Court Opinion

ID: 7361108
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-27 14:00:21.068174+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:20:35.403443
License: Public Domain

21-1972
Mochary v. Bergstein

                           UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                               FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT
                                    ______________

                                      August Term 2021

                       (Argued: March 17, 2022 | Decided: July 27, 2022)

                                     Docket No. 21-1972

                                  MATTHEW MOCHARY,

                                               Plaintiff-Appellant,

                                              v.

                                     SETH BERGSTEIN,

                                              Defendant-Appellee.
                                       ______________

Before:
                       JACOBS, POOLER, and WESLEY Circuit Judges.

       Plaintiff-Appellant Matthew Mochary appeals from a judgment of the
United States District Court for the District of Connecticut (Bolden, J.) dismissing
on abstention grounds his complaint asserting claims of replevin, conversion, and
statutory theft relating to a Jackson Pollock collage. Mochary argues, inter alia, that
the district court erred in abstaining under Colorado River Water Conservation
District v. United States, 424 U.S. 800 (1976) because (1) the state and federal actions
are not “concurrent and parallel” since they involve different parties, different
issues, and different remedies; and (2) his claims will not become moot if the state
court finds the collage is part of Defendant-Appellee Seth Bergstein’s marital
estate because Mochary is not a party to the divorce action and the state court will
not adjudicate his claims. We agree.
       Alternatively, Bergstein urges that abstention is warranted under the
domestic relations exception or the abstention doctrine set forth in American
Airlines, Inc. v. Block, 905 F.2d 12 (2d Cir. 1990) (per curiam). We disagree.
       Accordingly, we VACATE the dismissal and REMAND for further
proceedings consistent with this opinion.
                                   _________________

            STEVEN M. FREDERICK, Wofsey, Rosen, Kweskin & Kuriansky,
                LLP, Stamford, CT (Zachary J. Phillipps, Wofsey, Rosen,
                Kweskin & Kuriansky, LLP, Stamford, CT, on the brief), for
                Plaintiff-Appellant.

            HOWARD K. LEVINE, Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP,
               New Haven, CT, for Defendant-Appellee.

                                _________________

WESLEY, Circuit Judge:

      This case arises from a dispute over a Jackson Pollock collage (the “Collage”)

allegedly owned by Matthew Mochary. Mochary contends he loaned the Collage

to Seth Bergstein and his wife/Mochary’s sister.       When Mochary discovered

Bergstein was not properly caring for the Collage, he sought to have it returned.

Bergstein refused. Mochary filed a diversity action in district court asserting

claims of replevin, conversion, and statutory theft.

                                         2
      Bergstein moved to dismiss the complaint under Rule 12(b)(6), arguing that,

because he was claiming the Collage as marital property in the divorce action, the

district court should abstain from hearing the matter under Colorado River Water

Conservation District v. United States, 424 U.S. 800 (1976). Bergstein also argued that

the district court should abstain under the domestic relations exception, or the

abstention doctrine articulated in American Airlines, Inc. v. Block, 905 F.2d 12 (2d

Cir. 1990) (per curiam). The United States District Court for the District of

Connecticut (Bolden, J.) dismissed Mochary’s claims, holding that as divorce

proceedings had commenced and the Superior Court of Connecticut had exercised

jurisdiction over the marital estate, adjudicating Mochary’s claims would interfere

with the state parallel proceedings in a way that should be avoided as instructed

by Colorado River.

      Mochary appealed. For the reasons below, we vacate the district court’s

order dismissing the complaint on abstention grounds and remand for further

proceedings consistent with this opinion.

                                          3
                                      BACKGROUND

         Facts

         The Collage at issue was created by Jackson Pollock in 1943. Its current fair

market value is approximately $175,000.00. The Collage “is a unique, original

work of art that has been in the possession of Mochary’s family for decades”—

Mochary’s mother purchased the Collage in 1978. Joint App’x 8. 1 Mochary

contends that beginning in 1996, his mother began annually gifting fractional

shares of ownership of the Collage to him resulting in his “complete ownership”

of the Collage by 2012. Joint App’x 8.

