State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection v. Caldeira
State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection v. Caldeira
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
On April 23, 1999, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) filed a complaint against the owners and operators of various solid waste public utility companies, the companies, and their related entities, under the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act, N.J.S.A. 25:2-20 to -34 (the Fraudulent Transfer Act or Act). Named as defendants are Joseph J. Caldeira, Jr. (Caldeira, Jr.), individually and as prior owner, operator, manager, director, officer and/or shareholder of Forcees, Inc. and Caldeira Brothers, Inc., Caldeira Brothers, Inc. (Caldeira Brothers), Joseph J. Caldeira, Sr. (Caldeira, Sr.), individually and as prior owner, operator, manager, director, officer and/or shareholder of Forcees, Inc., Caldeira Brothers and Southern Ocean Landfill, Inc., South
The appeal requires us to determine which limitation period applies to the filing of the DEP’s complaint brought under N.J.S.A. 25:2-25: the four-year/one-year time limitations in N.J.S.A. 25:2-31, or the ten-year limitations period in N.J.S.A. 2A:14H.2, the general statute of limitations for bringing actions against the State or its political subdivisions. If the ten-year period applies, the DEP’s action is not time-barred. If the four-year limitations period of N.J.S.A. 25:2-31 applies, then the action is time-barred, unless the DEP filed its complaint within four years after the date the challenged assets were transferred or one year from the date the transfers could reasonably have been discovered by the DEP.
The appeal arises from the grant of a motion to dismiss the complaint by defendants under R. 4:6-2(e). The judge treated the motion as one for summary judgment without objection by the parties. The following undisputed facts are derived from the documents submitted by the parties.
From 1965 until 1989, Caldeira, Sr. owned and operated Caldeira Brothers, a solid waste collection public utility company
In 1988, the landfill operated by SOLF had reached its permitted capacity and ceased accepting sanitary waste. Sometime thereafter, SOLF presented a closure plan to the DEP pursuant to the Landfill Facility Closure and Contingency Fund Act (the Closure Act), N.J.S.A. 13:1E-100 to -116.
In 1989, Caldeira, Sr. transferred 99% of his stock in Caldeira Brothers to his son, Caldeira, Jr. “[i]n consideration of the valuable services provided to [Caldeira Brothers] by [Caldeira, Jr.].” On December 22, 1989, the BPU issued an order approving the transfer. At the same time, Caldeira, Sr. transferred all of his
In 1991, Caldeira, Sr., on behalf of SOLF, and Caldeira. Jr., on behalf of Caldeira Brothers, entered into an agreement in which SOLF agreed to forgive a $600,000 indebtedness owed to it by Caldeira Brothers for tipping fees. In the same year, and, effective August 19, 1991, pursuant to Reorganization Plan No. 002-1991, N.J.S.A. 13:1D-1, the responsibilities for solid waste economic regulation, including responsibility for the oversight and administration of the escrow funds in the closure accounts for all landfills, were transferred from the BPU to the DEP.
On April 27, 1992, Caldeira, Sr. submitted a sworn “Personal History Disclosure Statement” to the DEP, Division of Solid Waste Management (the Division), A-901 unit, the Division’s licensing section. The statement reveals that Caldeira, Sr. was no longer the owner of Caldeira Brothers.
Other documents in the possession of the DEP reflect that on March 19, 1993, Caldeira, Jr. transferred his shares of stock in Forcees to Envirofil, Inc. in consideration of $822,000. A few months later, on August 5, 1993, he transferred the assets of Caldeira Brothers to Mid-Jersey Disposal Company, Inc. for $600,000. On February 28,1994, Envirofil, Inc. acquired the stock of Mid-Jersey Disposal Company, Inc. Defendant U.S.A. Waste acquired the stock in Envirofil, Inc. on May 27,1994.
