Claridge Assocs., LLC v. Schepis (In re Pursuit Capital Mgmt., LLC)
Claridge Assocs., LLC v. Schepis (In re Pursuit Capital Mgmt., LLC)
Opinion of the Court
Before the Court is Defendants' Motion to Dismiss Complaint on Jurisdictional Grounds
Background
Prior to its bankruptcy filing, Pursuit Capital Management, LLC ("Debtor") was the general partner of two investment partnerships-Defendant Pursuit Capital Management Fund I, L.P. ("Capital Fund") and Defendant Pursuit Opportunity Fund I, L.P. ("Opportunity Fund," and collectively with the Capital Fund, the "Feeder Funds") (D.I. 1 ¶ 1). Defendants Anthony Schepis ("Schepis") and Frank Canelas ("Canelas") were Debtor's sole owners, managers and controlling principals. They were also the sole owners, managers and controlling principals of all other entity defendants-(i) Pursuit Partners, LLC, a broker-dealer ("Pursuit-Broker Dealer"), (ii) Pursuit Investment Management, LLC, an investment management company ("Pursuit Investment Manager"), (iii) Pursuit Capital Partners (Cayman) Ltd., an offshore fund, (iv) Pursuit Capital Master (Cayman) Ltd., an offshore master fund; (v) Pursuit Opportunity Fund I, Ltd., an offshore fund; and (vi) Pursuit Opportunity Fund I Master Ltd., a master fund organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands. Plaintiffs assert that these Defendants, collectively, are a "unitary enterprise" known as the "Pursuit Hedge Fund." Defendant Northeast Capital Management, LLC was formed by Schepis and Canelas to be a successor general partner to Debtor in the Feeder Funds. Defendant Ruth Canelas is the wife of Frank Canelas.
Plaintiffs, in then individual capacities, as well as other investors, including Alpha Beta Capital Partners, L.P. ("Alpha Beta"), were investors in the Capital Fund. (D.I. 1 ¶ 39). By 2009, the Capital Fund ceased making new investments and started to wind down. (D.I. 1 ¶ 39). Litigation ensued as the Debtor and/or other Defendants *640were sued in multiple jurisdictions. As detailed in the Complaint, in May 2012, the Schneiders commenced arbitration proceedings against Debtor alleging "mismanagement of [then] investment, the misuse of the Capital Fund's remaining assets, and the failure to make distributions ... promised." (D.I. 1 ¶ 40). After two phases of arbitration, and in two separate and lengthy opinions, the arbitrator awarded the Schneiders approximately $5 million. The Supreme Court of New York confirmed the arbitration awards and issued judgments against Debtor in the amounts awarded by the arbitrator. (D.I. 1 ¶ 40). Those judgments have not been paid. Plaintiffs also allege that prepetition, and during the course of the litigation, Debtor systematically transferred assets for no consideration to various of the other Defendants to make Debtor judgment proof. (D.I. 1 ¶¶ 38, 73).
Separately, Alpha Beta sued Pursuit Investment Manager, Schepis and Canelas in New York state court asserting tortious conduct in connection with their investments in the Feeder Funds; they also filed a separate arbitration proceeding against the Capital Fund and the Opportunity Fund for similar tortious conduct.
In the meantime, certain Defendants were prosecuting prepetition litigation. In 2008, Defendants Pursuit Broker-Dealer and Pursuit Investment Manager sued UBS Securities LLC in Connecticut state court for losses suffered by the Feeder Funds as a result of collateralized debt obligations sold to the funds by UBS. (D.I. 1 ¶ 52). Damages in excess of $104.5 million plus punitive damages were asserted against UBS. (D.I. 1 ¶ 52). The UBS matter was settled for an unknown amount, and Plaintiffs allege that certain of the settlement proceeds should have gone to Debtor. (D.I. 1 ¶ 52). Plaintiffs assert that under both the Capital Fund limited partnership agreement and the Opportunity Fund limited partnership agreement, Debtor is due an incentive fee of 20% of profits earned by investors in those funds; this fee is termed "carried interest." (D.I. 1 ¶¶ 55, 56). By extension, therefore, Debtor is entitled to 20% of any profits to the Feeder Funds from the UBS proceeds. (D.I. 1 ¶ 57). Plaintiffs allege that Schepis and Canelas secretly formed Defendant Northeast Capital Management one month before the bankruptcy filing to replace Debtor as the general partner of each Feeder Fund in order to seize Debtor's interest in the proceeds of the UBS Litigation. (D.I. 1 ¶¶ 62-67).
Further, in 2013, Debtor and other Defendants sued Alpha Beta in New York state court.
The Bankruptcy Case
On March 21, 2014, Schepis and Canelas put Debtor into a voluntary chapter 7 proceeding. Jeoffrey L. Burtch was appointed the chapter 7 trustee ("Trustee"). About one year later, on March 2, 2015, Trustee filed his Motion for an Order Approving Agreement to Settle, Transfer and Assign Certain Claims, Rights and Interests *641("Sale Motion")
In the Sale Motion and agreement, Trustee stated that the only assets listed on Debtor's schedules were claims, specifically: (i) certain prepetition litigation Debtor brought against Alpha Beta and others in the State of New York, defined as the "New York Action" and (ii) potential indemnification claims against the Capital Fund, defined as the "Indemnification Claims." Trustee also recognized that a footnote in Debtor's Statement of Financial Affairs reflected a disbursement of $645,571.22 to Debtor's members in the year before the bankruptcy filing, defined as the "Potential Avoidance Claim."
As the estate had no funds to pursue the claims (Main Case D.I. 66 ¶ 12), Trustee decided to administer them by entering into the agreement "to settle, transfer and assign" the claims on the following terms. The Claridge Group and Alpha Beta were to pay Trustee $125,000 within twenty days after court approval of the agreement. In exchange, Trustee was to sell, transfer and convey to the Claridge Group and Alpha Beta, free and clear of all liens, claims and interests, all the right, title and interest of Debtor and the Estate to the Debtor Claims, the Indemnification Claims, the UBS Claim and all Debtor's books and records. Further, upon receipt of the $125,000 payment, the New York Action was to he settled and dismissed. The assignments, sales, transfers and conveyances were on an "as is where is" basis, with no representations or warranties of any kind. And, the agreement was to be submitted to the bankruptcy court for approval through a sale motion under § 363(b) and (f) of the Bankruptcy Code ("Sale Motion").
The Sale Motion was originally scheduled to be heard in March 2015. Before the objection deadline, Schepis, Canelas, Pursuit Investment Manager, the Opportunity Fund and the Capital Fund ("Objecting Defendants") filed a preliminary objection and a motion to continue the hearing; they also noticed several depositions.
On August 10, 2015, I held an evidentiary hearing on the Sale Motion.
• a payment to Trustee of $180,001;
• a "contribution" to the bankruptcy estate of 100% of the net (of expenses) recoveries from the Debtor Claims (including, the Insider Avoidance Claim) and the UBS Claim (i.e., all identified claims other than the Indemnification Claim);
• the transfer to Plaintiffs of all of the right, title and interest of Debtor, Trustee and/or the Estate in and to the Debtor Claims (including the Insider Avoidance Claim), the Indemnification Claims and the UBS Claims;
• permission for Plaintiffs (or any one of them) to bring the Debtor Claims (including the Insider Avoidance Claim) and the UBS Claim in this bankruptcy court, with deemed standing;
• the understanding and agreement that the Debtor Claims (including the Insider Avoidance Claim) and the UBS Claim "will be pursued on behalf of the bankruptcy Estate and any net recoveries will be property of the bankruptcy Estate to be distributed in accordance with the priorities established by the Bankruptcy Code;"
• any settlement of claims (other than the Indemnification Claim) to be submitted to the Bankruptcy Court for prior approval in accordance with *643Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 9019 ;
• the dismissal of the New York Action;
• the conveyances on an "as is where is" basis; and
• the Agreement to be submitted to the bankruptcy court for approval through a motion to sell property of the estate pursuant to11 U.S.C. § 363 (b) and (f).
After taking the matter under advisement, I subsequently issued a bench ruling granting the Sale Motion and approving the Agreement. My bench ruling included the following reservation:
Third, the [Objecting Defendants] question the right of the trustee to assign the claims as inconsistent with the Bankruptcy Code. They specifically wish to reserve all defenses to [the Claridge Group's and Alpha Beta's] ability to prosecute the claims on behalf of the estate or otherwise. It is clear that the [Objecting Defendants] must be able to raise any and all defenses they have to whatever litigation is brought, and the order entered by the Court approving the sale must so provide.18
I then instructed the parties to confer and submit a form of order embodying that ruling.
