OPINION AND ORDER
Plaintiff Byong Kwon brings this action against Daniel J. Yun, Emergent Capital Investment Management, LLC, Metede
BACKGROUND
Unless otherwise stated, the following facts are undisputed or construed in the light most favorable to the non-movant. 2
I. The Parties
From August 2000 until January 2003, defendant Yun was Chairman of the Board of Emergent,
3
a publicly held company engaged in technological and medical investments. (Kwon Opp. Aff. Exs. O, 174; Yun 56.1 Stmt. ¶3; Yun Decl. ¶ 2; Am. Compl. ¶ 7; Answer ¶ 3.) He also is its largest shareholder, owning approximately 17% of its common shares. (Petriello Supp. Decl. Ex. A.) Emergent Capital Investment Management, LLC (“ECIM”), a hedge fund investment management company, ceased business operations in or about December 2001 and dissolved in or about February 2003. (Am. Compl. ¶ 8; Answer ¶ 3.) However, during its existence, Yun was a controlling owner and managing member. (Kwon Opp. Aff. Ex. M.) Metedeconk Holdings, LLC (“Metedeconk”), alsо substantially owned and controlled by Yun, was formed on or about October 16, 2001, and dissolved on or about December 24, 2003.
(Id.
Ex. E; Am. Compl. ¶ 9; Answer ¶ 3.) As of December 1, 2001, when Metedeconk began business operations, Yun was its sole manager. (Kwon Opp. Aff. Exs. E, C at 3.) Also its president, he had “complete power and authority to manage and operate the Company and make all decision affecting its business and affairs ... within the budget and business plan approved by the Managers, except as limited, restricted or prohibited by the express provisions of th[e] Operating Agreement or [the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act].”
(Id.
Ex. C at 3-4.) Voyager Advisors, LLC (“Voyager”), originally known as Emergent Advisory LLC (“Emergent Adviso
II. Kwon’s Employment with the Yun Defendants
A. Kwon’s Engagement
PYom February 1998 to July 2001, Kwon was employed full-time as a senior official at New Valley Corporation (“New Valley”), a publicly-traded company engaged in investment banking and real estate and technology investments in the U.S. and Russia. (Stein Deck Ex. 1; cf. Emergent 56.1 Stmt. ¶ 3; Kwon Opp. Aff. ¶ 6.) In or about Sеptember 2000, after spending time in New Valley’s Moscow office, Kwon moved to its New York office and began to work on technology investments. 4 (Kwon Opp. Aff. ¶¶ 6-7.) Beginning in or about June 2001, while still employed by New Valley, Kwon began discussing with Yun the possibility of being hired as chief financial officer (“CFO”) to help manage Emergent, ECIM, and Jordan Advisory Corporation (“Jordan”) (later renamed Emergent Asset Management (“EAM”)). 5 (Id. ¶ 9.) According to Kwon, Yun represented that he and his business partners managed approximately $600 million through several entities, including Millennium Tradition Limited (formerly known as Millennium Heritage, Limited), which had $500 million under management, ECIM, which had less than $10 million under management, and EAM, which had approximately $100 million under management. (Id. ¶ 10.) Yun also represented that Mark Waldron, one of his business partners, and Calvin Yee, Emergent’s vice president, were moving to California to manage a medical services company recently acquired by Emergent, and that Emergent’s CFO, Amy Lai, had recently resigned. 6 (Id. ¶ 11; ef. id. Ex. O.)
During the course of his talks with Yun, Kwon informed Yun that he was reluctant to leave his position at New Valley absent an assurance that his new job would be substantially secure and that his new employer would be financially stable.
(Id.
¶ 13.) He also informed Yun that he wanted to continue his career in investment management, that he preferred to develop his deal experience at New Valley, and that he was concerned that leaving New Valley would damage his work history. (Id.) In light of Kwon’s reservations, he and Yun discussed the future prospects for Emergent, ECIM, and EAM. (Id. ¶ 14.)
Based on these representations, Kwon believed that Millennium would lend credibility to ECIM and EAM, both of which were fledgling investment management firms. (Id. ¶ 17.) This added credibility was significant to Kwon, as the total amount of assets being managed by a firm and its affiliated entities is a screening factor used by fund consultants in selecting investment managers and thus directly correlates to the success of an investment management firm. (Id.) The more assets a firm manages, the greater its credibility and the more successful a firm is likely to be in attracting new assets. (Id.) Thus, in Kwon’s view, ECIM and EAM could be expected to benefit from Millennium’s resources, including its management personnel and infrastructure. (Id.)
In the course of his conversation with Yun, Kwon asked several questions about Millennium’s history. In response to these questions, Yun represented that Millennium’s beneficial owner was an investment bank in Hong Kong and that the fund was created through a structured finance transaction. (Id. ¶ 18.) He also represented that after reviewing both the transaction and Millennium’s activities, legal counsel concluded that Millennium was in complianсe with all applicable laws. (Id. ¶ 19.)
On July 13, 2001, Yun sent Kwon a letter offering him the position of CFO of Emergent. (Petriello Decl. Ex. A.; Kwon Opp. Aff. ¶ 20; Yun 56.1 Stmt. ¶ 2; Yun Decl. ¶ 2; Emergent 56.1 Stmt. ¶ 1.) The offer, printed on Emergent letterhead, was “subject to the execution ... of a definitive written agreement and the approval of Emergent’s board of directors.” (Petriello Decl. Ex. A.; see also Emergent 56.1 Stmt. ¶ 2.) It provided for a “[b]ase salary of $125,000 per year with performance bonus,” “[o]ptions to purchase [] 250,000 shares of Emergent common stock at $.01 per share, exercisable on 7/1/02,” and “[ejquity interest of 2.5% in Emergent Asset Management.” (Petriello Decl. Ex. A.) Having orally accepted the offer contained in the letter, Kwon resigned from New Valley. 8 (Kwon Opp. Aff. ¶ 20; cf. Yun 56.1 Stmt. ¶ 4.) Although the July 2001 letter does not mention Kwon’s role in connection with any entity other than Emergent, he was also to serve as CFO of other Emergent entities. (Kwon Opp. Aff. Ex. 115 (“Byong Y. Kwon is hereby elected to the office of chief financial officer of the Company [ECIM].”); id. Ex. O (“Mr. Kwon shall assist EAM in establishing its infrastructure, controls and the transfer of Jordan Advisory Assets to EAM. I recommend that he come in next week to speak with Calvin.”); id. Ex. 108 (“Spoke to Byong for at least an hour last night. The more I speak to him, the more I think he’s a good addition to Emergent as the “CFO” of all of our entities.”).)
