Shin v. ICON Foundation

Opinion

1 2 3 4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 5 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 6 7 MARK SHIN, Case No. 20-cv-07363-WHO

8 Plaintiff, ORDER ON MOTION TO APPOINT 9 v. RECEIVER

10 ICON FOUNDATION, Re: Dkt. No. 120 Defendant. 11

12 13 This case arises from plaintiff and counter-defendant Mark Shin’s use of a software glitch 14 to create millions of dollars’ worth of cryptocurrency tokens. The Federal Bureau of 15 Investigations (“FBI”) seized from Shin cryptocurrency and fiat currency traceable to the tokens 16 that he created, which are being held pending the completion of a criminal case against Shin in 17 Colorado. Should Shin be acquitted or otherwise not convicted in the Colorado case, and the FBI 18 be required to release those seized assets, defendant and counter-claimant the ICON Foundation 19 (“the Foundation”) seeks an order that would require the FBI to either deliver them to a court- 20 appointed receiver to hold or deposit them into the Court Registry during the pendency of this 21 action. 22 The motion is GRANTED. Although Shin contends that he has meritorious objections to 23 the motion and had the opportunity to raise them, he did not do so. Instead, his opposition is 24 purely procedural and unconvincing, as the stipulated stay of this litigation included a carveout for 25 motions such as this. Moreover, the ICON Foundation has shown a need for holding the seized 26 assets until this matter is complete, precluding Shin’s ability to move the tokens that he created 27 and the risk that he could conceal the seized assets if they were released. As with any 1 to Civil Local Rule 7-9. For now, the ICON Foundation has satisfactorily shown why a receiver is 2 warranted. 3 BACKGROUND 4 The ICON Network, a decentralized computer system, hosts a blockchain protocol that 5 allows for the creation, use, and transaction of a cryptocurrency called “ICX.” See Mot. [Dkt. No. 6 120] 1:3-6; Kim Decl. ¶ 3. In August 2020, Shin discovered a software glitch that allowed him to 7 generate and deliver to himself nearly 14 million ICX tokens, which the ICON Foundation asserts 8 were valued at nearly $9 million at the time. Mot. at 2:19-3:8. The ICON Foundation alleges that 9 Shin “went to extreme lengths to transfer, convert, and launder” these tokens “in an effort to put 10 them beyond the reach of the [ICON] Network,” including by transferring the tokens to numerous 11 different accounts and cryptocurrency exchanges, using the tokens to acquire other 12 cryptocurrencies and fiat currencies, and moving large amounts of the ICX to family and friends, 13 including relatives living overseas. Id. at 3:9-4:4, 8:22-27. 14 The parties do not dispute that Shin generated the tokens using this glitch; instead, the case 15 centers on who lawfully owns them. Shin sued the ICON Foundation in October 2020, seeking 16 declaratory judgment that he owned the ICX tokens at issue and alleging claims of conversion, 17 trespass to chattels, and prima facie tort. Dkt. No. 1. After two rounds of motions to dismiss, his 18 case has narrowed to claims of conversion and trespass to chattels. See Dkt. Nos. 57, 68. The 19 ICON Foundation has filed counterclaims of money had and received, unjust enrichment, and 20 declaratory relief. Dkt. Nos. 69, 100. 21 Shin is currently being criminally prosecuted over the incident in Colorado state court 22 (“the Colorado case” or “the Colorado matter”), which ordered the FBI to freeze or hold certain 23 assets that it seized from Shin. See Mot. at 4:24-5:5; Stay Order [Dkt. No. 106] 2:7-18. 24 According to the Foundation, the FBI is holding approximately $7 million of crypto and fiat 25 currency traceable to the ICX tokens that Shin generated. Mot. at 4:9-23 (citing Wanger Decl. ¶¶ 26 5-7). 27 In February 2022, the parties stipulated to a stay of this case, which I granted, “pending the 1 other similar disposition of the pending criminal charges against Shin.” Stay Order ¶ 1. Two 2 provisions of that stipulation are relevant to the motion at hand. The first is found at Paragraph 2:

