NYU Hospitals Center v. HRH Construction LLC (In re HRH Construction LLC)

536 B.R. 539
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedMarch 12, 2015
DocketNo. 12-CV-1384 (DAB)
StatusPublished

This text of 536 B.R. 539 (NYU Hospitals Center v. HRH Construction LLC (In re HRH Construction LLC)) 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
NYU Hospitals Center v. HRH Construction LLC (In re HRH Construction LLC), 536 B.R. 539 (S.D.N.Y. 2015).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM & ORDER

DEBORAH A. BATTS, District Judge.

Plaintiff-Appellant NYU Hospitals Center (“NYU”) appeals from the Order and Judgment of the Bankruptcy Court dated December 23, 2011 ruling in favor of HRH Construction LLC (“HRH”) and Curtis Partition Corporation (“Curtis”). For the reasons stated below, the Order of the Bankruptcy Court is AFFIRMED in part and VACATED in part.

I. Introduction

This Opinion assumes familiarity with the Parties and facts summarized in the Bankruptcy Court’s Memorandum Decision and Order (Aug. 2, 2011) and Order and Judgment (Dec. 23, 2011). The below facts are taken from the Bankruptcy Court’s August 2, 2011 Memorandum Decision and Order (“Order”).

The present action arises out of a construction contract dispute between NYU, HRH, and HRH’s subcontractor Curtis. NYU hired" HRH to renovate NYU’s radiology center in Manhattan pursuant to a contract dated October 21, 2003 (“Contract”). (Order at 2.) The renovation project proceeded in several phases to allow NYU to remain operational during construction. (Id. at 2-3.) Pursuant to the Contract and relevant subcontracts, payment was to proceed as follows: HRH was required to submit requisitions to NYU on [542]*542a monthly basis for periodic reimbursement of costs and expenses. (Id. at 3.) NYU was required to approve or disapprove of requisitions within twelve business days of receipt. (Id.) If NYU disapproved a requisition, the Contract required NYU to “prepare and promptly” issue a written statement to HRH describing the items that were not approved. (Id.) If NYU approved a requisition, NYU was required to pay HRH within thirty days of approval. (Id.) HRH was required to pay any relevant subcontractors, such as Curtis, within ninety-days of NYU’s approval of a requisition. (Id. at 3-4.)

The construction project encountered delays in 2004 and early 2005, and NYU failed to remit payments to HRH in a timely manner. (Id. at 4.) NYU and HRH consequently signed an addendum to the Contract in May of 2005 in an effort to move the project forward and address the unpaid requisitions (“Completion Agreement”). (Id. at 4-5.) Pursuant to the Completion Agreement, NYU promised to render payment for four outstanding requisitions, and HRH promised to achieve “Substantial Completion” of Phases 0 and 1 of the project by June 15, 2005. (Id. at 5.) The Completion Agreement defines “Substantial Completion” to include “all [w]ork necessary to obtain New York State Department of Health (‘DOH’) approval for full use and occupancy of the Phase 0 and Phase 1 areas.... ” (Id. at 56.) The DOH inspected the premises on June 21, 2005, and NYU passed. (Id. at 6.)

Pursuant to the Completion Agreement, after Substantial Completion of Phases 0 and 1, NYU and HRH were to “meet (prior to the start of the next phase of the Work) to negotiate and resolve remaining issues between them, including the schedule for completion of the remaining Work.” (Id.)

The Parties agreed that little work was done on the project after Substantial Completion of Phases 0 and 1. (Id.) HRH requested a meeting with NYU, however no meeting was held. (Id. at 7.) In response to a “suggestion” by NYU that HRH “submit something ... to the hospital which identifies what the issues are,” HRH submitted a change order request regarding certain cost adjustments. (Id. 7-8.) NYU rejected the change order request and contacted another general contractor, Bovis Lend Lease LMB, Inc. (“Bo-vis”) to have Bovis replace HRH. (Id. at 8.) NYU also gave Bovis permission to contact HRH’s subcontractors, and the Bankruptcy Court found that the evidence demonstrated that Bovis’ communications with HRH’s subcontractors impeded HRH’s ability to proceed. (Id.)

NYU claims that HRH breached the Contract by failing to proceed with Phase 2 of the project. (Id. at 2.) HRH countered that NYU prevented HRH from fulfilling its contractual obligations because NYU failed to meet with HRH to negotiate outstanding issues and finalize a plan for Phase 2 of the project. (Id.) HRH also argued that NYU breached the Contract by failing to make required payments on approved requisitions. (Id.) Subcontractor Curtis filed claims seeking to foreclose on a mechanic’s lien against NYU and HRH for unpaid requisitions, and seeking damages against HRH for “hardship” or tortious interference. (Id. at 11.)

A trial was held on January 5-7, and 10, 2011 before the Bankruptcy Court. (Id. at 2.) The Bankruptcy Court ruled in favor of HRH and granted Curtis’s trust fund claims in connection with Requisitions 14-16. (Id. at 32.) Specifically, the Bankruptcy Court awarded damages to HRH with respect to requisitions 14-16, in the amounts of $684,889.00, $800,874.00, and $486,194.00, less amounts that the Bank[543]*543ruptcy Court ordered NYU to pay directly to Curtis and amounts requested by subcontractors who were subsequently paid for returning to the project pursuant to later agreements with replacement contractor Bovis. (Id.) The Bankruptcy Court ordered NYU to pay Curtis directly for requisitions 14-16, in the amounts of $77,867.00, $18,000.00, and $180,352.00 respectively. (Id.) The Bankruptcy Court denied claims for all other causes of action. (Id.) NYU timely appealed.

II. Standard of Review

The Parties consented to entry of final judgment by the Bankruptcy Court. (Order and Judgment at 1 (Dec. 23, 2011).) This Court accordingly has jurisdiction over the appeal of the final judgment of the Bankruptcy Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 158(a)(1). The Bankruptcy Court’s findings of fact must not be set aside unless they are “clearly erroneous,” and the “reviewing court must give due regard to the trial court’s opportunity to judge the witnesses’ credibility.” (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 7052.) A finding of fact is clearly erroneous if the Court is “left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed.” (In re Adelphia Commc’ns Corp., 367 B.R. 84, 90 (S.D.N.Y.2007) (citing In re Manville Forest Prods. Corp., 896 F.2d 1384, 1388 (2d Cir.1990) (quoting United States v. United States Gypsum Co., 333 U.S. 364, 395, 68 S.Ct. 525, 92 L.Ed. 746 (1948))).)

The Bankruptcy Court’s conclusions of law, on the other hand, are reviewed de novo. (Id. at 90-91 (citing In re Cody, Inc., 338 F.3d 89, 94 (2d Cir.2003)).) “The Court may affirm on any ground that finds support in the record, and need not limit its review to the bases raised or relied upon in the decisions below.” (Freeman v. Journal Register Co., 452 B.R. 367, 369 (S.D.N.Y.2010); see also In re Dana Corp., 412 B.R. 53, 56 (S.D.N.Y.2008) (citation omitted).) The District Court may not, however, consider evidence outside of the record. (Morse v. Rescap Borrower Claims Trust,

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Bluebook (online)
536 B.R. 539, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/nyu-hospitals-center-v-hrh-construction-llc-in-re-hrh-construction-llc-nysd-2015.