RAMOS, District Judge.
Plaintiff V.E.C. Corp. of Delaware, d/b/a LeaseAir ("VEC") commenced this action stemming from four separate leases of aircraft which VEC owned. Now pending are motions to dismiss the Second Amended Complaint pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) by defendants Ira and Bridget Hilliard (the "Hilliards") and New Light Church and World Outreach Worship Centers, Inc. ("New Light Church," and collectively the "Hilliard Defendants") (Doc. 43), and by defendants Putnam County National Bank ("Putnam"), Dean Ryder, and Nancy Molloy, the president and an officer of Putnam, respectively (collectively the "Putnam Defendants") (Doc. 45). The balance of the named defendants have neither appeared nor filed answers.
By Memorandum Decision filed on December 13, 2011, 2011 WL 7101236 (Doc. 38), The Honorable Vincent Briccetti, to whom this case was previously assigned, dismissed all claims against the Putnam Defendants, as well as all claims against the Hilliard Defendants with the exception of claims for breach of contract and breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing. The Plaintiff thereafter filed its Second Amended Complaint ("SAC") charging each of the moving defendants with breach of contract and breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing. (SAC, ¶¶ 113, 115, 118.) The Putnam Defendants are also separately charged in a third cause of action with fraud. (Id. ¶¶ 116-17.)
For the reasons discussed below, Defendants' motions to dismiss are GRANTED in full.
The following facts are taken from the Second Amended Complaint unless otherwise indicated, and are assumed to be true for the purposes of the instant motion.
Separately, VEC and the Hilliards entered into a Deferred Origination Fee Agreement ("Fee Agreement"), also dated October 1, 2000, pursuant to which the Hilliards were to pay VEC a $185,000 lease origination fee prior to any transfer of title to the aircraft. (Id. ¶¶ 28-29, Ex. B.) The Fee Agreement expressly provided that "both parties understand that this [Fee Agreement], together with the entire lease is assignable to Putnam County National Bank, or their designee." (Id., Ex. B.)
VEC secured a loan from defendant Putnam to purchase the plane that was leased to the Hilliards, (id. ¶ 34), as it had for the purchase of three other aircraft that are the subject of this litigation. (Id. ¶¶ 88, 90.) As relevant to the instant motions, each of the four loans was collateralized with the particular aircraft leased, (id. ¶ 93), but the individual loan agreements did not contain a cross-collateralization provision. (Id. ¶ 94.) Putnam also required VEC to maintain a cash collateral account with Putnam in the form of a passbook savings account. (Id. ¶ 96.) VEC had to maintain at least 5% of the total amount due to Putnam on all its aircraft loans in the account.
Though a copy is not included in the Second Amended Complaint, on October 31, 2000, The Hilliards, VEC and Putnam executed a Notice of Assignment (the "Assignment"). (Aff. of Bruce A. Seidman in Supp. of Mot. to Dismiss SAC ("Seidman Aff."), Doc. 49, Ex. 1.) The Assignment grants Putnam a security interest in the Lease and provides that payments due under the Lease otherwise payable to VEC may, upon notice to the Hilliards, be made directly to Putnam. (Id.)
From October 31, 2000 to January 2002, the Hilliards made lease payments directly to VEC as required. (SAC ¶ 36.) By letter dated January 24, 2002, however, Putnam directed the Hilliards to make their lease payments directly to Putnam. (Id., Ex. D.) In its January 24 letter, Putnam explicitly refers to the Assignment and that it was exercising its rights thereunder. (Id.) VEC alleges that it received no prior notice that Putnam would be invoking the Assignment.
Approximately two and one-half years later, in June 2004, Putnam sold the aircraft that was the subject of the Lease to the Hilliards in a sale that VEC characterizes as fraudulent. (Id. ¶ 38.) Putnam also sold the three additional aircraft that are the subject of this action to their lessees in August 2004, mid-2004, and late 2006 or early 2007, respectively. (Pl.'s Mem., Doc. 51, at 4.)
VEC also alleges that the Putnam Defendants committed fraud by "fraudulent concealment," in that when they sold the four aircraft, they
(Id. ¶ 112 (emphasis added).)
VEC alleges that the Hilliard Defendants breached the Fee Agreement by failing to pay the $185,000 fee to VEC when title to the aircraft was transferred to the Hilliards
In ruling on a motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6), a district court generally must confine itself to the four corners of the complaint and look only to the allegations contained therein. Roth v. Jennings, 489 F.3d 499, 509 (2d Cir.2007). However, the court may consider documents that are referenced in the complaint. Chambers v. Time Warner, Inc., 282 F.3d 147, 152-53 (2d Cir.2002); Swan Media Group, Inc. v. Staub, 841 F.Supp.2d 804, 806 (S.D.N.Y.2012).
