Summary
dismissing interpleader action brought by insurer against competing beneficiaries to retirement account because insurer did not deposit funds with court, having disbursed them to a claimant before filing suit
Summary of this case from Sun Life Assurance Co. of Can. v. JacksonOpinion
1:13-cv-911 (GLS/RFT)
05-22-2014
USAA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY, Plaintiff/Third-Party Defendant, v. JOHN CONNELL, Defendant/Third-Party Defendant, v. JANICE CONNELL, Defendant/Cross/Counter Claimant.
FOR THE PLAINTIFF: The Law Office of Steven D. Greenblatt FOR THE DEFENDANTS: John Connell Hiscock, Barclay Law Firm OF COUNSEL: STEVEN D. GREENBLATT, ESQ. JOHN M. NICHOLS, ESQ. Janice Connell Ganz, Wolkenbreit Law Firm ROBERT E. GANZ, ESQ.
APPEARANCES:
FOR THE PLAINTIFF:
The Law Office of Steven D. Greenblatt
FOR THE DEFENDANTS:
John Connell
Hiscock, Barclay Law Firm
OF COUNSEL:
STEVEN D. GREENBLATT,
ESQ.
JOHN M. NICHOLS, ESQ. Janice Connell
Ganz, Wolkenbreit Law Firm
ROBERT E. GANZ, ESQ. Gary L. Sharpe
Chief Judge
MEMORANDUM-DECISION AND ORDER
I. Introduction
Plaintiff USAA Investment Management Company (USAA) commenced this statutory interpleader action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1335 and 2361, naming defendant John Connell and defendant and cross/counter claimant Janice Connell as adverse claimants. (Compl., Dkt. No. 1.) Pending are USAA and John's motions to dismiss the complaint, amended counterclaim, and crossclaim pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(1), (6) and 12(c). (Dkt. Nos. 22, 23.) For the reasons that follow, the motions are granted.
II. Background
Because these motions are, in part, made pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1), the court will refer to and consider "evidence outside the pleadings." Makarova v. United States, 201 F.3d 110, 113 (2d Cir. 2000). "[W]hen the question to be considered is one involving the jurisdiction of a federal court, jurisdiction must be shown affirmatively, and that showing is not made by drawing from the pleadings inferences favorable to the party asserting it." Shipping Fin. Servs. Corp. v. Drakos, 140 F.3d 129, 131 (2d Cir. 1998).
USAA, a Texas financial services company, and the purported stakeholder here, held assets from an Individualized Retirement Account (IRA), which was previously owned by decedent Owen Connell—John's father and Janice's ex-husband. (Compl. ¶¶ 1, 2, 6, 7, 8.) While the primary beneficiary designated on the IRA is Janice, by letter dated May 5, 2013, John instructed USAA not to transfer the funds to Janice, because, according to John, Janice's rights to the IRA were revoked when Owen and Janice's divorce was finalized in 2002. (Id. ¶¶ 8, 10.) On May 17, 2013, USAA received a letter from Janice's attorney, asserting that Janice was entitled to the funds. (Id. ¶ 11; Dkt. No. 24, Attach. 1 at 16.) As a result, USAA believed that it may be subject to adverse claims for the same IRA from both John and Janice. (Compl. ¶ 12.)
Although the parties have not filed documentary evidence, the parties do not appear to dispute that the value of the IRA was not more than $58,000. (Dkt. No. 22, Attach. 1 at 4; Dkt. No. 24 ¶¶ 12, 25, 26; Dkt. No. 26 at 4.)
On August 2, 2013, under the belief that it had not yet disbursed the funds, USAA filed its complaint in interpleader, seeking to deposit the disputed funds with the face value of the IRA into the court's registry, or to provide a bond made payable to the Clerk of the Court, and, in turn, be granted an order restraining defendants from instituting further proceedings against USAA. (Id. at 4.) In the alternative, USAA sought a declaration as to which defendant is entitled to the funds, or a declaration that neither defendant is entitled to the funds. (Id.) John filed an answer, (Dkt. No. 9), and Janice filed an answer, (Dkt. No. 11), a crossclaim, and an amended counterclaim, (Dkt. No. 16), seeking a judgment declaring her to be the proper beneficiary and ordering USAA to pay her the disputed funds, (id.).
After initiating this action, USAA discovered that, prior to filing its complaint in interpleader, it paid the disputed funds to Jeremy Connell, another child of Owen Connell. (Id. ¶¶ 16-19; Dkt. No. 22, Attach. 1 at 2; Dkt. No. 25 at 3 n.2.) USAA and John then filed motions to dismiss, primarily arguing that the court lacks subject matter jurisdiction. (Dkt. Nos. 22, 23.) Janice opposes both motions. (Dkt. No. 24.)