After Kwon accepted the position with Emergent, but before he began work, Wal
After advising Yun and other principals that the possibility of Emergent’s bankruptcy might make it inadvisable for him to serve as the CFO of Emergent and EAM, 9 Kwon revoked his acceptance of the position of CFO of Emergent. (Id. ¶ 24; see also Petriello Decl. Ex. B at 105-07.) Instead, Yun agreed to appoint Kwon vice president of Emergent until the bankruptcy issue became clearer. (Kwon Opp. Aff. ¶ 25.) Accordingly, Kwon, Emergent, ECIM, and EAM agreed that Kwon would serve as a consultant to Emergent and as CFO of ECIM and EAM, and that he would be granted equity interests in Emergent and EAM, while his salary would be paid by ECIM rather than Emergent. 10 (Id. ¶¶ 25-26 & Ex. K; Petriello Decl. Ex. C; cf. Yun 56.1 Stmt. ¶¶ 7-8.) Despite these changes, Kwon oversaw accounting matters for Emergent until December 2001. 11 (Kwon Opp. Aff. ¶27; see also id. Ex. O.)
In keeping with the foregoing arrangement, on September 1, 2001, Kwon entered into another agreement by which he would be employed as a consultant to Emergent. (Id. Ex. C; see also id. ¶ 26.) Shortly after Kwon signed the agreement, Yun decided to separate his business interests from Waldron’s and to move Emergent’s headquarters to California, the location of its sole operating subsidiary. (Id. ¶ 40; see also id. Ex. J.) By Kwon’s account, because he did not want to move to California and work solely for Waldron, he and Yun agreed that he would continue to be employed by ECIM in New York, that he would not work for Emergent, and that Yun would not submit the consulting agreement to Emergent’s Board for approval. (Id. ¶¶ 41, 43; cf. Yun 56.1 Stmt. ¶ 8.) Thus, on October 11, 2001, Kwon “rescinded his acceptance,” noting that the “Board of Directors ha[d] yet to approve the Agrеement or set a date to review the Agreement” and the agreement was therefore not yet effective. 12 (Petriello Decl. Ex. D; see also Kwon Opp. Aff. ¶ 42.)
In addition to his involvement in Emergent, ECIM, and EAM, Kwon also was engaged with two other Emergent entities. On September 1, 2001, he helped form Emergent Advisory, LLC (later named Voyager Advisors, LLC), a Delaware Limited Liability Company. (Id. Ex. K at 2.) Based on the governing operating agreement, Kwon was to be the initial and sole manager of the company, as well as its president and CFO. (Id. at 2, 4.) At the end of September 2001, however, Kwon transitioned from his role as the initial and sole manager of Emergent Advisory to become merely one of several managers of the company. (See generally id. Ex. K.) He also resigned as president, though he maintained his position as CFO. (Id.) As of Marсh 2003, Kwon was still employed by Emergent Advisory. (Cf. id. Ex. 55.) Additionally, in December 2001, after resigning from ECIM, 13 Kwon became an employee of Metedeconk and an officer of Voyager. (Id. ¶ 52.) During that time, Yun informed him that Metedeconk received financing derived from Millennium’s management fees. (Id. ¶ 53.) For its part, Voyager entered into an agreement to manage approximately $40 million in assets for Millennium. This agreement was intended to give Voyager the required assets (i.e., more than $25 million) to qualify as a SEC-registered investment advisor. (Id. ¶ 55.) Investment management fees from Millennium would eventually be paid directly to Endurance Advisors, Limited, which in turn would pay Voyager. (Id. ¶ 56.)
B. Kwon’s Resignation
From August to December 2001, Kwon had limited involvement in managing Millennium.
(Id.
¶ 57.) Instead, Yun held primary responsibility for such management and, with the exception of Millennium’s brokerage statements, kept all corporate records related to Millennium on his individual computer, rather than on the main computer server, where corporate records for Emergent and ECIM, among others, were stored.
(Id.)
In connection with a January 2002 negotiation of a proposed stock margin loan between Merrill Lynch and Millennium, Kwon renewed his inquiries regarding the beneficial owner of Millennium and the legality of its organization.
(Id.
¶¶ 58-63.) In response to these inquiries, Yun represented that the owner was ASPAM Ltd., a Hong Kong corporation, that no written or oral agreements existed with a Korean public company named SK Global, and that the law firm of
In contrast to the foregoing, various emails bеtween Yun and Hye Min Kang of SK Global suggest that Emergent had a relationship with SK Global as early as June 2000. (Id. Exs. 6-7.) In one e-mail, Yun says “[w]e are looking forward to a long and mutually profitable relationship between Emergent and SK Global.” (Id. Ex. 6.) A subsequent e-mail dated July 5, 2000, indicates that the EmergenWSK Global relationship pertained to the establishment of Millennium-. (Id. Ex. 7.) In response to Kang’s request that Emergent “change the 2nd company name from EC Pacific to Millennium Heritage” (id. at 2), the email states: “We are [proceeding] with establishing Millennium Heritage, Limited (possibly ‘Millennium Heritage Fund, Limited’) in the Cayman Islands. We are evaluating how much longer it would take if we incorporate the word ‘Fund.’ If the delay is significant, we will proceed using the name Millennium Heritage, Limited.... Once I have confirmation on the exact name of our second entity, I will be faxing over the documents to register with the Korean securities commission.” (Id. at 1.)
A June 27, 2000, agreement between Emergent Management Company LLC and SK Global accords with these documents. (Id. Ex. 8.) Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, “SK Global ... agree[s] to appoint Emergent Management Company LLC ... to manage a trading portfolio to be situated in the British Virgin Islands. The sole purpose of the Fund will be to manage assets on behalf of SK.” 14 (Id.) A March 14, 2001, letter from Yun to Kang discussing Emergent’s management fee confirms that the companies’ relationship extended into 2001, and was expected to continue at least through the end of that year. (Id. Ex. 16.) Following that letter, SK Global submitted to Yun for his signature a management agreement substantially similar to the June 27, 2000, agreement. (Id. Ex. 19.) Yun signеd the agreement and returned it the same day. (Id.) On July 6, 2001, he explicitly confirmed that the relationship with SK Global had, in fact, taken off when he wrote to Waldron: “I will work with Dan G to start trading our Mammoth account more actively. If we show decent performance, we should be able to get several millions more from SK.” (Id. Ex. 108 (emphasis added).)