In support of their motion to dismiss, counsel for the Putnam Defendants submitted a certification attaching a copy of the Schedule F to the bankruptcy petition filed on behalf of Victor Cilli
In addition, in support of their motion to dismiss, the Hilliard Defendants submitted an affidavit attaching copies of correspondence and e-mail communications between their counsel and counsel for VEC concerning a purported waiver of a statute of limitations defense. (Seidman Aff., Doc. 56, ¶¶ 2, 8, Exs. B-F.) In its memorandum opposing the Hilliard Defendant's motion, Plaintiff VEC also relies on the communications concerning the purported waiver agreement. (Pl.'s Mem., Doc. 53, at 1; see also Certification of Victor Eugene Cilli, Doc. 54, ¶¶ 69-70.) However, none of the proffered communications are included with, or referenced in, the Second Amended Complaint.
As noted above, counsel for the Hilliard Defendants also submitted an affidavit attaching a copy of the Assignment. (Seidman Aff., Doc. 49, Ex. 1.) The Assignment is expressly referenced in the January 24, 2002 letter attached as Exhibit 4 to the Second Amended Complaint. Thus, of the extrinsic evidence proffered by the parties, only the Assignment was explicitly referenced in the Second Amended Complaint. (See SAC, Ex. D.) Moreover, Plaintiff VEC was a signatory to the Assignment. (See Seidman Aff., Doc. 49, Ex. 1); cf. Murphy v. Cadillac Rubber & Plastics, Inc., 946 F.Supp. 1108, 1115 (W.D.N.Y.1996) (declining to consider unsigned documents in ruling on motion to dismiss). Accordingly, this Court may properly consider the Assignment proffered by the Hilliard Defendants.
However, in deciding the motions, the Court did not consider the balance of the extrinsic evidence submitted by the parties.
On a motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6), district courts are required to accept as true all factual allegations in the complaint and to draw all reasonable inferences in the plaintiff's favor. Famous Horse Inc., 624 F.3d at 108. However, this requirement does not apply to legal conclusions, bare assertions or conclusory allegations. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868
Though a plaintiff may plead facts alleged upon information and belief, "where the belief is based on factual information that makes the inference of culpability plausible," Arista Records, LLC v. Doe 3, 604 F.3d 110, 120 (2d Cir.2010), such allegations must be "`accompanied by a statement of the facts upon which the belief is founded.'" Navarra v. Marlborough Gallery, Inc., 820 F.Supp.2d 477, 485 (S.D.N.Y.2011) (quoting Prince v. Madison Square Garden, 427 F.Supp.2d 372, 385 (S.D.N.Y.2006)); see also Williams v. Calderoni, 11 Civ. 3020(CM), 2012 WL 691832, at *7-8 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 1, 2012) (finding pleadings on information and belief insufficient where plaintiff pointed to no information that would render his statements anything more than speculative claims or conclusory assertions). A complaint that "tenders naked assertions devoid of further factual enhancement" will not survive a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6). Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937 (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 557, 127 S.Ct. 1955) (internal quotation marks omitted) (brackets omitted).
Putnam County National Bank is named in each of the three causes of action asserted in the Second Amended Complaint, namely, breach of contract, fraud, and breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Bank officers Dean Ryder and Nancy Molloy are named in the latter two causes of action. The first and third causes of action are related and will be addressed together herein.
The parties agree that the New York statute of limitations provisions govern the claims between VEC and the Putnam Defendants. (Putnam Defs.' Mem., Doc. 59, at 7; Pl.'s Mem., Doc. 51, at 4.) Under New York law, causes of action for breach of contract and breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing are governed by N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 213(2), which provides for a six-year statute of limitations. See Callahan v. Credit Suisse, Inc., 10 Civ. 4599(BSJ), 2011 WL 4001001, at *7 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 18, 2011) (the statute of limitations on a claim for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing is six years). Accordingly, because Plaintiff filed his initial complaint on March 22, 2010, any cause of action that accrued on or prior to March 21, 2004 is time barred.
