Ajdler v. Province of Mendoza
Opinion
Plaintiff Moshe Marcel Ajdler sued defendant the Argentine Province of Mendoza ("Mendoza") in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (Victor Marrero,
Judge
) for failing to pay principal and interest on certain of its bonds. Ajdler now appeals from the dismissal of his claims as untimely.
See
*97
Ajdler v. Province of Mendoza
, No. 17-CV-1530 (VM),
BACKGROUND
The stated facts derive from Ajdler's complaint and the documents attached thereto.
See
Goel v. Bunge, Ltd.
,
I. The 1997 Mendoza Bonds
In 1997, Mendoza issued bonds in the principal amount of $250 million (the "Bonds") with a September 4, 2007 maturity date. Ajdler holds a beneficial interest in $7,050,000 of these Bonds.
The Bonds were issued pursuant to an indenture dated September 4, 1997, which included among its exhibits the Terms and Conditions of the Bonds, and the Form of Registered Global Bond (collectively, the "Indenture"). The Indenture, which states that it is governed by New York law, provides that "[e]ach Bond bears interest from September 4, 1997 at the rate of 10% per annum," which is "payable annually in arrears on March 4 and September 4 in each year, commencing on March 4, 1998." Joint App'x 55; see also id. at 72 (providing for such interest "on any outstanding portion of the unpaid principal amount"). Such "[i]nterest shall accrue from and including the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for ... until payment of [the] principal has been made or duly provided for." Id. at 72. The Indenture also states that the Bonds "will rank pari passu among themselves and at least pari passu in priority of payment with all other present and future unsecured and unsubordinated Indebtedness" of Mendoza. Id. at 54.
In a section entitled Unconditional Right of Bondholders to Receive Principal and Interest (the "Unconditional Right provision"), the Indenture states that,
[n]otwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, each Bondholder shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and interest on ... its Bond on the stated maturity expressed in such Bond and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such right shall not be impaired without the consent of such Bondholder.
Id. at 33. Under the Indenture's Prescription provision, "[a]ll claims against [Mendoza] for payment of principal of or interest ... on or in respect of the Bonds shall be prescribed unless made within four years from the date on which such payments first became due." Id. at 68.
II. Mendoza's 2004 Exchange Offer and Default
On June 30, 2004, Mendoza offered Bondholders the option to exchange their Bonds for new securities paying a lower interest rate and maturing in 2018 (the "New Bonds"). A majority of Bondholders, holding some $230.6 million in Bonds, accepted the exchange offer. Ajdler did not.
*98 On August 23, 2004, Mendoza announced that it would make no further interest payments on the Bonds. Thus, the last interest payment Ajdler received on his Bonds was that for March 2004. He received no interest payments thereafter, nor did he receive payment of principal on the Bonds' September 4, 2007 maturity date. 1
III. Procedural History
Nearly a decade later, on March 1, 2017, Ajdler commenced this contract action, charging Mendoza with breach of the Indenture in failing to repay principal upon the Bonds' maturity date and to pay interest on that principal after March 2004. As to the latter, Ajdler alleged that, under the terms of the Indenture, interest continued to accrue on the Bonds, even after their maturity date, for as long as the principal remained unpaid. Ajdler also pleaded that, by making payments on other debts-such as the New Bonds and additional bonds issued in 2016-but not on the Bonds, Mendoza breached the Indenture's pari passu clause. Thus, Ajdler sought damages in the amount of the unpaid principal and accrued interest, as well as declaratory and injunctive relief enforcing the pari passu clause.
In an April 5, 2017 letter, filed pursuant to Judge Marrero's individual practice rules, Mendoza informed Ajdler and the court of its intent to file a motion to dismiss Ajdler's complaint as untimely. Ajdler filed a letter in opposition, and when the parties were thereafter unable to reach a resolution, Mendoza requested the court's permission to file the contemplated dismissal motion. After holding a telephone conference, and permitting Ajdler to submit further opposition to dismissal, the district court construed Mendoza's letter submissions as a motion to dismiss pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6), which it granted on August 2, 2017.
See
Ajdler v. Province of Mendoza
,
In holding Ajdler's contract claims time-barred, the district court concluded that the six-year limitations period generally applicable to such claims pursuant to
In so ruling, the district court rejected Ajdler's argument that he was entitled to
*99
twice-a-year interest payments for as long as principal remained unpaid, such that his claims for interest payments missed within four (or as Ajdler insisted, six) years of the filing of his complaint were timely even if his claim for principal was not.
See
The district court determined that Ajdler's claims for equitable relief were also untimely,
see
Ajdler timely appealed, challenging only the dismissal of his claim "for biannual interest payments on the Bonds that accrued during the six-year period prior to the filing of the complaint." Appellant Br. at 8.
DISCUSSION
I. Standard of Review
This court "review[s]
de novo
a district court's grant of a motion to dismiss, including its ... application of a statute of limitations."
Deutsche Bank Nat'l Tr. Co. v. Quicken Loans Inc.
