New York Attorneys JHA handles range the gamut of complex financial and commercial litigation and arbitration, including securities, RICO, corporate and contract disputes, credit default swaps, derivatives, and class, mass, and derivative actions. The firm also represents law firms in major disputes.

Commercial Litigation and Arbitration

New York Attorneys JHA handles range the gamut of complex financial and commercial litigation and arbitration, including securities, RICO, corporate and contract disputes, credit default swaps, derivatives, and class, mass, and derivative actions. The firm also represents law firms in major disputes.
Commercial Litigation and Arbitration

Complex Lit Blog

RICO Enterprise: Mere Existence of Servicing Contract Between Defendants Insufficient to State Associated-in-Fact Enterprise

Stitt v. Citibank, N.A., 2018 WL 4090104 (9th Cir. Aug. 28, 2018): MEMORANDUM* *1 Appellants Gloria and Ronald Stitt and Mark and Terri Louise Zirlott appeal from three district court orders, entered in a case where they were complaining about post-default property inspections. On January 6, 2015, th ...
Stitt v. Citibank, N.A., 2018 WL 4090104 (9th Cir. Aug. 28, 2018): MEMORANDUM* *1 Appellants Gloria and Ronald Stitt and Mark and Terri Louise Zirlott appeal from three district court orders, entered in a case where they were complaining about…
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Appeals: The Pendency of a Motion for Sanctions after a Dismissal on the Merits Does Not Bar Appellate Jurisdiction over Merits Dismissal

Sopkin v. Mendelson, 2018 WL 3524593 (4th Cir. July 23, 2018) (unpublished): *1 Barbara Sopkin appeals from the district court’s dismissal of her lawsuit filed both derivatively on behalf of Interlase Limited Partnership and as assignee of Lucre Investments Ltd, which Sopkin purports assigned to her a 2% general par ...
Sopkin v. Mendelson, 2018 WL 3524593 (4th Cir. July 23, 2018) (unpublished): *1 Barbara Sopkin appeals from the district court’s dismissal of her lawsuit filed both derivatively on behalf of Interlase Limited Partnership and as assignee of Lucre Investments Ltd,…
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Text Admissibility: Court May Place Reasonable Limitations on the Presentation of Cumulative Text Evidence, Limiting Counsel to Counsel’s Choice of 10 Best Messages for Impeachment Where Use of All Would Have Been Time Consuming, Inflammatory

People v. Adekunle Olobayo Aisony, 2018 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 6051 (Cal. Ct. App. Sept. 4, 2018): In an information filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, defendant ...
People v. Adekunle Olobayo Aisony, 2018 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 6051 (Cal. Ct. App. Sept. 4, 2018): In an information filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, defendant and appellant Adekunle Olobayo-Aisony was charged with criminal threats…
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Rule 11(b)(2) Sanctions: Relitigating in Rule 60(b) Motion Same Issues Previously Lost Is Legally Indefensible, As Is Arguing Merits when Default Judgment Was Entered

M2 Tech., Inc. v. M2 Software, Inc., 2018 WL 4191098 (5th Cir. Aug. 31, 2018) (unpublished): *1 Richard C. King, Jr., Mary Ellen King, and the King Law Group, PLLC, appeal an imposition of sanctions under Rule 11(b)(2) in the amount of $39,325.63. We affirm. I. This appeal is part of a series of ...
M2 Tech., Inc. v. M2 Software, Inc., 2018 WL 4191098 (5th Cir. Aug. 31, 2018) (unpublished): *1 Richard C. King, Jr., Mary Ellen King, and the King Law Group, PLLC, appeal an imposition of sanctions under Rule 11(b)(2) in the…
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YouTube Admissibility: Still Photos from Music Video Showing Defendant Holding Apparently Same Gun He Is Charged with Possessing Not Unduly Prejudicial under 403, Not Offered for Propensity in Violation of 404(b)

United States v. Washington, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 148887 (N.D. Ill. Aug. 31, 2018): This matter is before the Court on Defendant Darrius Washington's motion [110] for a new trial pursuant to
United States v. Washington, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 148887 (N.D. Ill. Aug. 31, 2018): This matter is before the Court on Defendant Darrius Washington's motion [110] for a new trial pursuant to Rule 33 of the Federal Rules of …
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Inherent Power Sanctions & Arbitration: Court May Not Enter Default Judgment against Party That Moved to Compel Arb. & Then Refused to Pay Arb. Fees without Inquiring as to Ability to Pay — But, If Party Was Able to Pay Yet Refused, Default May Be Apt

