit C to the Agreement 11 (ECF No. 59-1 at 3, 21, 73), the APPS Guaranty is referenced in the Agreement and attached as 12 Exhibit D to the Agreement (ECF No. 59-1 at 3, 24, 77), the Carter and Zavala Security 13 Agreement is referenced in the Agreement and attached as Exhibit E to the Agreement (ECF No. 14 59-1 at 3, 28, 106), the All Pure Security Agreement is referenced in the Agreement and attached 15 as Exhibit F to the Agreement (ECF No. 59-1 at 3, 33, 82), and the APPS Security Agreement is 16 referenced in the Agreement and attached as Exhibit G to the Agreement (ECF No. 59-1 at 3, 44, 17 94). 18 Based on the foregoing, the Court finds that this is an action on the contract and 19 recommends that Plaintiffs recovery attorneys’ fees and costs as the prevailing party. Cal. Civ. 20 Code § 1717; In re Baroff, 105 F.3d at 442–43. The Court will now turn to determining the 21 amount of reasonable attorneys’ fees that Plaintiffs is entitled to recover. Drexler, 22 Cal.4th at 22 1095. 23 b. Reasonable Hourly Rate 24 The lodestar amount is to be determined based upon the prevailing market rate in the 25 relevant community. Blum, 465 U.S. at 896 (1984). The relevant legal community for the 26 purposes of the lodestar calculation is generally the forum in which the district court sits, 27 Gonzalez v. City of Maywood, 729 F.3d 1196, 1205 (9th Cir. 2013), which in this matter is the 28 Fresno Division of the Eastern District of California. The standard is the “rate prevailing in the 43 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 44 of 53 1 community for similar work performed by attorneys of comparable skill, experience, and 2 reputation.” Barjon v. Dalton, 132 F.3d 496, 502 (9th Cir. 1997) (quoting Chalmers v. City of 3 Los Angeles, 796 F.2d 1205, 1210–11 (9th Cir.1986)). 4 Plaintiffs seek various hourly fees for the attorneys who provided services in this matter. 5 While Plaintiffs have provided descriptions of the amount of experience of the attorneys, 6 Plaintiffs presented no evidence regarding the reasonableness of the fees in this district. Thus, 7 the Court relies on fee awards in other cases in this district and relies on its own knowledge of 8 customary legal local rates and experience with the legal market in setting a reasonable hourly 9 rate. See Ingram v. Oroudjian, 647 F.3d 925, 926 (9th Cir. 2011) (holding where party failed to 10 submit affidavits from local attorneys or from a fee expert to show the requested rates matched 11 the prevailing market rates, the district court appropriately relied, in part, on its own knowledge 12 and familiarity with the local legal market). 13 In the Fresno Division of the Eastern District of California, generally, attorneys with 14 experience of twenty or more years of experience are awarded $325.00 to $400.00 per hour, 15 attorneys with ten to twenty years of experience are awarded $250.00 to $325.00, attorneys with 16 five to ten years of experience are awarded $225.00 to $250.00, and less than $200.00 for 17 attorneys with less than five years of experience. See In re Taco Bell Wage & Hour Actions, 222 18 F.Supp.3d 813, 839 (E.D. Cal. 2016) (noting attorneys in Fresno Division with twenty or more 19 years of experience are awarded $350.00 to $400.00 per hour, and attorneys with less than fifteen 20 years of experience are awarded $250.00 to $350.00 per hour); see also Garcia v. FCA US LLC, 21 No. 1:16-CV-0730-JLT, 2018 WL 1184949, at *6 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 7, 2018) (awarding $400.00 22 per hour to attorney with nearly thirty years of experience; $300.00 to attorney with nearly 23 fifteen years of experience; $250.00 to attorney with ten years of experience; $225.00 to 24 attorneys attorney with five years of experience; and $175.00 to attorney with less than five years 25 of experience); Mike Murphy’s Enterprises, Inc. v. Fineline Indus., Inc., No. 1:18-CV-0488- 26 AWI-EPG, 2018 WL 1871412, at *3 (E.D. Cal. Apr. 19, 2018) (awarding attorney with over 