JOHN G. KOELTL, District Judge.
This case is a judgment enforcement action. The Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has determined that this Court has subject matter jurisdiction to hear this
d'Amico Dry contends that the Court should recognize the English Judgment and, first, enter a judgment against Primera; second, enter default judgments against nonappearing defendants Paul Coronis, Nicholas (or Nikolaos) Coronis, Primera Ocean Services S.A., and J.P.C. Investments S.A.; and, third, enter a judgment against the other appearing defendants
The Court held a nonjury trial. Having reviewed the evidence and assessed the credibility of the witnesses, the Court now makes the following findings of fact and reaches the following conclusions of law.
In September 2009, d'Amico Dry filed suit in this Court under this Court's admiralty jurisdiction to enforce a money judgment issued by the English High Court of Justice for breach of the Forward Freight Agreement ("FFA") between d'Amico Dry and Primera. Primera moved to dismiss this action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
The complex procedural history of this case is detailed in this Court's August 13, 2016 Opinion,
1. d'Amico Dry was at all material times a dry bulk vessel owning and operating company incorporated in Ireland. Stipulated Fact ¶ 1.
2. Primera was, at all material times, incorporated in Liberia with its registered address of 80 Broad Street, Monrovia, Liberia. Stipulated Fact ¶ 2.
3. J.P.C. Investments S.A. a/k/a JPC Investments S.A. ("J.P.C. Investments") was, at all material times, incorporated in Liberia with its registered address of 80 Broad Street, Monrovia, Liberia. Exs.
4. Primera Ocean Services S.A. ("Primera Ocean") was, at all material times, incorporated in Liberia with its registered address of 80 Broad Street, Monrovia, Liberia. Ex. 19 at 9.
5. Caldera Marine Co., Ltd. ("Caldera") was, at all material times, incorporated in Malta with its registered address of 198 Old Bakery Street, Valletta, Malta. Stipulated Fact ¶ 3.
6. Adalia Marine Co., Ltd. ("Adalia") was, at all material times, incorporated in Malta with its registered address of 198 Old Bakery Street, Valletta, Malta. Stipulated Fact ¶ 4.
7. Mirage Finance, Inc. ("Mirage") was, at all material times, incorporated in The Marshall Islands with its registered address of Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, The Marshall Islands MH 96960. Stipulated Fact ¶ 5.
8. Sonic Finance, Inc. ("Sonic") was, at all material times, incorporated in The Marshall Islands with its registered address of Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, The Marshall Islands MH 96960. Stipulated Fact ¶ 6.
9. Pasha Finance, Inc. ("Pasha") was, at all material times, incorporated in The Marshall Islands with its registered address of Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, The Marshall Islands MH 96960. Stipulated Fact ¶ 7.
10. Movida Finance, Inc. ("Movida") was, at all material times, incorporated in The Marshall Islands with its registered address of Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, The Marshall Islands MH 96960. Stipulated Fact ¶ 8.
11. Element Finance, Inc. ("Element") was, at all material times, incorporated in The Marshall Islands with its registered address of Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, The Marshall Islands MH 96960. Stipulated Fact ¶ 9.
12. Handy Finance, Inc. ("Handy") was, at all material times, incorporated in The Marshall Islands with its registered address of Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, The Marshall Islands MH 96960. Stipulated Fact ¶ 11.
13. Seasatin Navigation, Inc. ("Seasatin") was, at all material times, incorporated in The Marshall Islands with its registered address of Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, The Marshall Islands MH 96960. Stipulated Fact ¶ 12.
14. Annamar Navigation, Inc. ("Annamar") was, at all material times, incorporated in The Marshall Islands with its registered address of Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island,
15. Seasafe Navigation, Inc. ("Seasafe") was, at all material times, incorporated in The Marshall Islands with its registered address of Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, The Marshall Islands MH 96960. Stipulated Fact ¶ 14.
16. Bulknav, Inc. ("Bulknav") was, at all material times, a Marshall Islands corporation with its registered address of Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, The Marshall Islands MH 96960. Stipulated Fact ¶ 15.
17. Bulknav was, at all material times, a holding company for all of the shares of Caldera, Adalia, Sonic, Mirage, Nikka, Handy, Pasha, Movida, Element, Moondance Maritime Enterprises S.A. and Rocket Finance Inc. Stipulated Fact ¶ 16.
18. Primebulk Shipmanagement, Ltd. ("Primebulk") was, at all material times, a ship-management company incorporated in The Marshall Islands with its registered address of Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, The Marshall Islands MH 96960. Stipulated Fact ¶ 17.
19. Chemnav Shipmanagement, Ltd. ("Chemnav Shipmanagement") was, at all material times, a ship-management company incorporated in The Marshall Islands with its registered address of Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, The Marshall Islands MH 96960. Stipulated Fact ¶ 18.
20. Chemnav, Inc. ("Chemnav") is incorporated in The Marshall Islands with its registered address of Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, The Marshall Islands MH 96960. Stipulated Fact ¶ 19.
21. Paul Coronis is an individual born in England to Nicholas Coronis and Annabel Charlton. He was educated and qualified as an English solicitor and practiced with the law firms Reed Smith and Norton Rose. Tr. at 156-57.
22. Nicholas Koronis a/k/a Nikolaos Koronis a/k/a Nicholas Coronis ("Nicholas Coronis") is the father of Paul Coronis. Stipulated Fact ¶ 20.
23. Annabel Charlton, a/k/a Annabel Coronis, is the wife of Nicholas Coronis and the mother of Paul Coronis, Chianna Coronis, and Jonathon Coronis. Stipulated Fact ¶ 21.
24. Chianna Coronis is the only daughter of Nicholas Coronis and Annabel Coronis. Stipulated Fact ¶ 22.
25. Jonathon Coronis is the youngest son of Nicholas Coronis and Annabel Coronis. Stipulated Fact ¶ 23.
26. Anastasia Kalogirou is the grandmother of Paul Coronis, Chianna Coronis and Jonathon Coronis. Stipulated Fact ¶ 24.
27. Paul Coronis ordered the incorporation of Sonic, Mirage, Pasha, Handy, Movida, Seasatin, Annamar, Seasafe, and Bulknav. Tr. at 158-59.
28. d'Amico Dry entered into the FFA with Primera on September 2, 2008, whereby Primera agreed to buy and d'Amico Dry agreed to sell freight futures for 45 days within the months of January, February and March 2009 respectively. Stipulated Fact ¶¶ 32, 34. Paul Coronis was responsible for trading FFAs at Primera. Tr. at 178.
29. At the time it entered into this and other FFA trades representing potentially tens of millions of dollars of debt for Primera, Primera had assets of approximately $132,000. Tr. at 205-06.
30. Starting around mid-September or October 2008, the freight market dropped
31. In late 2008 and early 2009, Primera was unable to pay its FFA obligations. Tr. at 210.
32. As of January 30, 2009, Primera owed d'Amico Dry $795,963.20 under the FFA. Ex. 32. Despite d'Amico Dry's due demand for payment, Primera failed to remit payment to d'Amico Dry in respect of the January 2009 contract month. This was a breach of the FFA. Stipulated Fact ¶ 36.
