08-4908-cv Banco Central De Par v. Paraguay Humanitarian
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT
SUMMARY ORDER
RULINGS BY SUM M ARY ORDER DO NOT HAVE PRECEDENTIAL EFFECT. CITATION TO A SUM M ARY ORDER FILED ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 2007, IS PERM ITTED AND IS GOVERNED BY FEDERAL RULE OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE 32.1 AND THIS COURT’S LOCAL RULE 32.1.1. WHEN CITING A SUM M ARY O RDER IN A DOCUM ENT FILED W ITH THIS COURT, A PARTY M UST CITE EITHER THE FEDERAL APPENDIX OR AN ELECTRONIC DATABASE (W ITH THE NOTATION “SUM M ARY ORDER”). A PARTY CITING A SUM M ARY ORDER M UST SERVE A COPY OF IT ON ANY PARTY NOT REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL.
At a stated term of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, held at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Courthouse, 500 Pearl Street, in the City of New York, on the 18th day of February, two thousand ten.
Present: ROBERT D. SACK, ROBERT A. KATZMANN, Circuit Judges, RICHARD J. SULLIVAN, District Judge.* ________________________________________________
DEF,
Defendant,
RONALD L. WOLFSON, JORGE GALLO QUINTERO,
Defendants-Appellants,
PARAGUAY HUMANITARIAN FOUNDATION, INC., formerly known as CQZ HUMANITARIAN FOUNDATION, INC., CQZ HOLDING CORP., AVIJOS, INC., and JOSE M. AVILA,
Defendants-Counterclaimants-Third Party Plaintiffs-Appellants,
* The Honorable Richard J. Sullivan, United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York, sitting by designation. v. No. 08-4908-cv
ABC,
Plaintiff,
BANCO CENTRAL DEL PARAGUAY, on behalf and as assignee of BANCO UNION S.A.E.C.A. in liquidation and BANCO ORIENTAL S.A.I.F.E.C.A. in liquidation,
Plaintiffs-Counter-Defendants-Third Party Defendants-Appellees,
JOHN W. TULAC,
Nominal Defendant,
CITIBANK, N.A.,
Garnishee. ________________________________________________
For Defendants-Appellants STEPHANIE F. BRADLEY (Clifford Y. Chen, Adam Francois and Defendants-Couter Watkins, on the brief), Watkins, Bradley & Chen LLP, claimants-Third Party New York, NY; H. Dale Cubitt, Cubitt & Cubitt, Bad Axe, Plaintiffs-Appellants: MI
For Plaintiffs-Counter- Defendants-Third Party DANIEL H. WEINER (Nicolas Swerdloff, on the brief), Defendants-Appellees: Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP, New York, NY
For Nominal Defendant: H. DALE CUBITT , Cubitt & Cubitt, Bad Axe, MI
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (Keenan, J.).
ON CONSIDERATION WHEREOF, it is hereby ORDERED, ADJUDGED, and
DECREED that the judgment of the district court be and hereby is AFFIRMED.
This case arises out of the transfer of sixteen million dollars from two Paraguayan banks
in liquidation to bank accounts in the United States. Plaintiff Banco Central Del Paraguay
-2- (“Banco Central”) brings an action for conversion as assignee of Banco Union and Banco
Oriental, the two Paraguayan banks in liquidation. The district court granted summary judgment
in favor of Banco Central on its conversion claim and dismissed defendants’ counterclaims and
third party complaint. Defendants Ronald L. Wolfson, Jorge Ralph Gallo Quintero, Paraguayan
Humanitarian Foundation, CQZ Holding Corp., Avijos, Inc., and Jose M. Avila now appeal. We
assume the parties’ familiarity with the facts and procedural history of the case.
Defendants challenge Banco Central’s standing to bring this action. Defendants argue
that the assignments through which Banco Union and Banco Oriental assigned their claim are
invalid under Paraguayan law. Therefore, according to defendants, Banco Central does not have
a legal interest in the claim and does not have standing to bring suit. See W.R. Huff Asset Mgmt.
