ELIZABETH A. WOLFORD, United States District Judge.
Plaintiffs Sunset Homeowners Association, Inc. (the "Association") and Glenn Arthurs (collectively, "Plaintiffs") commenced this action in New York State Supreme Court, Cattaraugus County, on December 4, 2018, alleging that Natascha DiFrancesco and Bryan DiFrancesco (collectively, "Defendants") breached their contractual obligations by advertising and utilizing their properties as rental units through Airbnb, Inc., and HomeAway, Inc. (Dkt. 1-2 at 4-18).
Pending before this Court is Plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction (Dkt. 1-3 at 5-184) and the remaining aspects of Defendants' motion to dismiss pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(5) directed to the failure to serve Natascha (Dkt. 3). For the following reasons, Defendants' motion to dismiss is granted as to Natascha, Plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction is denied without prejudice, and Plaintiffs are hereby ordered pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 19(a)(2) to effectuate proper service upon Natascha within 30 days of this Decision and Order.
The background and procedural history of this case is set forth in detail in the Court's April 15, 2019, Decision and Order (Dkt. 23) (the "April 2019 Decision"), familiarity with which is assumed for purposes of this Decision and Order. The Court has summarized the key details below.
On or about December 4, 2018, Plaintiffs filed a Summons and Verified Complaint with the New York State Supreme Court, County of Cattaraugus, alleging, among other things, causes of action for breach of contract and seeking a preliminary injunction enjoining Defendants from continuing to use the Properties in contravention of certain restrictive covenants applicable to both lots. (See Dkt. 1-2 at 2-18). On December 13, 2018, the state court issued an order to show cause containing a temporary restraining order that restricted Defendants' use of the Properties. (See Dkt. 1-3 at 1-4). The state court subsequently issued a supplemental order to show cause on December 24, 2018, that carved out several exceptions to the prohibited rental activity in order to accommodate for the holiday season until the preliminary injunction hearing scheduled for January 17, 2019. (Id. at 186-90).
Defendants removed the action to federal court on January 3, 2019 (Dkt. 1)— before the disposition of the preliminary injunction motion—and filed a motion to dismiss and a motion to vacate the temporary restraining order on the same day (Dkt. 3). Because the temporary restraining order expired 14 days after the action was removed (see Dkt. 7), on January 18, 2019, Plaintiffs filed a cross motion for a temporary restraining order (Dkt. 8) and requested an expedited hearing on that motion (Dkt. 9). At a telephone conference held on January 22, 2019, the Court denied Plaintiffs' cross motion for a temporary restraining order and scheduled a motion hearing on Defendants' motion to dismiss and Plaintiffs' still pending motion for a preliminary injunction. (Dkt. 13). On January 31, 2019, the Court held oral argument and reserved decision. (Dkt. 22).
On April 15, 2019, the Court issued a Decision and Order that examined the three mechanisms by which Plaintiffs had
Recognizing that "neither side ha[d] briefed whether Ontario's service requirements were satisfied," the Court held the remainder of Defendants' motion to dismiss in abeyance along with Plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction until further briefing was submitted "on the limited issue of whether McGrinder's service of the Summons and Verified Complaint effectuated service upon Natascha DiFrancesco in full compliance with the Convention and New York law." (Id. at 26-28). On April 25, 2019, the Court granted the parties' joint request for a 45-day adjournment of the briefing schedule established for supplemental filings to permit the parties additional time to explore a potential resolution of the matter. (Dkt. 24).
On June 13, 2019, Plaintiffs filed their supplemental responsive papers, arguing that Natascha is neither a "necessary" nor an "indispensable" party. (Dkt. 25-1). Plaintiffs contend, in the alternative, that they should be afforded an opportunity to serve Natascha "in a manner directed by the Court" in the event the Court comes to a contrary conclusion. (See id. at 8). Plaintiffs' supplemental papers set forth no additional argument pertaining to whether service upon Natascha complied with the Convention and New York law, as had been requested by the Court in its April 2019 Decision.
