Opinion
02 Civ. 0635 (JCF), 02 Civ. 9561 (JCF)
June 8, 2004
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
In these consolidated cases, the plaintiff, Gloria P. Thompson, brought claims of false arrest and imprisonment, malicious prosecution, and use of excessive force against the City of New York and a lieutenant in the New York City Police Department. The parties consented to my exercising full jurisdiction over the litigation pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c). When Ms. Thompson's attorney, S. Jean Smith, entered into a settlement agreement with defendants' counsel, Ms. Thompson objected and refused to execute the settlement documents. The defendants now move to enforce the settlement agreement, and for the reasons discussed below, their motion is granted. Background
According to her pleadings, Ms. Thompson was driving eastbound on East 16th Street in Manhattan on December 1, 2001 when she encountered a traffic jam. (Complaint in 02 Civ. 0635 ("Compl."), ¶¶ 9, 12, 13). When a man in a U-Haul truck tried to get her to back up into Third Avenue, she refused. (Compl., ¶¶ 13, 14). Police Lieutenant Michael Rocco then approached Ms. Thompson's car and told her that he was arresting her for obstructing traffic. (Compl., ¶ 15). Ms. Thompson remained in her car gripping the steering wheel and a scuffle ensued. During the altercation, Lieutenant Rocco allegedly pried the plaintiff's hand from the wheel, injuring her thumb. (Compl., ¶ 16).
The plaintiff initially identified the defendant as Lieutenant Dominick Rocco and obtained a default judgment when he failed to answer the Complaint. However, after an inquest was held on damages, Lieutenant Michael Rocco appeared and moved to vacate the default. This motion was granted, the caption was amended to reflect the correct defendant, and the case proceeded.
Ms. Thompson engaged Ms. Smith, a long-time acquaintance (Tr. 16), as her attorney. Ms. Smith proceeded to file a notice of claim against the City of New York on Ms. Thompson's behalf seeking $1,005,030.00 in damages. (Tr. 4-5). She then commenced the federal court action against Lieutenant Rocco, again seeking damages in excess of $1 million. (Compl. at 7). Thereafter, she filed a related case against the City of New York, and the two actions were consolidated.
"Tr." refers to the transcript of an evidentiary hearing held on April 22, 2004 in connection with the instant motion.
In about May of 2002, Ms. Thompson's physician recommended that she have surgery on the hand that was injured during the altercation with Lieutenant Rocco. (Tr. 10, 22). The plaintiff delayed having the procedure, however, and did not undergo surgery until February 2004. (Tr. 27, 29-30, 33-34).
In December 2003, Ms. Smith advised the Court that the litigation had been settled. On January 5, 2004, I issued an order of dismissal, providing that the cases could be restored to the calendar within thirty days if the settlement had not been consummated. Ms. Smith then filed a motion dated January 12, 2004 to be relieved as counsel and to restore the actions to the Court's calendar. She based her application on the fact that communication with her client had "broken down to the extent that plaintiff has chosen to reject earlier instructions given by her." (Affirmation of S. Jean Smith dated Jan. 13, 2004, ¶ 2). I granted Ms. Smith's request and relieved her as counsel.
Defendants' counsel then moved for an order enforcing the settlement agreement. A hearing was held on April 22, 2004, at which Ms. Thompson was represented by new counsel, James J. Feretic. Unfortunately, at that hearing, Ms. Thompson and Ms. Smith presented sharply different versions of their communications relating to settlement of these actions.
According to Ms. Smith, she and Ms. Thompson began discussing the prospect of settlement in April and May of 2003 and agreed to offer to settle the litigation for $65,000.00. (Tr. 25-26). Accordingly, on May 13, 2003, Ms. Smith sent a letter to defendants' counsel making that proposal. (Tr. 21, 25). She states that she sent a copy of the letter to Ms. Thompson. (Tr. 16, 26). Thereafter, Ms. Thompson never voiced an objection to the $65,000.00 demand, although she spent time socially with Ms. Smith, including sharing a room during a religious retreat. (Tr. 21, 26). The defendants countered with an offer of $5,000.00. (Tr. 14). No settlement was reached at that time, but negotiations resumed in about October of 2003. (Tr. 26). The defendants offered to resolve the actions for $30,000.00, and Ms. Smith suggested that Ms. Thompson lower her demand in response. They agreed that $50,000.000 would be reasonable, and Ms. Smith conveyed that proposal. (Tr. 23). When the defendants asked if the plaintiff would lower her demand further, Ms. Smith spoke with Ms. Thompson who instructed her to hold firm. (Tr. 14). After some additional discussions, defendants' counsel advised Ms. Smith on December 29, 2004 that defendants would accept a resolution at $50,000.00. (Tr. 14).
