Shisgal v. Brown, 21 A.D.3d 845 (N.Y. App. Div. 2005). · Go Syfert
Shisgal v. Brown, 21 A.D.3d 845 (N.Y. App. Div. 2005). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
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55 citation events (55 in the last 25 years) across 4 distinct courts.
Treatment trajectory · 2006 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
2006 2016 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 35 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Metropolitan Partners Group Admin., LLC v. Nerney (2×)
N.Y. App. Div. · 2026 · confidence medium
These allegations may be sufficient for a finding of jurisdiction over the RSG defendants under a veil piercing theory (<i>see</i> <i>Shisgal v Brown</i>, 21 AD3d 845, 848 [1st Dept 2005]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Yang v. Knights Genesis Group (2×)
N.Y. App. Div. · 2025 · confidence medium
Further, defendants used the corporate forms in a scheme to defraud intervenors-plaintiffs ( see Shisgal v Brown , 21 AD3d 845, 847-848 [1st Dept 2005]; Soroof Trading Dev.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) DirecTV, LLC v. Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2024 · confidence medium
Under most circumstances, the intent to defraud or deceive "is ordinarily a question of fact which cannot be resolved on a motion for summary judgment" ( Shisgal v Brown , 21 AD3d 845, 847 [1st Dept 2005] [internal quotation marks omitted]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) GNHC 1703-518, LLC v. Venari Partners, LLC
N.Y. Sup. Ct., New York Cty. · 2024 · confidence medium
NO. 167 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 07/11/2024 "lndicia of a situation warranting veil-piercing include: (1) the absence of the formalities and paraphernalia that are part and parcel of the corporate existence, i.e., issuance of stock, election of directors, keeping of corporate records and the like, (2) inadequate capitalization, (3) whether funds are put in and taken out of the corporation for personal rather than corporate purposes, (4) overlap in ownership, officers, directors, and personnel, (5) common office space, address and telephone numbers of corporate entities, (6) the amount of business disc…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Chen v. Romona Keveza Collection LLC
N.Y. App. Div. · 2022 · confidence medium
However, to the extent that Kozlovska relies on a veil-piercing theory to pierce RKC's corporate veil (as opposed to FIFA's definition of "hiring party"), the complaint failed to allege the necessary elements ( see Shisgal v Brown, 21 AD3d 845, 848 [1st Dept 2005]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Flowers v. 73rd Townhouse, LLC
N.Y. App. Div. · 2022 · confidence medium
Plaintiff established prima facie his case for piercing the corporate veil by submitting evidence that the LLCs and family partnership in question were shells, i.e., pass-through entities, that lacked the corporate formalities and were dominated by the individual defendants for purposes of insulating themselves from plaintiff's claim ( see Shisgal v Brown , 21 AD3d 845, 848 [1st Dept 2005]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Flowers v. 73rd Townhouse, LLC
N.Y. App. Div. · 2022 · confidence medium
Plaintiff established prima facie his case for piercing the corporate veil by submitting evidence that the LLCs and family partnership in question were shells, i.e., pass-through entities, that lacked the corporate formalities and were dominated by the individual defendants for purposes of insulating themselves from plaintiff's claim ( see Shisgal v Brown , 21 AD3d 845, 848 [1st Dept 2005]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) ED&F Man Sugar Inc. v. ZZY Distribs., Inc.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2020 · confidence medium
The trial evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates that Yoseph operated ZZY without any regard to corporate formalities, commingled and made personal use of ZZY's funds by shuttling them between ZZY and third parties, including other closely held corporations owned by him, and that these acts resulted in ZZY's undercapitalization, which rendered ZZY unable to pay its outstanding debt to plaintiff ( see Baby Phat Holdings Co., LLC v Kellwood Co. , 123 AD3d 405, 407-408 [1st Dept 2014]; Shisgal v Brown , 21 AD3d 845, 849 [1st Dept 2005]; Austin Powder Co. v McCullough , 216 AD2d 825, 827 [3d Dept 19…
cited Cited as authority (rule) Freeman Lewis LLP v. Financiera De Desarrollo Indus. y Commercial S.A.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2019 · confidence medium
The IAS court also should not have found that plaintiff was likely to prevail on its veil piercing theory ( see Shisgal v Brown , 21 AD3d 845, 848 [1st Dept 2005]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Kuliarchar Sea Foods (Cox's Bazar) Ltd. v. Soleil Chartered Bank
N.Y. App. Div. · 2019 · confidence medium
Supreme Court properly held that, at this stage of the litigation, plaintiff's complaint sufficiently alleges facts which state a claim against Soleil Capitale and Srivastava so as to pierce defendant Soleil Chartered Bank (SCB)'s corporate veil and hold Soleil Capitale and Srivastava liable as alter egos of SCB, and that defendants' documentary evidence fails to conclusively refute these allegations ( see Matter of Morris v New York State Dept. of Taxation & Fin. , 82 NY2d 135, 141-142 [1993]; Shisgal v Brown , 21 AD3d 845, 848 [1st Dept 2005]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Matter of 91st St. Crane Collapse Litig.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2017 · confidence medium
