BERTELSMAN, District Judge.
This is a legal malpractice action in which federal jurisdiction is based on diversity. The matter is before the court on defendant's motion to dismiss, pursuant to Rule 12(b)(2) and 12(b)(6).
This case arises out of an allegedly spurious tax shelter which was entered into by plaintiffs, Corporex Companies, LLC, Corporex Realty & Investments, LLC, and Corporex Investments, LLC, based on the legal opinion of defendant Proskauer Rose, LLP. The opinion stated the tax shelter was permissible and advantageous under Internal Revenue Service regulations and other provisions of tax law. The particular tax shelter was marketed and sold to Corporex by Diversified Investments.
Corporex Companies is a privately-held Kentucky limited liability corporation with its principal place of business in Covington, Kentucky. Corporex Companies is a holding company for various other companies which engage in real estate, development, and investment activities.
Corporex Realty & Investments (Corporex R & I) is also a privately-held Kentucky limited liability corporation with its principal place of business in Covington, Kentucky. Corporex R & I is a subsidiary of Corporex Companies.
Corporex Investments is a Delaware limited liability company with its principal place of business in Covington, Kentucky. Corporex Investments was formed in 2001 to conduct activities, including, but not limited to, investing in foreign currency. Corporex R & I is a major shareholder in Corporex Investments.
Corporex Companies, Corporex R & I and Corporex Investments are all plaintiffs to this action and will be referred to collectively as "Corporex."
Proskauer Rose LLP (Proskauer) is a law firm with its principal place of business in New York. According to the plaintiffs, Proskauer is a law firm that deals with complex financial transactions and attendant tax issues.
Sometime in the Fall of 2001, Corporex entered into a tax shelter investment that was marketed and sold to them by Diversified Investments (Diversified). Corporex paid Diversified a fee of over $800,000.00 for this investment. As part of Diversified's marketing of this particular tax shelter, Corporex was provided with a copy of a thirty-page opinion letter.
In essence, the letter stated that the tax shelter investment was legitimate and that, if any of the tax deductions that stemmed from it were challenged by the IRS, "there is a greater than 50 percent likelihood that the tax treatment of the Transactions would be upheld...." (Doc. # 15-1). The opinion letter also contained other reassurances as to the legitimacy of the tax shelter with statements such as: "[I]t is more likely than not that the conclusions set forth herein would be upheld by a court if
Curiously, there was no date on this letter (only the year 2001 appears at the top) nor was there any identifying information as to whom might have drafted the letter. The letter was not addressed to any particular party.
On April 5, 2002, Corporex received another thirty-page opinion letter, this time from Proskauer. The April 5, 2002 letter was issued on Proskauer letterhead and is similar in form and content to the aforementioned 2001 letter. However, this second opinion letter also contains detailed descriptions of multiple transactions conducted by Corporex as a part of the tax shelter. All of the transactions took place during the 2001 tax year. The April 5, 2002 letter also contains assurances of legitimacy of the tax shelter investment, similar to those found in the 2001 opinion letter, such as: "Based upon the foregoing, there is a greater than 50% likelihood that the tax treatment of the Transactions would be upheld if challenged by the IRS." (Doc. # 15-5). Proskauer does not deny drafting and issuing this letter to Corporex. In exchange for this opinion letter, Proskauer collected a substantial fee.
On April 15, 2005, the IRS sent Corporex a Notice of Final Partnership Administrative Adjustment (FPAA) for the tax year ending in 2001. The letter was essentially a deficiency notice in which the IRS disallowed the tax deductions claimed by Corporex as a result of their transactions in the tax shelter sold to them by Diversified. The IRS adjusted Corporex's tax liability for 2001, which resulted in an underpayment of approximately $9,000,000.00 in taxes. Corporex made a "good faith deposit" with the Secretary of the Treasury for this amount on September 8, 2005. Then, Corporex went on the offensive.