33. As a result of Primera's breach, d'Amico Dry became entitled to terminate the FFA. Stipulated Fact ¶ 37.
34. d'Amico Dry terminated the FFA on or about February 23, 2009. Stipulated Fact ¶ 38.
35. Primera's breach of the FFA resulted in d'Amico Dry's loss of $1,752,973.30 exclusive of interest, costs and attorney's fees. Ex.1.
36. Pursuant to Clause 15 of the FFA contract, all disputes arising thereunder were to be submitted to the English High Court with English law to apply. Stipulated Fact ¶ 39. Pursuant to the ISDA Master Agreement, the Defaulting Party is responsible for the other party's costs of collection. Ex. 31 at 88.
37. d'Amico Dry commenced legal proceedings against Primera in the High Court of Justice Queen's Bench Division, Commercial Court under Claim No. 2009 Folio 218 in accordance with the FFA contract. Ex. 1.
38. On June 19, 2009, the High Court of Justice, by The Honorable Mr. Justice Flaux, entered a final, unappealable judgment against Primera in the sum of $1,766,278.54 (comprising the principal due of US $1,752,973.30 together with interest at the contractual rate accrued up to June 19, 2009). Ex. 1. Legal costs in the amount of GBP 17,000 which converts to $28,056.39, were also awarded. Stipulated Fact ¶ 41. Postjudgment interest at the rate of 8 percent per annum was also awarded in accordance with English law, as were future legal fees incurred to collect the judgment. Exs. 1, 104.
39. d'Amico Dry commenced this action against Primera on September 11, 2009, to recognize and enforce the English Judgment. Thereafter, in December 2010, d'Amico Dry moved to add the alleged alter ego defendants. On December 21, 2010, the Court granted d'Amico Dry's motion to amend the complaint and on December 23, 2010, d'Amico Dry filed the amended complaint and commenced efforts to serve the alter ego defendants. Dkt. Nos. 1, 44, 64.
40. Since 2009, vessels connected to the defendants in this case were attached in Los Angeles, Houston, and New Orleans.
41. Primera was incorporated on June 22, 1990. Ex. 92 at 25-44. Nicholas Coronis was appointed President, Director and sole
42. Foreign ship management companies wishing to do business in Greece, like Primera, must seek authorization and comply with Greek Law 89. Tr. at 162-63. Submissions under Law 89 must be truthful and accurate. Tr. at 163.
43. Nicholas Coronis was the company representative for Primera under Greek Law 89. Ex. 92 at 133, 198.
44. On May 12, 1991, Nicholas Coronis, as the sole shareholder of Primera, appointed himself the sole Director, President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary of Primera. Ex. 92 at 241-43.
45. Paul Coronis joined Primera in 2002 as a trainee. He became a Director of Primera in 2004 and maintained that position until November 15, 2008. Tr. at 171-72; Stipulated Fact ¶¶ 26-27. Paul Coronis was responsible for the commercial and legal desk at Primera. Tr. at 172, 178.
46. Although incorporated in Liberia, Primera had no offices or employees there. Instead, at all material times, Primera operated out of 6, Roupel Street, 145 64, Kifissia, Athens, Greece. Tr. at 161. The building which occupies this address (and which is used by all of the Coronis controlled entities) is owned by Paul Coronis, Jonathan Coronis and Chianna Coronis. Tr. at 161; Stipulated Fact ¶¶ 30-31.
47. As of the time Primera entered into the FFA with d'Amico Dry, the President, Treasurer and Secretary was Nicholas Coronis. He was also a Director. The other Director was Paul Coronis. The shareholders were Nicholas Coronis with some minor ownership by others. Ex. 92 at 129; Tr. at 177-80, 192.
48. At all material times, Nicholas or Paul Coronis controlled Primera and the other defendants. As Director and General Manager of Primera, Nicholas Coronis controlled the day-to-day affairs of Primera and the other Coronis family controlled shipowning and ship-operating companies as a single enterprise. Tr. at 172.
49. In 2008, the Coronis family used Primera to attempt to insulate their shipowning companies from liability. In 2008, the only vessels Primera managed were controlled by the Coronis family. Tr. at 173-74. In particular, at that time Primera managed the following vessels (as well as the accounts and records of each shipowning company): AQUADANCE (owned by Adalia), MOONDANCE II (owned by Moondance Maritime Enterprises S.A.), SEAGLASS II (owned by Nikka), and SUNRAY (owned by Sonic). Tr. at 173.
50. Sonic and Moondance were Marshall Islands corporations with their registered office c/o Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro. However, these corporations had no offices or employees in The Marshall Islands. Rather, other than possibly the ships' crews, each company had no employees but operated out of the Primera office at 6 Roupel Street, 145 64, Kifissia, Athens, Greece. Stipulated Fact ¶¶ 5, 6, 12; Ex. 17 at 4; Tr. at 158-60.
51. In 2008 and 2009, Paul Coronis was the sole Director of Sonic and Moondance. Tr. at 175. Paul Coronis was the person who ordered the incorporation of these companies. Tr. at 158-60. The Coronis family owned 70 percent of the shares of these companies and "silent partners" owned the remaining 30 percent. Tr. at 174-75. Paul Coronis authored the Law 89 letter for Sonic, and his father Nicholas Coronis authored the Law 89 letter for Moondance. Ex. 92 at 215A, 219.
52. Adalia was a Malta corporation with its registered office at 198 Old Bakery Street, Valletta, Malta. Stipulated Fact ¶ 4. Although it was a Maltese corporation, it had no offices or employees there. Rather,
53. Before the Primera/d'Amico Dry FFA was executed on September 2, 2008, and before the market crash, on or before May 21, 2008, Paul Coronis helped obtain a $204,000,000 Facilities Agreement with HSH Nordbank (the "May 21, 2008 Facilities Agreement") on behalf of Sonic and Adalia (and others) as "Joint and Several Borrowers." Other Coronis controlled companies, Nikka, Mirage, Handy, Pasha, Movida, Element and Caldera were also Joint and Several Borrowers (collectively referred to as the "Joint and Several Borrowers"). Tr. at 184-87; Ex. 17 at Cover Page, 105-08; Stipulated Fact ¶ 42. At that time, the Coronis family owned approximately 70 percent of each of these entities. Tr. at 184. Notice under the Facilities Agreement for all the Joint and Several Borrowers was to be sent c/o Primera Maritime at 6 Roupel Street, 145 64 Kifissia, Athens, Greece. Ex. 17 at 80.
54. Movida, Mirage and Pasha were also all Marshall Islands companies, incorporated at the request of Paul Coronis. Tr. at 158-59. They had no offices or employees in The Marshall Islands and at all times operated through Primera. Tr. at 158-61. Insofar as Movida and Pasha are concerned, between 2008 and 2009, Paul Coronis and Nicholas Coronis were the President and Secretary/Treasurer, respectively, and were also the only Directors. Exs. 72-74, 81-82, 85. Insofar as Mirage is concerned, Nicholas Coronis was the President and Director, and Evangelos Bairactaris (Primera's counsel) was the Secretary/Treasurer and only other Director. Ex. 79. As with the other companies, the Coronis family owned 70 percent of the shares of these companies, with the remainder being owned by silent partners. Tr. at 173-74, 184.
