Court Opinion

ID: 2981570
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-22 19:41:11.539426+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:44:08.403537
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                            File Name: 12a1230n.06

                                           No. 11-3703

                          UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                               FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT

                                                                                       FILED
JOSEPH J. KORFF,                                    )                              Nov 28, 2012
                                                    )                        DEBORAH S. HUNT, Clerk
       Plaintiff - Appellant,                       )
                                                    )
       v.                                           )
                                                    )        ON APPEAL FROM THE UNITED
HILTON RESORTS CORPORATION,                         )        STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR
d/b/a HILTON GRAND VACATIONS,                       )        THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF
                                                    )        OHIO
       Defendant - Appellee.                        )

       Before:         CLAY and SUTTON, Circuit Judges; and RICE, District Judge.*

       RICE, District Judge. Joseph Korff appeals from the district court’s order granting Hilton

Resorts Corporation’s motion to dismiss under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). Korff maintains that he

was fraudulently induced to purchase a timeshare plan based on oral representations made by a

Hilton Resorts salesperson. The district court held that because the timeshare contract contained a

specific merger clause disclaiming all oral representations of any salesperson, extrinsic evidence of

those statements was inadmissible under New York law, and that Korff therefore failed to state a

claim upon which relief can be granted. Because we find that the district court erred in classifying

the clause as a specific merger clause, we reverse the judgment of the district court, and remand for

further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

       *
         The Honorable Walter Herbert Rice, United States District Judge for the Southern
District of Ohio, sitting by designation.
No. 11-3703
Korff v. Hilton Resorts Corp.

                                                  I.

       In January of 2010, Korff, a business owner, attended a Hilton Resorts timeshare presentation

in New York City. He told the salesperson, Stephanie Abrams, that he was not interested in

purchasing a timeshare plan for himself, but would consider making a purchase if his employees

could use the plan to stay at Hilton properties at a reduced cost. Abrams told Korff that she owned

a timeshare in the same program, and she assured him that he could use the plan to save money on

his employees’ accommodations. According to Abrams, each point accumulated under the plan was

worth $1.00, and the cost of a hotel room was about $100 per night. Abrams stated that she would

be his sole point of contact for booking the rooms, and that his assistant could make the reservations.

In reliance on these statements, Korff purchased a timeshare plan for $99,900.

       When Korff’s assistant first attempted to use the timeshare plan to book a hotel room for

Korff’s employees, however, she learned that a 3-day stay would cost several thousand points. She

was also told that she was not permitted to book rooms on Korff’s behalf. When Korff complained,

he learned that Abrams no longer worked for Hilton. A different Hilton representative told him that

the timeshare program he had purchased was not intended to be used in the manner described by

Abrams.

       Korff filed suit, alleging four counts of fraud in the inducement. He claimed that Abrams

misrepresented that: (1) she was an owner in the program; (2) he could save a significant amount of

money on Hilton hotel rooms if he purchased the timeshare; (3) she would be the single point of

contact; and (4) Korff’s assistant would be able to book hotel rooms for his employees. Korff

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No. 11-3703
Korff v. Hilton Resorts Corp.

alleged that he justifiably relied on these statements to his detriment. He sought to rescind the

contract and asked for restitution and punitive damages.

       Hilton filed a motion to dismiss under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6), arguing that Korff had failed

to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. In support, Hilton cited the following merger

clause contained in paragraph 12(a) of the timeshare contract:

       The “Contract Documents” consist of: (a) this Purchase Agreement; (b) the Deed; (c)
       the Note and Mortgage; (d) the Statement of Understanding; and (e) any changes to
       these documents. All changes must be in writing and each party who has any duty
       under the change must sign them. The entire agreement between you and the Seller
       will be contained in the Contract Documents. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT
       YOU ARE TOLD OR SHOWN, OR WHAT YOU MAY TELL OR SHOW THE
       SALESPEOPLE. ONLY WHAT IS WRITTEN IN THESE DOCUMENTS IS A
       PART OF THE CONTRACT DOCUMENTS. YOU REALIZE: (1) OFTEN
       PEOPLE DO NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER, ESPECIALLY
       WHEN THEY SPEAK AND DO NOT WRITE DOWN WHAT IS SAID AND (2)
       THE SELLER IS NOT PRESENT TO HEAR AND CONTROL WHAT
       SALESPEOPLE MAY TELL OR SHOW YOU. SINCE THE SELLER DOESN’T
       KNOW AND CANNOT CONTROL EVERYTHING THAT IS SAID, AND TO
       AVOID MISUNDERSTANDINGS, ALL OF THE AGREEMENTS BETWEEN
       YOU AND THE SELLER ARE TO BE IN WRITING IN THE CONTRACT
       DOCUMENTS. YOU AND THE SELLER AGREE THAT NO ONE HAS
       PROMISED ANYTHING, EXCEPT WHAT IS WRITTEN IN THEM.