The evidence supported the jury's conclusion that the multiple Lomma corporations conducted business as a single entity ( Shisgal v Brown , 21 AD3d 845, 848-849 [1st Dept 2005]; see also Matter of Morris v New York State Dept. of Taxation & Fin. , 82 NY2d 135, 140-141 [1993]; Tap Holdings, LLC v Orix Fin.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Leo v. Lomma
N.Y. App. Div. · 2017 · confidence medium
The evidence supported the jury’s conclusion that the multiple Lomma corporations conducted business as a single entity (Shisgal v Brown, 21 AD3d 845, 848-849 [1st Dept 2005]; see also Matter of Morris v New York State Dept. of Taxation & Fin., 82 NY2d 135, 140-141 [1993]; Tap Holdings, LLC v Orix Fin.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Leo v. Lomma
N.Y. App. Div. · 2017 · confidence medium
The evidence supported the jury’s conclusion that the multiple Lomma corporations conducted business as a single entity (Shisgal v Brown, 21 AD3d 845, 848-849 [1st Dept 2005]; see also Matter of Morris v New York State Dept. of Taxation & Fin., 82 NY2d 135, 140-141 [1993]; Tap Holdings, LLC v Orix Fin.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Matter of 91st St. Crane Collapse Litig.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2017 · confidence medium
The evidence supported the jury's conclusion that the multiple Lomma corporations conducted business as a single entity ( Shisgal v Brown , 21 AD3d 845, 848-849 [1st Dept 2005]; see also Matter of Morris v New York State Dept. of Taxation & Fin. , 82 NY2d 135, 140-141 [1993]; Tap Holdings, LLC v Orix Fin.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Leo v. Lomma
N.Y. App. Div. · 2017 · confidence medium
The evidence supported the jury’s conclusion that the multiple Lomma corporations conducted business as a single entity (Shisgal v Brown, 21 AD3d 845, 848-849 [1st Dept 2005]; see also Matter of Morris v New York State Dept. of Taxation & Fin., 82 NY2d 135, 140-141 [1993]; Tap Holdings, LLC v Orix Fin.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Flowers v. 73rd Townhouse LLC
N.Y. App. Div. · 2017 · confidence medium
LLC v Alianza LLC, 136 AD3d 512 [1st Dept 2016]; Shisgal v Brown, 21 AD3d 845, 848-849 [1st Dept 2005]; Chase Manhattan Bank [N.A.] v 264 Water St.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Pensmore Investments, LLC v. Gruppo, Levey & Co.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2016 · confidence medium
Plaintiff established a likelihood of success on its veil piercing claim by showing that defendants used a variety of corporate entities and accounts to collect and disburse money to themselves and the various corporate entities without consideration or corporate formalities, and that they used this web of payments to keep the judgment debtor corporation in business but grossly undercapitalized by paying its debts without putting any funds into it (see Shisgal v Brown, 21 AD3d 845, 848 [1st Dept 2005]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) 172 Van Duzer Realty Corp. v. 878 Education, LLC
N.Y. App. Div. · 2016 · confidence medium
In support of the veil-piercing claim against Oliner and ISO LLC, the complaint alleges conclusory that Oliner used 878 *819 LLC and defendant ISO LLC “interchangeably and without regard to due corporate formalities.” It fails to allege facts sufficient to show that Oliner exercised complete domination of 878 LLC “in respect to the transaction attacked,” i.e., the allegedly fraudulent conveyance, and that that domination was used to commit a fraud or wrong that caused plaintiffs injury (Shisgal v Brown, 21 AD3d 845, 848 [1st Dept 2005] [internal quotation marks omitted]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Eastern Concrete Materials, Inc./ NYC Concrete Materials v. DeRosa Tennis Contrs., Inc.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2016 · confidence medium
Insofar as plaintiff’s claim against DeRosa Tennis and DeRosa Sports is based on Debtor and Creditor Law § 276 (“Every conveyance made . . . with actual intent... to hinder, delay, or defraud ... is fraudulent”), an issue of fact exists as to whether there was actual intent to defraud (see Shisgal v Brown, 21 AD3d 845, 847 [1st Dept 2005]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) ACA Financial Guaranty Corp. v. Goldman, Sachs & Co.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2015 · confidence medium
Ordinarily, intent to commit fraud is a question of fact which cannot be resolved on a motion to dismiss (Shisgal v Brown, 21 AD3d 845, 847 [1st Dept 2005]), and proof of intent is to be *429 determined from surrounding circumstances (see Eurycleia Partners, LP v Seward & Kissel, LLP, 12 NY3d 553 [2009]; Oster v Kirschner, 77 AD3d 51, 56 [1st Dept 2010]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) MPEG LA, LLC v. GXI International, LLC
N.Y. App. Div. · 2015 · confidence medium
Plaintiffs factual allegations in support of piercing the corporate veil against defendants GXI Outdoor Power, LLC, GXI Parts & Service, LLC, Access HD, LLC, and Gordon Jackson to hold them liable for outstanding royalties under plaintiffs licensing agreement with GXI International, LLC (GXI) are sufficient to survive the motion to dismiss (see Shisgal v Brown, 21 AD3d 845, 848 [1st Dept 2005]; see also CPLR 3013).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) TIAA Global Investments, LLC v. One Astoria Square LLC
N.Y. App. Div. · 2015 · confidence medium
The corporate veil of a business entity may be pierced where a plaintiff sufficiently states “that: (1) the owners exercised complete domination of the corporation in respect to the transaction attacked; and (2) that such domination was used to commit a fraud or wrong against the plaintiff which resulted in plaintiffs injury” (Shis gal v Brown, 21 AD3d 845, 848 [1st Dept 2005] [internal quotation marks omitted]).
