Comex Clearing Ass'n ex rel. Peloso v. Flo-Arb Partners

711 F. Supp. 1169, 1989 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 837, 1989 WL 40924
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedJanuary 27, 1989
DocketNos. 85 Civ. 3662 (KTD), 85 Civ. 3562 (KTD)
StatusPublished

This text of 711 F. Supp. 1169 (Comex Clearing Ass'n ex rel. Peloso v. Flo-Arb Partners) 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
Comex Clearing Ass'n ex rel. Peloso v. Flo-Arb Partners, 711 F. Supp. 1169, 1989 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 837, 1989 WL 40924 (S.D.N.Y. 1989).

Opinion

OPINION

KEVIN THOMAS DUFFY, District Judge:

I. Background.

This opinion will, I hope, conclude the story of the financial collapse of Volume Investors Corporation (“Volume”). At all pertinent times, Volume was a member of the Commodities Exchange, Inc. (“CO-MEX”), and the Comex Clearing Association (“CCA”). Volume was also a futures commission merchant (“FCM”) registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) pursuant to the Commodity Exchange Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 1-26 (1982 & Supp. IV 1986). In its position as an FCM and as a member of COMEX and CCA, Volume handled accounts for members of the public and for other FCMs.1

[1171]*1171Flo-Arb Partners (“Flo-Arb”) was also an FCM duly registered and, through one of its partners, a member of COMEX. To clear its trades through CCA, Flo-Arb put all of its accounts with Volume and was permitted to act as a floor broker on the Commodities Exchange by reason of a guarantee issued by Volume. Flo-Arb is made up of two general partners: Ronny Apfel and Abraham Goldstein. A detailed description of the individual partners’ background will be given later in this opinion; it is sufficient now to say that both Apfel and Goldstein were quite knowledgeable about the futures market and the fact that it constituted a high-risk business and both had been active in the futures markets prior to the formation of Flo-Arb Partners.

On March 21, 1985, prior to the commencement of trading on COMEX, Frank H. Wohl was appointed Temporary Receiver of Volume. The appointment was made pursuant to an order of a judge of this court, on application of CFTC and on consent of Volume. At the same time Volume was suspended as a member of COMEX and of CCA. The Temporary Receiver undertook to liquidate the positions of Volume in an orderly manner and pursuant to the rules of CCA as approved by CFTC. Wohl effectively secured the records and property of Volume and worked out arrangements for the initial liquidation of the Volume account at CCA.

Shortly thereafter, I appointed John F.X. Peloso as the Receiver of the Estate of Volume. Peloso undertook the wind-up of the estate, including sales of property, renegotiation of leases, and payments to public customers of Volume. The claims of Flo-Arb against Volume and its successors, and the claims of Volume and the receivers against Flo-Arb are now the main barrier to completion of the wind-up. These claims were held aside to be resolved after all of the public was out of the picture and all of the din appurtenant thereto had quieted.

During the pendency of these actions, CCA paid out the purely public customer accounts, i.e., the non-members of COMEX, and became the successor to the receiver of Volume.2

II. Trading in Commodities and Futures Markets

Once before, in a dispute related to this matter, I set forth my views on the risks involved in trading on certain commodities and futures markets. I nonetheless believe it necessary to reiterate what I have said because much of it has apparently fallen on deaf ears.

Trading in gold options is a highly volatile market where fortunes can be made and lost in one day. This case should stand as a reminder that the fallout from an explosive day in the gold market can affect not only the traders in that market but can also have a detrimental effect on the market place, including the organized exchanges dealing in gold, the exchange clearing house, the members of the exchange, and the innocent public customers of member firms, which customers may not even be involved in the trading of gold or gold options.

Wohl v. Westheimer, 610 F.Supp. 52, 53 (S.D.N.Y.1985).

It has also been said that the futures markets are places where only professionals (and perhaps angels) should dare to tread. Speculation in the futures markets can be undertaken only by those who stand ready to lose their entire investment and then some. Even “hedging” is a high-risk business to be undertaken only by those with a substantial position in the underly[1172]*1172ing commodity or a substantial position in another market.

III. Background of Flo-Arb and its Partners

The partners of Flo-Arb, Apfel and Gold-stein, were not “hedging” by their activities in the futures markets. They were pure speculators seeking to make money at the expense of others in the marketplace.

Goldstein has a B.A. degree in economics from the University of Cambridge, England, an M.A. in economics from Yale, a Master of Philosophy degree in economics from Yale, and a Ph.D. in economics from Yale. Prior to entering the futures market, Goldstein had been employed by ATT as a member of an analysis group for “micro economics and finance issues.” Deposition of Abraham R. Goldstein, Dec. 30, 1986 (“Goldstein Dep.”) at 8. In the early 1980’s, Goldstein formed Natra Trading Corporation and Natra-Hudson Management Co., Inc., Goldstein Dep. at 6-10, both of which were involved in trading in the futures markets.

Apfel has a B.S. degree in finance from New York University and thereafter completed half the requirements for a Master’s degree in finance at New York University. In 1978, he first became employed in the futures market. He started by working as an assistant trader for Lasker, Stone & Stern, an FCM and member of COMEX. He next went to the Wilshire Group where, for two years, he traded “commodities, bonds, metals and some of the gold commodities.” Deposition of Ronny Apfel, Dec. 29, 1986 (“Apfel Dep.”) at 8-9. From there, he was employed for one year by Natra Trading, one of the corporations run by Goldstein.

In early 1984, Apfel and Goldstein formed Flo-Arb, which was, as I indicated, a duly registered FCM and through one of its partners (Apfel) a floor member of CO-MEX. Goldstein testified at his deposition that the partners viewed Flo-Arb as a “specialist” in the futures markets of the Commodities Exchange, making a market where others would not.

It should be clear from the above recital that Apfel and Goldstein, the plaintiffs here, were fully cognizant of all of the potential risks of the futures markets. They should have been particularly aware of the riskiness of futures market since they knew that they did not have sufficient capital to be an active floor broker on CO-MEX or a member of CCA. In order to act as a floor broker, Flo-Arb had to have its accounts guaranteed by, and cleared through, Volume, which was a member of CCA.

In setting up the Flo-Arb account at Volume, both Goldstein and Apfel signed a “Risk Disclosure Statement” that, inter alia, contains the following statement:

(1) You may sustain a total loss of the initial margin funds and any additional funds that you deposit with your broker to establish or maintain a position in the commodity futures market. If the market moves against your position, you may be called upon by your broker to deposit a substantial amount of additional margin funds on short notice in order to maintain your position. If you do not provide the required funds within the prescribed time, your position may be liquidated at a loss, and you will be liable for any resulting deficit in your account.

COMEX Clearing Assoc.

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Related

Cort v. Ash
422 U.S. 66 (Supreme Court, 1975)
Wohl v. Westheimer
610 F. Supp. 52 (S.D. New York, 1985)
Leist v. Simplot
638 F.2d 283 (Second Circuit, 1980)

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Bluebook (online)
711 F. Supp. 1169, 1989 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 837, 1989 WL 40924, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/comex-clearing-assn-ex-rel-peloso-v-flo-arb-partners-nysd-1989.