Opinion
01 Civ. 7798 (CSH) (AJP)
April 29, 2004
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
Plaintiff Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") brought this action against defendant Robert Breed and relief defendants Patricia Breed, Richard Breed, and Karine Goveia Breed (Robert Breed's mother, brother, and wife, respectively) for violations of the federal securities laws, to wit, insider trading. On November 5, 2003, Judge Haight granted default permanent injunctions against defendant Robert Breed and the relief defendants (collectively, "defendants"), and held them liable for disgorgement (plus prejudgment interest) in amounts to be determined at inquest. (Dkt. Nos. 42-45.) By Order dated March 12, 2004, Judge Haight referred this case to me for an inquest. (Dkt. No. 54.) I directed the SEC to serve and file inquest papers by March 30, 2004, which it did (see Dkt. Nos. 57-58), and directed defendants to file opposition papers by April 15, 2004, which they did not. (Dkt. No. 55: 3/19/04 Order.)
FACTS
"Where, as here, 'the court determines that defendant is in default, the factual allegations of the complaint, except those relating to the amount of damages, will be taken as true.'" Chen v. Jenna Lane, Inc., 30 F. Supp.2d 622, 623 (S.D.N.Y. 1998) (Carter, D.J. Peck, M.J.) (quoting 10A C. Wright, A. Miller M. Kane,Federal Practice Procedure: Civil 3d § 2688 at 58-59 (3d ed. 1998)).The Amended Complaint alleges that from October 1996 through October 1997, Robert Breed received stock tips from his friend Jeffrey Streich "that contained material, nonpublic information concerning seven publicly traded companies," to wit, (1) Coram Healthcare, Inc., (2) Owen Healthcare, Inc., (3) Starsight Telecast, Inc., (4) Pacific Rehabilitation Sport Medicine, Inc., (5) Reading Bates Corp., (6) Rohr, Inc., and (7) Georgia-Pacific Corporation. (Dkt. No. 22: Am. Compl. ¶ 19; see also id. ¶¶ 12-18.) Streich in turn had received the information from Marisa Bardis, an attorney for Smith Barney (November 1993 to April 1997) and then Morgan Stanley (April 1997 to November 1997) with access to lists of companies about which the brokerage firms had material, non-public information, often about proposed acquisitions. (Am. Compl. ¶¶ 11, 20-21.) Robert "Breed knew that the tips Streich provided him were based on inside information." (Am. Compl. ¶ 20.)
Robert "Breed traded, in his own account, six (Coram, Owen, Pacific Rehab, Starsight, Rohr, and Georgia-Pacific) of the seven securities that were the subjects of Streich's tips." (Am. Compl. ¶ 22.) "In addition, [Robert] Breed tipped, or directed the trading in the accounts of [relief defendants] Patricia Breed, Richard Breed, and Karine Breed." (Am. Compl. ¶ 23.) The specific trades are further detailed in the Amended Complaint in paragraphs 24-30.
The Complaint asserts claims under Exchange Act § 10(b) and Rule 10b-5 (Am. Compl. ¶¶ 33-36), Exchange Act § 14(e) and Rule 14e-3 (Am. Compl. ¶¶ 37-39), Exchange Act § 7(c) and Regulation T (Am. Compl. ¶¶ 40-42), and also asserts a disgorgement claim against the relief defendants (Am. Compl. ¶¶ 43-46).
ANALYSIS
The Second Circuit has approved the holding of an inquest by affidavit, without an in-person court hearing, "'as long as [the Court has] ensured that there was a basis for the damages specified in the default judgment.'" Transatlantic Marine Claims Agency, Inc. v. Ace Shipping Corp., 109 F.3d 105, 111 (2d Cir. 1997) (quotingFustok v. ContiCommodity Servs., Inc., 873 F.2d 38, 40 (2d Cir. 1989)). A. Applicable Law Regarding Disgorgement"Once the district court has found federal securities law violations, it has broad equitable power to fashion appropriate remedies, including ordering that culpable defendants disgorge their profits." SEC v. First Jersey Sec., Inc., 101 F.3d 1450, 1474 (2d Cir. 1996),cert. denied, 522 U.S. 812, 118 S.Ct. 57 (1997); see also, e.g., SEC v. Fischbach Corp., 133 F.3d 170, 175 (2d Cir. 1997); SEC v. Lorin, 76 F.3d 458, 462 (2d Cir. 1996) (district court "must be given wide latitude in these matters") (quoting SEC v. Patel, 61 F.3d 137, 140 (2d Cir. 1995)); SEC v. Robinson, 00 Civ. 7452, 2002 WL 1552049 at *6 (S.D.N.Y. July 16, 2002) (Peck, M.J.); SEC v. McCaskey, 98 Civ. 6153, 2002 WL 850001 at *2 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 26, 2002) (Peck, M.J.); SEC v. Rosenfeld, 97 Civ. 1467, 2001 WL 118612 at *1 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 9, 2001); SEC v. Zubkis, 97 Civ. 8086, 2000 WL 218393 at *11 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 23, 2000).