         Under a Loan Agreement executed in 2004 (see Joint App’x 35 (Exhibit C)),

Mochary and his mother loaned the Collage to the Kasser Foundation for the

purpose of relending the Collage for exhibition. In 2016, the Collage was loaned

to Alexandra Kasser—Bergstein’s wife and Mochary’s sister. 2 The Collage was

displayed at Bergstein and Kasser’s home in Greenwich, Connecticut with the

conditions that it be insured, properly maintained, and immediately returned

1   The invoice depicting the sale is attached to the complaint as Exhibit A.
2While the complaint is silent in this regard, the parties do not dispute that Bergstein’s
wife, Alexandra Kasser, is Mochary’s sister. See Joint App’x 73 (n.1); Appellant Br. 3;
Appellee Br. 1.
                                               4
upon request. The Collage remained at the Greenwich home from 2016 through

2020 when it was removed pursuant to a stipulation entered into by the parties

and so-ordered by the district court. 3

         In late 2018, Kasser commenced a divorce action against Bergstein in

Connecticut Superior Court, which—as of argument before this Court—remains

pending. 4 Shortly after filing for divorce, Kasser vacated the Greenwich home,

leaving Bergstein in sole possession of the Collage. The complaint alleges that

Bergstein was not properly caring for the Collage, causing serious and permanent

damage to it. In May 2020, Mochary notified Bergstein that he owned the Collage

and demanded retrieval of it within thirty days. After Bergstein failed to respond,

Mochary’s curator attempted to coordinate return of the Collage, but Bergstein

refused.

3 As discussed further below, the district court approved the parties’ stipulation
governing removal of the Collage from the Greenwich home and its care during the
pendency of this case. The parties agreed to abide by the arrangement in place during
the pendency of this appeal. See Appellant Br. 4 (n.1); see also Joint App’x 3 (Dkt. 18).
4   Oral Arg. at 3:31–3:36.
                                           5
         Procedural History

         Following Bergstein’s refusal to return the Collage, Mochary filed this action

in the District Court of Connecticut asserting claims for replevin, conversion, and

statutory theft and seeking immediate possession of the Collage and money

damages. Mochary alleged federal jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332 based

upon the parties’ diverse citizenship and the amount in controversy. 5 At the same

time, Mochary also moved for a temporary restraining order and an injunction to

enjoin Bergstein from disposing of the Collage, and to require a professional

curator to care for, protect, and properly preserve the Collage.

         In August 2020, following a conference with the district court, the parties

agreed by stipulation on the care of the Collage during the case. The stipulation

provided that an art conservator, selected by Mochary, would inspect the Collage,

and have it moved to an art storage facility at Mochary’s sole cost and expense

during the pendency of the litigation until the court adjudicated the Collage’s

ownership. The district court approved the stipulation and entered an order

5   Mochary is a citizen of California and Bergstein is a citizen of Connecticut.
                                               6
consistent with the stipulation dismissing the temporary restraining order

application as moot.

      Bergstein then moved to dismiss the complaint under Rule 12(b)(6),

principally on the ground that the court lacked jurisdiction under the domestic

relations exception to diversity jurisdiction because the Collage was a subject of

dispute in the state court divorce action. In the alternative, Bergstein argued the

district court should abstain from hearing the matter under the abstention

doctrines articulated in Colorado River, American Airlines, or Younger v. Harris, 401

U.S. 37 (1971). Mochary argued that abstention was not appropriate under any

doctrine.

      The district court determined it had diversity jurisdiction over the action

under 28 U.S.C. § 1332. The district court granted Bergstein’s motion to dismiss

holding that Colorado River abstention was appropriate given that state divorce

proceedings had commenced, the Superior Court of Connecticut had exercised

jurisdiction over the marital estate, and adjudicating Mochary’s claims would

interfere with the state court parallel proceedings, which, under Colorado River,

should be avoided. The district court held that if the Superior Court of Connecticut

                                         7
determined the Collage is part of the marital estate, then Mochary’s claims “would

become moot.” Joint App’x 86. The court granted Mochary leave to refile the

complaint “[i]f the Superior Court finds the Collage is not a marital asset.” Id. The

district court declined to abstain under any of the other abstention doctrines

pressed by Bergstein. Mochary appealed.

