Herrick successfully represented a financial services advisory in a complex business dispute, including breach of contract, shareholder and conversion claims, where the New York County Supreme Court granted our clients’ motion to dismiss the conversion claims and awarded our client costs and attorneys’ fees. The remaining claims are subject to a pending summary judgment motion.
Obtained dismissal of all claims asserted by a former employee against the largest Israeli defense, aerospace and aviation company. The plaintiff attempted to establish personal jurisdiction over the Israeli company in New York based on a theory that its wholly owned subsidiary operates as its domestic branch or “mere department” in the United States. While the trial court allowed the plaintiff to begin jurisdictional discovery, the Appellate Court reversed the trial court and dismissed our client from the litigation for lack of jurisdiction.
Represent a nationally renowned podcast host and author in an eight-figure business divorce.
Represented a leading apparel company and its majority shareholders in a cash out merger dispute with its former minority shareholder. The minority shareholder filed an action in New York State Supreme Court to rescind the merger, alleging that the apparel company failed to comply with New York case law mandating a legitimate business or corporate purpose for corporate mergers. The Court initially denied the apparel company’s motion to dismiss but granted reargument, recognizing that its original decision did not fully address the business purpose arguments that lay at the core of the dispute. Following reargument, the Court granted the apparel company’s motion to dismiss, acknowledging the merger’s clear legitimate business purpose. This decision holds great significance for the legal community as there are very few precedents under New York law addressing the conditions under which a merger can be rescinded, particularly for lack of a legitimate business purpose. The case is Alan Ades v. Van Dale Industries, Inc. et al. (N.Y. Sup. Ct.).
Secured a temporary restraining order on behalf of the co-owner of a specialty food retail business preventing partners in the venture from withdrawing company funds or transferring company assets prior to the resolution of ongoing litigation seeking dissolution of the business.
Successfully defended an international manufacturer against a complex, multi-million dollar breach of contract claim brought by a U.S. trading company involving the sale of petrochemicals, including an award of attorneys’ fees, expenses and costs. The case primarily concerned whether a contract was formed under the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (the CISG) or the UCC. The representation included a seven-day trial involving multiple fact and expert witnesses.
Achieved a significant victory in New Jersey federal court on behalf of a pharmaceutical company, securing the dismissal of our client from a putative class action alleging violations of consumer fraud laws in the marketing of product. Finding that the plaintiffs had failed to remedy basic pleading deficiencies in their original complaint, dismissed for lack of jurisdiction and failure to state a claim, the court dismissed the amended complaint with prejudice since “further amendment would be futile.”
Negotiated a settlement on behalf of a commercial bank resulting in the voluntary dismissal of all claims filed in a New Jersey state court by an asset manager seeking to hold the bank responsible for losses on a failed loan made to a furniture business prior to the business’ bankruptcy filing. Claiming that it had been induced into extending the loan based, in part, on a multi- million revolving credit line extended to the business by our client, the plaintiff argued that the credit line and our client’s alleged failure to adequately monitor the business gave the plaintiff the impression that the business was is better financial shape than it was. Following Herrick’s filing of a third-party complaint, repeated motions to dismiss and an aggressive discovery, the plaintiff dismissed its claims against our client without any payment or admission of wrongdoing while negotiating settlements from the remaining defendants.
Represented Google Inc. before the NJ Appellate Division, which affirmed summary judgment granted by the New Jersey Superior Court in favor of Google, dismissing claims by an online merchant for breach of contract and the covenant of good faith and fair dealing. The appellate court upheld the terms and enforceability of Google’s online merchant "click-wrap" agreement, including its liability limitations, while rejecting plaintiff’s claim that it was an unenforceable contract of adhesion. D’Agostino v. Appliances by Phone, Inc., et al., 2016 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 504 (Mar. 8, 2016).