27 twenty years of experience the $325.00 per hour requested, the $300.00 per hour requested by 28 attorney with nearly twenty years of experience, and attorney with seven years of experience the 44 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 45 of 53 1 requested $250.00 per hour); TBK Bank, SSB v. Singh, No. 1:17-CV-00868-LJO-BAM, 2018 2 WL 1064357, at *8 (E.D. Cal. Feb. 23, 2018), report and recommendation adopted, No. 3 117CV00868LJOBAM, 2018 WL 3055890 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 21, 2018) (awarding attorneys with 4 over thirty-five years of experience $400.00 per hour, attorney with twenty years of experience 5 $350.00 per hour; and attorney with ten years of experience $300.00 per hour); Roach v. Tate 6 Publ’g & Enterprises, No. 1:15-CV-00917-SAB, 2017 WL 5070264, at *10 (E.D. Cal. Nov. 3, 7 2017) (awarding attorney with sixteen years of experience $325.00 per hour in copyright action); 8 Sanchez w. Frito-Lay, Inc., No. 1:14-cv-00797-AWI-MJS, 2015 WL 4662636, at *18 (E.D. Cal. 9 Aug. 5, 2015) (in a wage and hour class action finding reasonable rate of $350.00 per hour for 10 attorneys with more than twenty years of experience and $275.00 per hour for attorney with 11 fourteen years of experience). 12 Darryl Horowitt has been practicing law for nearly forty years with extensive trial and 13 general litigation experience. (Horowitt Decl. ¶ 80.) Counsel declares that his rate changed as 14 this litigation was ongoing, and is seeking $390.00 per hour for earlier work, and $410.00 per 15 hour for work conducted later in the litigation. (Id.) The Court finds both these rates are 16 reasonable based on the amount of experience. 17 William Coleman has been a practicing attorney since 1976, a period of over forty years. 18 (Id. at ¶ 81.) Counsel Coleman’s rate changed as this litigation was ongoing, and is seeking 19 $390.00 per hour for earlier work, and $410.00 per hour for work conducted later in the 20 litigation. (Id.) The Court finds both rates are reasonable based on this amount of experience. 21 (Horowitt Decl. ¶ 81.) 22 Sheryl D. Noel is a partner in the law firm and has been a practicing attorney since 1994, 23 a period of approximately twenty-five years, and proffers counsel Noel’s customary rate is 24 $325.00 per hour. (Id. at ¶ 82.) However, a review of the timekeeping records reflect counsel 25 Noel billed at a rate of $350.00 per hour. (ECF No. 82 at 79, 98.) The Court finds the rate of 26 $350.00 per hour is reasonable based on this amount of experience. (Id.) 27 Keith White is a partner in the law firm and has been a practicing attorney since 1996, a 28 period of nearly twenty-five years. (Id. at ¶ 83.) The Court finds his customary rate of $325.00 45 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 46 of 53 1 per hour is reasonable based on this amount of experience. (Id.) 2 Jennifer T. Poochigian is a partner in the law firm and has been a practicing attorney 3 since 2004, a period of approximately fifteen years. (Id. at ¶ 84.) The Court finds her customary 4 rate of $325.00 per hour is reasonable based on this amount of experience. (Id.) 5 Craig A. Tristao is a partner in the law firm and has been a practicing attorney since 6 2004, a period of approximately twelve years. (Id. at ¶ 63.) Counsel proffers counsel Tristao’s 7 customary rate is $325.00 per hour. (Id.) However, a review of the timekeeping records reflect 8 counsel Tristao billed at a rate of $285.00 per hour. (ECF No. 82 at 69.) The Court finds the 9 billed rate of $285.00 per hour is reasonable based on this amount of experience. (Id.) 10 Rin Bo and Janet Sheen are paralegals that have been with the law firm since 2004. (Id. 11 at ¶ 64-65.) The Court finds the requested rate of $165.00 is reasonable for the paralegal 12 services rendered.39 13 Based on the foregoing, the Court recommends that Plaintiffs recover attorneys’ fees in 14 the amounts of: (1) $390.00 per hour for the earlier services of Darryl Horowitt and $410.00 per 15 hour for the later services of Darryl Horowitt; (2) $390.00 per hour for the services of William 16 Coleman; (3) $325.00 per hour for the services of Sheryl D. Noel, Keith White, Jennifer T. 17 Poochigian, and Craig Tristao; and (4) $165.00 per hour for the services of paralegals Rin Bo 18 and Janet Sheen. 