SG Blocks, Inc. v. HOLA Community Partners et al, No. 2:2020cv03432 - Document 175 (C.D. Cal. 2023)
Court Description: ORDER DENYING MOTIONS OF SG BLOCKS, AS THIRD-PARTY PLAINTIFF, FOR DEFAULTJUDGMENT AGAINST AVESI AND SADDLEBACK by Judge Otis D. Wright, II: The Court DENIES SG Blocks' Motions for Default Judgment 171 , 172 . By no later than May 30, 2023, SG Blocks shall file an Amended Motion for Default Judgment. Failure to do so may result in dismissal of the case for lack of prosecution.The Court further ORDERS as follows: SG Blocks shall file one single amended default judgment motion covering both defaulting Defendants. SG Blocks shall include a word count certificate of compliance pursuant to Central District of California Local Rule 11-6. SG Blocks shall provide the Court with a courtesy copy of the amended motion and supporting materials. SG Blocks shall serve the amended motion on (1) Avesi and Saddleback in accordance with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(h) and (2) Saddleback's putative insurance adjuster by postal mail and email. SG Blocks shall file a Proof of Service of the amended motion no later than seven (7) days after the date it files the amended motion. (lc)
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SG Blocks, Inc. v. HOLA Community Partners et al Doc. 175 Case 2:20-cv-03432-ODW-RAO Document 175 Filed 05/08/23 Page 1 of 19 Page ID #:2363 O 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 United States District Court Central District of California 9 10 11 12 13 14 Lead Case : 2:20-cv-03432-ODW (RAOx) SG BLOCKS, INC., Plaintiff, Member Case : 2:20-cv-04386-ODW (RAOx) v. HOLA COMMUNITY PARTNERS et al., 15 Defendants. 16 17 HOLA COMMUNITY PARTNERS, Consolidated Plaintiff, 18 19 20 v. SG BLOCKS, INC. et al., Consolidated Defendant and Third-Party Plaintiff, 21 22 23 24 ORDER DENYING MOTIONS OF SG BLOCKS, AS THIRD-PARTY PLAINTIFF, FOR DEFAULT JUDGMENT AGAINST AVESI AND SADDLEBACK v. TETON BUILDINGS, LLC et al., Third-Party Defendants. 25 26 I. INTRODUCTION 27 This is a consolidated construction dispute involving HOLA Community 28 Partners (“HOLA”) and Heart of Los Angeles Youth, Inc. (together, “HOLA Parties”), Dockets.Justia.com Case 2:20-cv-03432-ODW-RAO Document 175 Filed 05/08/23 Page 2 of 19 Page ID #:2364 1 the proponents of a construction project; SG Blocks, Inc., a contractor for the project; 2 and several subcontractors. SG Blocks filed a Complaint against the HOLA Parties 3 and the City of Los Angeles. (SG Blocks Compl., ECF No. 1.)1 HOLA filed a 4 Complaint and then a First Amended Complaint against SG Blocks and three 5 subcontractors. (HOLA First Am. Consol. Compl. (“FACC”), ECF No. 31.) Then, 6 SG Blocks, as Third-Party Plaintiff, filed a Third-Party Complaint and then a First 7 Amended Third-Party Complaint against the same three subcontractors and several 8 additional subcontractors. (SG Blocks First Am. Third-Party Complaint (“FATPC”), 9 ECF No. 79.) The two cases have been consolidated, with SG Blocks as Plaintiff in 10 the lead case and HOLA as Plaintiff in the member case. 11 The parties reached a global settlement of the case, resolving all claims against 12 all parties except the two who failed to appear in this matter—Avesi Construction, 13 LLC and Saddleback Roofing, Inc. (Stip. Dismiss, ECF No. 169; Order Granting 14 Stip. Dismiss, ECF No 170.) SG Blocks, as Third-Party Plaintiff, now moves for 15 default judgment against Avesi and Saddleback as Third-Party Defendants. (Mot. 16 Default J. Avesi (“Avesi Motion” or “Avesi Mot.”), ECF No. 171-1; Mot. Default J. 17 Saddleback (“Saddleback Motion” or “Saddleback Mot.”), ECF No. 172-1.) The 18 Court carefully considered the papers filed in connection with the Motions and 19 deemed the matters appropriate for decision without oral argument. Fed. R. Civ. P 78; 20 C.D. Cal. L.R. 7-15. For the following reasons, the Court DENIES SG Blocks’ 21 Motions. II. 22 BACKGROUND 23 HOLA is a non-profit organization that provides at-risk youth with free 24 academic, art, and athletic programs. It operates an arts and recreation center in 25 Lafayette Park in Los Angeles, California. The present dispute concerns construction 26 of the center, referred to herein as the “Project.” 27 28 1 ECF numbers in this Order refer to those in the lead case. 2 Case 2:20-cv-03432-ODW-RAO Document 175 Filed 05/08/23 Page 3 of 19 Page ID #:2365 1 A. Construction of the Project 2 In September 2017, the HOLA Parties entered into an agreement with the City 3 of Los Angeles under which the HOLA Parties would lease the land and construct the 4 Project. (Compl. ¶ 11.) HOLA then entered into a contract with SG Blocks to 5 perform construction on the Project, including by fabricating, delivering, and 6 installing modular workspace units. (Id. ¶ 16.) In turn, SG Blocks hired several 7 subcontractors to assist with construction on the Project, including Avesi and 8 Saddleback. 9 modular units at the Project, (id. ¶ 23), and it subcontracted Saddleback to provide 10 (FATPC ¶¶ 22–34.) SG Blocks subcontracted Avesi to install the roofing for the Project, (id. ¶ 32, Ex. J (“Saddleback Proposal”)). 