AMICUS AI
Citation Codes
Equivalent Citations
citation codes
Are you a practicing lawyer?
Enhance your digital presence and reach by creating a Casemine profile.
Upload pleading to use the new AI search
Cites
Cited by
Citation Codes
Equivalent Citations
citation codes

PINNACLE CONSULTANTS, LTD., Appellant-Respondent, v. LEUCADIA NATIONAL CORPORATION et al., Respondents-Appellants.

In this shareholder derivative action, plaintiff is estopped from maintaining suit since it acquiesced in the challenged transactions ( Diamond v. Diamond, 307 N.Y. 263, 266; Winter v. Bernstein, 149 Misc.2d 1017, 1020, affd in relevant part 177 A.D.2d 452). The record reveals that a proxy statement discussed in detail the relevant facts regarding the merger and informed shareholders that a failure to respond would be counted as a vote in favor of the transaction. Plaintiff failed to prove that it voted in opposition to the merger and merely contends that estoppel is inapplicable where there is no allegation that it voted in favor of the transaction. However, by its silence, plaintiff has conceded that it did not vote against the merger, and accordingly, it has no standing to maintain the within action.

Plaintiff also contends that a merger of defendant corporation into another corporation controlled by the defendant corporation was in violation of Business Corporation Law § 612 Bus. Corp. (b) because a partnership controlled by defendant was permitted to vote on the merger. This contention was properly rejected by the IAS Court since Business Corporation Law § 612 Bus. Corp. is inapplicable to partnerships. Plaintiff has failed to state a claim for fraud since all the relevant facts regarding the merger were disclosed in the proxy statement sent to shareholders. Further, since plaintiff has conceded on appeal that stock warrants issued to defendants Cumming and Steinberg were lawful and in accordance with Business Corporation Law § 505 Bus. Corp., plaintiff's claims, based on the stock transactions, for conversion and waste of corporate assets must fail.

Concur — Ellerin, P. J., Sullivan, Wallach, Lerner and Buckley, JJ.

Use AI to get other relevant cases.

Comments

PINNACLE CONS., LTD. v. LEUCADIA NATL. CORP
(May 11, 1999)