19 c. Reasonable number of hours 20 “In determining reasonable hours, counsel bears the burden of submitting detailed time 21 records justifying the hours claimed to have been expended.” Chalmers v. City of Los Angeles, 22 796 F.2d 1205, 1210 (9th Cir. 1986) (citations omitted). “Those hours may be reduced by the 23 court where documentation of the hours is inadequate; if the case was overstaffed and hours are 24 duplicated; if the hours expended are deemed excessive or otherwise unnecessary.” Id. 25 Attorneys and paralegals enter their time into a commercial time and billing program and 26 39 Although a reduction in the paralegal fees could be justifiable, Schultz v. Ichimoto, No. 1:08CV526OWW SMS, 27 2010 WL 3504781, at *8 (E.D. Cal. Sept. 7, 2010) (stating 10 years ago that the favored paralegal rate is $75.00 per hour), the Court declines to recommend any deviation from the requested rate, given the nominal amount of hours 28 expended at this rate. 46 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 47 of 53 1 Plaintiffs’ counsel has submitted time records for each of the attorneys’ work, and described the 2 type of work each attorney completed. (Horowitt Decl. ¶¶ 52-79, Ex. 7, ECF No. 82 at 58.) The 3 Court has reviewed the timekeeping records and although a relatively large amount of hours have 4 been expended to reach this point in the litigation, the Court finds the amount of hours expended 5 to be reasonable based on the complexity of the action, the repeated settlement negotiations with 6 associated workups of damages, and the reasonable need for amending the complaint and filing 7 the renewed motion for default judgment. 8 d. Reasonable Attorneys’ Fee Award 9 Based on the foregoing, the Court finds that: (1) Darryl Horowitt reasonably expended 10 74.35 hours in this action at reasonable rates of $390.00, and $410.00 per hour, and the Court 11 recommends awarding the requested total of $24,179.17; (2) William Coleman reasonably 12 expended 42 hours in this action at reasonable rates of $390.00, and $410.00 per hour, and the 13 Court recommends awarding the requested total of $16,454.00; (3) Sheryl D. Noel reasonably 14 expended 2.6 hours in this action at a reasonable rate of $350.00 per hour, and the Court 15 recommends awarding the requested total of $910.00; (4) Keith White reasonably expended 16 108.7 hours in this action at a reasonable rate of $325.00 per hour, and the Court recommends 17 awarding the requested total of $27,660.8340; (5) Jennifer T. Poochigian reasonably expended 18 39.8 hours in this action at a reasonably rate of $325.00 per hour, and the Court recommends 19 awarding the requested total of $12,921.0041; (6) Craig Tristao reasonably expended 0.10 hours 20 in this action at a reasonable rate of $285.00 per hour, and the Court recommends awarding the 21 40 22 The Court notes that 108.7 multiplied by $325.00 equals $35,327.50. Plaintiffs request $27,860.83 for these services, the same amount reflected in the timekeeping records. (Horowitt Decl. ¶ 62; ECF No. 82 at 98.) The 23 earliest record for counsel White reflects the same hourly rate of $325.00 per hour (ECF No. 82 at 69), and it is not clear whether the reduction in the total amount was due to certain hours or billable totals being cut. However, given the requested amount is the same total reflected in the timekeeping program, and any reduction does not cut against 24 Defendants, the Court shall recommend awarding the requested amount. 