       The “Statement of Understanding” further provided that “[y]ou should not rely upon any oral

representations as the basis for your purchase but rather only upon the purchase agreement and

attendant documents provided at purchase.” Hilton argued that because Korff had expressly

disclaimed reliance on any statements made by salespeople, he was barred from presenting extrinsic

evidence to support his claims of fraudulent inducement. The district court agreed.

       Under New York law, which governs the claims pursuant to a choice-of-law provision in the

contract, the parol evidence rule generally bars proof of oral representations offered to refute the

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No. 11-3703
Korff v. Hilton Resorts Corp.

terms of a written, integrated contract. O’Hearn v. Bodyonics, Ltd., 22 F. Supp. 2d 7, 13 (E.D.N.Y.

1998). The rule, however, is “‘ineffectual to exclude evidence of fraudulent representations’ in an

action to rescind a contract or to recover loss sustained as a result of fraudulent inducement.” Cirillo

v. Slomin’s Inc., 768 N.Y.S.2d 759, 766 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 2003) (quoting Sabo v. Delman, 143 N.E.2d
906 (N.Y. 1957)). In such cases, the admissibility of extrinsic evidence turns on whether the contract

contains a general merger clause or a specific merger clause. A general merger clause essentially

states that the parties acknowledge that the written agreement supersedes all prior agreements and

constitutes the entire agreement between them. It disclaims reliance on any and all prior oral

representations. When the contract contains a general merger clause, extrinsic evidence is

admissible to prove fraud in the inducement. Id.

        In contrast, a specific merger clause disclaims reliance on specific prior oral representations.

When the contract expressly disclaims reliance on the same subject matter the plaintiff now claims

is fraudulent, extrinsic evidence is inadmissible to prove fraud in the inducement. Id. In Danann

Realty Corp. v. Harris, 157 N.E.2d 597, 599 (N.Y. 1959), the court explained that this is because

“[s]uch a specific disclaimer destroys the allegation in plaintiff’s complaint that the agreement was

executed in reliance upon these contrary oral representations.”

        In Danann, for example, the plaintiff alleged that he was fraudulently induced to enter into

a commercial lease based on false representations concerning the operating expenses of the building

and the profits that could be derived from the investment. The contract, however, contained a

merger clause which expressly stated that the Seller had made no representations concerning the

“physical condition, rents, leases, expenses, [or] operation” of the premises and that the Purchaser

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No. 11-3703
Korff v. Hilton Resorts Corp.

acknowledged that no such representations had been made. Id. at 598. Because the merger clause

specifically and directly disclaimed reliance on the very subject matter the plaintiff now claimed was

fraudulent, the court concluded that the plaintiff could not present extrinsic evidence of the prior oral

representations. Id. at 600.

        In Korff’s case, the district court found that the timeshare contract contained a specific

merger clause because “[r]ather than generally disclaiming reliance on all oral representations, Hilton

specifically disclaimed reliance on oral representations by the salesperson.” Then, quoting Danann,

the court found that Korff had “in the plainest language announced and stipulated that [he] is not

relying on any representations as to the very matter as to which [he] now claims [he] was defrauded.”

Citing Marine Midland Bank, N.A. v. Walsh, 689 N.Y.S.2d 288, 289 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 1999), the

district court further found that even though the contract made no reference to the specific oral

representations that comprised the subject matter of Korff’s fraudulent inducement claims, the

language used was “sufficiently strong” to overcome any reliance on Abrams’ statements, and that

extrinsic evidence of those statements was therefore barred by the parol evidence rule. The court

dismissed Korff’s claims, concluding that because evidence of the alleged fraud was inadmissible,

Korff failed to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Korff appealed.

                                                   II.

        We review de novo the district court’s order granting Hilton’s motion to dismiss under Fed.

R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Inge v. Rock Fin.

Corp., 281 F.3d 613, 619 (6th Cir. 2002). We conclude that the district court erred in granting that

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No. 11-3703
Korff v. Hilton Resorts Corp.

motion because, in classifying the provision at issue as a specific merger clause, the court incorrectly

applied New York law.