On November 24, 1997, the DEP commenced an enforcement proceeding against SOLF and Caldeira, Sr., individually, and as owner and operator of SOLF. The same judge as was the motion judge in this fraudulent transfer action presided over the enforcement proceeding (the closure action). The DEP’s complaint in the closure action alleged that the spillage of leachate from the landfill was imminent, that the defendants improperly operated the landfill and failed to implement a closure and post-closure care plan for the landfill in violation of the Closure Act.
Thereafter, on December 8, 1997 and January 6, 1998, the parties entered into consent enforcement orders which required Caldeira, Sr. and SOLF to control and transport the leachate generated at the landfill that was threatening to spill over into the surrounding environment.
Approximately one year later, on April 23, 1999, the DEP commenced this fraudulent transfer action in the Law Division. As previously noted, in count one of its complaint, the DEP alleges that Caldeira, Sr. transferred his shares of Caldeira Brothers stock and Forcees stock to Caldeira, Jr., and that he forgave the Caldeira Brothers’ $600,000 debt to SOLF, with the intent to hinder, delay or defraud the DEP by divesting himself of the assets needed to satisfy his obligations under the Closure Act, contrary to N.J.S.A 25:2-25a. In count two of the complaint, the DEP alleges that the transfers were made by Caldeira, Sr. without receiving “reasonably equivalent value” for the property transferred, contrary to N.J.S.A 25:2-25b. The complaint seeks avoidance of- the transfers, an accounting, and delivery of all
The complaint also names U.S.A. Waste as a subsequent transferee, seeking to compel an accounting by that defendant “for any and all property received” and “for all proceeds arising from [the] transactions” described in the complaint. The complaint also seeks to escrow the proceeds in a DEP account. The complaint does not allege any culpable action by U.S.A. Waste.
Before filing answers to the complaint, defendants Caldeira, Sr., Caldeira, Jr., Caldeira Brothers, and U.S.A. Waste moved in the Law Division for an order pursuant to R. 4:6-2(e) dismissing the DEP’s complaint on the ground that the action was barred by the four-year statute of limitations set forth in N.J.S.A. 25:2-31. In addition, U.S.A. Waste sought a dismissal of the complaint on the ground that the complaint failed to state a claim against it upon which relief could be granted.
As previously noted, the record reflects that the parties did not contest the previously recited “facts” and essentially acquiesced in the judge’s treating the R. 4:6-2(e) motion as though it were a summary judgment motion.
On October 22, 1999, the motion judge dismissed the complaint as time-barred under N.J.S.A 25:2-31 against U.S.A. Waste and Caldeira, Jr. with respect to the transfer of ownership in Caldeira Brothers and the $600,000 debt forgiveness, but denied Caldeira, Jr.’s motion to dismiss as it related to the transfer of the Forcees stock.
On appeal, the DEP makes the following arguments:
POINT i
IT WAS ERROR FOR THE LOWER COURT TO DISMISS THE DEPARTMENT’S COMPLAINT AS AGAINST U.S.A WASTE AS THE COMPLAINT MORE THAN SUFFICIENTLY STATES A CLAIM UPON WHICH RELIEF MAYBE GRANTED.
POINT II
IT WAS ERROR FOR THE LOWER COURT TO APPLY THE FRAUDULENT CONVEYANCE ACT STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS TO THIS CLAIM AS THE TEN-YEAR STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS AS SET FORTH IN N.J.S.A 2A:14-1.2 GOVERNS.
POINT III
EVEN IF THE FRAUDULENT CONVEYANCE ACT’S FOUR-YEAR/ONE-YEAR STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS APPLIES TO THIS MATTER, IT WAS ERROR FOR THE LOWER COURT TO DISMISS THE STATE’S FRAUDULENT CONVEYANCE ACTIONS RELATED TO CALDEIRA BROTHERS,, BASED ON THE PRINCIPAL [sic] THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WOULD HAVE BEEN ON NOTICE OF THE TRANSACTIONS BECAUSE THE BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES APPROVED THEM.
