Alutiiq International Solutions, LLC v. OIC Marianas Insurance
Alutiiq International Solutions, LLC v. OIC Marianas Insurance
Opinion of the Court
Order Adopting Report and Recommendation [208] in Part, Sustaining and Overruling Objections [211, 212] to Report and Recommendation, Granting in Part Motion for Default Judgment [185], and Directing the Entry of Final Judgment
After four years of well-documented delays and litigation abuses by defendants OIC Marianas Insurance Corporation (“OIC”), Oceania Insurance Corporation, Native American Funds Management (“NAFM”), and their principal Dennis Lyon in these consolidated performance-bond actions, plaintiff Alutiiq International Solutions, Inc. secured defaults against all defendants.
Having thoughtfully considered de novo Magistrate Judge Ferenbach’s findings and recommendations and the parties’ extensive briefing and objections on these issues,' I adopt the magistrate judge’s findings and accept his recommendation in part, sustain some objections and overrule others, and direct the entry of final judgment in Alutiiq’s favor.
Background
This litigation over a performance bond issued by OIC to guaranty NCC Electrical Service’s construction work on the OJO Encino Day School in New Mexico spans three lawsuits,-two of which are consolidated here.
Although U.S. District Judge Kent Dawson initially entered default judgment against OIC and in favor of Alutiiq in the OIC action in -2011,
With defaults in place against . OIC, Lyon, NAFM, and Oceania, Alutiiq now brings its fifth motion for default judgment
Both parties object.
1. The magistrate judge’s limitation of its base damages to $1,214,520.42 when Alutiiq proved base damages of $1,562,665. Alutiiq argues that the magistrate judge erroneously believed that Alutiiq only prayed for $1,214,520.42, when it actually prayed for $1,562,665 in the first amended complaint, and Rule 54(c) does not limit its default judgment to $1,214,520.42; and
2. The magistrate judge’s limitation of his review to just two of Alutiiq’s claims deprived Alutiiq of treble or punitive damages and attorneys fees against OIC.22 Alutiiq argues that the magistrate judge erroneously believed that deciding the RICO claim from the Lyon case and the performance-bond claim would afford Alutiiq complete relief23 and, in fact, his failure to address any other claim in the OIC case meant that the treble-damages award was recommended only against Lyon, NAFM, and Oceania.24
Defendants candidly acknowledge they cannot dispute these errors.
Discussion
When a party files specific written objections to a United States magistrate judge’s findings and recommendations,
Alutiiq’s first objection is to Magistrate Judge Ferenbach’s finding that Aluti-iq was only entitled to $1,215,520.42 in base damages — not the $1,562,665.00 it now moves for and proved — because Aluti-iq cannot recover more damages than it prayed for, and “both complaints allege that OIC Marianas’ breach caused base damages in the amount of $1,214,520,42,” which now establishes “the ceiling for base damages that the court may award on a motion for default judgment.”
It appears that-Alutiiq’s characterization of its damages allegations is accurate. In its First Amended Complaint in the OIC case, Alutiiq prays for “not less than $1,214,520.42, [with] the exact amount to be proven at trial,”
Rule 54(c) states that “[a] default judgment must not differ in kind from, or exceed in amount, what is demanded in the pleadings.” This rule and its many state analogues “have led to a dizzying array of judicial decisions addressing the precise meaning of the requirement that a default judgment may not exceed in amount that prayed for in the demand for judgment.”
In Henry, the plaintiff prayed for judgment of “$71,243.68 ... and for [p]laintiff s other damages as are prdved at the time of trial, together With interest and costs.”
That part of the prayer, however, was for the amount that the plaintiff had paid to the defendants. In addition, plaintiff prayed for additional damages for breach of contract, the amount of which was to be- proved at trial. The prayer was not limited to $71,243.68, and the default judgment did not exceed the amount'’prayed for.42
This reasoning is also consistent with the purpose of the damages limitation in Rule 54(c), which is to put the defendant on notice of the extent of his liability if he chooses not to defend a claim.
