Budisukma Permai SDN BHD v. N.M.K. Products & Agencies Lanka (Private) Ltd.

606 F. Supp. 2d 391, 2009 A.M.C. 2208, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 26262, 2009 WL 735192
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedMarch 16, 2009
Docket08 Civ. 3802 (VM)
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 606 F. Supp. 2d 391 (Budisukma Permai SDN BHD v. N.M.K. Products & Agencies Lanka (Private) Ltd.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District 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
Budisukma Permai SDN BHD v. N.M.K. Products & Agencies Lanka (Private) Ltd., 606 F. Supp. 2d 391, 2009 A.M.C. 2208, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 26262, 2009 WL 735192 (S.D.N.Y. 2009).

Opinion

DECISION AND ORDER

VICTOR MARRERO, District Judge.

On April 22, 2008, plaintiff Budisukma Permai SDN BHD (“Budisukma”) filed a complaint and applied ex parte for an order for process of maritime attachment against defendant N.M.K. Products & Agencies Lanka (Private) Limited (“NMK”), pursuant to Rule B of the Supplemental Admiralty Rules for Certain Admiralty and Maritime Claims (“Rule B”). See Fed.R.Civ.P. Supp. R. B(l). The Court granted the application. On December 10, 2008, Budisukma filed an amended complaint (the “Amended Complaint”), and on the same date, Budisukma applied ex parte for a supplemental order for process of a maritime attachment (the “Attachment”) against NMK and four new defendants: N.M.K. Holdings (Private) Limited (“NMK Holdings”); N.M.K. International Trading (Private) Limited (“NMK Trading”); Naratha Agro-Industries (Private) Limited (“Naratha”); and N.M.K. Edible Oil Products SDN BHD-Malaysia (“NMK Edible Oil”) (collectively, the “Alter Ego Defendants”). In the Amended Complaint, Budisukma alleges that the Alter Ego Defendants are alter egos of NMK *394 and are successors in interest to the business of NMK. The Court granted the application for the Attachment.

NMK now moves to vacate the Attachment pursuant to Rule E of the Admiralty Rules (“Rule E”), see Fed.R.Civ.P. Supp. R. E(4)(f), and the Alter Ego Defendants move to dismiss the claims against them pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (“Rule 12(b)(6)”). The Court held a conference on March 5, 2009 to discuss both motions. For the reasons stated below, NMK’s motion to vacate the Attachment, and the Alter Ego Defendants’ motion to dismiss the claims against them, are each DENIED.

I. BACKGROUND 1

On or about September 23, 1999, Budisukma chartered a vessel to NMK for the carriage of palm olein to Sri Lanka. The charter party (“Charter Party”) provides for all disputes to be resolved through arbitration in London, with English law to apply.

Following the carriage of the cargo, and despite the London arbitration clause, NMK commenced suit against Budisukma in Sri Lanka, alleging that Budisukma caused damage and loss to the cargo in the amount of $1,880,469.99. NMK arrested the vessel in Sri Lanka and demanded that Budisukma provide a bank guarantee to release the vessel from arrest. Budisukma alleges that it has expensed $468,206.23 in Sri Lanka in bank guarantee premiums to maintain the bank guarantee. Budisukma also alleges that it has expended $65,000 in Sri Lanka in attorneys’ fees and related expenses. In August 2006, the court in Sri Lanka stayed, but did not dismiss, NMK’s action. NMK is challenging that ruling; Budisukma anticipates it will expend $100,000 more in Sri Lanka in bank guarantee premiums and $35,000 more in Sri Lanka in legal costs until the Sri Lanka action is dismissed.

NMK’s claims for alleged cargo loss and damage were referred to arbitration in London. In the London arbitration, Budisukma filed a counterclaim against NMK, alleging that NMK breached the Charter Party by bringing its action in Sri Lanka instead of before a London arbitration tribunal, and seeking compensation for the expenses incurred in Sri Lanka, including the bank guarantee premiums, attorneys’ fees, and legal costs. The Amended Complaint and application for the Attachment were filed in connection with Budisukma’s claims in the London arbitration.