Trustee's counsel filed a Certification of Counsel in which he stated that the parties could not agree on a form of order.
ORDERED, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement, all rights, claims and defenses that may be raised or asserted by the [Objecting Defendants] with respect to the UBS Litigation, the UBS Claim, the Debtor's Claims, the Insider Avoidance Claims and/or the Indemnification Claims, including, without limitation, any right to challenge standing or jurisdiction, are expressly reserved and preserved ....24
In signing the Sale Order, I rejected language in the proposed order submitted by the Claridge Group and Alpha Beta that would have in any way qualified or limited the preservation of defenses.
*644The Appeal of the Sale Order
On September 8, 2015, Objecting Defendants appealed the Sale Order to the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. Objecting Defendants did not seek or obtain a stay of the Sale Order. On September 26, 2016, the District Court affirmed the finding of good faith in connection with the sale and dismissed the appeal as statutorily moot under
I read the record [below] as showing that the parties were content in the Bankruptcy Court to put off this issue for another day. I do not believe that Appellants preserved an objection to the Bankruptcy Court's handling of the issue. Thus, while Appellants have certainly preserved their rights to raise the issue as a defense to future litigation, I do not think they have preserved their rights to raise the issue on direct appeal. I do not think this is an issue that I should be deciding in the first instance. Thus, were this the only issue raised, I would simply affirm the Bankruptcy Court's Order, with the result that the issue would be decided, if necessary, in subsequent litigation.27
Objecting Defendants then appealed the District Court's ruling to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. The Third Circuit affirmed, likewise concluding that the appeal of the Sale Order was statutorily moot under § 363(m).
The Adversary Proceeding
Six months after I approved the sale, on February 25, 2016, Plaintiffs filed the Complaint commencing this adversary proceeding based on the claims they obtained from Trustee.
Defendants responded by moving to dismiss. In the Opening Brief, Defendants make eleven arguments why some or all the counts of the Complaint should be dismissed. After briefing and supplemental briefing,
Jurisdiction
Bankruptcy jurisdiction exists over this adversary proceeding pursuant to
Analysis
I. The Complaint Will Not Be Dismissed on Any Jurisdictional Ground
A court addresses jurisdictional arguments first because it if does not have subject matter jurisdiction or personal jurisdiction over the parties, it should not reach the merits of the disputes.
*646A. Personal Jurisdiction Exists over Defendants Organized Under Cayman Islands Law
Defendants assert that this Court lacks personal jurisdiction over four defendants: Pursuit Capital Partners (Cayman) Ltd., Pursuit Capital Master (Cayman) Ltd., Pursuit Opportunity Fund I, Ltd., and Pursuit Opportunity Fund I Master Ltd. (collectively "Cayman Defendants") each of which is organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands. In their Opening Brief, Defendants argue that Plaintiffs have not alleged a sufficient basis for either general or specific jurisdiction because: (i) each Cayman Defendant is domiciled outside of the United States; and (ii) Plaintiffs have not alleged any meaningful contact with the United States.
Once a defendant challenges personal jurisdiction under Rule 12(b)(2), the plaintiff bears the burden of establishing personal jurisdiction by a preponderance of the evidence.
Here, Defendants' argument rests on the sufficiency of the allegations in the Complaint; they did not file any affidavits in support of their personal jurisdiction defense. My decision, therefore, examines the Complaint's allegations.
Personal jurisdiction over a defendant may be either general or specific.
A court may assert general jurisdiction over a foreign corporation when the corporation's "affiliations with the [relevant forum] are so 'continuous and systematic' as to render [it] essentially at home in the [relevant forum]."
As I noted at argument, the briefs of both parties were rather conclusory on personal jurisdiction, citing cases to establish the general standards, but not drilling down on the application of those standards to the Complaint. Upon questioning, each position came into better focus.
At argument, Defendants countered that the Cayman Defendants did not have their principal places of business in the United States, but rather that each conducted its business in the Cayman Islands. They correctly point out that the Complaint actually alleges that the Cayman Defendants each have a "principal office" in Connecticut. And, they argue that simply having a contract with an investment manager "who makes investment management decisions under a contract in New York" does not make a Cayman entity subject to jurisdiction in New York (or, presumably, anywhere in the United States).
In Hertz , the Supreme Court examined various competing circuit court decisions discussing the standard for corporate citizenship in the context of diversity jurisdiction.
We conclude that 'principal place of business' is best read as referring to the place where a corporation's officers direct, control, and coordinate the corporation's activities. It is the place that Courts of Appeals have called the corporation's 'nerve center.' And in practice it should normally be the place where the corporation maintains its headquarters-provided that the headquarters is the actual center of direction, control, and coordination, i.e. , the 'nerve center,' and not simply an office where the corporation holds its board meetings (for example, attended by directors and officers who have traveled there for the occasion).58
While it is not altogether clear that the "nerve center" standard enunciated in Hertz should be extended to the Rule 12(b)(2) context, because Defendants argued *649this standard and Plaintiffs did not take issue with that suggestion, I will apply it here.
The allegations in the Complaint that support Plaintiffs' jurisdictional arguments regarding the Cayman Defendants include the following:
• Each of the non-individual Defendants, including the Cayman Defendants, maintain its principal office at 34 East Putnam Avenue in Greenwich, Connecticut.59
• Schepis and Canelas both reside in Connecticut;60
• The Cayman Defendants are organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands.61
• The Capital Master Fund and the Opportunity Master Fund are "controlled completely" by Defendants Schepis and Canelas.62
• Defendants Schepis and Canelas control the Cayman Defendants "by virtue of their positions as two of [their] three board members."63
• "At all relevant times, Schepis and Canelas were the sole owners, managers, and controlling principals of the Debtor and a set of interrelated enmeshed entities, which Defendants have described in various court filings as a 'unitary enterprise' known as the 'Pursuit Hedge Fund.' "64
• Defendants, including the Cayman Defendants, were "at all relevant times, owned and/or controlled by Defendants Schepis and Canelas and were used by Schepis and Canelas as their alter egos and instrumentalities."65
• Schepis has testified in other litigation that "the Pursuit Hedge Fund and its component entities were, for all intents and purposes, 'Anthony Schepis and Frank Canelas.' "66
• "[A]ll non-individual Defendants are part of the 'Pursuit Hedge Fund,' a self-described 'unitary enterprise' of related entities under the control of two individuals, Defendants Frank Canelas and Anthony Schepis. The entities making up the Pursuit Hedge Fund were, at all relevant times, owned and/or controlled by Defendants Schepis and Canelas and were used by Schepis and Canelas as their alter egos and instrumentalities."67
These allegations, taken as true and accorded all reasonable inferences, lead me to conclude that Plaintiffs have made the prima facie showing necessary to withstand the Cayman Defendants' facial attack on the Complaint. The allegations that each Cayman Defendant maintains its principal office in Connecticut (and, at the same address as other non-individual Defendants), that Schepis and Canelas, Connecticut residents, are two of the three members of the board of directors, and that Schepis and Canelas completely control the Cayman Defendants, support a conclusion that Connecticut is where all decisions are made.
For this reason, the Motion to Dismiss the Cayman Defendants based on personal jurisdiction is denied.
B. Plaintiffs Have Standing to Assert the Causes of Action in the Complaint
(i) The Three-Day Notice Period in the Sale Order Does Not Serve as a Basis to Dismiss the Complaint at This Stage of the Proceedings
The Sale Order imposed a notice obligation on Plaintiffs prior to commencing certain causes of action. It provides:
ORDERED, that the Agreement is modified as follows: except with respect to the UBS Claim and the Insider Avoidance Action, the [Plaintiffs] will provide the Trustee with three business days notice before commencing any action in the Bankruptcy Court on behalf of the Debtor asserting claims that were not referenced in the Debtor's bankruptcy schedules. If the Trustee objects to the assertion of any such claim, then the [Plaintiffs] shall obtain an Order from the bankruptcy court before commencing any such action in the Bankruptcy Court. The standard for asserting such claims will be the 'colorable claim' standard set forth in the Third Circuit's Cybergenics case,330 F.3d 548 , provided, however, that only the Trustee shall have standing to object. With respect to the UBS Claim, the [Plaintiffs] may pursue such non-scheduled claims without following the procedure described above, provided that the relief requested in such action will not result in the Debtor and/or tire Estate or the Trustee being re-installed as a general partner of any of the Pursuit Funds, other than for the limited purpose of collecting funds it is due, including without limitation any incentive *651fee or carried interest, If the proposed action requests such relief, then the [Plaintiffs] shall follow the procedure for non-scheduled claims ....69
Defendants argue that Counts IV-XI should be dismissed for lack of standing because Plaintiffs did not plead in the Complaint that they complied with the Sale Order's three-day notice requirement.
