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Finkel v. D.H. Blair Co., Inc.

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Mar 27, 1995
213 A.D.2d 588 (N.Y. App. Div. 1995)

Opinion

March 27, 1995

Appeal from the Supreme Court, Kings County (Hurowitz, J.).


Ordered that the order is modified, on the law, by deleting the provisions thereof which denied those branches of the motion which were to dismiss the remaining causes of action against Broadchild Securities Corporation and J. Morton Davis, except for the cause of action sounding in common-law fraud, and substituting therefor a provision granting those branches of the motion, and dismissing all causes of action against Broadchild Securities Corporation and J. Morton Davis, except the cause of action sounding in common-law fraud; as so modified, the order is affirmed insofar as appealed and cross-appealed from, without costs or disbursements.

Deeming the plaintiff's allegations as true and affording the plaintiff the benefit of all favorable inferences that may be drawn therefrom (see, Licensing Dev. Group v. Freedman, 184 A.D.2d 682), the plaintiff stated a cause of action to recover damages for fraud against the defendants Broadchild Securities Corporation (hereinafter Broadchild) and J. Morton Davis. The plaintiff alleged that the stock prospectus misrepresented the production capabilities of the defendant Quantum Diagnostics, Inc., and that Broadchild, which drafted and disseminated the prospectus, knew or should have known that the statements were false and made them with the present intent to deceive the plaintiff. In addition, the plaintiff asserted that he relied on the prospectus when purchasing the securities and was injured thereby (see, Wolfson v. Ubile, 78 A.D.2d 612; Reusens v. Gerard, 160 App. Div. 625, affd sub nom. De Ridder v. Gerard, 221 N.Y. 665; Morgan v. Skiddy, 62 N.Y. 319; Channel Master Corp. v. Aluminum Ltd. Sales, 4 N.Y.2d 403; see also, Abelman v. Shoratlantic Dev. Co., 153 A.D.2d 821; 113-14 Owners Corp. v. Gertz, 123 A.D.2d 850). The plaintiff stated a cause of action sounding in fraud against Davis, based upon the plaintiff's assertion that he was an officer of Broadchild and that he participated in the fraud (see, People v. Apple Health Sports Clubs, 80 N.Y.2d 803; Marine Midland Bank v. Russo Produce Co., 50 N.Y.2d 31).

Contrary to the plaintiff's contention, he failed to state a cause of action against the defendant D.H. Blair Co. (hereinafter Blair) to recover damages for the alleged fraud perpetrated by Broadchild, since he failed to allege sufficient facts to demonstrate that Blair exercised sufficient dominion and control over Broadchild in order to pierce the corporate veil between Blair and Broadchild (see, Port Chester Elec. Constr. Corp. v Atlas, 40 N.Y.2d 652, 657; Pebble Cove Homeowners' Assn. v Fidelity N.Y. FSB, 153 A.D.2d 843).

Further, the plaintiff failed to state a cause of action sounding in breach of fiduciary duty against Broadchild and Davis. He failed to allege a relationship between himself or Broad-child and Davis or that he sought or that they offered advice before he purchased the stock (see, Saboundjian v. Bank Audi [USA], 157 A.D.2d 278; 11 N.Y. Jur 2d, Brokers, § 45; cf., Keenan v. Blair Co., 838 F. Supp. 82).

Finally, the court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over the second cause of action and the cause of action sounding in market manipulation, as these causes of action are within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal courts (see, 15 U.S.C. § 78aa; see also, Laufer v. Rothschild, Unterberg, Towbin, 143 A.D.2d 732, 733-734). We therefore need not reach the issue of whether the allegations therein constitute valid causes of action. Balletta, J.P., Thompson, Lawrence and Goldstein, JJ., concur.


Summaries of

Finkel v. D.H. Blair Co., Inc.

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Mar 27, 1995
213 A.D.2d 588 (N.Y. App. Div. 1995)
Case details for

Finkel v. D.H. Blair Co., Inc.

Case Details

Full title:KALMAN FINKEL, Appellant-Respondent, v. D.H. BLAIR CO., INC., et al.…

Court:Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department

Date published: Mar 27, 1995

Citations

213 A.D.2d 588 (N.Y. App. Div. 1995)
623 N.Y.S.2d 930

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