In the Second Amended Complaint, Plaintiff alleges, inter alia, that "[i]n breach of its agreements with VEC, Putnam cross-collateralized funds received from VEC's lessees pursuant to the January 24, 2002 letter." (SAC ¶ 113.) The Putnam Defendants assert that it was this action that triggered the alleged breach of
Here, the alleged breach occurred on January 24, 2002, when according to VEC, Putnam improperly began to cross-collateralize funds received from VEC's lessees. In New York, "a breach of contract cause of action accrues at the time of the breach." Ely-Cruikshank Co., Inc. v. Bank of Montreal, 81 N.Y.2d 399, 402, 615 N.E.2d 985, 599 N.Y.S.2d 501 (1993) (citations omitted); see also Callahan, 2011 WL 4001001, at *5 (under New York law, a cause of action for breach of contract accrues and the statute of limitations commences when the contract is breached); Chase v. Columbia Nat. Corp., 832 F.Supp. 654, 659 (S.D.N.Y.1993) ("In New York, the statute of limitations for breach of contract requires that the action accrues at the time of breach and must be commenced within six years of it.") (citing N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 213[2]).
While VEC alleges that it was not made aware of the January 24 letter at the time, it provides no support for the proposition that an action for breach of contract is subject to a discovery rule which would toll the statute until such time as the injured party becomes aware of the breach. Indeed, New York law is exactly to the contrary. "[I]t is well settled that [under New York law] the statute of limitation for breach of contract begins to run from the day the contract was breached, not from the day the breach was discovered, or should have been discovered." ABB Indus. Sys., Inc. v. Prime Tech., Inc., 120 F.3d 351, 360 (2d Cir.1997); see also Rusyniak v. Gensini, 629 F.Supp.2d 203, 233 (N.D.N.Y.2009) (same).
Moreover, there has already been a finding by a member of this Court that VEC cannot plausibly allege that it was unaware of the circumstances giving rise to the breach at the time it occurred. In his Memorandum Decision, Judge Briccetti found:
(Doc. 38 at 15 n. 2.) Nothing in the Second Amended Complaint suggests that a different outcome should issue here.
The Court finds that the cause of action for breach of contract accrued on January 24, 2002, and was not commenced within the six year statute of limitations. Accordingly the first cause of action is DISMISSED as to Defendant Putnam.
Similarly, because Plaintiff's third cause of action against the Putnam Defendants is based on the same breach, (see SAC ¶ 118 ("[a]s set forth above, Defendants have violated the requirements of good faith and fair dealing in the Uniform Commercial Code")), and subject to the same six year statute of limitations, the third cause of action is DISMISSED as to all three Putnam Defendants. See Callahan, 2011 WL 4001001 at *7 ("Because Plaintiff's claim that Defendants violated the 2003 Mediation Agreement's implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing is duplicative of Plaintiff's claim for breach of this agreement, Plaintiff's third cause of actions is also barred by the statute of limitations.")
In the second cause of action, which sounds in fraud, the Putnam Defendants are not alleged to have made any false representations to VEC upon which VEC reasonably relied. Instead, Plaintiff alleges that the Putnam Defendants made false representations to third parties — namely, the purchasers of the aircraft-concerning the true ownership of the aircraft, and concealed that fraud from VEC. Essentially, VEC is arguing that it was defrauded by proxy. Not surprisingly, VEC proffers no legal authority to support this novel theory.
As the Putnam Defendants correctly note,
Woods v. Maytag Co., 807 F.Supp.2d 112, 119 (E.D.N.Y.2011) (quoting Wall v. CSX Transp., Inc., 471 F.3d 410, 415-16 (2d Cir.2006) (emphasis added)).
Here, Plaintiff does not and cannot allege that the Putnam Defendants made
While a court must take the plaintiff's allegations as true on a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, "the claim may still fail as a matter of law if it appears ... that plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of its claim which would entitle [him] to relief, or if the claim is not legally feasible." In re Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether Prods. Liab. Litig., 457 F.Supp.2d 455, 459 (S.D.N.Y.2006) (citing Allaire Corp. v. Okumus, 433 F.3d 248, 250 (2d Cir.2006)). The allegations here are patently facially insufficient to make out a cause of action for fraudulent concealment under New York law because VEC is not alleged to have relied on any representation by the Putnam Defendants in connection with the sale of the aircraft. Accordingly, the second cause of action is DISMISSED as to all three Putnam Defendants.
VEC alleges that the Hilliard Defendants are in breach of the Fee Agreement because they failed to pay VEC the deferred origination fee of $185,000 when title to the aircraft was transferred in June 2004. In support of its allegation, VEC states that the fee "was earned ... as of the date the Lease [] between VEC and Hilliard was signed [on October, 1 2000]," and, as an agreement separate and apart from the Lease, it was not subject to the Assignment that was executed on October 31, 2000. (Pl.'s Mem., Doc. 53, at 2.) In response, the Hilliard Defendants argue that the Fee Agreement was assignable by its terms to Putnam, which exercised its rights pursuant to the January 24, 2002 letter. (Hilliard Defs.' Mem., Doc. 48, at 7-9; Hilliard Defs.' Reply Mem., Doc. 55, at 2-3.)
