Opinion
Case No. 4:13CV02430 AGF
08-28-2014
GREATER ST. LOUIS CONSTRUCTION LABORERS WELFARE FUND, et al., Plaintiffs, v. STL SAW PROS, LLC, Defendant.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court on Plaintiffs' motion for an order compelling Defendant STL Saw Pros, LLC, to account to Plaintiffs, by means of an audit, for all amounts owing to Plaintiffs as a result of delinquent payments to employee benefit funds under the Section 301 of the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947, as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 185, and Section 502 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA"), as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 1132. On August 21, 2014, the Clerk of Court entered default against Defendant. Plaintiffs now seek the audit so that they can determine the amount of Defendant's liability. Defendant has not responded to the motion.
Requiring an audit is an appropriate form of relief in an ERISA case for delinquent benefits where the amount of the delinquency is not known. Int'l Painters & Allied Trades Indus. Pension Fund v. R.W. Amrine Drywall Co., Inc., 239 F. Supp. 2d 26, 33 (D.D.C. 2002) (stating that an audit "promote[s] the legislative intent of ERISA"); Maguire v. Am. Piles, Inc., 2002 WL 31626972, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 21, 2002) (specifying documents to be produced for an audit).
Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiffs' motion for an order compelling an accounting is GRANTED. (Doc. No. 12.)
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Defendant shall submit its books to an audit by an auditor of Plaintiffs' choice, within 21 days of the date of this Memorandum and Order, at Defendant's cost. Failure to comply with this Order may result in a finding of civil contempt and the imposition of sanctions including a fine and/or incarceration.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiffs shall effect service of this Memorandum and Order on Defendant by whatever means they believe to be most effective, and shall promptly file a certificate of such service.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiffs shall have 14 days after completion of the audit to file a properly supported motion for default judgment. If said motion is not filed prior to October 2, 2014, Plaintiff shall file a status report with the Court by that date. Failure to comply with this order may result in the dismissal of this action without prejudice.
/s/_________
AUDREY G. FLEISSIG
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Dated this 28th day of August, 2014.