Intermountain Ironworkers Pension Fund; Intermountain Ironworkers Tax Deferral Fund; Ironworkers Intermountain Health & Welfare Fund; Lillian Santillanes; Tom Moen, Jr.; Derek Bamberry; Ryan Smith; Mark Mundy; Andrew Chance; Jeffery Steele; Doug Thomas; David Lloyd; James Wonnacott; Paul Sanchez; Bob Grothe; Mark Calkins; Brian Rigby; Dick Devries; Melvin Cromwell; and Local Union 732 of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers v. Madison River Contractors, a Montana Limited Liability Company

Summary

The United States District Court for the District of Montana grants plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment against Madison River Contractors, LLC for unpaid contributions to ERISA multiemployer benefit plans. The court holds that plaintiffs are entitled to unpaid contributions, 12 percent interest, and liquidated damages, and that they may recover reasonable attorney’s fees and costs, with the amount of fees to be determined in further proceedings. The court denies the defendant’s request for additional discovery under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(d).

Holdings

1. Defendant was not entitled to additional time or discovery because it submitted no supporting affidavit or declaration, relied on speculation, failed to show that the requested facts existed or were essential, and failed to pursue discovery diligently.
2. Plaintiffs were entitled to summary judgment for $67,048.85 in unpaid contributions because defendant was obligated under ERISA and the incorporated agreements to make the contributions, its own reports established the amounts owed, and no genuine dispute of material fact existed.
3. Plaintiffs were entitled as a matter of law to interest on unpaid contributions at the 12 percent annual rate specified in the Trust Agreements, beginning five days after the contributions' due date.
4. Plaintiffs were entitled as a matter of law to liquidated damages equal to 20 percent of the unpaid contributions because the Trust Agreements provided for that amount and ERISA permits liquidated damages up to 20 percent.
5. Plaintiffs were entitled to reasonable attorney's fees and costs under ERISA, but the amount would be determined after further proceedings.

Questions Presented

1. Whether defendant was entitled to defer or deny summary judgment under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(d) to conduct additional discovery.
2. Whether plaintiffs established entitlement to summary judgment for unpaid contributions under ERISA, the collective bargaining agreement, the Compliance Agreement, and the Trust Agreements.
3. Whether plaintiffs were entitled as a matter of law to interest on unpaid contributions.
4. Whether plaintiffs were entitled to liquidated damages equal to 20 percent of unpaid contributions.
5. Whether plaintiffs were entitled to reasonable attorney's fees and costs, with the amount to be determined in further proceedings.

Disposition

other