Secured the dismissal of all claims against an Ireland-based software company and its US subsidiary filed in New York state court by an advisory firm alleging our client had breached the terms of a service agreement in which the plaintiff was to either find a buyer for the company or find entities willing to provide financing. Asserting breach of contract, fraudulent inducement and unjust enrichment, among other causes of action, the plaintiff further alleged that the agreement was breached just prior to a transaction which would have entitled the plaintiff to a significant fee. In its order, the court agreed that the plaintiff had failed to establish jurisdiction over the Ireland-based parent and that the U.S.-based entity was never a party to the agreement at issue.
Secured a ruling in Kings County Supreme Court on behalf of a garment manufacturer and certain affiliated individuals and entities that dismissed several causes of action in a purported shareholder derivative suit. Among the claims asserted was the allegation that a competing entity had been used by certain defendants to usurp business opportunities, and that ownership of a company facility had been fraudulently transferred to a charitable trust and foundation. The court granted our motion to dismiss the claim for a constructive trust over either the alleged competing entity or the foundation; an unjust enrichment claim against the charitable trust and foundation defendants; and a claim of rescission of the alleged fraudulent transfer of the facility, which the court found was time-barred.
Herrick secured an extremely favorable settlement on behalf of a Ukraine-based technology service provider, resolving its claims against a US-based multinational financial services company in connection with more than $6 million in software development services rendered by our client. Significantly, this settlement was accomplished without engaging in potentially extensive and costly litigation.
Herrick obtained the entry of a judgment totaling approximately $12 million against a real estate developer, two of his sons, and their affiliated entities. Following the entry of judgment, the judgment debtors refused to comply with multiple court orders holding the defendants in contempt and compelling them to respond to a variety of subpoenas. Herrick conducted depositions and other discovery regarding the judgment debtors' ability to pay and, upon doing so, filed an application for an installment payment order under C.P.L.R. § 5226. Following a four-day hearing before a court-appointed referee, the referee found one of the judgment debtors had an imputed annual income of $370,000 and that two of the other judgment debtors each had imputed annual incomes of $830,000. On that basis, the referee recommended, and the Supreme Court confirmed, that the judgment debtors are required to pay $406,000.00 per annum to Herrick's client, in equal installments of $33,833 per month, until the amounts due on the judgment have been paid and satisfied in full.
Represented a large specialty financing company in enforcing a series of agreements that provided the company with an interest in the appreciation of the underlying collateral. Following extensive briefing on a summary judgment motion, the court rejected defenses based on usury and the Small Business Investment Act and issued a $27.5 million judgment in favor of our client.
Represented a high profile property management firm and one of its executives in litigation related to claims that the clients had fraudulently transferred ownership of a business in order to avoid liability for a multi million dollar default judgment obtained against the business after it had been sold. The case was settled in the wake of favorable rulings that included the dismissal of claims against the executive and the determination that funds transferred by our clients for the purpose of eliminating an intercompany loan prior to the sale of the business did not constitute a fraudulent conveyance and were therefore not subject to disgorgement.
Secured a victory for DataTreasury and its officers before the Appellate Division, Second Department, obtaining a ruling affirming the trial court's dismissal of a complaint seeking $15 billion in damages filed by a purported joint venture partner claiming fraud and the alleged breach of an oral joint venture involving a patent for check imaging technology. In affirming the dismissal, the appellate court held that the breach of contract claim was time barred, and that the fraud claims lacked the requisite specificity and were duplicative of the breach of contract claims.
Herrick secured an appellate win for a specialty finance company, successfully defending the trial court's decision granting our motion for summary judgment and awarding money damages with costs. The underlying dispute involved a borrower’s failure to pay a multi-million dollar participatory interest - a percentage of the collateral’s appreciation - in addition to a fixed interest monthly payment under the terms of a $16 million credit arrangement to finance the purchase of taxi medallions. The Appellate Division, First Department affirmed the trial court’s decision, rejecting the borrower’s counterclaims that the participatory interest provision to which it had agreed violated New York law and the federal Small Business Investment Act of 1958.
Represented a multinational cosmetics company in litigation filed in New York federal court by a Washington, DC area retailer asserting breach of contract, detrimental reliance, and tortious interference claims, which sought monetary damages and a preliminary injunction preventing our client from violating a retailer agreement that allegedly required it to supply cosmetic products to the plaintiff. After obtaining an order denying the plaintiff’s motion for a preliminary injunction, Herrick negotiated a settlement on favorable terms that resolved the litigation.