25 41 The Court notes that 39.8 multiplied by $325.00 equals $12,935.00. Plaintiffs request $12,921.00 for these services, the same amount reflected in the timekeeping records. (ECF No. 82 at 98.) It appears the earliest record 26 for counsel Poochigian reflects the same hourly rate of $325.00 per hour (ECF No. 82 at 77), and it is not clear what accounts for the slight reduction in the total amount. However, given the requested amount is the same total 27 reflected in the timekeeping program, and any reduction does not cut against Defendants, the Court recommends awarding the requested amount. 28 47 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 48 of 53 1 requested total of $28.50; (7) Rin Bo reasonably expended 0.5 hours in this action at a reasonable 2 rate of $165.00 per hour, and the Court recommends awarding the requested total of $82.50; and 3 (8) Janet Sheen reasonably expended 0.80 hours in this action at a reasonable rate of $165.00 per 4 hour, and the Court recommends awarding the requested $132.00. (Ex. 7, ECF No. 82 at 98.) 5 Accordingly, the Court recommends that Plaintiffs be awarded the requested attorneys’ 6 fees in the total amount of $82,368.00.42 7 5. Costs 8 Plaintiffs also seek reimbursement of costs in the amount of $400.00 for the filing fee 9 paid in this action as well as $2,416.65 for service of process. (Mem. 25; Horowitt Decl. ¶ 48.) 10 Plaintiffs’ memorandum requests a total of $2,816.55, however the proposed order and 11 declaration omit the $400.00 from the final calculation, showing a total of $2,416.55. (Mem. 25; 12 Horowitt Decl. ¶ 85; ECF No. 90 at 5.) It appears the correct total is $2,816.55. (Horowitt 13 Decl., Ex. 7, ECF No. 82 at 96-97.)43 14 Accordingly, the Court finds that the costs sought are reasonable and recommends that 15 Plaintiffs’ request for $2,816.55 in costs be granted. 16 IV. 17 FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 18 Having reviewed the papers and pleadings submitted in support of the motion for default 19 judgment, the Court finds that Plaintiffs have established each claim raised in the second 20 amended complaint. The Eitel factors weigh in favor of granting default judgment, and the entry 21 of default judgment is within the discretion of the Court. See Aldabe v. Aldabe, 616 F.2d 1089, 22 1092 (9th Cir. 1980). 23 /// 24 42 The calculation within the timekeeping program appears correct: ($82.50 + $28.50 + $132.00 + $27,660.83 + $12,921.00 + $910.00 + $24, 179.17 + $16,454.00 = $82,368.00). 25 43 ($400.00 + $143.20 + $239.00 + $59.75 + $239.00 + $183.00 + $183.00 + $143.65 + $83.90 + $83.90 26 + $83.90 + $143.65 + $83.90 + $171.70 + $575.00 = $2,816.55). A review of the spreadsheet reveals there are five charges for overnight mail not included in the requested costs: $20.24, $51.22, $20.24, $35.96, and $51.22. 27 (ECF No. 82 at 96-97.) The Court presumes Plaintiffs intentionally omitted these minor charges as not reflective of proper recoverable amounts, or omitted as nominal charges. 28 48 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 49 of 53 1 Based upon the foregoing, the Court HEREBY RECOMMENDS that: 2 1. The Court GRANT Plaintiffs’ motion for default judgment; and 3 2. Judgment be entered in favor of Plaintiffs, and against Defendants, as follows: 4 On the First Cause of Action 5 Judgment in favor of Plaintiffs Robert and Sandra Christofferson against Defendants Jack 6 Carter & Susie Carter44 (in their capacity as Trustees only), Phil Zavala, Julie Zavala, All Pure, 7 and All Pure Pool & Spa, Inc. (APPS), jointly and severally in the amount of $15,092.27, plus 8 daily interest of $4.1349 from September 25, 2019 to the date of entry of judgment, plus costs 9 and attorneys’ fees. 10 On the Second Cause of Action 11 Judgment in favor of Plaintiffs Robert and Sandra Christofferson against Defendants Jack 12 Carter & Susie Carter (as individuals and in their capacity as Trustees), Phil Zavala & Julie 13 Zavala jointly and severally in the amount of $765,906.06, plus daily interest of $178.3617 from 14 September 25, 2019, to the date of entry of judgment, plus costs and attorneys’ fees. 15 On the Third Cause of Action 16 Judgment in favor of Plaintiff Robert