On the cross-appeal, Caldeira, Sr. argues:
POINT i
THE FOUR YEAR STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS PROVIDED BY N.J.S.A 25:2-31 IS APPLICABLE TO ACTIONS INSTITUTED BY THE STATE OR ANY OF ITS POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS.
POINT II
THE TRIAL COURT WAS CORRECT IN DISMISSING THE FRAUDULENT CONVEYANCE ACTIONS RELATED TO CALDEIRA BROTHERS ON THE*213 GROUNDS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WAS ON NOTICE OF THE TRANSACTIONS. HOWEVER, THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FAILING TO DISMISS THE FRAUDULENT CONVEYANCE ACTIONS RELATED TO JOSEPH J. CALDEIRA, SR.
I.
We first address the issue of which statute of limitations applies to the DEP’s Fraudulent Transfer action, N.J.S.A. 25:2-31 or N.J.SA. 2A:14-1.2.
N.J.S.A. 25:2-31 provides, in pertinent part, that “[a] cause of action with respect to a fraudulent transfer or obligation ... is extinguished unless action is brought:”
a. Under subsection a of [N. J.S.A.] 25:2-25, within four years after the transfer ... or obligation . ., or if later, within one year after the transfer or obligation was or could reasonably have been discovered by the claimant;
b. Under subsection b. of IN./.SA] 25:2-25 .. within four years after the transfer was made or the obligation was incurred....
N.J.S.A 25:2-25 of the Fraudulent Transfer Act sets forth two types of fraudulent transfers from which a defrauded creditor may obtain relief: actual fraud, which is defined in subsection a, and constructive fraud, which is defined in subsection b.
A “creditor” is defined in the Fraudulent Transfer Act as “a person who has a claim.” N.J.SA 25:2-21. “Debtor” means “a person who is liable on a claim.” N.J.S.A. 25:2-21. “Person” is defined broadly and includes “government or governmental subdivision or agency____” N.J.SA 25:2-22. “Claim” means “a right to payment, whether or not the right is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured,
*213 A transfer made or obligation incurred by a debtor is fraudulent as to a creditor, whether the creditor's claim arose before or after the transfer was made or the obligation was incurred, if the debtor made the transfer or incurred the obligation:
a. With actual intent to hinder, delay, or defraud any creditor of the debtor; or
b. Without receiving a reasonably equivalent value in exchange for the transfer or obligation....
a. Except where a limitations provision expressly and specifically applies to actions commenced by the State or where a longer limitations period would otherwise apply, and subject to any statutory provisions or common law rules extending limitations periods, any civil action commenced by the State shall be commenced within ten years next after the cause of action shall have accrued.
* * * *
c. As used in this act, the term “State” means the State, its political subdivisions, any office, department, division, bureau, board, commission or agency of the State or one of its political subdivisions, and any public authority or public agency____
Prior to the passage of the general statute of limitations, the Supreme Court abrogated the doctrine of nullum tempus occurrit regi (“no time runs against the king”). N.J. Educ. Facilities v. Gruzen, 125 N.J. 66, 75, 592 A.2d 559 (1991). In response to the abrogation, the Legislature passed the ten-year limitations provision applicable to the State and its subdivisions. N.J.S.A 2A:14-1.2.
The DEP argues that the general ten-year statute of limitations set forth in N.J.S.A 2A:14-1.2 governs the time for filing its fraudulent transfer complaint. It maintains that the four-year limitations provision in the Fraudulent Transfer Act does not control its action brought under the Closure Act, and therefore it should not control its action to set aside the alleged fraudulent transfers of assets needed to properly close and care for the landfill.
Relying on our decisions in DEP v. Larchmont Farms, 266 N.J.Super. 16, 628 A.2d 761 (App.Div. 1993), State v. Cruz Constr.