On September 9, 2005, Corporex filed suit against the IRS and the United States, seeking to overturn the IRS tax adjustments assessed in the April 15, 2005 deficiency notice.
Now we turn to the case at bar. Corporex brought their current suit against Proskauer by filing a complaint on January 16, 2009. (Doc. #1).
Corporex opted to seek a waiver of service from Proskauer, in accordance with FED. R. CIV. P. 4(d). Corporex mailed the waiver of service form to Proskauer on January 20, 2009. (Doc. #10-1, #24). The waiver of service form appears to have been signed by Proskauer on February 19, 2009. (Doc. #10-1).
On March 9, 2009, Proskauer asked Corporex for an extension of time to respond to the complaint. (Doc. # 24). Corporex agreed to allow Proskauer additional time to respond, and an agreed order for an extension of time was entered on March 17, 2009. (Doc. #5).
Corporex subsequently filed an amended complaint on June 1, 2009. (Doc. # 15).
The matter is now before the court on Proskauer's motion to dismiss on the basis of the statute of limitations (Doc. #21), Corporex's response in opposition (Doc. # 24), and Proskauer's reply (Doc. # 28).
The court heard oral arguments on the matter on April 6, 2010. (Docs. #37, # 38). The parties have also filed supplemental memoranda in support of their respective positions (Docs. # 39, # 40), which the court has also taken into consideration.
The facts of this case are complex. Equally complex is the statute of limitations issue.
There have been several cases, at both the state and federal levels, concerning when a claim of legal malpractice accrues under Kentucky law. As briefed by the parties, this issue requires the court to consider the following:
Under Kentucky law,
Under the Erie Doctrine, issues concerning the commencement of the running of the statute of limitations are controlled by state law. Ragan v. Merchants Transfer & Warehouse Co., 337 U.S. 530, 533, 69 S.Ct. 1233, 93 L.Ed. 1520 (1949); Walker v. Armco Steel Corp., 446 U.S. 740, 752, 100 S.Ct. 1978, 64 L.Ed.2d 659 (1980); Bowden v. City of Franklin, Kentucky, 13 Fed.Appx. 266, 274 (6th Cir.2001).
The Kentucky statute of limitations for professional malpractice provides:
KY.REV.STAT. ANN. § 413.245 (2009). Under this statute, how is the date of the "occurrence" determined?
In Northwestern Nat'l Ins. Co. v. Osborne, 573 F.Supp. 1045 (E.D.Ky.1983)[hereinafter Osborne I],
In the course of the litigation, a default was entered against the insurance company by the state court because of misconduct by the insurance company's attorney. The insurance company ultimately settled with the homeowner and obtained an assignment of claims against the attorney who had been representing it. The insurance company then filed a malpractice suit against its former attorney in this court.
The attorney had argued that the statute of limitations began to run when the default order against the insurance company was entered on March 5, 1981. The insurance company's suit against the attorney was not filed until June 28, 1983. However, the court observed that, even after the default order was entered, there was still an opportunity to have the default order either set aside or overturned.
Id. at 1049 (footnote omitted). It was not until the Kentucky Supreme Court denied the petition for discretionary review of the case, after the Court of Appeals had considered the matter, that Northwestern's damages became fixed and irrevocable. It should be noted that in Osborne I, the insurance company apparently did not immediately terminate its relationship with its attorney upon the entry of default against it. The court recognized this operative fact in commenting that it did not have to decide what the result might have been had the insurance company discharged their attorney at the time of the default judgment and then obtained another lawyer to have that default set aside. Id. at 1051. That question would be answered in the next episode of Osborne.
In Northwestern Nat'l Ins. Co. v. Osborne, 610 F.Supp. 126 (E.D.Ky.1985) [hereinafter Osborne II], this court duly noted in the beginning of its opinion that it, "... was careful to observe at the conclusion of the previous Opinion that it was expressing no view as to what the situation would be had the client incurred expenses for new counsel at some point in the course of events." Id. at 127. Seizing on this observation, the attorney in the underlying dispute asked for, and was granted leave, to conduct discovery on whether Northwestern might have incurred any non-speculative damage earlier in time than the court held in Osborne I. Id.