Hernandez v. Acosta Tractors, Inc., 2018 U.S. App. LEXIS 22068, 2018 WL 3761126 (11th Cir. Aug. 8, 2018): This case asks us to consider whether a District Court can properly enter a default judgment b ...
Hernandez v. Acosta Tractors, Inc., 2018 U.S. App. LEXIS 22068, 2018 WL 3761126 (11th Cir. Aug. 8, 2018): This case asks us to consider whether a District Court can properly enter a default judgment based on a party's failure …
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Plaintiff Has Right to Withdraw Rule 41(a)(2) Motion to Dismiss If It Does Not Wish to Acquiesce to Terms Set by Court for Granting the Motion — Open Question: Are Some Conditions So Minimal There Are Exceptions to This Rule?

Paysys Int'l, Inc. v. Atos IT Servs. Ltd., 2018 U.S. App. LEXIS 23067, 2018 WL 3965723 (2d Cir. Aug. 20, 2018): Plaintiff-appellant Paysys International [*2]  ("Paysy ...
Paysys Int'l, Inc. v. Atos IT Servs. Ltd., 2018 U.S. App. LEXIS 23067, 2018 WL 3965723 (2d Cir. Aug. 20, 2018): Plaintiff-appellant Paysys International [*2]  ("Paysys") moved to voluntarily dismiss its case with prejudice pursuant to Rule 41(a)(2) …
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Removal: Forum Defendant May Remove at Any Time Before S/he Is “Properly Joined and Served” within § 1441(b)(2) (3d Circuit) — Matter of First Impression in Courts of Appeals

Encompass Ins. Co. v. Stone Mansion Rest. Inc., 2018 U.S. App. LEXIS 23576 (3d Cir. Aug. 22, 2018): This appeal, which presents issues of statutory interpretation, stems from a tragic ...
Encompass Ins. Co. v. Stone Mansion Rest. Inc., 2018 U.S. App. LEXIS 23576 (3d Cir. Aug. 22, 2018): This appeal, which presents issues of statutory interpretation, stems from a tragic automobile crash that killed the intoxicated driver and seriously…
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RICO: No Proximate Cause Alleged by Retailers Claiming Lost Sales Due to Smuggling — Decision Not to Buy ≠ Predicate Act — Intention, Foreseeability Irrelevant (Good Quotes) — Wire Fraud: 3 Factors

Empire Merchs., LLC v. Reliable Churchill LLLP, 902 F.3d 132 (2d Cir. 2018); This is a case about proximate cause under the
Empire Merchs., LLC v. Reliable Churchill LLLP, 902 F.3d 132 (2d Cir. 2018); This is a case about proximate cause under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act ("RICO"), 18 U.S.C. § 1961 et seq. Plaintiff-Appellant Empire …
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Arbitration: Court Uses Look-Through (Not Well-Pleaded Complaint) Approach to Decide Federal Question Jurisdiction over Motion to Compel — Circuit Split as to Whether That Approach Applies to Petition to Confirm, Vacate or Modify

HealthSpring Life & Health Ins. Co. v. Tex. Health Mgmt. LLC,  , ,8 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 105467, 2018 WL 3105655 (E.D. Tex. June 25, 2018): Pending before the Court is Plaintiff HealthSpring Life ...
HealthSpring Life & Health Ins. Co. v. Tex. Health Mgmt. LLC,  , ,8 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 105467, 2018 WL 3105655 (E.D. Tex. June 25, 2018): Pending before the Court is Plaintiff HealthSpring Life & Health Insurance Company, Inc.'s ("HealthSpring")…
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Recent Posts

Rule 37 Default Judgment Sanction: (1) Abuse of Discretion Review = Legal Conclusions De Novo. Factual Findings for Clear Error — (2) Client May Be Sanctioned for Misconduct of Its Counsel, Though Here Client Was Directly Involved in Bad Faith Misbehavior — (3) Is There A Difference, Under Rule 11 As Opposed to Rule 37, Concerning Whether A Client Can Be Sanctioned for Its Counsel’s Misconduct? — (4) While Sanctions of Last Resort (Dismissal/Default) Are Apt Only If Lesser Sanctions Wouldn’t Ensure Compliance, Rule 37 Doesn’t Require the Vain Gesture of First Imposing Lessert Sanctions When It Is Clear They Would be Ineffective — (5) Court’s Reconsideration of Non-Final Orders Is Governed by Rule 54(b), And Court’s Discretion under That Rule Is Governed by the Law-of-the-Case-Doctrine

