Eaton v. Broken Spoke Cycles Inc, No. 1:2014cv02898 - Document 13 (D. Colo. 2015)
Court Description: ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART PLAINTIFF'S MOTION FOR DEFAULT JUDGMENT 12 , by Judge William J. Martinez on 5/18/2015.(dhans, )
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Eaton v. Broken Spoke Cycles Inc Doc. 13 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO Judge William J. Martínez Civil Action No. 14-cv-2898-WJM-KMT SHEENA EATON, Plaintiff, v. BROKEN SPOKE CYCLES, INC., Defendant. ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR DEFAULT JUDGMENT Plaintiff Sheena Eaton initiated this action on October 23, 2014, and bring s claims for violations of the Truth in Lending Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1601 et seq. (“TILA”) and the Colorado Consumer Credit Code, C.R.S. § 5-1-101 et seq. (ECF No. 1.) Plaintiff alleges that she purchased a vehicle from Defendant Broken Spoke Cycles, Inc., which provided her with an amortization schedule and a sales contract. (Id. at 2.) However, Plaintiff alleges that the amortization schedule and sales contract did not com ply with the terms of TILA or the Colorado Consumer Credit Code. (Id. at 2-4.) This matter is before the Court on Plaintiff’s Motion for Default Judgment (“Motion”). (ECF No. 12.) For the reasons set forth below, the Motion is granted in part and denied in part. I. ANALYSIS Before granting a motion for default judgment, the Court must take several steps. First, the Court must ensure that it has personal jurisdiction over the defaulting defendants and subject matter jurisdiction over the action. See Williams v. Life Sav. & Dockets.Justia.com Loan, 802 F. 2d 1200, 1202-03 (10th Cir. 1986). Next, the Court should consider whether the well-pleaded allegations of fact, which are deemed admitted by a defendant in default, support a judgment on the claims against the defaulting defendants. See Fed. Fruit & Produce Co. v. Red Tomato, Inc., 2009 WL 765872, at *3 (D. Colo. March 20, 2009) (“Even after entry of default, however, it remains for the court to consider whether the unchallenged facts constitute a legitimate basis for the entry of a judgment.”) (citations omitted). “In determining whether a claim for relief has been established, the well-pleaded facts of the complaint are deemed true.” Id. (citing Dundee Cement Co. v. Howard Pipe & Concrete Prods., Inc., 722 F.2d 1319, 1323 (7th Cir. 1983)). Once the Court is satisfied that default judgment should be entered, it has the discretion to hold a hearing to determine the amount of damages. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b)(2). Generally, a damages hearing is not needed when the damages requested are for a sum certain. See United States v. Craighead, 176 F. App’x 922, 925 (10th Cir. 2006). In this matter, the Court will therefore determine: (1) whether the Court’s jurisdiction over the Defendant and claims is proper; (2) whether the well-pleaded allegations of fact support a judgment on the claims against Defendant; and (3) the damages to which Plaintiff is entitled, if any. The Court discusses each issue below. A. The Court’s Jurisdiction The Court must first determine whether it has personal jurisdiction over Defendant, and subject matter jurisdiction over this action. The Court finds that it has proper subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331 because Plaintif f’s TILA 2 claim arises under federal law. The Court also finds it has personal jurisdiction over the Defendant because Defendant is located in Colorado, and negotiated and entered into a contract with a Colorado resident. (ECF Nos. 1 & 8.) Lastly, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367, the Court finds that it has supplemental jurisdiction over Plaintiff’s related claims brought under Colorado law. Therefore, the Court has jurisdiction over all claims and parties in this action. B. Plaintiff’s Claims Plaintiff asserts that Defendant violated both TILA and the Colorado Consumer Credit Code. (ECF No. 1.) Treating all well-pled facts in the Plaintiff’s Complaint as true, the Court finds that Plaintiff has alleged a sufficient basis on which to impose liability on Defendant. The Court discusses both claims below. 1. TILA Violation Plaintiff asserts that Defendant violated the following TILA provision: For each consumer credit transaction other than under an open end credit plan, the creditor shall disclose each of the following items, to the extent applicable: ... (5) The sum of the amount financed and the finance charge, which shall be termed the “total of payments”. . . . (8) Descriptive explanations of the terms “amount financed”, “finance charge”, “annual percentage rate”, “total of payments”, and “total sale price” as specified by the Bureau. The descriptive explanation of “total sale price” shall include reference to the amount of the down payment. 