Diaz Villegas v. Five Star Pizza of Merrick Inc

District Court, E.D. New York

Diaz Villegas v. Five Star Pizza of Merrick Inc

Trial Court Opinion

EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK ----------------------------------------------------------------------X For Online Publication Only MIGUEL A. DIAZ VILLEGAS, ORDER Plaintiff, 22-CV-4158 (JMA) (SIL)

-against- FILED CLERK FIVE STAR PIZZA OF MERRICK INC., and 3:03 pm, Jan 19, 2023

TAMMY GIAMANCO, U.S. DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK Defendants. LONG ISLAND OFFICE ----------------------------------------------------------------------X AZRACK, United States District Judge: Before the Court is the motion of Plaintiff Miguel A. Diaz Villegas for a default judgment against Defendants Five Star Pizza Of Merrick Inc., and Tammy Giamanco. Plaintiff alleges that Defendants failed to: (1) pay him overtime wages in violation of both the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”),

29 U.S.C. § 201

et seq., and New York Labor Law (“NYLL”) § 650 et seq.; (2) pay him spread of hours compensation in violation of the NYLL; and (3) provide him with wage notices and wage statements as required by NYLL §§ 195(1) and 195(3), respectively. For the reasons stated herein, Plaintiff’s motion for a default judgment is GRANTED against both Defendants and Plaintiff is awarded a default judgment in the amount of $476,494.46 I. DISCUSSION A. Defendants Defaulted The record reflects that both Defendants were properly served in this action but have not answered, appeared in this action, responded to the instant motion for default judgment, or otherwise defended this action. Accordingly, the Court finds both Defendants in default. B. Liability When a defendant defaults, the Court is required to accept all of the factual allegations in the complaint as true and draw all reasonable inferences in the plaintiff’s favor. Finkel v. the allegations in the complaint establish the defendant’s liability as a matter of law. Id. Here,

those requirements are met. The Court finds that the well-pleaded allegations in the Complaint meet the jurisdictional prerequisites of the relevant FLSA and NYLL provisions. See

29 U.S.C. §§ 206

(a), 207(a)(1); NYLL §§ 2, 190 to 199-A; see Guerrero v. Danny’s Furniture Inc., No. 19-cv-7284,

2021 WL 4155124

, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 13, 2021). The Court further finds that the Complaint’s allegations constitute violations of the overtime provisions of the FLSA, see

29 U.S.C. §§ 206

(a), 207(a)(1), 255(a), and of the overtime, spread of hours, wage notice, and wage statement provisions of the NYLL, see NYLL §§ 190 to 199-A, 650, 652(1), 663, 195(1), 195(3). See Guerrero,

2021 WL 4155124

, at *2. C. Damages

“‘[W]hile a party’s default is deemed to constitute a concession of all well pleaded allegations of liability, it is not considered an admission of damages.’” Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local 2, Albany, N.Y. Pension Fund v. Moulton Masonry & Const., LLC,

779 F.3d 182, 189

(2d Cir. 2015) (quoting Cement & Concrete Workers Dist. Council Welfare Fund v. Metro Found. Contractors, Inc.,

699 F.3d 230, 234

(2d Cir. 2012)). The Court must conduct an inquiry to “ascertain the amount of damages with reasonable certainty.” Credit Lyonnais Sec., Inc. v. Alcantara,

183 F.3d 151, 155

(2d Cir. 1999) (citing Transatlantic Marine Claims Agency, Inc. v. Ace Shipping Corp.,

109 F.3d 105, 111

(2d Cir. 1997)). The Court may determine that there is a sufficient evidentiary basis for the damages sought by Plaintiff by reviewing affidavits

and other documentary evidence. See Cement & Concrete Workers Dist. Council Welfare Fund,

699 F.3d at 234

. judgment interest against Defendants, jointly and severally, for violations of the NYLL. The

record, which includes Plaintiff’s declaration, establishing the following damages to a reasonable certainty: i. $205,499.25 for unpaid overtime wages; ii. $11,334.00 for unpaid spread of hours compensation; iii. $216,833.25 for liquidated damages; iv. $5,000.00 for wage statement damages; v. $5,000.00 for wage notice damages; and vi. 32,827.96 in prejudgment interest. This results in a total damages award of $476,494.46. II. CONCLUSION

For the reasons stated above, Plaintiff’s motion for a default judgment is granted. Defendants Five Star Pizza Of Merrick Inc., and Tammy Giamanco are jointly and severally liable to Plaintiff for $476,494.46. The Court further orders Defendants to pay Plaintiff post-judgment interest calculated from the date judgment is entered in this action until the date of payment, using the federal rate set forth in

28 U.S.C. § 1961

. As is required of any court issuing an “order awarding [NYLL] remedies,” the Court makes clear that, under NYLL § 198, “if any amounts remain unpaid upon the expiration of ninety days following issuance of judgment, or ninety days after expiration of the time to appeal and no appeal is then pending, whichever is later, the total amount of judgment shall automatically increase by

fifteen percent.” NYLL §§ 198(4), 663(4); see Martinez v. Dannys Athens Diner Inc., No. 16-cv- 7468,

2017 WL 6335908

, at *6 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 5, 2017). SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 19, 2023 Central Islip, New York

/s/ (JMA) JOAN M. AZRACK UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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