By making'it clear that Alutiiq' was seeking an amount that would be proven at trial but no less than $1,214,520.42,
B, Alutiiq is not entitled to punitive damages, treble damages, or additional attorneys fees against OIC.
Alutiiq’s second objection is that Magistrate Judge Ferenbach confined his review to just two of Alutiiq’s several claims based) on an erroneous belief that this limited analysis would still “grant Alutiiq the complete relief i[t] seeks.”
Defendants candidly admit they cannot dispute this error.
The first step in this analysis would be to evaluate one of Alutiiq’s other claims under the Eitel v. McCool
Alutiiq has not shown that OIC’s conduct merits an award of punitive damages. A court must consider “numerous factors including the defendant’s financial position, culpability,, .and the extent to which this culpability offends one’s sense of justice” when determining whether a punitive-damages award in any amount is warranted.
2. Alutiiq’s complaint against OIC cannot now be deemed to include a RICO claim.
I also 'decline Alutiiq’s request that' its complaint against OIC be deemed amended to include a RICO claim against OIC.
FRCP 54(c) does, however. It states that “[a] défault judgment must not differ in kind from ... what is demanded in the pleadings.” To grant Alutiiq’s motion would be to allow RICO damages, which include treble damages, and are different in kind from those demanded in Alutiiq’s amended complaint against OIC.
3. Alutiiq has not demonstrated its entitlement to attorneys fees under NMSA § 59A-16-30.
Finally, T reject Alutiiq’s contention that it is entitled to an award of attorneys fees against OIC based on its fifth claim for relief, which alleges “Liability under NMSA § 59A-16-30.”
C. Treble damages in the amount of $4,687,995 are warranted in the Lyon case.
Defendants’ first objection is that the magistrate judge lacked the necessary quantum of evidence to recommend an award of treble damages for the RICO violation.
1. Alutiiq presented sufficient evidence to support a treble-damages award on its RICO claim.
Alutiiq’s burden was to show with “competent ..proof, not based upon mere speculation and surmise” the amount of its damages to its business proximately caused by the predicate acts.
Strike also offered further corroboration of the reasonableness of Alutiiq’s costs to complete NCC’s work
Having reviewed the parties’ evidentiary submissions and the testimony at the prove-up hearing, I find that this sworn testimony and the corroborating documents amount to competent and specific proof that Lyon’s, Oceania’s, and NAFM’s RICO violations led directly to Alutiiq’s business injury in the amount of $1,562,-665.
2. $4,687,995 is the proper treble-damages amount.
The magistrate judge properly recommended a treble-damages award against Lyon, NAFM, and Oceania, but the math must be adjusted. First, the recommended award of $3,643,561.26 is calculated from a base figure of $1,214,520.42, not $1,562,665. Second, the base figure merely gets multiplied by three to treble it; the court does not multiply the base figure by three and add that on top of the base figure. When these two mathematical issues are resolved, the treble-damages, figure is $4,687,995.00. ($1,562,665.00 x. 3 = $4,687,995.00). Defendants’ objection that the magistrate judge quadrupled — not trebled — the award is sustained.
D. The R&R improperly lumps OIC in with the other defendants in the total award.
Defendants next argue that, even though the magistrate judge did not award treble damages or attorneys fees against OIC, his final tally ends up doing so.
E. Attorneys fees and costs
Next, defendants argue that the magistrate judge’s recommended award of $326,750.20 in attorneys fees and costs against NAFM, Oceania, and Lyon is unreasonable because this amount includes fees incurred before Alutiiq even sued these defendants, and it also compensates the lawyers for work done on the claims against OIC and Ruth Lyon.
I have now scrutinized plaintiff’s counsel’s billing records line by line, and I agree that a reduction in the recommended fees and costs is appropriate. Although the OIC case began in July 2010, the Lyon case against NAFM, Oceania, and Lyon was not filed until a full year, later. By the time Alutiiq’s counsel started working on the claims against these additional parties in earnest
Accordingly, I sustain defendants’ objection to the attorneys-fees-and-costs award in part: I reduce the amount of the recommended award of fees and costs ($326,-750.20
P. Prejudgment interest
Finally, I consider whether prejudgment interest should be awarded. A trial court’s decision to award prejudgment interest on a federal Claim is discretionary.
