Alexander & Alexander of New York, Inc. v. Fritzen

Decision Date20 November 1986
Citation510 N.Y.S.2d 546,503 N.E.2d 102,68 N.Y.2d 968
Parties, 503 N.E.2d 102 ALEXANDER & ALEXANDER OF NEW YORK, INC., Appellant, et al., Plaintiff, v. Harry W. FRITZEN, Jr., et al., Defendants, and James W. Barber, Respondent.
CourtNew York Court of Appeals Court of Appeals
OPINION OF THE COURT MEMORANDUM.

The order of the Appellate Division, 114 A.D.2d 814, 495 N.Y.S.2d 386, should be affirmed, with costs.

This appeal, as limited by plaintiff's brief, relates only to the first cause of action against defendant Barber for conspiracy to divert business opportunities, and to the fifth cause of action against Barber for interference with plaintiff's claimed contract relationship with defendants Fritzen and Bikoff. It arises out of defendant Barber's motion to dismiss under CPLR 3211 or, in the alternative, for summary judgment under CPLR 3212. We conclude that defendant Barber is entitled to summary judgment as to the first cause of action, notwithstanding that there is no affidavit from a person with knowledge of the facts, because no cause of action is stated.

The allegations of the first cause of action are not sufficient. It purports to allege a conspiracy but, as we long ago held, "a mere conspiracy to commit a [tort] is never of itself a cause of action" (Brackett v. Griswold, 112 N.Y. 454, 467, 20 N.E. 376; accord, Green v. Davies, 182 N.Y. 499, 75 N.E. 536; Manning v. Beck, 129 N.Y. 1, 11, 29 N.E. 90; Manning v. Turtel, 115 A.D.2d 712, 496 N.Y.S.2d 775). Allegations of conspiracy are permitted only to connect the actions of separate defendants with an otherwise actionable tort (Brackett v. Griswold, supra; Danahy v. Meese, 84 A.D.2d 670, 672, 446 N.Y.S.2d 611). The claimed diversion of business opportunities if regarded as a claim for interference with prospective economic advantage is, however, insufficient because, although it alleges some 25 "overt acts," it contains no allegation that Barber used improper means or acted solely for the purpose of injuring plaintiff Alexander & Alexander (hereafter A & A) (Guard-Life Corp. v. Parker Hardware Mfg. Corp., 50 N.Y.2d 183, 428 N.Y.S.2d 628, 406 N.E.2d 445; Brause v. First Natl. Real Estate Trust, 26 N.Y.2d 737, 309 N.Y.S.2d 38, 257 N.E.2d 287, affg. 25 A.D.2d 624, 267 N.Y.S.2d 876; Union Car Adv. v. Collier, 263 N.Y. 386, 189 N.E. 463; see, 2 NY PJI 200 [1986 Supp] ).

The fifth cause of action should also be dismissed. Although paragraph 54 of the...

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  • Palmer v. City of New York
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Eastern District of New York
    • 30 Septiembre 2021
    ...of conspiracy." Kirch v. Liberty Media Corp. , 449 F.3d 388, 401 (2d Cir. 2006) (citing Alexander & Alexander of New York, Inc. v. Fritzen , 68 N.Y.2d 968, 510 N.Y.S.2d 546, 503 N.E.2d 102, 102 (1986) ). As a result, where a plaintiff "fails to state causes of action for [any] of the torts ......
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    ...does his conspiracy claim. No independent action of civil conspiracy is cognizable at law. See Alexander & Alexander v. Fritzen, 68 N.Y.2d 968, 969, 510 N.Y.S.2d 546, 546, 503 N.E.2d 102 (1986) ("[a]llegations of conspiracy are permitted only to connect the actions of separate defendants wi......
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    ...Ltd., L.P. v. Pate, 81 F.Supp.2d 509, 516 (S.D.N.Y.2000) (citations omitted); see also Alexander & Alexander of N.Y., Inc. v. Fritzen, 68 N.Y.2d 968, 969, 510 N.Y.S.2d 546, 503 N.E.2d 102 (1986) (alle- gations of conspiracy permitted to "connect the actions of separate defendants with an ot......
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