Walker v. Mod-U-Kraf Homes, LLC, No. 7:2012cv00470 - Document 63 (W.D. Va. 2014)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 5/30/2014. (lab)
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nlGRK' OFFI t.s. sT. S CE J Dl COURT ATR- OKE, VA I TH E UN I N TED STATES D I STRI COU RT CT FO R TH E W ESTERN D I STRI OF V I GI I CT R N A ROA N OK E D I VISI ON FSED MA 3 û 2 1 Y 06 JUL @ 1+ w . D ... . .. ,c , . ROBI L. ALKER, N W V Pl i if a ntf , g P CL U Ci lAc i N o. 1 vi ton 7: 2CV 00 470 M EM O M ND U M O PI IO N N By:H o Gl n E.Conr d n. e a Chi fU nied St t D i ti tJ e t a es s r c udge M O D - - RAF H OM ES,LLC, U K De e nt f nda . Thi c e i pr e l bef et c ton t de enda ' bilofc t ,fl d ptr ua t s as s es nty or he our he f nts l os s ie ls nt o Rul 54( ( )oft Fedea RulsofCi lPr e e. Fort r s t tf l t c twil e d)1 he rl e vi oc dur he eaons ha olow,he our l awa dt de e ntc t i t a ountof$3, . 3. r he f nda oss n he m 071 1 Pr edur H i t r oc al s on The pl i iffl d t se pl e di c i i ton a ton a i tt de e a ntf ie hi m oym nt s rm na i c i ga ns he f ndan on Oc o r t t be 3,20 1 O n D ecem ber 19,20l3,t courtgrant t def 2. he ed he endant' m oton f s m ar s i or um y j d me t Theplitf a e ldted cso t t eUni d S ae Co r o Ap e l f r h u g n. anif pp ae h e iin o h t tt s u t f p as o t e e Fo t Cicui, nd t ta alr mai pe ng. urh r t a ha ppe e ns ndi On Aprl1 201 t de e ntfl da bilofc t i t amounto $3, 1. pur ua i 7, 4, he f nda ie l oss n he f 31 13, s nt t Rul 54( ( )oft Fedea Rulso Ci lPr e e. OnAprl1 201 t pl niffld o e d)1 he rl e f vi oc dur i 8, 4,he aitf ie o jcinst teb lo c ss Th c u'h l ah aigo tematro M a 2 , 01 be to o h il f o t. e o l ed e rn n h te n y 2 2 4. t Sum m ar ofthe A pplcabl L aw v i e d erRul 5 d) l oft Fe rlRulso Ci lPr ed e,c t tho dbeal dt d und e 4( () he dea e f vi oc ur oss s ul lowe o t pr lng pary'unl a f als at e pr desot w i e.' W ilam sv.M et Lie I he evaii t ess eder t ut ovi her s ' li ro f ns. Co.6 F. 622,636( hCi.2010 ( i Fe R. v. 5 d)1) Thus t r l S r t , 09 3d 4t r ) quotng d. Ci P. 4( ( ). ,he ue ç eaes c t pr um pton t cos s ar t be aw ar t t pr lng par ' Cher v v.Chmnpi l ' he es i hat t e o ded o he evaii ly.' r on ntl Cor ,1 F. 442,446(t Ci.1 . Alhought cou tha t dic eint denya a r p. 86 3d 4h r 999) t he r s he sr to o n wad ofc t ,i m us t r i ul t s e good r as f doi s ' i or rt d r om e t os s t t t tc a e om a e on or ng o,' n de o t c ove he prs i ' 1 (ntr lciatona quoainmaksomild) S e umpton.' d. i ena t i nd tto r te . i Amongt fco st t he a tr ha j tf de nga a r ofc t ae:( )mic usiy nyi n wad oss r 1 s onduc b t pr valngpa t ( t u uc s f t y he e ii ry; 2) he ns ce sul pa t si biiyt payt coss ( t e si s oft c t i apariulrca e;( t ry' na lt o he t; 3) he xce svene s he oss n tc a s 4) he lmiedvaueoft pr ii pa t svit y;or( t cl e s a difc t oft is s i t l he' evalng ry' cor 5) he os ne s nd fiuly he sue decde ' Eli v.GrntThor