DENISE COTE, District Judge.
Plaintiff Iva P. Speyer ("Speyer") brings this action for employment discrimination against jewelry designer and manufacturer Kieselstein Enterprises, Inc., its owner, Barry Cord (collectively "Kieselstein"),
Speyer filed her original complaint for employment discrimination in violation of the New York State and City human rights laws on March 27, 2009. The original complaint named Nat Hyman as a defendant in addition to Kieselstein and Bonilla. Speyer alleged that she was employed by Kieselstein at a jewelry retail store at 1058 Madison Avenue, New York, New York (the "Madison Avenue Store") from November 2006 through March 10, 2009, and that she was sexually harassed by her manager, Bonilla. Speyer further alleged that she was fired in retaliation after she complained of Bonilla's harassment.
Hyman Co. filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 on March 3, 2009, shortly before Speyer filed her original complaint in this Court. On July 14, 2009, the Bankruptcy Court issued a preliminary injunction barring Speyer from pursuing any action against Hyman Co. and Nat Hyman. Speyer subsequently entered into a settlement agreement with Hyman Co. and Nat Hyman releasing all her claims against both entities. The settlement On July 7, 2010, Speyer amended her complaint to remove Hyman Co. and Nat Hyman as defendants.
Kieselstein filed a third-party complaint (the "Third Party Complaint") against Hyman Co. and Nat Hyman on September 30, 2010. The Third Party Complaint alleges that Kieselstein is entitled to "indemnification or contribution" from Hyman Co. and Nat Hyman in the event that Kieselstein is found liable to Speyer in this action.
According to the Third Party Complaint, Kieselstein entered into an agreement (the "2006 Agreement") with Hyman Co. and Nat Hyman, the president and Chief Executive Officer of Hyman Co., in July of 2006. The 2006 Agreement provided that Hyman Co. would sell Kieselstein's jewelry on consignment at the Madison Avenue Store. As the owner and operator of the Madison Avenue Store, Hyman Co. was solely responsible for the hiring and management of the Madison Avenue Store's employees, including Bonilla and Speyer. Kieselstein therefore disclaims all responsibility for any discrimination or harassment experienced by Speyer during her career at the Madison Avenue Store.
The Bankruptcy Court's Order of December 29, 2010 confirming the reorganization plan for Hyman Co. (the "Confirmation Order") provides that
(Emphasis supplied.) The Confirmation Order defines "Debtor" to include Hyman Co. It includes Nat Hyman in the definition of "Released Parties." The reorganization plan defines "Effective Date" as "the fifteenth (15th) Business Day immediately following the date on which the Confirmation Order becomes a Final Order." The Effective Date is therefore February 3, 2011.
On November 22, 2010, Nat Hyman and Hyman Co. filed a motion to dismiss the Third Party Complaint. An Order of December 7 provided notice to Kieselstein and an opportunity to amend the Third Party Complaint. The motion to dismiss stated that the Bankruptcy Court was scheduled to confirm the plan of reorganization for Hyman Co. on December 29. Therefore, the Court ordered the parties to provide a report on the status of the reorganization on February 7; the third-party defendants responded by submitting a copy of the Confirmation Order. On February 9, the Court ordered Kieselstein to show cause why the reorganization plan did not discharge the claim for indemnification against the Hyman defendants. By letter of February 16, Kieselstein disputed the third-party defendants' assertion that the reorganization plan discharged its claim of indemnification; the Court therefore ordered the third-party defendants to make any motion to dismiss the Third Party Complaint on the basis of the entry of the reorganization plan by March 11, 2011. The motion was fully submitted on April 1.
The third-party defendants primarily contend that Kieselstein's claim for indemnification or contribution was discharged and permanently enjoined by the Confirmation Order. The third-party defendants also assert that Kieselstein's claim for indemnification is actually a claim for contribution, which is barred by New York General Obligations Law § 15-108(b). Finally, the third-party defendants argue that the filing of the Third Party Complaint was a violation of the preliminary injunction orders issued by the Bankruptcy Court and of the automatic stay that applies under 11 U.S.C. § 362(a).
The express terms of the Bankruptcy Court's Confirmation Order permanently enjoin any action by Kieselstein against Hyman Co. The Confirmation Order unequivocally provides that "all Entities that have held, currently hold or may hold a claim against the Debtor are permanently enjoined from . . . commencing or continuing in any manner any action or other proceeding against the Debtor or its property . . . ." The broad language of the Confirmation Order enjoins both current and future claims against the Debtor, Hyman Co. Thus, any claim by Kieselstein for indemnification from Hyman Co. which may arise out of this litigation is barred by the Confirmation Order.
Kieselstein argues in its supplemental briefing on the reorganization plan that even if the Court finds that the claims against Hyman Co. have been discharged by the reorganization plan, it should nevertheless allow Kieselstein to pursue any insurance proceeds from Hyman Co.'s bankruptcy estate. Kieselstein would only be entitled to insurance proceeds, however, if it was able to establish its claim for indemnification. Since any claim for indemnification was discharged by the Bankruptcy Court's Confirmation Order, Kieselstein has no basis on which to pursue proceeds from any insurance policy held by Hyman Co.
Kieselstein's claim for contribution against Nat Hyman is barred by New York General Obligations Law § 15-108(b), as Kieselstein concedes. Section 15-108(b) provides that a "release given in good faith by the injured person to one tortfeasor . . . relieves him from liability to any other person for contribution." Because Speyer entered into a settlement agreement with both Hyman Co. and Nat Hyman, Nat Hyman is relieved of liability to Kieselstein for contribution by the terms of § 15-108(b).
Kieselstein further fails to allege facts giving rise to a claim for indemnification against Nat Hyman.
The third-party defendants' November 22, 2010 motion to dismiss the Third Party Complaint is granted.
SO ORDERED.