A resolution of this issue involves a discussion of the inter-relationship between the Lease, the Assignment, and the Fee Agreement. The Fee Agreement is short and provides in its entirety:
(SAC, Ex. B (emphasis added).) The Assignment provides in relevant part:
(Seidman Aff., Doc. 49, Ex. 1, ¶ 5.)
The relevant facts are not in dispute. The lease referenced in the Fee Agreement is the lease between the Hilliards and VEC that is the subject of this action. The Assignment, which was executed on October 31, 2000,
The parties agree that New Jersey law governs the claims between VEC and the Hilliard Defendants. In New Jersey, the construction of a contract is a question of law. Kieffer v. Best Buy, 205 N.J. 213, 222, 14 A.3d 737 (N.J.2011) (citing Jennings v. Pinto, 5 N.J. 562, 569-70, 76 A.2d 669 (1950)). The objective in construing a contract is to determine the intent of the parties. Id., 205 N.J. at 223, 14 A.3d 737. In all cases, "[t]he construction of a written instrument `to be adopted is the one which appears in accord with justice and common sense and the probable intention of the parties.'" Passaic County Bd. of Soc. Servs. v. Commc'ns. Workers of America, AFL-CIO, A-1176-05T5, 2007 WL 1827245, at *5 (N.J.Super.Ct.App.Div. June 27, 2007) (citing Krosnowski v. Krosnowski, 22 N.J. 376, 387, 126 A.2d 182 (1956)). In doing so, courts generally give contract terms their "plain and ordinary meaning." Id. (quoting M.J. Paquet, Inc. v. N.J. Dep't of Transp., 171 N.J. 378, 396, 794 A.2d 141 (2002)).
The Fee Agreement here was executed on the same day as the Lease by the identical parties and, by its terms, provides that it is assignable to Putnam together with the entire lease. Thus, giving these terms their plain and ordinary meaning, the Fee Agreement must be read in conjunction with the entire lease. Accordingly, when Putnam exercised its rights concerning the Lease under the Assignment, it properly included the Fee Agreement,
Finally, Plaintiff also argues that Judge Briccetti has already ruled that the Fee Agreement is a separate contract and therefore not subject to the terms of the Lease. (Pl.'s Mem., Doc. 53, at 2.) Thus, Plaintiff asserts that Judge Briccetti's determination should be deemed the law of the case. (Id.) Plaintiff reads the Decision too broadly. In his Decision, Judge Briccetti determined that the statute of limitations applicable to the Lease was different from the statute of limitations applicable to the Fee Agreement. (Doc. 38 at 15.) In the instant motion, however, the Hilliard Defendants are not arguing that the Fee Agreement is a provision of the Lease, and are not proffering a statute of limitations defense concerning the first cause of action. Rather, the issue raised here concerns the application of the Assignment to the Fee Agreement. Judge Briccetti's Decision does not address this issue and is therefore not determinative here as the law of the case.
Therefore, accepting as true all factual allegations in the complaint and drawing all reasonable inferences in the Plaintiff's favor, the Court concludes that Plaintiff has not stated a cause of action for breach of contract against the Hilliard Defendants. Accordingly, the first cause of action is therefore DISMISSED as to the Hilliard Defendants.
Similarly, because Plaintiff's third cause of action against the Hilliard Defendants is based on the same alleged breach, the third cause of action is DISMISSED as to the Hilliard Defendants.
For the reasons set forth above, the motions of the Hilliard Defendants and the Putnam Defendants to dismiss the Second Amended Complaint in its entirety as against them is GRANTED. This action is dismissed with prejudice against Defendants Ira Hilliard, Bridget Hilliard, New Light Church World and Outreach Centers, Inc., Putnam National Bank, Dean Ryder, and Nancy Molloy. The Clerk of the Court is respectfully directed to terminate the motions (Docs. 43, 45).
Plaintiff is hereby ORDERED to show cause why this action should not be dismissed without prejudice for want of prosecution as against the remaining Defendants — Columbia Enterprises, ABU Nasir Syed, Barry Elliot, Curtis W. Simonsen, and Stephan Dalziel — by October 16, 2012 at 10:00 am, in Courtroom 218 before the Hon. Edgardo Ramos, at the Charles L. Brieant United States Courthouse, 300 Quarropas Street, White Plains, N.Y. 10601.
It is SO ORDERED.