King County v. IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG
King County v. IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG
Opinion of the Court
OPINION AND ORDER ON RECONSIDERATION
I. INTRODUCTION
Institutional investors King County, Washington (“King County”) and Iowa Student Loan Liquidity Corporation seek to recover losses stemming from the October 2007 collapse of Rhinebridge, a structured investment vehicle (“SIV”). These plaintiffs assert New York common law claims against eight corporate entities: Deutsche Industriebank AG and IKB Credit Asset Management, GmbH (together, “IKB”); The McGraw Hill Companies, Inc. d/b/a Standard & Poor’s Rating Services (“S & P”); Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and Moody’s Investors Service Ltd. (together, “Moody’s”); Fitch, Inc. (“Fitch,” and, with S & P and Moody’s, the “Rating Agencies”); Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and Morgan Stanley & Co. International Limited (together, “Morgan Stanley,” or “MS”). In a separate action, a different set of plaintiffs (including King County) seeks to recover losses stemming from the September 2007 collapse of the Cheyne SIV. The facts of the two actions are similar, the asserted causes of action are identical, and with the exception of IKB and Fitch, the second action names the same defendants as the first.
II. BACKGROUND
The relevant facts and procedural history are fully set forth in the May 4 Opinion. Defendants’ motions for reconsideration are based primarily — but not entirely — on a May 10, 2012 Second Circuit opinion and a May 18, 2012 Second Circuit summary order.
III. LEGAL STANDARDS
A. Reconsideration
Motions for reconsideration are governed by Local Rule 6.3 and are committed to the sound discretion of the district court.
B. Certification Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b)
Appeals of interlocutory district court orders are governed by 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b). Under section 1292(b), certification should only be granted if the issue appealed “(1) involve[s] a controlling question of law (2) over which there is substantial ground for difference of opinion,” and further, that “(3) an immediate appeal would materially advance the ultimate termination of the litigation.”
IV. DISCUSSION
Morgan Stanley and the Rating Agencies argue that reconsideration is warranted due to the Second Circuit’s May 10, 2012 decision in City of Omaha, Nebraska Civilian Employees’ Retirement System v. CBS Corp
In their memoranda of law supporting their motions to dismiss, Morgan Stanley and the Rating Agencies argued that credit ratings are predictive opinions about future events, and that although they may be actionable in fraud when they misrepresent a speaker’s genuine opinion, they cannot be actionable in a negligence context.
New York courts have repeatedly held that statements of opinion may form the basis of negligent misrepresentation claims. In Credit Alliance Corp. v. Arthur Andersen & Co., the New York Court of Appeals upheld negligent misrepresentation claims against an auditing firm based on its “professional opinions.”
CBS and Fait cannot overturn these precedents. Although I previously recognized that “the elements of common-law fraud in New York are ‘substantially identical to those governing § 10(b),’ ” and that therefore, “ ‘the identical analysis applies,’ ”
B. The Second Circuit’s Summary Order in Stephenson
Under New York law, there can be no negligent misrepresentation claim unless the parties had some form of “special re
Because Stephenson is an unpublished summary order, it does not have precedential effect.
Moreover, Stephenson is distinguishable from King County under White v. Guarente.
C. The Special Relationship Between the Rating Agencies and Defendants
The Rating Agencies argue that the May 4 Opinion’s finding of a “special relationship” between them and the plaintiffs is “contrary to all recent New York law.”
D. Certification Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b)
Regardless of whether an order “involves a controlling question of law” or whether it presents a question for “which there is substantial ground for difference of opinion,” an interlocutory appeal pursuant to section 1292(b) is not warranted unless it would “materially advance the ultimate termination of the litigaton.”
V. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, defendants’ motions for reconsideration are denied. The Clerk of the Court is directed to close these motions in the following cases: [Docket Nos. 407, 410, and 419] in 08 Civ. 7508; [Docket Nos. 245, 248, and 257] in 09 Civ. 8387.
SO ORDERED.
. See Assured Guaranty (UK) Ltd. v. J.P. Morgan Inv. Mgmt. Inc. (Assured Guaranty II), 18 N.Y.3d 341, 353, 939 N.Y.S.2d 274, 962 N.E.2d 765 (2011).
. See King County, Washington v. IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG, No. 09 Civ. 8387, 863 F.Supp.2d 288, 2012 WL 1592193 (S.D.N.Y. May 4, 2012) ("The May 4 Opinion”).
. Docket No. 404 in 08 Civ. 7508.
. See Patterson v. United States, No. 04 Civ. 3140, 2006 WL 2067036, at *1 (S.D.N.Y. July 26, 2006) ("The decision to grant or deny a motion for reconsideration is within the sound discretion of the district court.”) (citing McCarthy v. Manson, 714 F.2d 234, 237 (2d Cir. 1983)).
. Medisim Ltd. v. BestMed LLC, No. 10 Civ 2463, 2012 WL 1450420, at *1 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 23, 2012) (quoting In re BDC 56 LLC, 330 F.3d 111, 123 (2d Cir. 2003)).
