Aaron v. Mattikow

225 F.R.D. 407, 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 27241, 2004 WL 2998718
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. New York
DecidedDecember 16, 2004
DocketNo. CV 99-2662(ETB)
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 225 F.R.D. 407 (Aaron v. Mattikow) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Aaron v. Mattikow, 225 F.R.D. 407, 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 27241, 2004 WL 2998718 (E.D.N.Y. 2004).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

BOYLE, United States Magistrate Judge.

Before the court is the pro se petition by Philip Aaron (“Aaron”) for a garnishment order to enforce the prior judgment of this court in this action. The respondent moves to dismiss this proceeding pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) and 12(c).

In 2002, the plaintiff Aaron obtained a monetary judgment in this court against the defendant Alfred Mattikow. Aaron has been [410]*410unable to collect on the judgment, and in an effort to enforce the judgment, filed this petition seeking to execute on certain stock held by Alfred Mattikow’s wife, respondent Nina Mattikow. Aaron named Nina Mattikow as the garnishee, alleging that she holds in her name certain personal property consisting of shares of stock in two closely held corporations which shares, Aaron maintains, constitute assets belonging to the judgment debtor. Nina Mattikow denies these allegations.

FACTS

The parties in this case have a long and contentious history. Philip Irwin Aaron (“Aaron”) initially filed a complaint, based on diversity jurisdiction, on May 11, 1999, against Alfred H. Mattikow (“Alfred Mattikow” or “defendant”). Aaron alleged in the complaint that Alfred Mattikow failed to pay a promissory note. (Pl.’s Compl. 11116-7.) The case went to trial, and by a Memorandum and Order dated July 12, 2002, and a judgment dated July 15, 2002, Alfred Mattikow was ordered to pay Aaron $100,557.29, together with costs and post-judgment interest. (Mem. and Order by the undersigned, signed July 12, 2002; Judgment by the undersigned, signed July 15, 2002.) This judgment was affirmed by the Court of Appeals on May 20, 2003, and the defendant’s motion to vacate the judgment was denied on September 24, 2003. (Mem. and Op. by the undersigned, signed Sept. 24, 2003.)

In August, 2004, Aaron commenced this post-judgment special proceeding against Nina Joan Mattikow (“Nina Mattikow” or “Respondent”), Alfred Mattikow’s wife, to enforce the underlying judgment. (See Pet. in Proceeding Pursuant Fed.R.Civ.P. 69(a) and N.Y.S. C.P.L.R. 5225(b) (“Petition”).) Aaron proceeds under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 69(a), New York State Civil Practice Law and Rules (“C.P.L.R”) § 5225(b), and C.P.L.R. Article 4. (See Pl.’s Mem. of Law, dated August 1, 2004, at 1-2.)

Aaron’s petition alleges that Alfred Mattikow has not paid any part of the judgment obtained against him, and that this proceeding is commenced to declare certain property in the possession and/or custody of Nina Mattikow as belonging to Alfred Mattikow. (See Pet. at 1.) Specifically, Aaron alleges that Nina Mattikow is holding the stock ownership in two companies, AYD Development, LLC (“AYD”) and North Street Corp. (“North Street”), for the benefit of the judgment debtor, Alfred Mattikow, who is alleged to be the true and rightful owner. (Pet. at 2-3.) Aaron alleges that respondent’s stock ownership in the companies is “for the purpose of hiding assets and income rightfully belonging to Alfred” Mattikow in an attempt to place them beyond the reach of creditors. (Id. at 3.) Aaron states that Alfred Mattikow, the judgment debtor, shows no income or assets on his tax return and claims to be insolvent while in fact he is active in real estate speculation through AYD. (Pl.’s Aff. in Supp. of Proceeding Pursuant to Fed. R.Civ.P. 69(a) and N.Y.S. C.P.L.R. 5225(b) (“Affidavit”), ¶¶ 15-17; Pl.’s Reply Aff. in Supp. of Proceeding Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ P. 69(a) and N.Y.S. C.P.L.R. 5225(b) (“Reply Affidavit”), ¶ 22.) In support of his allegations, Aaron has submitted several exhibits in an effort to demonstrate that Alfred Mattikow is a true and rightful owner of AYD and North Street. (See Pl.’s Aff., Ex. A-J; Pl.’s Reply Aff., Ex. K-O.) These exhibits include transcripts of depositions and other documents in which individuals who have done business with the companies acknowledge that they have worked with Alfred Mattikow and that he is actively engaged in real estate speculation. (See e.g., Exhibit A at 72-73; Exhibit B at 48.) Aaron requests that respondent Nina Mattikow’s Motion to Dismiss be denied. (Pl.’s Reply Mem. of Law at 9.)

In his prayer for relief, Aaron requests that the Court declare Alfred Mattikow as the rightful owner of AYD and North Street, and that the shares of stock in both companies be sold and the proceeds made available to satisfy plaintiffs judgment. (Pet. at 3.)

The respondent in this proceeding, Nina Mattikow, objects to this proceeding, stating that she owns and controls AYD and North Street and that she is the only person who has contributed capital to these companies. (Def.’s Mot. to Dismiss at 2-3.) Nina Mattikow acknowledges that although Alfred Mattikow is retired, he does occasionally provide assistance to the companies, and is given the use of a company car (Respondent’s Aff. in [411]*411Opp’n to Pet. and In Supp. of Mot. to Dismiss (“Respondent’s Aff.”) at ¶ 19, ¶ 22.) She further states that when and if the companies develop income streams, Alfred Mattikow would be compensated for his time, but that the companies are hers. (Id. at ¶ 19.)

Additionally, the respondent denies that this Court has ancillary jurisdiction over this proceeding. She contends that because this post-judgment proceeding is against a non-party to the underlying action in which the judgment was rendered, it may not be considered subject to the ancillary jurisdiction of the district court. "(Def.’s Mem. of Law in Supp. of Mot. to Dismiss at 2, 4-6.) She further asserts that this is not a proper garnishment case, because Nina Mattikow is the acknowledged legal owner of the corporate assets at issue sought for garnishment. (Id. at 6.)

Finally, the respondent notes that on April 28, 2004, she, AYD, and North Street commenced an action in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut seeking a judgment declaring that AYD and North Street are not Alfred Mattikow’s alter-egos and that AYD and North Street are not responsible for the underlying judgment against him. (Id. ■ at 9-10.) The respondent asserts that the Connecticut action involves the same parties and same underlying issues as the within proceeding, and was filed prior to the within proceeding, and therefore this proceeding should be dismissed in the interest of judicial efficiency. (Id.)

DISCUSSION

I. Motion to Dismiss: Legal Standards

A. Subject Matter Jurisdiction Pursuant to 12(b)(1)

On a motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1), the plaintiff bears the burden of establishing that subject matter jurisdiction exists over the complaint. See Malik v. Meissner, 82 F.3d 560, 562 (2d Cir.1996). In considering the motion, a district court must “accept as true all material factual allegations in the complaint.” Shipping Fin. Serv. Corp. v. Drakos,

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225 F.R.D. 407, 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 27241, 2004 WL 2998718, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/aaron-v-mattikow-nyed-2004.