| UBS Sec. LLC v Highland Capital Mgt., L.P. |
| 2012 NY Slip Op 01777 [93 AD3d 489] |
| March 13, 2012 |
| Appellate Division, First Department |
| UBS Securities LLC et al., Respondents, v HighlandCapital Management, L.P., et al., Defendants, and Highland Financial Partners, L.P., et al.,Appellants. |
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Kirkland & Ellis, LLP, New York (Andrew B. Clubok of counsel), for respondents.
Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Bernard J. Fried, J.), entered March 3, 2011,which denied the motion of defendants Highland Financial Partners, L.P., Highland CreditOpportunities CDO, L.P., and Strand Advisors, Inc. to dismiss the amended complaint's causesof action for declaratory judgment and fraudulent conveyance, unanimously modified, on thelaw, to the extent of granting the motion with respect to claims arising before February 2009, andotherwise affirmed, without costs.
This Court's reversal of an order denying dismissal of the complaint in a related action (UBS Sec. LLC v Highland Capital Mgt.,L.P., 86 AD3d 469 [2011]), warrants dismissal of a portion of plaintiff's claims in thisaction due to res judicata since defendants are in privity with the defendant in the other action (see Simmons v New York City Health &Hosps. Corp., 71 AD3d 410, 411 [2010], lv denied 16 NY3d 709 [2011]).
Contrary to plaintiff's contention, there is no need to remand the matter for a determinationregarding whether defendants are in privity with defendant Highland Capital Management, L.P.The complaint seeks to hold Highland Financial liable as the alter ego of defendant HighlandSpecial Opportunities Holding Company (SOHC). The motion court correctly ruled that NewYork law governs plaintiff's veil-piercing claim (see Serio v Ardra Ins. Co., 304 AD2d362 [2003], lv denied 100 NY2d 516 [2003]), and that such claim was sufficiently statedbased on the alter ego allegations which allege, inter alia, that SOHC's sole board member is onHighland Financial's board, Highland Financial did not distinguish between its debts andobligations and those of SOHC, and that it operated SOHC and Highland Financial as a singleeconomic entity. The fraudulent conveyance claim is also sufficiently stated with particularizeddetail (see CPLR 3016 [b];Holme v Global Mins. & Metals Corp., 63 AD3d 417, 418 [2009]), insofar [*2]as the complaint specifically alleges certain fraudulent conveyancesand transfers.
We have considered defendant's remaining contentions and find them unavailing.Concur—Tom, J.P., Saxe, Acosta, DeGrasse and Román, JJ. [Prior CaseHistory: 30 Misc 3d 1230.]