Christofferson against Defendant All Pure in the 17 amount of $231,047.65, plus accrued interest unpaid in the amount of $9,635.27, plus daily 18 interest of $63.3007 from May 29, 2020, to the date of entry of judgment, plus costs and 19 attorneys’ fees. 20 On the Fourth Cause of Action 21 Judgment in favor of Plaintiffs Robert and Sandra Christofferson against Defendant All 22 Pure in the amount of $780,998.33, plus daily interest of $182.4966 from September 25, 2019 to 23 the date of entry of judgment, plus costs and attorneys’ fees.45 24 On the Fifth Cause of Action 25 Judgment in favor of Plaintiffs Robert and Sandra Christofferson against Defendant All 26 44 While the proposed order spells Ms. Carter’s name with a “z” (Suzie), the docket, complaint, and agreements spell her name with an “s” and the Court utilizes that spelling. (ECF Nos. 59, 59-1 at 13.) 27 45 This is the sum of the amount owed on the Agreement and Note, plus the daily interest on both: ($15,092.27 + $765,906.06 = $780,998.33) ($4.1349 + $178.3617 = $182.4966). 28 49 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 50 of 53 1 Pure Pool & Spa, Inc. (APPS), in the principal amount of $1,012,045.98, plus daily interest of 2 $182.4966 from September 25, 2019 to the date of entry of judgment, plus daily interest of 3 $63.3007 from May 29, 2020 to the date of entry of judgment, plus costs and attorneys’ fees.46 4 On the Sixth Cause of Action 5 Judgment in favor of Plaintiffs Robert and Sandra Christofferson against Defendant All 6 Pure for the All Pure Collateral including: 7 (1) All Accounts; 8 (2) All Chattel Paper; 9 (3) All Contracts; 10 (4) All Equipment; 11 (5) All General Intangibles; 12 (6) All Goods; 13 (7) All Instruments and letters of credit; 14 (8) All Intellectual Property; 15 (9) All Inventory; 16 (10) All Investment Property; 17 (11) All Deposit Accounts; 18 (12) All money, cash, or cash equivalents; and 19 (13) To the extent not otherwise included, all proceeds and 20 products of the foregoing and all accessions to, substitutions and replacements for, and rents and 21 profits of each of the foregoing. 22 Or the amount of $780,998.33, plus daily interest of $182.4966 from September 25, 2019 23 to the date of entry of judgment, plus costs and attorneys’ fees.47 24 46 The principal sum is the amount owed on the Agreement, Note, and Consulting Agreement: ($15,092.27 + 25 $765,906.06 + $231,047.65 = $ 1,012,045.98). The daily interest on the Agreement and Note accrues since September 25, 2019 ($4.1349 + $178.3617 = $182.4966), and the daily interest on the Consulting Agreement 26 accrues since May 29, 2020 ($63.3007). 47 This is the total amount of principal and interest owed by the Debtors under the Agreement and Note ($15,092.27 27 + $765,906.06 = $780,998.33) ($178.3617 + $4.1349 = $182.4966), as secured under the All Pure Security Agreement. 28 50 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 51 of 53 1 On the Seventh Cause of Action 2 Judgment in favor of Plaintiffs Robert and Sandra Christofferson against Defendant All 3 Pure Pool & Spa, Inc. (APPS)48: 4 (1) All Accounts; 5 (2) All Chattel Paper; 6 (3) All Contracts; 7 (4) All Equipment; 8 (5) All General Intangibles; 9 (6) All Goods; 10 (7) All Instruments and letters of credit; 11 (8) All Intellectual Property; 12 (9) All Inventory; 13 (10) All Investment Property; 14 (11) All Deposit Accounts; 15 (12) All money, cash, or cash equivalents; and 16 (13) To the extent not otherwise included, all proceeds and 17 products of the foregoing and all accessions to, substitutions and replacements for, and rents and 18 profits of each of the foregoing. 