Morisseau v. Global A Brands, INC.
- Stewart Aaron
- 1:23-cv-05679
- U.S. District Court · Southern District of New York
- 2
In Morisseau v. Global A Brands, Judge Aaron set deadlines for a damages inquest after a hearing on Morisseau’s default-judgment motion.
Gaelle Morisseau, the defendants, and their attorneys are affected by the transcript, damages-submission, service, response, and possible hearing requirements. The order specifically permits service on Defendant Alford by email because mailed documents continued to be returned.
What happened
In Morisseau v. Global A Brands, the court addressed next steps after an April 22, 2025 hearing on Gaelle Morisseau’s motion for a default judgment. Judge Vargas referred the case to Judge Aaron for an inquest, or review, of damages.
The court ordered Morisseau to obtain the hearing transcript by May 1, 2025, and file a damages submission addressing attorney’s fees within 14 days after the transcript is filed. The submission must include required billing and fee information. Morisseau must serve the defendants, who may respond within seven days.
Judge Aaron stated that the damages review may be decided using written submissions alone. The order did not state whether the default-judgment motion was granted or deny any damages award.
The detailed version
- Morisseau v. Global A Brands, INC. · No. 1:23-cv-05679
- Stewart Aaron
- Apr. 24, 2025
Background
After an April 22, 2025 hearing before Judge Vargas concerning Gaelle Morisseau’s motion for a default judgment, Judge Vargas referred the action to Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron for an inquest on damages. An inquest is a proceeding to determine the amount of damages.
Orders and deadlines
The court ordered Morisseau to order a copy of the April 22 hearing transcript no later than May 1, 2025. No later than 14 days after the transcript is filed on the electronic docket, Morisseau must file a supplemental submission concerning damages, including her request for attorney’s fees.
Any request for attorney’s fees must include contemporaneous time records identifying, for each attorney, the date of service, hours worked, and nature of the work. Counsel must also provide the number of years each attorney has been admitted to the bar, the attorney’s hourly rate, and a copy of the applicable retainer agreement.
Morisseau must serve the defendants with the transcript, supplemental submission, and a copy of the order, then file proof of service. The defendants must send Morisseau’s counsel and file with the court any response within seven days after service. Because mail sent to Defendant Alford has continued to be returned, the order permits service on Alford by email.
Possible written decision
The court notified the parties that it may conduct the damages inquest based only on written submissions. Any party seeking an evidentiary hearing must explain in its submission why a written process is insufficient and must describe the witnesses and evidence that would be presented.
Disposition
Judge Stewart D. Aaron entered an order governing the damages inquest and related submissions. The opinion does not state whether Morisseau’s motion for a default judgment was granted or denied, and it does not award a specific amount of damages or attorney’s fees.
Read the full 2-page opinion on CourtListener, the free public archive maintained by the Free Law Project.