15 U.S.C. §§ 1638(a)(5), (8). Plaintiff alleges that Defendant is a “creditor” as defined in TILA, and that neither the amortization schedule nor the sales contract disclosed to Plaintiff the “total of payments” as required by § 1638(a)(5). (ECF No. 1.) The 3 amortization schedule (ECF No. 1-2) states the amount financed and finance charge separately, the sum of which is termed “Beginning Balance,” which does not comply with the statute. See Jager v. Boston Rd. Auto Mall, Inc., 2015 WL 235342, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 16, 2015) (“The sum of the amount financed and the finance charge, which should be the ‘total of payments,’ is termed the ‘Balance Due.’ That does not comply with § 1638(a)(5).”). Based on Plaintiff’s well-pled allegations, the Court finds that Plaintiff has shown that Defendant violated its duties under TILA. The Court further finds that, because the violation of § 1638(a)(5) allows Plaintiff to recover the sum certain damages she seeks, the Court need not determine whether Defendant also violated § 1638(a)(8). 2. Colorado Credit Code Violation Plaintiff’s second claim alleges that Defendant’s violation of TILA is also a violation of the Colorado Consumer Credit Code, specifically Colorado Revised Statute § 5-3-101(2), which states: “The creditor shall disclose to the consumer to whom credit is extended with respect to a consumer credit transaction the information, disclosures, and notices required by the federal ‘Truth in Lending Act’ . . . and any regulation thereunder.” Therefore, based on Defendant’s TILA violation outlined above, Plaintiff has shown that Defendant violated the Colorado Consumer Credit Code as well. C. Damages for a Sum Certain Plaintiff has shown that she is entitled to judgment in her favor on both her TILA and Colorado Consumer Credit Code claims. However, because Plaintiff’s claims give rise to partially overlapping damages between state and federal statutes, the Court must limit any double recovery. See Mason v. Okla. Turnpike Authority, 115 F.3d 1442, 4 1459 (10th Cir. 1997) (“[i]f a federal claim and a state claim arise from the same operative facts, and seek identical relief, an award of damages under both theories will constitute double recovery”), overruled on other grounds by TW Telecom Holdings Inc. v. Carolina Internet Ltd., 661 F.3d 495 (10th Cir. 2011). Plaintiff has failed to cite to this Court any authority in support of her claimed entitlement to receive damages under both statutes. Therefore, the Court will only award Plaintiff damages on the statute which provides the greater relief. In this case, although both statutes’ measure of damages is “twice the amount of any finance charge in connection with the transaction,” TILA provides Plaintiff the greater relief. Compare 15 U.S.C. § 1640(a)(2)(A) (capping damages at $2,000.00), with C.R.S. § 5-5-202(1)(a) (capping damages at $1,000.00); see also Koons Buick Pontiac GMC, Inc. v. Nigh, 543 U.S. 50, 62 (2004). The Court accordingly awards Plaintiff damages pursuant to TILA in the amount of twice the finance charge in this case, or $1,618.22. (ECF No. 1-2.) D. Attorneys’ Fees and Costs Plaintiff also seeks $3,500.00 in attorneys’ fees in connection with this matter. (ECF No. 12-1.) To determine a reasonable attorneys’ fee, the court must calculate a “lodestar figure” by multiplying a reasonable hourly rate by the hours reasonably expended. Praseuth v. Rubbermaid, Inc., 406 F.3d 1245, 1257 (10th Cir. 2005) (citing Case v. Unified Sch. Dist. No. 233, 157 F.3d 1243, 1249 (10th Cir. 1998)). However, Plaintiff has not submitted sufficient documentation to allow the Court to make its required findings. Plaintiff’s affidavit recites the total fees requested, but not counsel’s hourly rate or the number of hours expended. (ECF No. 12-1.) The Court therefore 5 denies Plaintiff’s request for attorneys’ fees at this time, without prejudice to refiling with more detailed billing information. The Court will, however, award Plaintiff her costs. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(d) provides that costs, other than attorneys’ fees, should be awarded to a prevailing party. Plaintiff’s affidavit states that she expended $483.00 in costs for filing the complaint and service of process, which the Court accordingly awards pursuant to Rule 54(d). IV. CONCLUSION For the reasons set forth above, the Court ORDERS as follows: 1. Plaintiff’s Motion for Entry of Default Judgment Against Defendant (ECF No. 12) is GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART as more specifically set forth in this Order; 2. The Clerk shall enter Judgment in favor of Plaintiff and against Defendant Broken Spoke Cycles, Inc. in the amount of $1,618.22 in damages and $483.00 in costs; and 3. Plaintiff shall file a motion for attorneys’ fees with appropriate supporting documentation, including a detailed and legally sufficient affidavit, no later than May 29, 2015. 6 Dated this 18th day of May, 2015. BY THE COURT: _______________________ William J. Martínez United States District Judge 7
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