Co. v. Deloitte & Touche LLP, 549 F.3d 100, 108 (2d Cir. 2008) (“[T]he minimum requirement
for an injury-in-fact is that the plaintiff have legal title to, or a proprietary interest in, the claim.”).
Defendants point to the declaration of Alfredo Enrique Kronawetter, a Paraguayan lawyer, for the
proposition that the assignments are invalid. The district court did not consider the Kronawetter
declaration because it was submitted four months after the close of briefing.
We have reviewed the Kronawetter declaration and conclude that it is insufficient to raise
a genuine issue of material fact in dispute that would preclude summary judgment. As evidence
of the assignments, Banco Central submitted the actual assignments, Joint Appendix (“JA”) at
265-68, as well as subsequent ratifications of the assignments by the liquidators and declarations
of the liquidators expressing support for the lawsuit. JA 385-87, 435-51, 453-54. The
Kronawetter declaration states that the assignments “do not combine the necessary formalities
and conditions so that such means are effective, for not having had it carried out under the decree
-3- of article 389 of the Paraguayan Civil Code.” JA 676. This statement is entirely conclusory and
defendants do not even provide the Court with a copy of article 389 or any explanation of why
the assignments do not comply with Paraguayan legal formalities. Defendants therefore fail to
raise a genuine issue of material fact in dispute precluding summary judgment.
Defendants argue that the district court erred when it granted summary judgment on
Banco Central’s conversion claim because a conversion claim may not be predicated on a mere
breach of contract. But Banco Central’s claim is not predicated on a mere breach of contract.
Instead, it “spring[s] from circumstances extraneous to, and not constituting elements of, the
[alleged] contract . . . .” See Clark-Fitzpatrick, Inc. v. Long Island R.R. Co., 70 N.Y.2d 382, 389
(1987); see also In re September 11 Litig., 640 F. Supp. 2d 323, 338 (S.D.N.Y. 2009)
(“[C]ontract and tort claims for relief may coexist in limited circumstances . . . when a
defendant’s tortious conduct is separate and apart from its failure to fulfill its contractual
obligations.”) (internal quotation marks and alterations omitted). Here, Banco Central’s claim is
not predicated on the alleged contract. Banco Central does not ask for the “profits of the
investment,” nor does it ask for the return of its money because the investment plan was not
carried out. JA 206. Instead, Banco Central demands the return of the sixteen million dollars
because the money was unlawfully transferred out of Paraguay.
Defendants further contend that the district court erred when it dismissed defendants’
counterclaims and third party complaint. Defendants brought counterclaims against Banco
Central for interference with a contract and against the banks-in-liquidation for breach of
contract. The district court correctly dismissed these claims pursuant to the “opposing party”
requirement of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 13. Banco Central is not an “opposing party”
-4- because the interference with a contract claim is brought against Banco Central in its regulatory
capacity and not in its capacity as assignee of the two banks-in-liquidation. See Banco Nacional
de Cuba v. Chase Manhattan Bank, 658 F.2d 875, 885 (2d Cir. 1981) (holding that generally,
under the “opposing party” requirement, “when a plaintiff has brought suit in one capacity, the
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08-4908-cv Banco Central De Par v. Paraguay Humanitarian
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT
SUMMARY ORDER
RULINGS BY SUM M ARY ORDER DO NOT HAVE PRECEDENTIAL EFFECT. CITATION TO A SUM M ARY ORDER FILED ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 2007, IS PERM ITTED AND IS GOVERNED BY FEDERAL RULE OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE 32.1 AND THIS COURT’S LOCAL RULE 32.1.1. WHEN CITING A SUM M ARY O RDER IN A DOCUM ENT FILED W ITH THIS COURT, A PARTY M UST CITE EITHER THE FEDERAL APPENDIX OR AN ELECTRONIC DATABASE (W ITH THE NOTATION “SUM M ARY ORDER”). A PARTY CITING A SUM M ARY ORDER M UST SERVE A COPY OF IT ON ANY PARTY NOT REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL.
At a stated term of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, held at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Courthouse, 500 Pearl Street, in the City of New York, on the 18th day of February, two thousand ten.
