Computer Strategies, Inc. v. Commodore Business Machines, Inc.

105 A.D.2d 167, 40 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 1240, 483 N.Y.S.2d 716, 1984 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 21857
CourtAppellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
DecidedDecember 24, 1984
StatusPublished
Cited by47 cases

This text of 105 A.D.2d 167 (Computer Strategies, Inc. v. Commodore Business Machines, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Computer Strategies, Inc. v. Commodore Business Machines, Inc., 105 A.D.2d 167, 40 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 1240, 483 N.Y.S.2d 716, 1984 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 21857 (N.Y. Ct. App. 1984).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Per Curiam.

These appeals, taken from four separate orders, require us to unravel a complex commercial transaction involving several separate, albeit interrelated, agreements. While we find that Special Term properly denied a motion to confirm an attachment, the other orders, which decided motions for summary judgment and other relief, must be modified in the manner set forth herein.

I

Commodore Business Machines, Inc. (Commodore), is a manufacturer of microcomputers. The computers are sold on a national basis, both to distributors and directly to retailers. Computer Strategies, Inc. (Computer), has been a dealer of Commodore’s products since 1979. The relationship between Commodore and Computer is controlled by two consecutive dealer agreements and related documents. An additional agreement between the parties may also play a role.

In March, 1981, Commodore and Computer entered into a “Flagship Dealer Agreement” whereby Computer agreed to promote and sell Commodore’s products. Computer participated in a promotional sales program for educational institutions [170]*170whereby Commodore would deliver a free computer to qualified institutions that purchased two other machines at full price. This was known as the “3 for 2” program. In a document executed in August, 1981, entitled “Security Agreement”, Computer granted Commodore a broad security interest in its assets in return for a broader line of credit and continuation of the “3 for 2” promotional program.

In February, 1983, the companies entered into an “Authorized Dealer Agreement” which expressly superseded the prior agreement. By its terms this second agreement was to expire on June 30, 1983. The second agreement provided a continued security interest in Computer’s inventory and related assets that would extend beyond the expiration date.

Although the “3 for 2” promotion continued through June 30, 1982, Commodore was unable to meet all of the orders received due to a supply shortage. This resulted in lengthy shipping delays. Commodore attempted to ease the shortage by shipping machines with smaller memory capacities and screens in lieu of the promotional machines. The shipments were finally completed in April, 1983. Many schools withheld or delayed payment to Computer in response to these untimely deliveries. Allegedly as a result of this, Computer was unable to pay Commodore and the outstanding balance owed to Commodore grew to approximately $2,300,000. Commodore contends that over $1,200,000 was still in arrears in the summer of 1983.

Beginning in the summer of 1982, Computer periodically protested these developments. In response to the protests and in recognition of the payment difficulties, Commodore extended special credit lines to Computer allowing it to make late payments on its accounts without interest or penalties. Computer, in turn, agreed to continue to promote the “3 for 2” program.

Problems with payments and credit terms persisted as the second agreement neared expiration in June of 1983. Commodore drafted four documents to continue the dealership and to make more definite arrangements concerning credit and payment. These included: (1) a new one-year dealer agreement, identical in form to the second agreement entered into in February, 1983; (2) a supplemental agreement, which, among other things, provided for Computer to pay $150,000 during July and August, 1983 towards its outstanding debt; (3) a judgment note, which provided that Computer would pay $975,000 in nine installments commencing with a payment on August 31, 1983 and ending in April, 1984; and (4) a personal guarantee of [171]*171Computer’s debt to be signed by Joel Kornreich (Computer’s president) and Karyn Kornreich (his wife). Commodore forwarded these four documents, referred to collectively as the proposed “Third Agreement”, to Computer in June, 1983.

According to Computer, the parties agreed to modify certain provisions in the “Third Agreement”, including deletion of the requirement in the proposed supplemental agreement that Computer pay $150,000 in July and August, 1983, and certain limitations in the guarantee. The guarantee and the remaining documents were executed in their modified form and were returned to Commodore on or about July 22,1983. While Commodore denies that it agreed to the modifications and insists that they were made unilaterally by Computer, it continued shipping products after expiration of the second agreement and expressed no disapproval of the modifications until late August, 1983.

On August 24, 1983, Commodore informed Computer that it was ceasing product shipments because Computer had been on “credit hold for two weeks”. Computer sent a telex on August 26, 1983 protesting these actions and saying it would not make its August 31 payment on the judgment note until Commodore executed and returned the four documents. John Kelly, a vice-president of Commodore, told Computer that Commodore was “not happy” with the agreement and would insist on modifications. The parties agreed to meet on August 31,1983 to negotiate such modifications.

At the meeting, Kelly presented Joel Kornreich with a letter declaring Computer to be in default under its agreements. It ordered Computer to stop acting as a distributor immediately, to allow Commodore to take possession of collateral on August 31, to make Computer’s books available for inspection and to provide Commodore with the names of all its account debtors. Computer protested that it could not be in default since under the “Third Agreement”, the first payment on the judgment note was only due that day. Kornreich tendered a check for $50,000 which Kelly refused, saying the “Third Agreement” “did not mean anything”. Kornreich then gave Kelly two letters declaring Commodore’s actions to be in breach of the agreements but indicating Computer’s willingness to continue the relationship.

Computer then commenced this action, inter alia, seeking a declaratory judgment that the “Third Agreement” was in full force and effect and that Commodore was the breaching party. The action sought injunctive relief as well as damages for breach of contract and fraud (action No. 1). It obtained a temporary restraining order and sought a preliminary injunction to enjoin [172]*172Commodore from refusing to ship products to Computer. The application for a preliminary injunction was denied.

Commodore simultaneously commenced a separate action to recover for goods delivered, to obtain possession of collateral under the security agreement and to enforce the security interest granted in the second agreement (action No. 2). It obtained an ex parte order of attachment on September 2, 1983, ordering the Sheriff to levy against the assets of Computer. Computer cross-moved to vacate the attachment order. Special Term granted the cross motion and vacated the order of attachment in an order entered October 24, 1983.

Computer made a motion to dismiss Commodore’s complaint. Commodore cross-moved for consolidation of the two cases, dismissal of the first nine causes of action in Computer’s complaint, and summary judgment on its own complaint. In its order dated December 16, 1983, Special Term denied Computer’s motion to dismiss and granted consolidation. The court also dismissed Computer’s first two causes of action and granted partial summary judgment to Commodore for $975,000, the amount of the judgment note. All other requests for relief were denied.

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Bluebook (online)
105 A.D.2d 167, 40 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 1240, 483 N.Y.S.2d 716, 1984 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 21857, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/computer-strategies-inc-v-commodore-business-machines-inc-nyappdiv-1984.