The Second Circuit has held that:
The primary purpose of disgorgement as a remedy for violation of the securities laws is to deprive violators of their ill-gotten gains, thereby effectuating the deterrence objectives of those laws. See, e.g., SEC v. Wang, 944 F.2d 80, 85 (2d Cir. 1991); SEC v. Commonwealth Chemical Securities, Inc., 574 F.2d 90, 102 (2d Cir. 1978). "The effective enforcement of the federal securities laws requires that the SEC be able to make violations unprofitable. The deterrent effect of an SEC enforcement action would be greatly undermined if securities law violators were not required to disgorge illicit profits." SEC v. Manor Nursing Centers, Inc., 458 F.2d [1082.] 1104 [(2d Cir. 1972)]; see SEC v. Texas Gulf Sulphur Co., 446 F.2d 1301, 1308 (2d Cir. 1971) ("It would severely defeat the purposes of the Act if a violator of Rule 10b-5 were allowed to retain the profits from his violation.").SEC v. First Jersey Sec., Inc., 101 F.3d at 1474:accord, e.g., SEC v. Robinson, 2002 WL 1552049 at *7; SEC v. McCaskey, 2002 WL 850001 at *3.
See also, e.g., SEC v. Fischbach Corp., 133 F.3d at 175 ("The primary purpose of disgorgement orders is to deter violations of the securities laws by depriving violators of their ill-gotten gains."); SEC v. Tome, 833 F.2d 1086, 1096 (2d Cir. 1987), cert. denied, 486 U.S. 1014, 1015, 108 S.Ct. 1751 (1988); SEC v. McCaskey, 98 Civ. 6153, 2001 WL 1029053 at *7 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 6, 2001) ("Disgorgement of illicit pro fits is a proper equitable remedy for securities fraud, designed to deprive wrongdoers of the profits of their wrongdoing.") (citations omitted); SEC v. Rosenfeld, 2001 WL 118612 at *1; SEC v. Zubkis, 2000 WL 218393 at *11; SEC v. Bilzerian, 814 F. Supp. 116, 121 (D.D.C. 1993), aff'd, 29 F.3d 689 (D.C. Cir. 1994).
Unlike damages, "the primary purpose of disgorgement [to the SEC] is not to compensate investors," but rather to force "a defendant to give up the amount by which he was unjustly enriched." SEC v. Commonwealth Chem. Sec., Inc., 574 F.2d 90, 102 (2d Cir. 1978) (Friendly, C.J.);accord, e.g., SEC v. Tome, 833 F.2d at 1096; SEC v. Robinson, 2002 WL 1552049 at *7; SEC v. McCaskey, 2002 WL 850001 at *3; SEC v. McCaskey, 2001 WL 1029053 at *7 ("[T]he proper measure of disgorgement is the amount of the wrongdoer's unjust enrichment."); SEC v. Rosenfeld, 2001 WL 118612 at *1; SEC v. Bilzerian, 814 F. Supp. at 120-21.
"It is well established that disgorgement is remedial rather than punitive, since a fundamental policy underlying disgorgement is to prevent the unjust enrichment of the wrongdoer rather than to punish him." SEC v. Grossman, 87 Civ. 1031, 1997 WL 231167 at *9(S.D.N.Y. May 6, 1997), aff'd in part, vacated in part on other grounds sub nom. SEC v. Hirshberg, Nos. 97-6171, 97-6259, 173 F.3d 846 (table), 1999 WL 163992 (2d Cir. Mar. 18, 1999).
