Kdw Restructuring & Liquidation Services LLC v. Greenfield
Kdw Restructuring & Liquidation Services LLC v. Greenfield
Opinion of the Court
OPINION AND ORDER
I. INTRODUCTION
KDW Restructuring & Liquidation Services LLC, trustee of the litigation trust held on behalf of debtor Jennifer Convert
II. BACKGROUND
A. The Directors and Officers of Jennifer and Jara
Jennifer, a Delaware corporation, is the largest sofa bed and leather specialty retailer in the United States.
Greenfield, Bohn, Coyle, Abada, and Berman comprised Jennifer’s Board of Directors in 2009.
B. 1995 SEC Investigation
In 1995, the SEC commenced a formal investigation into Jennifer’s business.
In early 2009, Jennifer was experiencing financial difficulties—expected revenue increases had not materialized.
D. The 2009 Transactions
In a three-day meeting, beginning on November 23, it was agreed by the members of the Board, with the exception of Abada, that Jara would begin to function as an agent of Jennifer, taking a thirty-five percent commission.
On December 31, 2009, Jennifer acquired Jara’s business assets, paying $635,000 for Jara’s inventory.
III. LEGAL STANDARD A. Motion to Dismiss
On a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the court must assume “all well-pleaded, nonconclusory factual allegations in the complaint to be true”
The plaintiff in support of her claim may allege “upon information and belief’ facts that are “peculiarly within the possession and control of the defendant.”
B. Leave to Amend
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15(a)(2) provides that, other than amendments as a matter of course, “a party may amend [its pleading] only by leave of court or by written consent of the adverse party.”
IV. APPLICABLE LAW A. Choice of Law
New York courts decide questions relating to corporate internal affairs “in accordance with the law of the place of incorporation.”
B. Breach of Fiduciary Duty
Under Delaware law, a breach of fiduciary duty claim has two elements:
(1) the eidstence of a fiduciary duty, and (2) the breach of that duty.
To prove a breach of the duty of care, a plaintiff must demonstrate gross negligence.
The duty to act in good faith, a subsidiary duty of the duty of loyalty,
1. Section 102(b)(7)
Under section 102(b)(7) of Delaware’s General Corporation Law, a corporation may include an exculpation clause in its certificate of incorporation.
2. The Business Judgment Rule
The business judgment rule is a presumption that, in making business decisions, “the directors of a corporation acted on an informed basis, in good faith and in the honest belief that the action taken was in the best interests of the company.”
A board’s decision is not shielded where directors are: (1) interested or lack independence regarding the decision,
y. DISCUSSION
The plaintiff has properly pled the existence of three fiduciary duties owed by all defendants, who are directors or officers of a Delaware corporation—the duty of care, the duty of loyalty, and the duty to act in good faith.
A. A Duty of Care Claim Is Barred by the Exculpatory Clause
Jennifer’s certificate of incorporation includes an exculpatory clause, pursuant to section 102(b)(7) of Delaware’s General Corporate Law.
B. Duty of Loyalty and Good Faith Claims Against Mattler, Falchook, and Seidner Are Not Facially Plausible
The plaintiff argues that non-director officers Mattler, Falchook, and Seidner are as liable as voting directors because they “implemented” the 2009 transactions.
1. Claims Against Mattler and Falchook Are Dismissed
Mattler and Falchook are non-director officers at Jennifer,
2. Claims Against Seidner Are Dismissed
Seidner is a founder of Jara and a former shareholder.
Abada is a director, but voted against all but the final agreement.
D. Duty of Loyalty and Good Faith Claims Against Greenfield Are Sufficiently Pleaded
Greenfield complains that because of the collective nature of the Complaint, the allegations against him are not sufficient to support a claim. However, there are sufficient specific facts in the Complaint to support claims for breach of the duty of loyalty and breach of the duty to act in good faith against Greenfield. Greenfield presses an overly broad interpretation of the business judgment rule that shields directors whenever a majority of the board is disinterested.