11 According to HOLA, SG Blocks and its subcontractors provided incomplete 12 design plans, delivered dangerously defective building materials, failed to meet 13 deadlines, and performed defective construction work. 14 relevant here, HOLA alleges that the inferior work resulted in “[s]tructural defects: 15 defects in walkway/hallway structures (all levels), ensemble room structure, and roof 16 framing structure/s; defective construction assembly of the container stacking 17 attachments and associated assemblies,” and defects with the “[i]nterior walls: 18 defective construction of the wall framing includ[ing] improper attachments, missing 19 structural hardware, and improper construction of firewalls.” (Id. ¶ 9(B), (C).) HOLA 20 also alleges that the inferior work resulted in “[r]oofing system defects: roof system 21 installed improperly at the perimeter of the building; perimeter gutter system not 22 properly integrated with roof membrane; penetrations throughout the roof system leak 23 causing damage to the building interior; sheet metal flashing and counter flashing 24 improperly installed.” (Id. ¶ 9(G).) (See FACC ¶ 9.) As is 25 HOLA eventually terminated its agreement with SG Blocks and hired a 26 nonparty to complete construction of the Project at additional expense. (Compl. ¶ 33; 27 see FACC ¶¶ 10(D), 38(B).) 28 3 Case 2:20-cv-03432-ODW-RAO Document 175 Filed 05/08/23 Page 4 of 19 Page ID #:2366 1 B. Pleadings and Proceedings 2 On April 13, 2020, SG Blocks filed this action against the HOLA Parties, 3 alleging that, among other things, HOLA failed to timely pay SG Blocks. (Compl. 4 ¶ 42.) On April 20, 2020, HOLA filed suit against SG Blocks in Los Angeles Superior 5 Court, claiming SG Blocks’ construction on the Project was structurally defective and 6 incomplete. Compl. ¶ 8, HOLA Cmty. Partners v. SG Blocks, Inc. et al., No. 2:20-cv- 7 04386-ODW (RAOx) (C.D. Cal filed May 14, 2020) (“HOLA II”), ECF No. 1-3. 8 After SG Blocks removed HOLA II to federal court, the Court consolidated the two 9 cases. (Min. Order Consolidate, ECF No. 26); Min. Order Consolidate, HOLA II, 10 ECF No. 16. 11 In its First Amended Consolidated Complaint, HOLA asserts claims against 12 SG Blocks, Avesi, and others for (1) negligence; (2)strict products liability; (3) breach 13 of contract; (4) breach of express warranty; (5) violation of California Business & 14 Professions Code § 7031(b); and (6) violation of California Business & Professions 15 Code § 17200. (FACC ¶¶ 8–52.) HOLA asserts all these claims against SG Blocks. 16 (Id. ¶¶ 8–18, 33–52.) 17 18 On November 17, 2020, HOLA dismissed all its claims against Avesi and certain other parties without prejudice. (Min. Order Dismiss, ECF No. 48.) 19 On July 23, 2021, SG Blocks filed its First Amended Third-Party Complaint, 20 asserting claims against the Third-Party Defendants—including Avesi and 21 Saddleback—for 22 (3) contribution. (FATPC ¶¶ 38–56.) By way of these claims, SG Blocks demands 23 that the Third-Party Defendants indemnify it in the event it is found liable to HOLA 24 for the claims HOLA alleged in the First Amended Consolidated Complaint. (Id. 25 ¶ 45.) SG Blocks asserts all three of these claims against Avesi, and it asserts the 26 second and third claims against Saddleback. (Id.) (1) contractual indemnity; (2) equitable indemnity; and 27 One of the Third-Party Defendants, the McIntyre Company, moved for partial 28 summary judgment on SG Blocks’ express indemnity claim against it, arguing that 4 Case 2:20-cv-03432-ODW-RAO Document 175 Filed 05/08/23 Page 5 of 19 Page ID #:2367 1 California Business and Professions Code section 7031(a) prevented SG Blocks, as an 2 unlicensed contractor, from obtaining a judgment of express indemnity against 3 McIntyre. (Mot. Partial Summ. J., ECF No. 153.) The Court granted the Motion and 4 dismissed the express indemnity claim against McIntyre. (Order Granting Partial 5 Summ. J. 8, ECF No. 166 (“[B]ecause SG Blocks is unlicensed, section 7031(a) 6 renders McIntyre’s express indemnity obligation to SG Blocks unenforceable.”).) In time, the parties reached a global settlement of the case under which 7 8 SG Blocks agreed to pay HOLA $1 million. (Notice of Settlement, ECF No. 167; 9 (Decl. John C. Goodman ISO Avesi Mot. (“Avesi Goodman Decl.”) ¶ 3, ECF 10 No. 171-3.) Pursuant to the settling parties’ joint stipulation, the Court dismissed the 11 entire consolidated action against all parties except Avesi and Saddleback. (Stip. 12 Dismiss; Order Granting Stip. Dismiss.) After this dismissal, the only claims that 13 remain are SG Blocks’ indemnity and contribution claims against Avesi and 14 Saddleback. (See Order Reinstating SG Blocks, ECF No. 174.) 15 C. Defaults of Avesi and Saddleback; Default Judgment Motions 16 On August 23, 2021, several months before the parties reached a settlement, SG 17 Blocks served Avesi with the First Amended Third-Party Complaint and HOLA’s 18 First Amended Consolidated Complaint. 