55. As part of the Facilities Agreement, the existing vessels owned by the Joint and Several Borrowers were collateral for the loan. Each company guaranteed the performance of the other. Tr. at 187; Ex. 17 at Cover Page, 82; Ex. 19 at Cover Page; Stipulated Fact ¶ 44. In addition, funds from the Facilities Agreement were to be used to pay for the construction of five new bulk carriers. Tr. at 187. Sonic, for instance, built the 57,000-ton SUNRAY using some of the funds. Ex. 17 at 4; Tr. at 186.
56. Each of the Joint and Several Borrowers was required to post $500,000 in a retention account to secure the payment of the loan. Tr. at 187.
57. The May 21, 2008 Facilities Agreement was guaranteed by Primera, as well as Paul Coronis and Nicholas Coronis personally. Stipulated Fact ¶¶ 43, 45. Because Primera managed the Coronis controlled vessels in any event, there does not appear to be any independent consideration for Primera to have agreed to this guarantee. The original Facilities Agreement was signed either by Paul Coronis or an attorney he authorized to sign on behalf of all of the Joint and Several Borrowers and Primera. Ex. 17.
58. In the Facilities Agreement, it was agreed that Primera would be the manager of the new and existing ships identified in the Facilities Agreement while the Agreement was in effect. Ex. 17 at 2-3; Tr. at 189. It was also agreed that the "beneficial ownership" of the Joint and Several Borrowers and Primera would not change
59. At or about the same time, Paul Coronis helped secure contracts for the construction of various bulk carriers including Sonic's SUNRAY and Mirage's MOONRAY. Ex. 17 at 4, 13; Tr. at 183-84.
60. In addition, Pasha was to build an unnamed Panamax bulk carrier, Movida was to build an unnamed Handysize bulk carrier, and Element was also to build a Handysize bulk carrier using funds from the Facilities Agreement. Ex. 17 at 4, 14.
61. Thus, as of the time Primera entered into the FFA with d'Amico Dry, and as of the time Paul Coronis concluded that Primera was in a dire financial condition, Paul Coronis had ordered the incorporation of these Joint and Several Borrowers. Paul Coronis and Nicholas Coronis were the Officers and Directors of the Joint and Several Borrowers, and the Coronis family owned 70 percent of the shares of each. None of the Joint and Several Borrowers had offices or employees of their own but were operated by Primera which maintained and controlled their assets, including their bank accounts. Tr. at 158-61, 304-05, 339.
62. Primera was an alter ego of the Coronis family. It disregarded its corporate formalities and was inadequately capitalized at the time it entered into the FFA at issue. It intermingled its corporate funds with Chemnav Shipmanagement and the various shipowning companies eventually owned by Bulknav or managed by Chemnav Shipmanagement. Primera operated out of 6 Roupel Street, 145 64 Kifissia, Athens, Greece along with all of the Coronis family controlled entities including Chemnav Shipmanagement, subsequently Primebulk, and all of the shipowning companies. Its ownership and management was completely dominated and controlled by Nicholas Coronis, and later by Paul Coronis. Primera exercised no business discretion of its own but was instead a tool for the Coronis family's sole use. Primera siphoned funds from FFAs away from Primera and directed the money to other Coronis controlled companies. It also guaranteed the debts of the shipowning companies, becoming collateral for and jointly and severally liable under construction contracts of new ships owned by the Coronis family. It was a tool to co-mingle and/or shelter Coronis family assets.
63. After the freight market collapsed, and parties sought to enforce FFA debt against Primera, on or about October 6, 2009, Paul Coronis and Primera used a three-way netting-off agreement to collect on Primera's earlier FFA trade with TMT Asia. Tr. at 254; Ex. 12. Despite the fact that Primera was the party to the FFA, instead of directing payment to Primera's account, Paul Coronis diverted funds that should have been paid to Primera to other Coronis controlled entities. For example, the first payment of $203,228.58 was directed to Primrose Shipping, Ltd., a Coronis controlled company. Tr. at 255-56, 259; Exs. 11, 12, 124-25. The second payment of $185,000.00 was directed to Seadance Maritime, a company related to Primrose and controlled by the Coronis family. Exs. 124-25; Tr. at 261.
64. Primrose and Seadance were controlled directly or indirectly by the Coronis family. Tr. at 268-70; Exs. 124-25. Despite having money directed to their accounts, Primera had no written agreements of any sort with Seadance. Paul Coronis claimed to have a written agreement between Primera and Primrose, but it was never produced. Tr. at 263.
65. For example, Primrose (whose shares were held in part by Nicholas Coronis and Annabel Charlton and then by
66. Also in 2008 and 2009, Paul Coronis directed other payments due to Primera to the Coronis controlled company J.P.C. Investments. Tr. at 275.
67. J.P.C. Investments had made an interest free loan to Primera in July 2008 for working capital but Paul Coronis claims to have known nothing about the loan. Tr. at 272-73; Ex. 4. The 2008 Primera Profit and Loss and Balance Sheet makes no reference to any such loan having been made or any such obligation. Ex. 15.
68. Annabel Charlton, Paul Coronis's mother, was at all material times the only known Director of J.P.C. Investments. Tr. at 272-76; Ex. 4 at 48; Ex. 30; Ex. 126 at 3.
69. Primera diverted funds to J.P.C. Investments, Seadance and Primrose without any consideration for the transfer having been established. Tr. at 255-76.
70. Paul Coronis's resignation from Primera on November 15, 2008 was a sham. Tr. at 181. He continued to perform the same work he previously did at Primera before resigning.
71. For example, on January 26, 2009, Paul Coronis contacted d'Amico Dry (using his Primera email address) to offer a guarantee backed by one of the shipowning companies managed by Primera in exchange for d'Amico Dry agreeing to payment in installments by Primera. Tr. at 212-14; Ex. 33. In October, 2009, Paul Coronis negotiated and signed a netting-off agreement on behalf of Primera, communicating again through his Primera email address. Ex. 12; Tr. at 252-54. He also negotiated the changes to the Facility Agreement (discussed in further detail below).
72. In early 2009, with a collapsed freight market and significant FFA debts, the Coronis family continued their efforts to avoid paying their debts.
73. On January 26, 2009, (despite allegedly having resigned from Primera) Paul Coronis contacted d'Amico Dry to offer a guarantee backed by one of the shipowning companies managed by Primera in exchange for d'Amico Dry's agreeing to installment payments by Primera. Tr. at 212-14; Ex. 33. When d'Amico Dry did not respond to his satisfaction, on February 9, 2009, Paul Coronis wrote to d'Amico Dry stating:
Ex. 33 at 8. Paul Coronis communicated with d'Amico Dry and its counsel using his Primera email address. Ex. 33.