RICO: (1) Special Pleading Requirements? — (2) Although Enterprise Must Be More Than a Summation of the Predicate Acts, The Predicate Acts Can Demonstrate the Existence of the Enterprise — (3) Requirement That Association-in-Fact Exist For Purposes Other Than Just to Commit Predicate Acts Merely Requires Continuity — (4) To State an Association-in-Fact Enterprise Consisting of One Natural Person and Collection of Legal Fictions Requires Factual Detail As to How They Acted Together — (5) “A § 1962(c) Enterprise Must Be More Than An Association of Individuals Or Entities Conducting the Normal Affairs of a Defendant Corporation” (Good Quote)

RICO: (1) Fee Award May Exceed Amount Recovered — Strict Proportionality Not Required — (2) Nonmonetary Benefits and Injunctive Relief Recovered Also Relevant Factors — (3) Loss on Some Claims Need Not Result in Lowered Fees, Especially When Both Arise Out of The Same Nucleus of Operative Facts

RICO: Indirect Purchasers (Car Buyers/Renters) Lack Standing to Sue Manufacturers for RICO Violations Even Though Intermediaries (Auto Dealer Direct Purchasers) Lack Any Damages

RICO: Statutory Requirement that RICO Be Liberally Construed Does Not Establish a More Liberal Pleading Standard for RICO Claims — “To Be Sure, Adequately Pleading a RICO Claim Can Be Challenging” (Good Quote) — Court May Dismiss Action Pursuant to Rule 41(b) Absent A Motion

Electronic Spoliation/Rule 37(e): (1) Finding of Recklessness But Neither Gross Negligence Nor Willfulness in Loss of Video Evidence Precludes Rule 37(e)(2)’s Severest Sanctions Because (i) No Intent to Deprive and (ii) Rule 37(e)(2) Displaces District Court’s Power to Invoke Inherent Power to Impose Those Sanctions — (2) Appellate Review = Abuse of Discretion, With The Caveat That Whether The District Court Applied The Correct Legal Standards Is Reviewed De Novo — (3) Inherent Power Is Often Available As An Alternate Source of Sanctioning Power But Can Be Limited by Rule or Statute, Something Which Courts Do Not Lightly Presume — (4) The Text of Rule 37(e)(2), As Confirmed by the Advisory Committee Note, Displaces Inherent Power to Impose the Sanctions Specified in the Rule or Any More Severe Sanctions — (5) “Intent to Deprive” in Rule 37(e)(2) = “The Willful Destruction Of Evidence With The Purpose Of Avoiding Its Discovery By An Adverse Party” — (6) Appellate Standing Conferred by Virtue of Issuance of Sanctions Regardless of Merits Outcome — (7) Value of Advisory Committee Notes in Interpreting Rules Enacted without Change Despite General Reticence to Rely on Legislative History

RICO: (1) Plaintiff Need Not Suffer Injury from Each Predicate Act to Establish Standing, And The Pattern May Include Predicates As to Which No Plaintiff Has Standing — (2) 7 Elements of a Civil RICO Claim (2d Circuit Articulation) Which Must Be Established As to Each Defendant — (3) Requirements of an Association-in-Fact Enterprise — (4) Each Defendant Must Personally Commit 2 or More Predicate Acts — (5) Pattern of Racketeering Activity: Horizontal and Vertical Elements — (6) No Requirement That All Members of a RICO Enterprise Joined at Inception — Can Join Over Time/Others Can Quit — (7) Cannot Charge 2 Predicate Acts Where One Action Violates Two Statutes — (8) A Footnote to Consider for Briefs: “Unless Otherwise Noted, When Quoting Judicial Decisions This Order Accepts All Alterations And Omits All Citations, Footnotes, And Internal Quotation Marks.”

For An Appeal to Be Timely, A Motion for Reconsideration in The District Court (A Rule 59(e) Motion) Must Be Filed, And Not Just Served within 30 Days of The Decision, to Toll The 30-Day Period for Filing An Appeal

There Is No Good-Faith Defense For Issuing An Overly Burdensome Subpoena

Purposes of Rule 37 and Section 1927 Sanctions

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New York Attorneys JHA handles range the gamut of complex financial and commercial litigation and arbitration, including securities, RICO, corporate and contract disputes, credit default swaps, derivatives, and class, mass, and derivative actions. The firm also represents law firms in major disputes.
New York Attorneys JHA handles range the gamut of complex financial and commercial litigation and arbitration, including securities, RICO, corporate and contract disputes, credit default swaps, derivatives, and class, mass, and derivative actions. The firm also represents law firms in major disputes.

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