Opinion
2012-12-28
Ronald M. FELIX and Felix Enterprises, Inc., Plaintiffs–Respondents, v. BRAND SERVICE GROUP LLC and David Brand, Defendants–Appellants.
Michael F. McPartlan, Grand Island, for Defendants–Appellants. Harris Beach PLLC, Buffalo (Richard T. Sullivan of Counsel), for Plaintiffs–Respondents.
Michael F. McPartlan, Grand Island, for Defendants–Appellants. Harris Beach PLLC, Buffalo (Richard T. Sullivan of Counsel), for Plaintiffs–Respondents.
PRESENT: SCUDDER, P.J., CENTRA, VALENTINO, WHALEN, AND MARTOCHE, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:
Plaintiffs and defendants entered into an asset purchase agreement for the purchase of an AAMCO franchise by plaintiffs for $675,000. The parties executed a promissory note and an escrow agreement, pursuant to which $250,000 was placed into an escrow account at M & T Bank to ensure payment of any outstanding sales tax liability. The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance determined that defendants owed $115,860.84 to the State of New York, which was paid from the escrow account, leaving a balance of $134,139.16 in that account.
On March 25, 2011, plaintiffs commenced this action alleging causes of action for rescission of the asset purchase agreement, promissory note and escrow agreement, fraud, unjust enrichment, the imposition of a constructive trust, an accounting, and any allowable injunctive relief. Plaintiffs also moved by order to show cause for a preliminary injunction preventing release of the remaining funds in the escrow account to any party during the pendency of this action. We conclude that Supreme Court did not abuse its discretion in granting plaintiffs' motion.
Preliminary injunctions are proper with respect to the release of funds in escrow where it is necessary to preserve the status quo during the pendency of the litigation ( see Bashein v. Landau, 96 A.D.2d 479, 479, 465 N.Y.S.2d 178). In order to establish its entitlement to a preliminary injunction, the moving party bears the burden of demonstrating, by clear and convincing evidence, “ ‘(1) a likelihood of ultimate success on the merits; (2) the prospect of irreparable injury if the provisional relief is withheld; and (3) a balance of equities tipping in the moving party's favor’ ” ( Destiny USA Holdings, LLC v. Citigroup Global Mkts. Realty Corp., 69 A.D.3d 212, 216, 889 N.Y.S.2d 793, quoting Doe v. Axelrod, 73 N.Y.2d 748, 750, 536 N.Y.S.2d 44, 532 N.E.2d 1272).
We conclude that plaintiffs met their burden with respect to the first prong of the test, i.e., a likelihood of ultimate success on the merits, with respect to the rescission and fraud causes of action. Plaintiffs submitted evidence that defendants misrepresented the amount of weekly gross receipts of the business, sold fraudulent warranties, underreported income by keeping two sets of financial records and provided plaintiffs with an inaccurate 2008 profit and loss statement.
Plaintiffs also met their burden with respect to the second prong of the test, i.e., whether there will be irreparable injury if the provisional relief is withheld. Plaintiffs submitted evidence that the funds in the escrow account, if dispersed, likely will not be recoverable due to defendants' precarious financial position. Indeed, they submitted evidence that defendant David Brand has various outstanding debts, including an outstanding tax liability of $115,860.84 to the State of New York, and that he was at risk of bankruptcy if he did not sell the AAMCO franchise.
Finally, we conclude that plaintiffs met their burden with respect to the third prong of the test, i.e., whether a balance of the equities tips in plaintiffs' favor. Such a balancing involves an inquiry whether “the irreparable injury to be sustained ... is more burdensome [to the plaintiff] than the harm caused to defendant through imposition of the injunction” ( Destiny USA Holdings, LLC, 69 A.D.3d at 223, 889 N.Y.S.2d 793 [internal quotation marks omitted] ). Here, the irreparable injury to plaintiffs is more burdensome than the harm caused to defendants through the imposition of the injunction. While defendants may be delayed in payingoff debt or using the escrow money for other purposes, plaintiffs may never be able to recover the money, if disbursed, even if plaintiffs ultimately prevail in the underlying action.
It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously affirmed without costs.