19 According to counsel for SG Blocks, Avesi2 has made “no attempt to appear in this 20 action or to contact counsel for [SG Blocks] or anyone” else regarding the matter. 21 (Avesi Goodman Decl. ¶ 2.) On February 9, 2022, the Clerk entered Avesi’s default. 22 (Avesi Default, ECF No. 134.) (Proof Service Avesi, ECF No. 93.) 23 Also on August 23, 2021, SG Blocks served Saddleback with the First 24 Amended Third-Party Complaint and HOLA’s First Amended Consolidated 25 26 27 28 2 In more than one instance, counsel failed to ensure that counsel’s declaration for the Avesi Motion referenced Avesi only (and not Saddleback), and vice versa. (See, e.g., Decl. John C. Goodman ISO Avesi Mot. ¶ 2, ECF No. 171-3 (stating, in declaration regarding default judgment against Avesi, that Saddleback made no attempt to appear in the action).) For the purpose of this Motion, the Court will assume that these errors were scrivener’s errors. The Court expects future motions and supporting evidence to be free of such errors. 5 Case 2:20-cv-03432-ODW-RAO Document 175 Filed 05/08/23 Page 6 of 19 Page ID #:2368 1 Complaint. (Proof Service Saddleback, ECF No. 106.) At first, SG Blocks did not 2 hear from Saddleback. (Decl. John C. Goodman ISO Saddleback Mot. (“Saddleback 3 Goodman Decl.”) ¶¶ 2–3, ECF No. 172-3.) Eventually, on October 27, 2022, an 4 insurance adjuster contacted SG Blocks’ counsel via email regarding Saddleback. 5 (Id. ¶ 2.) 6 intended to move for default judgment against its insured, Saddleback. (Id.) The 7 adjuster did not respond to this reply. (Id.) On February 9, 2022, the Clerk entered 8 Saddleback’s default. (Saddleback Default, ECF No. 135.) SG Blocks replied, informing the insurance adjuster that SG Blocks 9 SG Blocks, as Third-Party Plaintiff, now moves for default judgment against 10 Avesi and Saddleback as Third-Party Defendants. SG Blocks asks the Court to enter 11 judgment in the amount of $1 million jointly and severally against Avesi and 12 Saddleback. 13 individual) judgments against Avesi and Saddleback in the amounts of $112,190.66 14 and $76,380.09, respectively. (Proposed Default Js., ECF Nos. 171-4, 172-4.) SG 15 Blocks served a copy of the Saddleback Motion on the insurance adjuster at both the 16 adjuster’s email address and the physical address listed on the adjuster’s emails. 17 (Saddleback Goodman Decl. ¶ 2.) SG Blocks also asks the Court to enter additional several (that is, III. 18 LEGAL STANDARD 19 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure (“Rule”) 55(b) authorizes a district court to 20 grant a default judgment after the Clerk enters default under Rule 55(a). Before a 21 court can enter a default judgment against a defendant, the plaintiff must satisfy the 22 procedural requirements in Rules 54(c) and 55 and Central District Civil Local 23 Rules 55-1 and 55-2. 24 However, even if these procedural requirements are satisfied, “[a] defendant’s 25 default does not automatically entitle the plaintiff to a court-ordered judgment.” 26 PepsiCo, Inc., v. Cal. Sec. Cans, 238 F. Supp. 2d 1172, 1174 (C.D. Cal. 2002). 27 Instead, “[t]he district court’s decision whether to enter a default judgment is a 28 discretionary one.” Aldabe v. Aldabe, 616 F.2d 1089, 1092 (9th Cir. 1980). 6 Case 2:20-cv-03432-ODW-RAO Document 175 Filed 05/08/23 Page 7 of 19 Page ID #:2369 1 Generally, after the Clerk enters a default, the defendant’s liability is conclusively 2 established, and the well-pleaded factual allegations in the plaintiff’s complaint “will 3 be taken as true” except those pertaining to the amount of damages. TeleVideo Sys., 4 Inc. v. Heidenthal, 826 F.2d 915, 917–18 (9th Cir. 1987) (per curiam) (quoting 5 Geddes v. United Fin. Grp., 559 F.2d 557, 560 (9th Cir. 1977)). In entering default 6 judgment, the court need not make detailed findings of fact, except as to damages. 7 See Adriana Int’l Corp. v. Thoeren, 913 F.2d 1406, 1414 (9th Cir. 1990). IV. 8 DISCUSSION 9 Both Motions suffer from deficiencies related to (1) the procedural 10 requirements, (2) the second and third so-called Eitel factors, and (3) proof of 11 damages. The Court details these deficiencies below and provides SG Blocks with an 12 opportunity to amend its Motions to cure the deficiencies. 13 A. Procedural Requirements 14 Both Motions fail to meet some of the requirements of Central District Local 15 Rule 55-1. As set forth in Central District Local Rule 55-1, parties moving for default 16 judgment must submit a declaration (not merely an argument in a brief) establishing: 17 (1) when and against which party default was entered; (2) the pleading to which 18 default was entered; (3) whether the defaulting party is a minor or incompetent 19 person; (4) that the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act does not apply; and (5) that the 20 defaulting party was properly served with notice, if required under Rule 55(b)(2). In 21 turn, Rule 55(b)(2) requires written notice on the defaulting party “[i]f the party 22 against whom a default judgment is sought has appeared personally or by a 23 representative.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b)(2). 24 As Avesi and Saddleback are entities, not natural persons, the third and the 25 fourth of the above requirements do not apply here, but the remaining requirements 26 are crucial. SG Blocks’ declarations of counsel do not address these requirements. 27 (See generally Avesi Goodman Decl., Saddleback Goodman Decl.) The Court may 28 properly deny the Motions on this basis. 7 Case 2:20-cv-03432-ODW-RAO Document 175 Filed 05/08/23 Page 8 of 19 Page ID #:2370 1 B. Eitel Factors 2 In exercising discretion to enter default judgment, courts consider the “Eitel 3 factors”: (1) the possibility of prejudice to plaintiff; (2) the merits of plaintiff’s 4 substantive claim; (3) the sufficiency of the complaint; (4) the sum of money at stake; 5 (5) the possibility of a material factual dispute; (6) whether the default was due to 6 excusable neglect, and (7) the strong policy favoring decisions on the merits. See 7 Eitel v. McCool, 782 F.2d 1470, 1471–72 (9th Cir. 1986). “Of all the Eitel factors, 8 courts often consider the second and third factors to be the most important.” Vietnam 9 Reform Party v. Viet Tan - Vietnam Reform Party, 416 F. Supp. 3d 948, 962 (N.D. Cal. 10 2019) (internal quotation marks omitted). 11 In considering whether the second and third factors—the merits of SG Blocks’ 12 claims and the sufficiency of SG Blocks’ First Amended Third Party Complaint— 13 support default judgment, the Court observes three material concerns: SG Blocks’ 14 failure to (1) address the effect of SG Blocks’ unlicensed status in light of the Court’s 15 prior finding regarding unlicensed contractors asserting contractual indemnity claims, 16 (2) meaningfully engage with the elements of any of its claims, and (3) demonstrate 17 that part of the judgment should be entered in joint and several fashion. 18 1. Failure to Address Effect of SG Blocks’ Unlicensed Status on Availability of Default Judgment 19 20 Previously in this matter, now-dismissed Third-Party Defendant McIntyre 21 moved for partial summary judgment in order to obtain this Court’s ruling on a 22 discrete legal issue. (See Mot. Partial Summ. J.) That issue was whether California 23 Business and Professions Code section 7031(a) bars unlicensed contractors from suing 24 for express indemnity, that is, for indemnity expressly set forth in a written contract. 25 The Court answered this question in the affirmative. (Order Granting Partial Summ. 26 J. 8–11.) 27 accordingly, McIntyre’s express indemnity obligation to SG Blocks was 28 unenforceable. (Id.) SG Blocks was unlicensed at the time it worked on the Project, and 8 Case 2:20-cv-03432-ODW-RAO Document 175 Filed 05/08/23 Page 9 of 19 Page ID #:2371 1 SG Blocks asserts its express (or contractual) indemnity claim against Avesi. 2 (See FATPC ¶¶ 39–40 (quoting Avesi Subcontract and alleging that “[u]nder the 3 Avesi Subcontract, Avesi is obligated to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless [SG 4 Blocks] from the claims asserted by [HOLA] in its [First Amended Consolidated 5 Complaint]”).) Moreover, nothing in the record suggests SG Blocks has dismissed its 6 express indemnity claim against Avesi. Yet, SG Blocks does not address the effect of 7 the Court’s summary judgment order on this claim. (See generally Avesi Mot.) 8 The “law of the case” doctrine applies whenever a court is asked to revisit a 9 decision on a rule of law previously made by that same court or a higher court in the 10 same case. Chinatown Neighborhood Ass’n v. Harris, 33 F. Supp. 3d 1085, 1093 11 (N.D. Cal. 2014). The doctrine “posits that when a court decides upon a rule of law, 12 that decision should continue to govern the same issues in subsequent stages in the 13 same case.” Arizona v. California, 460 U.S. 605, 618 (1983). The law of the case 14 doctrine “also serves to maintain consistency.” Jeffries v. Wood, 114 F.3d 1484, 1489 15 (9th Cir. 1997) (citing 18 Charles A. Wright, Arthur R. Miller & Edward H. Cooper, 16 Federal Practice and Procedure § 4478 (1981)), overruled on other grounds by 17 Gonzalez v. Arizona, 677 F.3d 383, 389 n.4 (9th Cir. 2012). The doctrine “is not a 18 limitation on a tribunal’s power, but rather a guide to discretion.” United States v. 19 Alexander, 106 F.3d 874, 876 (9th Cir. 1997). 20 Applying the law of the case doctrine here, it appears that SG Blocks’ 21 express/contractual indemnity claim against Avesi is barred by this Court’s prior 22 determination—namely, that Business and Professions Code section 7031(a) renders 23 SG Blocks’ express indemnity claims unenforceable. The Court sees no reason why 24 its determination regarding indemnity by McIntyre should not also apply to SG 25 Blocks’ demand for indemnity by Avesi. 26 judgment against Avesi, SG Blocks shall either stipulate to dismissal of its contractual 27 indemnity claim against Avesi or shall demonstrate why the Court’s prior legal 28 9 In amending its Motion for default Case 2:20-cv-03432-ODW-RAO Document 175 Filed 05/08/23 Page 10 of 19 Page ID #:2372 1 determination regarding section 7031(a) does not apply. Failure to do so will be 2 deemed a concession to dismissal of the contractual indemnity claim. 