1. The Duty of Loyalty
Greenfield was a founder of Jara.
2. The Duty to Act in Good Faith
It is also reasonable to infer that Greenfield may have acted in his own interest when consenting to the 2009 transactions.
E. Defendants Berman, Bohn, and Coyle
1. No Breach of the Duty of Loyalty
There are no well-pleaded facts to suggest that Berman, Bohn, and Coyle, voting directors of Jennifer, were on both sides of the 2009 transactions, or that they were to receive an improper personal benefit. As such, there is no legitimate claim for breach of the duty of loyalty against these three defendants.
2. Breach of the Duty to Act in Good Faith
These three defendants are not protected by the business judgement rule. They are not interested parties, but the well-pleaded facts suggest that they acted in bad faith.
The plaintiffs have requested leave to replead.
VI. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, Defendants Mattler’s, Falehook’s, Seidner’s, and Abada’s motions to dismiss are granted in full. Greenfield’s motion is denied. Defendants Berman’s, Bohn’s, and Coyle’s motions are denied in part and granted in part: the breach of the duty of loyalty claim is dismissed, the claim of breach of the duty to act in good faith survives. Any amended Complaint must be filed within twenty-one (21) days of the date of this order. The Clerk of the Court is directed to close these motions (Docket Nos. 15,17, and 20). A conference is scheduled for June 25, at 4:30 p.m. in Courtroom 15C.
SO ORDERED.
. See Complaint ¶ 10, KDW Restructuring & Liquidation Services LLC v. Greenfield, et al., No. 10-13779(ALG), 2011 WL 6359191 (Bankr.S.D.N.Y. Nov. 2, 2011).
. See 11/23/09 Jennifer Board Meeting Minutes ("11/23/09 Bd. Min.”), Ex. A10 to Declaration of Nicole Gueron, counsel for defendants, in support of Defendants' Motion to Dismiss the Complaint ("Gueron Dec").
. See Complaint ¶¶ 22-23.
. See id. ¶¶ 26-27.
. See id. ¶25.
. See id. ¶ 29.
. See id. ¶¶ 13-17.
. See zd. ¶ 13.
. See id. ¶ 14.
. See, e.g., 11/23/09 Bd. Min.
. See Complaint ¶ 18.
. See id. ¶¶ 19-20.
. See id. ¶31.
. See id.
. See id.
. See id. ¶ 32.
. See 02/17/09 Jennifer Board Meeting Minutes, Ex. A2 to Gueron
. See Complaint ¶ 38.
. See id. ¶¶ 41, 43.
. See 11/23/09 Bd. Min.
. See Complaint ¶ 47.
. See 5/12/09 Jennifer Board Meeting Minutes, Ex. A7 to Gueron Dec.
. See 6/8/09 Jennifer Board Meeting Minutes ("6/8/09 Bd. Min.”), Ex. A8 to Gueron Dec.
. See 11/25/09 Jennifer Board Meeting Minutes ("11/25/09 Bd. Min.”), Ex. A12 to Gueron Dec.
. See 11/23/09 Bd. Min.
. See, e.g., 5/11/09 Jennifer Board Meeting Minutes, Ex. A9 to Gueron Dec.
. See 11/23/09 Bd. Min.
. See 12/18/09 Jennifer Board Meeting Minutes ("12/18/09 Bd. Min.”), Ex. A15 to Gueron Dec.
. See 12/14/09 Jennifer Board Meeting Minutes, Ex. A14 to Gueron Dec.
. See 12/26/09 Jennifer Board Meeting Minutes ("12/26/09 Bd. Min.”), Ex. A16 to Gueron Dec.
. See Complaint ¶ 49.
. See id. ¶ 50.
. See id. ¶ 51.
. See 1/31/09 Jennifer Board Meeting Minutes, Ex. A18 to Gueron Dec.
. See, e.g., 11/25/09 Bd. Min.; see also Complaint ¶ 53(c).
. See 12/26/09 Bd. Min.