Present: ROBERT D. SACK, ROBERT A. KATZMANN, Circuit Judges, RICHARD J. SULLIVAN, District Judge.* ________________________________________________
DEF,
Defendant,
RONALD L. WOLFSON, JORGE GALLO QUINTERO,
Defendants-Appellants,
PARAGUAY HUMANITARIAN FOUNDATION, INC., formerly known as CQZ HUMANITARIAN FOUNDATION, INC., CQZ HOLDING CORP., AVIJOS, INC., and JOSE M. AVILA,
Defendants-Counterclaimants-Third Party Plaintiffs-Appellants,
* The Honorable Richard J. Sullivan, United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York, sitting by designation. v. No. 08-4908-cv
ABC,
Plaintiff,
BANCO CENTRAL DEL PARAGUAY, on behalf and as assignee of BANCO UNION S.A.E.C.A. in liquidation and BANCO ORIENTAL S.A.I.F.E.C.A. in liquidation,
Plaintiffs-Counter-Defendants-Third Party Defendants-Appellees,
JOHN W. TULAC,
Nominal Defendant,
CITIBANK, N.A.,
Garnishee. ________________________________________________
For Defendants-Appellants STEPHANIE F. BRADLEY (Clifford Y. Chen, Adam Francois and Defendants-Couter Watkins, on the brief), Watkins, Bradley & Chen LLP, claimants-Third Party New York, NY; H. Dale Cubitt, Cubitt & Cubitt, Bad Axe, Plaintiffs-Appellants: MI
For Plaintiffs-Counter- Defendants-Third Party DANIEL H. WEINER (Nicolas Swerdloff, on the brief), Defendants-Appellees: Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP, New York, NY
For Nominal Defendant: H. DALE CUBITT , Cubitt & Cubitt, Bad Axe, MI
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (Keenan, J.).
ON CONSIDERATION WHEREOF, it is hereby ORDERED, ADJUDGED, and
DECREED that the judgment of the district court be and hereby is AFFIRMED.
This case arises out of the transfer of sixteen million dollars from two Paraguayan banks
in liquidation to bank accounts in the United States. Plaintiff Banco Central Del Paraguay
-2- (“Banco Central”) brings an action for conversion as assignee of Banco Union and Banco
Oriental, the two Paraguayan banks in liquidation. The district court granted summary judgment
in favor of Banco Central on its conversion claim and dismissed defendants’ counterclaims and
third party complaint. Defendants Ronald L. Wolfson, Jorge Ralph Gallo Quintero, Paraguayan
Humanitarian Foundation, CQZ Holding Corp., Avijos, Inc., and Jose M. Avila now appeal. We
assume the parties’ familiarity with the facts and procedural history of the case.
Defendants challenge Banco Central’s standing to bring this action. Defendants argue
that the assignments through which Banco Union and Banco Oriental assigned their claim are
invalid under Paraguayan law. Therefore, according to defendants, Banco Central does not have
a legal interest in the claim and does not have standing to bring suit. See W.R. Huff Asset Mgmt.
Co. v. Deloitte & Touche LLP, 549 F.3d 100, 108 (2d Cir. 2008) (“[T]he minimum requirement
for an injury-in-fact is that the plaintiff have legal title to, or a proprietary interest in, the claim.”).
Defendants point to the declaration of Alfredo Enrique Kronawetter, a Paraguayan lawyer, for the
proposition that the assignments are invalid. The district court did not consider the Kronawetter
declaration because it was submitted four months after the close of briefing.
We have reviewed the Kronawetter declaration and conclude that it is insufficient to raise
a genuine issue of material fact in dispute that would preclude summary judgment. As evidence
of the assignments, Banco Central submitted the actual assignments, Joint Appendix (“JA”) at
265-68, as well as subsequent ratifications of the assignments by the liquidators and declarations
of the liquidators expressing support for the lawsuit. JA 385-87, 435-51, 453-54. The
Kronawetter declaration states that the assignments “do not combine the necessary formalities
and conditions so that such means are effective, for not having had it carried out under the decree
-3- of article 389 of the Paraguayan Civil Code.” JA 676. This statement is entirely conclusory and
defendants do not even provide the Court with a copy of article 389 or any explanation of why
the assignments do not comply with Paraguayan legal formalities. Defendants therefore fail to
raise a genuine issue of material fact in dispute precluding summary judgment.
