Allstar Capital, Inc. v. Curry

28 Misc. 3d 513
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedMay 18, 2010
StatusPublished

This text of 28 Misc. 3d 513 (Allstar Capital, Inc. v. Curry) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Allstar Capital, Inc. v. Curry, 28 Misc. 3d 513 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 2010).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Jane S. Solomon, J.

Plaintiff Allstar Capital, Inc. moves for an order pursuant to CPLR 5226 compelling defendant Eddy A. Curry, Jr. to make installment payments in the amount of $75,000 per month in satisfaction of a judgment debt. The motion is granted as follows.

Facts

On February 22, 2008, while in Nevada, Curry obtained a loan from Allstar in the amount of $570,000 at the interest rate of 84.36% per annum, with a maturity date of July 3, 2008. In the event of a default, the interest rate would increase to 89.36% per annum. Curry defaulted. On November 25, 2008, Allstar filed an action in the District Court of Clark County, Nevada. A judgment was entered against Curry in the amount of $1,224,522.90 plus interest at 89.36% per annum. On August 17, 2009, Allstar domesticated the Nevada judgment in New York.

Curry is a member of the New York Knickerbockers, a professional basketball team. His salary for the 2009-2010 basketball season is $10,500,423, and he has a “player option” for an additional $11,000,000 for the 2010-2011 season. He receives half of his salary in the form of “bi-monthly” paychecks of $358,746.45 over six months,1 and receives the other half of his salary on July 1, 2010 in a lump sum payment, which he testified totaled approximately $3 million, net (Feb. 16 transcript at 92). Per paycheck, his take home pay, net of taxes and garnishment of $103,503.53 is $137,224.26 (Curry mem of law in opposition at 4).

Discussion

Curry argues that Allstar’s motion for installment payments should be denied because it violates 15 USC § 1673, the [515]*515Consumer Credit Protection Act (CCPA). The CCPA prohibits the garnishment of wages in excess of 25% of a debtor’s disposable earnings. Curry contends that his wages are already being garnished by more than 25%, and Allstar’s motion is an improper attempt to bypass the CCPA’s restrictions. Allstar counters that wage garnishment, also known as income execution (CPLR 5231), and installment payments (CPLR 5226) are separate remedies.

Allstar’s position is correct: Installment payments and income execution are two different means of enforcement under CPLR article 52. Unlike CPLR 5231, CPLR 5226 does not contain a limit on the amount of an installment payment order (see Craig v Klein, 2004 WL 5487913 [Sup Ct, NY County 2004], affd 8 AD3d 55 [1st Dept 2004]). The purpose of CPLR 5226 is to “compel payment of judgments by debtors who are in a position to do so” (Bergman v Buechler, 249 App Div 553, 555 [1st Dept 1937]). In differentiating the CCPA and income execution from all other forms of postjudgment enforcement, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit held that “[CPLR] Article 52 provides a variety of means for the enforcement of money judgments. The Consumer Credit Protection Act merely prohibits . . . the garnishment of [defendant’s] wages” (Long Is. Trust Co. v United States Postal Serv., 647 F2d 336, 342 [1981]). Historically, New York courts have granted installment payment orders where the debtor’s wages were subject to garnishment under CPLR 5231 (see Matter of Widder Bros. v Kaffee, 19 AD2d 817 [1st Dept 1963]). Accordingly, that Curry’s wages are garnished does not prevent Allstar from seeking installment payments.

CPLR 5226 provides in relevant part:

“In fixing the amount of the payments, the court shall take into consideration the reasonable requirements of the judgment debtor and his dependents, any payments required to be made by him or deducted from the money he would otherwise receive in satisfaction of other judgments and wage assignments, the amount due on the judgment, and the amount being or to be received, or, if the judgment debtor is attempting to impede the judgment creditor by rendering services without adequate compensation, the reasonable value of the services rendered.”

“The test is what the judgment debtor can reasonably afford to pay, taking into consideration his needs, those of his depen[516]*516dents, and other inroads on his income from other obligations” (Kaufman v Kaufman, 29 AD2d 922 [1st Dept 1968]). Though Curry’s wage garnishments do not prevent this action for installment payments, they do affect the calculation of his available funds from which installment payments may be deducted.

Curry contends that he cannot afford to pay $75,000 per month to Allstar because of his financial obligations. As adduced at the hearings on February 11 and February 16, 2010, Curry’s monthly obligations include the following:

1. Wage garnishment: $207,007.06 ($103,503.53 per paycheck).

2. Household and personal expenses for Curry, his wife and their children: $30,000.

3. Rent: $17,000 per month.

4. Payment to Curry’s mother: $4,000.

5. Payment to Curry’s father: $3,500.

6. Payment to Curry’s sister: $2,000.

7. Payment to Curry’s father-in-law: $4,000.

8. Rent for Curry’s father-in-law: $3,400.

9. Cable bill: $650.

10. Satellite Television bill: $425.

11. 2004 Range Rover: $1,313.52.

12. 2005 Range Rover: $1,691.10.

13. Insurance: $2,500.

14. Mortgage on Burr Ridge, Illinois home, which is in foreclosure: $40,000.

15. Private chef: $6,000.
16. Montessori school: $6,290.

Curry testified that his father, mother and sister are listed as dependents on his tax returns (Feb. 16 transcript at 12-14).2 However, despite Curry’s description of his other relatives as “dependents,” he offered no evidence that these other adult relations, who receive expensive cars, generous “stipends” and various other gifts and payments, are indeed his dependents.3

[517]*517As indicated, Curry’s monthly income, after garnishment, is approximately $274,448.52.4 Items 2 through 15 total $122,469.62, inclusive of the family’s $30,000 monthly expenses.

Several of Curry’s alleged expenses are not related to the “reasonable requirements of the judgment debtor and his dependents” (CPLR 5226) and should not be considered as relevant financial obligations. However, assuming, arguendo, that each expense is reasonable and necessary, Curry would still retain $151,978.90 in excess funds, after allocating about $1,000 a day for food, clothes, travel and other personal expenses. After deducting the $75,000 sought by Allstar, somewhat more than an additional $75,000 would remain available for Curry and his family. Viewed that way, the amount Allstar seeks cannot fairly be said to exceed that which Curry is able to pay.

Curry also claims that he has the following creditors (mem in opposition at 8-9):

1. Christina White: $197,495.88.
2. Belonga, Shapiro & Hynes LLP: $180,000.
3. Here’s The Deal: $33,000.
4.

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Related

Bergman v. Buechler
249 A.D. 553 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1937)
Widder Bros. v. Kaffee
19 A.D.2d 817 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1963)
Kaufman v. Kaufman
29 A.D.2d 922 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1968)

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Bluebook (online)
28 Misc. 3d 513, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/allstar-capital-inc-v-curry-nysupct-2010.