Initially, it is not clear that Defendants are in a position to enforce the obligation contained in the Sale Order as, by its terms, it is an obligation running to Trustee.
But, assuming for the sake of argument that the three-day notice requirement implicates some type of standing, I will treat this aspect of the Motion to Dismiss as one for summary judgment and permit Defendants to take discovery on the issue raised in the Reilly Declaration.
*652For the reasons stated, I will deny the Motion to Dismiss on this ground as to Counts IV-XI. The request that Counts I-III be dismissed as a sanction is denied as Defendants have stated no basis on which any sanction is warranted much less the draconian sanction they request.
(ii) Plaintiffs Have Statutory Standing to Commence This Adversary Proceeding
Defendants move to dismiss Counts I-III on the basis that Trustee could not sell the fraudulent conveyance actions as they were not property of the estate, nor could Trustee sell his avoidance powers. Distilled to its essence, Defendants contend that in a chapter 7 case only the trustee may bring a fraudulent conveyance action. Both § 548(a)(1)
Plaintiffs respond that neither the Bankruptcy Code nor Third Circuit precedent prohibits the sale of fraudulent transfer actions. They contend that the holding in Cybergenics I does not address the ability of a trustee to sell fraudulent conveyance claims. And, relying on Cybergenics II , Plaintiffs argue that a bankruptcy court has equitable power to permit the sale of fraudulent transfer claims and their prosecution by non-trustees. Plaintiffs also distinguish Defendants' cases, but, unfortunately, do not provide an affirmative analysis for the proposition that avoidance actions are property of the estate or provide a roadmap for how to use the court's equitable powers to permit non-trustees to bring the claims in the instant scenario.
Because the parties base much of their argument on Cybergenics I and II , I will analyze those cases in detail as they merit a close examination and suggest an appropriate outcome.
*653The Third Circuit's Cybergenics Decisions
(a) Cybergenics I
In Cybergenics I , a creditors' committee in a chapter 11 case sought court approval to bring a derivative action on the estate's behalf to recover a fraudulent conveyance after the debtor refused to do so. Would-be defendants opposed the committee's motion arguing that the fraudulent conveyance claims had been sold as part of a § 363 sale earlier in the Cybergenics bankruptcy case. The bankruptcy court granted the committee's request. It did not, however, decide at that time whether the claims had been previously sold. In due course, the creditors' committee filed a complaint in the district court asserting state-law based fraudulent conveyance claims through § 544(b) ; the defendants moved to dismiss on the same grounds. The district court granted the motion to dismiss ruling that the claims were property of the estate that had been previously sold in the § 363 sale.
On appeal, the Third Circuit reversed. In order to answer the question of whether the fraudulent conveyance claims had been sold in the earlier § 363 sale, the Third Circuit started with the sale order and the agreement at issue. This review revealed that the sale was of "all assets of Cybergenics as debtor and debtor in possession."
(b) Cybergenics II
The Third Circuit having ruled that the claims were not sold, the underlying fraudulent conveyance action proceeded. On remand, the defendants filed another motion to dismiss, which included an argument based on the Supreme Court's decision in Hartford Underwriters
While on the surface, the issue in Cybergenics II appeared to be the same as in Hartford Underwriters ,
Because a committee sought to prosecute the action, the Third Circuit's textual analysis begins with the role of creditors' committees in a chapter 11 case. Analyzing §§ 1109(b)
For "more direct insight into bankruptcy courts' powers,"
• § 503(b)(3)(B) permits creditors, with court authorization, to prosecute causes of action on behalf of debtors because it would be nonsensical to permit reimbursement to a creditor who recovers transferred property if standing to recover is limited exclusively to the trustee;98
• § 503(b)(3)(B) derives from section 64(a)(1) of the Bankruptcy Act of 1898, which courts interpreted to authorize derivative standing with the approval of the trustee or court, which served a gatekeeping function, and § 503(b)(3)(B) continues that policy;99
• courts interpreting § 503(b)(3)(B) have consistently held that this section does not confer standing to creditors, but "merely allows the recovery of expenses incurred in actions that a creditor has a direct right to bring;"100
• even if § 503(b)(3)(B) confers standing to commence an action, it confers such standing only on "a creditor"-not a creditors' committee.101
After considering these arguments, the Third Circuit determined that the "most natural reading of § 503(b)(3)(B) is that it recognizes and rewards monetarily the practice of permitting creditors' committees, with court authorization, to pursue *656derivative actions."
Congress intended that fraudulent conveyances be recovered in order to maximize the value of the estate, and vested in the trustee the power and duty to bring such actions in order to achieve that goal.
Application to the Instant Matter
Per Cybergenics I , I look to the Sale Order and the Agreement to determine what was ordered and what relief Trustee and Plaintiffs were granted. Here, the Order approves the Agreement. Under the Agreement, all of the right, title and interest of Debtor, Trustee and the Estate to the claims and Debtor's books and records were sold, transferred and conveyed, to Plaintiffs. Unlike in Cybergenics I , therefore, the sale here included a much broader range of assets: assets owned by Debtor, assets of the Estate and Trustee's interests in those assets. But, as the Agreement is multi-faceted, it also does more. It settles the New York Action by dismissal. And, it also specifically authorizes Plaintiffs to bring the claims that were conveyed "on behalf of the bankruptcy Estate" with any net recoveries to be property of the estate and distributed in accordance with the Bankruptcy Code.
At the sale hearing, I did not deconstruct the Agreement-in either my analysis, my approval or the Order. Plaintiffs did not seek separate rulings on the different aspects of the Agreement, nor did Defendants suggest that different standards should be used for each component. Rather, I approved the Agreement as a whole using a § 363 sale standard. This is not surprising given (i) the requirement in the Agreement that approval be sought under § 363, (ii) the focus on the auction process and (iii) the single, unallocated, consideration paid by the purchaser under the Agreement.
(a) On the Briefing in this Case, I Will Not Decide Whether the Avoidance Actions are Property of the Estate or Whether they Can be Sold.
Contrary to Defendants' position, the Third Circuit has not determined whether avoidance actions are property of the estate or whether such claims or a trustee's right to pursue avoidance actions can be sold. As set forth above, Cybergenics I did *657not decide either of these matters as the agreement at issue did not purport to sell either. But, in dicta , the Court does posit that if property of the estate were at issue, the Court would not change its conclusion.
But, neither Plaintiffs nor Defendants did an analysis under § 541 or § 363, or any other provision of the Bankruptcy Code to determine whether avoidance actions are property of the estate, or whether they may be sold. Nor did either party discuss any potential differences between state-law based claims and federal-law based claims or consider whether a trustee can sell whatever he may have of value even if it is not property of the estate.
(b) Derivative Standing Can Be Extended to Chapter 7 Cases
The import of Cybergenics II is that Hartford Underwriters is not a per se constraint on the ability of a nontrustee to act in instances where the Bankruptcy Code identifies the trustee as the actor as long as the nontrustee does not act unilaterally. Cybergenics II recognizes the ability of the court to permit a third party to employ the trustee's avoidance powers in appropriate circumstances, i.e. when the Code's envisioned scheme has broken down. Plaintiffs contend such circumstances exist here.
I conclude that Cybergenics II can be extended to cases under chapter 7 and that individual creditors may be permitted to assert avoidance actions in appropriate circumstances with court approval. While the Third Circuit has not yet applied its Cybergenics II rationale to other chapters, I find it equally applicable to chapter 7. First, § 503(b)(3)(B) applies in chapter 7.
Third, the court's equitable powers, recognized by Cybergenics II , exist in the chapter 7 context. As the Third Circuit stated, in enacting § 544, Congress expressed its intention that state-law based fraudulent conveyances be recovered in order to maximize the value of the estate.
Fourth, the public policy concerns underlying chapter 7 are consistent with the use of the court's equitable powers. Two primary goals of the Bankruptcy Code are to maximize the value of the estate for the benefit of creditors and to provide for the equality of treatment of creditors.
