Attorneys representing Executive Life of New York (ELNY) structured settlement shortfall payees (Objectors) have filed a Motion for Leave to Appeal dated March 8, 2013 and a supporting Memorandum of Law with the New York State Court of Appeals (Court of Appeals).
This Motion, requesting review by New York's highest judicial authority, seeks to reverse a February 6, 2013 decision by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Second Department (Second Department) which rejected an earlier legal challenge to the ELNY Order of Liquidation and Approval of the ELNY Restructuring Agreement signed by New York State Supreme Court Judge John M. Galasso on April 16, 2012.
In addition to attorney Edward Stone and the Christensen & Jensen law firm, the ELNY shortfall payees' appellate legal team now includes Michael J. Hutter, Jr., a law professor at the Albany Law School of Union University. Professor Hutter's online biography states he "has argued over 275 appeals in all of New York's appellate courts and many of the cases in which he represented the prevailing party are considered to be landmark decisions."
The ELNY shortfall payees consist of approximately 1456 structured settlement payees whose benefits under the ELNY Restructuring Agreement will be reduced up to 66 percent with an average per payee present value reduction of approximately $632,310 and a total present value reduction of approximately $920,642,947.
The issues being presented to the Court of Appeals requesting their review are the same issues the Second Department rejected:
- Due Process - "Did inadequate notice and the denial of information to Objectors, along with the selective application of the Civil Practice Law and Rules, deny Objectors a fair hearing as required by principles of due process?"
- Immunity - "Did the Supreme Court exceed its subject matter jurisdiction or otherwise err in granting immunity to the Receiver and others in their personal capacities, where such immunity is not provided for by statute, is inconsistent with the common law, and is unsupported by evidence?"
- Injunction - "Did the Supreme Court exceed its jurisdiction or otherwise err in permanently enjoining claims against the Receiver and others in their personal capacities, where such injunction is not provided for by statute or the common law, and no evidence was adduced at the hearing?"
Why should the Court of Appeals grant the ELNY shortfall payees' Motion seeking leave to appeal? Their attorneys argue the distribution and protection of Article 74 assets is a matter of public importance and the Second Department decision warrants leave to appeal for the following reasons:
- The Second Department's decision to authorize immunity and enjoin suits against the Receiver in his personal capacity "undermines the public's interest in protecting policyholders and receivership assets."
- The Second Department's decision is inconsistent with the Court of Appeals' previous ruling in Dinallo v. DiNapoli, "which implicitly recognized that an Article 74 Receiver is no different than any other court appointed private Receiver."
- The immunity and injunction provisions included in the ELNY Liquidation Order "exceed the subject matter jurisdiction conferred upon the Supreme Court and is inconsistent with the provisions of Article 74."
In addition, the ELNY shortfall payees' attorneys argue the Court of Appeals should grant leave to appeal "to determine whether the limited notice and the denial of information to Objectors, along with the selective application of the Civil Practice Law and Rules, provided Objectors a fair hearing as required by the principles of due process" for two reasons:
- First, under New York law, "leave to appeal is not required to appeal constitutional issues."
- Second, even absent this express right, "the issue of whether an Article 74 proceeding, or any court proceeding, is conducted in accordance with principles of due process is a matter of public importance and concern."
For S2KM's complete reporting about the ELNY liquidation and an Executive Life timeline, see the structured settlement wiki.
For S2KM's summary of arguments presented earlier to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Second Department by attorneys representing Benjamin M. Lawsky, Superintendent of the New York State Department of Financial Services, and the ELNY shortfall payees, see:
Comments