74. During trial, Paul Coronis testified that he offered to negotiate on behalf of Primera (where he had already resigned, Stipulated Fact ¶ 27) a guarantee to d'Amico Dry from Moondance Maritime (a company whose Director was Paul Coronis and
75. Not long after writing his February 9, 2009 email to d'Amico Dry, Paul Coronis ordered the incorporation of Primebulk. Ex. 33 at 8; Ex. 9 at 11. Primebulk was incorporated on February 25, 2009. Stipulated Fact ¶ 46. Although Primebulk was incorporated in The Marshall Islands and had its registered address there, it did not have any employees or office in The Marshall Islands. It operated out of 6 Roupel Street in Athens, Greece. Tr. at 216-17.
76. Once incorporated, Primebulk took the place of Primera for all intents and purposes. With the exception of one person (Jonathon Coronis), all of the employees of Primebulk had been employed by Primera. Stipulated Fact ¶ 57. Panagiotis Yannoutsos, who oversaw the construction of vessels for Primera, now oversaw the construction of the same vessels for Primebulk. Tr. at 218. Primebulk took over office space, office equipment (including computers), and furniture previously used by Primera. Tr. at 219-20, 334; Stipulated Fact ¶ 58. (Paul Coronis contends that the landlord provided the furnishings and office equipment, but nothing of that sort is found in Primebulk's lease. Tr. at 222-24.) Primebulk assumed the management of vessels previously managed by Primera. Tr. at 220; Ex. 95 at 61; Ex. 92 at 199A. No consideration was paid by Primebulk to Primera for these assets. Tr. at 222. The fee to register Primebulk as a Greek Law 89 company was paid by Chemnav Shipmanagement, another Coronis entity. Tr. at 221.
77. Greek Law 89 required shipowners to report to the Ministry of Mercantile Marine which Greek manager was responsible for managing its ships. Tr. at 176.
78. Paul Coronis and Nicholas Coronis signed the letters required under Law 89 to transfer the management of the MOONDANCE II (Moondance), SEAGLASS II (Nikka), MOONRAY (Mirage) and SUNRAY (Sonic) from Primera to Primebulk. Ex. 95 at 74, 75A, 76A, 77A.
79. When Primebulk was established, Paul Coronis and Anastasia Kalogirou, his grandmother, owned 70 percent of its shares through Riverside Holdings Co. Stipulated Fact ¶ 48. The other shareholder was a "silent partner." The only Officer and Director initially appointed was Anna Papanikolaou, one of the Coronis family lawyers employed by the firm G.E. Bairactaris & Partners. Ex. 95 at 56; Tr. at 234-35. In April 2010, Ms. Papanikolaou resigned and Dimitrios Vitzileos took her place. Ex. 95 at 56; Tr. at 234-35. Mr. Vitzileos had been an employee of Primera from 1996 through 2009. Stipulated Fact ¶ 59.
80. Because of the freight market collapse and the FFA losses causing the demise of Primera and the replacement of Primera with Primebulk, in 2009 Paul Coronis had to address and revise the May 21, 2008 Facilities Agreement. Once again, Paul Coronis facilitated the amendments on behalf of all of the Joint and Several Borrowers and Primebulk. Tr. at 248-50. These negotiations led to the Second and Third Supplemental Agreements dated February and September 2009. Exs. 18-19.
81. As part of this negotiation, Paul Coronis negotiated changes in the vessels to be constructed. It was agreed that the bulk carrier construction contracts for Pasha and Movida would be canceled and two tankers would be built in their place. Tr. at 250; Stipulated Fact ¶ 62. Both the M/T CAPE TALARA, owned by Pasha, and the M/T CAPE TROY, owned by Movida, were built using funds provided by the May 21, 2008 Facilities Agreement. Tr. at
82. In addition, the guarantee from Primera was replaced by a guarantee from Primebulk without any evident consideration. Moreover, Primera Ocean Services and Bulknav were also added as guarantors. Tr. at 251. Paul Coronis and Nicholas Coronis also increased their personal guarantees. Tr. at 251; Stipulated Fact ¶ 61.
83. Moreover, although vessel managers approved in Facilities Agreements generally must have a proven track record as ship managers, Primebulk replaced Primera as the ship management company despite having only been in operation for fewer than six months. Ex. 17-19; Tr. at 251-52; Stipulated Fact ¶ 60. Primebulk managed the Coronis family bulk carriers. There was no additional consideration received by Primebulk for agreeing to replace Primera as a guarantor of the Facilities Agreement.
84. In 2010, all vessels managed by Primebulk were delivered or financed under the May 21, 2008 Facilities Agreement. Tr. at 247-48.
85. Primebulk was, at all material times, undercapitalized for the obligations it had assumed. Ex. 41.
86. When it began operating vessels in the summer of 2009, Primebulk managed only ships that were majority owned by the Coronis family. Tr. at 247-48.
87. Just as with Primera, Paul Coronis handled the legal and commercial/chartering desk at Primebulk on a day-to-day basis. Tr. at 236.
88. In the first eight months of essentially operating Primera's business, Primebulk earned net profits of $525,703. In its first full year of operation, Primebulk earned net profits of $969,936. Combined, these profits approach the sum that Primera owed d'Amico Dry but which it avoided paying by depleting its assets and emerging as Primebulk. Ex. 41 at 421, 434.
89. Primebulk's minutes of the Board of Directors indicate that steps were taken to "backfill" the corporate records. Mr. Coronis could not explain why the 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 meetings of the sole Director were on "short notice." He also could not explain why these minutes were nearly identical to one another. Tr. at 291-96; Ex. 37.
90. During the course of 2014 and 2015, while discovery in this matter was ongoing, Primebulk's books and records from the start of its operation on April 30, 2009, including its management fee and commission revenue, overhead and general expenses were being analyzed by Moore Stephens. Various documents — including charter parties, recaps, the Memorandum of Agreement for the purchase and sale of vessels, web-banking records, and wages and expense records — were all available and reviewed by Moore Stephens. Ex. 41. Many of these same records were never produced in this litigation (as demonstrated by comparing the records enumerated in Ex. 41 with the alter ego defendants' list of exhibits wherein their entire production is identified).
91. Primebulk is a successor-in-interest and an alter ego of the Coronis family and Primera. In complete disregard of corporate formalities, the Coronis family abused the corporate form by using Primebulk to replace the debt laden Primera as the ship manager for the Coronis family fleet of ships. Primebulk took over Primera's assets without consideration but did not take over all of its liabilities. Primebulk was grossly undercapitalized because its assets were insufficient to satisfy the obligations that it guaranteed. It intermingled funds with all of the shipowning companies. Its only Officer and Director was initially Primera's attorney and later was Dimitrios
92. The shares of each of the Joint and Several Borrowers under the May 21, 2008 Facilities Agreement were 70 percent owned by the Coronis family by way of Shelly Ventures, Inc., and 30 percent owned by silent partners. Tr. at 184, 198; Ex. 84.
93. Shelly Ventures was the entity used by Paul Coronis to enter into the contract for the construction of the vessel later to be owned by Pasha and named CAPE TALARA. Tr. at 200-02; Ex. 19 at 2.
94. After the CAPE TALARA was built and delivered, on July 5, 2010, Nicholas Coronis signed and submitted a letter on behalf of Pasha to the Greek Mercantile Marine stating that Primebulk was the manager of CAPE TALARA. Ex. 95 at 78A.