cited Cited as authority (rule) New York City Health & Hosps. Corp. v. Construction Force Servs., Inc.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2014 · confidence medium
Sufficient evidence also exists to hold the third-party defendants liable as a single entity (Shisgal v Brown, 21 AD3d 845, 847-848 [1st Dept 2005]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Aguirre v. Best Care Agency, Inc.
E.D.N.Y · 2013 · confidence medium
Intent to defraud “is ordinarily a question of fact which cannot be resolved on a motion for summary judgment.” UBS Real Estate Sec., Inc. v. Fairmont Funding Ltd., 19 Misc.3d 1123(A) , 862 N.Y.S.2d 818 (Sup.Ct.2008) (quoting Shisgal v. Brown, 21 A.D.3d 845 , 801 N.Y.S.2d 581, 583 (2005)); see also Century Pac., Inc. v. Hilton Hotels Corp., 528 F.Supp.2d 206, 219 (S.D.N.Y.2007) (“[S]ummary judgment should be considered skeptically in cases alleging fraudulent inducement, because the issues typically turn on the parties’ credibility as to their state of mind.”), affd, 354 Fed.Appx. 49…
cited Cited as authority (rule) Peery v. United Capital Corp.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2011 · confidence medium
Physicians, P.C., 62 AD3d at 146 , quoting Shisgal v Brown, 21 AD3d 845, 848-849 [2005]).
cited Cited as authority (rule) 277 Mott Street LLC v. Fountainhead Construction LLC
N.Y. App. Div. · 2011 · confidence medium
These allegations state a cause of action for fraud (see Shisgal v Brown, 21 AD3d 845, 846-847 [2005]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Gateway I Group, Inc. v. Park Avenue Physicians, P.C.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2009 · confidence medium
“Indicia of a situation warranting veil-piercing include: ‘(1) the absence of the formalities and paraphernalia that are part and parcel of the corporate existence, i.e., issuance of stock, election of directors, keeping of corporate records and the like, (2) inadequate capitalization, (3) whether funds are put in and taken out of the corporation for personal rather than corporate purposes, (4) overlap in ownership, officers, directors, and personnel, (5) common office space, address and telephone numbers of corporate entities, (6) the amount of business discretion displayed by the alleged…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) AHA Sales, Inc. v. Creative Bath Products, Inc.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2008 · confidence medium
Other relevant factors that must be included in the calculus are the use of “common office space, address and telephone numbers of corporate entities . . . [and] the amount of business discretion displayed by the allegedly dominated corporation” (Shisgal v Brown, 21 AD3d 845, 848 [2005]).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Bialobroda v. Buchwald
N.Y. App. Div. · 2008 · confidence medium
The fourteenth cause of action states a prima facie case for piercing the corporate veil (see Shisgal v Brown, 21 AD3d 845, 848-849 [2005]).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Emfore Corp. v. Blimpie Associates, Ltd.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2008 · confidence medium
Shisgal v Brown, 21 AD3d 845, 846 [2005]).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Emfore Corp. v. Blimpie Associates, Ltd.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2007 · confidence medium
Shisgal v Brown, 21 AD3d 845, 846 [2005]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Millennium Construction, LLC v. Loupolover
N.Y. App. Div. · 2007 · confidence medium
Factors to be considered by a court in determining whether to pierce the corporate veil include failure to adhere to corporate formalities, inadequate capitalization, commingling of assets, and use of corporate funds for personal use (see Shisgal v Brown, 21 AD3d 845, 848, 849 [2005]; Matter of Alpha Bytes Computer Corp. v Slaton, 307 AD2d 725, 726 [2003]; Forum Ins.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Hart v. Jassem
N.Y. App. Div. · 2007 · confidence medium
Moreover, the Supreme Court erred in granting that branch of the defendants’ motion which was, in effect, pursuant to CPLR 3211 (a) (7) to dismiss the sixth cause of action of the amended complaint insofar as asserted against the Jassems (see Shisgal v Brown, 21 AD3d 845, 847 [2005]; British Ins.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Wilmington Trust Co. v. Burger King Corp.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2006 · confidence medium
Documentary evidence shows that the franchisor disclosed to the franchisees that it would be paying the consultant’s fees and “directing” the restructuring programs that the consultant was engaged to “administer.” Second, because the relationship between the franchisor and franchisees was not a fiduciary one (Marcella & Co. v Avon Prods., 282 AD2d 718, 719 [2001], lv denied 96 NY2d 721 [2001]), the franchisor had no affirmative duty to disclose that the consultant was acting on its behalf rather than the franchisees’ (see Shisgal v Brown, 21 AD3d 845, 848 [2005]).
examined Cited "see, e.g." Platinum Equity Advisors, LLC v. SDI, Inc. (3×)
N.Y. Sup. Ct. · 2016 · signal: see, e.g. · confidence low
See, e.g., Shisgal v. Brown , 21 AD3d 845 , 847 (1st Dep't 2005) (noting that intent "is ordinarily a question of fact which cannot be resolved on a motion for summary judgment").
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
Pesia Pam Shisgal
v.
Eric Brown
Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York.
Sep 29, 2005.
21 A.D.3d 845
Cited by 43 opinions  |  Published

