TD Bank, N.A. v Koumba Textile Inc. 2024 NY Slip Op 30516(U) February 15, 2024 Supreme Court, New York County Docket Number: Index No. 652341/2023 Judge: Louis L. Nock Cases posted with a "30000" identifier, i.e., 2013 NY Slip Op 30001(U), are republished from various New York State and local government sources, including the New York State Unified Court System's eCourts Service. This opinion is uncorrected and not selected for official publication. INDEX NO. 652341/2023 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 29 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/15/2024
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK NEW YORK COUNTY PRESENT: HON. LOUIS L. NOCK PART 38M Justice ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------X INDEX NO. 652341/2023 TD BANK, N.A., MOTION DATE 11/02/2023 Plaintiff, MOTION SEQ. NO. 001 -v- KOUMBA TEXTILE INC. and OUSMANE SAMPIL, DECISION + ORDER ON MOTION Defendants. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------X
The following e-filed documents, listed by NYSCEF document numbers (Motion 001) 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28 were read on this motion for DEFAULT JUDGMENT .
LOUIS L. NOCK, J.S.C.
Upon the foregoing documents, the plaintiff’s motion for a default judgment is granted,
without opposition, and for the reasons set forth in the motion papers, and per the following
memorandum decision.
Background
On July 5, 2019, plaintiff TD Bank, N.A., extended a commercial line of credit for
$50,500 (the “Loan”) to defendant Koumba Textile Inc. (“Borrower”), as evidenced by a
“Promissory Note” (the “Note”) and “Business Loan Agreement” (the “Loan Agreement”) (Hall-
Mitchell aff., NYSCEF Doc. No. 6, ¶¶ 6–8). The Loan was secured by a certain executed
“Commercial Guaranty,” whereby defendant Ousmane Sampil (“Guarantor”) absolutely and
unconditionally guaranteed payment of all amounts due on the Loan (the “Guaranty”) owed by
Borrower to plaintiff (id., ¶¶ 18–21). To further secure payment of the Loan, Borrower executed
a certain “Commercial Security Agreement,” whereby Borrower granted plaintiff a security
interest in all of Borrower’s assets as defined in the Commercial Security Agreement (the 652341/2023 TD BANK, N.A. vs. KOUMBA TEXTILE INC. ET AL Page 1 of 5 Motion No. 001
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“Collateral”) (the Note, Loan Agreement, Commercial Guaranty, Commercial Security
Agreement, and all related loan documents are collectively referred to hereinafter as the “Loan
Documents”), which security interest was perfected by a UCC-1 Financing Statement (id., ¶¶
22–23).
As more fully set forth in the affidavit of Kimberly Hall-Mitchell, plaintiff’s assistant
vice president, Borrower defaulted on the Loan by failing to make monthly payments, as
required under the Loan Documents (the “Stated Default”), starting with the November 5, 2022,
payment and each monthly payment thereafter (id., ¶ 26). Despite plaintiff’s declaration of the
Stated Default, acceleration of the Loan, and demands for immediate payment of all amounts due
on the Loan on February 17, 2023, and again on April 13, 2023, Borrower and Guarantor remain
in default under the terms of the Loan Documents (id., ¶¶ 27–28). As of August 10, 2023, the
total amount of plaintiff’s alleged damages against both defendants is $56,715.42 (id., ¶ 29).
Plaintiff commenced this action on May 15, 2023 (summons and complaint, NYSCEF
Doc. No. 1). Affidavits of service, regular on their faces, attest to service on Borrower by
service on the Secretary of State on May 26, 2023, pursuant to Business Corporations Law §
306(b) (NYSCEF Doc. No. 3), and on Guarantor by delivery and mailing to his dwelling place
pursuant to CPLR 308(2), with service completed on May 30, 2023 (NYSCEF Doc. No. 2). An
affirmation of additional service filed in support of the motion attests to the requisite additional
mailing pursuant to CPLR 3215(g)(4)(i) and 3215(g)(3)(i) on September 19, 2023, more than
twenty days in advance of entry of judgment (Espinal aff., NYSCEF Doc. No. 25, ¶¶ 2–3).
Defendants’ time to respond to the complaint has expired, and they have neither appeared nor
answered the complaint. There is no opposition to the motion.