Ms. Thompson's, testimony is quite different. She denies ever authorizing Ms. Smith to settle for $50,000.00 or for $65,000.00. (Tr. 32). The plaintiff maintains that Ms. Smith told her that the case was worth $350,000.00 and that she instructed Ms. Smith to "go for" that amount. (Tr. 33). Ms. Thompson says she never received any copy of Ms. Smith's letter to defendants' counsel demanding $65,000.00, nor did she discuss settlement again with Ms. Smith until December 2003 when her attorney told her the case had been resolved for $50,000.00. (Tr. 34, 36, 37). Discussion
In a federal question case such as this, federal law governs the issue of an attorney's authority to settle. See In re Artha Management, Inc., 91 F.3d 326, 328 (2d Cir. 1996); Fennell v. TLB Kent Co., 865 F.2d 498, 501 (2d Cir. 1989); Foster v. City of New York, No. 96 Civ. 9271, 2000 WL 145927, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 7, 2000). Of course, the ultimate decision whether to settle rests with the client. See Artha, 91 F.3d at 329;Conway v. Brooklyn Union Gas Co., 236 F. Supp.2d 241, 247 (E.D.N.Y. 2002). Nevertheless, "due to the unique nature of the attorney-client relationship and the longstanding policy favoring settlement, courts presume that an attorney who enters into a settlement agreement has authority to do so." Foster, 2000 WL 145927, at *3 (citing Artha, 91 F.3d at 329). Accordingly, the burden is on the party challenging the settlement agreement to demonstrate that the attorney lacked authority.See Artha, 91 F.3d at 329; Conway, 236 F. Supp.2d at 247; Foster, 2000 WL 145927, at *3. That burden is "not insubstantial." United States v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters, 986 F.2d 15, 20 (2d Cir. 1993).
Here, the plaintiff has not carried her burden because Ms. Smith's testimony is the more credible. She provided a relatively detailed description of discussions with her client that dovetailed with her communications with defendants' counsel. Given the fact that Ms. Smith had a longstanding personal relationship with Ms. Thompson, it is not surprising that she did not memorialize their discussions or include a "cc" notation each time she sent a copy of a letter to her client. Nor is it significant that Ms. Smith would draft a complaint with an ad damnum clause in excess of $1 million and argue at an inquest for an award of $350,000.00 and then recommend a settlement of $50,000.00 The first two figures represent advocacy positions, the third reflects a pragmatic analysis that takes into account not only the seriousness of any injury but also the risk of proving liability. Finally, it is understandable that Ms. Smith proceeded with settlement negotiations notwithstanding the possibility that Ms. Thompson might have surgery, since surgery had been suggested long before but the plaintiff had not gone through with it.
Compared to Ms. Smith's testimony, Ms. Thompson's is less plausible. She contends that prior to December 2003, the only valuation of the case that Ms. Smith had discussed with her was the figure of $350,000.00. (Tr. 33). Yet, when Ms. Smith informed her client that she had settled the case for $50,000.00, Ms. Thompson response was: "I told her the surgery was coming up, so I don't think at this time we should settle the case, we should wait until after the surgery." (Tr. 32). If Ms. Thompson was truly hearing for the first time that her attorney had just discounted her case by a factor of seven, her natural reaction would be one of shock and outrage. Instead, her mild response is more consistent with her having previously authorized a $50,000.00 settlement, but now, on the eve of surgery, deciding that she had undervalued the case. Unfortunately, having authorized settlement at $50,000.00 and never having revoked those instructions before the offer was accepted, the plaintiff's change-of-heart comes too late.
A client is bound by an attorney who enters into a settlement agreement with either actual or apparent authority. See Foster, 2000 WL 145927, at *3. Here, Ms. Smith had actual authority, and therefore it need not be determined whether she also had apparent authority. See id. at *3 n. 5.
Conclusion
For the reasons set forth above, the defendants' motion to enforce the settlement agreement is granted, and the consolidated cases are dismissed with prejudice and without costs.
SO ORDERED.