Northwest Administrators, Inc. v. Traxx Equipment Co., LLC

Summary

The United States District Court for the Western District of Washington grants Northwest Administrators, Inc.’s motion for default judgment against Traxx Equipment Co., LLC. The action concerns delinquent contributions to a pension trust under a collective bargaining agreement, along with liquidated damages, interest, attorney’s fees, and costs. The court concludes that jurisdiction is proper, the Eitel factors favor default judgment, and the requested relief is adequately supported by evidence.

Holdings

1. The court had subject-matter jurisdiction under ERISA and the Taft-Hartley Act and personal jurisdiction over Traxx because Traxx's registered agent was properly served.
2. Default judgment was warranted because the Eitel factors, considered as a whole, favored judgment for Northwest Administrators.
3. Northwest Administrators sufficiently established entitlement to $5,893.98 in delinquent contributions, $1,178.80 in liquidated damages, $423.49 in interest, $1,053.00 in attorney's fees, and $500.00 in costs.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the court had subject-matter and personal jurisdiction to enter default judgment.
2. Whether the Eitel factors supported entry of default judgment against Traxx.
3. Whether Northwest Administrators provided sufficient evidence to establish entitlement to and the amount of delinquent contributions, liquidated damages, interest, attorney's fees, and costs.

Disposition

other