Summary
holding that an implied covenant of non-solicitation was covered by a release that discharged defendant from all covenants
Summary of this case from Benicorp Ins. v. National Medical Health CardOpinion
December 30, 1999
Appeal from Order of Supreme Court, Erie County, Sconiers, J. — Summary Judgment.
Order unanimously modified on the law and as modified affirmed without costs in accordance with the following Memorandum:
PRESENT: LAWTON, J. P., HAYES, WISNER, HURLBUTT AND BALIO, JJ.
Supreme Court properly denied those parts of defendants' motion for summary judgment seeking dismissal of the first and third causes of action. Plaintiff asserts in the first cause of action that defendant Brian P. Swiech breached his duty of loyalty to plaintiff and in the third cause of action that defendants tortiously interfered with plaintiff's business relations. Viewing the record in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party ( see, Victor Temporary Servs. v. Slattery, 105 A.D.2d 1115, 1117), we conclude that there is a triable issue of fact whether Swiech breached his duty of loyalty to plaintiff, his employer, by lessening his work on behalf of his employer before he terminated his employment or by misappropriating to his own use business secrets or special knowledge of his employer ( see, Feiger v. Iral Jewelry, 41 N.Y.2d 928; Maritime Fish Prods. v. World-Wide Fish Prods., 100 A.D.2d 81, 88, appeal dismissed 63 N.Y.2d 675). Likewise, there is a triable issue of fact whether defendants interfered with plaintiff's business relations arising from the alleged violation by Swiech of his duty of fidelity to plaintiff in his interactions with plaintiff's landlord, drivers and customers ( see, Guard-Life Corp. v. Parker Hardware Mfg. Corp., 50 N.Y.2d 183; Hayes v. Case-Hoyt Corp., 262 A.D.2d 1018 [decided June 18, 1999]).
The court erred, however, in failing to grant that part of defendants' motion seeking dismissal of the second cause of action, alleging the diversion of goodwill by defendant Ricky W. Vanderbush. In 1992 Vanderbush sold stock (one-third interest) in plaintiff's corporation to the remaining two stockholders and executed a non-compete agreement. In subsequent litigation, Vanderbush and plaintiff entered into a mutual release, which provides in relevant part: "Whereas, on April 1, 1992, [plaintiff] and Vanderbush entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement and Non-Compete Agreement for the period commencing April 2, 1992 and ending June 30, 1993 (hereinafter referred to as `Agreements'); * * * GATC * * * do[es] hereby mutually, acquit and forever discharge Vanderbush, his successors, agents, heirs, representatives, and assigns, of and from any and all liability damages, claims, causes of action, either in law or equity and losses of any kind and nature whether known or unknown, actual or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, developed or undeveloped, they have, may have or might now or hereafter have against Vanderbush resulting from or in any way pertaining to or arising out of the agreements upon which the Litigation was based." The unambiguous language of that release discharged Vanderbush from all covenants, including the implied covenant of non-solicitation arising from the 1992 stock purchase agreement, which is the basis for the second cause of action ( see, Goldome Corp. v. Wittig, 221 A.D.2d 931, 932-933).
The court further erred in failing to grant that part of defendants' motion seeking dismissal of the fourth cause of action, alleging prima facie tort. That cause of action cannot be sustained "unless a `disinterested malevolence' to injure plaintiff constitutes the sole motivation for defendants' otherwise lawful act" ( Backus v. Planned Parenthood of Finger Lakes, 161 A.D.2d 1116, 1117). Because defendants' actions were undertaken in part for business reasons, malevolence is not the sole motivation for defendants' actions ( see, Forken v. CIGNA Corp., 234 A.D.2d 992, 992-993; Quayle Ridge Assocs. v. Chemical Bank, 162 A.D.2d 917, 919, lv dismissed 76 N.Y.2d 936; LeFebvre v. New York Life Ins. Annuity Corp., 214 A.D.2d 911, 913).
Consequently, we modify the order by granting defendants' motion in part and dismissing the second and fourth causes of action.