3 2. Failure to Engage with Elements of Claims 4 SG Blocks’ remaining claims against Avesi and Saddleback are for equitable 5 indemnity and contribution. “Equitable indemnity . . . is premised on a joint legal 6 obligation to another for damages . . . .” C.W. Howe Partners Inc. v. Mooradian, 7 43 Cal. App. 5th 688, 700 (2019) (internal quotation marks omitted); see Prince v. 8 Pac. Gas & Elec. Co., 45 Cal. 4th 1151, 1159 (2009) (“[T]here can be no indemnity 9 without liability.”). Claims for equitable indemnity are “subject to allocation of fault 10 principles and comparative equitable apportionment of loss.” Mooradian, 43 Cal. 11 App. 5th at 700. Equitable indemnity “requires no contractual relationship,” Prince, 12 45 Cal. 4th at 1158, and “is a matter of fairness,” Smoketree-Lake Murray, Ltd. v. 13 Mills Concrete Constr. Co., 234 Cal. App. 3d 1724, 1736 (1991). 14 A claim for contribution arises when “a party to a joint, or joint and several 15 obligation, who satisfies more than [their] share of the claim against all, may require a 16 proportionate contribution from all the parties joined with [them].” Cal. Civ. Code 17 § 1432; see also Morgan Creek Residential v. Kemp, 153 Cal. App. 4th 675, 684 18 (2007) (describing a claim for contribution as accruing “[i]n situations where two or 19 more parties are jointly liable on an obligation”). 20 In arguing that its claims are sufficiently pleaded and meritorious, SG Blocks 21 asserts that its “substantive claims appear facially meritorious[,] and the [Third-Party 22 Complaint], combined with the allegations brought by HOLA[,] are sufficient to 23 support a judgment.” (Avesi Mot. 5; Saddleback Mot. 6.) However, in making this 24 argument, SG Blocks does not actually engage with any of the elements of either of its 25 claims, nor does it cite to any paragraphs in the FACC or the FATPC that contain 26 facts which, if true, would make a prima facie case for either claim. Similarly, SG 27 Blocks asserts that it “has stated relevant authority pursuant to which the court may 28 10 Case 2:20-cv-03432-ODW-RAO Document 175 Filed 05/08/23 Page 11 of 19 Page ID #:2373 1 provide relief,” (Avesi Mot. 5; Saddleback Mot. 6), but the Court reviewed SG 2 Blocks’ Motions and found no such authority. 3 To obtain a judgment, SG Blocks must point to allegations, and may 4 supplement those allegations with evidence, regarding what actually happened at the 5 Project—the work Avesi and Saddleback each performed, how the work was 6 deficient, how HOLA remedied those specific deficiencies, and what it cost HOLA to 7 do so. This is required in order to show the Court that Avesi or Saddleback should be 8 required to pay some or all of SG Blocks’ $1 million settlement payment to HOLA. 9 The allegations must be sufficient to place Avesi and Saddleback on notice of the 10 nature of the potential liability, and the allegations and additional evidence, taken 11 together, must provide a sufficient demonstration of the second and third Eitel factors. 12 3. Failure to Support Request for Joint and Several Liability 13 The next concern is that SG Blocks fails to support its request for a judgment of 14 liability that is joint and several. SG Blocks proposes a default judgment imposing, in 15 part, $1 million in joint and several liability on Avesi and Saddleback. 16 “A creature of tort law, joint and several liability ‘applies when there has been a 17 judgment against multiple defendants.’” Honeycutt v. United States, 581 U.S. 443, 18 447 (2017) (quoting McDermott, Inc. v. AmClyde, 511 U.S. 202, 220–21 (1994)). “If 19 two or more defendants jointly cause harm, each defendant is held liable for the entire 20 amount of the harm; provided, however, that the plaintiff recover only once for the 21 full amount.” Id. at 447–48. 22 Here, SG Blocks’ Motions are devoid of any mention of joint and several 23 liability. SG Blocks simply argues in one Motion that Avesi caused over $1 million in 24 completion cost damages plus general conditions and should therefore indemnify 25 SG Blocks for the $1 million it paid HOLA. (Avesi Mot. 4.) It argues the same thing 26 in the other Motion with respect to Saddleback. (Saddleback Mot. 4.) 27 additional arguments or evidence demonstrating Avesi and Saddleback jointly caused 28 the same harm, it is not clear that there is a basis for imposing joint and several 11 Without Case 2:20-cv-03432-ODW-RAO Document 175 Filed 05/08/23 Page 12 of 19 Page ID #:2374 1 liability under these facts. In amending its Motions, SG Blocks shall address this 2 issue, including by providing legal authority demonstrating that joint and several 3 liability is appropriate under these facts, or by proposing an alternate form of liability. 4 The Court will provide SG Blocks an opportunity to remedy the three foregoing 5 concerns. The Court defers analysis of the remaining Eitel factors, to be determined 6 upon SG Blocks’ anticipated amended motion. 