From this additional discovery, the attorney showed that Northwestern had retained independent counsel to follow the underlying litigation with the homeowner, more than one year prior to the suit against the attorney for malpractice. The attorney renewed his motion to dismiss on the grounds of expiration of the statute of limitations and this time it was granted.
While not squarely addressing the unanswered question from Osborne I regarding the termination of counsel upon the entry of default, this court in Osborne II found that hiring another attorney in the underlying matter, thus incurring a cost related to it, triggered the accrual of a malpractice cause of action and thus started the running of the statute of limitations.
Id. at 129. This court went on to further explain its holding by finding that, "[w]hen independent counsel was retained a running account was opened.... [I]ndependent counsel could have billed and sued for payment as soon as the first item of billable service had been rendered, whatever its amount. Thus, Northwestern sustained irremediable, nonspeculative damage at that time." Id. at 129.
In Hibbard v. Taylor, 837 S.W.2d 500 (Ky.1992), an attorney represented a client seeking to rescind a contract for the purchase of heavy equipment due to an alleged material misrepresentation as to the equipment's condition. Trial was conducted and the result was a directed verdict against the purchaser, who then sued his attorney. The trial court found that the attorney for the purchaser had failed to produce any evidence with respect to the materiality of the misrepresentation.
The judgment was appealed and the attorney continued to represent the equipment purchaser. The Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court, and the attorney notified his client, the equipment purchaser, of this result. "No petition for rehearing or motion for discretionary review was filed, and the appellate decision became final on August 25, 1989." Hibbard, 837 S.W.2d at 500.
The equipment purchaser brought his malpractice claim against his attorney on August 24, 1990. The trial court dismissed the equipment purchaser's claim on statute of limitations grounds stating that the malpractice had occurred on the date of the directed verdict, February 9, 1988. On appeal, the decision was reversed and the Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed the Court of Appeals.
The Kentucky Supreme Court found that the malpractice action accrued "when the result of the appeal became final and the trial court's judgment became the unalterable law of the case." Id. at 502.
In Michels v. Sklavos, 869 S.W.2d 728 (Ky.1994), John Sklavos hired attorneys to represent him in a wrongful termination suit against his former employer. While his suit was pending, the client terminated his attorneys on September 27, 1988, and subsequently hired new counsel. After new counsel was employed, the trial court ruled against Sklavos and granted the defendant's motion for summary judgment. The court ruled that Sklavos, the client, had failed to exhaust his administrative remedies prior to bringing suit. Summary judgment was entered on September 14, 1989. The judgment was not appealed. On March 23, 1990, the client filed a malpractice action against the first attorneys who represented him.
The attorneys asserted the statute of limitations as a defense and the trial court agreed.
Michels, 869 S.W.2d at 729. The Court of Appeals reversed and remanded. The Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed the Court of Appeals. In doing so, the court followed the precedent of Hibbard, concluding that,
Michels, 869 S.W.2d at 733 (quoting Hibbard v. Taylor, 837 S.W.2d 500, 502 (Ky. 1992)) (emphasis added).
While the Michels court closely followed the reasoning of Hibbard and cited with approval Osborne I's requirement of "irrevocable non-speculative injury," the holding in Osborne II was not adopted by the Michels Court. As was the case in Osborne II, Sklavos, the aggrieved client, hired new counsel in the underlying case, and presumably, incurred a cost that would have started the clock on the statute of limitations per Osborne II. Indeed, the Kentucky Supreme Court mentioned in passing the fact that Sklavos "changed attorneys more than one year before the present action commenced." Michels, 869 S.W.2d at 733. The court, however, implicitly declined to adopt the approach of Osborne II.
