Portillo Sandoval v. Mobile Pro Auto Detailing LLC
Portillo Sandoval v. Mobile Pro Auto Detailing LLC
Trial Court Opinion
EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK ----------------------------------------------------------------------X For Online Publication Only JOSE M. PORTILLO SANDOVAL, ORDER Plaintiff, 24-cv-5914 (JMA) (JMW)
-against- FILED CLERK
MOBILE PRO AUTO DETAILING LLC 5/21/2025 12:47 pm
and LUIS ASCENCIO, U.S. DISTRICT COURT Defendants. EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK ----------------------------------------------------------------------X LONG ISLAND OFFICE AZRACK, United States District Judge: Before the Court is the motion of Plaintiff Jose M. Portillo Sandoval for a default judgment against Defendants Mobile Pro Auto Detailing LLC and Luis Ascencio. (See Compl., ECF No. 1.) 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. § 201et seq., and New York Labor Law (“NYLL”) § 650 et seq.; (2) pay him the applicable minimum wage pursuant to NYLL § 652; (3) pay him spread of hours compensation in violation of the NYLL; and (4) 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 $355,458.17. I. DISCUSSION A. Defendants Defaulted The record reflects that all 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 all Defendants in default. 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. Romanowicz,
577 F.3d 79, 84(2d Cir. 2009). However, the Court also must determine whether 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
699 F.3d at 234.
Plaintiff requests an award of monetary damages in the amount of $355,458.17 plus post- judgment interest against Defendants, jointly and severally, for violations of the FLSA and NYLL. The record, which includes Plaintiff’s declaration, establishing the following damages to a reasonable certainty: i. $58,864.00 for unpaid overtime wages; ii. $63,852.48 for unpaid minimum wages; iii. $25,366.00 for unpaid spread of hours compensation; iv. $5,000.00 for wage statement damages; v. $5,000.00 for wage notice damages;
vi. $148,082.48 for liquidated damages; vii. $49,293.21 in prejudgment interest. This results in a total damages award of $355,458.17. II. CONCLUSION For the reasons stated above, Plaintiff’s motion for a default judgment is granted. Defendants Mobile Pro Auto Detailing LLC and Luis Ascencio are jointly and severally liable to Plaintiff for $355,458.17. 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 7468,
2017 WL 6335908, at *6 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 5, 2017).
The Clerk of the Court is directed to enter judgment accordingly and close this case. SO ORDERED. Dated: May 21, 2025 Central Islip, New York
/s/ (JMA) JOAN M. AZRACK UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Reference
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