Farez v. Pinery Cleaners Inc.

USDC SDNY DOCUMENT UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT ELECTRONICALLY FILED SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK DOC #: Ep. 04/17/202 Luis Farez, individually and on behalf of DATE FILED: 04/17/2023 others similarly situated, 1:22-cv-06728 (VSB) (SDA Plaintiff, cv-06728 (VSB) (SDA) inst SCHEDULING ORDER FOR “against DAMAGES INQUEST Pinery Cleaners Inc. d/b/a Madison Cleaners/Crown Cleaners and Won K. Cho aka James Cho, Defendants.

STEWART D. AARON, United States Magistrate Judge: On April 14, 2023, Judge Broderick entered an Order finding that Plaintiff is entitled to a default judgment against defendants Pinery Cleaners Inc. d/b/a Madison Cleaners/Crown Cleaners and Won K. Cho aka James Cho (collectively, the “Defaulting Defendants”). (4/14/2023 Default Order, ECF No. 31.) Thereafter, Judge Broderick referred this case to me for an inquest with respect to the nature of the judgment to be entered. (4/14/2023 Order of Reference, ECF No. 32.) Accordingly, it is hereby Ordered as follows: 1. Plaintiff shall serve the Defaulting Defendant and file Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law concerning all damages and any other monetary relief permitted under the entry of default judgment no later than Wednesday, May 17, 2023. Plaintiff shall include with such service a copy of this Order. The submission shall contain a concluding paragraph that succinctly summarizes what damage amount (or other monetary relief) is being sought, including the exact dollar amount.

2. Plaintiff’s Proposed Findings of Fact should specifically tie the proposed damages figure to their legal claim(s); should demonstrate how Plaintiff arrived at the proposed damages figure; and should be supported by one or more affidavits, which may attach any documentary evidence establishing the proposed damages. Each Proposed Finding of Fact shall be followed by a citation to the paragraphs of the affidavit(s) and or page of documentary evidence that supports each such Proposed Finding.1 To the extent the Proposed Findings contain any allegations regarding liability, the Proposed Findings should cite to the appropriate paragraph of the Amended Complaint.

3. In lieu of conclusions of law, Plaintiff may submit a memorandum of law setting forth the legal principles applicable to Plaintiff’s claim or claims for damages (including but not limited to the legal basis for any claim for interest or attorneys’ fees). Plaintiff’s papers must include an affidavit from someone with personal knowledge, setting forth the facts which establish that the Court has both personal jurisdiction over the Defaulting Defendants, and jurisdiction over the subject matter.

4. The Defaulting Defendants shall send to Plaintiff’s counsel and file with the Court their response, if any, to Plaintiff’s submissions no later than Wednesday, May 31, 2023.

5. The Court hereby notifies the parties that it may conduct this inquest based solely upon the written submissions of the parties. See Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local 2, Albany, N.Y. Pension Fund v. Moulton Masonry & Const., LLC, 779 F.3d 182, 189 (2d Cir. 2015) Any request for attorneys’ fees must be supported by contemporaneous time records showing, for each attorney, the date of service, the hours expended and the nature of the work performed. Counsel should also provide the number of years they have been admitted to the bar and their hourly rate.

Finally, the Conclusions of Law shall include a paragraph or paragraphs setting forth the legal basis for any requested award of attorneys’ fees, including why, if applicable, the number of attorneys involved are entitled to fees. (quoting Action S.A. v. Marc Rich & Co., 951 F.2d 504, 508 (2d Cir. 1991)); Cement & Concrete Workers Dist. Council Welfare Fund, Pension Fund, Annuity Fund, Educ. & Training Fund & Other Funds v. Metro Found. Contractors Inc., 699 F.3d 230, 234 (2d Cir. 2012) (citation omitted). To the extent that any party seeks an evidentiary hearing on the issue of damages, such party must set forth in its submission the reason why the inquest should not be conducted based upon the written submissions alone, including a description of what witnesses would be called to testify at a hearing and the nature of the evidence that would be submitted.

SO ORDERED.

DATED: New York, New York April 17, 2023 kissed. Oa STEWART D. AARON United States Magistrate Judge