Alagia, Day, Trautwein & Smith v. Broadbent, 882 S.W.2d 121 (Ky.1994), is closely on point with the case at bar. In Alagia, a husband and wife engaged the services of a law firm for tax planning. The clients' desire was to transfer certain real estate to their children while avoiding the payment of gift taxes. The law firm executed the transactions and all was well for several years. Then, after an audit of the couple's taxes, the IRS determined that the property transferred was substantially undervalued, and the couple owed over $3,000,000.00 in gift taxes, penalties and interest.
The IRS conveyed its determination to the husband and wife via a deficiency letter. The couple continued to use the services of the same law firm after receiving the IRS deficiency letter. During this period, there were ongoing negotiations between the IRS and the law firm on behalf of their clients. It was not until June 30, 1989, that the attorney-client relationship between the couple and the law firm was terminated. New counsel was employed by the couple and a settlement was subsequently reached with the IRS in the amount of $1,200,000.00.
The couple brought their claim for legal malpractice against their former lawyers on June 18, 1990, less than one year after the end of the attorney-client relationship and less than one year after the final amount due to the IRS was determined. However, the couple's lawsuit was filed more than one year after receipt of the IRS deficiency letter.
The law firm defended the suit on the grounds of the expiration of the statute of limitations. At issue was when the statute of limitations began to run. The law firm argued that the clock started to run when the couple received the deficiency letter from the IRS. The trial court agreed with the defendant law firm. On appeal, the Court of Appeals applied the continuous representation rule and reversed the trial court, finding in favor of the couple.
In deciding the case in favor of the aggrieved clients, the Kentucky Supreme Court relied heavily on Michels.
Alagia, 882 S.W.2d at 125 (emphasis added). The court went on to analyze up to four different dates from which the statute of limitations could have arguably begun to run. The discussion of the court is dispositive of the case at bar and bears quoting in full.
Alagia, 882 S.W.2d at 126 (emphasis added). The court settled on the last date, the date of the settlement of the underlying claim, as the proper starting point for the legal malpractice statute of limitations. "Not until damages were fixed by the final compromise with the IRS was there an occurrence of the type required to commence the running of the statute." Id. (emphasis added). Of all the cases reviewed thus far, the court notes that Alagia is the most analogous to the facts of the current dispute between Corporex and Proskauer.
Returning our attention to K.R.S. § 413.140, the language of the statute indicates two possible points in time at which the statute of limitations begins to run. Indeed, the cases above have recognized this dichotomy. "The statute actually provides two different limitations periods: one year from the date of the `occurrence,' and one year from the date of the actual or constructive discovery of the cause of action." Queensway Fin. Holdings Ltd. v. Cotton & Allen, P.S.C., 237 S.W.3d 141, 147 (Ky.2007) (quoting Michels v. Sklavos, 869 S.W.2d 728, 730 (Ky.1994)).
With respect to the "occurrence" of legal malpractice, the clock begins to run upon the accrual of the cause of action.
Recalling the cases discussed above, let us turn to the facts at hand. In the Fall of 2001, Corporex dealt with Diversified in establishing the tax shelter that has since been disallowed by the IRS. It was not until April 5, 2002, that Proskauer issued an opinion letter to Corporex stating that the tax shelter was legitimate and would withstand IRS scrutiny. The previous letter received by Corporex sometime in 2001 was not specifically addressed to them. Nor did it indicate that Proskauer was the author of the letter.
Thus, at the time of the 2001 opinion letter, Corporex was not Proskauer's client. However, the April 5, 2002, opinion letter established the attorney-client relationship.
It is clear from Corporex's complaint that it believed Proskauer committed malpractice by issuing an opinion letter stating that the tax shelter was in compliance with IRS regulations when it was subsequently determined otherwise. (Doc. # 1, # 15). Thus, having established the alleged negligent act or omission, we now turn to the second requirement of "non-speculative injury." Queensway, 237 S.W.3d 141, 147 (Ky.2007) (quoting Northwestern Nat'l Ins. Co. v. Osborne, 610 F.Supp. 126, 128 (E.D.Ky.1985)). This is a closer question.
