In re Duffy

117 A.D.3d 124, 983 N.Y.S.2d 70

This text of 117 A.D.3d 124 (In re Duffy) 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
In re Duffy, 117 A.D.3d 124, 983 N.Y.S.2d 70 (N.Y. Ct. App. 2014).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Per Curiam.

The Grievance Committee for the Tenth Judicial District served the respondent with a verified petition, dated December 20, 2010, containing eight charges of professional misconduct. By decision and order on motion of this Court dated February 3, 2012, the respondent was barred from re-litigating any of the factual allegations raised in charges one through four of the verified petition, based upon the doctrine of collateral estoppel, and referred the matter to the Honorable Jerome M. Becker, as Special Referee, to hear and report. After a hearing, the Special Referee sustained charges one through four, and charges five through seven. Charge eight was withdrawn. The Grievance Committee now moves for an order confirming the report of the Special Referee, and imposing such discipline upon the respondent as the Court deems just and proper. The respondent opposes the Grievance Committee’s motion.

Charges one through four emanate from a common set of factual allegations, which the respondent was precluded from re-litigating. The respondent and his law firm, Berg & Duffy, [126]*126were defendants in an action entitled 37 Park Dr. S., Inc. v Duffy, commenced in the Supreme Court, Westchester County-under index No. 16967/04 (see 37 Park Dr. S., Inc. v Duffy, 28 Misc 3d 1234[A], 2007 NY Slip Op 52671[U] [Sup Ct, Westchester County 2007]). The plaintiff in that action sought damages against the respondent and his law firm in the sum of $137,853, plus interest, on the basis of causes of action alleging, inter alia, failing to account, unjust enrichment, breach of contract, and breach of fiduciary duty. The action was tried, without a jury, in the Supreme Court, Westchester County, before the Honorable Alan Scheinkman.

On or about December 4, 2007, the Supreme Court issued a decision after trial which was against the respondent and his law firm, in the principal sum of $137,853, with prejudgment interest from July 1, 2000. The court found that in or around 1997, the respondent and his law firm, Berg & Duffy, were retained to form a corporate entity entitled 37 Park Drive South, Inc. (hereinafter 37 Park) on behalf of Cristoballo, S.A. (hereinafter Cristoballo), and Robert Shamis, a foreign national. At or about that time, the respondent was the sole partner in the law firm of Berg & Duffy.

The respondent formed 37 Park, and was made president, and a director thereof. He, and an associate attorney in his law firm, were the signatories on 37 Park’s checking account, and the account statements were sent to the respondent. 37 Park was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cristoballo, which had an address in San Jose, Costa Rica, and operated an irrevocable trust established by Shamis for his daughters. Cristoballo was managed by Mikkel Lind, who was an officer and director of Cristoballo, as well as a certified fiduciary in Lichtenstein.

In or around August 1997, at the direction of Cristoballo, through Lind, the respondent arranged to have 37 Park acquire title to a residential property located at 37 Park Drive South in Rye. An arrangement was made to have another company owned by Shamis, Loyaltex Apparel Company, Ltd., rent the property from 37 Park. The respondent and his law firm provided legal services in connection with the establishment of 37 Park, the acquisition of the property, and the leasing arrangements. He was paid in full for these services.

Pursuant to the leasing arrangements, the monthly rental payment was established at an amount slightly greater than the monthly amount due on the mortgage. The property was occupied by Shamis, his family, and a small number of domestic [127]*127employees. The respondent was responsible for certain ministerial services such as collecting the rental payments, making monthly mortgage payments, and making other payments in connection with the routine maintenance and operation of the property. There was no written agreement as to how the respondent and his law firm would be compensated for these continuing services.

By letter to Lind dated September 8, 1997, the respondent proposed a fee of $130 per month for his continuing services to 37 Park. Legal work for maintaining the corporation in good order, and other legal work, would be billed separately. Lind agreed to the arrangement. The respondent thereafter sent periodic billing invoices, until in or about January 1999, to 37 Park, care of Lind, charging hourly rates for work performed on behalf of 37 Park.

Subsequently, it was determined that 37 Park would renovate the premises. The respondent was involved, among other things, in the coordination and release of payments in connection with the renovations. Funds for the operation and maintenance of the premises, as well as for the renovations, were periodically deposited to 37 Park’s account by Lind or Shamis. Other than payments of a recurring nature, pertaining to the routine operation of the premises, most larger disbursements or payments were made by the respondent only after review and approval by Lind or Shamis.

In or around October 1999, a fire caused damage to the property. Reconstruction of the premises was commenced, and the respondent was assigned the task of coordinating, and releasing payments for, reconstruction-related work, upon authorization from Lind or Shamis.

In and between March 2000 and September 2000, by periodic transactions through the 37 Park bank account, the respondent withdrew, or had transferred to himself or his law firm, the total sum of $137,853. In late 2000, Lind requested that the respondent provide documentary substantiation for $231,108.96 in payments, including the $137,853 to the respondent or his law firm. The respondent failed to provide any documentation supporting the withdrawal or transfer of $137,853 to himself or his law firm, and failed to refund those funds.

In or around March 2001, the respondent was removed as president of 37 Park. In November 2004, 37 Park commenced an action in the Supreme Court, Westchester County, against the respondent and his law firm, seeking, inter alia, to recover [128]*128damages in the sum of $137,853. During the nonjury trial, the respondent, and the other parties to the action, stipulated that the amount in question was $137,853.

In its December 4, 2007 decision after trial, the Supreme Court stated, in relevant part:

“DR 9-102 (c) of the Code of Professional Responsibility requires that attorneys maintain complete records of all funds of a client or third person coming into their possession and render appropriate accounts to the client or third person (22 NYCRR 1200.46 [c]). Plainly, that requirement was not observed by [the respondent]. While [the respondent] did provide, prior to this action, to an attorney then representing [37 Park], some explanations or accounting with respect to the larger amount of $231,108.96 [which was] initially questioned by Lind . . . , that material was not submitted to the Court, and it is apparent that no explanation of the $137,853 balance was ever provided. The Court notes that the request for an explanation was made less than two months after the last withdrawal and an accounting could surely have been provided. To the extent that [the respondent] would suggest that he later destroyed or failed to keep the records, it is clear that as of November 8, 2000, [the respondent] was on notice that he would be required to account” (37 Park Dr. S., Inc. v Duffy, 2007 NY Slip Op 52671[U], *18).

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Related

37 Park Drive South, Inc. v. Duffy
63 A.D.3d 1040 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 2009)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
117 A.D.3d 124, 983 N.Y.S.2d 70, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-duffy-nyappdiv-2014.