After Korean prosecutors announced the indictment of certain SK Global officers for accounting fraud, an internal memorandum prepared by Kwon and other Emergent officials at Yun’s request addressed defendants’ potential civil and criminal liability as organizers and managers of Millennium. (Id. Ex. 55; see also id. ¶¶ 85-87.) In particular, it considered the potential exposure associated with misrepresenting the beneficial owner of a special purpose finance vehicle and concluded that such exposure was “serious.” (Id. Ex. 55; see also id. ¶¶ 85-87.) The memo also noted that “even if a person were eventually found innocent of such charges his reputation would • be. severely damaged and he would face difficulty finding future employment in the financial services field.” (Id. Ex. 55.)
After defendants’ counsel Martin Stein opined that wrongdoings related to Millennium likely would not be prosecuted if Millennium had no further presence in the U.S. and no one in the U.S. had been harmed, Yun and Stein began contemplat
After resigning from Voyager, Kwon informed Yun that Yun’s plans to transfer Millennium’s assets might constitute money laundering or otherwise violate the law. (Kwon Opp. Aff. ¶ 108.) Yun, however, responded that if he did not cover up his wrongdoing in organizing and operating Millennium, he would be imprisoned for a long time. (Id. ¶ 109-10.) Shortly thereafter, Kwon resigned from Metedeconk and cooperated in an investigation conducted by the United States Attorney’s Office. 15 (Id. ¶¶ 112-18; cf. Yun 56.1 Stmt. ¶ 9; Stein Decl. Ex. 4.) Because he could not take any actions that would disturb this investigation, Kwon maintains he was precluded from using contacts with former colleagues, board members, business associates and vendors to aid in his search for new employment. (Kwon Opp. Aff. ¶¶ 117-18.) With the exception of two temporary consulting assignments for which he was paid approximately $190,000 from April 2003 to December 2006, between the time of Kwon’s resignation and his January 2007 deposition, he did not receive any substantive job interviews or secure, or engage in negotiations for, a job offer. (Id. ¶¶ 119-20.)
III. The Metedeconk Loan
A. Metedeconk’s Alleged Representations
According to Kwon, after Kwon expressed his desire to move into a larger apartment in March 2002, Yun visited a number of apartments with Kwon and, encouraging Kwon to accept one of the apartments on the spot, represented that he was going to increase Kwon’s compensation significantly and that Metedeconk would loan Kwon money against his future cash bonuses. (Id. ¶¶ 71-73.) Yun promised that he would pay Kwon sufficient cash bonuses to repay the entire principal and interest on the contemplated loan. (Id. ¶ 73.) Based on these promises, Kwon agreed to rent the apartment and, upon returning to the office, Yun transferred $100,000 to Kwon’s personal checking account as the first installment of the loan. (Id. ¶ 74.) Kwon received further loan installments until March 2003, and regularly discussed his living expenses and budget with Yun during that time. (Id. ¶ 75.) Yun told Kwon that a fair compensation for him would be $400,000 base salary plus cash and stock bonuses, and also repeated his promise that Kwon would receive sufficient bonuses in the future to repay the principal and interest on the outstanding loan. (Id. ¶¶ 75-76.)
None of these promises, however, appears in either of the promissory notes
(id.
¶ 79), or in any other writing. Kwon affirms that this is because the parties had not yet determined which entity would pay his bonus, and because the notes were to be amended or replaced in connection with revised shareholder and employment agreements between Kwon and Voyager.
(Id.
¶¶ 77, 79.) Ultimately, the business necessary to make Voyager a viable,
B. The Promissory Notes
In total, Kwon borrowed $390,000 from Metedeconk. (Kwon Dep. 142-43.) The loan was memorialized in two promissory notes (the “Notes”) and a security agreement, none of which defendants have produced. The first promissory note, dated March 15, 2002, had an outstanding principal of $300,000, a maturity of five years, and an interest rate of 8% per annum. (Stein Deck Ex. 5 at 1.) The second promissory note, dated January 15, 2003, also had a maturity of five years and an interest rate of 8% per annum. (Id. Ex. 6 at 1.) Its principal amount, however, was $90,000. (See id.) For both Notes, the principal and interest are due only upon maturity. (Id. Exs. 5-6.) In addition, each of the Notes contains the following provision:
10. Amendment; Entire Agreement, (a) This Note may not be changed, waived, modified or discharged orally but only by an agreement in writing, signed by the party against whom enforcement of any such change, waiver, modification or discharge is sought. This Note may not be assigned by Borrower or Lender. This Note shall be binding on Borrower and shall inure to the benefit of Lender.
(b) This Note represents the agreement of Borrower and Lender with respect to the subject matter hereof, and there are no promises, undertakings, representations or warranties by Lender relative to the subject matter hereof not expressly set forth or referred to herein or in the other Loan Documents.
(Id; Kwon Opp. Aff. Ex. H at 2.)
According to Metedeconk, the $390,000 loan was never cancelled or distributed to any of its members. (Yun Reply Deck ¶ 3.) While Kwon disputes this fact, he acknowledges that the Notes were executed and delivered (Am. Comply 55), and that he has not repaid any оf the principal or interest on the $390,000. (Kwon Dep. 142-43.)
IV. The Parties’ Contentions
Kwon argues that he was harmed by the defendants’ false representations concerning “the financial security and stability of [his] employment^] ... the beneficial owner of [Millennium, and] ... the bona-fide nature of the structured finance transaction [that allegedly created Millennium],” as well as the false representation “that all [of Millennium’s] activities were legal and vetted by counsel.” (Kwon Dep. 220.) In an effort to remedy these harms, he asserts claims of fraud, negligent misrepresentation, aiding and abetting fraud, and civil conspiracy. He also contends that he is entitled to have the Notes memorializing the $390,000 loan declared null and void on fraudulent inducement or promissory estoppel grounds, or — in the alternative — to have Metedeconk’s counterclaim dismissed because the claim does not accord with the pleadings, Metedeconk lacks capacity to sue, and Metedeconk has not complied with the Uniform Commercial Code’s requirements for suing on a lost or destroyed negotiable instrument.