The parties' arguments have revolved around two dates in particular: February 11, 2008 & March 12, 2008. A thorough examination of the facts actually yields eight dates at which Corporex's cause of action could arguably have accrued. They are as follows:
Having carefully reviewed all the precedents numerous times, this court concludes: 1) that this case is governed by Alagia; and 2) that none of these dates meets the finality test of Alagia. Although there may be language in other cases that may be inconsistent with Alagia,
Applying the Alagia lodestone to the case at bar, this court concludes that Corporex's cause of action for alleged legal malpractice did not accrue on the issuance of the February 11, 2008 letter from the IRS. Nor did it accrue on the dismissal of Corporex's suit against the IRS on March 12, 2008. "Not until damages were fixed by the final compromise with the IRS was there an occurrence of the type required to commence the running of the statute." Alagia, 882 S.W.2d at 126 (emphasis added). Accord Meade County Bank v. Wheatley, 910 S.W.2d 233 (Ky.1995).
The Alagia court held that the statute ran "one year after the final amount due was determined." Id. In doing so, the court specifically rejected the date of the original deficiency notice and the date the taxpayers were informed that some payment of money would be required as starting points for the running of the statute of limitations. Id.
Here, the February 11, 2008 letter of agreement between the IRS and Corporex states:
(Doc. # 24-1).
Again in paragraph six, the letter states that "[n]either Corporex Companies LLC... may assert partner-level defenses to contest the imposition of the 20% accuracy-related penalty under the Settlement Offer, however they may challenge the calculation of the computational adjustment." Id. The last sentence of paragraph seven states that the "[t]axpayers may challenge the computational adjustments as provided in the Internal Revenue Code." Id. It is self-evident that any purported resolution is devoid of finality where it allows one of the parties to continue making challenges to the matter supposedly being resolved.
Therefore, the February 11, 2008 letter does not start the running of the statute of limitations because the final amount allegedly owed by Corporex remained uncertain when the letter was executed and apparently still remains uncertain to this day.
It is the court's view that, while there continues to be an ongoing tax controversy,
Corporex also argues that this action was commenced upon its mailing to Proskauer a request to waive service of process under FED. R. CIV. P. 4(d). This is clearly not correct. Eades v. Clark Distrib. Co. Inc., 70 F.3d 441 (6th Cir.1995); Wm. H. McGee & Co., et al. v. Liebherr Am., Inc., 789 F.Supp. 861, 866 (E.D.Ky.1992)("The Kentucky courts have consistently held that whatever statute of limitations applies, it is not tolled until summons is issued.") See also FED.R.CIV.P. advisory committee's notes (1993 Amendments), which states,
Whether the return of the executed waiver would suffice to "commence" the action under Kentucky law is an issue this court need not address considering its holding regarding the accrual of Corporex's malpractice claim.
The court wishes to reiterate its warning to federal practitioners that in diversity cases, KY. R. CIV. P. 3.01, which provides that issuance of process in good faith in addition to filing the complaint is required for commencement of the action, is a trap for the unwary. A cursory reading of FED.R.CIV.P. 4(d) could lead an unwitting attorney down the primrose path to a malpractice suit if he or she is not constantly aware of the differences between the Kentucky and Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
The court agrees with plaintiffs that personal jurisdiction exists over Proskauer under the conspiracy theory. See Kentucky Speedway v. Nat'l Ass'n. Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc., 410 F.Supp.2d 592 (E.D.Ky.2006), and cases therein cited. The court also agrees with the plaintiffs' other arguments on this issue.
Therefore, having reviewed this matter, and the court being otherwise sufficiently advised,
(1) Defendant Proskauer's motion to dismiss (Doc. # 21) be, and is hereby,
(2) A discovery deadline be, and is hereby established for
