122 Misc. 2d 430 | N.Y. Sup. Ct. | 1983
OPINION OF THE COURT
There are four motions before this court. General Electric Co. (hereinafter GE) seeks an order of summary judgment dismissing the complaint on the ground that the Statute of Limitations has tolled, an order granting GE leave to amend its cross claim to assert a claim for legal fees and expenses against National Commercial Bank and Trust Company (hereinafter Bank) and Metroland Securities Corporation, an order directing judgment for liability only against codefendants Bache and Co., Inc. (hereinafter Bache), National Commercial Bank and Trust Company and Metroland Securities Corporation for legal expenses
The Bank which has had the complaint against it dismissed by an order by the Hon. Norman L. Harvey (decision dated April 20, 1982) seeks an order dismissing GE’s cross claim against it on the grounds that the cross claim fails to state a cause of action and that the Statute of Limitations has tolled.
Bache has moved for an order dismissing the complaint for failure to state a cause of action (CPLR 3211, subd [a], par 7) and an order dismissing the action on the ground that it is barred by the Statute of Limitations (CPLR 3211, subd [a], par 5). Bache has also cross-moved for an order granting summary judgment dismissing the cross claim of GE for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted and as being time barred.
Plaintiffs have moved for an order permitting them to file and serve an amended complaint alleging a cause of action based on fraud.
Plaintiffs allege that 50 shares of GE stock which they purchased through Metroland Securities on May 10, 1974, were improperly transferred, surrendered and thereby converted by the defendants. Plaintiffs further allege that on or about September 1,1974, these shares were presented to Bache for sale and eventual surrender to GE without plaintiffs’ authorization or permission, though the purported signatures of the plaintiffs on the certificate were guaranteed by GE’s codefendants. The stock certificate which GE issued to plaintiffs was presented to GE for transfer on September 11, 1974.
The summons with notice commencing this action is dated October 28, 1981. Thus the action was commenced more than seven years after the date of loss on September 11,1974. Regardless of whether the plaintiffs’ action is one based on conversion or on breach of contract, it is barred by the Statute of Limitations (see CPLR 213, 214). Therefore, plaintiffs’ complaint is dismissed as to defendants GE and Bache.
GE seeks legal fees and expenses incurred in defending this action from the Bank and Bache as a result of their signature guarantees. GE relies upon subdivision (8) of section 8-312 of the Uniform Commercial Code which provides “[t]he foregoing warranties are made to any person taking or dealing with the security in reliance on the guarantee and the guarantor is liable to such person for any loss resulting from [the] breach of * * * warranties.” GE maintains that “any loss” includes legal fees and expenses and places upon the signature guarantors a duty to indemnify.
The defendants, Bache and Bank, contend that GE is not entitled to legal fees and expenses on the basis that a corporation is entitled to costs but not legal fees and that the action is barred by the Statute of Limitations because it “commences to run at the time the stock is transferred, as the guaranty and representation are not continuing contracts of indemnification” (1 Christy, Transfer of Stock [5th ed], § 248, p 1920).
Subdivision (1) of section 1-106 of the Uniform Convmercial Code provides that “The remedies provided by this Act shall be liberally administered to the end that the aggrieved party may be put in as good a position as if the
It is also the opinion of this court that attorneys’ fees are legitimate items of damage (28 NY Jur, Indemnity, § 23; see Matter of Campbell, 176 Misc 543).
Therefore, GE’s motion to amend its cross claim and for a trial to assess damages for legal fees and expenses is granted.