Opinion
14880 Index No. 650832/19 Case No. 2020–02779
12-16-2021
BSR FUND, S.A. et al., Plaintiffs–Appellants, v. Diwakar JAGANNATH, Defendant, Ikon Global Holding Company, LLC, et al., Defendants–Respondents.
Coburn & Greenbaum PLLC, New York (Jonathan W. Greenbaum of counsel), for appellants. Zeiler Floyd Zadkovich (US) LLP, New York (Edward W. Floyd of counsel), for Ikon Global Holding Company, LLC, Ikon Global Markets, Inc., FTechnics, Inc., Ikon Europe, Ltd., Ikon Finance, Ltd. and Ikon Atlantic, Ltd., respondents. Lennon Murphy & Phillips LLC, New York (Patrick F. Lennon of counsel), for Ioannis Litinas, respondent.
Coburn & Greenbaum PLLC, New York (Jonathan W. Greenbaum of counsel), for appellants.
Zeiler Floyd Zadkovich (US) LLP, New York (Edward W. Floyd of counsel), for Ikon Global Holding Company, LLC, Ikon Global Markets, Inc., FTechnics, Inc., Ikon Europe, Ltd., Ikon Finance, Ltd. and Ikon Atlantic, Ltd., respondents.
Lennon Murphy & Phillips LLC, New York (Patrick F. Lennon of counsel), for Ioannis Litinas, respondent.
Kapnick, J.P., Friedman, Gonza´lez, Rodriguez, Pitt, JJ.
Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Joel M. Cohen), entered March 17, 2020, which granted defendants’ motions to dismiss the first amended complaint on forum non conveniens grounds, unanimously affirmed, with costs.
The motion court properly concluded that there was no substantial nexus between New York and plaintiffs’ action ( Islamic Republic of Iran v. Pahlavi, 62 N.Y.2d 474, 478–480, 478 N.Y.S.2d 597, 467 N.E.2d 245 [1984], cert. denied 469 U.S. 1108, 105 S.Ct. 783, 83 L.Ed.2d 778 [1985] ; Shin–Etsu Chem. Co., Ltd. v. 3033 ICICI Bank Ltd., 9 A.D.3d 171, 176, 777 N.Y.S.2d 69 [1st Dept. 2004] ). The dispute is primarily among those defendants and plaintiffs who reside in Greece, the fraud originated in Greece, plaintiffs entered into a subscription agreement with a corporation based in the British Virgin Islands and controlled by the Greek defendants, and plaintiffs’ funds were allegedly improperly transferred primarily through accounts in Chicago, London, and elsewhere. Thus, "although there are some witnesses and evidence in New York, and one defendant is a New York resident, the court properly determined that New York is an inconvenient forum for this action" ( Fernie v. Wincrest Capital, Ltd., 177 A.D.3d 531, 532, 110 N.Y.S.3d 853 [1st Dept. 2019], lv denied 35 N.Y.3d 907, 2020 WL 3422435 [2020] ; Wyser–Pratte Mgt. Co., Inc. v. Babcock Borsig AG, 23 A.D.3d 269, 270, 808 N.Y.S.2d 3 [1st Dept. 2005] ).
That defendant Diwakar Jagannath prepared a letter in New York or possibly New Jersey, at the request of defendant George Daskaleas in Greece, and sent it to nonparty Grant Thornton in Greece, does not overcome the other factors favoring dismissal ( Viking Global Equities, LP v. Porsche Automobil Holding SE, 101 A.D.3d 640, 641, 958 N.Y.S.2d 35 [1st Dept. 2012] ), nor does the existence of lawsuits commenced in New York by a few defendants with New York offices.
Furthermore, Supreme Court properly granted the motion to dismiss as to all defendants based upon the motion of defendant Ioannis Litinas, who was central to the alleged fraud. If the action were allowed to continue against defendants other than Litinas, he still would be compelled to participate and address the allegations against him, the resolution of which are necessary to disposition of the action. The factors that favor dismissal of the complaint as against Litinas also favor dismissal against the other defendants.