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  • Kpl Green Llc v. Greenport Hudson Associates Llc, Morgenstern Devoesick Pllc, Crazy Beer World IncCommercial - Contract document preview
  • Kpl Green Llc v. Greenport Hudson Associates Llc, Morgenstern Devoesick Pllc, Crazy Beer World IncCommercial - Contract document preview
  • Kpl Green Llc v. Greenport Hudson Associates Llc, Morgenstern Devoesick Pllc, Crazy Beer World IncCommercial - Contract document preview
  • Kpl Green Llc v. Greenport Hudson Associates Llc, Morgenstern Devoesick Pllc, Crazy Beer World IncCommercial - Contract document preview
  • Kpl Green Llc v. Greenport Hudson Associates Llc, Morgenstern Devoesick Pllc, Crazy Beer World IncCommercial - Contract document preview
  • Kpl Green Llc v. Greenport Hudson Associates Llc, Morgenstern Devoesick Pllc, Crazy Beer World IncCommercial - Contract document preview
  • Kpl Green Llc v. Greenport Hudson Associates Llc, Morgenstern Devoesick Pllc, Crazy Beer World IncCommercial - Contract document preview
  • Kpl Green Llc v. Greenport Hudson Associates Llc, Morgenstern Devoesick Pllc, Crazy Beer World IncCommercial - Contract document preview
						
                                

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FILED: ROCKLAND COUNTY CLERK 01/19/2024 11:09 PM INDEX NO. 030709/2023 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 92 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/19/2024 Exhibit “A” FILED: ROCKLAND COUNTY CLERK 01/19/2024 11:09 PM INDEX NO. 030709/2023 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 92 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/19/2024 SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF ROCKLAND --------------------------------------------------------------------X KPL GREEN LLC, Index No. 030709/2023 Plaintiff, -against- AFFIDAVIT OF LENA E. PAXOS, ESQ. IN OPPOSITION TO GREENPORT/HUDSON ASSOCIATES LLC, DEFENDANTS' JOINT MORGENSTERN DeVOESICK, PLLC, as Escrow MOTION TO DISMISS Agent, and CRAZY BEER WORLD, INC., PLAINTIFF'S COMPLAINT Defendants. --------------------------------------------------------------------X LENA E. PAXOS, ESQ. being duly sworn, deposes and says: 1. I am a member of CONDON PAXOS PLLC and I am fully familiar with the facts and circumstances surrounding this matter based upon a review of the file maintained by this office in the ordinary course of business. 2. I submit this Affidavit in Opposition to the Defendants' Joint Motion to Dismiss. 3. Except where expressly stated otherwise, I make this Affidavit based upon my personal knowledge. 4. A copy of the Plaintiffs Verified Complaint is annexed herewith as Exhibit "A". FACTUAL STATEMENT 5. In and around June 7, 2022, KPL GREEN, LLC successor in interest to Maraki Realty Corp. ("Green") entered into a contract of sale with Greenport/Hudson Associates LLC -1- FILED: ROCKLAND COUNTY CLERK 01/19/2024 11:09 PM INDEX NO. 030709/2023 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 92 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/19/2024 ("GHA") (the "Contract of Sale") for the purchase of real property located at 300 Fairview Avenue, Hudson, NY (the "Premises"). A copy of the Contract of Sale is annexed to Exhibit A as Exhibit "A". 6. The Premises is a single-story commercial shopping plaza with fifteen (15) commercial tenants (See ,i 7 of Plaintiffs Verified Complaint at Exhibit "A"). 7. The agreed upon purchase price for the Premises was $5.9 Million Dollars (the "Purchase Price"). 8. During negotiations, GHA advised that they were in negotiations with Crazy Beer World to lease the 17,000 square foot space that was formerly leased to ALDI. 9. In fact, on March 31, 2022, GHA emailed Green the proposed terms of the Crazy Beer World lease which factored into the 5.9-million-dollar Purchase Price. 10. Thereafter, on or about May 25, 2022, GHA informed Green that a Lease Agreement was executed between Crazy Beer World and GHA on the terms previously sent to Green on March 31 , 2022 ("Beer Lease"). 11. GHA also informed Green that the Beer Lease contained a liquor license contingency, which allowed the tenant to terminate the Lease if they were unable to procure the necessary liquor licensing from the State of New York. (See a copy of the Beer Lease which is annexed to Exhibit A as Exhibit "B"). 