onLLP,434F. x232,235( hCi.2011 . Alhought i d. ls ' a nt App' 4t r ) t he uns ce s ulpa t sig d f ih i pu s ng a a ton i a vi t lpr r s t t r ce vi r lef uc s f r y' i oo a t n r ui n c i s r ua e equi ie o e i ng e i fom t nor lopertonofRul 5 d)l,t tpa t sgoodfih,sa ngaone,i a r he ma ai e 4( ( ) ha ry' at tndi l s n i uf i i ntba i f r f i t as es c t a i tt tpa t ' l (nt na ct inand ns f c e s s or e us ng o s s os s ga ns ha r y,' d. i er l i o at quottonmaksomitd) ai r te . Thepa tc a e ns t ma betxe a cossunde Rul 5 d)1 a es tf t i 28 riulr xpe es hat y a d s t r e 4( () r e orh n U. C.j 1 S. 920. Tha saut p o de ,i pe tne pata f l : t tt e r vi s n ri nt r, s olows A j g o ce ko a yc u t f h Uni d Sae ma txa c sstef l wig: ud e r lr f n o r o t e t tt s y a s o t h ol n e o () 1 Fe oft cer a ma s l es he l k nd rha; Fe f prnt d ore ec r c ly r c de t a c i s ne es a iy es or i e l toni a l e or d r ns rpt c s r l obt i d f us i t c e; a ne or e n he as Fe s a di bur e e sf prntng a w ine s ; e nd s s m nt or i i nd t s es Fee f e m plf c ton a t c t ofm aki c esofa s or xe ii a i nd he os s ng opi ny m a e i s whe e t c e a e ne s a iy obt i f rus i t t ral r he opi s r ce s r l a ned o e n he cas e; () 5 () 6 Doc tfesunde sci 1 oft stte' nd ke e r e ton 923 hi il , a Compe ain ofcour a ntde rs c ns to t ppoi e xpe t, ompe ai of nston i er et s,and s ar es,f expens ,and cos sof s al nt pr er al i ees, es t peci i e pr t to s r c s unde s c i 1 oft stte nt r e a i n e vi e r e ton 828 hi il , 28U. C.jl S. 920. D i si scus on T he tm elnessoft bilofcos i i he l ts l opposng t def nt sbilofc t , he pl ntf fr ta guest ti w a no tm e y n i he enda ' l os s t ai i f i s r ha t s t i l fl ied. Fort f l i r s ,t co ti una e t a ee he olow ng ea ons he ur s bl o gr . Rul 54( oft Fedea RulsofCi lPr edu ei ude t spaaepr sonsf e d) he rl e vi oc r ncl s wo e rt ovii or coss c t ot rt nat ne sfe unde Rul 54() 1,a atr y' f e a r ltd t; oss he ha tor y' e s r e d () nd tone s e s nd eae nontxa ee ns unde Rul 54()2 . UnlkeRul 5 d)2) whihe esl pr dest ta a bl xpe es r e d () i e 4( ( , c xpr sy ovi ha moinf ratr e sfe mu t etldwi i 1 d y a trtee tyo j d me t ne sasaue t o to n y' e s s b ie t n 4 a s fe h nr f u g n u ls ttt o h orac tor rp o de ot r s Rul 54( ()ç sno prs rbeas cii tmelmi fr our de r vi s hewie, e d)1 i doe t e ci pe fc i i t o s e ng c t ,a t l lnle oft W eser Di ti tofV igi a a e s l nto t i s ' e ki os s nd he oca l s he t n sr c r ni r ie n he s ue. ' Ra c ifv. C Te e son & A ppla e R e t l l . N o. 0 t lf AB l vi i i nc n a s nc , 7: 4CV 0075 2006 U . D i t LEX I 7, S. s . S 35 a * ( . Va. a 20, ) s ealoAlxa rv. ene , 09- 0776-LT, 77, t 2 W D. J n. 2006 . e s e nde W i r No. 1 , J 2013U. S. DitLEXI 1 s. S 54536,a *8( Mas,Oct9,201 (k rRul 5 d)1 t r i norquie t D. s . 3) k unde e 4( ( ) hee s e rment ma tngwhe t moto frtxai ofc t mus bef1d.'