3 The parties agree that in the event that Shin makes any motion or application in any 4 state or federal proceeding—including but not limited to the Colorado federal action, the Colorado criminal action, or the Colorado civil forfeiture action—for the 5 release, return or transfer to Shin of any or all of the seized assets (an “Asset Release Application”), or in the event that Shin receives advance notice that any or 6 all of the seized assets are to be released, returned or transferred to Shin, counsel for Shin shall (a) provide notice to the court in which Shin makes an Asset Release 7 Application (or the court or governmental authority in or from which Shin received 8 notice of the potential release of the seized assets) of this stipulation; and (b) provide notice to counsel for the Foundation as soon as reasonably possible after 9 (but in no event more than 3 business days after) the filing of any such Asset Release Application or Shin’s receipt of notice of an impending release, return or 10 transfer of the seized assets in order to allow the Foundation sufficient time to oppose such motion, application, release or return and to seek a temporary 11 restraining order, an injunction, the appointment of a trustee or receiver, or any 12 other provisional relief with respect to such seized assets, and Shin shall have the right to oppose any such application by the Foundation for any reason other than 13 the fact of the parties’ stipulation herein. 14 Id. ¶ 2. 15 The second relevant provision is found in the next paragraph:

16 The parties agree that the stay of this action does not extend to, and shall not prevent the Foundation from seeking a temporary restraining order, an injunction, 17 the appointment of a trustee or receiver, or any other provisional relief with respect 18 to any or all of the seized assets or contested assets. Id. ¶ 3. 19 The Colorado case went to trial in May 2023, and ended on June 1 in a mistrial due to a 20 deadlocked jury. See Oppo. [Dkt. No. 121] 1:7-10 (citing Burshteyn Decl. ¶ 2). A new trial has 21 been scheduled for November 14, 2023. See id. at 1:11-12 (citing Burshteyn Decl. ¶ 3). The 22 ICON Foundation brought this motion on May 17, 2023. Dkt. No. 120. 23 LEGAL STANDARD 24 In a diversity action such as this, federal law governs whether to appoint a receiver. 25 Canada Life Assurance Co. v. LaPeter, 563 F.3d 837, 843 (9th Cir. 2009). 1 The Ninth Circuit has 26 27 1 cautioned that “appointing a receiver is an extraordinary equitable remedy, which should be 2 applied with caution.” Canada Life, 563 F.3d at 844 (citation and quotations omitted). 3 That said, a district court has “broad discretion in appointing a receiver.” See id.at 845. 4 While there is “no precise formula for determining when a receiver may be appointed,” the Ninth 5 Circuit has articulated “a host of relevant factors” that may be considered, which include:

6 (1) whether the party seeking the appointment has a valid claim; (2) whether there 7 is fraudulent conduct or the probability of fraudulent conduct, by the defendant; (3) whether the property is in imminent danger of being lost, concealed, injured, 8 diminished in value, or squandered; (4) whether legal remedies are inadequate; (5) whether the harm to plaintiff by denial of the appointment would outweigh injury 9 to the party opposing appointment; (6) the plaintiff’s probable success in the action and the probability of irreparable injury to plaintiff’s interest in the property; and 10 (7) whether the plaintiff’s interests sought to be protected will in fact be well- 11 served by receivership. Id. at 844-45 (citations omitted and cleaned up). The Ninth Circuit has also considered “whether 12 the property was of insufficient value to insure payment, and whether the defendant was of 13 doubtful financial standing.” Id. at 844. “[N]o one factor is dispositive.” Id. at 845. 14 DISCUSSION 15 Shin’s opposition is wholly procedural. He first argues that the Foundation’s motion is 16 “inconsistent with the Court’s stay” of this action because the Colorado matter is ongoing and 17 “[u]ntil there is a trial that results in an acquittal or conviction, this motion is not ripe for 18 adjudication.” Oppo. at 1:3-13. Shin reads Paragraphs 2 and 3 of the Stay Order together, and 19 contends that they require notice that the seized assets are to be released, or that he intends to seek 20 their release, before the ICON Foundation pursues the motion at hand. Id. at 1:14-21. 21 Shin’s interpretation of the Stay Order belies its plain language. Paragraph 2 requires Shin 22 to notify the Foundation and the Court if he “makes any motion or application in any state or 23 federal proceeding,” including the Colorado matter, “for the release, return or transfer to Shin of 24 25