. Gucci America, Inc. v. Guess?, Inc., No. 09 Civ. 4373, 2011 WL 6326032, at *1 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 16, 2011) (quoting Virgin Atl. Airways, Ltd. v. Nat’l Mediation Bd., 956 F,2d 1245, 1255 (2d Cir. 1992)).
. Medisim, 2012 WL 1450420, at *1 (quoting Grand Crossing, L.P. v. United States Underwriters Ins. Co., No. 03 Civ. 5429, 2008 WL 4525400, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 6, 2008)).
. United States v. Treacy, No. 08 Cr. 0366, 2009 WL 47496, at *1 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 8, 2009) (quotation omitted).
. 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b).
. Williston v. Eggleston, 410 F.Supp.2d 274, 276 (S.D.N.Y. 2006).
. In re AroChem Corp., 176 F.3d 610, 619 (2d Cir. 1999). Accord Ted Lapidus, S.A. v. Vann, 112 F.3d 91, 95 (2d Cir. 1997) (describing the "salutary policies that animate the final judgment rule”).
. In re Flor, 79 F.3d 281, 284 (2d Cir. 1996) (citations omitted).
. In re Levine, No. 03 Civ. 7146, 2004 WL 764709, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 9, 2004) (quoting German v. Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., 896 F.Supp. 1385, 1398 (S.D.N.Y. 1995)).
. See, e.g., Swint v. Chambers County Comm’n, 514 U.S. 35, 47, 115 S.Ct. 1203, 131 L.Ed.2d 60 (1995) ("[District courts [have] first line discretion to allow interlocutory appeals.]”); D.M. Rothman Co., Inc. v. Cohen Mktg. Int’l, Inc., No. 98 Civ. 7905, 2006 WL 2128064, at *1 (S.D.N.Y. July 27, 2006) ("[T]he determination of whether § 1292(b) certification is appropriate under these standards lies with the discretion of the district court.”) (quoting Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s, London v. ABB Lummus Global, Inc., No. 03 Civ. 7248, 2004 WL 1286806, at *6 (S.D.N.Y. June 10, 2004)).
. 679 F.3d 64 (2d Cir. 2012).
. The Rating Agencies’ Memorandum of Law in Support of Their Motion for Reconsideration or, in the Alternative, for Certification Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b) (“RA Mem.”), at 7.
. No. 11 Civ. 1204, 2012 WL 1764191 (2d Cir. May 18, 2012) (summary order).
. See The Rating Agencies’ Memorandum of Law in Support of Their Joint Motion to Dismiss the Second Amended Consolidated Complaint, at 14; Memorandum of Law in Support of Defendants Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and Morgan Stanley & Co. International Limited's Motion to Dismiss the Second Amended Complaint Pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 8(a), 9(b) and 12(b)(6), at 13-15.
. There is authority supporting the proposition that credit ratings are not predictive opinions but statements assessing current value. See MBIA Ins. Corp. v. Royal Bank of Canada, No. 12238/09, 28 Misc.3d 1225(A), 2010 WL 3294302, at *29 (Sup.Ct. Westchester Co. Aug. 19, 2010) (“The Court rejects Defendants’ attempts to cast [ratings on RMBS and CDOs] as statements/promises of future actions rather than present facts.”); M & T Bank Corp. v. Gemstone CDO VII, Ltd., No. 7064/08, 23 Misc.3d 1105(A), 2009 WL 921381, at *11 (Sup.Ct. Erie Co. Apr. 7, 2009) (“The ratings by Moody's and S & P are not just predictions of future valuation but a present analysis of current valuation."). Accord Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, Pub.L. No. 111-203, § 933(a); 15 U.S.C. § 78o-7(m)(1) (credit ratings "shall not be deemed forward looking statements” under the federal securities laws). However, because I again hold that even opinions are actionable under New York negligent misrepresentation law, I need not determine whether credit ratings are opinions or statements of present value.
. King County, 863 F.Supp.2d at 303-06, 2012 WL 1592193, at *9 (quoting ADL, LLC v. Tirakian, No. 06 Civ. 5076, 2010 WL 3925131, at *12 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 26, 2010)). The Rating Agencies and Morgan Stanley both argue that, in ADL, Magistrate Judge Go misstated the New York Court of Appeals' decision in CPC Int’l Inc. v. McKesson Corp., 70 N.Y.2d 268, 286, 519 N.Y.S.2d 804, 514 N.E.2d 116 (1987), by incorrectly inserting the word “or” where the Court of Appeals had said “and.” This argument is itself a mischaracterization of the disputed quote in CPC — the Court of Appeals was not stating the test for negligent misrepresentation in New York; rather, it was reciting the plaintiffs’ allegations in that case. See id. ("Plaintiff alleges that defendants made the projections knowing that they were false and unreasonable and that they were not based on Mueller’s actual financial condition.”).
. See, e.g., Fait v. Regions Fin. Corp., 655 F.3d 105 (2d Cir. 2011).