[*846] Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Louis B. York, J.), entered December 17, 2004, which, to the extent appealed from as limited by plaintiffs’ brief, dismissed, pursuant to CPLR 3211 (a) (7), the first, second and fourth causes of action asserted in the amended and consolidated complaint, unanimously modified, on the law, the first, second and fourth causes of action reinstated to the extent indicated, and otherwise affirmed, with costs.

The motion court erred in dismissing the claims at issue in their entirety for failure to state a cause of action. When properly reviewed, i.e., the factual allegations presumed to be true, the pleader given the benefit of every favorable inference which may be drawn from the pleading, and supporting affidavits and documentary evidence considered for the limited purpose of determining whether plaintiffs have a cause of action (see Leon v Martinez, 84 NY2d 83, 87-88 [1994]; Wall St. Assoc. v Brodsky, 257 AD2d 526, 526-527 [1999]), it is clear that plaintiff stated claims on several theories.

Plaintiffs successfully pleaded causes of action on the theories that defendants fraudulently induced them to make loans for business purposes and that the loans constituted fraudulent conveyances pursuant to Debtor and Creditor Law §§ 274, 275 and 276. On the former theory, plaintiffs alleged the required elements of common-law fraud—misrepresentation of a material fact, falsity, scienter, deception and injury (see Channel Master Corp. v Aluminium Ltd. Sales, 4 NY2d 403, 407 [1958];[*847] Skillgames, LLC v Brody, 1 AD3d 247, 250 [2003])—with the required specificity (CPLR 3016 [b]), in stating, among other things, that defendants Brida and United borrowed money from plaintiffs based on false representations made by defendants’ agent/general counsel “that the loans were to be used for working capital or to purchase additional garages”; that such representations “were known by defendants to be false” and “were intended and designed to have plaintiffs rely upon them by lending money, ostensibly to Brida and United”; that the loans were made with justifiable reliance on defendants’ representations; and that the false representations would cause plaintiffs injury unless the loans are repaid.