In Larchm,ont, we held that the ten-year limitations provision in N.J.S.A. 2A:14-1.2 applied to the DEP’s claim brought under the Pesticide Act, and not the two-year statute of limitations under N.J.S.A 2A:14-10 applicable to forfeiture actions brought under a penal statute because the Pesticide Act did not envision forfeiture as a remedy. 266 N.J.Super. at 33-34, 628 A.2d 761. Noting that there was no express and clear language in N.J.S.A. 2A:14-10 applying the forfeiture statute to the State’s action under the Pesticide Act, we concluded that the general ten-year limitations provision should apply. Ibid.; see also Cruz, supra, 279 N.J.Super. at 248, 652 A.2d 741.
In Cruz, we reached a similar conclusion. There we held that because it was not “expressly and specifically” clear that N.J.S.A. 2A:14-1.1, a statute of repose governing suits for injury from unsafe conditions of real property, applied to the State, the State’s action was controlled by the ten-year statute of limitations of N.J.S.A. 2A:14-1.2. 279 N.J.Super. at 248-49, 652 A.2d 741.
In contrast, the Fraudulent Transfer Act’s limitations provision, N.J.S.A. 25:2-31, “expressly and specifically” provides a four-year limitations provision applicable to all fraudulent transfer claims, and a one-year tolling provision for actions brought under N.J.S.A. 25:2-25a by a creditor seeking to void a transfer based on actual fraud. Here, the DEP is the “creditor” because it is “a person [with] a claim,” N.J.S.A. 25:2-21 (defining creditor), and a “person” includes the “government or governmental subdivision or agency....” N.J.S.A. 25:2-22.
In New Jersey Transit Corp., New Jersey Transit sought to contest the local real property tax assessments levied against its real property by the Borough of Somerville after the expiration of the April 1 deadline for filing tax appeals. 139 N.J. at 584, 661 A.2d 778. The Court held that the ten-year limitations period granted in N.J.S.A 2A:14-1.2 must yield to the specific period granted in N.J.S.A. 54:3-21. Id. at 591, 661 A.2d 778. The Court stated: “[T]he Legislature, in enacting N.J.S.A 2A:14-1.2, was concerned only with establishing a uniform ten-year statute of limitations for actions commenced by governmental entities where no such limitation had previously existed under the doctrine of nullum tempus____” Id. at 587, 661 A.2d 778. The Court determined that the “Legislature could not have intended N.J.S.A 2A:14-1.2 to give governmental entities a longer statute of limitations then they previously had enjoyed.” Id. at 588, 661 A.2d 778. Thus, in Lacey, we applied the one-year limitation because it “expressly and specifically” applied to governmental claims prior to the abrogation of nullum tempus.
As in Lacey, the Fraudulent Transfer Act limitations provision was enacted before the abrogation of the doctrine of nullum tempus. The Act was enacted in 1988, effective January 1, 1989. The doctrine was abolished in 1991. Hence, contrary to the DEP’s assertion, actions brought by the State and its governmental units were, in fact, controlled by the limitations period provided in the Fraudulent Transfer Act prior to the abrogation of nullum tempus. The fact that the shorter limitations period has never
We also find unpersuasive the DEP’s argument that confining the DEP to the shorter limitations periods of the Fraudulent Transfer Act is contrary to the public interest because it will force it to re-examine its priorities in deciding which landfills to close, those involving the possibility of fraudulent conveyances, or those presenting the greatest harm to the environment. Ordinarily, we would not address this contention because the DEP did not raise it during the motion in the Law Division; however, because of the public interest implicated by the assertion, we make this limited response.
We perceive no indication by our Supreme Court that it would apply a different time limitation to the DEP than it would to any other “person” bringing a claim under the Fraudulent Transfer Act. If the limited resources and capabilities of the DEP are such that it cannot oversee both the environmental and fiscal aspects of landfill closures within the time constraints of the Fraudulent Transfer Act, it should petition the Legislature for relief. This court, however, will not write a better statute than the one the Legislature has already written.