,
II. The Indenture's Four-Year Limitations Period Determines the Timeliness of Ajdler's Claims
In his opening brief on appeal, Ajdler asserts that he can timely claim interest payments accruing within six years of the filing of his complaint even if his claim for principal is time-barred. Before considering whether interest can continue to accrue in such circumstances, we consider Ajdler's assumption-unsupported by either argument or authority-that his interest claim is subject to a six-year statute of limitations rather than the four-year period specified in the Indenture's Prescription provision.
Under New York law, the statute of limitations generally applicable to "an action upon a contractual obligation" is six years.
In his reply brief, Ajdler urges otherwise, arguing that the Prescription provision's four-year limitations period is "trump[ed]" by the Indenture's Unconditional Right provision. Reply Br. at 18. The latter provision states that each Bondholder has an "absolute and unconditional[ ]" right "to receive payment of the principal of and interest on ... its Bond." Joint App'x 33. Ajdler does not argue that enforcement of this provision is subject to no statute of limitations. Rather, he submits that its "absolute and unconditional" language mandates affording Bondholders the statutory six-year limitations period rather than a shorter four-year period. We need not here decide whether Ajdler waived this argument by failing to raise it until his reply brief,
see, e.g.
,
JP Morgan Chase Bank v. Altos Hornos de Mexico
,
S.A. de C.V.
,
Ajdler's construction of the Unconditional Right provision requires that the quoted language be construed in isolation. New York law does not permit us to do so. It instructs that a contract must be "construed so as to give full meaning and effect to all of its provisions," and "[a]n interpretation of a contract that has the effect of rendering at least one clause superfluous or meaningless is not preferred and will be avoided if possible."
Process Am., Inc. v. CynergyHoldings, LLC
,
Thus, the timeliness of Ajdler's claims is properly considered by reference to the Indenture's four-year limitations period.
III. The Timeliness of Ajdler's Interest Claims
In an action to recover unpaid principal and interest, the limitations period begins to run on the principal from the day after the maturity date, and on each interest installment from the date it becomes due.
See
Vigilant Ins. Co. of Am. v. Hous. Auth. of El Paso
,
As to interest installments on the Bonds, starting in March 1998, these were due twice each year, on March 4 and September 4. Ajdler argues that Mendoza's obligation to make these interest payments did not end with the Bonds' maturity on September 4, 2007, because Mendoza did not then discharge its obligation to repay principal. Moreover, Ajdler maintains that Mendoza's obligation to pay interest did not end in September 2011, when a timely claim for principal could no longer be made. Rather, he insists that so long as the Bonds' principal remained unpaid, "interest *101 payments continued to become due" on that principal "every six months," giving rise to "new claim[s] ... upon which the statute of limitations began to run only upon such accrual." Appellant Br. at 20. Thus, Ajdler submits that he has timely claims for "interest payments on the Bonds that accrued during the [limitations] period prior to the filing of the complaint." Id. at 8. Applying a four-year limitations period, Ajdler effectively seeks to recover interest on the Bonds' unpaid principal for the period March 2013 through March 2017, even though any claim he might have had for principal became time-barred in 2011.
Mendoza urges us to reject Ajdler's theory of accruing interest, arguing that if we were to adopt it, interest on unpaid principal could continue to accrue ad infinitum . It contends that when a principal debt is barred by the statute of limitations, the claim for interest is also barred. In the alternative, Mendoza submits that "new and enforceable claims to interest cannot derive from unenforceable, time-barred principal." Appellee Br. at 15.
As we proceed to explain, established New York law does not clearly resolve the parties' dispute.
Ajdler argues that his continuing accrual theory is supported by
NML Capital v. Republic of Argentina
,
While
NML Capital
did not qualify this statement, we note that it was made in the context of a
timely
claim for principal.
See
*102
Our hesitancy is only reinforced by another Court of Appeals decision, cited by Mendoza and not discussed in
NML Capital
, which indicates that unpaid principal on which the limitations period has run cannot give rise to new interest claims.
See
Chapin v. Posner
,
Mendoza also points us to cases from New York lower courts suggesting not only that claims for post-maturity interest cannot
accrue
once the principal is time-barred, but that claims for interest on unpaid principal
expire
when the limitations period has run for recovery of the principal.
See
Quackenbush v. Mapes
,
Thus, Mendoza's argument might well persuade but for Ajdler's citation to language from New York Jurisprudence, an encyclopedia of New York law, suggesting otherwise. It states that "where the covenant in the contract to pay interest periodically is not limited to the period antedating the maturity date of the principal," then "a separate action may be brought for
*103
default in ... postmaturity interest even though recovery of the principal of the debt is barred by the statute of limitations." 72 N.Y. Jur. 2d Interest and Usury § 54 (2018). Such a statement of New York law warrants consideration because New York Jurisprudence-while of course not binding authority-is regularly cited approvingly by both this court,
see, e.g.
,
McCulloch Orthopaedic Surgical Servs., PLLC v. Aetna Inc.