Accord, e.g., United States v. Carson, 52 F.3d 1173, 1183 (2d Cir. 1995) ("[T]he Supreme Court has specifically identified an order of disgorgement as compensatory, as opposed to punitive, in nature."), cert. denied, 516 U.S. 1122, 116 S.Ct. 934 (1996); SEC v. First City Fin. Corp., 890 F.2d 1215, 1231 (D.C. Cir. 1989) ("disgorgement may not be used punitively"); SEC v. Shapiro, 494 F.2d 1301, 1309 (2d Cir. 1974); SEC v. Manor Nursing Ctrs., Inc., 458 F.2d 1082, 1104 (2d Cir. 1972); SEC v. Texas Gulf Sulphur Co., 446 F.2d 1301, 1308 (2d Cir.) ("the SEC may seek other than injunctive relief in order to effectuate the purposes of [the federal securities laws], so long as such relief is remedial relief and is not a penalty assessment"),cert. denied, 404 U.S. 1005, 92 S.Ct. 561 (1971);SEC v. Robinson, 2002 WL 1552049 at *7; SEC v. McCaskey, 2002 WL 850001 at *4; SEC v. Bilzerian, 814 F. Supp. at 120 ("Disgorgement has consistently been recognized as remedial rather than punitive. Furthermore, disgorgement may not be used punitively.") (citations omitted).
"The district court has broad discretion not only in determining whether or not to order disgorgement but also in calculating the amount to be disgorged." SEC v. First Jersey Sec., Inc., 101 F.3d at 1474-75; accord, e.g., SEC v. Robinson, 2002 WL 1552049 at *7; SEC v. McCaskey, 2002 WL 850001 at *4; see also, e.g., SEC v. Lorin, 76 F.3d at 462; SEC v. Posner, 16 F.3d 520, 522 (2d Cir. 1994) (upholding district court disgorgement order, since "[t]he [district] court has broad discretion to tailor the sanction to the wrongful conduct involved."); SEC v. Rosenfeld, 2001 WL 118612 at *2. The disgorged amount must be "'causally connected to the violation,'" but it need not be figured with exactitude. SEC v. First Jersey Sec., Inc., 101 F.3d at 1475 (quoting SEC v. Patel, 61 F.3d at 139);accord, e.g., SEC v. Robinson, 2002 WL 1552049 at *7; SEC v. McCaskey, 2002 WL 850001 at *4. The only requirement is that the disgorgement sought be a reasonable approximation of the profits causally related to the wrongdoing.SEC v. First Jersey Sec., Inc., 101 F.3d at 1475:accord, e.g., SEC v. Robinson, 2002 WL 1552049 at *7: SEC v. McCaskey, 2002 WL 850001 at *4; see also, e.g., SEC v. Patel, 61 F.3d at 139; SEC v. Rosenfeld, 2001 WL 118612 at *2;SEC v. Bilzerian, 814 F. Supp. at 121-22.
"Where disgorgement calculations cannot be exact, 'any risk of uncertainty . . . should fall on the wrongdoer whose illegal conduct created that uncertainty.'" SEC v. Lorin, 76 F.3d at 462 (quoting SEC v. Patel, 61 F.3d at 140);accord, e.g., SEC v. Robinson, 2002 WL 1552049 at *8: SEC v. McCaskey, 2002 WL 850001 at *4; see also, e.g., SEC v. First Jersey Sec., Inc., 101 F.3d at 1475; SEC v. First City Fin. Corp., 890 F.2d at 1232 (burden shifts to wrongdoer to show what transactions were unaffected by his offenses); SEC v. Bilzerian, 814 F. Supp. at 121. "Thus, once the Commission shows the existence of a fraudulent scheme in violation of federal securities laws, the burden shifts to the defendant to 'demonstrat[e] that he received less than the full amount allegedly misappropriated and sought to be disgorged.'" SEC v. Rosenfeld, 2001 WL 118612 at *2 (quoting SEC v. Benson, 657 F. Supp. 1122, 1133 (S.D.N.Y. 1987) (Leval, D.J.)); accord, e.g., SEC v. Robinson, 2002 WL 1552049 at *8; SEC v. McCaskey, 2002 WL 850001 at *4;SEC v. Grossman, 1997 WL 231167 at *8 ("The SEC bears the burden of persuasion that its proposed disgorgement figure reasonably approximates the amount of unjust enrichment. . . . [O]nce the SEC has established that the proposed amount is reasonable, the burden shifts to the defendant to demonstrate that the amount requested is not a reasonable approximation of the unlawfully obtained profits.");SEC v. Bilzerian, 814 F. Supp. at 121. B. Application of Disgorgement Law to This Case
Judge Haight already has ordered disgorgement; the purpose of the inquest is to determine the appropriate amount of the disgorgement. The Court has carefully examined the Declaration of Matthew B. Greiner (and its exhibits) submitted by the SEC to summarize defendant Robert Breed's and the relief defendants' trades and trading profits. (Dkt. No. 58.) The Court agrees that Greiner's declaration accurately summarizes the trading records.