26 acknowledges that its request “does not fit neatly into Rule 67, as the seized assets are being held by the FBI, not the party making the motion (or any party to this action).” Mot. at 6:7-21. The 27 bulk of the motion focuses on whether a receiver should be appointed under Rule 66 and the 1 any or all of the seized assets,” or if Shin “receives advance notice that any or all of the seized 2 assets are to be released returned, or transferred to Shin.” Stay Order ¶ 2. Paragraph 3 expressly 3 provides that the stay “does not extend to, and shall not prevent the Foundation from seeking . . . 4 the appointment of a trustee or receiver, or any other provisional relief with respect to any or all of 5 the seized assets or contested assets.” Id. ¶ 3. Nothing within Paragraph 3 indicates that it is 6 dependent on Paragraph 2, either expressly or impliedly. Instead, the paragraphs address separate 7 issues: The notice that Shin must provide the court and the Foundation should he seek the seized 8 assets, or learns that they are to be released (Paragraph 2); and the Foundation’s independent 9 ability to seek provisional relief regarding the seized assets (Paragraph 3). This motion falls 10 squarely within the bounds of Paragraph 3. 11 Shin further argues that litigating this motion before the conclusion of the Colorado case 12 will prejudice him. See Oppo. at 1:22-2:8. He contends that because the assets are frozen, Shin 13 “does not have the resources to fully oppose defendant’s motion, even though there are many 14 meritorious grounds to oppose.” See id. at 2:3-4. But this problem would persist even if this 15 motion were litigated later. The question is whether a receiver should be appointed to hold the 16 seized assets if they are released at the conclusion of the Colorado case. Regardless of whether 17 Shin litigates this motion now or in November, the assets will not be in his possession. He has not 18 shown any prejudice unique to deciding it now. 19 At the hearing on this motion, Shin’s counsel argued that he had merits-based objections to 20 the motion that depended on the outcome of the Colorado trial, and that this motion should be 21 litigated after that matter concludes. Shin had the opportunity to raise those merits-based 22 objections when opposing this motion, but made his procedural arguments instead, which are 23 unpersuasive. Instead, the ICON Foundation has shown that appointing a receiver is appropriate, 24 as many of the factors articulated in Canada Life weigh in favor of doing so. 25 The ICON Foundation has asserted valid counterclaims for money had and received, unjust 26 enrichment, and declaratory relief. See Dkt. Nos. 97, 100.2 It further alleges that Shin acted 27 1 fraudulently, both when he manipulated the software glitch to create the ICX tokens and when he 2 transferred or converted them. Mot. at 8:18-27; see also Dkt. No. 100 ¶¶ 1, 3. The latter 3 allegations also tie into the third Canada Life factor: “whether the property is in imminent danger 4 of being lost, concealed, injured, diminished in value, or squandered.” See 563 F.3d at 844 5 (quotations omitted). The allegations that Shin moved the ICX tokens in a number of ways— 6 including funneling them through other exchanges and to relatives overseas—supports a finding 7 that the seized assets could be concealed upon their release. So does the ICON Foundation’s 8 allegation that some of the ICX that Shin generated “still has not been found, traced or seized, 9 meaning that to date, Shin was successfully able to conceal it both from the Foundation, as well as 10 from the FBI.” See Mot. at 8:25-27. Taken together, these allegations indicate that: (1) Shin is 11 capable of moving ICX tokens beyond reach; and (2) has already done so. This is one of the 12 strongest factors that supports appointing a receiver to hold the seized assets until this case is over. 13 Additional factors do as well. Given the unique nature and estimated value of the seized 14 assets at issue, legal remedies would be an inadequate remedy as compared to their return. 15 Because the ICON Foundation seeks a receiver only to hold the seized assets (which would be 16 unavailable to Shin regardless of when this motion is litigated) and not Shin’s other assets, any 17 risk of prejudice to Shin is mitigated and outweighed by the harm the Foundation would suffer if a 18 receiver were not appointed. The interests that the ICON Foundation seeks to protect will also be 19 well-served by appointing a receiver, which would ensure that the seized assets cannot be 20 concealed or otherwise moved as this case is decided. Finally, Shin is in doubtful financial 21 standing—his previous lawyers placed a charging lien on any recovery for the payment of 22 attorneys’ fees, and Shin hired new attorneys to litigate this motion on limited grounds. See Dkt. 23 No. 116; see also Oppo. at 2 n.3. As the ICON Foundation notes, it is possible that Shin would 24 use part of the seized assets to pay his attorneys and thereby dissipate some of the seized assets. 25 See Reply [Dkt. No. 125] 2:15-17. This too cuts in favor of appointing a receiver to hold the 26 seized assets, if and when they are released by the FBI, pending the completion of this matter. 27 1 CONCLUSION 2 The ICON Foundation’s motion to appoint a receiver is GRANTED. As stated in my 3 Minute Order from the June 21, 2023, hearing, the parties should meet and confer as to the 4 appropriate qualifications of the receiver and attempt to agree upon an appropriate candidate. If 5 they cannot stipulate to one, they may file competing orders for an appointment of a receiver for 6 || consideration. Any filings are due by July 10, 2023. 7 IT IS SO ORDERED. 8 Dated: June 28, 2023 . 9 ] H. Orrick 10 United States District Judge 11 12

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