Lockey v. Kanodia

13 Mass. L. Rptr. 251
CourtMassachusetts Superior Court
DecidedMay 15, 2001
DocketNo. 995537BLS
StatusPublished

This text of 13 Mass. L. Rptr. 251 (Lockey v. Kanodia) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Massachusetts Superior Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Lockey v. Kanodia, 13 Mass. L. Rptr. 251 (Mass. Ct. App. 2001).

Opinion

van Gestel, J.

This matter is before the Court after a jury-waived trial on the merits. The relief sought in the plaintiffs’ second amended complaint is set out in four counts: Count I seeks a dissolution of a limited partnership and an accounting: Count II charges [252]*252breaches of fiduciary duties regarding certain property management fees; Count III charges breaches of fiduciary duties regarding various payments made by the general partner; and Count IV seeks relief pursuant to G.L.c. 93A.1 What follows are the Court's findings of fact, rulings of law and an order for judgment.

FINDINGS OF FACT

As of June 20, 1994, a Massachusetts limited partnership named 354-360 Washington Street Limited Partnership (the “Partnership”) was established. The defendant SNK Corporation (“SNK”) is the general partner. The defendant Amit Kanodia (“Kanodia”) is the president of SNK and its sole stockholder. SNK holds an 80% interest in the Partnership. Kanodia also claims an interest in a single share in the Partnership as a limited partner. This claim is challenged by the plaintiffs. The plaintiffs Peter Lockey (“Lockey”), Matthew Boudreau (“Boudreau”), Marcia Lloyd (“Lloyd”), Kenneth Rhodes (“Rhodes”) and Louis Yany (“Yany”) are all among the limited partners with shares varying from 1/2 to 11/2 units of the Partnership. There are other limited partners who are not parties to this action.

The purpose of the Partnership is to acquire, hold, own, maintain, improve, finance, operate, manage, lease, refinance, and sell or otherwise deal with or dispose of the real property described on Schedule B to the Partnership agreement. Unfortunately, neither the copy of the agreement attached to the original complaint, the first amended complaint, the second amended complaint, nor included as part of Exhibit 21, nor admitted as Exhibit 37 contains a “Schedule B.” Nevertheless, from the other evidence presented, the Court makes these findings on the assumption that there is a Schedule B and that it describes the real property located at 354-360 Washington Street, Dedham, Massachusetts (the “Property”), as being the subject of the agreement.

SNK, as general partner, is given the “full and exclusive discretion in the management of the Partnership.” In that regard, SNK is given the authority “to make all decisions affecting the Partnership’s affairs and business and full and exclusive discretion to take any and all actions the General Partner deems appropriate with respect thereto.”

By Section 5.2(c) of the Partnership agreement, SNK is authorized and given the right, in its sole discretion, “to expand, rehabilitate, develop, maintain, operate, manage and improve all or any part of any property owned by the Partnership, real or personal.”

By Section 5.2(d) of the Partnership agreement, SNK is authorized and given the right, in its sole discretion, to, among other things, “refinance or replace any borrowing of the Partnership or any other borrowing secured by any of its assets ...”

By Section 5.2(g) of the Partnership agreement, SNK is authorized and given the right, in its sole discretion, to, among other things, “enter into any kind of activity and to perform and carry out contracts of any kind which the General Partner deems appropriate with respect to or incidental to the accomplishment of the purposes of the Partnership, as long as said activities and contracts may be lawfully carried on or performed by a partnership under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and to modify or terminate contracts and agreements with third parties in connection with the Partnership business.”

By Section 5.2(k) of the Partnership agreement, SNK is authorized and given the right, in its sole discretion, to “employ such agents, employees, managers, accountants, attorneys, consultants and other persons necessary or appropriate to carry out the business and affairs of the Partnership' and to pay such fees, expenses, salaries, wage and other compensation to such persons as it shall in its sole discretion determine."

By Section 5.2(1) of the Partnership agreement., SNK is authorized and given the right, in its sole discretion, to “pay, extend, renew, modify, adjust, submit to arbitration, prosecute, defend or compromise, on such terms as it may determine and upon such evidence as it may deem sufficient, any obligation, suit, liability, cause of action or claim, including taxes, either in favor of or against the Partnership.”

By Section 5.3 of the Partnership Agreement, the limited partners have, among other things, “the right to approve . . . any borrowing by the Partnership, except by means of a Priority Loan . . .” A “Priority Loan” is an advancement of funds to the Partnership pursuant to Sections 3.2 and 3.3 of the agreement. Those sections relate to funds from partners on a capital call. Section 5.3 states as follows regarding the notice and approval process:

The General Partner shall deliver notice of any proposed Major Decision [including a borrowing other than a Priority Loan] to the [limited partners]. If the [limited partners do] not deliver to the General Partner written objection to such Major Decision within ten (10) days of receipt of such notice from the General Partner, such proposed Major Decision shall be deemed approved by the [limited partners].

Section 5.5 provides that SNK, as the general partner, “shall not be entitled to any compensation for acting” in that role, but it is entitled “to be reimbursed from Partnership funds for all out-of-pocket expenditures made ... in the conduct of the Partnership business and the fulfillment of the General Partner’s obligations ...”

Section 5.6 authorizes SNK to employ, contract and deal with affiliates and pay them “such remuneration as the General Partner, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.”

By Section 7.1 of the Partnership agreement, SNK is required to maintain “full and accurate books and records at the principal place of business of the Part[253]*253nership.” Those records are to “be available for inspection and examination by each Partner for any purpose reasonably related to its interest in the Partnership

Section 8.1(d) of the Partnership agreement provides that the Partnership “shall be dissolved upon .. . [t]he Withdrawal of the General Partner unless, within ninety (90) days after the occurrence of such event, all remaining Partners agree in writing to continue the business of the Partnership and to the appointment” of one or more additional general partners. The word “Withdrawal” is defined in Article 2 of the Partnership agreement, with respect to a general partner, as “the ceasing to be a General Partner for any reason whatsoever, whether voluntary or involuntary, including but not limited to, permitted or prohibited withdrawal under Article 8 hereof or withdrawal on account of death, insanity, incapacity, dissolution or the occurrence of an Event of Bankruptcy.”

Upon dissolution of the Partnership, Sections 8.2 and 8.3 of the agreement mandate the cessation of business, the winding up of the Partnership and the appointment of a “Liquidator.” It is further provided in Section 8.3 that the “Liquidator shall be the General Partner.”

On August 31, 1998, SNK was dissolved by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, presumably for failure to file annual returns or some other reports. An application for revival pursuant to G.L.c. 156B, Sec.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
13 Mass. L. Rptr. 251, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lockey-v-kanodia-masssuperct-2001.