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Langer v. Dadabhoy

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, First Department
Oct 11, 2007
44 A.D.3d 425 (N.Y. App. Div. 2007)

Summary

rejecting a breach of fiduciary duty claim where the parties "intended to finalize their agreement in a writing," but plaintiff discontinued negotiations because "there was no mutual assent or meeting of the minds as to the proposed joint venture"

Summary of this case from 4brava, LLC v. Sachs

Opinion

No. 1703.

October 11, 2007.

Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Helen E. Freedman, J.), entered November 17, 2006, which, to the extent appealed, granted defendants' motion to dismiss the complaint pursuant to CPLR 3211 (a) (1), (5) and (7), unanimously affirmed, with costs.

Rubin Bailin Ortoli, LLP, New York (Eric Vauhn-Flam of counsel), for appellant.

Kasowitz, Benson, Torres Friedman, LLP, New York (Mitchell R. Schrage of counsel), for respondents.

Before: Tom, J.P., Mazzarelli, Friedman, Sullivan and Nardelli, JJ.


The breach of contract claim was properly dismissed, since plaintiffs bare allegation that he had merely set "aside" funds for the purchase of the real estate does not constitute adequate consideration for an alleged agreement.

In regard to the claim for breach of a joint venture, plaintiff failed to sufficiently set forth facts to establish such elements as his contribution of property, skills, etc., control over the venture or a sharing of possible financial losses ( see Matter of Steinbeck v Gerosa, 4 NY2d 302, 317, appeal dismissed 358 US 39). Moreover, absent a proper pleading of a joint venture, plaintiffs alleged oral agreement to invest $150,000 towards the purchase of real property was unenforceable under the statute of frauds ( see General Obligations Law § 5-703; see e.g. Nemelka v Questor Mgt. Co., LLC, 40 AD3d 505). We further note that documentary evidence in the form of e-mails conclusively established that the parties intended to finalize their agreement in a writing, which never materialized, inasmuch as negotiations had been ongoing and were eventually discontinued with plaintiff ( see Goshen v Mutual Life Ins. Co. of N.Y., 98 NY2d 314, 326). As such, there was no mutual assent or meeting of the minds as to the proposed joint venture ( see May v Wilcox, 182 AD2d 939).

In light of these findings, plaintiffs causes of action for breach of fiduciary duty and for the imposition of a constructive trust fail as well ( see Old Republic Natl. Tit. Ins. Co. v Cardinal Abstract Corp., 14 AD3d 678).


Summaries of

Langer v. Dadabhoy

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, First Department
Oct 11, 2007
44 A.D.3d 425 (N.Y. App. Div. 2007)

rejecting a breach of fiduciary duty claim where the parties "intended to finalize their agreement in a writing," but plaintiff discontinued negotiations because "there was no mutual assent or meeting of the minds as to the proposed joint venture"

Summary of this case from 4brava, LLC v. Sachs

dismissing complaint

Summary of this case from Jacobs v. Baum
Case details for

Langer v. Dadabhoy

Case Details

Full title:LARRY LANGER, Appellant, v. SIRAJ DADABHOY et al., Respondents

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

Date published: Oct 11, 2007

Citations

44 A.D.3d 425 (N.Y. App. Div. 2007)
2007 N.Y. Slip Op. 7533
843 N.Y.S.2d 262

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