652341/2023 TD BANK, N.A. vs. KOUMBA TEXTILE INC. ET AL Page 2 of 5 Motion No. 001
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Standard of Review
A plaintiff that seeks entry of a default judgment for a defendant’s failure to answer must
submit proof of service of the summons and complaint upon the defendant, proof of the facts
constituting the claim, and proof of the defendant’s default (CPLR 3215[f]). “The standard of
proof is not stringent, amounting only to some firsthand confirmation of the facts” (Feffer v
Malpeso, 210 AD2d 60, 61 [1st Dept 1994]). “[D]efaulters are deemed to have admitted all
factual allegations contained in the complaint and all reasonable inferences that flow from them”
(Woodson v Mendon Leasing Corp., 100 NY2d 62, 71 [2003]). Nevertheless, “CPLR 3215 does
not contemplate that default judgments are to be rubber-stamped once jurisdiction and a failure
to appear have been shown. Some proof of liability is also required to satisfy the court as to the
prima facie validity of the uncontested cause of action” (Guzetti v City of N.Y., 32 AD3d 234,
235 [1st Dept 2006] [internal quotations and citations omitted]).
Discussion
Plaintiff has satisfied its burden on the motion by submission of the affidavits of service
on defendants (NYSCEF Doc. Nos. 2, 3), the affirmation of additional mailing on defendants
(NYSCEF Doc. No. 25, ¶¶ 2–3), the affirmation of plaintiff’s counsel Angel F. Espinal, Esq.
attesting to defendants’ default (Espinal aff., NYSCEF Doc. No. 14, ¶¶ 4–11), and Hall-
Mitchell’s affidavit, which attests to the facts alleged in the complaint and the amount of
plaintiff’s damages (Hall-Mitchell aff., NYSCEF Doc. No. 6, ¶¶ 6–8). Defendants have never
appeared in the action, nor did they submit any opposition to the motion. Plaintiff is, therefore,
entitled to entry of a default judgment against defendants.
The Note, Loan Agreement, and Guaranty all contain attorney fee provisions (see, Note
at 1; Loan Agreement at 4; Guaranty at 3). Plaintiff’s counsel has submitted an Affirmation of
652341/2023 TD BANK, N.A. vs. KOUMBA TEXTILE INC. ET AL Page 3 of 5 Motion No. 001
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Legal Fees, Costs and Expenses (NYSCEF Doc. No. 19) which sets forth what, based on this
court’s application of the applicable standards (see, In re Freeman’s Estate, 34 NY2d 1 [1974]),
constitutes reasonably incurred legal fees in this matter, amounting to $2,208.78.
Accordingly, it is
ORDERED that the plaintiff’s motion for a default judgment is granted; and, accordingly,
it is
ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court is directed to enter judgment in favor of plaintiff
and against both defendants, jointly and severally, in the principal amount of $49,898.80, with
interest on said principal amount at the statutory rate from February 27, 2023,1 through the date
of entry of judgment, as calculated by the Clerk, and continuing to accrue thereafter through the
date of satisfaction of judgment, and in the additional sum of $2,208.78 as plaintiff’s reasonable
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TD Bank, N.A. v Koumba Textile Inc. 2024 NY Slip Op 30516(U) February 15, 2024 Supreme Court, New York County Docket Number: Index No. 652341/2023 Judge: Louis L. Nock Cases posted with a "30000" identifier, i.e., 2013 NY Slip Op 30001(U), are republished from various New York State and local government sources, including the New York State Unified Court System's eCourts Service. This opinion is uncorrected and not selected for official publication. INDEX NO. 652341/2023 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 29 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/15/2024
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK NEW YORK COUNTY PRESENT: HON. LOUIS L. NOCK PART 38M Justice ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------X INDEX NO. 652341/2023 TD BANK, N.A., MOTION DATE 11/02/2023 Plaintiff, MOTION SEQ. NO. 001 -v- KOUMBA TEXTILE INC. and OUSMANE SAMPIL, DECISION + ORDER ON MOTION Defendants. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------X
The following e-filed documents, listed by NYSCEF document numbers (Motion 001) 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28 were read on this motion for DEFAULT JUDGMENT .
LOUIS L. NOCK, J.S.C.