Defendants argue that the district court erred when it granted summary judgment on
Banco Central’s conversion claim because a conversion claim may not be predicated on a mere
breach of contract. But Banco Central’s claim is not predicated on a mere breach of contract.
Instead, it “spring[s] from circumstances extraneous to, and not constituting elements of, the
[alleged] contract . . . .” See Clark-Fitzpatrick, Inc. v. Long Island R.R. Co., 70 N.Y.2d 382, 389
(1987); see also In re September 11 Litig., 640 F. Supp. 2d 323, 338 (S.D.N.Y. 2009)
(“[C]ontract and tort claims for relief may coexist in limited circumstances . . . when a
defendant’s tortious conduct is separate and apart from its failure to fulfill its contractual
obligations.”) (internal quotation marks and alterations omitted). Here, Banco Central’s claim is
not predicated on the alleged contract. Banco Central does not ask for the “profits of the
investment,” nor does it ask for the return of its money because the investment plan was not
carried out. JA 206. Instead, Banco Central demands the return of the sixteen million dollars
because the money was unlawfully transferred out of Paraguay.
Defendants further contend that the district court erred when it dismissed defendants’
counterclaims and third party complaint. Defendants brought counterclaims against Banco
Central for interference with a contract and against the banks-in-liquidation for breach of
contract. The district court correctly dismissed these claims pursuant to the “opposing party”
requirement of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 13. Banco Central is not an “opposing party”
-4- because the interference with a contract claim is brought against Banco Central in its regulatory
capacity and not in its capacity as assignee of the two banks-in-liquidation. See Banco Nacional
de Cuba v. Chase Manhattan Bank, 658 F.2d 875, 885 (2d Cir. 1981) (holding that generally,
under the “opposing party” requirement, “when a plaintiff has brought suit in one capacity, the
defendant may not counterclaim against [the plaintiff] in another capacity”). The banks-in-
liquidation, which are not named parties, are not “opposing part[ies]” because they have assigned
their claims and so they are not the real parties in interest in the litigation nor the parties
controlling the litigation. See Banco Nacional de Cuba v. First Nat’l City Bank of N.Y., 478 F.2d
191, 193 (2d Cir. 1973) (concluding that a counterclaim could be brought against the Republic of
Cuba, though unnamed, because the Republic of Cuba and Banco Nacional de Cuba, the
plaintiff, acted as a single entity); see also Transamerica Occidental Life Ins. Co. v. Aviation
Office of Am., Inc., 292 F.3d 384, 392 (3d Cir. 2002) (concluding that an assignee was an
“opposing party,” stating that “[i]t is significant that the [assignee] . . . was actually the party
controlling the litigation in both actions . . . . This is an essential component of our analysis.”).
Defendants’ third-party complaint against the banks-in-liquidation was also correctly
dismissed. Defendants waited two years before attempting to serve process on the banks-in-
liquidation and never successfully served process on them. We have previously held inapplicable
the foreign country exception to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m)’s 120-day time limit for
service where a party did not attempt service within the 120-day limit and “ha[d] not exactly bent
over backward to effect service.” Montalbano v. Easco Hand Tools, Inc., 766 F.2d 737, 740 (2d
Cir. 1985). Likewise we do not find that the district court abused its discretion here where
defendants waited two and a half years to attempt service, never effected service, and did not
-5- explain why they had not been able to effect service. See Nagy v. Dwyer, 507 F.3d 161, 163 (2d
Cir. 2007) (“We review for abuse of discretion a district court’s dismissal of an action for failure
to timely serve the defendant.”).
We have considered the remainder of defendants’ arguments and conclude that they lack
merit. Accordingly, for the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the district court is hereby
AFFIRMED.
FOR THE COURT: CATHERINE O’HAGAN WOLFE, CLERK
-6-