. ç ,aparyne o ys e ndai n he in o a ton oss t ie ' ' ) Thus t ed nl e k cos sw ihi a r as t t n e onabl tm e whi h doe notta gr s t ge r ldi t e ofFe r lRul of ei c s r ns e s he ne a c at de a e Ci l o e u e 1t a t er ls;ec n tu da da miitrdt sc r tej s, pe d a viPr c d r h t h u e b o sr e n d n see o e u e h u t s e y, nd i xpe i de e m i ton ofe r aci '' Ra cif 2006U . Dit LEXI 3577,a * ne nsve t r na i ve y ton.' t lf, S. s. S t 2. l t s ca e,t de e ntfl t bilofc t a oxi a e y f l m ont a t rt c r n hi s he f nda ied he l os s ppr m t l otr hs f e he ou t grnt ismotonf s a ed t i or ummayj me . Thec tfndst tt f - hdelywa no r udg nt our i ha he ourmont a s t u ea ona e a t talow i t de e ntt r c nr s bl nd ha l ng he f nda o e overcos sunderRul 5 w oul no of e t e 4 d t f nd Rul 1. Compa el (lowi pat t rcove cossdepiet mont dely) wihUnie e r d. al ng ry o e r t s t wo- h a , t td St e v.Pi o,44F. D.357, ( . Mih.l ( s l ngc t duet f uryea dea . ats nt R. 359 W D. c 968) dialowi oss o o - r ly) Il. T he presum pton i f i n avor ofaw ardi cost na s The c t urhe fndst tt pl i ifhasnoti n ii d a cic s a es s fc e t our f t r i ha he a ntf de t fe ny r um t nc uf i i nt o o e c met ep e u to i fv ro a r igc sst t p e al gp ry. l h ro j cinst v ro h r s mp in n a o f wadn o t o he r v ii a t n e be to o n t bilofc t,t pl ntf cli st ts d nnotafor t pa a coss't t de e nt he l os s he ai if am ha he t ca f d o y ny t ' o he f nda . Obe to s3 ECFNo 5 . Ho v rt eo l e d n ei terc r t thepanifctst j ci n ; .8 we e ,h n y vie c n h e o d ha t litf ie o s uppor t sa gum e i he de ii t tmony i c tng t ts e na $8. 1perhourwor ng t hi r nt s r poston esi ndia i ha he a s 1 ki asa t ac r s a s s a f t Fr nkln Coun y Publc Sc e he ' s it nt or he a i t i hool . On t s r c d, t courti s' hi e or he s una e t c l t tt pl i ifi i g ntorOt r i e l c t abiiy t pay t f l bl o onc ude ha he a ntf s ndi e he w s a ks he lt o he ul m e s eOfa oprae C t. Thec tag e swih t d e ntt tt cic sa esoft s a ur ppr it OSS our r e t he ef nda ha he r um t nc hi c es a i s ar co r tt t s i M us c v. el uve ie Gp . l , o.1 11 0005, 2 as t nd n t k ntas o ho e n i k Dor J n l , nc. N : CV 201 - U. DitLEXI 1 4( . Va. b. 201 ,onwhiht pli ifrles a t tt yae S. s. S 773 W D. Fe 3, 2) c he antf ei , nd ha he r m or i lne w ih t e i Ar hurv, tD a r 6: eni t hos n t Pe iy, 11CV 00042,201 U . D i t LEXI 1 3 S. s . S 69768 ( . Va De 2, ) i whiht dititc thedt tt pl nifsalge i biiyt pa W D. . c. 2013 ,n c he src our l ha he aitf le d na lt o y d dn t usiy ia i gteu us a se ' fd n i t ed fn n ' bi o c ss Co r i o j tf k k n h n u l tp'o e yng h ee da ts l f o t. mpae t l M usc 2012U. DitLEXI 1 ik, S. s. S 7734, t*3(i ngt tt fmiyo ayoungc l whos fr d a tndi ha he a l f hid ufe e as ro b anij r ddn t a tea l yt p yab lo c t, i nt erS a e fn n il eius ri nu y i o h ve h bit o a il f oss gve h i t g r a ca i me rs r es aswela (hejunchalnge t tmony ...ha i ( djcos aound$9milont e ou c , l st le d esi t t t woul tr li o pr dec r t ghechidlove