Defendants object that the magistrate judge incorrectly calculated prejudgment interest against them because (1) he started with the date the complaint against OIC was filed, not the date each defendant was served, and (2) the day-count was wrong: there were only 1,859 — not 1,907 — days from the filing of the OIC case to August 21, 2015.
Alutiiq is half right: prejudgment interest begins to run for OIC on June 4, 2010,
But Lyon’s, NAFM’s, and Oceania’s liability in this case is not based on a contract.
Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Magistrate Judge Feren-bach’s Report and Recommendation [ECF 208] is adopted in part consistent with this order; ,
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED THAT Alutiiq’s oral motion for voluntary dismissal is granted and all claims against Ruth Chavez Lyon are DISMISSED without prejudice;
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED THAT Alutiiq’s Motion for Default Judgment [ECF 185] is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part consistent with this order;
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff Alutiiq International Solutions’ Objections [ECF 212] and Defendants’ Objections [ECF 211] are SUSTAINED IN PART AND OVERRULED IN PART AS STATED IN THIS ORDER;
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the April 9, 2015, judgment [ECF 190] is STRICKEN and any amounts stated therein are incorporated instead into this judgment. • .
And with good cause appearing and no reason for delay, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that FINAL JUDGMENT be entered in favor of Alutiiq and:
1. Against defendant OIC Marianas Insurance Corporation as follows:
a. Actual and compensatory damages of $1,562,665; plus
b. $460,772.10 in prejudgment interest; plus
c. Litigation' sanctions of $57,621.99101 for a total judgment against OIC Marianas Insurance Corporation of $2,081,059.09, which will accrue post-judgment interest at the. legal .rate until paid in full; .
2. Against defendants Native American Funds Management Service and Oceania Insurance Corporation, jointly and severally, as follows:
a. Treble damages of $4,687,995.00; plus
b. $385,464.48 in prejudgment interest; plus
c. Attorneys fees and costs of $262,607.69
for a total judgment against Native American Funds Management Service and Oceania Insurance Corporation, jointly and severally with one another and Dennis Lyon, of $5,336,067.17, which will accrue post-judgment interest at the legal rate until paid in full; and
3. Against defendant Dennis Lyon aka Robert Joe Hanson as follows:
a. Treble damages of $4,687,995.00; plus
b. $385,464.48 in prejudgment interest; plus
c.' Attorneys fees and costs of $262,607.69 '
d. Attorneys fees and costs associated with the motion to compel in the Lyon case (ECF 89 therein) of $9,674.30
for. a total judgment against Dennis Lyon aka Robert Joe Hanson of $5,345,741.47 ($5,336,067,17 . of which is jointly and severally with defendants Native American Funds Management Service and Oceania Insurance Corporation),
The Clerk of Court is directed to enter final judgment and close these consolidated cases.
. ECF 180 at 4, n.5. All "ECF” references are to the docket in the lead case (2:10-cv-1189-JAD-VCF) unless otherwise indicated.
. ECF 185.
. ECF 208.
. 2:10-cv-1189-JAD-VCF; 2:ll-cv-1104-JAD-VCF. A third case was filed in the District of New Mexico.,
. ECF 7 at 23; ECF 1 at 3-9 in 2:ll-cv-1104.
. ECF 56.
. ECF Í in 2:ll-cv-1104.
.. ECF 31,
. ECF 43.
. ECF 45.
. ECF 208.
. ECF 23 in 2:ll-cv-1104.
. ECF 98 in 2;ll-cv-1104.
. ECF 79 in 2:ll-cv-1104.
. See history recounted in ECF 208 at 4-5; ECF 185.
