Pladott v. Ewers, CIV.A.05-10356-RWZ.

• Decision Date: 03 February 2006
• Docket Number: No. CIV.A.05-10356-RWZ.,CIV.A.05-10356-RWZ.
• Citation: 414 F.Supp.2d 88
• Parties: Alexander PLADOTT v. Larry EWERS
• Court: U.S. District Court — District of Massachusetts

414 F.Supp.2d 88

Alexander PLADOTT v. Larry EWERS

No. CIV.A.05-10356-RWZ.

United States District Court, D. Massachusetts.

February 3, 2006.

Isaac H. Peres, Law Office of Isaac H. Peres, Boston, MA, for Alexander Pladott.

Alan M. Spiro, Kenneth V. Nourse, Edwards & Angell, LLP, Boston, MA, for Larry Ewers.

MEMORANDUM OF DECISION

ZOBEL, District Judge.

Howard Eugene Liner ("Liner") invested money with Christopher Heron ("Heron"), Corporation of the Bankhouse, Inc. ("COB") and James F. Pomeroy, II ("Pomeroy") who, together, allegedly swindled him of his entire investment. Subsequently, Liner executed a Power of Attorney (the "POA") and Compensation Agreement with defendant Larry Ewers ("Ewers") in exchange for Ewers' efforts to recoup Liner's investment. Ewers and other creditors of Heron, including plaintiff Alexander Pladott who serves as trustee for some of the creditors, then entered a settlement agreement with Heron that, according to plaintiffs Complaint, obligated the parties to share any recovered funds. However, Ewers, allegedly in contravention of the settlement agreement, filed suit (Civil Action No. 04-10024-RWZ) on his own behalf against Heron, COB and Pomeroy. Liner disputes the scope of Ewers' authority, and he and the other creditors moved to intervene as plaintiffs. The court denied the motion or intervention, and the First Circuit affirmed the denial. See Ewers v. Heron, 419 F.3d 1 (1st Cir.2005). In the meantime, Liner, although not a party to the action, filed with the court an unofficial notice of litigation between himself and plaintiff regarding the validity and scope of authority of the POA in a separately filed case in Texas state court, E.P.D. Mgmt. Co., L.L.C. and Ewers v. Liner (2003-33307). Pending resolution of this litigation, the court stayed and administratively closed Civil Action No. 04-10024-RWZ.

Plaintiff filed the instant suit against Ewers for specific performance of the settlement agreement and damages as a result of alleged fraud on the court. Both parties have filed motions. The rulings thereon follow:

1. Plaintiff's Motion for Preliminary Injunction Against Defendant Ewers (Docket # 7)

Plaintiff seeks to enjoin defendant from claiming to be a direct creditor of Heron as a result of the POA and Compensation Agreement executed between defendant and Liner. In essence, plaintiff challenges the validity and scope of those agreements. However, he is neither to be a party nor a third-party beneficiary nor does he allege any other position from which he might have standing to seek enforcement or rejection of the agreements. Plaintiff cites no legal authority or standard for the injunction, nor does he ever attempt to conform the facts of this case to such authority, even though preliminary injunctions customarily require a meaningful showing of imminent and irreparable harm. Moreover it remains entirely unclear how the requested injunction will further the plaintiffs stated purpose in filing the instant suit, namely, his claims for specific enforcement of the settlement agreement and damages for fraud on the court....