Moreover, we do not understand why the DEP cannot protect itself by seeking at the inception of every landfill closure, by consent or otherwise, a judicial decree enjoining the owner of a landfill from making transfers or incurring obligations except in the ordinary course of business, pending complete closure of the landfill. It is axiomatic that such closures mean loss of revenue to the owner, N.J.S.A 13:1E-101, and the strong possibility the owner will be unable to meet its obligations under the statute. Hence, the DEP is on notice to keep a sharp vigil, and to act
In sum, we conclude that the four-year time limitation of N.J.S.A 25:2-31 “expressly and specifically” applies to actions commenced by the DEP under the Fraudulent Transfer Act, and not the general statute of limitations in N.J.S.A 2A:14-1.2. The plain language of the Act and the Supreme Court’s reasoning in New Jersey Transit lead inexorably to this conclusion. Because the transfers and debt forgiveness by Caldeira, Sr. occurred in 1989 and 1991, more than four years before the complaint was filed on April 23, 1999, count one of the complaint is barred, unless, however, the DEP is entitled to the tolling provisions in N.J.S.A. 25:2-31a. We address that question in Section II of this opinion. However, the DEP’s claims in count two of its complaint are time-barred against all defendants as to all challenged transfers because they were asserted under N.J.S.A 25:2-25b. The tolling provision contained in N.J.S.A. 25:2-31a does not apply to actions brought under N.J.S.A 25:2-25b. Since the claims in count two were not asserted within four years after the transfers, they are time-barred. Lastly, to the extent that the motion judge applied a ten-year limitations period against Caldeira, Sr., he erred. The judge did not explain his reasons for applying a different limitations period to the DEP’s claims against Caldeira, Sr., and we can perceive no rational basis for such disparate treatment.
We next address the DEP’s alternative argument that its claims under N.J.S.A. 25:2-25a are timely because of the one-year tolling provision in N.J.S.A. 25:2-31a. It argues that the transfers that form the basis of its claims did not become known to it until discovery was conducted in the closure action on April 30, 1998, and that it filed its fraudulent transfer complaint on April 23,1999, within one year of the discovery. The DEP contends that charging it with constructive knowledge of information received by the BPU in 1989, or the licensing section (A-901 unit) of the Division of Solid Waste Management in 1992, or thereafter, places an unreasonable burden on the agency.
We do not doubt that the DEP’s attorney may not have learned of the transfer of Caldeira Brothers until April 30,1998; however, other representatives of the DEP certainly had knowledge, or reasonably could have had knowledge, of the transfers before April 30, 1998. Even if we did not charge the DEP with knowledge of the BPU administrative order approving the transfer by Caldeira, Sr. of his stock in Caldeira Brothers to Caldeira, Jr. on December 22,1989, certainly by 1992, given that the BPU and the DEP had merged in 1991,
On April 27, 1992, Caldeira, Sr. submitted his “Personal History Disclosure Statement”
We also reject the DEP’s contention that the judge erred in granting defendants’ motions to dismiss because the motions were brought pursuant to R. 4:6-2(e). It maintains that no certifications were filed in support of the motion, and no testimony, live or written, was presented to the motion judge to support the proposi
We do agree with the DEP, however, that the judge should not have dismissed as untimely the DEP’s fraud claim under N.J.S.A. 25:2-25a against Caldeira, Sr. stemming from his forgiveness of the $600,000 debt owed to SOLF by Caldeira Brothers. Unlike the situation involving the Caldeira Brothers stock, no competent evidence was presented to support the contention that the DEP knew, or reasonably could have known, of this transaction prior to April 30, 1998. Therefore, the DEP’s fraudulent transfer claim against defendants as to this asset, at this point in the proceedings, is not time-barred, and the judge erred in dismissing the complaint with respect to that transaction.
