When an aggrieved party feels his or her back against the wall, there is a strong temptation to assert every claim under the sun against the adversary. Offense is the best defense, so they say. But when the claims don’t stick, litigants may find that more isn’t necessarily more… but it sure can tie up a case for years, particularly in the backlogged Second Department.

Today’s case—Waldorf Invs. L.P. v Waldorf—offers a solid back-to-basics review of the issues that can be litigated when a limited partnership goes south (and the viability of those claims), but at the cost, figuratively and literally, of 8 years of litigation.Continue Reading Second Department Denies Judicial Dissolution of Realty Holding Limited Partnership (and Related Claims), Ending 22-Count Dispute

A recent appellate ruling provides the perfect excuse for revisiting a favorite topic, namely the powers of an estate representative of a deceased LLC member.
Continue Reading Score Another Round for the Estate: First Department Upholds Right of Deceased LLC Member’s Executor to Pursue Member Rights

After three years of litigation, can a petitioner abruptly withdraw a business dissolution proceeding without consequences? A recent decision from Justice Reed in the New York County Commercial Division answers that question with a decisive “No.”

Continue Reading Indecision Has a Price: Withdraw Lawsuit, Pay Hefty Fee Award

You can’t have a business divorce without first having a business marriage.

Simple enough, right? But, a number of cases we’ve featured on this blog involve the central question of whether the parties, in fact, formed a business relationship… and the attendant difficulties in litigating those types of disputes. Specifically, in a post not too

This week on New York Business Divorce, read about the interplay between statutory and contract rules for LLC manager removal or expulsion, set within an appeal from a trio of decisions we wrote about what feels like a lifetime ago.

Continue Reading How Easily Can an Operating Agreement Supplant the Default Rule for LLC Manager Removal? Pretty Easily.

A recent California case may shed light on how New York courts should handle ant-dissolution provisions in LLC agreements.
Continue Reading Does This California Case Bolster the Argument Against Waiver of the Right to Seek Judicial Dissolution of New York LLCs?

Four sisters. One house. Who owns it?

Today’s case delves into a thorny situation many closely-held family businesses struggle with—proving ownership.

It’s no secret that many closely-held family business do not comply with corporate formalities. In the absence of such formalities, it can be difficult to demonstrate ownership without stock certificates in hand, or other