. King County, 863 F.Supp.2d at 303-06, 2012 WL 1592193, at *9 (citations omitted).
. Fait, 655 F.3d at 110-12.
. See CBS, 679 F.3d at 67 ("[A] plaintiff must 'plausibly allege that defendants did not believe the statements regarding goodwill at the time they made them' to plead a material misstatement or omission.”) (citing Fait, 655 F.3d at 112).
. Credit Alliance Corp. v. Arthur Andersen & Co., 65 N.Y.2d 536, 545 n. 4, 493 N.Y.S.2d 435, 483 N.E.2d 110 (1985).
. See Kimmell v. Schaefer, 89 N.Y.2d 257, 261-62, 652 N.Y.S.2d 715, 675 N.E.2d 450 (1996).
. Kimmell v. Schaefer, 224 A.D.2d 217, 637 N.Y.S.2d 147, 149 (1st Dep’t 1996), aff'd, 89 N.Y.2d 257, 652 N.Y.S.2d 715, 675 N.E.2d 450 (1996).
. See also Megally v. LaPorta, 253 A.D.2d 35, 679 N.Y.S.2d 649, 654 (2d Dep’t 1998) (noting that "recovery has been permitted to parties who relied upon negligently prepared reports and opinions of, respectively, accountants, architects, and attorneys”); West Side Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass’n v. Hirschfeld, 101 A.D.2d 380, 476 N.Y.S.2d 292, 295 (1st Dep’t 1984) (noting — in upholding a claim for "innocent misrepresentation” — that "expressions of opinion have long been held to be [actionable] in New York” in situations "where one party does have superior knowledge”).
. In re Optimal U.S. Litig., 837 F.Supp.2d 244, 262-63 (S.D.N.Y. 2011).
. See King County, 863 F.Supp.2d at 298-300, 2012 WL 1592193, at *6.
. See Dallas Aerospace, Inc. v. CIS Air Corp., 352 F.3d 775, 788-89 (2d Cir. 2003) (describing the "basic requirement of a 'special relationship’ ” for negligent misrepresentation claims as existing when the defendant " possesses] unique or specialized expertise, or [is] in a special position of confidence and trust with the injured party’ ”) (quoting Kimmell, 89 N.Y.2d at 263, 652 N.Y.S.2d 715, 675 N.E.2d 450).
. See Credit Alliance, 65 N.Y.2d at 551, 493 N.Y.S.2d 435, 483 N.E.2d 110.
. See King County, 863 F.Supp.2d at 306-08, 2012 WL 1592193, at *10.
. Id. (citing White v. Guarente, 43 N.Y.2d 356, 363, 401 N.Y.S.2d 474, 372 N.E.2d 315 (1977) and Ultramares Corp. v. Touche, 255 N.Y. 170, 179, 174 N.E. 441 (1931)).
. Stephenson, 2012 WL 1764191, at *3 (quoting Sykes v. RFD Third Ave. 1 Assocs., LLC, 15 N.Y.3d 370, 373, 912 N.Y.S.2d 172, 938 N.E.2d 325 (2010)).
. See Williams v. City of New York, No. 05 Civ. 10230, 2007 WL 2214390, at *12 n. 178 (S.D.N.Y. July 26, 2007) (citing Local Rule 32.1 and holding that because a Second Grcuit decision was a "summary order, it does not have precedential effect.”).
. See United States v. Hatfield, 795 F.Supp.2d 219, 223 (E.D.N.Y. 2011) ("[Authorities such as Second Grcuit summary orders] cannot justify reconsideration. For ... the moving party must point to 'controlling decisions,’ to obtain reconsideration.... [T]he Second Circuit’s own rules declare that its summary orders 'do not have precedential effect.’ ”) (citing Second Grcuit Local Rule 32.1.1(a)).
. 43 N.Y.2d 356, 401 N.Y.S.2d 474, 372 N.E.2d 315.
. White, 43 N.Y.2d at 361, 401 N.Y.S.2d 474, 372 N.E.2d 315. Interestingly, the Rating Agencies took issue with my reliance on White in the May 4 Opinion, arguing that White was superceded by Credit Alliance. See RA Mem. at 9 n.9. And yet, in its summary order in Stephenson, the Second Circuit relied on White as well.
. King County, 863 F.Supp.2d at 306-08, 2012 WL 1592193, at *10 (quoting White, 43 N.Y.2d at 363, 401 N.Y.S.2d 474, 372 N.E.2d 315).
. Stephenson, 2012 WL 1764191, at *3 (quoting White, 43 N.Y.2d at 361, 401 N.Y.S.2d 474, 372 N.E.2d 315).
. King County, 863 F.Supp.2d at 306-08, 2012 WL 1592193, at *10.
. RA Mem. at 7.
. See id. at 7-8.
. 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b).
. AroChem, 176 F.3d at 619.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON, and Iowa Student Loan Liquidity Corporation v. IKB DEUTSCHE INDUSTRIEBANK AG, Defendants Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank v. Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc
- Cited By
- 13 cases
- Status
- Published