Upon the foregoing documents, the plaintiff’s motion for a default judgment is granted,
without opposition, and for the reasons set forth in the motion papers, and per the following
memorandum decision.
Background
On July 5, 2019, plaintiff TD Bank, N.A., extended a commercial line of credit for
$50,500 (the “Loan”) to defendant Koumba Textile Inc. (“Borrower”), as evidenced by a
“Promissory Note” (the “Note”) and “Business Loan Agreement” (the “Loan Agreement”) (Hall-
Mitchell aff., NYSCEF Doc. No. 6, ¶¶ 6–8). The Loan was secured by a certain executed
“Commercial Guaranty,” whereby defendant Ousmane Sampil (“Guarantor”) absolutely and
unconditionally guaranteed payment of all amounts due on the Loan (the “Guaranty”) owed by
Borrower to plaintiff (id., ¶¶ 18–21). To further secure payment of the Loan, Borrower executed
a certain “Commercial Security Agreement,” whereby Borrower granted plaintiff a security
interest in all of Borrower’s assets as defined in the Commercial Security Agreement (the 652341/2023 TD BANK, N.A. vs. KOUMBA TEXTILE INC. ET AL Page 1 of 5 Motion No. 001
1 of 5 [* 1] INDEX NO. 652341/2023 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 29 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/15/2024
“Collateral”) (the Note, Loan Agreement, Commercial Guaranty, Commercial Security
Agreement, and all related loan documents are collectively referred to hereinafter as the “Loan
Documents”), which security interest was perfected by a UCC-1 Financing Statement (id., ¶¶
22–23).
As more fully set forth in the affidavit of Kimberly Hall-Mitchell, plaintiff’s assistant
vice president, Borrower defaulted on the Loan by failing to make monthly payments, as
required under the Loan Documents (the “Stated Default”), starting with the November 5, 2022,
payment and each monthly payment thereafter (id., ¶ 26). Despite plaintiff’s declaration of the
Stated Default, acceleration of the Loan, and demands for immediate payment of all amounts due
on the Loan on February 17, 2023, and again on April 13, 2023, Borrower and Guarantor remain
in default under the terms of the Loan Documents (id., ¶¶ 27–28). As of August 10, 2023, the
total amount of plaintiff’s alleged damages against both defendants is $56,715.42 (id., ¶ 29).
Plaintiff commenced this action on May 15, 2023 (summons and complaint, NYSCEF
Doc. No. 1). Affidavits of service, regular on their faces, attest to service on Borrower by
service on the Secretary of State on May 26, 2023, pursuant to Business Corporations Law §
306(b) (NYSCEF Doc. No. 3), and on Guarantor by delivery and mailing to his dwelling place
pursuant to CPLR 308(2), with service completed on May 30, 2023 (NYSCEF Doc. No. 2). An
affirmation of additional service filed in support of the motion attests to the requisite additional
mailing pursuant to CPLR 3215(g)(4)(i) and 3215(g)(3)(i) on September 19, 2023, more than
twenty days in advance of entry of judgment (Espinal aff., NYSCEF Doc. No. 25, ¶¶ 2–3).
Defendants’ time to respond to the complaint has expired, and they have neither appeared nor
answered the complaint. There is no opposition to the motion.
652341/2023 TD BANK, N.A. vs. KOUMBA TEXTILE INC. ET AL Page 2 of 5 Motion No. 001
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Standard of Review
A plaintiff that seeks entry of a default judgment for a defendant’s failure to answer must
submit proof of service of the summons and complaint upon the defendant, proof of the facts
constituting the claim, and proof of the defendant’s default (CPLR 3215[f]). “The standard of
proof is not stringent, amounting only to some firsthand confirmation of the facts” (Feffer v
Malpeso, 210 AD2d 60, 61 [1st Dept 1994]). “[D]efaulters are deemed to have admitted all
factual allegations contained in the complaint and all reasonable inferences that flow from them”
(Woodson v Mendon Leasing Corp., 100 NY2d 62, 71 [2003]). Nevertheless, “CPLR 3215 does
not contemplate that default judgments are to be rubber-stamped once jurisdiction and a failure
to appear have been shown. Some proof of liability is also required to satisfy the court as to the
prima facie validity of the uncontested cause of action” (Guzetti v City of N.Y., 32 AD3d 234,
235 [1st Dept 2006] [internal quotations and citations omitted]).