95. After the CAPE TROY was built and delivered, on September 20, 2011, Nicholas Coronis signed and submitted a letter on behalf of Movida to the Greek Mercantile Marine stating that Primebulk was the manager of CAPE TROY. Ex. 95 at 80A.
96. Also in and about this time, the shareholding of the Joint and Several Borrowers changed. Bulknav was incorporated at Paul Coronis's request. Tr. at 159. It became the holding company for all of the shares of the Joint and Several Borrowers,
97. Bulknav, which is incorporated in The Marshall Islands and has a registered address in The Marshall Islands, does not maintain any offices or employees in The Marshall Islands. Tr. at 196.
98. The Coronis family continued to own 70 percent of the shares of the shipowning companies by owning 70 percent of the shares of Bulknav through Shelly Ventures. Tr. at 197-98; Stipulated Fact ¶ 50. The remaining shares were owned by silent partners. Tr. at 197-98.
99. During 2009 and 2010, Nicholas Coronis and Paul Coronis were both Directors and the President and Treasurer, respectively, of Bulknay. Tr. at 198. Their lawyer, Evangelos Bairactaris, who incorporated Bulknav at Paul Coronis's request, was the only other Director and Secretary. Ex. 69. Later in 2010, Nicholas Coronis and Evangelos Bairactaris resigned. Konstantinos
100. Despite the fact that Bulknav and all of the Joint and Several Borrowers were either Marshall Islands or Malta corporations, none of them had offices or employees in their places of incorporation. They operated through Primera and later Primebulk at their address in Kifissia, Athens, Greece. Tr. at 158-61.
101. Other than occasions when the shipowning companies hired the vessel's crew, none of these Joint and Several Borrowers had employees. Tr. at 160.
102. After the formation of Bulknav, Paul Coronis resigned from the Boards of the shipowning companies. Paul Coronis stated that, among other reasons, it was duplicative for him to be a Director of the Bulknav subsidiaries because he exercised sufficient control over them as Director of Bulknav. Tr. at 199. In fact, Paul Coronis makes decisions for Bulknav. Ex. 68; Tr. at 200.
103. Bulknav did not have its own bank account. Tr. at 200.
104. At his own discretion, Paul Coronis moved money among the Bulknav individual shipowning companies to balance out gains and losses across all of the companies. Tr. at 200-01.
105. Paul Coronis unilaterally designated himself as the Rule 30(b)(6) witness for Bulknav, Sonic, Mirage, Pasha, Movida, Handy, Element, Caldera and Adalia without receiving authority from anyone else. Tr. at 170, 200.
106. During the course of these proceedings, d'Amico Dry requested that the defendants produce banking, financial and accounting records from Primebulk, Bulknav and the Bulknav owned entities from January 1, 2008 to date. No bank records were produced for Bulknav, Sonic, Handy, Element, Caldera or Adalia.
107. Bulknav is an alter ego of the Coronis family and Primera. Bulknav disregarded corporate formalities by operating as a shell company used by the Coronis family to add another layer of corporate protection for family members. It was inadequately capitalized. It had no bank account. While Bulknav had no funds, money was intermingled and moved among the shipowning entities it owned on a regular basis at the discretion of Paul Coronis to cover shortfalls in the operation of each company. While it has never had employees, Bulknav's Officers and Directors overlapped with the other Coronis family companies and included Paul Coronis and Nicholas Coronis, with Paul Coronis remaining an Officer and Director to date. The controlling Bulknav shares have always been held by the Coronis family. All of Bulknav's shipowning companies are managed out of 6 Roupel Street, 145 64 Kifissia, Athens, Greece, where both Primera and Primebulk housed their day-to-day operations. Bulknav exercised no independent business discretion. Its Director, Paul Coronis, unilaterally designated himself as the Rule 30(b)(6) witness for Bulknav and all of the shipowning companies without seeking permission from any other person. In a less than arm's length transaction, Bulknav novated a contract for the construction of a tank vessel from another Coronis family operated company without consideration for the transaction. It was not treated as its own profit center. It paid no consideration to the shipowning companies for the transfer of their shares, it guaranteed the loan agreement for the purchase of new vessels for the Coronis family, and it became jointly and severally
108. Primera Ocean was a Liberian corporation but did not maintain offices or employees there. Ex. 94 at 76; Tr. at 283. Its only office was at 6 Roupel Street, 145 64 Kifissia, Athens, Greece. Tr. at 283. Its few employees included Paul Coronis and his parents — Nicholas Coronis and Annabel Charlton. Ex. 94 at 17-19, 25-29, 45-47, 58-59; Tr. at 282-83. The Greek Law 89 representative was Nicholas Coronis. Ex. 94 at 93, 126A. Primera paid the Greek Law 89 registration fee for Primera Ocean. Ex. 94 at 61A.
109. At all material times, Primera Ocean managed one vessel, BLUDANCE, owned by Caldera Marine Co. Ltd. Tr. at 283; Ex. 94 at 89A, 96A, 106A, 132. Like other Coronis controlled shipowning companies, Caldera acted through Primera Ocean at its office in Kifissia, Athens, Greece. Tr. at 283; Ex. 94 at 76-77.
110. Caldera and Primera Ocean were parties to the May 21, 2008 Facilities Agreement and Joint and Several Borrowers in that they guaranteed performance of the others. Exs. 17-19; Tr. at 285. There is no evidence that consideration was exchanged for these guarantees.
111. In addition to the bulk carriers managed by Primera in 2008, the Coronis family also had a tank vessel management company Chemnav Shipmanagement, Ltd. ("Chemnav Shipmanagement") and shipowning companies.
112. At Paul Coronis's request, Chemnav Shipmanagement was incorporated in The Marshall Islands, but it did not maintain any offices or employees there. Tr. at 297; Stipulated Fact ¶¶ 75, 79.
113. Like Primera and Primebulk, Chemnav Shipmanagement operated out of 6, Roupel Street, 145 64, Kifissia, Athens, Greece. Stipulated Fact ¶ 76.
114. Paul Coronis was, at all material times, the President and sole owner of Chemnav Shipmanagement through Starboard Holdings. Tr. at 297; Stipulated Fact ¶¶ 80-81. He was also a Director of Chemnav Shipmanagement from 2006 to April 19, 2010. Ex. 46; Ex. 93 at 1; Stipulated Fact ¶ 78.
115. The Greek Law 89 establishment fee for Chemnav Shipmanagement was paid by Primera on April 3, 2008. Ex. 93 at 25.
116. In 2008 and 2009, the Greek Law 89 representative of Chemnav Shipmanagement was Paul Coronis. Ex. 93 at 70, 77. In 2010, Panagiotois Yannoutsos (the person responsible for supervising the construction of vessels for Primera and Primebulk, Tr. at 218-19) became the Greek Law 89 representative as well as a Director of Chemnav Shipmanagement. Ex. 46.
117. In 2008, Chemnav Shipmanagement managed COMMENCEMENT (owned by Annamar, Stipulated Fact ¶ 65) and LYNX (owned by Camela Navigation Inc. ("Camela"), Ex. 93 at 104A). In 2009, Chemnav also managed POLARIS (owned by Seasatin, Stipulated Fact ¶ 74), and SATURN (owned by Seasafe, Stipulated Fact ¶ 69). Chemnav Shipmanagement's service included managing the accounts and records for these entities. Stipulated Fact ¶ 77.