The Sixth Circuit has expressly recognized that it is appropriate for the court to use its equitable power to permit a nontrustee to prosecute avoidance actions in chapter 7 cases. In In re Trailer Source ,
Certain courts have rejected creditors' attempts to bring avoidance claims in chapter 7 cases.
The Cooper court rejects derivative standing in a chapter 7 case because it finds no textual basis for derivative standing in any provision of the Bankruptcy Code applicable to chapter 7.
While I do not disagree with some of the observations made by the Cooper court, I part ways in some significant aspects. First, Cybergenics II is the law of the Circuit and provides the textual basis, together with the use of a court's equitable powers, for derivative standing. Second, the Cooper court does not fully account for the situation sub judice -a chapter 7 trustee who has determined it is in the best interest of the estate to sell and/or otherwise permit a creditor to prosecute a cause of action because he has no funds to do so. In no sense is this a hijacking of a bankruptcy case or a derogation of a chapter 7 trustee's fiduciary duty. Indeed, the trustee here is administering this asset by finding a way to monetize it; he was not neutral or absent, and did not object to the sale. Trustee held an auction, obtained a favorable price, and successfully defended the sale to the Third Circuit. No one is usurping his role. Third, the option that a creditor should fund the trustee's pursuit of the litigation is not always a viable option. Finally, and particularly with respect to state-law based fraudulent conveyance actions, creditors should not be left worse off in a chapter 7 scenario. As the Cybergenics I court held, outside of bankruptcy such actions belong to creditors. If a chapter 7 trustee has no funds to pursue such an action and a creditor is willing to do so, the bankruptcy court should be able to determine, on a case-by-case basis, whether to permit it. Here, Trustee did his job and asked the court to approve the Agreement.
In Cybergenics II , the Third Circuit noted that fraudulent transfers present "a particularly vexing problem" in chapter 11 cases, but the court did not discount their importance in chapter 7 cases. While acknowledging the conflict of interest concerns in chapter 11 cases where a debtor-in-possession remains in management, the court also recognized the concern of a debtor-in-possession too weak financially to advocate for itself. In each of these situations, the Third Circuit observed that "the real losers are the unsecured creditors whose interests avoidance actions are designed to protect."
(c) The Sale Order Granted Plaintiffs Derivative Standing; Alternatively, Derivative Standing is Granted, Nunc Pro Tunc , to the Commencement of the Adversary Proceeding
Having determined that derivative standing may be extended to chapter 7 cases, a question remains: did my prior approval of Plaintiff's prosecution of the Avoidance Actions employ a permissible standard? In Cybergenics II , the Third Circuit did not establish procedures the bankruptcy court should follow to allow a creditor to sue derivatively, but as part of its textual analysis the Court cited to cases in the Second Circuit and Seventh Circuit.
[W]e hold that a creditors' committee may sue on behalf of the debtors, with the approval and supervision of a bankruptcy court, not only where the debtor in possession unreasonably fails to bring suit on its claims, but also where the trustee or the debtor in possession consents.141
And, the Court cited Fogel v. Zell
If a trustee unjustifiably refuses a demand to bring an action to enforce a colorable claim of a creditor, the creditor may obtain the permission of the bankruptcy court to bring the action in place of, and in the name of, the trustee .... In such a suit, the creditor corresponds to the shareholder, and the trustee to management, in a shareholder derivative action.143
As is evident, these standards are not identical and the Commodore requirement is a lesser standard than the Fogel requirement.
My approval of the Agreement using the § 363 standard clearly meets the Commodore standard for derivative standing. In using the § 363 standard I concluded that a sound business judgment existed for the sale, there was fair notice, and the purchaser acted in good faith. As part of my ruling, I also concluded that Trustee's entry into the Agreement was a sound exercise of his business judgment. My ruling as well as the evidence to support it clearly reflects the Trustee's consent. And, as the Sale Order provides that any settlement of the Avoidance Claims will be submitted to the bankruptcy court for approval under a Rule 9019 standard, some measure of court supervision was maintained over the prosecution of the action. Because the *664Commodore requirements for derivative standing were met as part of the approval of the Agreement, the effect of the entry of the Sale Order under the Commodore standard was to grant Plaintiffs derivative standing.
My approval of the Agreement using the § 363 standard, however, did not require me to consider if the claim to be prosecuted is "colorable," as required under the Fogel standard. In this aspect, the Fogel standard comports closely with the three-part test for derivative standing generally employed by district courts and bankruptcy judges within the Third Circuit. This test asks whether: "(i) the [trustee] has unjustifiably refused to pursue the claim or refused to consent to the moving party's pursuit of the claim on behalf of the [estate]; (ii) the moving party has alleged colorable claims; and (iii) the moving party has received leave to sue from the bankruptcy court."
The first prong of the derivative standing standard is met because Trustee consented *665to Plaintiffs' prosecution of the Avoidance Actions. The third prong of the standard is met because Plaintiffs have received permission from the court to sue. This leaves only the second prong of the standard-whether the Avoidance Actions are colorable.
A claim is colorable if it would survive a motion to dismiss.
Moreover, based on the allegations in Counts I-III, it is easy to conclude the claims are colorable. Plaintiffs allege, among other things, that in violation of representations made by counsel for Defendants, incentive fees owing to Debtor were transferred from the Capital Fund to Debtor and then into the personal accounts of Schepis and Mr. and Mrs. Canelas, and the transfers were made in secret, for no consideration and for no valid purpose.
In hindsight, it may have been better to have judged the Agreement under three standards: the § 363 standard with respect to the sale of the non-avoidance causes of action,
C. The Doctrine of Champerty Does Not Deprive Plaintiffs of Standing
In the Supplemental Briefing, Defendants raise for the first time the doctrine of champerty as a reason why Plaintiffs cannot prosecute each of the claims asserted in the Complaint.
Defendants argue that the Agreement is champertous because Trustee "expressed that he lacks the wherewithal and is not disposed to bring the causes of action"
Further, Plaintiffs are not strangers to these causes of action or to the parties involved. Plaintiffs are creditors of Debtor whose claims at the moment are "deemed allowed" as no objections to their proofs of claims have been filed.
Moreover, as discussed above, § 503(b)(3)(B) of the Bankruptcy Code independently authorizes recovery of expenses should Plaintiffs recover "property transferred or concealed by the debtor." Congress contemplated that creditors would be engaged in litigation seeking to recover on debtor's claims. Congress's decision to explicitly approve recovery of expenses for such an action is an indication that Plaintiffs, as creditors of the estate, are not strangers to the subject matter of this litigation.
The Motion to Dismiss because the Agreement is champertous is denied.
II. The Limited Partnership Agreements Compel Arbitration of Claims IV-X Against the Feeder Funds and Northeast Capital Management
Defendants request that I dismiss this case in favor of arbitration, or that any non-arbitrable claims be stayed pending arbitration.
If the complaint, and the documents it relies on, make clear that a party's claims "are subject to an enforceable arbitration clause, a motion to compel arbitration should be considered under a Rule 12(b)(6) standard without discovery's delay."
*668
Here, the Complaint does not refer to or attach an arbitration agreement nonetheless, the Complaint invokes specific provisions of and duties created by the limited partnership agreements that govern the Capital Fund and the Opportunity Fund.
Any controversy between the partnership and any partner or between any party hereto arising out of or relating to this agreement or the breach thereof shall be settled exclusively by arbitration in accordance with the rules then in effect of the commercial division of the American Arbitration Association, The venue of such arbitration shall be New York, New York.174
*669The limited partnerships agreements are unsigned.
Plaintiffs maintain that the arbitration provisions are not applicable because none of Defendants are parties to the limited partnership agreements and thus cannot invoke the arbitration clauses.
Plaintiffs' argument that no Defendant is a party to one of the limited partnership agreements is incorrect. Under Delaware law, "a limited partnership is not required to execute its partnership agreement."
*670But, Defendants' argument that the remainder of the Defendants should be able to enforce an arbitration provision in an agreement to which they are not expressly a party is unpersuasive. Defendants have not cited to any cases to support that position nor expressed a policy reason why that should be the case. The only argument they make is that Plaintiffs' allegations of unitary enterprise should be imported into this context. The merit of Plaintiffs' unitary enterprise theory is not before me at this phase of the litigation and neither party has fully addressed the theory's application to the facts of this case.
