Opinion
2013-05-30
The LEARNING ANNEX, L.P., Plaintiff–Appellant, v. BLANK ROME LLP, et al., Defendants–Respondents.
Mischel & Horn, P.C., New York (Scott T. Horn of counsel), for appellant. Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP, New York (Philip Touitou of counsel), and Harkins Cunningham LLP, Philadelphia, PA (Eleanor Morris Illoway of the bar of the State of Pennsylvania, admitted pro vice, of counsel), for respondents.
Mischel & Horn, P.C., New York (Scott T. Horn of counsel), for appellant. Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP, New York (Philip Touitou of counsel), and Harkins Cunningham LLP, Philadelphia, PA (Eleanor Morris Illoway of the bar of the State of Pennsylvania, admitted pro vice, of counsel), for respondents.
SWEENY, J.P., SAXE, MOSKOWITZ, GISCHE, CLARK, JJ.
Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Richard F. Braun, J.), entered December 7, 2012, dismissing the amended complaint, unanimously affirmed, with costs. Appeal from order, same court and Justice, entered November 21, 2012, which granted defendants' motion to dismiss the amended complaint, unanimously dismissed, without costs, as subsumed in the appeal from the judgment.
Plaintiff failed to state a cause of action for aiding and abetting fraud against defendant law firm and the individual defendant, plaintiff's former attorney. The alleged conduct, defendants' failure to disclose a voting agreement entered into between non-parties at a time when defendants did not represent plaintiff and to subsequently highlight the voting agreement's existence, does not constitute “substantial assistance” in the commission of the alleged underlying fraud ( see Stanfield Offshore Leveraged Assets, Ltd. v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., 64 A.D.3d 472, 476, 883 N.Y.S.2d 486 [1st Dept. 2009], lv. denied13 N.Y.3d 709, 2009 WL 3379028 [2009];Liquidation of Union Indem. Ins. Co. of New York v. Spira, 289 A.D.2d 173, 736 N.Y.S.2d 1 [1st Dept. 2001], lv. dismissed98 N.Y.2d 672, 746 N.Y.S.2d 459, 774 N.E.2d 224 [2002] ). The claim that defendants provided routine legal services to the alleged fraudsters is likewise insufficient to establish a claim for aiding and abetting fraud ( see CRT Investments, Ltd. v. BDO Seidman, LLP, 85 A.D.3d 470, 472, 925 N.Y.S.2d 439 [1st Dept. 2011] [citing Ulico Cas. Co. v. Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker, 56 A.D.3d 1, 865 N.Y.S.2d 14 [1st Dept. 2008]] ).
The amended complaint does not allege a claim for legal malpractice in connection with defendants' representation of the alleged fraudsters in a merger transaction. Even if such a claim were alleged, it would fail to state a cause of action in the absence of an attorney-client relationship ( see Federal Ins. Co. v. North Am. Specialty Ins. Co., 47 A.D.3d 52, 847 N.Y.S.2d 7 [1st Dept. 2007];Linden v. Moskowitz, 294 A.D.2d 114, 115, 743 N.Y.S.2d 65 [1st Dept. 2002], lv. denied99 N.Y.2d 505, 755 N.Y.S.2d 712, 785 N.E.2d 734 [2003] ) or a relationship approaching privity or other special circumstance ( see Good Old Days Tavern, Inc. v. Zwirn, 259 A.D.2d 300, 686 N.Y.S.2d 414 [1st Dept. 1999] ). The legal malpractice claim arising out of a subsequent transaction fails as speculation as to what plaintiff would have done, had it been aware of the voting agreement, and the possibility that another party may pursue a claim against plaintiff in the future, does not support a claim for causally related damages ( see Brooks v. Lewin, 21 A.D.3d 731, 800 N.Y.S.2d 695 [1st Dept. 2005], lv. denied6 N.Y.3d 713, 816 N.Y.S.2d 749, 849 N.E.2d 972 [2006] ).
We have considered plaintiff's remaining arguments and find them unavailing.