Defendants argue that they are entitled to summary judgment on Kwon’s claims because they did not owe plaintiff any special duty, plaintiffs reliance on any al
DISCUSSION
I. Summary Judgment Standard
Summary judgment is appropriate where “the pleadings, the discovery and disclosure materials on file, and any affidavits show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). The party moving for summary judgment bears the “burden of showing that no genuine issue of material fact exists and that the undisputed facts entitle it to judgment as a matter of law.”
Rule v. Brine, Inc.,
Once the moving party has satisfied its burden, the burden then shifts to the non-moving party to come forward with affidavits, depositions, interrogatories or other sworn evidence sufficient to create a genuine issue of material fact for trial.
See
Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e)(2);
see also Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co., Ltd. v. Zenith Radio Corp.,
In ruling on a motion for summary judgment, a court must construe all evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, including resolving all ambiguities and drawing all factual inferences in the nonmoving party’s favor.
Rule,
II. Kwon’s Claims
A. Negligent Misrepresentation
Defendants argue that because plaintiff has not shown the existence of a fiduciary or “special” relationship between the parties, his negligent misrepresentation claim must be dismissed. (Yun Mem. 18-19; Emergent Mem. 10-11.) Plaintiff, however, contends that defendants owed him a special duty of care because in 2001 he was a prospective shareholder of EAM and the sole member оf Voyager. 16 (P. Opp. Mem. 21-22.) As the relationship giving rise to the harm that plaintiff seeks to redress is an employer-employee relationship, plaintiffs argument must be rejected.
To prevail on a claim for negligent misrepresentation, a plaintiff must show: “(1) the defendant had a duty, as a result of a special relationship, to give correct information; (2) the defendant made a false representation that he or she should have known was incorrect; (3) the information supplied in the representation was known by the defendant to be desired by the plaintiff for a serious purpose; (4) the plaintiff intended to rely and act upon it; and (5) the plaintiff reasonably relied on it to his or her detriment.”
Hydro Investors, Inc. v. Trafalgar Power Inc.,
Although plaintiff argues that a special relationship is created by his status as a prospective stock purchaser, this argument is unpersuasive. The thrust of the harm plaintiff alleges is not that defendants’ misrepresentations induced him to purchase stock and he suffered some consequent injury. Instead, it is that defendants made various representations to induce him to accept their offers of employment and, those representations having proven to be false, caused him to suffer certain employment-related harms. The relationship at issue is therefore the emрloyer-employee relationship. As courts have routinely held that the employer-employee relationship does not constitute a special relationship sufficient to support a claim for negligent misrepresentation, plaintiffs negligent misrepresentation claim is not viable as a matter of law.
See Stewart,
B. Fraudulent Inducement
To make out a claim for fraud, Kwon must prove: (1) the defendants made a material misrepresentation or omission of fact; (2) that they knew to be false; (3) which was intended to induce his reliance; (4) upon which he reasonably relied; and (5) that he was injured as a consequence of that reliance.
See Wynn v. AC Rochester,
1. Reasonable Reliance
“Under New York law, a plaintiff [asserting a common law fraud claim] must establish that his reliance was justifiable, both in the sense that [he] was justified in believing the representation and that he was justified in acting upon it.”
Compania Sud-Americana de Vapores, S.A. v. IBJ Schroder Bank & Trust Co.,
There are two situations in which a merger clause will defeat a claim of reasonable reliance. The first is where a “merger clause expressly references a specific subject of prior representations.”
Century Pacific, Inc. v. Hilton Hotels Corp.,
The October 25, 2001, release signed by Kwon and Yun, among others, says that “each of the parties to this agreement has been, or is currently, involved in business dealings with one or more of the other parties to this agreement and/or with entities with which one or more of the other parties is affiliated.” (Stein Decl. Ex. 11 at 1.) In light of these relationships, it notes “the intention and desire of all of the parties to this agreement to memorialize in writing all of [the] various business relationships, rights and obligations which each of them may have with respect to any of the other parties to the agreement; and to release each other from any and all obligations which are not set forth in writing.” (Id.) It goes on to state that each party to the agreement “releases each of the other parties to th[e] agreement (and each entity in which such other party is a principal) from any and all claims, obligations, promises, agreements or representations which are not set forth in writing and signed by such other party (or entity in which such other party is a principal).” (Id. at 1-2.) The agreement contains a merger clause stating that it constitutes the parties’ “entire understanding” and supercedes all non-written prior agreements, as well as a disclaimer of any party’s reliance on any oral or written representations “in connection with this agreement.” (Id. at 2.)
Kwon maintains that this release was not intended to apply to his employment relationship with defendants, but rather to certain business dealings related to the separation of Yuris and Waldron’s business interests, or to Jordan. (Kwon Opp. Aff. ¶¶ 44^16.) In support of this argument, he notes that at least four other signatories were not employees of the various defendant entities, and that all of the signatories were principals of Emergent or ECIM. (Id. ¶ 46; cf. id. Ex. N.) As the scope of the agreement, which uses the term “business dealings” rather than “employment,” is not apparent from its face, defendants have not shown that the release renders plaintiffs reliance unreasonable as a matter of law. Contrary to defendants’ argument (see Yun Mem. 17), the mere fact that plaintiff signed (but later rescinded) a separate consulting agreement that also contained a merger clause does not preclude a reasonable fact-finder from concluding that the October 2001 agreement did not apply to plaintiffs employment. For these reasons, the parties’ conflicting theories raise a genuine issue of material fact requiring resolution by a factfinder.
Even if the October 2001 release applied to plaintiffs employment with defendants, a general merger clause like the one appearing in the release is insufficient to defeat a claim of fraudulent inducement. It is well-established that where a contract contains a merger clause' — a recitation that the written document reflects the entirety of the parties’ agreement — “parol evidence is not admissible to vary, or permit escape from, the terms of the integrated contract.”