As for the SDNY court's decision sending another lawsuit to arbitration, it is not res judicata for the simple reason that it is not a final judgment. In the SDNY Action, Plaintiffs, in their individual capacities, sued certain Defendants here, Schepis, Mr. and Mrs. Canelas and Northeast Capital. In their motion to dismiss in that case, the defendants argued, among other things, that the SDNY Action was barred by a previous arbitration proceeding. In an Opinion and Order issued in May 2016,
Having reviewed the arbitration provision and the parties bound by it, I conclude that Counts IV-X against Defendant Capital Fund, Defendant Opportunity Fund and Defendant Northeast Capital Management are subject to arbitration.
*671Counts IV-X are based on Debtor's prepetition state law claims acquired by Plaintiffs in the sale process. According to Plaintiffs' Complaint, Debtor was the general partner of the Capital Fund and the Opportunity Fund. The arbitration clauses in both limited partnership agreements mandate arbitration of "any controversy" between "the partnership" and "any partner" or between "any party" "arising out of or relating to" the limited partnership agreement or the breach of the agreement. Debtor is both a party to each limited partnership agreement as well as a partner in each limited partnership. Further, Plaintiffs did not argue that Counts IV-X are not within the scope of the arbitration provision. Thus, based on the arbitration clause in the limited partnership agreements, I will grant the request to compel arbitration as to Counts IV-X against the Capital Fund, the Opportunity Fund and Northeast Capital Management.
As to Counts I-III and XI, the result is different. Counts I-III seek to set aside various transfers under actual and constructive fraudulent conveyance theories brought under the Bankruptcy Code and through importation of state law, and thus those claims must remain in this Court. Fraudulent transfer actions, whether brought under § 544(b) or § 548, do not belong to a debtor; "[t]hey are creatures of statute, available in bankruptcy solely for the benefit of creditors of the debtor, whose rights the trustee enforces."
The final issue is whether to grant Defendants' request to stay any non-arbitrable claims pending arbitration.
Plaintiffs have a right to litigate their fraudulent transfer claims (Counts I-III) and turnover claim (Count XI) against all Defendants. The prosecution of these counts will not be stayed. The fraudulent conveyance counts assert that Debtor transferred funds or assets that it received or had a right to receive with the actual intent to harm its creditors or in exchange for no value. These claims are not based on the limited partnership agreement and there could be actionable claims even if certain actions taken by Defendants comported with the limited partnership agreements. The turnover action seeks to obtain the Debtor's books and records in the possession of other parties.
As to the remaining counts, I will stay prosecution of Counts VI (Breach of Contract), VII (Conversion) and IX (Unjust Enrichment). In these counts, Plaintiffs seeks to recover fees allegedly owed to Debtor under the Capital Fund LPA and the Opportunity Fund LPA and redress for the removal of Debtor as general partner of those partnerships. Recovery for these alleged wrongs are directly impacted by relevant provisions of the limited partnership agreement and are directed, in the first instance, at the Capital Fund and the Opportunity Fund.
On the other hand, I will not stay prosecution of Counts IV (Breach of Fiduciary Duty), Count V (Breach of the Fiduciary Duty of Loyalty), Count VIII (Aiding and Abetting Breaches of Fiduciary Duty) and Count X (Accounting). In the first three of these counts, Plaintiffs allege that Debtor's managers, Schepis and Canelas (as well as the remaining Defendants, which they controlled), breached their fiduciary duties to the Debtors or aided and abetted the breaches of others. These alleged breaches are not based on provisions of the Capital Fund LPA or the Opportunity Fund LPA, but on fiduciary obligations arising under state law and/or Debtor's limited liability company agreement.
To summarize, I will compel arbitration of Counts IV-X against the Capital Fund, the Opportunity Fund and Northeast Capital Management. I will stay prosecution of Counts VI, VII and IX against all other Defendants. I will not stay prosecution of Counts IV, V, VIII and X against all other Defendants. Counts I-III and XI may proceed against all Defendants.
III. The Exculpation Provisions in the Limited Partnership Agreement Do Not Compel Dismissal of the Complaint
Defendants argue that Plaintiffs' breach of fiduciary duty claims (Counts IV, V, and VIII) fail to state a claim on which relief can be granted because of the exculpation provisions in the limited partnership *673agreements.
The exculpation clauses in the limited partnership agreements, which are identical, provide that:
The General Partner and its respective officers, partners, shareholders, directors, members, managers, agents, employees and Affiliates shall not be personally liable to the Partnership or the Limited Partners for any act of commission or omission, except if the General Partner or its respective officers, partners, shareholders, directors, members, managers, agents, employees or Affiliates are guilty of fraud, willful misconduct or gross negligence.200
By its terms, therefore, the general partner is on the receiving end of exculpation from the partnership and limited partners. Plaintiffs' claims here present the reverse situation. Neither partnership (Capital Fund or Opportunity Fund) is suing the general partner (Debtor) or any of Debtors' shareholders, managers, etc. Indeed, Capital Fund and Opportunity Fund are not suing any party. Rather, Plaintiffs are suing on Debtor's claims, in other words, bringing the claims of the General Partner against the Partnership. There is no exculpation running in that direction.
Further, even if the exculpation clauses covered Plaintiffs' claims, Plaintiffs' claims arguably fall within the exception. Counts IV, V, and VIII allege breach of fiduciary duty, breach of loyalty, and aiding and abetting breaches of fiduciary duty respectively. The exculpation clause carves out claims for fraud, willful misconduct, and gross negligence. Under Delaware law, "[g]ross negligence is the standard for evaluating a breach of the duty of care,"
The Motion to Dismiss based on the exculpation clause is denied.
IV. None of Defendants' Remaining Arguments Warrant Dismissal of the Complaint
Defendants seek to dismiss the complaint on multiple other grounds. Some of the discussion of these remaining grounds is little more than a paragraph, or even a sentence. I address certain of the remaining arguments below. I deny the Motion to Dismiss to the extent that it is based on any remaining argument that is not discussed.
1. Non-Core Claims. Defendants argue that Counts I-X are non-core claims and thus I may not enter a final order on those claims. Defendants are not contesting subject matter jurisdiction. Defendants are exercising their right to not consent to entry of final judgments by the bankruptcy court on any non-core claims. This matter does not require a determination of the core/non-core status of Plaintiffs' claims, and I leave that analysis for another day.
2. Cayman Law on Derivative Suits. In their Opening Brief, Defendants contend that all claims must be dismissed against all Cayman Defendants because Cayman Islands law prohibits derivative shareholder suits,
After reviewing the briefing and the transcript of the argument, I conclude that Defendants' contentions with respect to derivative standing are too imprecise, and my attempt to ferret out the contentions at argument was unsuccessful. Defendants' request for dismissal on this basis will be denied.
3. Failure to State a Claim Upon Which Relief Can Be Granted. Defendants argue that Counts IV and V must be dismissed for failure to state a claim for breach of fiduciary duty and that Count VIII must be dismissed for failure to state a claim for aiding and abetting a breach of fiduciary duty. The arguments directed to Counts IV and V comprise two paragraphs and are based on the exculpation clause in the limited partnership agreements and on a general statement that Plaintiffs have not alleged that Debtor, as general partner, "is an investor in or creditor[ ] of any *675of the corporate entities ...."
Defendants' arguments directed to Count VIII largely repeat arguments already dealt with in this section and those requests will be denied for the same reasons.
Defendants argue that Count IX must be dismissed because a claim for unjust enrichment cannot stand in the face of an express contract. The express contracts Defendants refer to are the limited partnership agreements. Plaintiffs are entitled to plead in the alternative, and Defendants have raised no other basis for dismissal of this count.
For all these reasons, Defendants' request for dismissal because Counts IV, V, VIII and IX fail to state a claim upon which relief can be granted will be denied.
4. Judicial Estoppel. Defendants argue that the doctrine of judicial estoppel prevents Plaintiffs from taking a position in this lawsuit that is contrary to a position taken by Alpha Beta Capital Partners, L.P. in its case against Pursuit Investment Management LLC in Connecticut state court.
The doctrine of judicial estoppel prevents "a litigant from asserting a position that is inconsistent with one he or she previously took before a court or agency."
Conclusion
An Order will enter consistent with the above rulings.
