Gelbard v. Esses

96 A.D.2d 573, 465 N.Y.S.2d 264, 1983 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 19108
CourtAppellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
DecidedJuly 25, 1983
StatusPublished
Cited by37 cases

This text of 96 A.D.2d 573 (Gelbard v. Esses) 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
Gelbard v. Esses, 96 A.D.2d 573, 465 N.Y.S.2d 264, 1983 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 19108 (N.Y. Ct. App. 1983).

Opinion

— In a turnover proceeding pursuant to CPLR 5225 (subd [b]), the appeal is from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Nassau County (Kelly, J.), dated September 15, 1981, which, after a nonjury trial, directed appellants to turn over to the Sheriff all of the corporate assets of the judgment debtor conveyed to appellants pursuant to certain corporate security agreements or so much of such assets to satisfy the outstanding judgment. Judgment reversed, on the law and as a matter of discretion, and the proceeding is remitted to Special Term for a new trial and further proceedings in accordance herewith, with costs to abide the event. In February, 1978, Esses & Co., Inc. (hereinafter the corporation), a holding company, defaulted on an unsecured note wherein petitioners’ predecessor, Gustav Golden, was the payee. There was then owing the sum of $70,000. The corporation’s principals, who each owned 45% of the shares of its stock, were Harry Esses and Sam Esses. These two individuals had guaranteed payment of a total of $50,000 of the unsecured promissory note. In May, 1978, Everyone’s Stores, Inc. (hereinafter Everyone’s), one of the corporation’s subsidiary operating companies with 95% of its common stock owned by the corporation, filed a petition for an arrangement under chapter 11 of the Federal Bankruptcy Act in the United States District Court, Southern District of New York. That court authorized Everyone’s and Amalgamated Drug Distributors, Inc., an operating company with 80% of its common stock owned by Harry and Sam Esses, to continue control of their operations as debtors-in-possession. In July, 1978 Harry Esses borrowed $17,500 from his wife, Deanne, and in return executed in her favor a demand promissory note as well as a security agreement pledging all of his stock in the corporation and in two of its subsidiaries, Everyone’s and Amalgamated Drug Distributors, Inc., as collateral for the loan. Also in that month, Sam Esses borrowed $17,500 [574]*574from his wife, Sandra, executing similar documents in her favor. Each security agreement stated that the collateralized stock was in the possession of the secured party. The $35,000 so obtained by Messrs. Esses was deposited, pursuant to paragraph 9 of Everyone’s amended plan of arrangement, with the creditors’ committee “as evidence of [Everyone’s] good faith to confirm its Arrangement”. Paragraph 9 of the amended plan of arrangement also stated that “[o]n October 30, 1978, provided the Creditors’ Committee ha[d] in its possession consents in dollar amount in excess of 50% of the dollar amount of unsecured claims [against Everyone’s] then on file”, Everyone’s would cause a third party or parties to deposit an additional $65,000 with the attorneys for the creditors’ committee. On October 16, 1978, petitioners instituted an action in the Supreme Court, Nassau County, against the corporation on the unsecured note and, inter alia, against Harry Esses and Sam Esses on their guarantees. Petitioners’ motion for summary judgment in that action was thereafter granted, and on April 3, 1979, judgment was entered against the corporation for $81,550, and against Harry Esses and Sam Esses, personally, for a total of $50,000 upon their guarantees of $25,000 each for the payment of the note. This judgment has been satisfied only to the extent of $50,000 paid by Harry Esses and Sam Esses on their guarantees, leaving the sum of $31,550, plus interest, outstanding and unsatisfied against the corporation. On November 6, 1978, upon the debtor Everyone’s application, Bankruptcy Judge Ryan signed an order which provided, in pertinent part: “that harry esses and sam esses be * * * authorized to borrow * * * $65,000 from Sandra Esses and Deanne Esses, their wives, and to collateralize said loans by a further pledge of their respective stock interests in Esses & Co., Inc., Everyone’s Store, Inc., and Amalgamated Drug Distributors, Inc., and they are further authorized to take all steps necessary for Sandra Esses and Deanne Esses to perfect a security interest and or purchase of in [sic] said stock” (emphasis supplied). On the same day that Judge Ryan’s order was signed, Harry Esses obtained a loan of $32,500 from his wife Deanne Esses, and in return he executed: (1) a $32,500 promissory note, payable on demand, wherein he was apparently the sole maker, and (2) a security agreement wherein he and the corporation were designated as debtors. The stated indebtedness was “$50,000 * * * inclusive of $17,500.00 advanced pursuant to a similar Security Agreement dated July 21, 1978”. The stated collateral included all of the stock owned by Harry Esses in the corporation and Amalgamated Drug Distributors, Inc., and substantially all of the stock owned by the holding corporation, namely, “42-1/2% of the stock of Everyone’s Stores, Inc. owned by Esses & Co. Inc.”; “[a]ll of the stock of Es-Bros. Bargain Stores, Inc., owned by Esses & Co., Inc., Everyone’s Stores, Inc. and/or Harry Esses”; “[a]ll of the stock of Everyone’s Fabrics, Inc., owned by Esses & Co., Inc., Everyone’s Stores, Inc. and/or Harry Esses”; “[a]ll of the stock of 2976 Third Avenue, Inc., owned by Esses & Co., Inc., Everyone’s Stores, Inc., and/or Harry Esses”; and “[a]ll right, title, interest and benefits of Everyone’s Stores, Inc., in and to a leasehold interest in [certain] premises”. Eight days later, on November 14, 1978, Samuel Esses and the corporation executed similar documents in favor of his wife, Sandra Esses, in return for her further loan of $32,500. The collateral included all of Sam Esses’ stock in the corporation and Amalgamated Drug Distributors, Inc.; 42%% of the stock of Everyone’s owned by Esses & Co. Inc.; “[a]ll of the stock of Bronx 159th St. Corp., owned by Esses & Co. Inc., Everyone’s * * * and/or Samuel Esses”; “[a]ll of the stock of Himrod St. Corp.,” owned by the corporation, Everyone’s and/or Samuel Esses; and “[a]ll right, title, interest and benefits of Everyone’s” in the leasehold interest of certain premises. It appears from the record that the $65,000, plus the earlier deposited $35,000, were delivered to the creditors’ committee, the debtor’s plan was confirmed, and Everyone’s was rehabilitated. [575]*575On December 5, 1978, Deanne Esses made written demand upon Harry Esses for repayment of the $50,000 loan plus interest, noting that if not paid, she would, pursuant to the terms of the security agreement, be entitled to her rights to the collateral. Three days later, Sandra Esses made the same demand upon Sam Esses. Since the collateral was, as stated in the security agreements, already in the possession of the secured parties, Deanne and Sandra Esses, no further proceedings to foreclose on the stock owned by the corporation (which constituted, essentially, its entire assets) were instituted. Thus, when petitioners as judgment creditors attempted to enforce payment of the $31,550 balance plus interest due on the April 3, 1979 judgment, there were no assets of the judgment debtor corporation remaining from which the judgment could be satisfied. Thereafter, petitioners instituted the instant proceeding. A trial (see, generally, CPLR art 4; CPLR 410) was held to determine: (1) whether property subject to the judgment (that is, the stock and leases previously held by the corporation) had been transferred without any consideration flowing to the corporation, rendering it barren of any assets, and/or (2) whether the transfer had been made with intent to hinder, delay or defraud petitioners in recovering the balance due. Special Term concluded, inter alia,

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Bluebook (online)
96 A.D.2d 573, 465 N.Y.S.2d 264, 1983 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 19108, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gelbard-v-esses-nyappdiv-1983.