On June 20, 2019, Defendants filed their supplemental reply papers. (See Dkt. 26; Dkt. 27). Defendants include a new affidavit supplied by Natascha in which she avers that she owns a "one hundred percent... fee simple interest" in the Properties. (Dkt. 26 at ¶ 6). Natascha further avers that she "signed the deeds as owner of both Properties," and that she entered into a "Condominium/Homeowners' Association Rider" at the time she purchased the property located at 6230 Sunset Road, which identified various "title documents" that "include[d] the Association's `Declaration, By-Laws and Rules.'" (Id. at ¶¶ 10, 15, 16-17).
Defendants maintain that Natascha was never properly served (see id. at ¶ 27; Dkt. 27 at 5) and argue that she is a necessary and indispensable party to this litigation whose legal interests as the owner of the
"A Rule 12(b)(5) motion is the proper vehicle for challenging the mode of delivery or lack of delivery of the summons and complaint." Jackson v. City of New York, No. 14-CV-5755 (GBD) (KNF), 2015 WL 4470004, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. June 26, 2015) (quoting 5B Wright & Miller, Fed. Prac. & Proc. § 1353 (3d ed. 2004)). "[I]n considering a motion to dismiss pursuant to 12(b)(5) for insufficiency of process, a Court must look to matters outside the complaint to determine whether it has jurisdiction." Darden v. DaimlerChrysler N. Am. Holding Corp., 191 F.Supp.2d 382, 387 (S.D.N.Y. 2002). "When a defendant raises a Rule 12(b)(5) `challenge to the sufficiency of service of process, the plaintiff bears the burden of proving its adequacy.'" Mende v. Milestone Tech., Inc., 269 F.Supp.2d 246, 251 (S.D.N.Y. 2003) (citation omitted).
In its April 2019 Decision, the Court concluded that Plaintiffs had failed to carry their burden of demonstrating that Natascha was properly served by McGrinder pursuant to the applicable rules of civil procedure under Ontario law. (See Dkt. 23 at 25-26). Because neither side had briefed whether Ontario's service requirements were satisfied—as was required under the circumstances to comply with the Convention—the Court requested that both sides submit supplemental briefing on this "limited issue." (Id. at 26-27). Despite having received the Court's April 2019 Decision, Plaintiffs' supplemental papers provide no additional argument or any further insight into whether or not Natascha was properly served. Because Plaintiffs have provided no additional reasons for this Court to conclude that they have carried their burden of demonstrating that service was sufficient, the Court concludes that it does not have personal jurisdiction over Natascha for the same reasons outlined in its April 2019 Decision. Accordingly, to the extent Defendants seek to dismiss Plaintiffs' action for the failure to properly serve process pursuant to Rule 12(b)(5) (see Dkt. 3-13 at 8-10), the Court grants Defendants' motion as to Natascha, dismissing her from this action without prejudice.
In its April 2019 Decision, the Court suggested that Natascha's dismissal might also require the Court to deny Plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction for failure to demonstrate a likelihood of success on the merits as a result of the nonjoinder of all necessary parties. (See Dkt. 23 at 26). A significant portion of the parties' supplemental briefing focuses on whether Natascha is a "necessary" or "required" party under Rule 19 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Plaintiffs argue that Natascha is not a necessary party because the "Court has the ability to award complete relief, as between [Plaintiffs and Bryan], to enforce the use restrictions prohibiting Mr. DiFrancesco's rental activities." (Dkt. 25-1 at 7). Plaintiffs also contend that Natascha and Bryan share virtually identical interests, and thus her interests are sufficiently represented by Bryan's participation in this lawsuit. (See id.).