       As the court explained in Danann, a specific merger clause disclaims reliance on

representations concerning the very same subject matter that forms the basis of the fraudulent

inducement claim. 157 N.E.2d at 599. Under New York law, “a merger clause must address ‘the

very matter as to which [the party] now claims it was defrauded’ in order to bar introduction of parol

evidence to prove the alleged fraud.” Icebox-Scoops v. Finanz St. Honore, B.V., 676 F. Supp. 2d 100,

112 (E.D.N.Y. 2009) (quoting Danann, 157 N.E.2d at 599)). In other words, the contract “must

contain explicit disclaimers of the particular representations that form the basis of the fraud-in-the-

inducement claim.” Manufacturers Hanover Trust Co. v. Yanakas, 7 F.3d 310, 316 (2d Cir. 1993)

(interpreting New York law).

       The relevant question is whether the “oral representations . . . directly contradict a specific

provision in the agreement.” Fierro v. Gallucci, No. 06-cv-5189, 2008 WL 2039545, at *13

(E.D.N.Y. May 12, 2008); see also Century Pacific, Inc. v. Hilton Hotels Corp., 528 F. Supp. 2d
206, 229 (S.D.N.Y. 2007) (the merger clause must expressly reference “a specific subject of prior

representations”); Caiola v. Citibank, N.A., 295 F.3d 312, 330 (2d Cir. 2002) (a disclaimer bars

extrinsic evidence only when its substance “tracks the substance of the alleged misrepresentation”);

Internet Law Library, Inc. v. Southridge Capital Mgmt., LLC, No. 01 Civ. 6600, 2005 WL 3370542,

at *4 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 12, 2005) (a specific disclaimer must “speak directly to the matter at issue in

order to preclude a claim of fraud in the inducement”).

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No. 11-3703
Korff v. Hilton Resorts Corp.

       In this case, the oral representations on which Korff allegedly relied concerned Abrams’

ownership in the same timeshare program, Korff’s ability to use the timeshare program to save

money on hotel rooms, Abrams’ role as Korff’s sole point of contact, and the ability of Korff’s

assistant to book rooms on his behalf. Not one of these topics is addressed in the merger clause.1

Instead, the merger clause broadly disclaims reliance on any “oral representations by the

salesperson.”

       Because the disclaimer does not address the specific subject matter that forms the basis for

Korff’s claims, it must be construed as a general merger clause under New York law. The fact that

it disclaims reliance only on those statements made “by the salesperson” does not change anything.

In fraudulent inducement cases, the oral representations at issue are quite often made by a

salesperson or some other company representative. In determining whether the merger clause is

general or specific, the relevant question is not who made the oral representation, but rather whether

the substance of the oral representation and the disclaimer “address common topics.” See Wall v.

CSX Transp., Inc., 471 F.3d 410, 417 (2d Cir. 2006) (interpreting New York law).

       A very similar clause was at issue in Cirillo v. Slomin’s Inc., 768 N.Y.S.2d 759 (N.Y. Sup.

Ct. 2003), making that case particularly instructive. There, homeowners purchased a home alarm

       1
          Hilton notes that although Korff alleges that Abrams told him that the timeshare
program could be used to save money on hotel rooms for his employees, paragraph 13 of the
Statement of Understanding specifically states that the purchase should be based on “personal
vacation use and enjoyment and not with an expectation of financial or monetary advantage . . .”
The remainder of the quotation, however, defines “financial or monetary advantage” to include
“rental income,” or “price appreciation through resale or tax advantage.” It makes no mention of
any expectation of financial advantage when the purchaser uses his accumulated points to save
money on hotel rooms for his or her employees.

                                                  7
No. 11-3703
Korff v. Hilton Resorts Corp.

system based on numerous statements made by the salesperson. The salesperson generally discussed

the alarm system’s fail-safe nature and told them that it would not be compromised even if the

telephone wires were cut. This proved to be a false statement. The system failed to operate when

a burglar cut the telephone lines and broke into their house. The homeowners filed suit, alleging

fraudulent inducement.

        The contract at issue stated that it constituted the “full understanding of the parties” and that

there were “no oral Agreements, understandings or representations between the parties.” It also

stated that “[t]he salesman has no authority to change any terms or make representations other than

contained in this Agreement, and the buyer represents that none have been made to or relied upon

by the Buyer.” Id. at 766. The court found that these were general disclaimers because they did “not

identify any particular subject matter, let alone the very matter as to which plaintiffs claim they were

defrauded.” Id.

        In addition to these general disclaimers, however, the contract also stated that the company

made no representation that the alarm system may not be “circumvented, compromised, or defeated.”

The court found that this was a specific disclaimer that directly contradicted the salesperson’s

statement that the alarm system would work even if the telephone lines were cut. Interestingly

enough, the court allowed the homeowners to present extrinsic evidence of that statement anyway.

Id. at 767. The court noted that, unlike Danann, which involved an arms-length transaction between

sophisticated business people, this was a consumer transaction involving a boilerplate contract. The

court found that “the consumer must be afforded more protection and the reality of his contractual

statements must be examined more closely.” Id.