118. Even as of August 13, 2009, financial sources such as Lloyd's List Intelligence,
119. Paul Coronis ordered the incorporation of Annamar, Seasafe, Seasatin and Camela. Stipulated Fact ¶ 64; Tr. at 297.
120. The shares of Annamar, Seasafe, Seasatin and Camela were not collectively held by a single holding company. Tr. at 297-98, 301.
121. Annamar, Seasafe, Seasatin and Camela are each owned by the same parties. Tr. at 297-98, Exs. 57, 67. The Coronis family, at all material times, owned the majority of the shares of Annamar, Seasafe and Seasatin. Tr. at 297-98; Stipulated Fact ¶ 66; Exs. 57, 67.
122. Like other Coronis shipowning companies, Annamar, Seasafe and Seasatin were Marshall Islands corporations but had no offices or employees there. They were operated almost exclusively by Chemnav Shipmanagement at 6 Roupel Street, 145 64 Kifissia, Athens, Greece. None of these entities had any employees of their own. Tr. at 298.
123. At the relevant time, Paul Coronis and/or Nicholas Coronis were Directors of Annamar, Seasafe and Seasatin. Stipulated Fact ¶¶ 67-68, 70-73.
124. On March 3, 2008, Paul Coronis signed and submitted a letter on behalf of Annamar to the Greek Mercantile Marine stating that Chemnav Shipmanagement was the manager of COMMENCEMENT. Ex. 93 at 114.
125. On December 22, 2008, Nicholas Coronis signed and submitted a letter on behalf of Camela to the Greek Mercantile Marine stating that Chemnav Shipmanagement was the manager of LYNX. Ex. 93 at 115A.
126. On February 16, 2009, Nicholas Coronis signed and submitted a letter on behalf of Seasatin to the Greek Mercantile Marine stating that Chemnav Shipmanagement was the manager of POLARIS. Ex. 93 at 116A.
127. On May 12, 2009, Nicholas Coronis signed and submitted a letter on behalf of Seasafe to the Greek Mercantile Marine stating that Chemnav Shipmanagement was the manager of SATURN. Ex. 93 at 119A.
128. In 2007, Paul Coronis, on behalf of Camela, Seasafe, Seasatin and Annamar, negotiated a Facilities Agreement with HSH Nordbank (the "April 23, 2007 Facilities Agreement"). Ex. 42 at 2; Tr. at 299-300.
129. Primera executed a guarantee in favor of a shipyard for the construction of the four chemical tank ships being funded under the April 23, 2007 Facilities Agreement. Stipulated Fact ¶¶ 82-83. Correspondence under the April 23, 2007 Facilities Agreement was to be sent to the different borrowers thereunder c/o Primera at its office in Kifissia, Athens, Greece. Ex. 42 at 101. There is no evidence that consideration was exchanged for this guarantee.
130. Camela, Seasafe, Seasatin and Annamar were all jointly and severally liable under the April 23, 2007 Facilities Agreement. Ex. 42 at 2, 103; Tr. at 301. Stipulated Fact ¶ 84.
131. The April 23, 2007 Facilities Agreement required that Annamar, Seasafe, Seasatin and Camela maintain $2,500,000 in a retention account until the construction of the ships was complete and $2,000,000 thereafter. Ex. 42 at 45; Tr. at 301.
132. Paul Coronis, Nicholas Coronis, Chemnav Inc. and Chemnav Shipmanagement
133. Chemnav Shipmanagement and the companies it managed (Annamar, Seasafe, Seasatin and Camela) advanced funds to one another or paid bills on behalf of each other. Exs. 111-19.
134. Despite the fact that there is no holding company owning the shares of Annamar, Seasafe, Seasatin and Camila, these companies regularly satisfied debts and obligations owed by another one of these entities. Tr. at 301; Exs. 113-17, 119-20.
135. The payment of bills by Bulknav controlled companies on behalf of Chemnav managed companies can be seen from the payment of the legal invoices in this case. For instance, Chalos & Co. was counsel for Chemnav, and the shipowning entities Chemnav managed (Annamar, Seasafe and Seasatin), as well as Chemnav, Inc. Seven invoices were submitted to Chemnav Shipmanagement by Chalos & Co., but these were paid by wire transfer by Primebulk Shipmanagement. Ex. 14 at 1-7, 27. Later, despite representing the "Chemnav Defendants," Chalos & Co. sent the next six invoices to "Bulknav" which, at the time was represented by Blank Rome LLP. These invoices were also paid by Primebulk. Ex. 14 at 8-13, 27. Thereafter, despite representing the Chemnav Defendants, Chalos & Co. continued to bill Blank Rome's client, Bulknav, on another six invoices that were then paid by Nikka. Ex. 14 at 14-19, 27. Each of these invoices was approved for payment by Paul Coronis, who oversaw this litigation on behalf of all of the alter ego defendants. Tr. at 233-34, 236. Later, both Blank Rome and Chalos & Co. billed the UK Defense Club for the legal services, despite the fact that the UK Club insured only two of the defendants, Bulknav owned Mirage and Nikka, and the other five vessels for which policies were produced were insured by other clubs. Ex. 14 at 24-26; Ex. 106.
136. During the course of these proceedings, d'Amico Dry requested that the defendants produce banking, financial and accounting records from Chemnav Shipmanagement, Chemnav Inc., Annamar, Seasatin, Seasafe, Caldera and Primera Ocean from January 1, 2008 to date. Despite repeated requests, these entities produced bank records for only limited periods.
137. Moreover, no internal accounting or financial records were produced by any of the foregoing parties.
138. Paul Coronis designated himself to be the 30(b)(6) witness for Chemnav Shipmanagement, Annamar, Seasatin and Seasafe. No authorization was required from anyone else. Tr. at 170.
139. Chemnav Shipmanagement and the shipowning companies it manages are the alter egos of the Coronis family and Primera. Chemnav Shipmanagement and the shipowning companies were incorporated at the direction of Paul Coronis. Their corporate forms were disregarded by the Coronis family and Paul Coronis currently makes all decisions for all of the corporations. Chemnav Shipmanagement was inadequately capitalized — its assets were insufficient to satisfy the obligations that it assumed under the loan agreement to buy the Coronis chemical tankers. Chemnav Shipmanagement paid the debts of other Coronis companies. Its Law 89 fee was paid by Primera and it paid the Law 89 fee for Primebulk. Its sole owner, Paul Coronis, was a Director of Primera. Paul Coronis and Nicholas Coronis were Directors and Officers of the shipowning entities. They all operated out of 6 Roupel
140. Because of threats and action taken by Flame in England to force Primera into involuntary insolvency in 2010, Primera commenced dissolution and later liquidation proceedings in Monrovia, Liberia. None of the alter ego defendants in this case were parties directly or indirectly in the Liberian liquidation. In 2010, Liberia had no established law regarding the liquidation of corporations. Tr. at 485-86.
141. Primera's liquidator, H. Varney Sherman, met with Linos Choo and other unidentified individuals in Athens on April 6, 2010. Mr. Sherman did nothing to verify the information which was provided to him during the April 6, 2010 meeting. He did nothing to investigate Primera's assets. Tr. at 463, 469, 480.
142. At their meeting, Mr. Sherman was shown copies of Primera's last bank statement for 2009. Tr. at 466-68. The statement showed a balance of $510.90. Tr. at 484. Despite the fact that these documents were made available to the liquidator, they were not produced by Primera in this action, which was commenced nine months before the Athens meeting. Tr. at 484; Primera Ex. RR at 5-8.
143. Mr. Sherman was not aware of any of Primera's pre-dissolution activities, including the transfers to Primrose, Seadance or J.P.C. Investments. Tr. at 479-80. In fact, Mr. Sherman was unaware that Primera conducted any business in 2009. Tr. at 468.
144. Although the Primera 2008 Balance Sheet and Profit and Loss Statement showed assets of $132,862 as of December 31, 2008, Mr. Sherman made no investigation into the disposition of those assets; he testified that doing so was outside the scope of his responsibilities. Tr. at 475, 484-85.
145. Despite being the liquidator, Mr. Sherman was unaware that Primera was a party to an English arbitration in which it was seeking to recover from two shipyards. Tr. at 483. He was also unable to specify what action, if any, Primera had taken to recover the FFA sums due from Industrial Carriers, Inc., and TMT Asia. Tr. at 471, 481-82.
146. The liquidation was essentially dormant between 2011 and 2015. Tr. at 481.
147. For all intents and purposes, Primera's Liberian liquidation is a sham.
148. Much of the testimony from Paul Coronis was not credible and his testimony cannot be relied upon. But the defendants
149. Paul Coronis testified that, even though he was directing money to Seadance Maritime under the TMT FFA (to be paid by Meadway under the netting-off agreement), he had no knowledge regarding the owners or Officers of Seadance. Tr. at 254, 259-62; Exs. 11-12. Annabel Charlton and Nicholas Coronis, the parents of Paul Coronis, were shareholders of Seadance and Nicholas Coronis was the proxy for the shareholding. Tr. at 267-69. Christos Georgopoulos, who was an employee of both Primera and Primebulk, was the only Director of Seadance. Tr. at 269-70.
150. Paul Coronis testified that he was not familiar with Astradance Shipping S.A. and could not recall if Primera ever managed a vessel called ASTRADANCE. Tr. at 268. Astradance Shipping S.A. was the primary shareholder, presumably in bearer shares, of Seadance. Tr. at 268. In fact, while Paul Coronis was a Director at Primera (specifically between 2004 and 2006), Primera managed ASTRADANCE for Primrose Shipping Ltd. Tr. at 171-72; Ex. 92 at 168, 174, 180.
151. Paul Coronis testified that, even though he was directing money to J.P.C. Investments under various FFAs, he had no knowledge of the Officers, Directors or shareholders of J.P.C. Investments. Tr. at 274-76. Paul Coronis's mother, Annabel Charlton, is the only known Officer and/or Director of J.P.C. Investments. Ex. 30 at 6-7; Ex. 31. Furthermore, Paul Coronis testified that he was not aware of the $1,500,000 interest-free loan provided by J.P.C. Investments to Primera in 2008 while Paul Coronis was a Director of Primera. Tr. at 171-72, 271-73. The loan documents were signed by Annabel Charlton in 2008. Ex. 4 at 48; Tr. at 273.
152. Paul Coronis testified that he was never a Director of Primera Ocean, which he claimed was a corporate guarantor under the Third Supplement to the May 21, 2008 Facilities Agreement. Tr. at 251, 281. However, the Law 89 documents show that Paul Coronis became an Officer and Director of Primera Ocean in December 2004. Ex. 94 at 45-47. Nicholas Coronis and Annabel Charlton were also Officers. Ex. 94 at 17-19, 45-47. The Law 89 fee for Primera Ocean was paid by Primera. Ex. 94 at 61.
153. Paul Coronis testified that there are no overlapping shareholders between Primera and Chemnav Shipmanagement or Primera and Primebulk, although there is no time period specified in his response. Tr. at 314. However, Paul Coronis testified that he never gained an understanding as to who was the dominant shareholder of Primera. Tr. at 315. Furthermore, no documents have been produced by the defendants that indicate the identity of the beneficial owner of Primera beyond the holding company, Denton Shipping, which Paul Coronis also testified was unfamiliar to him. Tr. at 178; Primera Ex. RR at 1. According to Primera's Law 89 documents, the sole Officer and Director of Primera from December 5, 1991 to November 21, 2008 was Nicholas Coronis. Furthermore, the sole shareholder of Primera was listed as Nicholas Coronis. Ex. 92 129, 241-43; Tr. at 166-67.
154. Paul Coronis testified that the office equipment used by both Primera and Primebulk belonged to the office and the landlord. Tr. at 222. The building was owned by Paul Coronis, Chianna Coronis, and Jonathan Coronis; therefore, any equipment belonging to the landlords would have also belonged to the Coronis family. Tr. at 161. However, Primebulk's lease does not list any furniture or equipment to be provided by the landlord or the building. Tr. at 224.
156. In the course of this litigation Primera has produced only a handful of corporate documents, no banking records, and was unable to produce any witness in response to d'Amico Dry's 30(b)(6) Notice of Deposition. Tr. at 170-71.
157. The Primera corporate records were kept in a cupboard in Primera's office at 6 Roupel Street. Tr. at 161, 169-70.
158. Paul Coronis admitted that he failed to produce documents in this proceeding because he deemed them irrelevant. Tr. at 232-33.
159. Paul Coronis testified that the alter ego defendants had Board of Directors meetings once a month or when a significant decision took place. Tr. at 339. The minutes from these meetings have not been produced in this litigation.
160. The meeting minutes produced in this litigation are inadequate to establish respect of corporate formalities in light of the fact that they are identical or near identical copies.
161. On September 9, 2009, d'Amico Dry commenced this action against Primera in this Court.
162. On December 23, 2010, d'Amico Dry amended its complaint to add the alter ego cause of action and the alter ego defendants. Dkt. No. 64.
163. The Supreme Court decided
164. Primera and the alter ego defendants, excluding J.P.C. Investments, Primera Ocean, Nicholas Coronis, and Paul Coronis, raised lack of personal jurisdiction as an affirmative defense in their answers to the amended complaint, which were filed in late April 2015, by stating, "Th[is] Court lacks personal jurisdiction over [the defendants]." Dkt. Nos. 176 at 10, 178 at 11, 179 at 8. (Primera and these answering alter ego defendants will be referred to as the "appearing defendants.")
165. J.P.C. Investments, Primera Ocean, Nicholas Coronis, and Paul Coronis did not answer the amended complaint or otherwise appear in this case. (These non-answering defendants will be referred to as the "nonappearing defendants.") The Clerk entered certificates of default as to Primera Ocean, Dkt. No. 293, and J.P.C. Investments, Dkt. No. 294. Because the nonappearing defendants never answered the amended complaint or appeared in this action, they accordingly never raised lack of personal jurisdiction as an affirmative defense.