"In determining whether an action should be dismissed for nonjoinder, the court ... must initially determine whether the party should be joined as a `necessary party' under Rule 19(a)." ConnTech Dev. Co. v. Univ. of Conn. Educ. Props., Inc., 102 F.3d 677, 681 (2d Cir. 1996). If the party is found to be necessary, "the court must proceed to the second step of the indispensable party analysis, which requires it to assess [under Rule 19(b)] whether or not, in equity and good conscience, the action should proceed in the necessary party's absence." Associated Dry Goods Corp, v. Towers Fin. Corp., 920 F.2d 1121, 1124 (2d Cir. 1990). "Unless Rule 19(a)'s threshold standard is met, the court need not consider whether dismissal under Rule 19(b) is warranted." Id. at 1123.
When determining whether a party is necessary under the first prong of the joinder analysis, Rule 19(a)(1) provides:
Fed. R. Civ. P. 19(a)(1).
"It is well established that a party to a contract which is the subject of the
The instant action alleges that Bryan and Natascha violated their obligations under the Declaration of Restrictive Covenants, dated May 1, 1987, and recorded May 21, 1987 (the "Declaration"), the Supplemental Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions of Sunset Area Subdivision, recorded July 17, 1995 (the "Supplemental Declaration"), and the Bylaws of Sunset Homeowners Association, Inc., dated October 19, 1993 (the "Bylaws") (collectively, the "Operational Documents"). (See Dkt. 1-2 at 6-7, 12-14). Plaintiffs have alleged, among other things, breach of contract claims seeking preliminary and permanent injunctive relief prohibiting Defendants "from offering to lease their Sunset Road properties ... [and] renting" them for "short-term rental" without prior written consent, and directing Defendants "to remove their Sunset Road rental listings from any online websites... [and] to discontinue advertising" the Properties "for short-term lease" also without prior written consent. (Id. at 16).
However, the undisputed record evidence demonstrates that Natascha holds legal title in the Properties. (See Dkt. 26 at 2; Dkt. 26-1; Dkt. 26-2). Natascha is the sole signatory to the property deeds at the time the Properties were purchased. (See Dkt. 26-1 at 5, 13; see also Dkt. 26-2 at 2-3, 5-6). Furthermore, the Declaration provides that all "conditions, restrictions and requirements" set forth therein "shall bind the owners of said lots, their heirs, successors and assigns" (Dkt. 1-2 at 20 (emphasis added)), and the Supplemental Declaration states that the "covenants, conditions and restrictions" are "binding on all parties having any right, title or interest" in the properties within the Sunset Area Subdivision (id. at 28). By their plain terms, Natascha, as the owner of the Properties, is a party to the Operational Documents that Plaintiffs claim have been violated.
Complete relief cannot be accorded among the existing parties to this lawsuit in Natascha's absence. "The Advisory Committee's note ... provides that the complete relief clause of Rule 19(a) was designed to `stress[] the desirability of joining those persons in whose absence the court would be obliged to grant partial or "hollow" rather than complete relief to the parties before the court.'" Glob. Disc. Travel Servs., LLC, 960 F.Supp. at 708 (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 19(a) advisory
In short, without Natascha the Court cannot award Plaintiffs the complete relief sought in their Complaint. Because Natascha would not be subject to any order awarding injunctive relief, her use of the Properties would not be enjoined in the manner requested by Plaintiffs. As Plaintiffs correctly contend, "Rule 19(a)(1) is concerned only with those who are already parties." MasterCard Int'l Inc. v. Visa Int'l Serv. Ass'n, Inc., 471 F.3d 377, 385 (2d Cir. 2006); (see Dkt. 25-1 at 6). However, enjoining Bryan alone will not prevent the Properties from being leased or rented, nor will it require that the Properties be removed from any online listings and advertisements. Accordingly, Natascha's presence in this action is "required" for this Court to grant Plaintiffs the complete relief they request.
Therefore, the Court concludes that Natascha is a "necessary" or "required" party pursuant to Rule 19(a)(1)(A).