Mfrs. Hanover Trust Co. v. Yanakas,
The second instance in which a general merger clause defeats a claim of reasonable reliance is equally inapplicable. Assuming that there is a written agreement that applies to- plaintiffs employment, the scope of an employment contract generally is limited to the terms and conditions of an employee’s engagement with his employer. Accordingly, representations concerning the structure or legality of the employer’s operations, or the beneficial owner of one of the employer’s funds, can hardly be considered material to the terms and conditions of one’s employment. It is doubtful that even sophisticated parties would interpret the omission of such representations from an employment contract as notice that the representations might be untrue. Thus, because defendants have not shown that plaintiffs reliance on their alleged misrepresentations was unreasonable as a matter of law, their motion for summary judgment on this ground fails. 17
2. Causation
In order for a plaintiff to succeed on a fraud claim, he also must prove both transaction and loss causation.
See, e.g., Solar Travel,
Defendants argue that plaintiff has not “allege[d] that the facts allegedly concealed by the Yun defendants, once revealed, caused him to lose his job, rendered defendants unable to pay him, or caused others to refuse to hire him.” (Yun Mem. 13.) Emergent further argues that because Kwon was never its employee, any income he lost is traceable, if at all, to other entities, and not to Emergent. 19 (Emergent Mem. 9-10.) These arguments, however, misconstrue the nature of plaintiffs alleged loss. The thrust of the injury plaintiff claims is not that he lost his job with defendants, but that defendants’ misrepresentations caused him to give up his job at New Valley and undermined his legitimate professional growth and reputation, given that neither Emergent nor any of the other defendant entities possessed, or was affiliated with, an investment fund of the quality allegedly represented to plaintiff. (See, e.g., P. Opp. Mem. 22-23.) Had plaintiff been aware of the true facts frоm the outset, he likely would have chosen to remain at New Valley.
To some extent, the harm to plaintiff occurred the moment he gave up his position at New Valley for a job with defendants. That plaintiff voluntarily revoked his acceptance of positions as Emergent’s CFO and as its consultant does not necessarily render his' loss attributable to his own actions. Plaintiff has given sworn testimony to the effect that these changes in employment were .amendments to the original agreement designed to accommodate Emergent’s precarious position with respect to bankruptcy, EAM’s unique considerations given a prior change in control, the separation of Yun’s and Waldron’s business interests, and the relocation of Emergent’S' headquarters to California. (See Kwon Opp. Aff. ¶¶ 23-26, 40-43; Kwon Dep. 105-07; Petriello Decl. Ex. D.) Indeed, there is evidence suggesting that the original agreement itself contemplated that Kwon would be employed not just with Emergent, but in several capacities across the related entities. (See, e.g., Kwon Opp. Aff. Exs. O, 108, 115.) Although a factfinder would not be required to find that Emergent took the lead in determining how the affiliated entities might best use plaintiffs skills, and in adjusting the use of those skills according to the entities’ shifting needs, plaintiff has advanced evidence that would permit it to do so.
In light of the foregoing, a reasonable factfinder also could conclude that plaintiffs resignation from New Valley was a foreseeable consequence — and indeed the intended consequence — of Yun’s alleged misrepresentations. As courts havе held,
While defendants have thus failed to establish the absence of loss causation with respect to plaintiffs foregone professional oрportunities at New Valley, they are correct that loss causation cannot be proven with respect to plaintiffs claimed harm to his professional reputation and consequent inability to secure new employment. Contrary to defendants’ assertion (Yun Mem. 14-15), plaintiffs sworn testimony that he could not find work because he had “worked at many different jobs in [his] career” (Kwon Dep. 32-33) does not necessarily preclude him from establishing that his affiliation with defendants prevented him from securing full-time employment. However, plaintiff has advanced no other evidence that would permit a reasonable factfinder to conclude that this affiliation is, in fact, the reason he has not obtained such employment. Plaintiff admitted that he could not recall whether an employer specifically refused him employment because of his experience with defendants. (Kwon Dep. 31-32.) While he presumably could have subpoenaed third parties to testify regarding
their
knowledge of employers’ motivations for denying him employment, he apparently has taken no such action. Absent any evidence linking the fact of his continued unemployment to his engagement with defendants, plaintiff has failed to establish a basis upon which a reasonable trier of fact could find in his favor. To permit him to argue causation from the mere fact that he has remained unemployed despite bona fide efforts to find employment would contravene established precedent holding that a nonmovant cannot defeat a motion for summаry judgment “merely ... on the basis of conjecture or surmise.”
Trans Sport,
Emergent argues that it cannot be held vicariously liable under plaintiffs asserted causes of action because any representations made by Yun were not within the scope of his authority. (Emergent Mem. 7-8.) Because principles of agency are not the only possible basis for Emergent’s liability, Emergent’s motion for summary judgment is denied.
It is well-settled that a principal is liable only for the conduct of an agent acting within the scope of his actual or apparent authority.
See, e.g., Barone v. Marone,
No. 04 Civ.2001,
Presumably, defendants’ arguments against agency liability are based on plaintiffs failure to make any showing that Emergent, as the principal, took some misleading action that caused Kwon to rely upon Yun’s misrepresentations.
(Cf.
Yun Mem. 8.) Assuming, arguendo, that defendants are correct, they still have not demonstrated that, as a matter of law, they are exempt from liability on other grounds. The principal-agent relationship is but one basis for vicarious liability. Regardless of whether Kwon can demonstrate Yun’s apparent authority, under the doctrine of
respondeat superior,
Emergent can be held liable for torts committed by its officers or employees while those officers or employees are acting within the scope of their employment.
See Annunziata v. City of New York,
No. 06 Civ. 7637,
Although “[a]n employer will not be held liable under this doctrine for actions which were not taken in furtherance of the employer’s interests and which were undertaken by the employee for wholly personal motives,”
Adorno v. Correctional Servs. Corp.,
In determining whether a tortious act was committed within the scope of employment, the New York Court of Appeals has identified several factors as relevant: (1) “the connection betwеen the time, place and occasion for the act,” (2) “the history of the relationship between employer and employee as spelled out in actual practice,” (3) “whether the act is one commonly done by such an employee,” (4) “the extent of departure from normal methods of performance,” and (5) “whether the specific act was one that the employer could reasonably have anticipated.”
Riviello,
The record in this matter contains sufficient evidence to support a finding that Yun acted in Emergent’s interests when he made representations concerning Millennium’s organization, beneficial ownership, and relationship to the defendant entities. At the time Yun made the alleged misrepresentations, he was Chairman of the Board of Emergent. (Kwon Opp. Aff. Exs. O, 174.) In extending Emergent’s initial offer to employ Kwon as its CFO, Yun wrote to Kwon using Emergent letterhead.
