Shafferman v. Queens Borough Public Library (In re JMK Construction Group, Ltd.)

502 B.R. 396
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. New York
DecidedDecember 20, 2013
DocketCase No. 10-13968 (MG); Adversary Proceeding No. 13-01105 (MG)
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 502 B.R. 396 (Shafferman v. Queens Borough Public Library (In re JMK Construction Group, Ltd.)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy 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
Shafferman v. Queens Borough Public Library (In re JMK Construction Group, Ltd.), 502 B.R. 396 (N.Y. 2013).

Opinion

Chapter 11

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER GRANTING KOPF’S MOTION TO DISMISS THIRD-PARTY COMPLAINT

MARTIN GLENN, United States Bankruptcy Judge

Pending before the Court is Jacob M. Kopfs (“Kopf’) Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs Complaint Pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6) (the “Motion,” Adv. Pro. No. 13-01105, ECF Doc. # 17).1 Kopf was the president and sole shareholder of JMK Construction Group, Ltd. (“JMK”), the chapter 11 debtor in Bankruptcy Case No. 10-13968. Through the Motion, Kopf seeks dismissal, under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), of the claims asserted against him as third-party defendant in the Answer of Queens Borough Public Library, Counter-Claims Against Joel Shafferman, the Liquidating Trustee of JMK Construction Group, Ltd. and [402]*402Third-Party Complaint Against Jacob M. Kopf (the “Third-Party Complaint,” ECF Doc. #8), filed by The Queens Borough Public Library (“QBPL” or the “Library”). QBPL filed an opposition to the Motion (the “Opposition,” ECF Doc. # 25). Kopf filed the Surreply in Support of Jacob M. Kopfs Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs Complaint Pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6) (the “Reply,” ECF Doc. # 27). The Court held a hearing on October 29, 2013.

For the reasons that follow, the Court GRANTS the Motion. All of the Third-Party Claims (defined below) are DISMISSED without prejudice, and QBPL is granted leave to amend.

I. BACKGROUND2

A. QBPL and JMK/Kopf

Beginning in 2006, QBPL and JMK entered into a series of contracts (collectively, the “Contracts”) for the provision of services related to certain Library construction projects (the “Library Projects”). (Third-Party Compl. ¶¶ 18-55.) Although three distinct types of contracts collectively composed the Contracts at issue in this case, JMK’s duties under each type of Contract were generally similar. (See id. ¶¶ 30-55.) Each Contract required JMK to supervise the quality and ensure completion of the subcontractors’ work, and provide the Library with signed representations of the quality and progress of the subcontractors’ work.3 (Id. ¶¶ 30-43.) The Library relied on JMK’s representations in issuing payment for work purportedly performed by the subcontractors. (Id. ¶¶ 61, 71-73,137-140.)

The Contracts differed primarily in their payment structures. Under one set of contracts (the “Master Agreement Contracts”), JMK contracted directly with the subcontractors and received a flat fee plus a percentage of the amounts paid to the subcontractors. (Id. ¶¶ 34, 41.) Under another set of contracts (the “Stand Alone Contracts”), JMK contracted directly with the subcontractors and was paid a flat fee. (Id. ¶¶ 47-48.) Under the last type of contract (the “Pass-Through Contracts”), the subcontractors contracted directly with the Library, and JMK was paid a percentage of the total construction cost. (Id. ¶¶ 51-55.)

B. Bankruptcy Case and Adversary Proceeding

On December 10, 2007, Air China Limited (“Air China”) filed a lawsuit against several defendants including JMK and Kopf, asserting various claims, including conversion and unjust enrichment. (Id. ¶ 78.) On or around July 14, 2010, a jury found JMK and Kopf liable for conversion and unjust enrichment, finding in particular that Kopf had unjustly enriched himself by more than $180,000 and had wrongfully converted $364,000 (the “Air China Judgment”). (Id. ¶ 79.) The total award rendered against JMK and Kopf amounted to $1,473,406.89, including $750,000 in punitive damages and $177,406.89 in prejudgment interest. (Id.) On July 23, 2010 (the “Petition Date”), JMK filed a voluntary petition for protection under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, commencing Bankruptcy Case No. 10-13968.4

[403]*403On October 23, 2012, this Court entered an Order (the “Confirmation Order,” ECF No. 10-18968 Doc. # 213) confirming the Debtor’s Second Amended Chapter 11 Plan of Liquidation (the “Plan,” ECF No. 10-13968 Doc. # 185). In return for certain payments by Kopf to fund the Plan, the Plan included a release of the estate’s claims against Kopf; any claims Kopf might have against JMK were discharged. QBPL did not object to the Plan or to the release of the estate’s claims against Kopf.5

On January 4, 2012, QBPL filed a proof of claim in the case “asserting an undetermined amount of damages, including, but not limited to, the mitigation damages incurred attempting to finish the projects that Debtor failed or otherwise refused to complete, or completed in an unprofessional and non-workmanlike manner or had abandoned altogether.”6 (Third-Party Compl. ¶ 99.)

A trust was created pursuant to the confirmed Plan, and Joel Shafferman (who had been counsel to the Creditors’ Committee) was appointed as the liquidating trustee (the “Liquidating Trustee”). The Liquidating Trustee filed this Adversary Proceeding against QBPL on January 24, [404]*4042013. (See Adversary Complaint, ECF Doc. #1.) The Liquidating Trustee seeks a judgment against QBPL in an amount not less than $395,000 for payments allegedly owed to JMK under the Contracts, and for the turnover of trust fund money. The claims against QBPL include breach of contract and unjust enrichment.

C. The Third-Party Complaint

The Library filed an answer that included counterclaims against Shafferman (in his capacity as Trustee of the Liquidating Trust) and the third-party claims against Kopf. In its answer, QBPL asserts the following causes of action against the Liquidating Trustee and JMK: breach of contract (Counts I — III); negligent performance of contract (Count IV); conversion (Count V); fraud (Count VII); and unjust enrichment (Count VIII). In addition, QBPL asserts the following counts directly against Kopf as third-party defendant: conversion (Count VI); unjust enrichment (Count IX); and for declaratory judgment that Kopf is liable for the debts of JMK under theories of alter ego liability (Count X) and piercing the corporate veil (Count XI) (collectively, the “Third-Party Claims”). The Liquidating Trustee filed an answer to the counterclaims. Kopf moved to dismiss the Third-Party Claims.

II. DISCUSSION

The issues raised in the Motion require the court to evaluate the sufficiency of the four claims against Kopf as third-party defendant. For each of the Third-Party Claims, the Court must first determine whether QBPL has standing to bring the claim. If this question is answered in the affirmative — and only then — the Court must determine whether the claim is sufficiently pled to survive a motion to dismiss. In undertaking this two part analysis, the Court will address the Third-Party Claims in pairs, first discussing the veil-piercing and alter ego claims, followed by the conversion and unjust enrichment claims.

A. QBPL’s Veil-Piercing and Alter Ego Claims

1. Standing

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Bluebook (online)
502 B.R. 396, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/shafferman-v-queens-borough-public-library-in-re-jmk-construction-group-nysb-2013.