In addition, the Amended Complaint alleges that the Alter Ego Defendants are alter egos and successors in interest of NMK. Budisukma premises these allegations upon, among other things: the common shareholders and directors of NMK *395 and the Alter Ego Defendants; shared business addresses and telephone numbers; a website statement that describes several of the Alter Ego Defendants as a “NMK Group of Companies”; and the common products sold by NMK and the Alter Ego Defendants.

NMK now moves to vacate the Attachment pursuant to Rules B and E, alleging that none of Budisukma’s claims “are valid, independent maritime claims giving rise to a right to a Rule B attachment.” (NMK Mem. at 2.) Separately, the Alter Ego Defendants move to dismiss the claims against them pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6), arguing that Budisukma has not sufficiently alleged facts in support of its alter ego contention of “domination and control.” (See Alter Ego Mem. at 6-13.)

II. DISCUSSION

A. NMK’S MOTION TO VACATE

In order for a Rule B attachment to issue, the plaintiff must have “a valid prima facie admiralty claim against the defendant.” Aqua Stoli Shipping Ltd. v. Gardner Smith Pty Ltd., 460 F.3d 434, 445 (2d Cir.2006). “[A] district court must vacate an attachment if the plaintiff fails to sustain his burden of showing that he has satisfied the requirements of Rules B and E.” Id.; see also Fed.R.Civ.P. Supp. R. E(4)(f).

The Amended Complaint makes the following claims against NMK: (1) $468,206.23 in bank guarantee premiums to date; (2) $100,000 in anticipated premiums for the bank guarantee; (3) $65,000 in costs incurred to date for the Sri Lanka proceeding; (4) $35,000 in anticipated legal costs for the Sri Lanka proceedings; (5) $300,000 in costs and attorneys’ fees in connection with the defense and prosecution of the London arbitration; (6) $10,000 in arbitration fees; and (7) interest on the claims for bank guarantee premiums and costs incurred to date for the Sri Lanka proceeding. (See Amended Complaint ¶¶ 12-16).

The parties dispute whether the Court should turn to federal admiralty law or English law to determine whether Budisukma has a “valid” maritime claim. See Beluga Chartering GMBH v. Korea Logistics Sys. Inc., 589 F.Supp.2d 325, 327 (S.D.N.Y.2008) (“There is some disagreement within this District as to whether the question of the claim’s further ‘validity’ is governed by federal law or the substantive law that will govern the underlying action.” (citations omitted)); Naias Marine S.A. v. Trans Pacific Carriers Co. Ltd., No. 07 Civ. 10640, 2008 WL 111003, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 10, 2008) (discussing whether American federal law or English law should determine the validity of a claim for costs defending an arbitration in London involving a charter party governed by English law).

Although courts in this District are deeply divided on this issue, compare Harley Mullion & Co. Ltd. v. Caverton Marine Ltd., No. 08 Civ. 5435, 2008 WL 4905460, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 7, 2008) (“this Court believes that federal U.S. law applies to the determination at hand”) with Sonito Shipping Co., Ltd. v. Sun United Maritime Ltd., 478 F.Supp.2d 532, 536-37 (S.D.N.Y.2007) (holding that “[t]he existence vel non

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

Related

Kondot S.A. v. Duron LLC
E.D. New York, 2020
Sunglory Maritime, Ltd. v. PHI, Inc.
212 F. Supp. 3d 618 (E.D. Louisiana, 2016)
Indagro S.A. v. Bauche S.A.
652 F. Supp. 2d 482 (S.D. New York, 2009)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
606 F. Supp. 2d 391, 2009 A.M.C. 2208, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 26262, 2009 WL 735192, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/budisukma-permai-sdn-bhd-v-nmk-products-agencies-lanka-private-ltd-nysd-2009.