Thaler Ex Rel. Estate of Adler v. Adler (In Re Adler)

372 B.R. 572, 2007 Bankr. LEXIS 2223, 2007 WL 1879636
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. New York
DecidedJune 28, 2007
Docket1-19-40511
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 372 B.R. 572 (Thaler Ex Rel. Estate of Adler v. Adler (In Re Adler)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Thaler Ex Rel. Estate of Adler v. Adler (In Re Adler), 372 B.R. 572, 2007 Bankr. LEXIS 2223, 2007 WL 1879636 (N.Y. 2007).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OF DECISION

JOEL B. ROSENTHAL, Bankruptcy Judge.

This matter came before the Court upon the motion of the Defendant Cindy Speiser: (a) under Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6) and Fed. R. BankrJP. 7012 for an order dismissing those causes of action in the complaint which seek to affect title to Ms. Speiser’s residence located at 1918 Lowell Lane, Merrick, New York; 1 (b) under (i) Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6) and Fed. R. Bankr.P. 7012 and (ii) Fed.R.Civ.P. 9(b) and Fed. R. Bankr.P. 7009 for an order dismissing the sixth and seventh causes of action which allege actual intent fraudulent conveyances under New York Debtor and Creditor Law §§ 276 and 276-a; (c) under Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(e) and Fed.R.Civ.P. 7012 for an order compelling the Plaintiff to replead the complaint and provide a more definite statement; and (d) should the Court dismiss those causes of action which affect title to Ms. Speiser’s residence, for an order compelling the Trustee to terminate a notice of pendency filed against the property.

1. Complaint and Motion to Dismiss

On July 25, 2006, the Trustee filed the instant adversary proceeding against the Debtor and his wife Cindy Speiser (“Ms.Speiser”) seeking to recover various alleged fraudulent conveyances. The Complaint alleges that at a time when the Debtor had substantial business debts, 2 he caused monies earned by him and by his corporations: (i) to be deposited into financial accounts held by Ms. Speiser; (ii) to be used to pay Ms. Speiser’s expenses, including those related to certain property occupied by both the Debtor and Ms. Speiser, but held in her name only and located at 400 East 77th Street, New York, N.Y. (the “Apartment”) and at 1918 Lowell Lane, Merrick, N.Y. (the “House”) (collectively the “Properties”); and (iii) to purchase and maintain the Properties held in Ms. Speiser’s name. (Complaint ¶¶ 19, 21). This was done at a time, the Complaint alleges, when the Debtor did not maintain any financial accounts in his own name and when all of the Debtor’s personal financial transactions were conducted in Ms. Speiser’s name and using her financial accounts. (Complaint ¶¶ 20, 23). Neither the Debtor nor Ms. Speiser dispute that the Debtor’s funds were deposited into and used through Ms. Speiser’s account, and *575 indeed acknowledge that they did so to avoid having the Debtor’s funds seized by the IRS. Ms. Speiser testified by affidavit that, in the aggregate, she paid out more on behalf of her husband than he deposited into her account.

On August 28, 2006, Ms. Speiser filed the instant motion to dismiss or for a more definite statement (the “Motion”). The Motion was adjourned from time to time, and ultimately a hearing was held on May 8, 2007, at which time the matter was taken under advisement. The Complaint contains eleven causes of action, four of which Ms. Speiser seeks to dismiss with her instant Motion: the first, sixth, seventh, and ninth.

The first cause of action of the Complaint cites 11 U.S.C. § 542 and § 363 and alleges that the Debtor has an equitable interest in the House which is, therefore, an asset of the estate that can be sold by the Trustee for the benefit of creditors. (Complaint ¶ 25-30). The Trustee seeks turnover of the House or the value thereof, plus a turnover of the funds deposited into Ms. Speiser’s financial accounts by the Debtor and his corporations, plus “such other property in [Ms. Speiser’s] name, custody, or control that was purchased, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, with the funds of the Debtor.” (Complaint ¶ 30). Ms. Speiser argues that this cause of action, along with paragraphs 42, 47, 51, 55, 62, 72, and 76, should be dismissed under Rule 12(b)(6) for failure to state a cause of action upon which relief can be granted. Ms. Speiser cites to the Trustee’s failure to allege: (i) the amounts and/or dates of the alleged payments by the Debtor to Ms. Speiser that were used to purchase the Properties; and to establish (ii) the elements of a constructive trust, i.e., a promise of ownership in favor of the Debtor; a transfer of funds made in reliance on such promise; and the unjust enrichment of Ms. Speiser. 3

In further support of dismissal of the Trustee’s claims to equitable ownership of the House, Ms. Speiser filed an affidavit (the “Speiser Affidavit”) setting forth facts that she argues would entitle her to judgment on this issue as a matter of law. To the extent that the Court considers the Affidavit, Ms. Speiser requests that the Court treat the Motion as a one for summary judgment under Fed.R.Civ.P. 56. (Motion ¶ 3).

The sixth cause of action seeks a finding that (i) the transfer of assets of the Debtor and his corporations for the payment of Ms. Speiser’s expenses, (ii) the purchase of the Properties, and (iii) the use of Ms. Speiser’s financial accounts were actual intent fraudulent conveyances under Section 276 of the New York Debtor and Creditor Law. The seventh cause of action seeks a judgment against the Debtor and Ms. Speiser, jointly and severally, for reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses under the corresponding provision, Section 276-a. Ms. Speiser seeks to dismiss these causes of action of the Complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted under Rule 12(b)(6) and for failure to plead fraud with particularity under Rule 9(b). 4 Ms. Speiser argues that the Complaint does not contain specific allegations of the amount or date of any alleged fraudulent transfers and is devoid of any specific allegations of intent to defraud.

*576 The ninth cause of action cites Bankruptcy Code § 363(h) and alleges that because of the Debtor’s alleged equitable interest in the House, and particularly after the avoidance of the alleged fraudulent transfer of the Debtor’s interest in the House, the Debtor and Ms. Speiser would be co-owners of the home. Should the Trustee prevail in proving the Debtor’s interest, he seeks an order authorizing him to sell the House. Ms. Speiser seeks to dismiss this count on the same grounds as the first and in general, seeks an order compelling the Trustee to terminate a notice of pendency filed against the House upon the dismissal of the first and ninth causes of action and the paragraphs cited above.

Finally, Ms.

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Bluebook (online)
372 B.R. 572, 2007 Bankr. LEXIS 2223, 2007 WL 1879636, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/thaler-ex-rel-estate-of-adler-v-adler-in-re-adler-nyeb-2007.