t c s ofhe 1f' , t Arhur 201 U. DitLEXI ovi ae o t l r he oure r ie' wih t , 3 S. s. ) S 1 69768, *6(i ngt tt pli ifsalgai ofhads pweei ufiintt oveco t at tndi ha he antf' le tons r hi r ns fce o r me he !Duri he deposii , teplitf tsiidt ts lv she c re t ob t a i p o d b te ng r ton h anif e tfe ha he o e r u r n j , h t t r vies etr healh i ur t ns ance cover and t s plnst contnue i herposton r hert n s ng hi r payi age, hat he a o i n ii at ha eeki ghe - ng wor Thepl ntf al o t tfed t s lveswih herboyfi nd and t ts hasneverhad t fl f k. ai if s esii hat he i t re ha he o ie or bankr cy. Addii l t r d r upt tonaly, he ecor eveal t i Oct of2010,l t a yearbef e s was s hat n ober ess han or he t r i t d b t e d f n n , h pli tf r c i d al m p s s tlm e tt t lng $1 , 00. f a e m na e y h e e da t t e a n if e e ve u um e te n o a i 0 0 00 or wo kpa eij yt a s s sane a a t rplc o e o n . r lc nur h t he u t i d t nohe a e f mplyme t pr s pto ofawa di c t,wher t pl ntf sa e i hi de ii t thee r d $8. an e um i n r ng os s e he ai if tt d n s poston ha a ne 00 houra rcevedSoci Se urt be tt) nd e i al c iy neis. The pl i ifa s a ar t s a ntf l o ppe s o ugge tt tt bilofcos si e es i . She cl i st tt s ha he l t s xc sve a m ha he de e ntt a d isc t by r f nda c dde t os s eque tng a a d ofc t f ie st ta e notr c r bl 'and p s i n war os s or t m ha r e ove a e,' t tt bilofc t s dbede edi ise ieyont sg o ha he l oss houl ni n t ntrt hi r und. Ob e ins2; No. j cto ECF 58. W hiet cour i oft opi ont tas alpori oft cossr ue t d byt de e nti not l he t s he ni ha m l ton he t eq se he f nda s r c r bl f rt r s dic s d i r t co ti c nc t tt bilofc t i not e ove a e o he ea ons s us e nfa, he ur s onvi ed ha he l oss s exc sveo isfce See e. ,Arhur 201 U. Dit LEXI 1 esi n t a . , g. t , 3 S. s. S 6978,a * ( ncudi t ta t 7 co l ng ha $3,3l87bilofc t fldbyadee ntt tpr ie ons 1 . l oss ie fnda ha evald ummayj r udgme i a e oy nt ntn n mpl me dici nai c edi nota rt bee esi ) s rmi ton as d ppea o xc sve . Fort s r as , a be us no o he f t w e ghs i t pl i ifs f vor2 t e c > he e e ons nd ca e t r ac or i n he a ntf a , h o t ndst tt c r um s a si t sca e a e no s f c e t o r om et pr um pton t tf r i ha he ic t nce n hi s r t uf i i nt o ve c he es i ha avo s aw ar ng cos st t pr lng part di t o he evaii y. 111. The cost request bv t defendant s ed he The pa tc a c t a i s i t sc e ca be di de i o f urc t gores o w hi t r i ul r oss t s ue n hi as n vi d nt o a e i , f ch wo aec lng i t pl ntf' obecins3 Thefrtc t yi diput i l es$ 00i r hale ed n he ai ifs j to . is aegor n s e ncud 240. n s r i e f espai t t Fr nkln Count She if s De t e a a prva e pr s s r e . Suc e vc e d o he a i y rf parm nt nd i t oce s e v r h fesa enoti l i t ls oftxa ec t stfrhi 28U. C.j19 I tad,j19 ( e r ncuded n he it a bl oss e o t n S. 20. nse 20 1) onl r est t ût soft cek a mas l' W hies c ' ha i er eedt s y efr o he dlee he lr nd rha. r ' l ome