On the latter theory, plaintiffs alleged that the Brown defendants “have regularly, systematic [sic] and massively diverted and used the assets of Brida, United, Smart Parking and their affiliated corporations for their personal benefit and the benefit of their relatives, friends and associates,” such that these conveyances, made without fair consideration, left these business corporations with unreasonably small amounts of property, in violation of Debtor and Creditor Law § 274; that the Browns made these conveyances with the intent or belief that they were incurring debts beyond their ability to pay upon maturity, in violation of Debtor and Creditor Law § 275; and that these conveyances were made with actual intent to defraud creditors, in violation of Debtor and Creditor Law § 276. Although the motion court opined that plaintiffs’ allegation as to actual intent to defraud was conclusory, such intent “is ordinarily a question of fact which cannot be resolved on a motion for summary judgment” (Grumman Aerospace Corp. v Rice, 199 AD2d 365, 366 [1993]), or, in this case, a motion to dismiss. Plaintiffs’ submissions alleged sufficient “badges of fraud” to support such intent, for purposes of a motion to dismiss (see Wall St. Assoc. v Brodsky, 257 AD2d 526, 529 [1999], supra; see also Parsons & Whittemore v Abady Luttati Kaiser Saurborn & Mair, 309 AD2d 665 [2003]).

Plaintiffs support these allegations with substantial documentary evidence, including a prior decision in defendant Smart Parking, Inc.’s bankruptcy proceeding, a prior court decision on plaintiffs’ motion attaching defendants’ assets, defendant Eric Brown’s EBT, and other documentary evidence. These documents contained, among other things, findings or admissions that the Brown defendants formed and controlled Smart Parking, operated the other defendant companies through Smart Parking as a single enterprise without regard to corporate formalities or fiscal structure, commingled virtually all of the[*848] various corporate funds, intermingled their personal funds with the corporate funds, used Brida as a shell company to borrow money, including plaintiffs’ funds, for the benefit of the other corporate defendants, and kept no records of fund transfers between the companies.

The motion court correctly determined that plaintiffs failed to state claims on the theory of fraudulent concealment, since the parties, as mere debtor and creditor, had no fiduciary relationship and no resultant affirmative duty to disclose (SNS Bank v Citibank, 7 AD3d 352, 355-356 [2004]), and on the theory of fraudulent conveyance pursuant to Debtor and Creditor Law § 273, which requires allegations that the debtor be rendered insolvent.

Plaintiffs sufficiently state a prima facie case for piercing the corporate veil here.

“Generally . . . piercing the corporate veil requires a showing that: (1) the owners exercised complete domination of the corporation in respect to the transaction attacked; and (2) that such domination was used to commit a fraud or wrong against the plaintiff which resulted in plaintiffs injury.

“While complete domination of the corporation is the key to piercing the corporate veil, especially when the owners use the corporation as a mere device to further their personal rather than the corporate business, such domination, standing alone, is not enough; some showing of a wrongful or unjust act toward plaintiff is required” (Matter of Morris v New York State Dept. of Taxation & Fin., 82 NY2d 135, 141-142 [1993] [citations omitted]).

Indicia of a situation warranting veil-piercing include: “(1) the absence of the formalities and paraphernalia that are part and parcel of the corporate existence, i.e., issuance of stock, election of directors, keeping of corporate records and the like, (2) inadequate capitalization, (3) whether funds are put in and taken out of the corporation for personal rather than corporate purposes, (4) overlap in ownership, officers, directors, and personnel, (5) common office space, address and telephone numbers of corporate entities, (6) the amount of business discretion displayed by the allegedly dominated corporation, (7) whether the related corporations deal with the dominated corporation at arms length, (8) whether the corporations are treated as independent profit centers, (9) the payment or guarantee of debts of the dominated corporation by other corporations in the group, and (10) whether the corporation in question had property that was used by other of the corporations as if it were its own” (Wm. Passalacqua Bldrs., Inc. v Resnick Devs. S., Inc., 933 F2d 131, 139 [2d Cir 1991]).

[*849] Plaintiffs’ allegations, as supported by the submissions noted above, include many of these factors. For example, plaintiffs plead that United and Brida falsely represented that the loans were to be used for working capital or to purchase additional garages; that the Brown defendants used the companies’ money as a personal checking account for their own use and that of friends, relatives and associates, and to pay for expenses such as their mother’s plastic surgery, their monthly household bills and parking tickets; that the Browns ran the companies without regard for corporate and bookkeeping formalities; that Brida and United were undercapitalized; and that the commingling of corporate and personal funds was a regular and continuous practice. Concur—Saxe, J.P., Marlow, Sullivan, Williams and Gonzalez, JJ.