Mannucci v. Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

• Decision Date: 05 April 2012
• Citation: 94 A.D.3d 471,2012 N.Y. Slip Op. 02580,941 N.Y.S.2d 493
• Parties: Mannuccio MANNUCCI, M.D., et al., Plaintiffs–Appellants, v. The MISSIONARY SISTERS OF the SACRED HEART OF JESUS, Defendant–Respondent.
• Court: New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

2012 N.Y. Slip Op. 02580

94 A.D.3d 471

941 N.Y.S.2d 493

Mannuccio MANNUCCI, M.D., et al., Plaintiffs–Appellants,

v.The MISSIONARY SISTERS OF the SACRED HEART OF JESUS, Defendant–Respondent.

Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department, New York.

April 5, 2012.

Paduano & Weintraub LLP, New York (Katherine B. Harrison of counsel), for appellants.

Klestadt & Winters, LLP, New York (Sean C. Southard of counsel), for respondent.

Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Eileen Bransten, J.), entered January 5, 2011, which, to the extent appealed from, granted defendant's motion to dismiss the amended complaint without prejudice and with leave to replead, unanimously affirmed, without costs.

Plaintiffs' claims against defendant are based solely on the theory that defendant is the alter ego of nonparty Cabrini Medical Center. Accordingly, Cabrini is a necessary party to this action ( see Stewart Tenants Corp. v. Square Indus., 269 A.D.2d 246, 248, 703 N.Y.S.2d 453 [2000] ). Although the motion court did not consider whether the action should proceed without Cabrini pursuant to CPLR 1001(b), the matter need not be remanded ( cf. Matter of Red Hook/Gowanus Chamber of Commerce v. New York City Bd. of Stds. & Appeals, 5 N.Y.3d 452, 462, 805 N.Y.S.2d 525, 839 N.E.2d 878 [2005] ). Indeed, because Cabrini has filed for bankruptcy protection and plaintiffs have not obtained relief from the automatic stay, the alter ego claims must be dismissed ( see St. Paul Fire & Mar. Ins. Co. v. PepsiCo, Inc., 884 F.2d 688, 701–704 [1989]; Corman v. LaFountain, 38 A.D.3d 706, 708, 835 N.Y.S.2d 201 [2007] ).

We have considered plaintiffs' remaining contentions and find them unavailing.

MAZZARELLI, J.P., SAXE, MOSKOWITZ, MANZANET–DANIELS, ROMÁN, JJ., concur.