12. The Liquor License Contingency granted Crazy Beer World, " 120 days to move its existing New York State SLA license to the Premises" (the "Liquor License Contingency"). (See the Beer Lease which is annexed to Exhibit A as Exhibit "B"). -2- FILED: ROCKLAND COUNTY CLERK 01/19/2024 11:09 PM INDEX NO. 030709/2023 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 92 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/19/2024 13 . For many months, e-mails and discussions were exchanged about Purchaser' s concern that should Crazy Beer World terminate the lease Purchaser will have overpaid on the Purchase Price. 14. In fact, language was carefully crafted and plainly inserted into the Contract of Sale to address a reduction in the Purchase Price should Crazy Beer World terminate the Beer Lease. Copies of some of the e-mail exchanges regarding the reduction in the Purchase Price should Crazy Beer World not obtain the necessary licensing are annexed herewith collectively as Exhibit "B". 15. More specifically, the Parties, through counsel, established an Escrow Fund amount and inserted specific language in the Contract of Sale establishing that the parties agreed that, "the end date of several contingencies set forth in the Beer Lease (including, but not limited to, the liquor license continencies) may exceed the anticipated Closing Date, the Escrow Agent for the Premises shall continue to hold the Escrow Fund until such date as the Beer Lease is executed and all contingencies are cleared, satisfied waived or removed or the Beer Lease is canceled." 16. As such, the Contract of Sale established that the Purchase Price for the Premises was calculated to include the final execution of the Beer Lease which included removal of the Liquor License Contingency (See ,r 10 of Plaintiff's Verified Complaint at Exhibit "A"). 17. And further that the Contract of Sale contemplates that without the Beer Lease, the value of the Premises was less than the Purchase Price. (See Contract of Sale which is annexed as Exhibit A to the Plaintiffs Verified Complaint which is annexed herewith as Exhibit "A"). 18. At the request of the Purchaser, the Contract of Sale incorporated a mathematical calculation illustrating the devaluation of the Premises in the absence of the Beer Lease. Specifically, that, "if the Beer Lease is not fully executed without contingencies, the loss of -3- FILED: ROCKLAND COUNTY CLERK 01/19/2024 11:09 PM INDEX NO. 030709/2023 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 92 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/19/2024 revenues will cause a reduction in the Premises ' Net Operating Income ("NOI") by $52,621 , as is set forth below, which would cause a reduction of the Purchase Price by $578,910.00. With Tenant Without Tenant DELTA NOI $536,290 $483,669 $52,621 Cap Rate 9.08966% 9.08966% 0% Price $5,900,000 $5,321 ,090 $578,910 (See Contract of Sale which is annexed as Exhibit A to the Plaintiffs Verified Complaint which is annexed herewith as Exhibit " A"). 19. At the time of the execution of the Contract of Sale between Green and GHA, the Liquor License Contingency had not yet been satisfied, cleared, removed nor waived and could surpass the anticipated Closing Date. 20. As such, the respective parties included language in the Contract of Sale to address how the mathematical reduction, supra, would be applied towards the Purchase Price should Crazy Beer World fail to satisfy its Liquor License Contingency and/or terminate the Lease. 21. It states at Paragraph 2, in relevant part, that: 2. PURCHASE PRICE. The purchase price shall be Five Million Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars ($5 ,900,000) ("Purchase Price") payable by Purchaser in cash or certified funds at Closing. At Closing, $578,910.00 of the Purchase Price shall be escrowed (the "Escrow Fund") with Seller' s attorneys as Escrow Agent (Escrow Fund") with Seller' s attorneys as Escrow Agent pending Seller' s execution of the proposed lease ("Beer Lease") with Crazy Beer World, Inc. d/b/a Beer Universe ("Beer Universe"). Purchaser reserves its right to seek an adjustment of the Escrow Fund amount prior to the expiration of the Due Diligence Period in order to conduct an independent evaluation of the net operating income ("NOI") both with and without the Beer Lease. Seller represents that the NOI of $536,290, set forth below, is based upon the final execution and removal of contingencies of the Beer Lease regarding the 17,000 +/- square feet space which the current tenant, ALDI, -4- FILED: ROCKLAND COUNTY CLERK 01/19/2024 11:09 PM INDEX NO. 030709/2023 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 92 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/19/2024 is currently occupying but is expected to vacate prior to the delivery date set forth in the Beer Lease. Seller further represents that if the Beer Lease is not fully executed without contingencies, the loss of revenue will cause a reduction in the Premises' NOI by $52,621 , as is set forth below. With Tenant Without Tenant DELTA NOI $536,290 $483,669 $52,621 Cap Rate 9.08966% 9.08966% 0% Price $5 ,900,000 $5,321 ,090 $578,910 The respective parties have agreed that as the end date of several contingencies set forth in the Beer Lease (including, but not limited to, the liquor license contingencies) may exceed the anticipated Closing Date, the Escrow Agent for the Premises shall continue to hold the Escrow Fund until such date as the Beer Lease is executed and all contingencies are cleared, satisfied, waived or removed or the Beer Lease is canceled. Within three (3) days of the Beer Lease not being executed, Seller shall provide Purchaser' s counsel with written notice of the same and, upon Purchaser's receipt of said notice, the full amount of the Escrow Fund shall be remitted to Purchaser's counsel. If the Escrow Fund is dispersed to Purchaser as a result of Beer Universe ' s failure to execute the Beer Lease, or satisfy the contingencies set forth therein, the Purchaser and/or its affiliates covenant and agree that they shall have no right to seek any further indemnification or compensation from Seller in excess of the Escrow Fund. If the contingencies are satisfied, cleared, waived, and /or removed and the Beer Lease is executed, then the full amount of the Escrow Fund shall be transferred to the Seller, upon three (3) days written notice to Purchaser's counsel, less the monthly rent payments, as set forth in the Beer Lease, which shall be released to Purchaser in amounts equal to the monthly rent and the four (4) month construction period (the "Forgiveness Period"). However, should the Beer Lease not be fully executed on or before the Closing Date, Seller shall also authorize the release of said monthly rent payments from the Closing Date up to and through the Forgiveness Period. It being understood and agreed between Seller and Purchaser that once rent payments are made pursuant to the Beer Lease, no further monthly payments from the Escrow Fund shall be tendered to Purchaser and the remaining Escrow Fund shall be released to Seller upon three (3) days written notice to Purchaser. -5- FILED: ROCKLAND COUNTY CLERK 01/19/2024 11:09 PM INDEX NO. 030709/2023 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 92 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/19/2024 22. In summary, if the Beer Lease did not materialize, due to Crazy Beer World's inability to obtain the necessary licensing from the State of New York or its termination of the Beer Lease, the Escrow Fund would be released to the Plaintiff as a proper reduction in the Purchase Price. 23. In addition, Paragraph 11 (M) of the Contract of Sale states as follows: 11. REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS. Seller represents and warrants as follows: * * * M. Seller covenants and warrants that if the Beer Lease with Beer Universe is not fully executed with all contingencies for liquor licensing either satisfied, cleared, waived, or removed at the time of Closing then all furniture, fixtures and equipment shall be removed and said vacant unit shall be delivered in a broom cleaned condition; provided however, if Beer Universe has time remaining to satisfy liquor licensing contingencies and is still pursuing the satisfaction of such contingencies, Seller shall deposit Thirty Thousand Dollars {$30,000) with the Escrow Agent to pay for the removal of such furniture, fixtures and equipment in the event that unit is not leased to Beer Universe or any other tenant and such other tenant does not take possession of the vacant unit with the furniture, fixtures and equipment. The foregoing $30,000 escrow shall be released to Seller upon the earlier of the following: {a) possession of the leased premises by Beer Universe; {b) a new tenant executing a lease for the Premises with the furniture, fixtures and equipment remaining; or {c) such premises being delivered to Buyer in a broom clean condition with all furniture, fixtures and equipment removed (Emphasis Added). 