7 C. Proof of Damages 8 As allegations related to damages are not deemed true upon default, TeleVideo 9 Sys., 826 F.2d at 917–18, a party seeking default judgment must prove their damages, 10 Rubicon Global Ventures, Inc. v. Chongqing Zongshen Grp. Imp./Exp. Corp., 226 F. 11 Supp. 3d 1141, 1148 (D. Or. Dec. 30, 2016). “[D]istrict courts within the Ninth 12 Circuit have required plaintiffs to prove . . . compensatory damages with ‘reasonable 13 certainty’ even in situations of default.” Id. at 1149. 14 Here, the Court has three concerns with SG Blocks’ proof of damages. First, 15 SG Blocks’ claims for “General Conditions” are conclusory and unsupported. 16 Second, there are foundational evidentiary concerns with the evidence SG Blocks 17 submits in support of damages. Third, there are problems with the methodology 18 SG Blocks’ expert used to reach his conclusions. 19 1. “General Conditions” Not Supported or Itemized 20 SG Blocks’ expert, Paul Kushner, determined that a fair allocation of the 21 damages alleged by HOLA for which Avesi is responsible is $1,343,627.00. (Avesi 22 Mot. 4; Decl. Paul V. Kushner ISO Avesi Mot. (“Avesi Kushner Decl.”) ¶ 10, ECF 23 No. 171-2.) Kushner then adds $370,473.54, representing a 52.1% pro rata share of 24 the General Conditions costs, for a total potential liability of $1,714,100.54. (Avesi 25 Kushner Decl. ¶ 10; Avesi Mot. 4 (indicating a 52.17% pro rata share).) 26 Kushner further determined that a fair allocation of the damages alleged by 27 HOLA for which Saddleback is responsible is $913,551.00. (Saddleback Mot. 4; 28 Decl. Paul V. Kushner ISO Saddleback Mot. (“Saddleback Kushner Decl.”) ¶ 10, ECF 12 Case 2:20-cv-03432-ODW-RAO Document 175 Filed 05/08/23 Page 13 of 19 Page ID #:2375 1 No. 172-2.) Kushner then adds $251,890.20, representing a 35.47% pro rata share of 2 the General Conditions costs, for a total potential liability of $1,165,441.20. 3 (Saddleback Mot. 4; Saddleback Kushner Decl. ¶ 10.) 4 SG Blocks does not provide the Court with a definition of “General 5 Conditions,” nor does it explain the nature of the claimed General Conditions in this 6 case. In reviewing the charts SG Blocks submitted in support of its Motions, the 7 Court found no further detail about the nature of the General Conditions costs 8 SG Blocks claims, such as an itemized list of the components of the expense or a 9 declaration describing the nature of the expense. Moreover, SG Blocks provides no 10 citations to any contractual provisions or case law supporting its assertion that Avesi 11 or Saddleback should be required to provide equitable indemnity or contribution for 12 costs arising from General Conditions, either as a general rule or under the facts of 13 this case. 14 2. Evidentiary Problems with SG Blocks’ Evidence 15 Second, there are problems with the key evidence SG Blocks submits in support 16 of its Motions. As a threshold issue, it appears SG Blocks submitted an unintended, 17 incorrect document in connection with the Saddleback Motion. 18 Declaration accompanying the Saddleback Motion, Kushner states that Exhibit G is a 19 “spreadsheet which allocates HOLA’s incurred repair costs to the various 20 Subcontractors which are Third-Party Defendants in this action, including 21 Saddleback.” (Saddleback Kushner Decl. ¶ 9.) Yet, Exhibit G to this declaration 22 appears to be the Avesi allocation spreadsheet. (Id. Ex. G, ECF No. 172-2.) It is the 23 exact same spreadsheet SG Blocks attached in support of the Avesi Motion; it bears an 24 “Avesi Construction” headline, and it contains a column for “Avesi Construction” and 25 none for Saddleback. (Id.) This chart is the key chart purporting to support damages 26 against Saddleback, yet the chart makes no mention of Saddleback. The failure to 27 submit the correct evidence is grounds for denying the Saddleback Motion. 28 13 In the Kushner Case 2:20-cv-03432-ODW-RAO Document 175 Filed 05/08/23 Page 14 of 19 Page ID #:2376 1 2 Beyond this obvious clerical error, there is a foundational problem with all the material evidence SG Blocks submits. The key evidence at issue in both Motions is: 3 Exhibit C to each Motion’s Kushner Declaration. Exhibit C is a spreadsheet 4 entitled “Owner Incurred Repair-Replacement Costs.” Kushner asserts these 5 costs were incurred by HOLA to correct construction deficiencies and defects at 6 the subject project. (See Avesi Kushner Decl. ¶ 7; Saddleback Kushner Decl. 7 ¶ 7.) 8 9 10 Exhibit D to the Avesi Motion’s Kushner Declaration. Exhibit D is purportedly the subcontract between SG Blocks and Avesi. (See Avesi Kushner Decl. ¶ 8.) Exhibit F to the Saddleback Motion’s Kushner Declaration. Exhibit F is 11 purportedly the subcontract between SG Blocks and Saddleback. 12 Saddleback Kushner Decl. ¶ 8.) 13 Exhibit G to the Avesi Motion’s Kushner Declaration. (See Exhibit G is a 14 spreadsheet entitled “Owner Incurred Repair-Replacement Costs / Allocation 15 Spreadsheet—Avesi Construction.” 16 No. 171-2.) 17 Evidence submitted to the Court must be admissible. See Fed. R. Evid. 1101. 