Authentic Hansom Cabs, Ltd. v. Nisselson (In re Fayolle)

300 B.R. 843, 2003 Bankr. LEXIS 1609
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. New York
DecidedSeptember 2, 2003
DocketBankruptcy Nos. 00 B 41291 (RDD) to 00 B 41293(RDD); Adversary No. 02-03115
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 300 B.R. 843 (Authentic Hansom Cabs, Ltd. v. Nisselson (In re Fayolle)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Authentic Hansom Cabs, Ltd. v. Nisselson (In re Fayolle), 300 B.R. 843, 2003 Bankr. LEXIS 1609 (N.Y. 2003).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER ON MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

ROBERT D. DRAIN, Bankruptcy Judge.

Each party in this adversary proceeding seeks a declaratory judgment with respect to the status of a sublease (the “Sublease”) dated December 19, 2001 between Alan Nisselson (the “Fayolle Trustee”), in his capacity as chapter 11 trustee of John Fayolle (“Fayolle”), as sublessor, and Au[845]*845thentic Hansom Cabs, Ltd. (“Authentic”), as sublessee. The Sublease pertains to a building located at 504-506 West 38th Street in New York City (the “Building”). Defendant Anchor Paper Stock Co. (“Anchor”) is the landlord under the main lease of the Budding pursuant to a Standard Form of Loft Lease and Rider, each dated as of November 1, 1997 (the “Overlease”), with Fayolle as tenant. Pursuant to an order of the Court (Hon. Richard Boha-non, J.) dated November 22, 2002, the Fayolle Trustee assumed and assigned the Overlease to 504 West 38 LLC. Under the November 22, 2002 order, the assignment to 504 West 38 LLC was free and clear of all encumbrances but expressly was subject to the rights, if any, of Authentic as determined in this adversary proceeding.

Authentic takes the position that the Sublease remains in effect. The Fayolle Trustee and the other defendants contend, instead, that the Fayolle Trustee validly terminated the Sublease for, among other things, Authentic’s non-payment of rent.

Relatedly, but separately, Authentic seeks a declaration that it has the right to offset or recoup its obligations under the Sublease against obligations owing to Authentic, specifically $100,000 that Authentic contends it is owed under a settlement agreement dated as of December 19, 2001 (the “Hudson Settlement Agreement”), between, among others, Authentic, on the one hand, and the Fayolle Trustee and Frank Sinatra (the “Aristocratic Trustee;” with the Fayolle Trustee, the “Trustees”), as chapter 11 trustee of Aristocratic Coach Corp. (“Aristocratic”), on the other. Authentic argues that such setoff or recoupment would satisfy its obligations under the Sublease or, at least, render the Fa-yolle Trustee’s termination of the Sublease defective and invalid. (Alternatively, Authentic seeks an injunction directing that the $100,000 be paid to it if it does not have a valid right of setoff or recoupment against its Sublease obligations.) Authentic also argues that Anchor’s refusal to consent to Authentic’s proposed alterations of the Building excuses Authentic’s default under the Sublease.

The Trustees and the other defendants deny that Authentic has any right of setoff or recoupment against its obligations under the Sublease, and, in any event, that the conditions under which Authentic would have been entitled to the $100,000 under the Hudson Settlement Agreement have failed. The defendants also contend that Anchor had the right to refuse to consent to the proposed alterations to the Building and, in any event, that Anchor’s wrongful withholding of consent would not excuse Authentic’s failure to perform its obligations under the Sublease.

Each side seeks summary judgment— the defendants, who have not made a formal motion for summary judgment, on the basis that “In considering a motion for summary judgment, if the Court’s analysis reveals that there are no genuine issues of material fact, but that the law is on the side of the nonmovant, the Court may grant summary judgment in favor of the nonmovant even in the absence of a cross-motion ... so long as the movant has had an adequate opportunity to come forward with all of its evidence.” Jacques v. DiMarzio, Inc., 200 F.Supp.2d 151, 162 (E.D.N.Y.2002); see also Orix Credit Alliance, Inc. v. Horten, 965 F.Supp. 481, 484 (S.D.N.Y.1997); 10A Charles Alan Wright, Arthur R. Miller & Mary Kay Kane, Federal Practice and Procedure § 2720 (2d ed.1983).