                                   DISCUSSION

I.    Abstention

      Abstaining from exercising federal jurisdiction “is the exception, not the

rule.” Colorado River, 424 U.S. at 813. Where a federal court has subject matter

jurisdiction, it has a “’virtually unflagging obligation to exercise that jurisdiction,’

even if an action concerning the same matter is pending in state court.” Bethlehem

Contracting Co. v. Lehrer/McGovern, Inc., 800 F.2d 325, 327 (2d Cir. 1986) (quoting

Colorado River, 424 U.S. at 817).      “The abstention doctrine comprises a few

extraordinary and narrow exceptions to a federal court’s duty to exercise its

jurisdiction,” and “[i]n this analysis, the balance is heavily weighted in favor of the

exercise of jurisdiction.” Woodford v. Cmty. Action Agency of Greene Cty., Inc., 239

F.3d 517, 522 (2d Cir. 2001). Abstention was “never a doctrine of equity that a

federal court should exercise its judicial discretion to dismiss a suit merely because

                                           8
a State court could entertain it.” Colorado River, 424 U.S. at 814 (internal quotation

marks omitted).

       “We review a district court’s abstention decision for abuse of discretion.”

Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. v. Hudson River-Black River Regulating Dist., 673 F.3d

84, 99 (2d Cir. 2012).     Although abuse of discretion is usually a deferential

standard, in the abstention context our review “is especially rigorous.”              Id.

(quoting Planned Parenthood of Dutchess-Ulster, Inc. v. Steinhaus, 60 F.3d 122, 126 (2d

Cir. 1995)). “[B]ecause we are considering an exception to a court’s normal duty

to adjudicate a controversy properly before it, the district court’s discretion must

be exercised within the narrow and specific limits prescribed by the particular

abstention doctrine involved.” Id. (quoting Dittmer v. Cty. of Suffolk, 146 F.3d 113,

116 (2d Cir. 1998)). Accordingly, where a case does not meet traditional abstention

requirements “there is little to no discretion to abstain.” Id.

      Colorado River Abstention

      In Colorado River, the Supreme Court held that, in addition to previously

established categories of abstention, in certain “exceptional circumstances” a

federal court may abstain from exercising jurisdiction where an existing parallel

state-court   litigation   would   accomplish     a   “comprehensive    disposition   of
                                          9
litigation.” 424 U.S. at 813, 817–18 (emphasis added). In conducting a Colorado

River analysis, courts are directed to make a threshold determination “that the

concurrent proceedings are parallel.” Dittmer, 146 F.3d at 118 (holding that finding

the concurrent proceedings are “parallel is a necessary prerequisite to abstention

under Colorado River”). “Suits are parallel when substantially the same parties are

contemporaneously litigating substantially the same issue in another forum.” Id.

(internal quotation marks omitted).

      Colorado River identified six factors that courts should consider in

determining whether “exceptional circumstances” justify abstention:

      (1) whether the controversy involves a res over which one of the
      courts has assumed jurisdiction; (2) whether the federal forum is less
      inconvenient than the other for the parties; (3) whether staying or
      dismissing the federal action will avoid piecemeal litigation; (4) the
      order in which the actions were filed, and whether proceedings have
      advanced more in one forum than in the other; (5) whether federal
      law provides the rule of decision; and (6) whether the state
      procedures are adequate to protect the plaintiff’s federal rights.

Niagara, 673 F.3d at 100–01.      None of these factors alone “is necessarily

determinative.” Colorado River, 424 U.S. at 818–19. Rather, “a carefully considered

judgment” accounting for “both the obligation to exercise jurisdiction and the

combination of factors counselling against that exercise is required.” Id. “[T]he
                                        10
decision whether to dismiss a federal action because of parallel state-court

litigation does not rest on a mechanical checklist, but on a careful balancing of the

important factors as they apply in a given case, with the balance heavily weighted

in favor of the exercise of jurisdiction.” Moses H. Cone Mem'l Hosp. v. Mercury

Constr. Corp., 460 U.S. 1, 16 (1983). “Only the clearest of justifications will warrant

dismissal.” Colorado River, 424 U.S. at 819.