24. In addition, at Paragraph 3 of the Contract of Sale states that "upon execution of this Contract by both parties, Purchaser shall deposit with Morgenstern DeVoesick PLLC, as escrow agent the sum of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($250,000.00) ("Initial Deposit"). Upon expiration of the Due Diligence Period, the Purchaser shall deposit an additional Two Hundred Fifty Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($250,000.00)("Additional Deposit")(the Initial Deposit and the Additional Deposit collectively the "Deposit"). The Deposit shall be returned to -6- FILED: ROCKLAND COUNTY CLERK 01/19/2024 11:09 PM INDEX NO. 030709/2023 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 92 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/19/2024 Purchaser in the event this Contract is terminated in accordance with the provision of this Contract. (Emphasis added). 25. On June 6, 2022, the Plaintiff executed the Contract of Sale. (See Contract of Sale which is annexed as Exhibit "A" to the Plaintiffs Verified Complaint which is annexed herewith as Exhibit "A"). 26. By e-mail dated June 7, 2022, GHA's counsel, Defendant Morgenstern DeVoesick PLLC ("MDP"), forwarded to me a copy of their wiring instructions. A copy of the e-mail and wiring instructions are annexed herewith as Exhibit "C". 27. On June 7, 2022, GHA executed the Contract of Sale. (See Contract of Sale which is annexed as Exhibit A to the Plaintiffs Verified Complaint which is annexed herewith as Exhibit "A"). 28. On that same day, upon contract execution, Plaintiff remitted, through counsel, the initial contractual wire to MDP' s escrow account in the amount of $250,000.00. A copy of the wire confirmation is annexed herewith as Exhibit "D". 29. On September 9, 2022, upon the end of the contractual due diligence period, Plaintiff remitted, through counsel, a second wire to MDP's escrow account in the amount of $250,000.00. A copy of that wire confirmation is annexed herewith as Exhibit "E". 30. Thereafter, on or about October 5, 2022, GHA and Crazy Beer World entered into a written amendment whereby the Liquor License Contingency was extended up to and through December 31 , 2022 ("Beer World Amendment"). (See Beer World Amendment which is annexed as Exhibit C to the Plaintiffs Verified Complaint which is annexed herewith as Exhibit "A"). 31. On or about November 8, 2022, was the Closing for the Premises (the "Closing Date"). -7- FILED: ROCKLAND COUNTY CLERK 01/19/2024 11:09 PM INDEX NO. 030709/2023 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 92 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/19/2024 32. Notably, as of the Closing Date, Crazy Beer World's Liquor License Contingency had still not yet been cleared, satisfied, waived or removed. 33. On November 14, 2022, MDP accepted an additional $77,273.91 into its escrow account from our firm via wire. A copy of that wire confirmation is annexed herewith as Exhibit "F". 34. Pursuant to the Contract of Sale, Seller' s attorneys, MDP, were to act as Escrow Agent and establish an Escrow Fund from the closing proceeds, provided by the Plaintiff, to ensure that there was money to be returned to the Plaintiff should there be a termination of the Beer Lease. (See Contract of Sale which is annexed as Exhibit A to the Plaintiffs Verified Complaint which is annexed herewith as Exhibit "A"). 35. There were no obligations on the part of the Plaintiff nor its counsel as it relates to the Escrow Fund except for Plaintiffs obligation to pay the closing proceeds on the Closing Date to GHA - which it did. 36. Pursuant to the Contract of Sale, the Escrow Agent, MDP, was required to provide written notice to counsel for the Plaintiff prior to releasing any of the Escrow Fund to GHA. Neither MDP, nor anyone on its behalf, provided any such written notice to Plaintiff. 37. On January 3, 2023 , three (3) days past the expiration of the Liquor License Contingency, counsel for Crazy Beer World, contacted your affiant, as Plaintiffs counsel, and asked for an extension of the Liquor License Contingency and additional extensions as to other terms in the Beer Lease including a further rent abatement. 38. Crazy Beer World's request was outside the designated contingency period. 