ouls ve nt pr t hi t 2The pl ntf doesnotcont t t def ai if end hat he endantengaged i ltgaton m iconduct ort tt n ii i s ha he , d fnda tss c e so s e e n' u c s n ummayj g n wa oflmie v ue M o e ve,hec ur i o t opi o t t r ud me t s i td al . r o rt o t s f he nin ha t eu e li is e we eno s cos o c mplxa t j tf d n nga a r ofc t. h nd ryng s u s r t o l e r o e s o usiy e yi n wad oss 3Theplitf h sno o j cedt t ede sto ta s rp f e f whiht edee da ts e an if a t b e t o h po iin r n cit e s or c h f n n e ks r m bur e ent ort w ines f pai t Raym ond Cas i ei s m , he t s ees d o sdy. l any e ,t cour fndst t n vent he t i hat he de ii tans i swer ûneces arl obt ned f us i t cas 'and,t t tt tans rptf ar poston r crpt eK s iy ai or e n he e' hus, ha he r c i ees e txa l u e j 1 0, sa et r qu se wine sfe . Se 28U. C.j 1 20 2 & ( ) a be nd r 92 a r he e e td t s e s e S. 9 () 3 . pr sont i l s l cef espai t s e ot rt n t m a s l4 t sc ti c tai d ovii o ncude ewi e d o om one he ha he rha, hi our s onsr ne t appl t saut a wrte C a et pli l o y he tt e s itn. ' us he an angua ofj1 1 d note esl al Bec ge 920( ) oes xpr sy low f t r co r ofprva e pr es f es' t c t clnest t x t ef si t sc e. M a ev. or he e ve y i t oc s e , he our de i o a hos ee n hi as ' ys M ahva , 5: t s No. 09CV0 0 201 U. Dit LEXI 1 0l 0, 0 S. s. S 03393,a #1 ( . Va.Se .28,201 ) t 2 W D. pt 0; s e alo K e l v. tl Cha le' Aut Sa e , o. 04CV 00083, e s ley Lite ri s o l s N 4: 2006 U . D i t LEX I 591 a S. s . S 71, t *7( . Va. W D. Aug. 2006)(d- pl nlngua ofj1 1 onl a ist fespai t t 22, dglhe ai a ge l 920( ) y pple o e d o he clr a mas l Be us t lngua ofj 1 1 i ce ra unambiuousonisfce Ia ek nd rha. ca e he a ge 9204) s la nd g t a , m l t t rada hi a tona i ot saut.) Li wie t c t clnest txt sr c oah o e nyt ng ddii lnt he tt e'. ke s ,he our de i o a he evie ' f spai t t Fr nkln Co y She i f sD e m e t SeeBunda v. ter N o.C03- 02, 06 ee d o he a i unt rf ' pm n. Po t , 31 20 U. Dit LEXI 393 a *720( D.owaJ n. 1 2006)( di t tt e ns a s itd S. s. S 2, t - N. l a 3, hol ng ha he xpe es s ocae w ih t s r c ofs t he e vi e ubpoe by va i usc y s r f s of i s we e notr ove a e unde 28 nas r o ount he i f ' fce r ec r bl r U. C.j 1 20() a e S. 9 1, nd mphaii t ttgj t sauei outofdaeorcontayt Co r s ' szng ha tif he ttt s t rr o ng e ss itn ,t swihntep o n eo t elgsau e no tej dcay t a n t esau e'. n e t ii t i h r vic f h e iltr , t h u iir ,o me d h ttt' ) Ac or ngl t de e ntsbilofc t wilber duce by $240. c di y, he f nda ' l oss l e d 00. Thes c c ego y ofc ale d e ns i ude $262. i prntng a / rc ng e ond at r h ' l nge xpe es ncl s 84 n i i nd o opyi e ns i ure byt deend t Subs ci ( of28U. C.j1 al f r oveyof xpe es nc rd he f an. e ton 4) S. 920 lows or ec r ûgl sfre mplfc tona c e ofpa r ne esaiyobane f us i t c e. 28 dtee o xe iiai nd opis pes c s rl ti d or e n he as ' ' U. C.j 1 204 . Thi pr sone ompa s sanu rofe ns ,i l ngt cossof S. 9 4) s ovii nc