       Mochary argues the district court erred in abstaining under Colorado River

because the state and federal actions are not “concurrent and parallel” as each

involve different parties, different issues, and different remedies. We agree. The

federal and state proceedings at issue here are not parallel; the parties and relief

sought are not the same. Mochary is not a party to the state divorce action, and

his sister is not a party to the federal court action. The issues and relief sought are

distinct:   the state action involves domestic relations concerns as well as

identification and distribution of marital property while Mochary raises claims

related to ownership and care of the Collage—tort claims against only Bergstein

seeking replevin of the Collage and monetary damages for conversion and civil

                                          11
theft. 6 Mere “commonality in subject matter” does not render actions parallel. See

Dittmer, 146 F.3d at 118 (holding district court abused its discretion in abstaining

under Colorado River where, inter alia, “[n]one of the plaintiffs in [the federal action]

were involved in the state case”).

      Mochary also argues the district court erred in analyzing the Colorado River

factors. While we need not address the district court’s analysis of the six factors to

vacate its order of dismissal because a finding of parallelism is “a necessary

prerequisite to abstention under Colorado River,” id. at 118, we reiterate that courts

deciding whether to abstain under Colorado River must carefully consider each of

the factors. At a minimum, here, the district court also needed to consider that the

disputed property was held pursuant to a federal court order, the relative progress

of the state and federal actions beyond the timing of their commencement, and

whether a parallel state action would adequately protect the parties’ interests. See,

6 See All. of Am. Insurers v. Cuomo, 854 F.2d 591, 603 (2d Cir. 1988) (holding that where
there were differences in parties between two actions and plaintiffs were not participants
in the state action that was a “strong factor against” invoking abstention as a basis for
dismissal); Sheerbonnet, Ltd. v. Am. Exp. Bank Ltd., 17 F.3d 46, 50 (2d Cir. 1994) (holding
proceedings were not parallel and concurrent where they “involve[d] different subject
matters and different forms of relief”—tort claims seeking damages were distinct from
creditor’s claims of entitlement to third party’s assets).
                                            12
e.g., Bethlehem Contracting, 800 F.2d at 328 (explaining that “the district court’s

failure to consider factors weighing against dismissal had the result of turning the

presumption in favor of exercising jurisdiction on its head”).7

       The district court ultimately concluded that Mochary’s claims “would

become moot” if the state court finds the Collage is part of Bergstein’s marital

estate. 8 This was error. Nothing suggests the state court overseeing the divorce

proceeding would or could adjudicate Mochary’s tort claims. The district court

did not explain how Mochary’s claims “would become moot” if the Collage was

designated as marital property in the state action, given that Mochary’s tort claims

(premised on ownership of the Collage) are not before the state court, and he is

not a party to the divorce proceeding. A divorce decree awarding the Collage to

Bergstein as marital property will not extinguish Mochary’s claims for replevin,

7Although this case lacks the parallelism to support abstention under Colorado River, we
acknowledge that two courts appear to have been tasked with allocating the same
property among distinct parties. Judicial economy would be served by having one court
determine ownership of the Collage in a proceeding where all parties’ interests and rights
are adequately protected.
8See Joint App’x 86 (holding “[i]f the [state court] finds the Collage is part of the marital
estate . . . the claims brought forth by Mr. Mochary would become moot.”).
                                             13
conversion, and statutory theft. 9 Mochary’s claims would not be mooted by

collateral estoppel or res judicata as Mochary is a stranger to the divorce

proceeding.

      The district court seemed to concede the state proceeding would not

comprehensively resolve Mochary’s claims when it recognized that a finding in

state court that the Collage is not a marital asset would give new life to Mochary’s

claims. Anticipating that possibility, the district court granted Mochary leave to

refile his complaint upon that contingency.