Defendants' Motion to Dismiss Complaint on Jurisdictional Grounds, April 29, 2016, D.I. 7 ("Motion to Dismiss"); Defendants' Opening Brief in Support of Their Motion to Dismiss Complaint on Jurisdictional Grounds, April 29, 2016, D.I. 8 ("Defendants' Opening Brief"); Declaration of Daniel N. Brogan in Support of Defendants' Motion to Dismiss Complaint on Jurisdictional Grounds, April 29, 2016, D.I. 9 ("Brogan Declaration"). All references to docket items are to the adversary proceeding unless otherwise noted.
Plaintiffs' Brief in Opposition to Defendants' Motion to Dismiss Complaint on Jurisdictional Grounds, May 31, 2016, D.I. 26 ("Plaintiffs' Answering Brief"); Declaration of Wendy B. Reilly, Esq. in Support of Plaintiffs' Brief in Opposition to Defendants' Motion to Dismiss Complaint on Jurisdictional Grounds, May 31, 2016, D.I. 27 ("Reilly Declaration"); Defendants' Reply Brief in Support of Their Motion to Dismiss Complaint on Jurisdictional Grounds, June 14, 2016, D.I. 28 ("Defendants' Reply Brief in Support of Motion to Dismiss").
See Claridge Assocs., LLC v. Schepis (In re Pursuit Capital Mgmt., LLC) , No. 14-10610 (LSS), Adv. Proc. No. 16-50083 (LSS),
See Schepis v. Burtch (In re Pursuit Capital Mgmt., LLC) ,
All facts contained in this Opinion are taken from the Complaint (D.I. 1), except as noted, and are presumed to be true as required on a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, and as discussed more fully below with respect to the portions of the motion brought under another subsection of Rule 12.
As Ruth Canelas is not alleged to have a management position within the Pursuit Hedge Fund, but rather to be the recipient of certain transfers from Debtor, in this opinion "Canelas" or "Defendant Canelas" will refer to Frank Canelas except where otherwise specified.
This background comes from Alpha Beta Capital Partners, LP v. Pursuit Inv. Mgmt., LLC , Connecticut Superior Court, judicial district of Stamford/Norwalk, Docket No. X08 FST CV 15-5014970-S,
Pursuit Investment Mgmt., LLC v. Alpha Beta Capital Partners, L.P. , Index No. 652457/2013 (Supreme Court of the State of New York).
Trustee's Motion for an Order Approving Agreement to Settle, Transfer and Assign Certain Claims, Rights and Interests, Mar. 2, 2015, Main Case D.I. 66.
Agreement to Settle Transfer and Assign Certain Claims, Rights and Interests, Mar. 2, 2015, Main Case D.I. 66 Ex. B.
Harris, O'Brien, St. Laurent & Chaudhry LLP and Reed Smith LLP, who were sued by Debtor in the New York Action are also parties to the agreement. Their involvement is not central to this Opinion and will not be mentioned further.
Later renamed the Insider Avoidance Claim in the final version of the agreement.
Objection to Trustee's Motion for an Order Approving Agreement to Settle, Transfer and Assign Certain Claims, Rights and Interests, Mar. 12, 2015, Main Case D.I. 67 ("Preliminary Objection").
Paragraphs 2 and 3 of the Agreement would, if approved, purport to enable the [Plaintiffs] to take action solely for their benefit while using the avoidance powers (referred to as "Debtor Claims" in the Agreement) vested by the Bankruptcy Code solely and exclusively with a bankruptcy trustee.
While such a transfer might be contemplated in a Chapter 11 case (see11 U.S.C. § 1123 (a)(5) and (6) ), Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code, neither envisions nor contemplates any successor to or assignee of the bankruptcy trustee with respect to any avoidance actions "assigned by" a chapter 7 trustee.
At the conclusion of the auction, Plaintiffs were the only bidder, Defendants having withdrawn their last bid. After some post-auction wrangling, and a request by Defendants to re-open the auction, I declined that invitation and entertained Trustee's request to grant the Sale Motion.
Hr'g Tr., Aug. 10, 2015, Main Case D.I. 196.
Hr'g Tr. 14:11-18, Aug. 17, 2015, Main Case D.I. 187. In response to a question, I also stated: "the intent is to preserve any and all defenses that the [Objecting Defendants] have to raise in this court or any other court."
Hr'g Tr. 15:14-15, Aug. 17, 2015.
Certification of Counsel, Aug. 26, 2015, Main Case D.I. 189.
See
Order Approving Agreement to Settle, Transfer and Assign Certain Claims, Rights and Interests, Aug. 28, 2015, Main Case D.I. 190 ("Sale Order"). The Sale Order also provided that except with respect to the Insider Avoidance Action and the UBS Claim, Plaintiffs were to give Trustee three business days notice before commencing an action not referenced in Debtor's bankruptcy schedules. See discussion infra Part I.B.(i).
See Certification of Counsel, Main Case D.I. 189 Ex. C.
Sale Order 2.
The language proposed by the Claridge Group and Alpha Beta reads:
ORDERED, that all rights, claims and defenses that maybe raised or asserted by the Pursuit Parties with respect to the UBS Litigation, the UBS Claim, the Debtor's Clams, the Insider Avoidance Claims and/or the Indemnification Claims, including, without limitation, any right to challenge standing or jurisdiction, are expressly reserved and preserved, provided further, however, for the avoidance of doubt (if any), the releases, rights and/or obligations under the Agreement are not modified or diminished in any way by this reservation ....
Certification of Counsel, Main Case D.I. 189 Ex. D.
Pursuit Parties v. Burtch (In re Pursuit Capital Mgmt., LLC) , No. 14-10610 LSS, Civ. No. 15-801-RGA,
Id. at *3 (citation omitted).
In re Pursuit Capital Mgmt. ,
Plaintiffs were authorized by Alpha Beta and the Estate of Lenonard Schneider to bring the claims on their behalf. Complaint ¶ 8.
Count I-Fraudulent Transfer of $645,571 under §§ 548(a)(1)(A) & (B), 544, 550; Count II-Fraudulent Transfer of Debtor's interest in the UBS settlement under §§ 548(a)(1)(A) & (B), 544, 550, Count III-Fraudulent Transfer of Funds Subject to a Judgment for Money Damages under
Plaintiffs' Supplemental Brief in Opposition to Defendants' Motion to Dismiss Complaint on Jurisdictional Grounds, Jan. 24, 2017, D.I. 58 ("Plaintiffs' First Supplemental Brief"); Supplemental Brief in Support of Defendants' Motion to Dismiss Complaint on Jurisdictional Grounds, Jan. 24, 2017, D.I. 59 ("Defendants' First Supplemental Brief"); Defendants' Response to Plaintiffs' Supplemental Brief in Opposition to Defendants' Motion to Dismiss Complaint on Jurisdictional Grounds, Feb. 7, 2017, D.I. 66 ("Defendants' Second Supplemental Brief"); Plaintiffs' Brief in Response to Defendants' Supplemental Brief in Support of Defendants' Motion to Dismiss Complaint on Jurisdictional Grounds, Feb. 7, 2017, D.I. 67 ("Plaintiffs' Second Supplemental Brief").
See Ruhrgas AG v. Marathon Oil Co. ,
Defendants' Opening Brief 10-13.
Plaintiffs' Answering Brief 15.
See Carteret Sav. Bank, FA v. Shushan ,
Miller Yacht Sales, Inc. v. Smith ,
See Carteret Sav. Bank, FA ,
See Metcalfe v. Renaissance Marine, Inc. ,
See Miller Yacht Sales ,
Provident Nat'l Bank v. Cal. Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass'n ,
See AstroPower Liquidating Trust v. Xantrex Tech., Inc. (In re AstroPower Liquidating Trust) ,
Chavez v. Dole Food Co. ,
See
See
Goodyear Dunlop Tires Operations, S.A. v. Brown ,
Chavez ,
See
See, e.g. , Defendants' Opening Brief. See also Klingher v. Salci (In re Tandycrafts, Inc.) ,
Notwithstanding the argument that the flow of funds among the entities supported personal jurisdiction, at argument Plaintiffs acknowledged that there were no specific allegations in the Complaint detailing the flow of funds, suggesting that jurisdictional discovery could bring such conduct to light.
Hr'g Tr. 67:20-22, Nov. 30, 2016; see also Hr'g Tr. 68:22-23, Nov. 30, 2016 ("We alleged that they have their principal places of business in the U.S.").
Hr'g Tr. 72-73, Nov. 30, 2016.
Max Daetwyler Corp. v. Meyer ,
Hr'g Tr. 96, Nov. 30, 2016.
