Opinion
2012-12-28
In the Matter of Keliann ELNISKI, Petitioner–Appellant, v. NIAGARA FALLS COACH LINES, INC., Raeanne Argy–Tyler and Michael J. Dowd, Respondents–Respondents. (Appeal No. 1.)
Hodgson Russ LLP, Buffalo (Michael C. O'Neill of Counsel), for Petitioner–Appellant. Jaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel, LLP, Buffalo (Howard S. Rosenhoch of Counsel), for Respondents–Respondents Niagara Falls Coach Lines, Inc. and Raeanne Argy–Tyler.
Hodgson Russ LLP, Buffalo (Michael C. O'Neill of Counsel), for Petitioner–Appellant. Jaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel, LLP, Buffalo (Howard S. Rosenhoch of Counsel), for Respondents–Respondents Niagara Falls Coach Lines, Inc. and Raeanne Argy–Tyler.
PRESENT: SMITH, J.P., CARNI, LINDLEY, SCONIERS, AND WHALEN, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:
In appeal No. 1, petitioner appeals from an order and judgment that, inter alia, valued her minority share of the stock in respondent Niagara Falls Coach Lines, Inc. (NFCL), a subchapter S corporation, at $1.4 million, directed NFCL to pay that sum to petitioner in installments, and ordered petitioner to relinquish her shares to NFCL, free and clear of any encumbrances, upon an initial payment by NFCL in the amount of $500,000.
We reject petitioner's contention that Supreme Court erred in setting the terms and conditions of the transfer of her shares. A trial court has discretion in setting the terms and conditions by which the shares of a minority shareholder are transferred in these circumstances, such as by establishing a payment schedule or by requiring that a bond or other acceptable security instrument be posted ( see Matter of Cortland MHP Assoc. [ Petralia–Burnham], 267 A.D.2d 1013, 1013–1014, 701 N.Y.S.2d 193;Matter of Penepent Corp. [Appeal No. 11], 198 A.D.2d 782, 783, 605 N.Y.S.2d 691,lv. denied83 N.Y.2d 797, 611 N.Y.S.2d 130, 633 N.E.2d 485;Matter of Seagroatt Floral Co. [ Riccardi], 167 A.D.2d 586, 589, 563 N.Y.S.2d 539,mod. on other grounds78 N.Y.2d 439, 576 N.Y.S.2d 831, 583 N.E.2d 287;see alsoBusiness Corporation Law § 1118[c][2] ). On this record, it cannot be said that the court abused its discretion in setting the terms and conditions of the instant transfer.
With respect to the court's valuation of petitioner's shares, “[t]he determination of a [factfinder] as to the value of a business, if it is within the range of testimony presented, will not be disturbed on appeal where valuation of the business rested primarily on the credibility of expert witnesses and their valuation techniques” ( Matter of McKeown [ Image Collision, Ltd.], 94 A.D.3d 1445, 1446, 942 N.Y.S.2d 715 [internal quotation marks omitted] ). Nevertheless, we agree with petitioner that the court erred in accepting the valuation assessment of respondents' expert insofar as it calculated the after-tax value of the shares ( see Burrows v. Burrows, 270 A.D.2d 871, 871, 705 N.Y.S.2d 457;Stolow v. Stolow, 149 A.D.2d 683, 686, 540 N.Y.S.2d 484,mot. to resettle granted152 A.D.2d 559, 540 N.Y.S.2d 484;Siegel v. Siegel, 132 A.D.2d 247, 251–252, 523 N.Y.S.2d 517,appeal dismissed71 N.Y.2d 1021, 530 N.Y.S.2d 108, 525 N.E.2d 753,lv. denied74 N.Y.2d 602, 541 N.Y.S.2d 985, 539 N.E.2d 1113). We therefore modify the order and judgment in appeal No. 1 by vacating the court's valuation determination, and we remit the matter to Supreme Court for further proceedings consistent with our decision. In light of our determination, we need not address petitioner's remaining contentions in appeal No. 1. Finally, we dismiss the appeal from the order in appeal No. 2 inasmuch as the issues raised therein have been rendered moot by our determination in appeal No. 1.
It is hereby ORDERED that the order and judgment so appealed from is unanimously modified on the law by vacating that part determining the value of petitioner's shares and as modified the order and judgment is affirmed without costs and the matter is remitted to Supreme Court, Erie County, for further proceedings.