21
(Petriello Decl. Ex. A.) Although the Board was required to approve the offer
(see id.),
these actions suggest that the Board was well aware that Yun would be extending offers of employment in his capacity as Chairman. This is not a situation in which Yun’s actions were shrouded in secrecy, thus casting doubt on their legitimacy. To the contrary, Yun appears to have discussed plaintiffs offer of employment, as well as plaintiffs potential duties, with other officials affiliated with the defendants.
(See
Kwon Opp. Aff. Exs. O, 108.) Moreover, it is not unreasonable to conclude that an employee or
While Emergent suggests that it cannot be held liable for harm caused by the alleged misrepresentations because the misrepresentations pertained to entities other than Emergent or because Kwon was never actually employed by Emergent (Emergent Mem. 9-10; Emergent Reply Mem. 4), these arguments are meritless. According to Kwon, the changes in his employment arrangements with Emergent and the Yun defendants were nothing more than amendments made to account for Emergent’s potential bankruptcy, EAM’s unique needs resulting from a prior change in control, the separation of Yun’s and Waldron’s business interests, and the relocation of Emergent’s headquarters to California. (See Kwon Opp. Aff. ¶¶ 23-26, 4CM3; Kwon Dep. 105-07; Petriello Decl. Ex. D.) Kwon’s theory that his involvement with Emergent was intended to include involvement in several related entities is corroborated not only by documents indicating that he was expected to serve as Emergent’s CFO, and as the CFO of ECIM, EAM, and Voyager (see Kwon Opp. Aff. Exs. K, O, 115), but also by a July 6, 2001, e-mail from Yun to Waldron, which stated: “Spoke to Byong for at least an hour last night. The more I speak to him, the more I think he’s a good addition to Emergent as the “CFO” of all of our entities.” (Kwon Opp. Aff. Ex. 108.) On this theory, it was in Emergent’s interests for Kwon to become employed by the defendants and Yun’s alleged misrepresentations induced him to do so. While a jury may well reject the theory, resolution of the matter requires credibility determinations properly reserved for a factfinder. Emergent has therefore failed to demonstrate that it cannot be held liable as a matter of law. Accordingly, its motion for summary judgment is denied as to the issue of vicarious liability.
III. Metedeconk’s Counterclaim
A. Leave To Amend
Plaintiff argues that because Metedeconk’s counterclaim refers to his $390,000 loan as a “demand loan” and he never borrowed money from Metedeconk as a demand loan, the counterclaim should be dismissed. (P. Mem. 2-3.) Metedeconk, however, argues that defendants have referenced the promissory notes at issue on numerous occasions and plaintiff is therefore precluded from arguing that he has no knowledge of the basis of its claim. (Metedeconk Opp. 2-3.) Metedeconk emphasizes that it utilized the phrase “demand loan” in the first instance only because it does not possess signed copies of the promissory notes on which it is suing.
(See id.)
In response to plaintiffs contentions, Metedeconk now moves to amend its second counterclaim to reflect its intention to sue on the Notes.
(See id.
at 4-6.) As a court may grant leave to amend and may at the same time consider that amendment on a motion for summary judgment,
see, e.g., Cline v. 1-888-PLUMBING Group, Inc.,
“The Supreme Court has interpreted Rule 15 to permit ... amendments when the party seeking the amendment has not unduly delayed, the party is not acting in bad faith or with a dilatory motive, the opposing party will not be unduly prejudiced, and the amendment is not futile.”
Cline,
B. Capacity To Sue
Plaintiff argues that his motion for summary judgment should be granted because Metedeconk, a Delaware LLC, was dissolved in December 2003 and therefore lacks capacity to sue. (P. Mem. 4-6.) Although Metedeconk argues that, pursuant to 6 Delaware Code § 18-805, the Delaware Chancery Court has appointed Yun sole trustee of Metedeconk, including for the purpose of pursuing the debt that Metedeconk alleges Kwon owes it (see Stein Supp. Deck Ex. 8; Metedeconk Mem. 6-7), plaintiff contends that — similar to 8 Delaware Code § 279 — § 18-805 does not permit a court to revive a dissolved Delaware LLC. (P. Reply Mem. 3-5.) Because plaintiffs reading of § 18-805 not only ignores meaningful differences between § 18-805 and § 279, but also misconstrues applicable precedent, his motion for summary judgment on this ground is denied.
As an initial matter, plaintiffs argument founders on the simple fact that the Delaware Chancery Court issued a final judgment and order appointing Yun trustee for Metedeconk and permitting him “to act in Metedeсonk’s name in all judicial proceedings,” including the instant proceeding. (Stein Supp. Deck Ex. 8.) In doing so, the Chancery Court implicitly concluded that § 18-805 may be applied to “revive” an otherwise dead entity for purposes of prosecuting and defending suits. While plaintiff urges this Court to hold that the Chancery Court misread its own state statute, this Court defers to the judgment of the Delaware courts, which have far more expertise in construing their own law and are widely recognized as leaders in the area of corporate law. Even if the Court were to decide the issue de novo, however, it would reject plaintiffs reading of the statute for the reasons discussed below.
According to Delaware law:
When the certificate of formation of any limited liability company formed under this chapter shall be canceled by the filing of a certificate of cancellation pursuant to § 18-203 of this title, the Court of Chancery, on application of any creditor, member or manager of the limited liability company, or any other personwho shows good cause therefore, at any time, may either appoint 1 or more of the managers of the limited liability company to be trustees, or appoint 1 or more persons to be receivers, of and for the limited liability company, to take charged of the limited liability company’s property, and to collect the debts and property due and belonging to the limited liability company, with the power to prosecute and defend, in the name of the limited liability company, or otherwise, all such suits as may be necessary or proper for the purposes aforesaid, and to appoint an agent or agents under them, and to do all other acts which might be done by the limited liability company, if in being, that may be necessary for the final settlement of the unfinished business of the limited liability company. The powers of the trustees or receivers may be continued as long as the Court of Chancery shall think necessary for the purposes aforesaid.