se mbe xpe es ncudi he t pr oduc ng di c r r l t d c es ti le bis a c t y c esf t c t Se e. , i s ove y- e a e opi , r a xhi t , nd oures opi or he our . e, g. Counr Vi ne ofN. ,LLC v. & J. loW i r I ,718F. 249,257( h Ci.201 ) tv nt r C. E. Gal ney,nc. 3d 4t r 3 ( di t tihepl nl hol ng ha s ai angua a weghtofa hort e tbls t tt cossof t ge nd i ut iy sa ih ha he t 4 SeeM ays v. M ah s No. 0 e t ya , 5:9CV0 00 2 0U. Dit LEXI 1 339 a *1 - 1( . Va 01 , 01 S. s. S 0 3, t 0 1 W D. . Se . 8, l )(e o niigt a ç wl l t FourhCic tha no a r se t is , t e c rsa e pt 2 20 0 r c g zn h t s hie he t r ui s t dd e s d he sue o h r ou t r r s ltonwh t rt sp o so ma bera t i ldef e f p i t p o e ss r e s'. pi ehe hi r viin y e d o ncu e s or rvae r c s e v r' ) 6 e xemplfc tonsa co esi dic r aetxa eunde j 1 4)3i l ngt c tof iiai nd pi n sove y r a bl r 920( , ncudi he os 5 i ni ...fl ont dics'a tee tng (helc e i t tj 1 4)a isonl t t k ng bur ies o s s' nd l j ci t ontnton ha 920( pple y o he r c t rltdt matrasatc t ds ii motonsorpr uc da ti ' ; vl v.Republc oss eae o eil ta hed o ipostve i od e t ral' Ta or l i Sevs.l .No.ll c 00523r . nc, :2-vDBL-DD,201 U. DitLEXI 11 a *35( D. J n. l 4 S. s. S 086, t E. Va. a 29,201 (war ngc t f kherpr duci ofprntee toni daa tile bis a itr 4) a di oss or ' e o ton t i lcr c t,ra xhi t, nd nenal c eso tile bis i udi c orco es'; opi f ra xhi t,ncl ng ol pi ' Cookv. a la He t Sevs,l , l M geln a1h r . nc.No. l1 v1 4, 3U. Dit LEXI 6991 ,a * ( D. M a 15 201 (war ngc t f :2c 08 201 S. s. S 6 t 9 E. Va. y , 3) a di oss or pr uc ng co e ofpot talti le bis e n t od i pi s en i r a xhi t , ve houg t c e w asdec ded on s m a y h he as i um r j d me t;Smmo sv O' aly 2 5F. u p. d4 2 4 4( M d. 0 2 (x anigt a u g n ) i n . M le , 3 S p 2 4 , 4 D. 2 0 ) e pli n h t txa eco nge ns i l S opi f nihe t t c f'. Be a et co coss a bl pyi xpe es ncude k es ur s d o he oul l c us he py t c r que t d by t def nda f l w ihi t e ca ego i s a ha bee s w n t be ne s a y f e se he e nt a l t n hes t r e , nd ve n ho o ce s r or us i t c s ,t f la ountr que t d by t de e ntw ilbe t xed aga ns t pl i if e n he a e he ul m e se he f nda l a i t he a ntf . I a cor nc w ih t r i s tf t a n c da e t he ulngs e or h bove t cou tw ilr uc t de enda ' bilof , he r l ed e he f nt s l c t by $ 00. Ther m ani e ns sOu lned i t def nda ' bilofcoss t t lng oss 240. e i ng xpe e ti n he e nts l t, o ai $3, . 3, l betxe a ns t pli tf . Howe r f t r a o sa e durngt he rng, 071 1 wil a d gai t he a n if ve , or he e s ns t t d i he a i t pay e oft c t w ilbe s a d pendi t out om e oft pl ntf ' a he m nt he os s l t ye ng he c he ai i f s ppea . l The Cl r i diec e t s nd c rii d co e o t sm e or ndum opi on a t e k s r t d o e e tt e pi s f hi m a ni nd he ac om panyi or rt a 1e c ng de o l ouns lofr or e ec d. ENTER: s %6&da ofMa 201 Thi y y, 4. , Chi Unied St t D i rctJudge ef t a es sti
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