39. On January 18, 2023, in light of Crazy Beer World's apparent termination of the Lease, I e-mailed Jeffrey DeVoesick, Esq., a partner at MDP, and asked for immediate proof of the Escrow Fund. A copy of that January 18, 2023 , e-mail is annexed herewith as Exhibit "G". -8- FILED: ROCKLAND COUNTY CLERK 01/19/2024 11:09 PM INDEX NO. 030709/2023 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 92 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/19/2024 40. In addition to sending the January 18, 2023 , e-mail, I made several phone calls and left several voice mail messages at the MDP firm requesting immediate proof of the Escrow Fund. 41. On January 19, 2023, after receiving no response, I sent another email to MDP requesting proof of the Escrow Fund. A copy of that email is annexed herewith as Exhibit "G". 42. On January 19, 2023, Jeffrey DeVoesick, Esq. from MDP indicated that he "will respond later today." A copy of that email is annexed herewith as Exhibit "G". 43. Despite Mr. DeVoesick's assurance that he would respond later that afternoon, our office received no response from Mr. DeVoesick nor Mr. DeVoesick' s office. 44. As such, On January 20, 2023, at noon, I was forced to send yet another email as to the status of the Escrow Fund, to which neither I nor my office received a response. As such, at 7:12PM that same day, another email was sent to MDP regarding the status of the Escrow Fund. A copy of those e-mails are annexed collectively herewith as Exhibit "G". 45. On Monday January 23 , 2023, Mr. DeVoesick provided an e-mail but made no mention of the establishment of the Escrow Fund as set forth in the June 7, 2023, Contract of Sale. A copy of that January 23, 2023, e-mail is annexed herewith as Exhibit "G". 46. At no point between the Closing Date through January 24, 2023, had Mr. DeVoesick nor MDP ever communicated any email exchanges, phone calls, discussions or communications between himself and Mr. Hrdlicka. 47. Yet, on January 24, 2023 , Crazy Beer World's counsel, Mr. Hrdlicka, forwarded e- mail exchanges between himself and Mr. DeVoesick, wherein Mr. Hrdlicka states, in relevant part, "Sorry, I am going to head out so just in case the landlord doesn't agree to the extension the tenant reserves their right to cancel the lease since they have not received the liquor license yet." (See Exhibit E to the Plaintiffs Verified Complaint which is annexed herewith as Exhibit "A"). FILED: ROCKLAND COUNTY CLERK 01/19/2024 11:09 PM INDEX NO. 030709/2023 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 92 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/19/2024 48. On January 24, 2023, my office sent to GHA, Mr. DeVoesick, Mr. Hrdlicka, and Crazy Beer World, via email, First Class Mail and Certified Mail Return Receipt Requested, a written letter acknowledging and accepting Beer World's termination of the lease, a copy of the same is annexed herewith as Exhibit "H". 49. On January 24, 2023, counsel for Green sent to GHA and Mr. DeVoesick, via email, First Class Mail and Certified Mail Return Receipt Requested, a written letter demanding disbursement of the Escrow Fund pursuant to Paragraph 2 of the Contract of Sale, a copy of the same is annexed herewith as Exhibit "I". 50. To date, all Defendants have failed to provide proof of the Escrow Fund and have further failed to disburse the same in accordance with Paragraph 2 of the Contract of Sale. 51. For the foregoing reasons, I respectfully request that the Court deny the relief sought in the Defendants' Joint Motion to Dismiss in its entirety and grant Plaintiff the cost of having to defend this Motion. Lena E. Paxos, Esq. Sworn to before me this 23rd day of June, 2023 · ~.u&L /' Notary Public -10- FILED: ROCKLAND COUNTY CLERK 01/19/2024 11:09 PM INDEX NO. 030709/2023 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 92 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 01/19/2024 Word Count Certification The total number of words in the foregoing affidavit exclusive of point headings and footnotes and exclusive of the caption, table of contents, table of authorities, proof of service, certificate of compliance, or any authorized addendum containing statutes, rules, regulations, etc. is 2,868. The document complies with the applicable word count limit and is based on the word count of the word-processing system used to prepare the document. Dated: June 23, 2023 CONDON PAXOS PLLC By: __________________________ Brian K. Condon Attorneys for Plaintiff 55 Old Turnpike Road, Suite 502 Nanuet, New York 10954 (845) 627-8500 Brian@CondonPaxos.com