The SEC's calculations do not give defendants "credit" for brokerage commissions, as it should. See SEC v. McCaskey, 2002 WL 850001 at *4 ( cases cited therein). Nevertheless, the Court has discretion whether to deduct such costs from the disgorgement amount, see id., and in this case where defendants have not responded and the Court's review of the trading records shows that commissions were minimal (e.g., $67 on an $8,000 profit or under 1%, see Greiner Dec. Ex. 1 re Coram trade), the Court will exercise its discretion to not deduct commissions. Moreover, as discussed below, the SEC's prejudgment interest calculations were only through March 30, 2004, and judgment will not be entered until May 2004. The amount of prejudgment interest that the SEC will not be receiving makes up for the commissions issue.
The appropriate disgorgement amounts, therefore, are as follows:
Disgorgement Amount
Robert Breed $54,710.00 Karine Breed $51,950.00 Patricia Breed $50,050.00 Richard Breed $32,982.00
(Dkt. No. 58: Greiner Dec. ¶¶ 9, 14, 28, 34; see also Dkt. No. 57: SEC Disgorgement Br. at 9.) C. Prejudgment Interest
The SEC has also requested an award of prejudgment interest on the amount disgorged. (Dkt. No. 57: SEC Disgorgement Br. at 6-7, 9; Dkt. No. 58: Greiner Dec. ¶¶ 10-12.) The decision of whether to order prejudgment interest, like the decision to grant disgorgement and in what amount, is left to the district court's "broad discretion." SEC v. First Jersey Sec., Inc., 101 F.3d 1450, 1476 (2d Cir. 1996) (citation omitted); accord, e.g., SEC v. Robinson, 00 Civ. 7452, 2002 WL 1552049 at *9 (S.D.N.Y. July 16, 2002) (Peck, M.J.); SEC v. McCaskey, 98 Civ. 6153, 2002 WL 850001 at *12 n. 17 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 26, 2002) (Peck, M.J.);see also, e.g., Rolf v. Blyth, Eastman Dillon Co., 637 F.2d 77. 86 (2d Cir. 1980); SEC v. Grossman, 87 Civ. 1031, 1997 WL 231167 at *11 (S.D.N.Y. May 6, 1997). aff'd in part, vacated in part on other grounds sub nom.SEC v. Hirshberg, No. 97-6171, 97-6259, 173 F.3d 846 (table), 1999 WL 163992 (2d Cir. Mar. 18, 1999). "[R]equiring the payment of interest prevents a defendant from obtaining the benefit of 'what amounts to an interest free loan procured as a result of illegal activity.'" SEC v. Grossman, 1997 WL 231167 at *11 (quoting SEC v. Moran, 944 F. Supp. 286, 295 (S.D.N.Y. 1996));accord, e.g., SEC v. Robinson, 2002 WL 1552049 at *9; SEC v. McCaskey, 2002 WL 850001 at *12 n. 17.
"In deciding whether an award of prejudgment interest is warranted, a court should consider '(i) the need to fully compensate the wronged party for actual damages suffered, (ii) considerations of fairness and the relative equities of the award, (iii) the remedial purpose of the statute involved, and/or (iv) such other general principles as are deemed relevant by the court.' In an enforcement action brought by a regulatory agency, the remedial purpose of the statute takes on special importance."SEC v. First Jersey Sec., Inc., 101 F.3d at 1476 (citations omitted); accord, e.g., SEC v. Robinson, 2002 WL 1552049 at *10; SEC v. McCaskey, 2002 WL 850001 at *12 n. 17. In light of that remedial purpose, an award of interest is appropriate here. See SEC v. Grossman, 1997 WL 231167 at * 11 ("In determining the appropriateness of an interest award, courts rely heavily on the level of the defendant's culpability."); accord,e.g., SEC v. Robinson, 2002 WL 1552049 at *10; SEC v. McCaskey, 2002 WL 850001 at *12 n. 17. As the SEC suggested, such interest should be calculated at the IRS underpayment rate. See SEC v. First Jersey Sec., Inc., 101 F.3d at 1476: SEC v. Robinson, 2002 WL 1552049 at *10; SEC v. McCaskey, 2002 WL 850001 at *12 n. 17.
The SEC's computerized interest calculations, through March 30, 2004, appear correct. (See Dkt. N. 58: Greiner Dec. ¶¶ 35-39 Exs. 22-25.) Accordingly, prejudgment interest should be awarded as follows:
Prejudgment Interest
Robert Breed $38,269.19 Karine Breed $38,277.14 Patricia Breed $30,733.78 Richard Breed $21,584.00D. Joint and Several Liability
The SEC requests that the Court impose joint and several liability on Robert Breed with each of the relief defendants for the unlawful profits realized in that relief defendant's account. (See Dkt. No. 57: SEC Disgorgement Br. at 7.)