Successful defense of a major league professional sports team, obtaining pre-motion dismissal of all claims in a high-profile putative class action alleging deceptive trade practices and false advertising in connection with a very large sale of memorabilia.
Successfully represented a Queens, NY-based packaging manufacturer, obtaining summary judgment in a New York state court breach of contract action against a former customer who failed to pay for goods ordered and received.
Successful defense of DataTreasury Corp. in a 41-day bench trial arising from claims by the company's former Chief Operating Officer that he was entitled to exercise certain stock options granted to him during his tenure. We helped obtain a decision dismissing all of the former executive's claims, based on his disloyal conduct in trying to usurp business opportunities coupled with his failure to properly exercise the options, defeated the plaintiff's multiple post-trial motions, and successfully defended those decisions before the New York State Appellate Division, Second Department which unanimously affirmed.
Achieved total victory for a promotional products manufacturer and distributor, defeating all claims asserted in an arbitration for breach of employment and shareholders agreements, breach of fiduciary duty, and shareholder oppression initiated by the company’s former CEO and former majority shareholder. The panel found that the claimant had indeed been properly terminated, referencing numerous instances in which the claimant charged the client for non-business related expenses or used company resources to conduct side businesses for the sole benefit of the claimant’s friends and relatives. Finding the remaining claims meritless, the panel ultimately found our client, as the prevailing party, entitled to recover the full costs of the arbitration, including legal fees.
Represented a major national bank and its subsidiary in an insurance coverage dispute involving cash transported in armored cars. A unanimous New York State Appellate Division, First Department panel ruled in favor of our clients, finding that the "in transit" clause of the insurance policy also covered theft by the armored car company's executives while the money was in their vault as part of the contracted-for delivery process.
Successfully defended the U.S. affiliate of a multinational food & beverage company sued in New Jersey federal court by a distributor alleging violation of the state's Franchise Practices Act. In both the district court and on appeal to the Third Circuit, Herrick delivered key victories in opposing the plaintiff's efforts to secure an injunction preventing our client from effecting its contractual right not to renew an exclusive distribution agreement between the parties. In the district court, we obtained rulings partially dismissing the complaint, denying plaintiff's motion for a preliminary injunction, and denying plaintiff's motion for an injunction pending its appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Following expedited briefing, the appellate court found in our client's favor, affirming the district court's rulings. In light of these developments, the parties ultimately reached a settlement and stipulated to the dismissal of this litigation.
Successfully represented a U.S. specialty food manufacturer and importer in litigation filed in New Jersey federal court asserting breach of contract, fraud and unjust enrichment claims against a Brazilian bank and certain suppliers in connection with the bank’s alleged improper drawing on a standby letter of credit arranged by our client to finance the manufacture of food products in Brazil. After obtaining a recommendation from the Magistrate Judge, later confirmed by the district court, denying the bank’s motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction, Herrick secured a favorable settlement that resolved claims against the bank and later obtained a default judgment against the Brazilian supplier entities.
Obtained pre-trial dismissal of negligence claims against a commercial bank in connection with a former employee's misappropriation and embezzlement of plaintiff's assets.
Negotiated favorable settlement on behalf of a provider of specialized administrative and corporate governance services to resolve claims of breach of contract, gross negligence and fraud related to administration of trust in connection with a portfolio of student loan backed notes.
Representation of a mezzanine lender in an action in New York State Supreme Court against a borrower for breach of a term sheet. The court granted our motion for summary judgment and awarded damages.
Represented the developer of an innovative insurance product in New York State court litigation arising from the alleged breach of a licensing agreement which gave our client exclusive access to certain data that serves as the foundation for the new product. All claims were voluntarily dismissed under a settlement agreement, and the parties entered into a new, more favorable, licensing agreement.
Successfully represented a prominent insurance managing agent and reinsurance company in their claims of legal malpractice against former counsel arising from insurance agreements prepared by the defendant, a New York-based insurance law firm.