Discussion
Plaintiff has satisfied its burden on the motion by submission of the affidavits of service
on defendants (NYSCEF Doc. Nos. 2, 3), the affirmation of additional mailing on defendants
(NYSCEF Doc. No. 25, ¶¶ 2–3), the affirmation of plaintiff’s counsel Angel F. Espinal, Esq.
attesting to defendants’ default (Espinal aff., NYSCEF Doc. No. 14, ¶¶ 4–11), and Hall-
Mitchell’s affidavit, which attests to the facts alleged in the complaint and the amount of
plaintiff’s damages (Hall-Mitchell aff., NYSCEF Doc. No. 6, ¶¶ 6–8). Defendants have never
appeared in the action, nor did they submit any opposition to the motion. Plaintiff is, therefore,
entitled to entry of a default judgment against defendants.
The Note, Loan Agreement, and Guaranty all contain attorney fee provisions (see, Note
at 1; Loan Agreement at 4; Guaranty at 3). Plaintiff’s counsel has submitted an Affirmation of
652341/2023 TD BANK, N.A. vs. KOUMBA TEXTILE INC. ET AL Page 3 of 5 Motion No. 001
3 of 5 [* 3] INDEX NO. 652341/2023 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 29 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/15/2024
Legal Fees, Costs and Expenses (NYSCEF Doc. No. 19) which sets forth what, based on this
court’s application of the applicable standards (see, In re Freeman’s Estate, 34 NY2d 1 [1974]),
constitutes reasonably incurred legal fees in this matter, amounting to $2,208.78.
Accordingly, it is
ORDERED that the plaintiff’s motion for a default judgment is granted; and, accordingly,
it is
ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court is directed to enter judgment in favor of plaintiff
and against both defendants, jointly and severally, in the principal amount of $49,898.80, with
interest on said principal amount at the statutory rate from February 27, 2023,1 through the date
of entry of judgment, as calculated by the Clerk, and continuing to accrue thereafter through the
date of satisfaction of judgment, and in the additional sum of $2,208.78 as plaintiff’s reasonable
attorneys’ fees incurred in this action; and it is further
ORDERED that, within 14 days of the date of filing hereof, defendant Koumba Textile
Inc. is compelled to make available to plaintiff TD Bank, N.A., the collateral described in the
UCC-1 Financing Statement filed in this action (NYSCEF Doc. No. 11) (the “Collateral”), for
sale or other disposition pursuant to the Uniform Commercial Code; and it is further
ORDERED that plaintiff TD Bank, N.A., is authorized to sell, liquidate, dispose of or
retain the Collateral in a commercially reasonable manner, with the proceeds from the same
being applied first to the costs of such sale or other disposition and then in reduction of the
amounts due from defendant Koumba Textile Inc.; and it is further
ORDERED that defendant Koumba Textile Inc. is restrained from any use of the
Collateral; and it is further
1 The acceleration date of the indebtedness as alleged in the complaint (¶ 19). 652341/2023 TD BANK, N.A. vs. KOUMBA TEXTILE INC. ET AL Page 4 of 5 Motion No. 001
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ORDERED that defendant Koumba Textile Inc. is required to hold all the Collateral and
all proceeds from the Collateral in trust for TD Bank, N.A.; and it is further
ORDERED that, upon entry of judgment herein by the Clerk of the Court, the sheriff of
any county of the State of New York in which the Collateral is located, upon receipt of a copy of
this Decision and Order, and such judgment, and upon the payment by plaintiff of said sheriff’s
fees, is directed to break open, enter, search for, and seize the Collateral and deliver same to
plaintiff.
This constitutes the decision and order of the court.
ENTER:
2/15/2024 $SIG$ DATE CHECK ONE: X CASE DISPOSED NON-FINAL DISPOSITION
APPLICATION: X GRANTED
SETTLE ORDER DENIED GRANTED IN PART
SUBMIT ORDER □ OTHER
CHECK IF APPROPRIATE: INCLUDES TRANSFER/REASSIGN FIDUCIARY APPOINTMENT □ REFERENCE
652341/2023 TD BANK, N.A. vs. KOUMBA TEXTILE INC. ET AL Page 5 of 5 Motion No. 001
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