There are no material issues of disputed fact, as this is fundamentally a documentary dispute. Because Authentic’s position is not supported by the relevant documents or applicable law, Authentic’s motion for summary judgment is denied. [846]*846Defendants’ arguments being the reverse image of Authentic’s arguments, defendants’ request for summary judgment is appropriate and is granted. The Trustees do not owe Authentic any money under the Settlement Agreement, the conditions for such payment having failed. Thus, whether Authentic has a right of setoff or recoupment in respect of the Sublease is moot. Anchor’s refusal to consent to the proposed modifications to the Building, whether or not valid, does not excuse Authentic’s defaults under the Sublease. Nor has Authentic offered any other valid reason for contesting the Fayolle Trustee’s termination of the Sublease.

Facts

The facts are found, unless otherwise noted, in Authentic’s statement pursuant to Local Bankruptcy Rule 7056-l(a) and the documents referred to therein, which are attached as exhibits to Fayolle’s affidavits dated March 4, 2003 (“Fayolle Affidavit 1”), and June 23, 2003. Defendants’ responsive statement pursuant to Local Bankruptcy Rule 7056-l(b) does not dispute the facts set forth in Authentic’s Rule 7056-l(b) statement but, rather, disagrees with Authentic’s characterization of certain of those facts.

On May 15, 2000, involuntary chapter 7 petitions were filed against Fayolle and two entities controlled by him' — Riverbank Landscape, Inc. (“Riverbank”) and Aristocratic. The debtors voluntarily converted their cases to chapter 11, but Judge Boha-non subsequently appointed the Trustees.1 The Trustees decided to market the debtors’ assets jointly. Those assets primarily consisted of the Overlease and real property owned by Aristocratic at 634 West 52nd Street, New York City (the “Aristocratic Premises”), which was used as a livery stable for hansom cab horses, and real property owned by Riverbank at 639-41 West 51st Street (the “Riverbank Premises”), which was a defunct “adult entertainment facility.” The Riverbank Premises and the Aristocratic Premises are adjacent to each other on the Hudson River waterfront and are referred to together as the “Bloekfront Properties.”

In December, 2001 the Trustees entered into an agreement to sell the Bloekfront Properties and the Overlease with stalking horse bidders, subject to higher and better offers to be received at an auction scheduled for January 25, 2002.

Two non-debtor entities controlled by Fayolle — Authentic and Hudson River Lounge, LLC (“Hudson”) — asserted leasehold interests in the Aristocratic Premises and the Riverbank Premises. To facilitate the marketing of the Bloekfront Properties, which were more attractive to prospective purchasers if Authentic and Hudson did not have the right to hold over as tenants under section 365(h) of the Bankruptcy Code, the Trustees negotiated the Hudson Settlement Agreement with Fa-yolle, Hudson and Authentic at the same time that they were negotiating with the stalking horse bidders.

Under the Hudson Settlement Agreement, Authentic agreed to terminate its lease of the Aristocratic Premises and Hudson agreed to terminate its lease of the Riverbank Premises, each waiving their right to hold over under section 365(h). In return, the Fayolle Trustee agreed to sublease the Building to Authentic, and the Trustees agreed to make two payments to Authentic, one of $75,000 and one of $25,000, under certain specified conditions. In the Hudson Settlement Agreement, Authentic also agreed to satisfy an overdue $20,000 rent obligation under its lease of the Aristocratic Premises by ap

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
300 B.R. 843, 2003 Bankr. LEXIS 1609, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/authentic-hansom-cabs-ltd-v-nisselson-in-re-fayolle-nysb-2003.