. See Complaint ¶ 53(e).
. See id. ¶ 59.
. See id. ¶ 55.
. Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum Co., 621 F.3d 111, 124 (2d Cir. 2010) (citing Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678-679, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009)).
. Ofori-Tenkorang v. American Int’l Group, Inc., 460 F.3d 296, 298 (2d Cir. 2006).
. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937 (citation omitted).
. Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 564, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007). Accord Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937.
. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937 (citation omitted).
. Id. (quotation marks omitted).
. Arista Records, LLC v. Doe 3, 604 F.3d 110, 120 (2d Cir. 2010).
. See Sanders v. Grenadier Realty, Inc., 367 Fed.Appx. 173, 177 n. 2 (2d Cir. 2010).
. Id. (quoting 5 Charles Alan Wright & Arthur R. Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 1224, at 300-01 (3d ed. 2004)).
. Slayton v. American Express Co., 460 F.3d 215, 226 n. 10 (2d Cir. 2006) (citation and quotation marks omitted).
. Fed.R.Civ.P. 15(a)(2).
. McCarthy v. Dun & Bradstreet Corp., 482 F.3d 184, 200 (2d Cir. 2007) (citation omitted)
. Schindler v. French, 232 Fed.Appx. 17, 18 (2d Cir. 2007) (quoting Cortec Indus., Inc. v. Sum Holding L.P., 949 F.2d 42, 48 (2d Cir. 1991)) (quotation marks omitted).
. See Cuoco v. Moritsugu, 222 F.3d 99, 112 (2d Cir. 2000).
. Scottish Air Int’l, Inc. v. British Caledonian, 81 F.3d 1224, 1234 (2d Cir. 1996) (citation omitted).
. Edgar v. MITE Corp., 457 U.S. 624, 645, 102 S.Ct. 2629, 73 L.Ed.2d 269 (1982). Accord Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws § 302 cmt. e ("Uniform treatment of directors, officers and shareholders is an important objective which can only be attained by having the rights and liabilities of those persons with respect to the corporation governed by a single law.”).
. See Complaint ¶ 10.
. See Estate of Eller v. Bartron, 31 A.3d 895, 897 (Del. 2011) (citing Heller v. Kieman, No. 1484-K, 2002 WL 385545, at *3 (Del.Ch. Feb. 27, 2002)).
. See In re Fedders N. Am., Inc., 405 B.R. 527, 539 (Bankr.D.Del. 2009) (citing Malone v. Brincat, 722 A.2d 5, 10 (Del. 1998)).
. See Gantler v. Stephens, 965 A.2d 695, 709 (Del. 2009) (footnote omitted).
. In re Bridgeport Holdings, Inc., 388 B.R. 548, 566 (Bankr.D.Del. 2008) (citation omitted) (citing Citron v. E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., 584 A.2d 490, 499 (Del.Ch. 1990)) (finding allegations that an officer who became a director for a few days after the alleged breaches were insufficient to state a claim). Accord In re Alloy, Inc., No. 5626-VCP, 2011 WL 4863716, at *8 (Del.Ch. Oct. 13, 2011).
. See In re Lear Corp. S’holder Litig., 967 A.2d 640, 651 (Del.Ch. 2008) (citing Aronson v. Lewis, 473 A.2d 805, 812-13 (Del. 1984), overruled on other grounds by Brehm v. Eisner, 746 A.2d 244 (Del. 2000)).
. Zimmerman v. Crothall, No. 6001-VCP, 2012 WL 707238, at *6 (Del.Ch. Mar. 5, 2012) (citing Albert v. Alex. Brown Mgmt. Services, Inc., No. Civ.A. 762-N, No. Civ.A. 763-N,
. In re Fedders, 405 B.R. at 540 (citing Cede & Co. v. Technicolor, Inc., 634 A.2d 345, 361 (Del. 1993)).