,
We note, however, that the single case New York Jurisprudence cites to support the quoted pronouncement,
Union Trust Co. v. Kaplan
,
even though an action on the principal [debt] may be barred by the statute of limitations, recovery may still be had for unpaid interest which accrued periodically up to the date when action for *104 recovery of the principal became barred to the extent that these due dates fall within the period of limitations running from the date of the commencement of the cause of action.
72 N.Y. Jur. 2d Interest and Usury § 54. It cites,
inter alia
,
Chapin v. Posner
,
Nevertheless, further support for Ajdler's position might be located in
Amrusi v. Nwaukoni
,
Thus, considering "the ability of both parties to cite colorable but not authoritative support for their conflicting positions,"
NML Capital v. Republic of Argentina
,
IV. Certification Standards
When "determinative questions of New York law are involved in a case pending before [us] for which no controlling precedent of the Court of Appeals exists," we may certify those questions to New York's highest court for it to provide a controlling answer.
Three factors properly inform a decision to certify:
(1) whether the New York Court of Appeals has addressed the issue and, if not, whether the decisions of other New York courts permit us to predict how the Court of Appeals would resolve it; (2) whether the question is of importance to the state and may require value judgments and public policy choices; and (3) whether the certified question is determinative of a claim before us.
Expressions Hair Design v. Schneiderman
,
*105
First, as we have just observed, the New York Court of Appeals has not addressed whether, in light of its decision that interest continues to accrue on principal that is not repaid on a bond's maturity,
see
NML Capital v. Republic of Argentina
,
As to the second factor, the importance of the disputed interest-accrual issue to New York and its public policy is evident. New York is one of the world's leading financial centers, and many bond indentures contain choice-of-law provisions invoking New York law.
See
Trust for Certificate Holders of Merrill Lynch Mortg. Inv'rs, Inc. Mortg. Pass-Through Certificates, Series 1999-C1 v. Love Funding Corp.,
Finally, resolution of the certified questions may well "dispose of the case entirely."
Barenboim v. Starbucks Corp.
,
In sum, this case provides "appropriate circumstances" for certification in all respects.
McGrath v. Toys "R" Us, Inc
.,
CONCLUSION
To summarize, we defer decision in this case, and certify to the New York Court of Appeals the following questions:
1. If a bond issuer remains obligated to make biannual interest payments until the principal is paid, including after the date of maturity,
see
NML Capital v. Republic of Argentina
,
*106 2. If the answer to the first question is "yes," can interest claims arise ad infinitum as long as the principal remains unpaid, or are there limiting principles that apply?
In certifying these questions, we do not bind the Court of Appeals to the particular questions stated. Rather, the Court of Appeals may expand this certified inquiry to address any pertinent questions of New York law involved in this appeal. 6
This panel retains jurisdiction and will consider any issues that may remain on appeal once the New York Court of Appeals has either provided its guidance or declined certification.
It is therefore ORDERED that the Clerk of this court transmit to the Clerk of the Court of Appeals of the State of New York a Certificate, as set forth below, together with a complete set of briefs and appendices, and the record filed in this court by the parties.
DECISION RESERVED AND QUESTIONS CERTIFIED .
CERTIFICATE
The foregoing is hereby certified to the Court of Appeals of the State of New York pursuant to 2d Cir. Local R. 27.2 and
Although Mendoza asserts that the Bonds were accelerated and cites to an alleged Notice of Acceleration dated December 14, 2004, Ajdler does not so allege in his complaint and the purported Notice of Acceleration was neither produced for nor considered by the district court. Accordingly, we accept Ajdler's pleading that the principal became due on September 4, 2007.
In his appellate brief, Ajdler suggests that the district court's construction of Mendoza's submissions as a motion to dismiss "severely limited" his ability to offer opposition. Appellant Br. at 3. Ajdler does not explicitly urge vacatur on this ground, nor does the record here warrant it.
See
McGinty v. New York
,
The New York Court of Appeals' ruling responded to questions certified by this court.
See
NML Capital v. Republic of Argentina
,
Despite asserting that, as long as principal remains unpaid, "the Bonds ... give rise, every six months, to a new claim for interest," Appellant Br. at 20, Ajdler maintains that a ruling in his favor on this appeal would not afford him new interest claims indefinitely for as long as the Bonds' principal remained unpaid. He submits that
NML Capital
's reference to "the contract ... merg[ing] in a judgment,"
NML Capital v. Republic of Argentina
,
Morris v. People's Republic of China
,
While perhaps not necessary to the resolution of this case, another question that arises from the identified legal ambiguity is whether, if the answer to the first question is "no," claims for interest that accrued before a claim for the principal of the bonds is time-barred expire when the principal claim becomes time-barred. We leave to the New York Court of Appeals whether to address this related question of New York law.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Moshe Marcel AJDLER, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. PROVINCE OF MENDOZA, a Province of the Republic of Argentina, Defendant-Appellee.
- Cited By
- 11 cases
- Status
- Published