. ECF 202 (minutes); 208 at 5 (“During the second hearing [on this motion-for default judgment], Alutiiq ... moved to voluntarily dismiss Ruth'Chavez Lyon.”); ECF 210 (partial transcript of closing árguments) at 6-11 (wherein Alutiiq moved to voluntarily dismiss its claims against Ruth Chavez Lyon and the magistrate judge recommended that the claims against this defendant be dismissed without prejudice).
.- ECF 210, 214 (partial transcripts of 8/4/15 evidentiary hearing).
. ECF 208.
. Eitel v. McCool, 782 F.2d 1470, 1471-72 (9th Cir. 1986).
. ECF 208 at 21.
. ECF 211, 212.
. ECF 212.
. ECF 212 at 6-7 (citing ECF 208 at 10, n. 6).
. See ECF 208 at 21, lines 11-13.
. ECF 215.
. ECF 211.
. ECF 216.
. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b); D. Nev R. IB 3-2.
. Id.
. Id.
. ECF 208 at 14.
. ECF 212 at 4.
. ECF 56 at 11 (prayer ¶ A).
. ECF 56 at ¶ 24.
. ECF 1 at ¶ 50 in 2:ll-cv-1104.
. ECF 215 at 1, 2. - •
. In re Genesys Data Techs., Inc., 204 F.3d 124, 132 (4th Cir. 2000), certified question answered, 18 P.3d 895 (2001), (certifying the question to Hawaii Supreme Court to interpret Haw R. Civ. P. 54(c)) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
. Henry v. Sneiders, 490 F.2d 315, 317 (9th Cir. 1974) (per curiam), cert. denied, 419 U.S. 832, 95 S.Ct. 55, 42 L.Ed.2d 57, reh’g denied, 419 U.S. 1060, 95 S.Ct. 644, 42 L.Ed.2d 657 (1974).
. See also Merrifield v. Miner’s Inn Restaurant & Lounge, 2006 WL 4285241 at *3 (E.D.Cal. Sept. 25, 2006) (“It has been held that where a type of damages is requested in the complaint in an amount to be proved, but the amount is not specified, recovery in excess of an ambünt stated is permitted.”).
. Henry, 490 F,2d at 317 n. 2.
. Id. at 317. ■
. Id.
. CHARLES WRIGHT, ARTHUR MILLER & MARY .KAY KANE, FEDERAL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE § 2663 (2014).
. ECF 56 at 11.
. ECF 56 at ¶ 24.
. ECF 208 at 10, n.6..
. ECF 208 at 21, lines 11-13 and 17-18 (recommending that Alutiiq be awarded treble damages- and attorneys fees and costs "against NAFM, Oceania, and Dennis Lyon ... jointly and severally”).
. ECF 215.
. ECF 215 at 3.
. Eitel v. McCool, 782 F.2d 1470, 1471-72 (9th Cir, 1986).
. Dillard Department Stores v. Beckwith, 115 Nev. 372, 989 P.2d 882, 887 (1999) (quoting Ramada Inns v. Sharp, 101 Nev, 824, 711 P.2d 1, 2 (1985)).
. Bongiovi v. Sullivan, 122 Nev, 556, 138 P.3d 433, 450-51 (2006).
. See, e.g., Matter of Gober, 100 F.3d 1195, 1205 (5th Cir. 1996) (conduct sufficient to warrant punitive damages is not regarded as admitted by default).
. Evans v. Dean Witter Reynolds, Inc., 116 Nev. 598, 5 P.3d 1043, 1053 (2000).
. ECF 185 at 11.
. See, e.g., Pearlman v. Reliance Ins. Co., 371 U.S. 132, 140 n. 19, 83 S.Ct. 232, 9 L.Ed.2d 190 (1962) ("suretyship is not insurance”); Great Amer. Ins. Co. v. Gen. Builders, Inc., 113 Nev. 346, 934 P.2d 257, 263 (1997) (distinguishing suretyship from consumer-insurance relationship); see also Nevada Power Co. v. Calpine Corp., 2006 WL 1582101 (D.Nev. 2006) (quoting Cates Constr., Inc. v. Talbot Partners, 21 Cal.4th 28, 86 Cal.Rptr.2d 855, 871, 980 P.2d 407 (1999), "Although surety-ship is listed in the- Insurance Code as a class of insurance, it does not follow that a surety bond equates to a policy of insurance under the common law or common law theories of liability.”).