6 Del. C. § 18-805.
In light of the absence of case law construing § 18-805, plaintiff argues that because it “was modeled upon, and contains language identical to the long established, parallel provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”), [§ 279],” § 18-805 should be interpreted in accordance with case law concluding that § 279 cannot revive a dissolved corporation beyond the statutory wind-up period. (P. Reply. Mem. 3-5.) This argument is not, however, supported by the texts of § 18-805 and § 279, their underlying statutory schemes, or applicable case law.
According to § 279:
When any corporation organized under this chapter shall be dissolved in any manner whatever, the Court of Chancery, on application of any creditor, stockholder or director of the corporation, or any other person who shows good cause therefor, at any time, may either appoint 1 or more of the directors of the corporation to be trustees, or appoint 1 or more persons to be receivers, of and for the corporation, to take charge of the corporation’s prоperty, and to collect the debts and property due and belonging to the corporation, with power to prosecute and defend, in the name of the corporation, or otherwise, all such suits as may be necessary or proper for the purposes aforesaid, and to appoint an agent or agents under them, and to do all other acts which might be done by the corporation, if in being, that may be necessary for the final settlement of the unfinished business of the corporation. The powers of the trustees or receivers may be continued as long as the Court of Chancery shall think necessary for the purposes aforesaid.
8 DeLCode § 279. § 278 of the same title provides for a statutory wind-up period in which corporations, whether they are dissolved or expire by their own limitations, are continued for three years from the date of dissolution or expiration for purposes of prosecuting and defending suits or otherwise winding up their affairs. See 8 Del.Code § 278.
Unlike § 279, § 18-805 is not part of a statutory scheme that provides for a definitive wind-up period. Although § 18-803 contemplates that “the persons winding up the limited liability company’s affairs” may “prosecute and defend suits” “[u]pon dissolution of [the company] and until the filing of a certificate of cancellation as provided in § 18-203 of this title,” § 18-805 appears to qualify the time limitation on an LLC’s ability to prosecute and defend suits by permitting the Court of Chancery to appoint a trustee “[w]hen the certificate of formation of any [LLC] formed under this chapter shall be canсeled by the filing of a certificate of cancellation pursuant to § 18-203 of this title.”
In
United States v. McDonald & Eide, Inc.,
Although the Chancery Court mentioned § 279 in
In re Citadel Industries, Inc.,
This Court need not decide whether § 279 would permit appointment of a trustee to collect on the Notes if Metedeconk were a dissolved corporation. It is clear that nothing in the cases cited by plaintiff supports his contention that § 18-805 precludes such action in the case of a dissolved LLC. The plain language of the statute permits appointment of a trustee, and does not limit the time during which that authority can be exercised. Moreover, the Delaware Chancery Court has construed its own state law to permit the аppointment of a trustee in this very case. Under these circumstances, there is no basis for this Court to give the statute a different construction. For the foregoing reasons, Metedeconk possesses capacity to sue and plaintiffs motion for summary judgment is therefore denied on this ground.
C. Promissory Estoppel
“A cause of action for promissory estoppel under New York law re
D. Breach of Contract
To establish a prima facie сase for recovery under a promissory note, Metedeconk must “show proof of a note and failure to make payment.”
Camofi Master LDC v. College Partnership, Inc.,
Here, Kwon does not dispute that he borrowed $390,000 pursuant to two promissory notes with fixed maturity dates and interest rates (see P. Mem. 2; cf. Am. Compl. ¶ 55), or that he has failed to make any payments on either note. Instead, he argues that defendants have not complied with Section 3-804 of the Uniform Commercial Code, that they either cancelled or voluntarily distributed the Loan, and that they fraudulently induced him to enter into the agreements. 23 (P. Mem. 4; P. Opp. Mem. 3-5, 7-11.)
1. Loss of Executed Loan Agreement
“Under Article 3 of the New York Codification of the Uniform Commercial Code (“N.Y.U.C.C.”) (Mc[K]inney 1991), promissory notes constitute valid negotiable instruments if they contain an unconditional promise to pay a sum certain, are signed by the maker, and are payable to order or bearer on demand or at a definite time.”
Cavendish Traders, Ltd. v. Nice Skate Shoes, Ltd.,
§ 3-804 provides that:
The owner of an instrument which is lost, whether by destruction, theft or otherwise, may maintain an action in his own name and recover from any party liable thereon upon due proof of his ownership, the facts which prevent his production of the instrument and its terms. The court shall require security, in an amount fixed by the court not less than twice the amount allegedly unpaid on the instrument, indemnifying the defendant, his heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns against loss, including costs and expenses, by reason of further claims on the instrument, but this provision does not apply where an action is prosecuted or defended by the state or by a public officer in its behalf.
N.Y.U.C.C. § 3-804. Because Metedeconk has not produced an executed copy of the Notes, its attempt to recover on the Notes is governed by § 3-804.
Although Metedeconk has not posted security, it is unclear whether the posting of security is mandatory or merely discretionary. The provision’s use of the word “shall” rather than “may” supports plaintiffs contention that the posting of security is a mandatory requirement. The Official Comment to § 3-804, however, suggests that the requirement is discretionary.
See id.
(“There may be cases in which so much time has elapsed, or there is so little possible doubt as to the destruction of the instrument and its ownership that there is no good reason to require the security. The requirement is therefore not an absolute one, and the matter is left to the discretion of the court.”) The applicable case law also is inconsistent.
See Citibank, N.A. v. Benedict,
No. 97 Civ. 9541,
While the question is a close one, the Court concludes that, on balance, there is no reasonable ground for requiring security here. This litigation has been pending for more than four years. No other party has asserted any claim based on the Notes, and' — aside from plaintiffs claim that the Notes were distributed to a member of Metedeconk — there is no evidence that the Notes have been negotiated or transferred to any other party. Moreover, Kwon does
Even if the Court determined that the posting of security was mandatory, the correct remedy would be to require Metedeconk to post security, not to dismiss its claim. That plaintiff does not request that Metedeconk be required to cure its purported defect, but instead requests only that the action be dismissed, suggests that his reliance on § 3-804’s security requirement is nothing more than an attempt to escape undisputed obligations on the basis of a mere technicality. A debtor may not, howevеr, rely on such a technical and eminently curable procedural defect to avoid payment of a just debt. For these reasons, plaintiffs motion for summary judgment is denied in this respect.
