Fed. Sec. L. Rep. P 95,889 Robert Abrahamson and Marjorie Abrahamson v. Malcolm K. Fleschner

568 F.2d 862
Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit·Decided May 16, 1978·No. 212, Docket 75-7203·Published·Cited by 128 cases

Opinions

TIMBERS, Circuit Judge:

Of the several questions presented under the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws, those under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 appear to be of first impression at the appellate level*

• The appeal is from a judgment entered in the Southern District of New York, Robert L. Carter, District Judge, 392 F.Supp. 740, dismissing the complaint, on cross-motions for summary judgment, in an action to recover damages for alleged violations of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 15 U.S.C. § 78j(b) (1970), and of Rule 10b-5 thereunder, 17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5 (1976); and alleged violations of Section 206 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, 15 U.S.C. § 80b-6 (1970), and of Rule 206(4)-l thereunder, 17 C.F.R. § 275.206(4) (1976).

The essential questions presented and our rulings thereon are as follows:

(1) Whether the complaint states a claim upon which relief can be granted under Section 10(b) of the 1934 Act and Rule 10b-5.
We hold it does not.
(2) Whether defendants who are general partners of the investment partnership are investment advisers within the meaning of Section 202(a)(ll) of the Advisers Act.
We hold they are.
(3) Whether there is an implied private right of action for damages under the Advisers Act.
We hold there is.
(4) Whether the complaint alleges compensable damages under the Advisers Act.
We hold it does.
(5) Whether the complaint states a claim upon which relief can be granted under Section 206 of the Advisers Act and Rule 206(4)-l.
We hold it does.

We affirm the dismissal of the Exchange Act claim; but as to the dismissal of the Advisers Act claim, we reverse and remand for trial.

I. FACTS

The following summary of the essential facts is believed necessary to an understanding of our rulings on the questions presented.1 The facts are not in dispute.

Plaintiffs Robert Abrahamson and Marjorie Abrahamson, husband and wife, were limited partners of defendant Fleschner Becker Associates (FBA), an investment partnership, from its inception on July 1, 1965 until they withdrew on September 30, 1970.

Defendants Malcolm K. Fleschner (Fleschner) and William J. Becker (Becker) are [866] general partners of FBA. Fleschner was its founder and has been a general partner since its inception. Becker became a general partner on April 1, 1966. Defendant Harold B. Ehrlich (Ehrlich) was a general partner from October 1, 1968 through September 30,1969. Defendant Harry Goodkin & Company (Goodkin) is a firm of certified public accountants which audited FBA’s books and certified FBA’s financial reports for the fiscal years 1966, 1967 and 1968.

In late 1964 and in 1965 plaintiffs had several conversations with Fleschner who expressed his intention of forming an investment partnership. He told plaintiffs that the partnership would have a conservative investment policy. Plaintiffs expressed their concern for financial security and conservatism in their investments.

By a partnership agreement dated July 1, 1965, FBA began as a small partnership. The original partners consisted of one general partner (Fleschner) and eight limited partners (plaintiffs, four members of Fleschner’s family and two others). Plaintiffs’ initial contribution was $150,000.

FBA grew rapidly. By April 1, 1966 it had two general partners and thirty-five limited partners; and by October 1, 1968 it had three general partners and sixty-six limited partners. Each partner had an account which represented the appreciated value of his contributions to the pooled funds, less withdrawals and certain fees. By October 1, 1968 FBA’s assets were approximately $60 million.

For managing the partnership investments, the general partners received substantial fees. They were paid 20% of FBA’s net profits and net capital gains for each fiscal year. In addition, the partnership agreement of October 1, 1968 provided for an annual salary of $25,000 for each general partner who managed the partnership’s investments.

The limited partners did not participate in managing the partnership’s investments. A limited partner could withdraw all or part of the balance in his capital account at the end of any fiscal year (September 30), provided that he gave the required advance notice. Prior to October 1, 1968, 30 days notice was required; thereafter, 60 days notice was required. There were similar notice requirements for withdrawal from membership in the partnership.

With the increase in the number of limited partners and the concomitant increase in the size of the firm’s assets, certain changes were made in the structure of the partnership. The original July 1, 1965 partnership agreement was superseded by a new agreement dated April 1, 1966 which in turn was superseded by the October 1, 1968 agreement. The principal change effected by the 1966 agreement was the addition of Becker as a general and managing partner and the inclusion of additional limited partners. The 1968 agreement, in addition to authorizing salaries of $25,000 per year for those general partners who managed the partnership’s investments, included Ehrlich as a general partner; added a large number of limited partners; expanded and detailed the stated purposes of the partnership; and made a number of other changes referred to below.

During the period plaintiffs were limited partners of FBA the general partners mailed monthly reports to all of the firm’s limited partners. These reports were concise, two paragraph statements which set forth the percentage increase or decrease in the value of the firm’s investments for the year to date and compared this performance with Standard & Poors 500 Stock Average.

The reports also included statements of the firm’s investment policy. Between November 1967 and April 1968 the reports repeatedly represented that FBA was maintaining a “low risk stance” and .“a most conservative posture.”2

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Fed. Sec. L. Rep. P 95,889 Robert Abrahamson and Marjorie Abrahamson v. Malcolm K. Fleschner, 568 F.2d 862 (2d Cir. 1978).

568 F.2d 862 (Fed. Sec. L. Rep. P 95,889 Robert Abrahamson and Marjorie Abrahamson v. Malcolm K. Fleschner) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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