The opinion
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
EASTERN DIVISION
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE OHIO
LABORERS’ FRINGE BENEFIT
PROGRAMS,
Plaintiffs,
v. Civil Action 2:19-cv-2029
Judge George C. Smith
Magistrate Judge Kimberly A. Jolson
GLOBAL OUTDOOR SOLUTIONS, LLC,
Defendant.
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
This matter is before the Court on Plaintiffs’ Motion for Order to Show Cause Why Certain
Persons Should Not Be Held in Contempt of Court (the “Show Cause Motion”) (Doc. 18).
Plaintiffs filed an Application for Entry of Default Against Defendant, (Doc. 5), on July 8, 2019,
and a Motion for Order Accelerating and Compelling Discovery (Doc. 8) on July 9, 2019. The
Clerk entered default as to Defendant on July 9, 2019 (Doc. 7), and the Court granted Plaintiffs’
Motion for Order Accelerating and Compelling Discovery in its July 10, 2019 Order (Doc. 9).
Specifically, the Court ordered “that Defendant Global Outdoor Solutions, aka Fourtounis Group,
through an authorized agent, appear for deposition at a date and time designated by the Plaintiffs
and produce the payroll documents requested in Plaintiffs’ Notice of Deposition.” (Id. at 1).
Although the Order was served on Defendant by certified mail, Defendant failed to comply
with the Court’s Order by not appearing for deposition and not producing documents. (Doc. 18).
Consequently, Plaintiffs filed the Show Cause Motion. In it, Plaintiffs requested that the Court
enter an order “requiring Defendant and its member, Mark Fourtounis, to appear and show cause
why they and each of them should not be held in contempt of the Court’s February 4, 2020 order;
punished by fine, imprisonment, or both; and ordered to pay” the expenses associated with the
Show Cause Motion. (Doc. 18 at 1–2).
The Undersigned issued a Show Cause Order directing Defendant and its member, Mark
Fourtounis, “to appear and show cause why they should not be held in contempt of this Court’s
February 4,2020 Order. (Doc. 19 at 1). In that Order, the Undersigned set a show cause hearing
for March 17, 2020. The Order advised that, if Defendant and Mr. Fourtounis failed to appear and
show cause, “the Court may order the arrest of Mr. Fourtounis.” (Id. at 2). Copies of that Order
were sent to Defendant and Mr. Fourtounis by regular and certified mail. (See Docket entry dated
February 26, 2020). Certified mail receipts confirm that Defendant and Mr. Fourtounis received
copies of that Order. (Doc. 20).
On March 17, 2020, the Undersigned held a show cause hearing on at 11:15 a.m. Despite
having adequate notice of that hearing, Defendant and Mr. Fourtounis did not appear. Having
failed to comply with the Court’s Orders (Docs. 8, 19), the Undersigned finds that civil contempt
sanctions are appropriate.
“[I]ncarceration has long been established as an appropriate sanction for civil contempt.”
Singh v. Capital Univ. Law & Graduate Ctr., 238 F.3d 424 (6th Cir. 2000) (collecting cases). “As
used in the civil context, . . . incarceration must be conditional[.]” (Id.). Accordingly, to ensure
Defendant’s compliance with the Court’s Orders, it is RECOMMENDED that the Court GRANT
Plaintiff’s Motion (Doc. 18) and HOLD DEFENDANT and MARK FOURTOUNIS in
CONTEMPT. Specifically, if Defendant does not comply with the Court’s July 9, 2019 Order
(Doc. 8) within TWENTY ONE DAYS of the adoption of this Report and Recommendation, it is
RECOMMENDED that the Court issue a warrant for the arrest of Mark Fourtounis and imprison
Mr. Fourtounis until such time as Defendant complies with the Court’s July 9, 2019 Order. The
Court emphasizes that these sanctions are conditional and designed only to ensure Defendant’s
compliance. Defendant, therefore, may purge itself of its contempt, and avoid the above
punishment, by working with Plaintiff and its counsel to resolve this matter.
Additionally, it is RECOMMENDED that the Court hold Defendant liable, regardless of
its future action, for Plaintiff’s expenses and attorney’s fees associated with its Motion for Order
to Show Cause (Doc. 18), as compensation for Defendants’ noncompliance.
The Clerk is DIRECTED to mail a copy of this Order, by regular and certified mail, to:
Mark Fourtounis
c/o Global Outdoor Solutions, LLC.
5000 Van Epps Road
Cleveland, Ohio 44131
Mark Fourtounis
c/o Global Outdoor Solutions, LLC
7151 Broadview Road
Seven Hills, Ohio 44131
The Clerk shall indicate on the docket the fact of that mailing.
PROCEDURE ON OBJECTIONS
If any party objects to this Report and Recommendation (“R&R”), that party may, within
fourteen days of the date of this R&R, file and serve on all parties written objections to those
specific proposed findings or recommendations to which objection is made, together with
supporting authority for the objection(s). A District Judge of this Court shall make a de novo
determination of those portions of the report or specified proposed findings or recommendations
to which objection is made. Upon proper objections, a District Judge of this Court may accept,
reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the findings or recommendations made herein, may receive
further evidence or may recommit this matter to the Magistrate Judge with instructions. 28 U.S.C.
636(B)(1).
The parties are specifically advised that failure to object to this R&R will result in a waiver
of the right to have the District Judge review the R&R de novo, and also operates as a waiver of
the right to appeal the decision of the District Court adopting the R&R. See Thomas v. Arn, 474
U.S. 140 (1985); United States v. Walters, 638 F.2d 947 (6th Cir. 1981).
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Date: March 17, 2020 /s/ Kimberly A. Jolson
KIMBERLY A. JOLSON
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE