On September 11, 2019, Justice Cohen of the New York County Commercial Division issued a decision in PDL Biopharma, Inc. v. Wohlstadter, 2019 NY Slip Op. 32693(U), holding that a lender – borrower relationship did not give rise to a fiduciary duty, explaining: Defendants’ third and fourth counterclaims for breach of fiduciary duty and tortious... Read more »
Blogs
Posts Categorized: Fiduciary Duties
Shareholders Did Not Breach Duty to Company by Operating Competing Companies
On July 10, 2019, the Second Department issued a decision in Laffey v. Laffey, 2019 NY Slip Op. 05521, holding that shareholders did not breach a duty to their company by operating competing companies, explaining: Under the unusual circumstances presented, we agree with the Supreme Court’s determination dismissing Emmett’s counterclaim and cause of action alleging... Read more »
Non-Client Adequately Alleged Fiduciary Duty Claims Against Law Firm
On June 11, 2019, the First Department issued a decision in Devlin v. Greenberg Traurig, LLP, 2019 NY Slip Op. 04653, holding that a non-client had adequately alleged breach of fiduciary claims against a law firm, explaining: The court dismissed the fiduciary duty claim on the ground that there was no fiduciary relationship between the... Read more »
Conduct Amounting to Nothing More than Common Business Practice Cannot Be Basis for Aiding and Abetting Breach of Fiduciary Duty Claim
On April 4, 2019, Justice Scarpulla of the New York County Commercial Division issued a decision in Moyal v. Tripost Capital Partners, LLC, 2019 NY Slip Op. 30947(U), holding that conduct amounting to nothing more than a common business practice cannot serve as the basis for a claim of aiding and abetting a breach of fiduciary... Read more »
Conspiracy to Breach Fiduciary Duty Claim Properly Dismissed for Failure to Allege Facts Relating to Acts in Support of Conspiracy
On February 1, 2019, the Fourth Department issued a decision in Cohen & Lombardo, P.C. v. Connors, 2019 NY Slip Op. 00755, dismissing a conspiracy to breach a fiduciary duty claim for failure to allege facts relating to acts in support of the conspiracy, explaining: [T]he court properly granted that part of the motion dismissing each of... Read more »
Breach of Fiduciary Duty Claim Dismissed Under Business Judgment Rule
On December 26, 2018, Justice Bransten of the New York County Commercial Division issued a decision in IsZo Capital LLP. v. Bianco, 2018 NY Slip Op. 33384(U), dismissing a breach of fiduciary claim under the business judgment rule, explaining: Plaintiffs allege Defendant Bianco failed to consent to refinancing the 111 W. 57th Street project, resulting in... Read more »
Joint Venture’s Controlling Shareholder Liable for Aiding and Abetting Manager’s Breach of Fiduciary Duty
On October 22, 2018, Justice Ramos of the New York County Commercial Division issued a decision in U-Trend N.Y. Inv. L.P. v. US Suite LLC, 2018 NY Slip Op. 32894(U), holding the controlling shareholder of a joint venture liable for aiding and abetting a manager’s breach of fiduciary duty by failing to take action to... Read more »
Contractual Right to Take Actions Cannot Shield Fiduciary From Breach of Fiduciary Duty Claim if Fiduciary Acted in Bad Faith
On September 28, 2018, Justice Scarpulla of the New York County Commercial Division issued a decision in Yu v. Guard Hill Estates, LLC, 2018 NY Slip Op. 32466(U), holding that a contractual right to take certain actions cannot shield a fiduciary from a breach of fiduciary duty claim if the fiduciary acted in bad faith, explaining:... Read more »
Accounting Denied For Lack of Fiduciary or Confidential Relationship
On July 25, 2018, the Second Department issued a decision in Lake Overlook Partners, LLC v. Sosa, 2018 NY Slip Op. 05459, holding that a plaintiff was not entitled to an accounting where there was no fiduciary or confidential relationship, explaining: We also agree with the Supreme Court’s determination granting those branches of the defendant’s... Read more »
Breach of Fiduciary Duty Claim Dismissed on Summary Judgment for Lack of Damages
On July 10, 2018, Justice Schecter of the New York County Commercial Division issued a decision in Board of Directors of Windsor Owners Corp. v. Platt, 2018 NY Slip Op 31600(U), dismissing a breach of fiduciary duty claim on summary judgment for lack of damages, explaining: Damages is an essential element of breach of fiduciary... Read more »