People v. Orbital Publishing Group, Inc.

50 Misc. 3d 811, 21 N.Y.S.3d 573
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedNovember 30, 2015
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 50 Misc. 3d 811 (People v. Orbital Publishing Group, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Orbital Publishing Group, Inc., 50 Misc. 3d 811, 21 N.Y.S.3d 573 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 2015).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Carol R. Edmead, J.

In a special proceeding brought under Executive Law § 63 (12) and General Business Law article 22-A, petitioner, the People of New York, by Eric Schneiderman, Attorney General of the State of New York (the Attorney General or the State), alleges that respondents, who are involved in the business of selling magazine subscriptions and renewals, violated General Business Law §§ 349, 350, 335-a, as well as Executive Law § 63 (12) (motion seq. No. 001). Respondents cross-move to dismiss the petition.

The State’s petition seeks an order: (1) permanently enjoining respondents from soliciting business in violation of General Business Law §§ 349, 350 and 335-a, and Executive Law § 63 (12); (2) directing respondents to render an accounting to the Attorney General of the names and addresses of all consumers who paid fees to respondents for a new or renewal subscription to a magazine or other publication; (3) directing respondents to make full monetary restitution and pay damages to all aggrieved consumers, known and unknown; (4) directing respondents to disgorge all sums received from their fraudulent and illegal conduct; (5) directing respondents, pursuant to General Business Law article 22-A, to pay a civil penalty in the sum of [814]*814$5,000 to the State for each violation of General Business Law article 22-A; (6) directing respondents to pay a civil penalty to the State for known violations of General Business Law § 335-a; and (7) awarding the State costs plus an additional allowance of $2,000 against each respondent.

Background

The crux of the State’s claims is that respondents send misleading solicitations for magazine, newspaper and periodical subscriptions. The solicitations have an official appearance that the State argues creates a misleading impression that they are sent by the publications themselves. On the left side, they contain four boxes, containing numbers, labeled: “Control Number,” “Please Return By,” “Installment” and “Total Amount.” Near the four boxes, usually above and below, are two items written in bold: (1) a publication’s name and (2) a phrase suggestive of billing, such as “Magazine Payment Services,” “Publishers Billing Exchange,” “Publishers Billing Center,” “United Publishers Service,” “Magazine Billing Network,” “Publishers Billing Association,” “Subscription Billing Service,” “Publishers Billing Center,” or “Subscription Billing Service.” The right side of the solicitations typically contain the same four boxes labeled: “Control Number,” “Please Return By,” “Installment,” and “Total Amount,” this time under a heading of “Notice of Renewal,” and again with the publication’s name printed underneath the boxes.

The State argues that these solicitations create a misleading impression that they were sent by the publications themselves. Respondents, which typically do not have authorization to act as agent for the various publications, charge significantly more for the subscription than the publications themselves charge and retain the difference. The State also alleges that respondents, when soliciting for renewal subscriptions, have failed to disclose the date that existing subscriptions end, as required by New York law. Respondents argue that this law is unconstitutional.

More broadly, respondents argue that they had authority to sell the subscriptions in the sense that, typically, they are able to process the orders by serving as a middleman. Moreover, respondents contend that any confusion about whether the solicitation was made by the publication itself is the fault of consumers, as the back of the solicitations contains the following disclosure:

[815]*815“We offer over 600 magazines as an independent subscription agent between magazine publishers and clearinghouses in order to facilitate sales and service. As an agent we do not necessarily have a direct relationship with publishers or publications that we offer. With your purchase you authorize us and our suppliers to process and clear your order with the publishers directly or by whatever means available. This is a magazine subscription offer not a bill or invoice. You are under no obligation to either buy a magazine or renew at this time. However, your business is greatly appreciated. Renewals will start after your current subscription has expired. Please allow 6 to 12 weeks for processing. New subscribers please allow 6 to 12 weeks for delivery to start. If renewal, please refer to the magazine mailing label to find the subscription expiration date. All orders are fully cancelable by calling within 7 days after placing an order. After that, in most cases, cancellations will not be accepted. If a cancellation is accepted, it will be subject to a $20.00 cancellation fee. If you have any questions or would like to inquire about other magazines we offer, please call our customer service number on the front of this offer.”

Respondents also contend that the Attorney General is trying to protect the interests of publishers, who have complained about their practices, rather than consumers, who have also complained about their practices. Finally, respondents argue that the court does not have jurisdiction over the individual respondents and Adept Management, Inc. (Adept).

Discussion

I. Standard of Review

“[A] special proceeding is subject to the same standards and rules of decision as apply on a motion for summary judgment, requiring the court to decide the matter upon the pleadings, papers and admissions to the extent that no triable issues of fact are raised” (Matter of Gonzalez v City of New York, 127 AD3d 632, 633 [1st Dept 2015] [internal quotation marks and citations omitted]). Thus, we have in effect a summary judgment motion and a motion to dismiss.

“Summary judgment must be granted if the proponent makes ‘a prima facie showing of entitlement to judgment as a matter [816]*816of law, tendering sufficient evidence to demonstrate the absence of any material issues of fact,’ and the opponent fails to rebut that showing” (Brandy B. v Eden Cent. School Dist., 15 NY3d 297, 302 [2010], quoting Alvarez v Prospect Hosp., 68 NY2d 320, 324 [1986]). However, if the moving party fails to make a prima facie showing, the court must deny the motion, “ ‘regardless of the sufficiency of the opposing papers’ ” (Smalls v AJI Indus., Inc., 10 NY3d 733, 735 [2008], quoting Alvarez, 68 NY2d at 324).

“When determining a motion to dismiss,” on the other hand, “the court must accept the facts as alleged in the complaint as true, accord plaintiffs the benefit of every possible favorable inference, and determine only whether the facts as alleged fit within any cognizable legal theory” (Goldman v Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., 5 NY3d 561, 570-571 [2005] [internal quotation marks and citations omitted]). “Dismissal under CPLR 3211 (a) (1) is warranted ‘only if the documentary evidence submitted conclusively establishes a defense to the asserted claims as a . matter of law’ ” (511 W. 232nd Owners Corp. v Jennifer Realty Co., 98 NY2d 144, 152 [2002], quoting Leon v Martinez, 84 NY2d 83, 88 [1994]).

Executive Law § 63 (12)

Executive Law § 63 (12) enables the Attorney General to petition the court, on behalf of the people of New York, for redress against “any person” who has engaged in “repeated fraudulent or illegal acts.” While this statute “does not create independent claims”

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
50 Misc. 3d 811, 21 N.Y.S.3d 573, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-orbital-publishing-group-inc-nysupct-2015.