18 “Authentication is a special aspect of relevancy concerned with establishing the 19 genuineness of evidence.” Orr v. Bank of Am., NT & SA, 285 F.3d 764, 773 n.7 20 (9th Cir. 2002). It is a “condition precedent to admissibility” which is satisfied by 21 “evidence sufficient to support a finding that the matter in question is what its 22 proponent claims.” Id. at 773 (citing Fed. R. Evid. 901(a)). Here, all four of the 23 foregoing Exhibits fail the authentication requirement. 24 a. (Avesi Kushner Decl., Ex. G, ECF Exhibits C and G 25 First, Exhibits C and G are exhibits purporting to contain the dollar amounts 26 supporting SG Blocks’ direct liability to HOLA and Avesi’s and Saddleback’s 27 resulting liability in indemnity to SG Blocks. Kushner introduces Exhibit C to the 28 Court by stating that he “is informed and believe[s] that Exhibit C summarizes the 14 Case 2:20-cv-03432-ODW-RAO Document 175 Filed 05/08/23 Page 15 of 19 Page ID #:2377 1 costs actually incurred by HOLA to correct construction deficiencies and defects at the 2 subject project.” (See, e.g., Avesi Kushner Decl. ¶ 7.) However, the nature of some of 3 the information on Exhibit C is unclear; for example, it is unclear whether the 4 “Subcontractor” column lists the subcontractor who caused the defect, or the 5 subcontractor that HOLA hired to execute the change order and remedy the defect. 6 As for Exhibit G, Kushner introduces this Exhibit as “a spreadsheet” without 7 providing further information about the source of the spreadsheet. (See id. ¶ 9.) He 8 indicates in passing that the dollar amounts reflected on the spreadsheet. 9 “HOLA’s incurred repair costs to the various Subcontractors” without explaining how 10 he obtained those figures. (See id. ¶ 9.) Because Kushner does not specify the source 11 of the spreadsheet, the Court cannot determine the origin of the numbers on the 12 spreadsheet. As a result, the Court cannot determine if the spreadsheet provides 13 meaningful proof of damages. are 14 Moreover, with regards to both Exhibits C and G, it does not appear that 15 Kushner, a retained consultant and potential expert witness, has the personal 16 knowledge required to verify that these exhibits (1) are true and correct copies of SG 17 Blocks’ business records; and/or (2) that the key dollar amounts on the Exhibits are 18 accurate based on SG Blocks’ financial records. 19 b. Exhibits D and F 20 Exhibits D and F are the purported subcontracts and, like Exhibits C and G, are 21 improperly authenticated. Kushner does not appear to have any association with SG 22 Blocks beyond this lawsuit, and therefore appears to lack the personal knowledge 23 required to state that Exhibits D and F are indeed contracts that SG Blocks executed 24 with Avesi and Saddleback, respectively. Moreover, Kushner lacks the knowledge 25 required to verify that these contracts were in effect and operative at the time of the 26 events alleged in the First Amended Consolidated Complaint and the First Amended 27 Third Party Complaint. 28 provide proof of damages. The contracts are therefore unauthenticated and cannot 15 Case 2:20-cv-03432-ODW-RAO Document 175 Filed 05/08/23 Page 16 of 19 Page ID #:2378 1 That SG Blocks may have attached one or more of these subcontracts to a prior 2 pleading does not cure the foregoing deficiencies. (See FATPC Ex. C (“Avesi 3 Subcontract”), ECF No. 79-3; id. Ex. J (“Saddleback Proposal”), ECF No. 79-10.) If 4 SG Blocks intends to point to a previously filed exhibit in support of its Motions for 5 Default Judgment, SG Blocks should provide a citation to that exhibit in a 6 memorandum of points and authorities, signed by counsel of record for SG Blocks. 7 Fed. R. Civ. P. 11(a); C.D. Cal. L.R. 11-1. 8 3. Expert’s Methodology Unexplained and Unsound 9 SG Blocks submits the expert testimony of Kushner in order to establish that 10 Avesi and Saddleback are responsible for $913,551 and $1,343,627, respectively, of 11 the $3.28 million in repair costs SG Blocks incurred in total. 12 “A party offering expert testimony must establish that the testimony satisfies 13 Rule 702 of the Federal Rules of Evidence.” BBK Tobacco & Foods LLP v. Central 14 Coast Agriculture Inc., 615 F. Supp. 3d 982, 999 (D. Ariz. 2022). Rule 702 provides: 15 16 17 A witness who is qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education may testify in the form of an opinion or otherwise if: 19 (a) the expert’s scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will help the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue; 20 (b) the testimony is based on sufficient facts or data; 21 (c) the testimony is the product of reliable principles and methods; and 22 (d) the expert has reliably applied the principles and methods to the facts of the case. 18 23 24 Fed. R. Evid. 702; see also Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharms., Inc., 509 U.S. 579, 589 25 (1993) (“[T]he trial judge must ensure that any and all scientific testimony or evidence 26 admitted is not only relevant, but reliable.”). 