. Although there are OIC financial statements in the record, see Exhibits 3, 9, 15, 58, none is more recent than 2011.
. ECF 212 at 10-12.
. The purpose of Rule 54(c) is to put the defendant on notice of the relief sought against it. See, e.g., In re Ferrell, 539 F.3d 1186, 1192-93 (9th Cir. 2008).
. Alan Neuman Prods., Inc. v. Albright, 862 F.2d 1388, 1393 (9th Cir. 1988).
. Magistrate Judge Ferenbach did, too. See ECF 208 at 16, lines 2-6.
. Alutiiq’s argument also ignores the difference between punitive damages and treble damages under RICO. See, e.g., Judith A, Morse, Treble Damages Under Rico: Characterization and Computation, 61 NOTRE DAME L. REV. 526, 528 (1986) (“Unlike punitive damages, treble damages are not discretionary either in award or amount, they are not based upon an amount adjudged nec-ess ary to punish or deter, and they are not commensurate with the willful, wanton, or reckless conduct of the wrongdoer. [So] RICO treble damages are neither awarded for the sáme reasons nor in the same manner as either compensatory or punitive damages.”).
.ECF 56 at 10.
., • ECF 212 at 10.
. NMSA § 59A-16-30 ■
. Id.
. I have already awarded Alutiiq $57,621.99 against OIC for attorneys fees and costs expended due to OIC’s litigation abuses. See ECF 189; infra n. 101.
. ECF 211 at 4.
. Ticor Title Ins. Co. v. Florida, 937 F.2d 447, 451 (9th Cir. 1991); Geddes v. United Fin. Grp., 559 F.2d 557, 560 (9th Cir. 1977) ("The general rule of law is that upon default the factual allegations of the complaint, except those relating to the amount of damages, will be taken as true.”). The.predicate acts themselves are proven by the predicate acts in the complaint. See ECF 1 in 11-cv-1104, ¶¶ 59-71, 74-85.
. ECF 29-3 (Wachsteter Deck).
. ECF 192-3 (Strike Deck). Strike testified at the 8/4/15 evidentiary hearing, but his testimony, which has been preserved in the court’s audio-recording system, has not been transcribed. Any citations to his testimony reference the timestamp on the audio recording.
. Audio recording 8/4/15 at 11:43 a.m.
. Id. at 10:18 a.m.
. Id. at 10:38 a.m., 1:56 p.m.; see also ECF 192-3 (Strike Deck), ECF 214 at 56:15-21 (transcript of San Martin testimony),
. Audio recording 8/4/15 at 10:41.
. Id. at 11:38-11:43 a.m. Having listed carefully to the audio recording of Strike’s testimony, 1 disagree with defendants’ contention that Strike’s testimony had nothing to do with fraud or undercapitalization or cannot be a basis for the treble-damages award. ECF 211 at 6, I did not consider attorneys' affidavits as evidence of the proximate cause for, or in finding proof of the amount of, treble damages, See ECF 211 at 13 (objecting that "the consideration of affidavits of counsel in a determination of the appropriateness of treble damages is improper”). Nor do I consider Judge Dawson’s previous, vacated default judgment. I have also considered defendants’
. Id, at 3:33, 3:36 p.m,.
. Id. at 3:40 p.m.
.. I do not find that defendants have offered credible, competent evidence of their entitlement to a setoff, so I overrule defendants’ fifth objection. See ECF 211 at 24. I also find that the documents offered by Alutiiq at the prove-up hearing, coupled with the declarations of Wachsteter and Strike and Strike's live testimony, constitute the competent proof of what Alutiiq spent on replacement contractors. I thus do not rely on allegations in the complaint for this point and overrule defendants' third objection (that the magistrate judge improperly relied on the allegations in the complaint for this element), see ECF 211 at 19, as moot.