We reject Caldeira, Jr.’s argument that the judge erred in denying his initial motion for reconsideration as to the transfer of
In sum, the statute of limitations provision in the Fraudulent Transfer Act, N.J.S.A. 25:2-31, bars the DEP’s cause of action in count one of the complaint against all defendants with respect to the transfer by Caldeira, Sr. of his stock in Caldeira Brothers because the claims in that count were asserted more than four years after the transfer and more than one year after the DEP knew or reasonably could have discovered the transfer. We do not decide whether the limitations provision bars the fraudulent transfer action as it impacts the transfer of Caldeira, Sr.’s stock in Forcees and the $600,000 debt forgiveness because the record is inadequate for such determination. To the extent we have determined that the DEP’s claims are time-barred against Caldeira, Sr. and Caldeira, Jr., they are barred against defendant U.S.A. Waste as well.
III.
We next address the DEP’s argument that the court erred in dismissing its complaint against U.S.A. Waste under R. 4:6-2(e). U.S.A. Waste argued in the Law Division, as it does on appeal, that because the DEP’s complaint failed to specifically allege either actual or constructive fraud against it under the Fraudulent Transfer Act, the complaint failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted to the DEP against U.S.A. Waste and had to be dismissed. The DEP conceded that it was not asserting a claim against U.S.A. Waste under N.J.S.A. 25:2-25; rather it argued that U.S.A. Waste was named as a party defendant because it is a “subsequent transferee,” N.J.S.A. 25:2-30, of the assets originally represented by the stock in Forcees and Caldeira Brothers. The DEP explained that U.S.A. Waste, as the ultimate
The motion judge essentially ruled that unless the DEP asserted culpable conduct by U.S.A. Waste under the Fraudulent Transfer Act against U.S.A. Waste directly, U.S.A. Waste was not a proper party to the action.
We disagree and reverse the order dismissing the DEP’s complaint against U.S.A. Waste under R. 4:6-2(e). Our review of the Act and the decisional law of other jurisdictions interpreting the Act convinces us that the DEP’s complaint stated a cause of action upon which relief could be granted even though the DEP did not assert any wrongdoing against U.S.A. Waste in the complaint. In addition, under R. 4:28-1, U.S.A. Waste was a necessary party, and perhaps even an indispensable party, to the DEP’s action to void the transfers at issue.
We address first the statutory authority for joining a party in a fraudulent transfer action without alleging culpable conduct against it. N.J.S.A 25:2-25 governs the liability of a “debtor” for transfers made by the “debtor” that are deemed to be in fraud of the debtor’s “creditors.” In this case, the DEP is the “creditor,” Caldeira, Sr. is the “debtor” and Caldeira, Jr. and U.S.A. Waste are the “transferees.” N.J.S.A. 25:2-25 does not govern the DEP’s fraud claims against the transferees. That section of the Act only controls the DEP’s claims against Caldeira, Sr., the debtor.
N.J.S.A. 25:2-29 and N.J.S.A. 25:2-30 govern the rights and remedies of such a “creditor” against transferees of the “debtor.” N.J.S.A. 25:2-29 sets forth the creditor’s remedies, and allows the “avoidance” of a fraudulent transfer, as well as other remedies, against all transferees, subject, however, to the limitations set forth in N.J.S.A. 25:2-30. N.J.S.A. 25:2-30 is entitled “Defenses, liability and protection of transferee.” That section
Moreover, U.S.A. Waste is a necessary party under R. 4:28-1 because its property may be affected by the outcome of this litigation. Rule 4:28-1 requires joinder of parties if “the person claims an interest in the subject of the action and is so situated that the disposition of the action in' the person’s absence may ... as a practical matter impair or impede the person’s ability to protect that interest.” Many jurisdictions have so concluded in the context of fraudulent transfer litigation. See Simmons v. Clark Equipment Credit Corp., 554 So.2d 398, 399 (Ala. 1989)
Accordingly, we affirm that aspect of the order entered on October 22, 1999 granting U.S.A. Waste’s motion to dismiss the complaint as time-barred as to the transfer of Caldeira Brothers only. We reverse that aspect of the October 22,1999 order to the extent it dismissed the complaint against U.S.A. Waste as a subsequent transferee for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. We reverse that aspect of the order entered on October 22, 1999 that denied Caldeira, Sr.’s motion to dismiss the complaint as time-barred as to the transfer of the stock of Caldeira Brothers. We affirm that aspect of the November 10, 1999 order granting Caldeira, Jr.’s motion to dismiss the complaint as time-barred as to the transfer of Caldeira Brothers only. To the extent the complaint was dismissed with respect to the $600,000 debt forgiveness, we reverse as to all defendants. We decline to consider the issue of Caldeira, Sr.’s transfer of his shares in Forcees because Caldeira, Jr.’s motion to dismiss is still pending. Count two of the complaint is dismissed as time-barred under N.J.S.A 25:2-31b as to all defendants.