27 “As gatekeepers, trial judges make a preliminary assessment as to whether 28 expert testimony is admissible.” BBK Tobacco, 615 F. Supp. 3d at 999. This inquiry 16 Case 2:20-cv-03432-ODW-RAO Document 175 Filed 05/08/23 Page 17 of 19 Page ID #:2379 1 is “flexible.” Id. (quoting Daubert, 509 U.S. at 594.) The Court’s focus should 2 remain “solely on principles and methodology, not on the conclusions that they 3 generate.” 509 U.S. at 593. 4 Applying these principles, Kushner’s declarations are insufficient. Beginning 5 with the Saddleback Motion’s declaration, and setting aside the fact that SG Blocks 6 appears to have attached the wrong document as Exhibit G, Kushner declares the 7 following about how Exhibit G was prepared: 11 Exhibit G is a true and correct copy of a spreadsheet which allocates HOLA’s incurred repair costs to the various Subcontractors which are Third-Party Defendants in this action, including Saddleback. Exhibit G allocates the Owner Incurred Repair Costs (Exhibit C) to the the [sic] roofing subcontractor’s scope of work for Saddleback. 12 (Saddleback Kushner Decl. ¶ 9; see also Avesi Kushner Decl. ¶ 9 (describing 13 Exhibit G in similar terms with respect to Avesi).) 8 9 10 14 Based on that Exhibit, along with Kushner’s own review of other related 15 documents, Kushner opines “that $913,551.00 represents a fair and reasonable 16 allocation of HOLA’s costs to repair attributable to the various scopes of work 17 Saddleback Roofing [sic].” (Saddleback Kushner Decl. ¶ 10; see also Avesi Kushner 18 Decl. ¶ 10 (asserting a similar opinion with respect to Avesi “pursuant to the Avesi 19 Subcontract”).) 20 These statements constitute the entirety of Kushner’s description of his 21 principles and methods and how he applied them to the case. The statements are 22 entirely insufficient to allow the Court to conclude that (1) Kushner is employing 23 reliable principles and methods and that (2) Kushner has properly applied those 24 principles and methods to the case. At minimum, if Exhibit G is to constitute an 25 admissible expert opinion, Kushner must coherently explain to the Court how the 26 figures in Exhibit C lead to the conclusions embodied in Exhibit G. 27 More fundamentally, the Court is unconvinced that SG Blocks’ allegations and 28 evidence support assigning indemnity solely according to the scope of work as set 17 Case 2:20-cv-03432-ODW-RAO Document 175 Filed 05/08/23 Page 18 of 19 Page ID #:2380 1 forth in the subcontracts. As discussed, it appears that SG Blocks’ only viable claims 2 are equitable claims. (See supra Part IV.B.1.) Given that the viable claims are 3 equitable and not contractual in nature, it appears that sufficient proof of damages 4 would be based not merely on an academic analysis of the subcontracts but instead on 5 fair, evidence-backed estimates of the additional costs to complete the project that 6 Avesi or Saddleback actually caused. These costs would, in turn, be based on the 7 work each entity actually did on the Project, or the work each entity agreed to do but 8 did not do. 9 principles for determining damages on equitable indemnity and contribution claims, 10 and it must submit evidence (expert or otherwise) that demonstrates damages 11 according to those principles. SG Blocks does not do so in this instance, and the 12 Court denies the Motions on this basis. 13 D. 14 To obtain default judgment, SG Blocks must articulate established Further Instructions The Court herein provides SG Blocks with an opportunity to amend its Motions 15 and address the deficiencies discussed above. 16 SG Blocks with additional orders regarding the form and service of the Motion, as 17 provided below. 18 V. In so doing, the Court provides CONCLUSION 19 For the reasons discussed above, the Court DENIES SG Blocks’ Motions for 20 Default Judgment. (ECF Nos. 171, 172.) By no later than May 30, 2023, SG Blocks 21 shall file an Amended Motion for Default Judgment. Failure to do so may result in 22 dismissal of the case for lack of prosecution. 23 The Court further ORDERS as follows: 24 SG Blocks shall file one single amended default judgment motion covering both 25 defaulting Defendants. SG Blocks shall include a word count certificate of 26 compliance pursuant to Central District of California Local Rule 11-6. 27 28 SG Blocks shall provide the Court with a courtesy copy of the amended motion and supporting materials. 18 Case 2:20-cv-03432-ODW-RAO Document 175 Filed 05/08/23 Page 19 of 19 Page ID #:2381 1 SG Blocks shall serve the amended motion on (1) Avesi and Saddleback in 2 accordance with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(h) and (2) Saddleback’s 3 putative insurance adjuster by postal mail and email. SG Blocks shall file a 4 Proof of Service of the amended motion no later than seven (7) days after the 5 date it files the amended motion. 6 7 IT IS SO ORDERED. 8 9 May 8, 2023 10 11 12 ____________________________________ OTIS D. WRIGHT, II UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 19
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