As the Court stated in its April 2019 Decision, the nonjoinder of a necessary party is grounds to deny a preliminary injunction for failure to demonstrate a likelihood of success on the merits. (Dkt. 23 at 26-27); see, e.g., Ram v. Lal, 906 F.Supp.2d 59, 79 (E.D.N.Y. 2012) ("[T]he Court finds that the State Court and the Receiver are necessary parties to the action and must be before this Court in order to effectuate the requested injunction."); Westchester Disabled On the Move, Inc. v. County of Westchester, 346 F.Supp.2d 473, 480 (S.D.N.Y. 2004) (denying motion for a preliminary injunction because where "[t]he currently named [d]efendants could not provide complete relief sought by [p]laintiffs ... [the p]laintiffs cannot establish a likelihood of success on the merits"); Boat Basin Inv'rs, LLC v. First Am. Stock Transfer, Inc., No. 03 Civ. 493 (RWS), 2003 WL 282144, at *1 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 7, 2003) ("In the absence of ... a necessary party under Rule 19(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the merits may not be reached and a preliminary injunction may not be granted."); see also KM Enters., Inc. v. McDonald, No. 11-CV-5098 (ADS) (ETB), 2012 WL 540955, at *6 (E.D.N.Y. Feb. 16, 2012) ("Although a determination of whether the [p]laintiff has failed to join necessary parties is not necessary for purposes of a preliminary injunction because the motion is adequately dismissed on alternative grounds, the Court notes that it was ultimately proper and reasonable ... to consider this factor at this stage of the proceedings."). Accordingly, because the Court cannot provide the complete relief sought by Plaintiffs in this matter in the absence of personal jurisdiction over Natascha, Plaintiffs have failed to demonstrate a likelihood of success on the merits. Therefore, Plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction is denied without prejudice.
Rule 19(a)(2) provides that "[i]f a person has not been joined as required, the court must order that the person be made a party." Fed. R. Civ. P. 19(a)(2) (emphasis added). "As one prominent treatise pithily puts it, if an absentee's joinder is `feasible' and required `for a just adjudication,' the judge `must order' joinder since he `has no discretion at this point because of Rule 19(a)(2)'s `mandatory language.'" Delgado-Caraballo v. Hosp. Pavia Hato Rey, Inc., 889 F.3d 30, 37 (1st Cir. 2018) (quoting 7 Wright & Miller, Fed. Prac. & Proc. § 1611, at 158-62 (3d ed. 2001)); accord City of Syracuse v. Onondaga County, 464 F.3d 297, 308 (2d Cir.) ("We have held that `[i]f the court determines that any of the criteria set forth in Rule 19(a) is met, then it must order that the absent person be joined as a party.'" (quoting Johnson v. Smithsonian Inst., 189 F.3d 180, 188 (2d Cir. 1999), abrogated on other grounds by United States v. Kwai Fun Wong, ___ U.S. ___, 135 S.Ct. 1625, 1638, 191 L.Ed.2d 533 (2015))), certified question accepted, 7 N.Y.3d 863, 824 N.Y.S.2d 602, 857 N.E.2d 1133 (2006), and certified question withdrawn, 9 N.Y.3d 888, 842 N.Y.S.2d 764, 874 N.E.2d 728 (2007).
Defendants have provided no reason to conclude that Natascha is not subject to service of process, her joinder would deprive the Court of subject matter jurisdiction over this action, or that it is otherwise "not feasible" to join her as a party to this lawsuit. Accordingly, the Court hereby orders Plaintiffs to serve Natascha with the Summons and Verified Complaint and to file proof of service of the same within 30
For the foregoing reasons, Defendants' motion to dismiss for insufficient process (Dkt. 3) is granted as to Natascha, and Plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction (Dkt. 1-3 at 5-184) is denied without prejudice. Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 19(a)(2), Plaintiffs are hereby ordered to effectuate service upon Natascha within 30 days of the date of this Decision and Order in compliance with the Convention and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and to file proof of service of the same.
SO ORDERED.