Direct Capital Corp. v. New ABI Inc.

13 Misc. 3d 1151
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedOctober 4, 2006
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 13 Misc. 3d 1151 (Direct Capital Corp. v. New ABI Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Direct Capital Corp. v. New ABI Inc., 13 Misc. 3d 1151 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 2006).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Carolyn E. Demarest, J.

Plaintiff Direct Capital Corporation moves, pursuant to CPLR 3212, for summary judgment against defendants New ABI Inc., doing business as ABI Inc., and Angela Lu, also known as Angela Huang (collectively defendants), for breach of a finance lease contract for photo printer equipment and default under a related personal guaranty; pursuant to CPLR 3211, for dismissal of defendants’ affirmative defenses; and for an order prohibiting the removal, transfer, concealment, disposition, sale, pledging, and/or assignment of the leased equipment and directing the sheriff in the appropriate county to seize the equipment.

Facts and Procedural History

Plaintiff commenced the instant action to recover the balance allegedly due under an equipment finance lease and personal guaranty executed by Angela Lu covering photo printer equipment supplied by third-party defendant Mullersohn Foto Labor Technik, G.M.B.H., a German manufacturer of photo printers and related equipment for use in photo duplicating.

In March or April 2005, an entity known as World Images Digital (WID), purportedly acting as a representative of Mullersohn, solicited ABI for the sale of a photo printer and related equipment for use in ABI’s retail photo print shop. ABI and WID subsequently entered into a contract for the sale of the photo equipment as reflected in a letter dated April 11, 2005. In that letter, which preceded any relationship with plaintiff, Jens Jensen, president of WID states:

“3) I confirm that you can return the scanners if you are not satisfied with the results produced. I confirm that we will either refund any payment made for scanners or replace them with scanners that you like, as you wish. You have unrestricted right of return on the scanners for 60 days after installation is finished.
“4) You can rest assured that your warranty will be [1153]*1153honored under all circumstances. Müllersohn has been in the business since 1936, we have been in business since 1994 and we currently have a very big success with the Müllersohn printers and minilabs.”

The letter further indicated that ABI was preapproved for financing with monthly payments of $1,845.10 for 60 months, and that upon receipt of ABI’s down payment, delivery was guaranteed. An 11-page “Order Confirmation/Bill of Sale,” for signature by defendants, appears to have been enclosed with this letter. The order confirmation recites the specifications of the merchandise to be purchased for a “Total Package price” of $118,965 less a trade-in credit of $10,000. Page three of this document states: “We . . . World Images Digital, Inc. . . . hereby confirm to have sold to . . . New A.B.I, Inc. . . . the following equipment [description omitted].” This document further provides:

“Payment: The above-mentioned equipment is to be financed via leasing . . .
“Buy out after lease $1.00 (one dollar).
“We will set up automatic bank transfer for the monthly payments.”

It further provides:

“Payment of the price; Security interest.
“The above mentioned equipment is to be financed (leased) or paid cash. If paid cash the purchase price is payable upon delivery on cashiers check or certified funds. If any instalment [szc] is not paid when due, World Images Digital Inc. can declare the entire purchase price to be immediately due and payable. The buyer will pay interest at 19% per annum on any part of the purchase price that is not paid when due.
“World Images Digital Inc. reserves a security interest in the equipment until the purchase price is paid in full. The buyer authorizes World Images Digital Inc. to sign the buyer name to and to file a financing statement describing the equipment in order to perfect the security interest. World Images Digital Inc. may reposes [szc] the equipment and foreclose it’s [sic] security interest upon the buyer’s failure to pay the purchase price, or any part thereof, when due. The complete equipment as listed above will be the property of World Images Digital Inc. till paid in [1154]*1154full, please sign here.”

Despite the reference to financing via lease, to the unsophisticated, it would appear from the language of the order confirmation that an exclusively bilateral contract between WID and ABI was contemplated, particularly in light of WID’s retention of the right “to reposses[s] the equipment and foreclose it’s [sic] security interest” upon buyer’s default (see “Arbitration-litigation”). On May 17, 2005, ABI paid WID a $25,000 down payment.

Subsequently, a “CONTRACT” dated August 9, 2005, on the letterhead of “MüllerSOHN” was presented to the president of ABI (addressed as 28 Minute Photo), Benson Huang. This document, which is signed on behalf of WID and Mullersohn, indicates that WID was unable to perform under its contract with Mr. Huang and Mullersohn was taking over performance, in return for which Mr. Huang would pay to Mullersohn the agreed purchase price pursuant to the contract with WID “before delivery by bank transfer or Letter of Credit.” Thereafter, by letter dated August 18, 2005, addressed to Angela Lu at ABI, plaintiff provided the lease documents upon which this action is brought.

On August 20, 2005, defendants executed the written commercial equipment lease agreement and guaranty whereby plaintiff agreed to lease the equipment to ABI. By letter dated August 19, 2005 to defendant Angela Lu, Direct Capital explained that the proposed agreement was “a business financing agreement” and described the credit evaluation process and personal exposure of the business owner. No mention is made therein of a waiver of warranty. Pursuant to the terms of the lease, ABI selected the equipment listed on exhibit A from Mullersohn, which was acquired by plaintiff and then leased to ABI. The balance on the lease, after payment of an “Advance Rental [Payment]” of $1,999.30 plus a “Documentation Fee” of $1,300, was payable in 60 consecutive monthly installments (the initial term), in the amount of $1,844.80, exclusive of taxes thereon. Although the equipment was not delivered until September 26, the lease agreement executed August 20 includes an acknowledgment that the equipment had been delivered and installed and was “in good condition, working order” to the satisfaction of lessee. In slightly bolded, minuscule type, paragraph 2 of the lease, contained within the numerous boilerplate provisions beginning on page 2, entitled “Disclaimer of Warranties and Claims; Limitation of Remedies,” provides, in pertinent part:

[1155]*1155“There are no warranties by or on behalf of Lessor. Lessee acknowledges and agrees as follows: a) Lessor makes no warranties, either express or implied, against interference or infringement with respect to the Equipment or as to the condition of the Equipment, its merchantability, its fitness or suitability for any particular purpose, its design, its capacity, its quality, or with respect to any characteristics of the Equipment; b) [Lessee has inspected Equipment and is satisfied with condition]; c) Lessee leases the Equipment ‘as is’ and with all faults; ...

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

Related

Lonner v. Simon Property Group, Inc.
57 A.D.3d 100 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 2008)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
13 Misc. 3d 1151, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/direct-capital-corp-v-new-abi-inc-nysupct-2006.