Hertz Corp. v. Friend ,
Hertz Corp. ,
Complaint ¶¶ 11-19.
Id. ¶¶ 9, 10.
Id. ¶¶ 15-16, 18-19.
Id. ¶¶ 16, 19.
Id. ¶¶ 15, 18.
Id. ¶ 2.
Id. ¶ 28.
Id. ¶ 33.
Id. ¶ 28.
Once a plaintiff establishes a prima facie case, "the burden shifts to the moving party to 'present a compelling case that the presence of some other considerations would render jurisdiction unreasonable and would make litigation so gravely difficult and inconvenient that a party unfairly is at a severe disadvantage in comparison to his opponent.' " In re Capmark ,
Sale Order 1-2. In their competing proposed form of sale order, Defendants did not suggest any proposed revisions to this provision. See Main Case D.I. 189.
Defendants' Opening Brief 10; Defendants' Reply Brief in Support of Motion to Dismiss 5-7.
Plaintiffs' Answering Brief 9.
Reilly Declaration ¶ 3.
Defendants' Motion to Strike Portions of the Declaration of Wendy B. Reilly, Esq. in Support of Plaintiffs' Brief in Opposition to Defendants' Motion to Dismiss Complaint on Jurisdictional Grounds, June 14, 2016, D.I. 29.
Trustee is aware of the lawsuit and has not petitioned the court for any relief.
The entirety of this argument in Defendants' Opening Brief is two paragraphs; no legal authority is cited. Plaintiffs' Answering Brief is no better, as it is one paragraph with no citation to legal authority.
Spokeo, Inc. v. Robins , --- U.S. ----,
See Reply in Support of Defendants' Motion to Strike Portions of the Declaration of Wendy B. Reilly, Esq. in Support of Plaintiffs' Brief in Opposition to Defendants' Motion to Dismiss Complaint on Jurisdictional Grounds ¶ 4 n.1, July 5, 2016, D.I. 34.
If, after inquiry, Defendants are not satisfied, they can submit appropriate declarations. And, because the briefs are devoid of any authority for the proposition that a breach of the Sale Order is a jurisdictional issue, I will also require further briefing.
Section 548(a)(1) provides in pertinent part: "[t]he trustee may avoid any transfer ... of an interest of the debtor in property, or any obligation ... incurred by the debtor, that was made or incurred on or within 2 years before the date of the filing of the petition ...."
Section 544(b)(1) provides in pertinent part: "the trustee may avoid any transfer of an interest of the debtor in property or any obligation incurred by the debtor that is voidable under applicable law by a creditor holding an unsecured claim that is allowable under section 502 of this title or that is not allowable only under section 502(e) of this title."
Official Comm. of Unsecured Creditors of Cybergenics Corp. v. Chinery ,
Defendants' First Supplemental Brief 2.
At oral argument on the Motion to Dismiss, Defendants sought to argue the statutory standing issue, but admitted the issues had not been briefed. Hr'g Tr. 36:9-38:21, 114:15-116:19, Nov. 30, 2016. I did not entertain argument at that time, but permitted supplemental briefing on statutory standing as well as whether Defendants' failure to raise that defense constituted a waiver or otherwise precluded Defendants from raising the defense. Plaintiffs contend that (i) the statutory standing argument was waived as it was not raised in the Opening Brief; (ii) that this defense is statutorily moot or an end run around the Sale Order; and (iii) Rule 12(g)(2) precludes multiple rounds of briefing on Rule 12 grounds. Plaintiffs' First Supplemental Brief. Defendants counter that (i) standing is an issue of subject-matter jurisdiction that can be raised at any time; (ii) § 363(m) and statutory mootness apply in the appeal context, not in this context; and (iii) in any event, the Sale Order preserved the standing defense. Defendants' Second Supplemental Brief. While Defendants should have raised and fully briefed the standing defense in the initial round of briefing, I will entertain the argument now. First, while statutory standing is not a subject matter jurisdiction defense, it is also not a defense that is waived if not raised in a Rule 12(b) motion to dismiss. Only defenses under Rule 12(b)(2) (lack of personal juris diction), Rule 12(b)(3) (improper venue), Rule 12(b)(4) (insufficient process) and Rule 12(b)(5) (insufficient service of process) are waived if not made in an initial motion to dismiss. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(h)(1). Other legal defenses, including statutory standing, may be made in an answer, a motion for judgment on the pleadings or at trial. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(h)(2). Second, Plaintiffs did not cite any case law that explores statutory mootness and/or § 363(m) in this or a similar context (i.e. where a sale order preserves defenses and assets are sold "as is where is"). The Tenth Circuit's decision in Search Mkt. Direct, Inc. v. Jubber (In re Paige) ,
Cybergenics I ,
Section 548 claims were not an issue in the case.
Hartford Underwriters Ins. Co. v. Union Planters Bank ,
The Third Circuit recognized a presumption of statutory interpretation. Cybergenics II ,
Cybergenics II ,
Id. at 553.
Section 1109(b) provides: "A party in interest, including the debtor, the trustee, a creditors' committee, an equity security holders' committee, a creditor, an equity security holder, or any indenture trustee, may raise and may appear and be heard on any issue in a case under this chapter."
Section 1103(c)(5) provides: "A committee appointed under section 1102 of this title may- ... (5) perform such other services as are in the interest of those represented."
Cybergenics II ,
Cybergenics II ,
Cybergenics I ,
Cybergenics I did not involve federal-law based avoidance actions.
For example, in Cybergenics I , the Third Circuit referenced Ninth Circuit cases that addressed either an express assignment of avoidance powers to third parties or concluded that § 544(b) powers were transferable to a creditor who purchased the estate's right to certain sale proceeds. Cybergenics I ,
See generally In re Ames Dep't Stores, Inc. ,
In re Pursuit Capital Mgmt., LLC ,
Plaintiffs hesitate to invoke derivative standing concepts because they believe there is an outright sale of the avoidance actions. But, Plaintiffs contend they meet the requirements for derivative standing. Plaintiffs' First Supplemental Brief; Plaintiffs' Second Supplemental Brief.
Defendants cite Weyandt v. Fed. Home Loan Mortg. Corp. (In re Weyandt) , 544 Fed. App'x 107 (3d Cir. 2013) and Knapper v. Bankers Trust Co. (In re Knapper) ,
Cybergenics II ,
Cybergenics II ,
5 Collier on Bankruptcy ¶ 548.01 (16th ed. 2016); see Official Comm. of Unsecured Creditors of Hechinger Inv. Co. of Del., Inc. v. Fleet Retail Fin. Grp. (In re Hechinger Inv. Co. of Del.) ,
Cybergenics II ,
See
In re Baker ,
Other chapters of the Bankruptcy Codes may have different and/or equally important goals. For example, one goal of an individual chapter 7 case is to provide a fresh start to an honest, but unfortunate debtor, by way of the grant of a discharge. See Marrama v. Citizens Bank of Mass. ,
In re Trailer Source, Inc. ,
See In re Rosenblum ,
Miller v. Stone (In re Waterford Funding, LLC) , Bankr. No. 09-22584, Adv. No. 11-2093,
Reed v. Cooper (In re Cooper) ,
The Cooper court does not definitively find a textual basis for derivative standing in chapter 11 cases, noting only that the textual basis in chapter 11 "would seem to be at least" §§ 1103(c)(5), 1109(b), and "most significantly" § 1123(b)(3)(B). To rely on these sections, however, would only appear to permit derivative standing pursuant to a confirmed plan.
Cybergenics II ,
Cybergenics II ,
In re Commodore Int'l Ltd. ,
Cybergenics II ,
Fogel v. Zell ,
Cybergenics II ,
In re Valley Media, Inc. ,
In re Optim Energy, LLC , No. 14-10262 (BLS),
The requirement that a bankruptcy court approve derivative standing prior to the filing of a derivative claim effectuates the bankruptcy court's role as gatekeeper with respect to derivative standing actions. In re Nat'l Forge Co. ,
In re Optim Energy, LLC ,
Defendants' Opening Brief 29-31.
Complaint ¶¶ 41-49.
Complaint ¶¶ 61-67.
The non-Avoidance Claims are property of the estate and may be sold under § 363. See 5 Collier on Bankruptcy ¶ 541.07 (16th ed. 2016) ("The estate created pursuant to section 541(a) includes causes of action belonging to the debtor at the time the case is commenced."); See Integrated Solutions, Inc. v. Service Support Specialties, Inc. ,
This is the standard for a settlement of a claim.