III. Standard of Review
The standards of review under Rules 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6), which are "substantively identical," Lerner v. Fleet Bank, N.A., 318 F.3d 113, 128 (2d Cir. 2003), are well settled and will not be repeated. For a full discussion of those standards, the parties are referred to the court's decisions in Unangst v. Evans Law Associates, P.C., 798 F. Supp. 2d 409, 410 (N.D.N.Y. 2011), and Ellis v. Cohen & Slamowitz, LLP, 701 F. Supp. 2d 215, 218 (N.D.N.Y. 2010), respectively.
IV. Discussion
Despite the peculiar procedural posture of this case—plaintiff and one defendant seeking dismissal, while another defendant fights to remain in federal court—the question presented is relatively simple: whether there is any basis for subject matter jurisdiction, be it statutory interpelader, diversity, or federal question.
USAA and John argue that, because USAA never had possession of the disputed funds, the court never had—and still lacks—interpleader jurisdiction; they also argue that there is no alternative basis providing subject matter jurisdiction. (Dkt. No. 22, Attach. 1 at 3-4; Dkt. No. 23, Attach. 2 at 4-6; Dkt. No. 26 at 1-6.) Janice contends that, even without possession of the funds, the court has interpleader jurisdiction, or, in the alternative, the court has either diversity or federal question jurisdiction. (Dkt. No. 24, Attach. 2 at 5-10.) The court agrees with USAA and John that subject matter jurisdiction is lacking. A. Interpleader Jurisdiction
"To obtain jurisdiction under the interpleader statute, two of the interpleader defendants must be of different citizenship and the stake at issue must be worth at least $500." Correspondent Servs. Corp. v. First Equities Corp. of Fla., 338 F.3d 119, 124 (2d Cir. 2003) (citing 28 U.S.C. § 1335(a)). Moreover, "courts in the Second Circuit have consistently followed the rule that a deposit or a bond is a jurisdictional prerequisite for statutory interpleader relief." Fed. Ins. Co. v. Tyco Int'l Ltd., 422 F. Supp. 2d 357, 396 (S.D.N.Y. 2006); see Metal Transp. Corp. v. Pac. Venture S.S. Corp., 288 F.2d 363, 365 (2d Cir. 1961) ("[T]he court will not have jurisdiction in an action of interpleader unless the stakeholder has deposited the entire sum in its possession which the claimants claim." (emphasis added)).
Here, it is undisputed that USAA did not possess the funds at issue at the time that it commenced the action, and has neither made a deposit nor issued a bond in the full amount of the sum in dispute with the court. (Dkt. No. 16 ¶¶ 16-19; Dkt. No. 22, Attach. 1 at 2.) USAA, therefore, has not satisfied the jurisdictional prerequisites for interpleader jurisdiction. See Correspondent Servs., 338 F.3d at 124 ("As it is undisputed that CSC possessed only the physical CD, which had no value when CSC brought suit, statutory interpleader did not provide a basis for jurisdiction over this action."); Lincoln Nat'l Life Ins. Co. v. Barton, 250 F.R.D. 388, 389-90 (S.D. Ill. 2008) (holding that the court did not have jurisdiction over insurance company's interpleader action where insurance company paid out the disputed proceeds before commencing the action). Accordingly, statutory interpleader does not provide a basis for subject matter jurisdiction. B. Diversity Jurisdiction
Janice cites Lee v. West Coast Life Insurance Co., 688 F.3d 1004, 1009 (9th Cir. 2012) as her only support for the proposition that the court has interpleader jurisdiction, despite the fact that USAA neither retains possession of the funds at issue nor deposited the funds or a bond with the court. (Dkt. No. 24, Attach. 2 at 5.) The nonbinding dicta on which Janice relies, however, is wholly inapplicable here. Indeed, in Lee, the stakeholder did deposit the funds at issue with the court, thus satisfying the jurisdictional prerequisite, and there was no discussion of whether the court had subject matter jurisdiction. See Lee, 688 F.3d at 1007-08. Thus, her argument is unavailing.
As relevant to the current motions, diversity jurisdiction exists "where the matter in controversy exceeds the sum or value of $75,000, exclusive of interest and costs, and is between . . . citizens of different States." 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a)(1). Furthermore, it is well established that the party seeking to invoke diversity jurisdiction bears the burden of demonstrating that the grounds for diversity exist, that diversity is complete, and that the jurisdictional amount in controversy is met. See Mavrommatis v. Carey Limousine Westchester, Inc., 476 F. App'x 462, 467 (2d Cir. 2011); Herrick Co., Inc. v. SCS Commc'ns, Inc., 251 F.3d 315, 322-32 (2d Cir. 2001). Moreover, where, as here, "no amount [in controversy] is alleged in the complaint, . . . it is the burden of the party seeking the court's jurisdiction to establish by a reasonable probability that the amount is over the threshold." Pollock v. Trustmark Ins. Co., 367 F. Supp. 2d 293, 296 (E.D.N.Y. 2005) (citing United Food & Commercial Workers Union, Local 919, AFL-CIO v. CenterMark Props. Meriden Square, Inc., 30 F.3d 298, 301 (2d Cir. 1994)).
In its interpleader complaint, USAA simply stated that the "[t]he interpled funds are in excess of $500." (Compl. ¶ 4.)
