Scottish Air International, Inc. v. British Caledonian Group, PLC.

152 F.R.D. 18, 1993 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17177, 1993 WL 500915
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedDecember 6, 1993
DocketNo. 85 Civ. 0341 (SWK)
StatusPublished
Cited by20 cases

This text of 152 F.R.D. 18 (Scottish Air International, Inc. v. British Caledonian Group, PLC.) 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
Scottish Air International, Inc. v. British Caledonian Group, PLC., 152 F.R.D. 18, 1993 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17177, 1993 WL 500915 (S.D.N.Y. 1993).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

KRAM, District Judge.

In this diversity action for breach of contract and contempt of a May 25, 1966 Order, entered by this Court in the case of Scottish Air Int’l, Inc. v. Thomson, 65 Civ. 1782 (S.D.N.Y.1965), defendants now move: (1) pursuant to Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, to dismiss plaintiffs’ claim of contempt of the May 25, 1966 Order; and (2) for reaffirmation of Judge David N. Edelstein’s December 4, 1990 Amended Opinion and Order dismissing the balance of this action on the ground of forum non conveniens and denying plaintiffs leave to file a Second Amended Complaint and to add British Airways, PLC (“British Airways” or “BA”) as a party. In response, plaintiffs move, pursuant to Rules 15(a) and (d), 19 and 25(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, for leave to file a Third Amended and Supplemental Complaint including allegations of fact that have occurred or been discovered since the First Amended Complaint was filed in 1986, and to add British Airways as a necessary and indispensable real party in interest. Plaintiffs also request that this Court (1) rescind Judge Edelstein’s December 16, 1991 Order prohibiting discovery; and (2) adjourn consideration of defendants’ motion to dismiss on the grounds that it is directed to the First Amended Complaint, and will become moot by the proposed Third Amended and Supplemental Complaint.1

BACKGROUND

The factual background of this litigation has been set forth by both this Court in Scottish Air Int’l, Inc. v. British Caledonian Group, PLC, 751 F.Supp. 1129 (S.D.N.Y. 1990) and the Second Circuit in Scottish Air Int’l, Inc. v. British Caledonian Group, PLC, 860 F.2d 57 (2d Cir.1988) and Scottish Air [21]*21Int’l, Inc. v. British Caledonian Group, PLC, 945 F.2d 53 (2d Cir.1991). Therefore, for purposes of this Opinion, only the relevant facts will be summarized herein.

Plaintiff Scottish Air International, Inc. (“SAI”) is a dissolved corporation formerly existing under the laws of the State of New York. Previously, SAI was a holding company which owned shares in defendant British Caledonian Group, PLC (“BCG”). Plaintiff Murray Vidockler (“Vidockler”) was the president and majority shareholder of SAI.

In 1961, SAI provided investment capítol to BCG’s operating company, Caledonian Airways (Prestwick) Ltd. (“CAP”), and thus, became the sole United States shareholder of CAP.2 In July 1965, SAI commenced a shareholder derivative suit against CAP and several members of its board of directors, alleging improper use of corporate funds and improper issuance of shares. Scottish Air Int’l, Inc. v. Thomson, 65 Civ. 1782 (S.D.N.Y. filed July 7, 1965). In January 1966, the parties entered into a settlement agreement which was approved and “So Ordered” by Judge Dudley Bonsai (the “1966 Settlement Agreement”). Among other things, the 1966 Settlement Agreement provided that an individual nominated by SAI would be appointed to CAP’s board of directors. Plaintiffs allege that through the settlement and subsequent agreements, SAI was given a similar right to nominate a representative to BCG’s board of directors. Thereafter, SAI designated Vidockler to serve on CAP’s board. From 1966 until 1985, Vidockler was consistently elected to the boards of directors of both CAP and defendant BCG, CAP’s majority shareholder.

In 1985, Vidockler was removed from BCG’s board of directors, and advised that no further representatives of SAI would be nominated to sit on the board. In response, SAI and Vidockler brought the present suit, alleging that SAI had a right to place Vidockler or another SAI representative on the BCG board. According to plaintiffs, this right stemmed from agreements between the parties, including the 1966 Settlement Agreement. Plaintiffs sought (1) an injunction directing the defendants to comply with the 1966 Settlement Agreement; (2) a declaration that the defendants were in contempt of the 1966 Settlement Agreement; and (3) money damages for breach of contract.

In May 1986, defendants moved to dismiss the complaint on the grounds that (1) the Court lacked personal jurisdiction over the defendants; (2) the plaintiffs failed to join all shareholders of BCG who were necessary to effect the election of Vidockler to the board of directors; (3) ordering the election of Vidockler to the board would constitute interference with the internal operations of a foreign corporation; and (4) the Court should decline jurisdiction under the doctrine of forum non conveniens.

Before the Court rendered a decision regarding the defendants’ motion, British Airways made a successful tender offer for the shares of BCG. Plaintiffs then informed the Court that, as a result of the tender offer, BCG had essentially ceased to exist, rendering moot plaintiffs’ request for injunctive relief reinstating Vidockler to BCG’s board of directors.

Thereafter, on April 15, 1988, the Court dismissed this action on the grounds of forum non conveniens, subject to the defendants’ agreement to continue the litigation in the United Kingdom (the “April 15th Order”). On October 31, 1988, the Second Circuit reversed and remanded the Court’s April 15th Order, holding that the Court had failed to consider SAI and Vidockler’s contempt and damages claims. See Scottish Air Int’l, Inc. v. British Caledonian Group, PLC, 860 F.2d 57 (2d Cir.1988) (“Scottish Air I”). Noting that “in dismissing plaintiffs’ complaint on the basis of forum non conveniens, the [district] court focused exclusively on plaintiffs’ prayer for an injunction reinstating Vidockler to BCG’s board of directors,” the Second Circuit found that the prayer for injunctive relief was moot, id. at 59, and that “the district court erroneously failed to consider [the plaintiffs’] remaining claims for breach of contract and for a finding of contempt of the 1966 order,” id.

[22]*22Following remand, plaintiffs then moved, pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 19(a)(1), to add British Airways as an indispensable party and, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15(a) and (d), to amend and supplement the complaint in order to add claims that they were not allowed to trade their shares of BCG for shares of British Airways during British Airway’s tender offer for BCG, but were instead forced to take cash.

In an amended Opinion dated December 4, 1990, the Court denied plaintiffs’ motion and dismissed the contempt claim pursuant to a sua sponte determination in favor of defendants. See Scottish Air Int'l, Inc. v. British Caledonian Group, PLC, 751 F.Supp. 1129 (S.D.N.Y.1990) (“Scottish Air II”). The remaining claims were once again dismissed under the doctrine of forum, non conveniens,

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Bluebook (online)
152 F.R.D. 18, 1993 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17177, 1993 WL 500915, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/scottish-air-international-inc-v-british-caledonian-group-plc-nysd-1993.