166. The appearing defendants first raised the issue of whether the Court lacks personal jurisdiction over them under
168. On February 18, 2016, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals decided
1. The Supreme Court's decision in
2. The
3. In light of
5. Summarily asserting the affirmative defense of lack of personal jurisdiction in an answer is sufficient to preserve the defense under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(h)(1).
6. However, a delay in pursuing a personal jurisdiction defense — such as failing to argue lack of personal jurisdiction in a motion to dismiss — may result in forfeiture of the defense, even where the defense was asserted in a timely answer.
7. In determining whether the appearing defendants have forfeited their personal jurisdiction defense, the Court considers the length of time between the filing of their answers and the April 16, 2018 letter that specifically argued the effect of
8. The circumstances of the proceedings at the time the personal jurisdiction defense was first raised in the answers and subsequently pursued in April 2018 is also significant.
9. Given this case's circumstances, it is plain that the appearing defendants have
10. Therefore, the English Judgment may be enforced against Primera. Whether the English Judgment may be enforced against the other appearing defendants depends on whether they are alter egos of Primera. That issue is discussed below.
11. d'Amico Dry seeks default judgments against the nonappearing defendants, namely Paul Coronis, Nicholas Coronis, Primera Ocean Services S.A., and J.P.C. Investments S.A. The Clerk issued certificates of default against Primera Ocean and J.P.C. Investments but Paul Coronis and Nicholas Coronis successfully urged the Clerk not to enter certificates of default against them. The defendants contend that Paul Coronis and Nicholas Coronis were not properly served under the Hague Convention and therefore the Court cannot enter default judgments against them because the Court does not have jurisdiction over them. No specific argument has been made on behalf of Primera Ocean and J.P.C. Investments.
12. Before entering a default judgment, a court may consider
13. When seeking a default judgment, "although the plaintiffs retain the burden of proving personal jurisdiction, they can satisfy that burden with a prima facie showing, and may rest their argument on their pleadings, bolstered by such affidavits and other written materials as they can otherwise obtain."
14. In general, alter egos are treated as one entity for purposes of jurisdiction.
15. d'Amico Dry pleaded adequately that the nonappearing defendants were alter egos of Primera and bolstered this claim with evidence at trial. This Court has jurisdiction over Primera, and Primera, as well as the rest of the appearing defendants, participated fully in this proceeding. Therefore, the Court has personal jurisdiction over the nonappearing defendants including Paul Coronis and Nicholas Coronis, regardless of whether Paul Coronis and Nicholas Coronis were properly served.
16. It would be particularly inappropriate to find that there was no personal jurisdiction over Paul Coronis and Nicholas Coronis based on the alleged insufficiency of the service of process on them. They both had actual knowledge of these proceedings. Moreover, Paul Coronis actually appeared in New York and testified at the trial on behalf of the appearing defendants, and also testified at a deposition as the Rule 30(b)(6) witness on behalf of the appearing alter ego defendants.
17. Because the Court has jurisdiction over the nonappearing defendants, and because those defendants did not appear in this action, d'Amico Dry's request for a default judgment against the nonappearing defendants — namely Paul Coronis, Nicholas Coronis, Primera Ocean Services S.A., and J.P.C. Investments S.A. — is
18. Therefore, the nonappearing defendants are liable for the English Judgment against Primera.
19. The parties agree that federal maritime law applies in assessing whether the web of appearing alter ego defendants are alter egos of Primera.
20. To pierce the corporate veil under federal maritime law, a plaintiff must show that an alter ego was used to "perpetrate a fraud"
21. The alleged domination asserted as the basis for piercing the corporate veil must have occurred at or about the time of the complained-of transaction.
22. Factors relevant to determining whether one entity is the "alter ego" of another — or, in this case, whether the web of appearing Coronis family controlled alter ego defendants are alter egos of Primera — include the following:
23. There is no rule about how many factors must be met to warrant piercing the corporate veil; rather, "the general principle guiding courts in determining whether to pierce the corporate veil has been that liability is imposed when doing so would achieve an equitable result."
24. The facts of this case warrant piercing the corporate veil.
25. Indeed, this case is factually similar to
26. The web of appearing Coronis family controlled alter ego defendants are liable for the English Judgment against Primera, namely Sonic Finance Inc., Mirage Finance Inc., Handy Finance Inc., Pasha Finance Inc., Movida Finance Inc., Element Finance Inc., Caldera Marine Co. Ltd., Adalia Marine Co. Ltd., Seasatin Navigation Inc., Annamar Navigation Inc., Seasafe Navigation Inc., Chemnav Inc., Primebulk Shipmanagement Ltd., Bulknav Inc., and Chemnav Shipmanagement Ltd.
27. Therefore, all of the defendants — both the nonappearing defendants and the appearing defendants — are liable for the English Judgment against Primera.
28. In addition to holding Primebulk liable as an alter ego of Primera, d'Amico Dry seeks to hold Primebulk liable as the successor-in-interest to Primera.
29. "New York . . . recognizes that when one company sells or transfers all of its assets to another company, the acquiring company generally does not become liable for the debts or liabilities of the seller/transferor. . . . New York also recognize[s] four exceptions to this rule: (1) where the buyer expressly assumed the debt at issue; (2) where the transaction was undertaken to defraud creditors; (3) where the transaction constitutes a
31. In this case, Primera transferred its assets to Primebulk, a corporation created apparently to avoid liability to d'Amico Dry for the English Judgment.
32. To determine whether Primebulk is a mere continuance of Primera, the Court assesses four factors:
33. Each factor supports holding Primebulk liable as a successor-in-interest under the mere continuance theory: (1) Primera transferred its business to Primebulk without consideration while maintaining similarities in ownership,
34. Primebulk is liable for the English Judgment as Primera's successor-in-interest.
35. As part of the English Judgment, postjudgment interest has accrued at a rate of 8 percent per annum, in accordance with English law, since June 19, 2009.
36. When determining the interest rate to be applied when enforcing a foreign judgment, courts generally apply the interest rate set forth in the foreign country judgment under the law of the rendering court.
37. d'Amico Dry is entitled to the interest that has accrued at a rate of 8 percent per annum on the English Judgment after it was entered on June 19, 2009.
39. The English Judgment and the FFA also provided for future legal fees incurred in collecting the judgment. Ex. 1; Ex. 31 at 88; Ex. 104; Stipulated Fact ¶ 39.
40. d'Amico Dry is awarded the legal fees and costs incurred in its efforts to enforce the English Judgment. These costs and fees are to be assessed in accordance with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(d).
The Court has considered all of the arguments raised by the parties. To the extent not specifically addressed, the arguments are either moot or without merit.
d'Amico Dry's request for a default judgment against Paul Coronis, Nicholas Coronis, Primera Ocean Services S.A., and J.P.C. Investments S.A. is
The Clerk is directed to enter judgment for d'Amico Dry and against all of the defendants as follows:
Once judgment is entered, d'Amico Dry is entitled to postjudgment interest pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1961.
The Clerk is directed to close all pending motions in this case.