. Dweck v. Nasser, No. 1353-VCL, 2012 WL 161590, at *12 (Del.Ch. Jan. 18, 2012) (citing Steiner v. Meyerson, No. 13139, 1995 WL 441999, at *2 (Del.Ch. July 19, 1995)). Accord Joyce v. Cuccia, No. 14953, 1997 WL 257448, at *5 (Del.Ch. May 14, 1997) (citation omitted) ("[Pjlaintiffs must allege facts showing that a self-interested transaction occurred, and that the transaction was unfair to the plaintiffs.”).
. See In re Walt Disney Co. Derivative Litig., 907 A.2d 693, 754 n. 447 (Del.Ch. 2005), aff’d, In re Walt Disney Co. Derivative Litig., 906 A.2d 27 (Del. 2006).
. In re Walt Disney, 906 A.2d at 66.
. See id.; see also In re Walt Disney, 907 A.2d at 754 (citing Guttman v. Huang, 823 A.2d 492, 506 n. 34 (Del.Ch. 2003)) (finding that the reasons for disloyalty are irrelevant).
. In re Walt Disney, 906 A.2d at 67.
. See id.
. Id. (citation omitted).
. See Del. Cod. Ann. tit. 8 § 102(b)(7) (West 2011).
. See id. See also In re NYMEX S’holder Litig., No. 3621-VCN, No. 3835-VCN, 2009 WL 3206051, at *6 (Del.Ch. Sept. 30, 2009); In re Direct Response Media, Inc., 466 B.R. 626, 650 (Bankr.D.Del. 2012).
. In re Citigroup Inc. S'holder Derivative Litig., 964 A.2d 106, 124 (Del.Ch. 2009) (citing Aronson, 473 A.2d at 812, overruled on other grounds, Brehm, 746 A.2d 244).
. See id.; see, e.g., In re Tower Air, Inc., 416 F.3d 229, 238 (3d Cir. 2005) (finding that the plaintiff must “plead around” the business judgment rule presumption).
. See Zimmerman, 2012 WL 707238, at *5.
. In re Citigroup, 964 A.2d at 124.
. A director is interested if she reaps a personal benefit from a transaction that will not be shared equally with shareholders. See In re Alloy, Inc., No. 5626-VCP, 2011 WL 4863716, at *7 (Del.Ch. Oct. 13, 2011) (citing Rales v. Blasband, 634 A.2d 927, 936 (Del. 1993)). A director is interested if she appears on both sides of the transaction. See Zimmerman, 2012 WL 707238, at *12 (citing Orman v. Cullman, 794 A.2d 5, 25 n. 50 (Del.Ch. 2002)). A director is independent if her decisions are based upon "corporate merits” and not outside influences. See In re Alloy, 2011 WL 4863716, at *7 (citing Aronson, 473 A.2d at 816).
. See In re Lear Corp. S’holder Litig., 967 A.2d at 652 n. 42 (citing Brehm, 746 A.2d at 264 n. 66).
. In re Alloy, 2011 WL 4863716, at *7 (citing In re NYMEX S’holder Litig., 2009 WL 3206051, at *6).
. Id. (citing Crescent/Mach I Partners, L.P. v. Turner, 846 A.2d 963, 981 (Del.Ch. 2000)). Accord Parnes v. Bally Entm’t Corp., 722 A.2d 1243, 1246 n. 12 (Del. 1999) (finding that an entire board had failed to exercise good faith where a majority of the board members were found to be independent).
. In re Alloy, 2011 WL 4863716, at *7 (quoting Cede & Co., 634 A.2d at 363).
. Defendants also moved to stay discovery. However, since they did not also move for an expedited decision, the point is moot. The motion is denied, as I have now ruled on the motions to dismiss.
. See Certificate of Incorporation, Ex. B to Gueron Dec., at 3; Defendants Greenfield’s and Seidner's Memorandum of Law in Support of Defendants' Motion to Dismiss the Complaint ("Def. Mem. 1”) at 19.
. See Def. Mem. at 19.