      None of Bergstein’s contrary arguments have merit. First, Bernstein argues

Mochary’s interests are protected in the divorce because Kasser, Mochary’s sister,

has “congruent interests” and the incentive to disprove her ownership of the

9 Connecticut, unlike other jurisdictions, does not “require the joinder of a third party
claimant in order to dispose of the disputed property” in a divorce proceeding. Gaudio
v. Gaudio, 23 Conn. App. 287, 294 (Conn. App. Ct. 1990). The prevailing rule, including
in Connecticut, “holds that although the spouses are ordinarily the only proper parties to
a dissolution action, joinder or intervention of third parties is permissible where third
parties claim an interest in property involved in the proceedings.” Id. at 293. (emphasis
added). This is not a case where one spouse accuses the other of fraudulently conveying
marital property out of the estate. Here, the claim is that neither husband nor wife owns
the Collage. In Gaudio, the plaintiff-wife brought an action for dissolution of marriage
and fraudulent conveyance against her husband. Id. at 287. The plaintiff-wife then
moved to join a third-party defendant as to the fraudulent transfer count only. Id.
                                           14
Collage in the divorce. Appellee Br. 11. But Bergstein cites no case law (or support

in the record) compelling the conclusion that the siblings have identical interests.

         Further, Bergstein’s arguments are internally inconsistent and speculative:

He argues both that “Kasser’s interest in the Collage is, at present, identical to

[Mochary’s claim]” 10 and that Mochary’s interests “are not necessarily adversarial

to [Kasser’s interests].” Appellee Br. 11–12. But Bergstein also contends that

Kasser claims she—not Mochary—owns the Collage in the divorce, see id. at 25.

That, of course, confirms that their interests are incongruent and undermines

Bergstein’s assertion that the proceedings are parallel notwithstanding the

different parties. There is no reason to assume Mochary’s sister will adequately

represent his interests in the state court proceeding. 11

         Finally, Bergstein claims that the lack of identity of the parties is a result of

Mochary’s “strategic litigation decision” not to intervene in divorce proceedings

and accuses Mochary of “sitting on his rights.” Appellee Br. 13. But “the pendency

10   Mochary does not claim the Collage is jointly owned by him and his sister.
11Cf. Bethlehem Contracting Co., 800 F.2d at 328 (“[Th]e possibility that the state court
proceeding might adequately protect the interests of the parties is not enough to justify
the district court’s deference to the state action.”).
                                             15
of an action in the state court is no bar to proceedings concerning the same matter

in the Federal court having jurisdiction,” Colorado River, 424 U.S. at 817, and our

case law has never obligated federal plaintiffs to intervene in state court

proceedings to bring claims properly subject to federal court jurisdiction.

Mochary’s right to federal court is not dependent on the lack of a state court

remedy.     None of the out-of-circuit cases cited by Bergstein impose such a

requirement. 12    And such a requirement is inconsistent with federal courts’

12 See Appellee Br. 13–15. For example, in Baseline Sports, Inc. v. Third Base Sports, 341 F.
Supp. 2d 605 (E.D. Va. 2004), the court abstained where the federal plaintiff and
defendant were both parties to the federal and state court actions. The district court
declined to deny abstention simply because there were additional parties not named in
the state suit. See id. at 609. Here, unlike the federal plaintiff in Baseline Sports, Mochary
was not first sued by the defendant in state court over identical facts before bringing this
suit in federal court. In Lumen Const., Inc. v. Brant Const. Co., 780 F.2d 691, 695 (7th Cir.
1985), the Seventh Circuit concluded that where newly added plaintiffs were the owners
of the federal plaintiff company, abstention was still appropriate because the district
court could conclude all claims would be finally determined in the state court action. The
court faulted federal plaintiff Lumen, a party to the state court proceeding, for not joining
its owners (the new parties in the federal suit) in the state court action. Again, the
situation here is inapposite. This is not a case where the federal plaintiff was a party in
the state action and then sued in federal court and added additional parties. Mochary,
unlike Lumen, was never a party in the state action at all.
       And if ownership of the Collage was at issue in the divorce proceeding, Bergstein
offers no explanation for why he did not move to join Mochary in the dissolution
proceedings when Mochary sought return of the Collage before this suit commenced. In
Aarestrup v. Harwood-Aarestrup, 868 A.2d 817, 819 (Conn. Super. Ct. 2005), the Superior
Court noted that a third party’s participation in an action for dissolution of marriage is

                                             16
virtually unflagging obligation to exercise their jurisdiction. Bergstein’s claim that

his wife would become a necessary party on remand does not change the analysis.