Harris Winsberg and Michele J. Kim, supra note 115 (discussing the various standards depending on the context in which avoidance actions are being considered: sale, settlement or a request for derivative standing as well as whether claim is being pursued (or not), and for whose benefit).
Defendants' First Supplemental Brief 13-15.
Charge Injection Techs., Inc. v. E.I. DuPont De Nemours & Co. , C.A. No. N07C-12-134-JRJ,
Hall v. Delaware ,
Street Search Partners, L.P. v. Ricon Int'l, L.L.C. , C.A. No. 04C-09-191-PLA,
See Hall ,
Defendants' First Supplemental Brief 14. The only cite for this assertion is to page 4 of the Settlement Agreement. Presumably, it is to the WHEREAS clause that states "the Estate currently has no funds with which to administer the Estate, let alone pursue the claims and litigation referenced hereinabove ...." Main D.I. 190 Ex. A, at 4.
See
See generally Southeastern Chester Cnty. Refuse Auth. v. BFI Waste Servs. of Penn., LLC , No. K14C-06-016 JJC,
Defendants' Opening Brief 17-24.
Guidotti v. Legal Helpers Debt Resolution, L.L.C. ,
§ 3.
§ 4.
Guidotti ,
Complaint at ¶ 14 ("The Capital Fund is comprised of limited partner investors and a controlling general partner who was entitled to twenty percent (20%) of profits pursuant to Section 4.02(a) of the Limited Partnership Agreement (the 'Capital Partnership Agreement') and to a management fee of one and a half percent (1.5%) of assets under management pursuant to Section 6.04 of the Capital Partnership Agreement. The Debtor was general partner of the Capital Fund until shortly before the Debtor filed for bankruptcy."); id. ¶¶ 26-27 ("The Capital Fund was governed by an Amended Limited Partnership Agreement (the 'Capital Partnership Agreement') entered into between limited partners of the Capital Fund and the Pursuit General Partner .... The Opportunity Fund was governed by a Limited Partnership Agreement (the 'Opportunity Partnership Agreement') entered into between limited partners of the Opportunity Fund and the Pursuit General Partner."); id. ¶¶ 123-125 ("As set forth above, the Debtor as general partner of the Feeder Funds was contractually entitled to carried interest and fees in its role as general partner. Debtor's rights to carried interest and fees were governed by the Limited Partnership Agreements for the Feeder Funds and other documents. In violation of those Limited Partnership Agreements, the Pursuit Hedge Fund has failed to distribute any proceeds from the UBS Action to the Debtor."). As the Third Circuit has ruled, if a complaint is based on an extrinsic document it is appropriate for me to consider that document on a motion to dismiss. In re Burlington Coat Factory Sec. Litig. ,
Pursuit Capital Management Fund I, L.P. Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement ("Capital Fund LPA"), Brogan Declaration Ex. A.
Pursuit Opportunity Fund I, L.P. Limited Partnership Agreement ("Opportunity Fund LPA"), Brogan Declaration Ex. B.
Capital Fund LPA Section 13.04, Brogan Declaration Ex. A, at 30; Opportunity Fund LPA Section 14.04, Brogan Declaration Ex. B, at 29.
While the limited partnership agreements are unsigned, Plaintiffs did not argue that they were not true and correct copies. Nor did Plaintiffs submit different versions of the limited partnership agreements nor state that they needed discovery to obtain the agreements.
Plaintiffs' Answering Brief 16. Plaintiffs do not argue that Debtor is not a party to the limited partnership agreements or that Plaintiffs, themselves, are not parties to the limited partnership agreements. Neither do Plaintiffs argue that the sale of the causes of action prevents Defendants from raising defenses that could be raised against Debtor.
Hr'g Tr. 32-34, Nov. 30, 2016.
Defendants' Reply Brief 11.
Id. at 19; Defendants' First Supplemental Brief 19-23; Defendants' Second Supplemental Brief 12-15. Defendants' theory of preclusion changes from their first brief to their last brief. In their Opening Brief, Defendants take the position that I should send the claims to arbitration. In their First Supplemental Brief, Defendants argue that because the SDNY Court sent the claims before it to arbitration, the doctrine of res judicata compels me to send the matter here to arbitration. In their Second Supplemental Brief, Defendants state (without citation to cases) that the relevant doctrine is judicial estoppel.
Del. Code Ann. tit. 6 § 17-101(12).
Capital Fund LPA at 1, Brogan Declaration Ex. A, at 1; Opportunity Fund LPA at 1, Brogan Declaration Ex. B, at 1.
Further, Defendants take exception to this categorization and point out that Plaintiffs have not asserted an alter ego or other veil piercing theories.
Defendants' Reply Brief in Support of Motion to Dismiss Ex. A (No. 1:15-cv-04514-KPF).
Id. at 25.
B & B Hardware, Inc. v. Hargis Indus., Inc. , --- U.S. ----,
The SDNY court recites that the initial motion filed in that case was a motion to dismiss or alternatively to compel arbitration. Plaintiffs initially responded that the SDNY court should compel arbitration. After some confusion and a call with the court, the parties were permitted to file revised papers. The defendants' amended motion to dismiss did not contain an additional request for arbitration, but contained an argument that the lawsuit was precluded by a prior arbitration decision. Defendants' Reply Brief in Support of Motion to Dismiss Ex. A, at 6-7, 21. Plaintiffs then argued that the defense of res judicata should be submitted to arbitration for decision. Id. at 21.
While it is not entirely clear that the arbitration provision was meant to cover suits between a former and successor general partner, technically both are parties to the limited partnership agreement although not contemporaneously.
In re AstroPower Liquidating Trust ,
In re AstroPower Liquidating Trust ,
Defendants' Opening Brief 23-24.
Hr'g Tr. 78:20-80:1, Nov. 30, 2016. See also Pardo v. Pacificare of Tex., Inc. (In re AFP Co.) ,
CTF Hotel Holdings, Inc. v. Marriott Int'l, Inc. ,
The Debtor's constituent documents have not been provided.
Defendants' Opening Brief contains several variations on this argument, including that Plaintiffs only alleged "generalized fiduciary duties based on breach of loyalty" instead of the specific exceptions for fraud, willful misconduct or gross negligence delineated in the limited partnership agreements, Defendants' Opening Brief 25; that Plaintiffs are not complying with proper rules for derivative lawsuits, id. at 26; that Northeast Capital Management replaced Debtor as the general partner of the funds and is the only party with the right to assert these claims, id. at 28; and that punitive damages are not available for breach of duty claims, id. None of these arguments appear in Defendants' Reply Brief.
Plaintiffs' Answering Brief 20-22.
Defendants' Reply Brief 16-18.
Capital Fund LPA Section 12.01 (emphasis added), Brogan Declaration Ex. A, at 28; Opportunity Fund LPA Section 13.01 (emphasis added), Brogan Declaration Ex. B, at 27-28.
Feeley v. NHAOCG, LLC ,
Defendants' Opening Brief 28-29.
Id. at 26.
Hr'g Tr. 109, Nov. 30, 2016.
See Action Auto Stores, Inc. v. United Capitol Ins. Co. ,
Defendants' Opening Brief 25-26.
Id. at 30-31.
Defendants' First Supplemental Brief 23-28.
Id. at 24.
Plaintiffs' Second Supplemental Brief 13-15.
Montrose Med. Grp. Participating Sav. Plan v. Bulger ,
Complaint ¶ 8.
Defendants' First Supplemental Brief Annex 1, at 4.
Defendants' Second Supplemental Brief 13.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- IN RE: PURSUIT CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC, Debtor. Claridge Associates, LLC, Jamiscott LLC, Leslie Schneider and Lillian Schneider Collectively as the Creditors, Transferees, and Assignees of the Estate of Pursuit Capital Management, LLC v. Anthony Schepis, Frank Canelas, Ruth Canelas, Northeast Capital Management, LLC, Pursuit Partners, LLC, Pursuit Investment Management, LLC, Pursuit Capital Management Fund I, L.P., Pursuit Capital Partners (Cayman) Ltd., Pursuit Capital Master (Cayman) Ltd., Pursuit Opportunity Fund I, L.P., Pursuit Opportunity Fund I, Ltd., and Pursuit Opportunity Fund I Master Ltd.
- Cited By
- 16 cases
- Status
- Published