FOUNTOUKIS v. Eric D.W. Cohler, Inc., respondent. (2006)

In an action, inter alia, to recover damages for unjust enrichment and for money had and received, the plaintiff appeals from an order of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Hubsher, J.), dated December 22, 2004, which denied his motion for summary judgment against the defendant Eric D.W. Cohler, Inc., and granted the cross motion of the defendant Eric D.W. Cohler, Inc., for summary judgment dismissing the complaint insofar as asserted against it.

ORDERED that the order is affirmed, with costs.

The plaintiff, Chris Fountoukis, was induced by his accountant, the defendant Mark Geringer, to transfer the sum of $200,000 to the defendant Eric D.W. Cohler, Inc. (hereinafter Cohler).   Fountoukis did so based upon Geringer's representation that the $200,000 purchased a tax loss that would result in a $50,000 tax credit, and that the principal sum would be fully repaid four days later.   In fact, Cohler applied the $200,000 toward a $332,617.39 debt owed to it by Geringer for furniture and interior decorating services, and the money was disbursed by Cohler to its third-party suppliers based on its belief that the payment was intended to partially discharge Geringer's debt.   Only after the $200,000 was not timely repaid and Fountoukis communicated with Cohler, did Fountoukis and Cohler learn of the true circumstances by which the payment was made and received. Geringer moved to Panama, and is subject to a default judgment.   Fountoukis's claims against Cohler seek return of the $200,000 on the grounds of unjust enrichment and, in essence, mutual mistake.   Fountoukis and Cohler each moved for summary judgment.

 The Supreme Court properly denied Fountoukis's motion and granted Cohler's cross motion.   Cohler established its prima facie entitlement to judgment as a matter of law on the cause of action to recover damages for money had and received (see Alvarez v. Prospect Hosp., 68 N.Y.2d 320, 326, 508 N.Y.S.2d 923, 501 N.E.2d 572;  Friends of Animals v. Associated Fur Manufacturers, 46 N.Y.2d 1065, 1067-1068, 416 N.Y.S.2d 790, 390 N.E.2d 298).   While the Supreme Court erroneously applied the “discharge for value” rule in favor of Cohler, as the rule appears limited to mistakes of banks in making electronic wire transfers under UCC 4-A-101 et. seq. (see Banque Worms v. BankAmerica Intl., 77 N.Y.2d 362, 374-375, 568 N.Y.S.2d 541, 570 N.E.2d 189), Cohler nevertheless established that any mistake of fact between it and Fountoukis regarding the transaction precipitated by Geringer's fraudulent misrepresentations resulted in detrimental reliance by Cohler in its payments to third-party suppliers, entitling Cohler to judgment in its favor (see Bank of New York v. Spiro, 267 A.D.2d 339, 340, 700 N.Y.S.2d 207;  see also Banque Worms v. BankAmerica Intl., supra at 366-367, 568 N.Y.S.2d 541, 570 N.E.2d 189;  Collins v. HSBC Bank USA, 305 A.D.2d 361, 362, 759 N.Y.S.2d 156).   Similarly, as to the cause of action for unjust enrichment, the plaintiff must look for recovery to Geringer, and not Cohler, since the $200,000 money transfer was performed at the behest of Geringer (see Schuckman Realty v. Marine Midland Bank, 244 A.D.2d 400, 401, 664 N.Y.S.2d 73;  Kagan v. K-Tel Entertainment, 172 A.D.2d 375, 376, 568 N.Y.S.2d 756).   In opposition, the plaintiff failed to raise a triable issue of fact as to either cause of action (see Zuckerman v. City of New York, 49 N.Y.2d 557, 562, 427 N.Y.S.2d 595, 404 N.E.2d 718;  Indig v. Finkelstein, 23 N.Y.2d 728, 729, 296 N.Y.S.2d 370, 244 N.E.2d 61).

The plaintiff's remaining contentions are without merit.