. Anza v. Ideal Steel Supply Corp., 547 U.S. 451, 461, 126 S.Ct. 1991, 164 L.Ed.2d 720 (2006) (“When a court evaluates a RICO claim for proximate causation, the central question it must ask is whether the alleged violation led directly to the plaintiff’s injuries.”).
. See ECF 208’ at 21, lines 22-23 ("IT IS FURTHER , RECOMMENDED that FINAL JUDGMENT be entered against OIC Marianas, NAFMS, Oceania, and Dennis Lyon in Alutiiq’s favor in the amount of $5,582,096.38.”). To the extent that Alutiiq again argues that the attorneys fees award should be extended to encompass OIC, that request is rejected. See supra at pp. 11-12.
. ECF 211 at 26.
. ECF 216 at 21.
. Ball Janik, LLP had billed. $55,665.50 in fees and $29.75 in costs, and Jolley Urga Woodbury & Little had billed $1,835.00 in fees and $886.26 in costs. See ECF 185-2 & 185-4.
. ECF 185-2 at 3-31.
. I reject defendants’ invitation to award no fees before the date the complaint was filed in the Lyon case because there is significant overlap of the issues and work was being done with respect to the claims against Lyon, NAFM, and Oceania beginning at least in May 2011.
. See breakdown of these hours and fees at , EpF 211, page 28. ¡
. These fees and costs were awarded against OIC as discovery sanctions. See ECF 182; 185-1, ¶ 7; 189; 190.
. ECF 208 at 18.
. $326,750.2Ó-$64,142.51 = $262,607.69'.'
. See Home Sav. Bank, F.S.B. by Resolution Trust Corp. v. Gillam, 952 F.2d 1152, 1165 (9th Cir. 1991) (“The award of prejudgment interest in a case arising under federal law
. City of Milwaukee v. Cement Div., Nat. Gypsum Co., 515 U.S. 189, 195, 115 S.Ct. 2091, 132 L.Ed.2d 148 (1995).
. ECF 211 at 29.
. ECF 29-3, (Wachsteter decl.) ¶ 10.
. NRS 99.040(1) (setting rate); http://www. fid.state.nv.us/prime/primeinterestrate.pdf, last visited on 1/12/16.
. Alutiiq did not plead any contract claims against these defendants. See ECF 1 in 11-cv-1104.
. Nev. Rev. Stat. § 17.130(2).
. ECF 18-21 in 11 -cv-1104.
. Kerala Properties, Inc. v. Familian, 122 Nev. 601, 137 P.3d 1146, 1150 (2006) (quoting Lee v. Ball, 121 Nev. 391, 116 P.3d 64, 67 (2005), and noting, “we have recently addressed NRS 17.130(2)’s nearly identical language and concluded that the prejudgment interest rate must be a fixed rate, calculated at 'the single rate in effect on the date of judgment.’”); Nev. Rev. Stat. § 17.130(2) (setting rate); http://www.fid.state.nv.us/ prime/primeinterestrate.pdf, last visited on 1/12/16.
. NRS 99.040(1) (setting rate); http://www. fid.state.nv.us/prime/primeinterestrate.pdf, last visited on 1/12/16.
. ECF 182, 189, To the extent that I previously ordered that the sanctions in the Lyon case ($9,674.30, ECF 89 in ll-cv-1104) be incorporated into the judgment against OIC, see ECF 189, I find that was error and now reverse that decision and enter those additional sanctions only against Lyon.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- ALUTIIQ INTERNATIONAL SOLUTIONS, LLC v. OIC MARIANAS INSURANCE CORPORATION, Defendant Alutiiq International Solutions, LLC v. Dennis Lyon, Native American Funds Management, Oceania Insurance Corporation
- Cited By
- 7 cases
- Status
- Published