Because we conclude the proceedings are not concurrent and parallel, we vacate

the dismissal.

       Other Abstention Doctrines

       In the alternative, Bergstein urges us to abstain under the domestic relations

exception or the abstention doctrine set forth in American Airlines. 13 Neither

doctrine applies here.

       The domestic relations exception to diversity jurisdiction provides that

federal courts will not exercise jurisdiction over cases on the subjects of divorce,

alimony, or the custody of children. See Ankenbrandt v. Richards, 504 U.S. 689, 704

“expressly limited to cases in which the presence of the third party is required in order
to adjudicate the property rights of the parties to the dissolution” and that courts could
not be expected to speculate about the existence of any third party that may have interest
in the marital property. Id. Indeed, the court recognized that nearly all of the cases it had
found permitting a third party to join a dissolution action between spouses occurred
where one of the existing parties (i.e., spouses) sought to join that third party. See id. The
court found only one Superior Court case where a court permitted an outside party to
intervene by its own motion. See id.
13 On appeal, Appellee does not advance arguments pertaining to Younger abstention and
thus, we need not address it. See Graves v. Finch Pruyn & Co., 457 F.3d 181, 184 (2d Cir.
2006) (argument not pressed on appeal is “therefore waived, and we will not consider
it.”).
                                             17
(1992) (concluding that the domestic relations exception did not apply to tort

claims between an ex-wife and her ex-husband and his female companion for

alleged abuse of petitioners). 14 As the district court correctly concluded, because

this case does not involve issuing or modifying such a decree, and is brought by a

third-party plaintiff, the domestic relations exception does not apply.

       This Court’s decision in American Airlines applied domestic relations

abstention beyond diversity cases to federal-question jurisdiction cases. See Deem

v. DiMella-Deem, 941 F.3d 618, 621 (2d Cir. 2019) (“Although the domestic relations

exception to subject matter jurisdiction recognized by the Supreme Court

in Ankenbrandt [] does not apply in federal-question cases, the domestic relations

14In Ankenbrandt, the Supreme Court suggested the doctrine would not apply to third
parties such as the female companion defendant, who otherwise stands in the same
position with respect to the plaintiff as any other opponent in a tort suit. 504 U.S. at n.7.
Specifically, the Supreme Court noted:
       The courts below offered no explanation, and we are aware of none, why
       the domestic relations exception applies at all to respondent Kesler [female
       companion of ex-husband], who would appear to stand in the same
       position with respect to Ankenbrandt as any other opponent in a tort suit
       brought in federal court pursuant to diversity jurisdiction.
Id. Our sister circuits have declined to apply the domestic relations exception to third
parties. See, e.g., Matusow v. Trans-Cty. Title Agency, LLC, 545 F.3d 241, 247 (3d Cir. 2008)
(“The domestic relations exception generally does not apply to third parties”); Stone v.
Wall, 135 F.3d 1438, 1441 (11th Cir. 1998) (same).
                                             18
abstention doctrine articulated in American Airlines does.” (internal quotation

marks omitted)). American Airlines, a federal-question interpleader case, involved

a dispute between former spouses over ongoing matrimonial support obligations

arising out of a state divorce decree. 905 F.2d at 13. This Court held that where

“subject matter jurisdiction lies over a particular matrimonial action, federal courts

may properly abstain from adjudicating such actions in view of the greater interest

and expertise of state courts in this field.” Id. at 14.

      Even assuming, arguendo, American Airlines could apply in diversity cases

after Ankenbrandt, 15 the exception does not apply here for the same reasons stated

above—this suit is not a domestic relations dispute and does not involve issuing

or altering divorce, alimony, or custody decrees.

                                   CONCLUSION

      For the reasons stated above, we VACATE the order of the district court and

REMAND for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

15In determining that American Airlines remained good law following Ankenbrandt, this
Court relied on the fact that American Airlines applied to federal question cases, not
diversity cases. See Deem, 941 F.3d at 623–24. We need not decide whether in a case
premised on diversity jurisdiction, as is the case here, Ankenbrandt’s narrow domestic
relations exception controls.
                                           19