"Courts have held that joint-and-several liability is appropriate in securities cases when two or more individuals or entities collaborate or have close relationships in engaging in the illegal conduct."SEC v. Hughes Capital Corp., 124 F.3d 449, 455 (3d Cir. 1997) (citing SEC v. First Jersey Sec., Inc., 101 F.3d 1450, 1475 (2d Cir. 1996); cert. denied, 522 U.S. 812, 118 S.Ct. 57 (1997)); SEC v. Sekhri, 98 Civ. 2320, 2002 WL 31100823 at *17 (S.D.N.Y. July 22, 2002) (citing cases).
"The burden is on the tortfeasor to establish that the liability is capable of apportionment, . . . and the district court has broad discretion in subjecting the offending parties on a joint-and-several basis to the disgorgement order." SEC v. Hughes Capital Corp., 124 F.3d at 455 (citing SEC v. First Jersey Sec., Inc., 101 F.3d at 1475 (2d Cir. 1996)). As the Hughes Capital Court explained:
Imposing the burden upon the defendant of proving the propriety of the apportionment of the disgorgement amount in securities cases is appropriate and reasonable. Although in some cases, a court may be able easily to identify the recipient of ill-gotten profits and apportionment is practical, that is not usually the case. Generally, apportionment is difficult or even practically impossible because defendants have engaged in complex and heavily disguised transactions. See CFTC v. American Bd., 803 F.2d 1242, 1252 (2d Cir. 1986). Very often defendants move funds through various accounts to avoid detection, use several nominees to hold securities or improperly deprived profits, or intentionally fail to keep accurate records and refuse to cooperate with investigators in identifying the illegal profits. Hence, "the risk of uncertainty should fall on the wrongdoer whose illegal conduct crated that uncertainty." First City Financial Corp., 890 F.2d at 1232.SEC v. Hughes Capital Corp., 124 F.3d at 455;see also cases cited at page 7 above.
Here, the Amended Complaint alleges that Robert Breed "tipped or directed trading in the accounts of the relief defendants. (Dkt. No. 22: Am. Compl. ¶¶ 2, 23, 44-46.) Moreover, the defendants refused to participate in discovery in this action, and did not respond to the SEC's inquest application. For these reasons, joint and several liability of Robert Breed with each of the relief defendants is appropriate.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons set forth above, the Court should enter judgment against defendant Robert Breed, and jointly and severally against Robert Breed and each relief defendant, as follows:Disgorgement Prejudgment Interest Total Robert Breed $54,710.00 $38,269.19 $92,979.19 Karine Breed J/S Robert Breed $51,950.00 $38,277.14 $90,227.14 Patricia Breed J/S Robert Breed $50,050.00 $30,733.78 $80,783.78 Richard Breed J/S Robert Breed $32,982.00 $21,584.00 $54,566.00 FILING OF OBJECTIONS TO THIS REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONPursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) and Rule 72(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the parties shall have ten (10) days from service of this Report to file written objections. See also Fed.R.Civ.P. 6. Such objections (and any responses to objections) shall be filed with the Clerk of the Court, with courtesy copies delivered to the chambers of the Honorable Charles S. Haight, 500 Pearl Street, Room 1940, and to my chambers, 500 Pearl Street, Room 1370. Any requests for an extension of time for filing objections must be directed to Judge Haight. Failure to file objections will result in a waiver of those objections for purposes of appeal. Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140, 106 S.Ct. 466 (1985): IUE AFL-CIO Pension Fund v. Herrmann, 9 F.3d 1049, 1054 (2d Cir. 1993), cert. denied, 513 U.S. 822, 115 S.Ct. 86 (1994); Roldan v. Racette, 984 F.2d 85, 89 (2d Cir. 1993); Frank v. Johnson, 968 F.2d 298, 300 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 506 U.S. 1038, 113 S.Ct. 825 (1992); Small v. Secretary of Health Human Servs., 892 F.2d 15. 16(2d Cir. 1989); Wesolek v. Canadair Ltd., 838 F.2d 55, 57-59 (2d Cir. 1988): McCarthy v. Manson, 714 F.2d 234, 237-38 (2d Cir. 1983); 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); Fed.R.Civ.P. 72, 6(a), 6(e).