2. Cancellation or Distribution of Loan
Plaintiff also contends that Metedeconk either cancelled or voluntarily distributed the Loan upon dissolution. (P. Opp. Mem. 3-5.) In support of this argument, he cites a list of assets created by Metedeconk in 2002 that omits the Loan, and an account ledger purporting to show may be entitled to relief, but any such damages must be set off by amounts Kwon did receive, in the form of a loan that has never been repaid, unless defendants have since negotiated or distributed the Notes to another party.
For these reasons, defendants are granted summary judgment as to plaintiffs fraudulent inducement defense.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, defendants’ motion for summary judgment is granted with respect to plaintiffs negligent misrepresentation claim, as well as his claim that his affiliation with defendants has prevented him from obtaining full-time employment, but denied in all other respects. Defendants’ motion to amend the second counterclaim is granted, and defendants are granted summary judgment as to plaintiffs promissory estoppel and fraudulent inducement counterclaim defenses. Plaintiffs motion for summary judgment is denied in all respects.
SO ORDERED.
Notes
. By stipulation of the parties, on May 22, 2006, the Yun defendants' first counterclaim was dismissed with prejudice. (See Kwon Aff. Ex. C.)
. For citation purposes, Kwon Opp. Aff. refers to Plaintiff's Affirmation in Opposition to Motion for Summary Judgment by Defendant Emergent Group Inc. With the exceptiоn of one paragraph (¶ 122), this affirmation appears to mirror Plaintiff’s Affirmation in Opposition to Motions for Summary Judgment by the Yun Defendants and Defendant Emergent Group Inc. Petriello Decl. refers to the Declaration of John Petriello dated April 14, 2008. Petriello Supp. Decl. refers to the Declaration of John Petriello dated May 30, 2008. Stein Decl. refers to the Declaration of Martin Stein dated April 4, 2008. Stein Supp. Decl. refers to the Declaration of Martin Stein dated May 7, 2008. Yun Decl. refers to the Declaration of Daniel Yun dated April 4, 2008. Yun Reply Decl. refers to the Reply Declaration of Daniel Yun dated May 27, 2008.
.Yun continued in his capacity as an Emergent director until August 2004. (Am. Compl. ¶ 7; Answer ¶ 3.)
.Although the Yun defendants appear to take the position that Kwon sought employment with Emergent because he wanted to spend more time in New York (Yun Mem. 5; Kwon Dep. 58), Kwon disputes this fact and notes that by the time he began employment talks with Emergent, he was already living in New York. (Kwon Opp. Aff. ¶ 8.)
. Although not a party to this litigation, Jordan, or EAM, was another business entity in which Yun and Kwon were involved.
. It appears that Yee's move to California may have been temporary. (See Kwon Opp. Aff. Ex. O.)
. Emergent had, however, recently acquired a medical services company in the hopes of turning itself around. (Kwon Opp. Aff. ¶ 14.)
. At the time of his resignation, Kwon was earning $400,000 per year, which consisted of a base salary of $200,000 and a cash bonus of $200,000. (Kwon Opp. Aff. ¶ 21.)
. Because a prior change in control forced EAM to seek client approval in order to continue its invеstment management contracts, Kwon was concerned that EAM might find it difficult to renew contracts with pension fund clients if he was not only EAM's CFO, but also the CFO of an affiliated bankrupt company. (Kwon Opp. Aff. ¶ 24.)
. That this arrangement was more of an amendment to Kwon’s previous offer of employment than a revocation and unrelated subsequent offer of employment with other Emergent entities is supported by an October 11, 2001, letter, in which Kwon notes that he and Emergent "mutually agreed to amend the terms of [his] proposed employment so that [he] would be employed as a consultant to the Company, rather than its Chief Financial Officer.” (Petriello Decl. Ex. D.) The Yun defendants apparently dispute this account, and maintain that Kwon simply decided that he did not want the position as CFO of Emergent. (See Yun 56.1 Stmt. II6.)
. Although Kwon was included in Emergent’s July 2001 payroll, this was in error. (Petriello Decl. Ex. E at 1; Kwon Dep. at 88-89; Emergent 56.1 Stmt. ¶ 11; cf. Petriello Decl. Ex. F.) After receiving an Emergent payroll check as a result of this error, Kwon returned the check and the check was voided. (Petriello Decl. Ex. E at 1; cf. id. Ex. F.)
. As with Kwon’s previous offer of employment, the consulting agreement was contingent on the approval of Emergent’s Board of
. In January 2002, Yun and Waldron began to wind down ECIM and EAM. (Kwon Opp. Aff. ¶ 51.)
. Though there appears to have been an additional fund called EC Global, Limited established by the agreement of Emеrgent and SK Global (Kwon Opp. Aff. Ex. 7 at 1), the agreement does not specify whether it applies to Millennium or some other fund.
. Defendants contend that Kwon instigated the investigation (Yun Mem. 20-21), but Kwon denies this allegation. (Kwon Opp. Aff. ¶ 114.)
. Though it does not alter the analysis in any way, plaintiff acknowledges that he was a 10% member of Voyager after 2001. (P. Opp. Mem. 22.)
. As plaintiff’s negligent misrepresentation and aiding-and-abetting fraud claims also require proof of reasonable reliance,
see Solar Travel,
.
See also Moore
v.
PaineWebber, Inc.,
. Although defendants also argue that plaintiff is not entitled to damages for attqrney's fees incurred in connection with the U.S. investigation into the events at issue in this case (Yun Mem. 20-21), neither side has sufficiently briefed the issue. In light of this fact, and of plaintiff's pro se status, the Court defers resolution of the question whether such damages are properly proved until trial.
. Because defendants have not shown their entitlement to summary judgment on plaintiff's fraud claim, their motion for summary
. While Kwon ultimately rescinded his acceptance of this particular written offer, Yun’s offer on Emergent letterhead still provides circumstantial evidence that negotiating and extending offers of employment was within Yun’s scope of employment.
. Although plaintiff makes much of Metedeconic’s "delay” in changing its reference to a
. Plaintiffs assertion that the Notes are not enforceable because of illegality or because of defendants’ unclean hands can be rejected at the outset. Plaintiff has not shown that any incidental aspects of the Notes, much less their main objectives, were for an illegal purpose. Furthermore, because "unclean hands is an equitable defense that does not apply to actions at law that seek money damages," it is inapposite.
JSC Foreign Econ. Ass'n Technostroyexport v. Int’l Dev. & Trade Servs., Inc.,