Elliot v. Nelson

301 F. Supp. 2d 284, 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1192, 2004 WL 187136
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedJanuary 29, 2004
Docket03 Civ. 5653(VM)
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 301 F. Supp. 2d 284 (Elliot v. Nelson) 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
Elliot v. Nelson, 301 F. Supp. 2d 284, 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1192, 2004 WL 187136 (S.D.N.Y. 2004).

Opinion

DECISION AND ORDER

MARRERO, District Judge.

Plaintiff John Elliot (“Elliot”) alleges that defendant James Nelson (“Nelson”), a director of defendant Orbit Capital Corporation (“Orbit”), lured him into accepting an executive position at Orbit with the false assurance that Orbit was close to *286 raising a $40 million venture capital fund. Orbit never raised the funds and ultimately fired Elliot, who now seeks to recover damages against Nelson, Orbit, and Orbi-tex Management, Inc., (“Orbitex,” and collectively, “Defendants”) under the theories of negligent misrepresentation and promissory estoppel. Defendants move for summary judgment. The motion is granted.

I. BACKGROUND 1

Orbit was a venture capital firm that invested in Internet start-up companies. Beginning in February 1999, Paul Stefu-nek (“Stefunek”), an executive recruiter, began discussing with Elliot the possibility of placing him in an executive position with Orbit. Stefunek gave Elliot a “position profile” for the position of General Partner. That document stated that Orbit was affiliated with “the Orbitex Group of Companies,” which had “over $1.2 billion under management.” Elliot 56.1 Ex. B. It also stated that Orbit had “potential to access over $400 million in venture funding.” Id. Stefunek, relying on Nelson’s representations to him, told Elliot that Orbit, was close to raising a $40 million venture capital fund.

Elliot and Nelson met on June 9, 1999, and Nelson reassured Elliot that Orbit was close to raising the $40 million. Nelson also highlighted the intimate relationship between Orbit and Orbitex (which apparently had access to vast capital), leading Elliot to believe that there would be no problem raising the money. On June 29, Nelson faxed Elliot an employment agreement, under which Orbit would have paid Elliot an annual salary of $200,000. Orbit rescinded the offer the next day, however, because Orbitex officials did not want Orbit to fill the position until the venture capital fund was raised. Elliot met with Nelson again on July 2, 1999, to see about reviving the possibility of his employment. Nelson again assured Elliot that there would be no problem raising the money. Elliot agreed to accept a reduced salary of $100,000, which would be elevated to the original $200,000 when the venture capital fund was raised. By entering the employment agreement with Orbit, Elliot passed up at least one other firm offer of employment with another internet company.

Elliot’s employment contract permitted either Elliot or Orbit to terminate the agreement, with 30 days’ notice, if the venture capital fund was not raised within five months of the contract date. Under those circumstances, the contract obligated Orbit to pay Elliot 60 days’ salary and benefits. Five months later, Orbit had not raised the fund and exercised its option to terminate its employment agreement with Elliot.

Elliot brought this lawsuit in Connecticut state court, seeking damages against Defendants on the basis of negligent misrepresentation and promissory estoppel. Defendants removed the case to federal court on the basis of diversity jurisdiction, and the District Court in Connecticut transferred the case to this district. Defendants now move this Court for summary judgment on all claims.

II. STANDARD FOR A SUMMARY JUDGMENT MOTION

The Court may grant summary judgment only “if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving par *287 ty is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). The Court must first look to the substantive law of the action to determine which facts are material; “[o]nly disputes over facts that might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law will properly preclude the entry of summary judgment.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). Even if the parties dispute material facts, summary judgment will be granted unless the dispute is “genuine.” Id. at 249, 106 S.Ct. 2505. “The mere existence of a scintilla of evidence in support of the [non-moving party’s] position will be insufficient; there must be evidence on which the jury could reasonably find for the [non-moving party].” Id. at 252, 106 S.Ct. 2505.

Throughout this inquiry, the Court must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party and must draw all reasonable inferences in favor of that party. See Hanson v. McCaw Cellular Communications, Inc., 77 F.3d 663, 667 (2d Cir.1996).

III. DISCUSSION

“Under New York law, the elements for a negligent misrepresentation claim are that (1) the defendant had a duty, as a result of a special relationship, to give correct information; (2) the defendant made a false representation that he or she should have known was incorrect; (3) the information supplied in the representation was known by the defendant to be desired by the plaintiff for a serious purpose; (4) the plaintiff intended to rely and act upon it; and (5) the plaintiff reasonably relied on it to his or her detriment.” Hydro Investors, Inc. v. Trafalgar Power Inc., 227 F.3d 8, 20 (2d Cir.2000). Elliot’s negligent misrepresentation claim fails as a matter of law because, first, Defendants’ alleged representations were not false when made, and, second, Elliot’s alleged reliance on those representations was unreasonable.

Although “[p]romises of future conduct are not actionable as negligent misrepresentations,” Murray v. Xerox Corp., 811 F.2d 118, 123 (2d Cir.1987) (applying New York law), a promise “made with a preconceived and undisclosed intention of not performing it ... constitutes a misrepresentation of ‘a material existing fact.’ ” Sabo v. Delman, 3 N.Y.2d 155, 164 N.Y.S.2d 714, 143 N.E.2d 906, 908 (1957) (citation omitted). Here, Elliot casts Defendants’ assurances that Orbit would raise the venture capital fund as assertions that Defendants intended to try to raise the money. These assurances were false, according to Elliot, because Defendants actually made no efforts to raise the fund, thereby indicating that Defendants never intended to raise any money at the time they were pursuing Elliot. Elliot highlights the fact that Orbit did not actually raise any money towards the venture capital fund, nor did Orbit actually create the legal entity which would have held the money.

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Bluebook (online)
301 F. Supp. 2d 284, 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1192, 2004 WL 187136, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/elliot-v-nelson-nysd-2004.