. See In re NYMEX S’holAer Litig., 2009 WL 3206051, at *6 (finding that an exculpatory clause in a company’s certificate of incorporation shielded its directors from liability for breaches of the duty of care). The plaintiffs concede that the exculpatory clause bars any duty of care claim. See Plaintiff’s Memorandum of Law in Opposition to Motion to Dismiss (“PI. Mem.”) at 12.
. See PI. Mem. at 7.
. See In re Bridgeport Holdings, Inc., 388 B.R. at 566 (citing Citron, 584 A.2d at 499) (finding that an officer who became a director temporarily was not sufficiently involved in a transaction to be held liable for that transaction).
. See Complaint ¶¶ 19-20.
. See Defendants Abada’s, Mattler’s, and Falchook’s Memorandum of Law in Support of Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss the Complaint ("Def. Mem. 2”) at 11.
. See Complaint ¶¶ 19-21, 29.
. See id. ¶ 29.
. See id. ¶¶ 22, 25.
. See supra Part V.B. See also PL Mem. at 7.
. See Continuing Creditors’ Comm, of Star Telecomm., Inc. v. Edgecomb, 385 F.Supp.2d 449, 462 (D.Del. 2004) (citation omitted) (finding that pleading an officer’s title and dates of service is not sufficient to state a claim).
. See 12/26/09 Bd. Min.
. See, e.g., 11/25/09 Bd. Min.; see also Complaint ¶ 53(c).
. See In re Citigroup Inc. S'holder Derivative Litig., 964 A.2d at 126-127 (holding that plaintiffs failed to rebut the business judgment rule where defendants had monitored risk but still suffered losses).
. See Continuing Creditors’ Comm, of Star Telecomm., Inc., 385 F.Supp.2d at 462 (citation omitted).
. See, e.g., 11/25/09 Bd. Min.
. See PL Mem. at 18.
. See 6/8/09 Bd. Min.
. See Def. Mem. 1 at 11 (citing Orman, 794 A.2d at 19-21).
. See Parnes, 722 A.2d at 1246 n. 12 (finding that an entire board had failed to exercise good faith where a majority of the board members were found to be independent).
. See Complaint ¶ 22.
. See id. ¶¶ 26-27.
. See 12/18/09 Bd. Min.
. See 11/23/09 Bd. Min.
. See Zimmerman, 2012 WL 707238, at *12 (citation omitted) (finding that a director is interested whenever she stands on both sides of a transaction).
. See In re Lear Corp. S'holder Litig., 967 A.2d at 652 n. 42 (citing Brehm, 746 A.2d at 264 n. 66) (finding that the business judgment rule is rebutted when a director is interested or acting in bad faith). See also In re Walt Disney, 906 A.2d at 67 (holding that a conscious disregard for a known duty is an example of bad faith).
. See 12/18/09 Bd. Min.
. See Complaint ¶¶ 26-27.
. See In re Alloy, Inc., 2011 WL 4863716, at *9 (finding that plaintiff must plead specific allegations of control in order to create reasonable inferences that directors lack independence).
. See PL Mem. at 14.
. See Parnes, 722 A.2d at 1247.
. See In re Lear Corp. S’holder Litig., 967 A.2d at 652 n. 42 (citing Brehm, 746 A.2d at 264 n. 66) (finding that the business judgment rule is rebutted when a director acts in bad faith).
. See Complaint ¶¶ 41, 43.
. See id. ¶¶ 26-27
. See 6/8/09 Bd. Min.
. In re Tower Air, Inc., 416 F.3d at 241.
. See PL Mem. at 18.
. See Cuoco, 222 F.3d at 112 (holding that repleading is futile when a complaint is substantively insufficient).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- KDW RESTRUCTURING & LIQUIDATION SERVICES LLC, as Trustee of the Jennifer Convertibles Litigation Trust v. Harley GREENFIELD, Edward G. Bohn, Kevin L. Coyle, Rami Abada, Mark J. Berman, Edward B. Seidner, Kevin Mattler, and Leslie Falchook
- Cited By
- 9 cases
- Status
- Published