Here, the burden of establishing the grounds for diversity jurisdiction rests with Janice, the party invoking diversity jurisdiction. While the diversity of the parties is not at issue, whether the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000 is disputed. Nowhere in Janice's amended counterclaim, however, does she quantify the amount in controversy. (Dkt. No. 16.) Further, although there are no documents in the record, or allegations in the complaint or other pleading, stating the precise amount of funds in the IRA, the parties seemingly agree that the value of the IRA was not more than $58,000, well below the $75,000 threshold. (Dkt. No. 22, Attach. 1 at 4; Dkt. No. 24 ¶¶ 12, 25, 26; Dkt. No. 26 at 4.)
It is undisputed that: (1) USAA is a Texas corporation with its principal place of business in Texas; (2) John is a resident of South Carolina; and (3) Janice is a resident of New York. (Compl. ¶¶ 1, 2, 3.)
Nevertheless, Janice contends that, "assuming that the [IRA] fund is only $58,000," the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000 because: (1) her attorneys' fees will be at least $30,000; and (2) USAA may face "double exposure." (Dkt. No. 24 ¶ 26; Dkt. No. 24, Attach. 2 at 6-7.) These arguments, however, are meritless. First, "[a]ttorneys' fees are generally excluded from the calculation of the amount in controversy for diversity jurisdiction, unless they are recoverable as a matter of right pursuant to a contract or a statute." Adam Developers Enters., Inc. v. Arizon Structures Worldwide, Inc., No. 13-CV-261, 2013 WL 5532752, at *2 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 30, 2013) (citing Givens v. W.T. Grant Co., 457 F.2d 612, 614 (2d Cir. 1972), vacated on other grounds, 409 U.S. 56 (1972)). Aside from her own speculation, Janice has not cited, and the court has not found, a statute or contract rendering attorneys' fees recoverable as a matter of right here. Thus, the court will not consider attorneys' fees in determining whether the amount in controversy is over $75,000.
Second, Janice's further speculation that USAA will be subject to double exposure is equally unavailing. Even if John was claiming entitlement to the IRA funds, which he maintains he is not, (Dkt. No. 23, Attach. 2 at 5-6), the separate and distinct claims of individual claimants cannot be aggregated to satisfy the jurisdictional amount requirement of diversity jurisdiction. See Gilman v. BHC Sec., Inc., 104 F.3d 1418, 1422-23 (2d Cir. 1997). Accordingly, Janice has failed to establish by a reasonable probability that the amount in controversy is over the threshold requirement of $75,000. Thus, the court is not satisfied that diversity jurisdiction exists. C. Federal Question Jurisdiction
Finally, a court may have federal question jurisdiction "where the action 'aris[es] under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States.'" Ulloa v. Mid Hudson Valley Fed. Credit Union, Nos. 1:10-cv-132, 1:10-cv-356, 1:10-cv-345, 2011 WL 66050, at *2 (N.D.N.Y. Jan. 10, 2011) (quoting 28 U.S.C. § 1331).
Here, Janice contends that, if the court were to determine that the IRA is considered a "pension and retirement benefits plan" under N.Y. E.P.T.L. § 5-1.4, then the court has jurisdiction under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) over her counterclaim that USAA breached its fiduciary duty to her. (Dkt. No. 24, Attach. 2 at 10.) This meritless argument, however, warrants little discussion; "[c]ourts have repeatedly held that ERISA does not apply to IRAs." Williams v. U.S. Dep't of Treasury I.R.S., No. 07-CV-212C, 2013 WL 7121192, at *9 (W.D.N.Y. Jan. 29, 2013) (citing Rose v. Long Island R.R. Pension Plan, 828 F.2d 910, 913 (2d Cir. 1987); Grund v. Del. Charter Guar. & Trust Co., 788 F. Supp. 2d 226, 236 (S.D.N.Y. 2011)).
See 29 U.S.C. §§ 1001-1461.
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Accordingly, this is not the circumstance in which, despite dismissal of the central claim, the counterclaim alleges facts that would permit a judgment for the counterclaimant, see Lincoln, 250 F.R.D. at 390, and Janice has failed to establish federal question jurisdiction.
V. Conclusion
WHEREFORE, for the foregoing reasons, it is hereby
ORDERED that USAA's motion to dismiss (Dkt. No. 22) is GRANTED; and it is further
ORDERED that John Connell's motion to dismiss (Dkt. No. 23) is GRANTED; and it is further
ORDERED that Janice Connell's crossclaim (Dkt. No. 11) and amended counterclaim (Dkt. No. 16) are DISMISSED; and it is further
ORDERED that USAA's complaint (Dkt. No. 1) is DISMISSED; and it is further
ORDERED that the Clerk close this case; and it is further
ORDERED that the Clerk provide a copy of this Memorandum-Decision and Order to the parties.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
May 22, 2014
Albany, New York
__________
Gary L. Sharpe
Chief Judge
U.S. District Judge