FOREIGN DEFENDANTS’ USE OF A NEW YORK CORRESPONDENT BANK ACCOUNT IN A SWISS BANK PROVIDED JURISDICTION OVER A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE BANK BY A SAUDI NATIONAL.
The Court of Appeals, in a full-fledged opinion by Judge Rivera, over a three-judge dissent and a concurrence, reversing Supreme Court, determined money-laundering transactions using a correspondent bank account in a New York branch of a Swiss bank provided jurisdiction over a lawsuit involving foreign parties. The individual plaintiff is a Saudi resident and co-owner of plaintiff corporation which builds oil rigs. Plaintiffs alleged three of its employees received bribes and kickbacks which were then deposited in defendant-bank (Pictet, based in Geneva) using a correspondent bank account in New York State:
We conclude that defendants’ use of the correspondent bank accounts was purposeful and that plaintiffs’ aiding and abetting and conspiracy claims arise from these transactions. … [T]he requirements of CPLR 302 (a)(1) are satisfied where the quantity and quality of contacts establish a “course of dealing” with New York, and the transaction and claim are not “merely coincidental” … . * * *
… [T]he defendants actively used a correspondent bank to further a scheme that caused harm. … [T]he defendants’ use of the New York account to transfer money provided the employees with the “laundered” profits from the bribery and kickback scheme. Also, … defendants used the correspondent account in New York “to move the necessary” money … . * * *
Here, the money laundering could not proceed without the use of the correspondent bank account, and, as plaintiffs argue, their claims require proof that the bribes and kickbacks were in fact paid. Rushaid v Pictet & Cie, 2016 NY Slip Op 07834, CtApp 11-22-16
CIVIL PROCEDURE (FOREIGN DEFENDANTS’ USE OF A NEW YORK CORRESPONDENT BANK ACCOUNT IN A SWISS BANK PROVIDED JURISDICTION OVER A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE BANK BY A SAUDI NATIONAL)/JURISDICTION (FOREIGN DEFENDANTS’ USE OF A NEW YORK CORRESPONDENT BANK ACCOUNT IN A SWISS BANK PROVIDED JURISDICTION OVER A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE BANK BY A SAUDI NATIONAL)/BANKING LAW (FOREIGN DEFENDANTS’ USE OF A NEW YORK CORRESPONDENT BANK ACCOUNT IN A SWISS BANK PROVIDED JURISDICTION OVER A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE BANK BY A SAUDI NATIONAL)