19 Or the amount of $1,012,045.98, plus daily interest of $182.4966 from September 25, 20 2019 to the date of entry of judgment, plus daily interest of $63.3007 from May 29, 2020 to the 21 date of entry of judgment, plus costs and attorneys’ fees.49 22 On the Eighth Cause of Action 23 Judgment in favor of Plaintiffs Robert and Sandra Christofferson against Defendants Jack 24 Carter & Susie Carter (as individuals and in their capacity as Trustees), Phil Zavala, & Julie 25 48 While the proposed order refers to All Pure Pool Service of Central California, Inc., dba America’s Swimming Pool Co. here (All Pure) (ECF No. 90), the seventh cause of action is directed at APPS under the APPS Security 26 Agreement, not All Pure. (ECF Nos. 59 at 2, 15; 59-1 at 94.) 49 This is the total amount of principal and interest owed by owed by the Debtors under the Agreement, Note, and 27 Consulting Agreement (15092.27 + 765906.06 + 231047.65 = 1,012,045.98) ($178.3617 + $4.1349 = $182.4966), as secured under the APPS Security Agreement. See Borges, 2003 WL 22725357, at *5. 28 51 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 52 of 53 1 Zavala, for the possession of all right, title, and interest in the stock shares now owned, or 2 hereafter acquired in All Pure and APPS, as described supra, Section III(C)(2)(c), plus costs and 3 attorneys’ fees. 4 On the Ninth Cause of Action 5 Declaratory judgment in favor of Plaintiffs Robert and Sandra Christofferson against 6 Defendants Jack & Susie Carter (individually and in their capacity as trustees), Phil Zavala, & 7 Julie Zavala, determining that: (1) Defendants have breached their respective contracts and 8 obligations, including the Agreement, Note, Consulting Agreement, All Pure Guaranty, APPS 9 Guaranty, All Pure Security Agreement, APPS Security Agreement, and the Carter and Zavala 10 Security Agreement; and (2) Plaintiffs are entitled to exercise their rights and remedies over the 11 Carter and Zavala Collateral as set forth in the Carter and Zavala Security Agreement, including, 12 but not limited to, transferring and registering the Carter and Zavala Collateral in their names, or 13 any part of it, and exercise all rights, options, and privileges with respect to the Carter and Zavala 14 Collateral as set forth in the Carter and Zavala Security Agreement.50 15 On all Causes of Action 16 Plaintiffs shall recover attorneys’ fees and costs from Defendants, and each of them, who 17 are liable jointly and severally, as follows: 18 (1) Attorneys’ fees in the amount of $82,368.00; and, 19 (2) Court costs in the amount of $2,816.55.51 20 Defendants, and each of them, shall be entitled to a credit for the amount of proceeds 21 recovered by Plaintiffs from the disposition of any of the personal property recovered by 22 Plaintiffs from Defendants. 23 This findings and recommendations is submitted to the district judge assigned to this 24 action, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and this Court’s Local Rule 304. Within fourteen 25 (14) days of service of this recommendation, any party may file written objections to this 26 50 As noted above supra, Section III(C)(2)(d), the Court recommends this declaratory judgment based on the parameters requested in the operative complaint. (SAC at 22.) 27 51 As the Court found above, although the proposed order requested $2,416.55 in costs, the proper amount appears 28 to be $2,816.55. See infra, Section III(D)(5). 52 Case 1:18-cv-01370-AWI-SAB Document 96 Filed 06/16/20 Page 53 of 53 1 findings and recommendations with the Court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document 2 should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” The 3 district judge will review the magistrate judge’s findings and recommendations pursuant to 28 4 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C). The parties are advised that failure to file objections within the specified 5 time may result in the waiver of rights on appeal. Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 839 (9th 6 Cir. 2014) (citing Baxter v. Sullivan, 923 F.2d 1391, 1394 (9th Cir. 1991)). 7 Further, Plaintiffs are HEREBY ORDERED to serve a copy of this findings and 8 recommendations on Defendants within three (3) days of entry. 9 IT IS SO ORDERED. 10 11 Dated: June 16, 2020 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 53