The matter is remanded for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion. We do not retain jurisdiction.
Affirmed in part; reversed in part and remanded.
SOLF does not seem to have appeared in the action.
Apparently, Forcees is not a solid waste utility company subject to regulation by the BPU or the DEP.
The Solid Waste Management Act, NJ.S.A. 13:1 E— 1 to -207, controls the closure of sanitary landfills and is supplemented by the Closure Act. Port of Monmouth Dev. Corp. v. Middletown Twp., 229 N.J.Super. 445, 449, 551 A.2d 1030 (App.Div. 1988).
Caldeira, Sr. and SOLF later defaulted on their obligations under these orders.
At oral argument, however, counsel for the DEP indicated it was claiming that U.S.A. Waste did not pay reasonable consideration for its acquisition of the property formerly owned by Caldeira, Sr. and Caldeira, Jr. See N.J.S.A. 25:2-30.
The judge also denied Caldeira, Jr.'s subsequent motion for reconsideration. A second motion for reconsideration is currently pending in the Law Division in which Caldeira, Jr. seeks to demonstrate through the production of certain equipment leases and other documents in the possession of the DEP dated in
N.J.S.A. 25:2-25 provides:
Although the term "claimant” is not defined in the Fraudulent Transfer Act, we assume it means a “person” who has a claim. Therefore, we interpret the term "claimant,” as utilized in the Fraudulent Transfer Act, to be synonymous with the term "creditor.”
Joseph Lomerson certifies that even before 1991 the BPU and the DEP worked together.
Although not mentioned by the parties on appeal, it appears that the disclosure statement may not have been submitted to the motion judge until Caldeira, Jr.'s motion for reconsideration. We have exercised our original jurisdiction and consider this document as part of our determination inasmuch as the DEP argues its significance, or lack thereof, on appeal. R. 2:10-5.
To the extent there was any suggestion of a contested fact, as for example on the question whether the BPU or the DEP knew, or reasonably could have known, of the transfer by Caldeira, Sr. of his interest in Forcees, the judge reserved that issue pending further proceedings. As previously noted, that issue remains open.
Lopez v. Swyer, 62 N.J. 267, 274-76, 300 A.2d 563 (1973).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- STATE OF NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT/CROSS-RESPONDENT v. JOSEPH J. CALDEIRA SR., INDIVIDUALLY, AND AS PRIOR OWNER, OPERATOR, MANAGER, DIRECTOR, OFFICER AND/OR SHAREHOLDER OF FORCEES, INC., CALDEIRA BROTHERS, INC., AND SOUTHERN OCEAN LANDFILL, INC., DEFENDANT-RESPONDENT/CROSS-APPELLANT, AND JOSEPH J. CALDEIRA, JR., INDIVIDUALLY, AND AS OWNER, OPERATOR, MANAGER, DIRECTOR, OFFICER AND/OR SHAREHOLDER OF FORCEES, INC. AND CALDEIRA BROTHERS, INC., CALDEIRA BROTHERS, INC., U.S.A. WASTE RECYCLING OF NEW JERSEY, INC., A CORPORATION OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND CORPORATE SUCCESSOR TO CALDEIRA BROTHERS, INC., DEFENDANTS-RESPONDENTS, AND SOUTHERN OCEAN LANDFILL, INC., A CORPORATION OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY
- Cited By
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- Status
- Published