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No. 11-3703
Korff v. Hilton Resorts Corp.

        Upon whom or what else is the consumer supposed to rely? The merchant
        presumably trains and presents its salespersons to consumers for purposes of
        providing them with information about the company's product or service. Such
        merchant cannot be permitted to escape all responsibility for the information
        provided simply by including a disclaimer of authority in a form contract. It cannot
        cloak its agents with authority on the one hand, and then deny it on the other.

Id. at 768. “If the allegations state with particularity the oral representations relied upon, together

with contextual facts, in sufficient detail to permit the court to gauge their inherent credibility, then

the plaintiff should be permitted to go forward with his proof, notwithstanding the existence of a

specific disclaimer in the contract form.” Id.

        Hilton argues that Cirillo is inapplicable because Korff’s purchase was not a consumer

transaction. Rather, Korff purchased the timeshare plan with the intent of using it for business

purposes. But regardless of how Korff intended to use the plan, this was not an arms-length

transaction between two sophisticated business entities who were both represented by counsel.

Instead, this involved a standard, boilerplate contract, making it more akin to the consumer

transaction at issue in Cirillo. In any event, the court need not decide whether Korff’s timeshare

purchase was a consumer transaction or a business transaction. Regardless of the nature of the

transaction, the bottom line is that the contract contained a general merger clause rather than a

specific merger clause.

        The district court found that the language of the disclaimer was “sufficiently strong to

overcome any claim of reliance on oral statements.” In so holding, the court erroneously relied on

Marine Midland Bank N.A. v. Walsh, 689 N.Y.S.2d 288 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 1999). The defendant in

Marine Midland Bank alleged that he had been fraudulently induced to execute a loan guaranty based

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No. 11-3703
Korff v. Hilton Resorts Corp.

on oral representations that, in exchange for the guaranty, plaintiff would release a mortgage held

on the property. The guaranty at issue was “absolute and unconditional” and specifically stated that

it “shall not be changed or affected by any representation, oral agreement, act or thing whatsoever.”

Id. at 289. It was intended to be “the final, complete and exclusive expression of the agreement.”

Id. The court held that, although the guaranty made no mention of the subject matter of the fraud

claim, i.e., the release of the mortgage, the substance of the guaranty was sufficient to destroy the

defendant’s allegation that the guaranty was executed in reliance on a contrary oral representation.

Id.

       In support of this holding, the Marine Midland Bank court cited Citibank v. Plapinger, 485
N.E.2d 974 (N.Y. 1985), which involved an “absolute and unconditional” personal loan guaranty

of corporate officers. That guaranty was allegedly given in exchange for an oral agreement that the

bank would extend an additional multimillion-dollar line of credit to the corporation. It was

hammered out after “extended negotiations between sophisticated business people.” Id. at 977.

Moreover, it was an absolute guaranty irrespective of any lack of validity of the loan agreement and

of “any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a defense.” Id. The court held that it

was “unrealistic in such circumstances to expect an express stipulation that defendants were not

relying on a separate oral agreement to fund an additional multimillion dollar line of credit, when

they themselves have denominated their obligation unconditional.” Id.

       Marine Midland Bank and Plapinger do not apply to the facts of this case. The timeshare

contract does not contain any “absolute and unconditional” disclaimer, and it was not the result of

“extended negotiations between sophisticated business people.” Instead, it contains boilerplate

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No. 11-3703
Korff v. Hilton Resorts Corp.

language, generally disclaiming reliance on statements made by Hilton salespeople. In addition,

unlike the corporate officers in Plapinger, Korff did not agree to waive all defenses to the contract.

Under the circumstances presented here, the district court erred in holding that the language of the

disclaimer was “sufficiently strong” to disclaim all reliance on Abrams’ statements.

       The Second Circuit Court of Appeals has held that “the ruling in Plapinger does not

materially alter the principle established by Danann.” Yanakas, 7 F.3d at 316. The “touchstone”

is still specificity. If the disclaimer at issue does not specifically disclaim reliance on the subject

matter that forms the basis for the claim of fraudulent inducement, dismissal of the claim is

inappropriate. Id. at 316-17.

       Such is the case here. Because the merger clause at issue does not address the same subject

matter that forms the basis for Korff’s fraudulent inducement claims, it must be classified as a

general merger clause under New York law.                As such, evidence of Abrams’ alleged

misrepresentations is admissible to prove fraud in the inducement.

                                                 III.

        For the reasons set forth above, we REVERSE the district court’s order dismissing Korff’s

claims for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, and REMAND for further

proceedings consistent with this opinion.

                                                  11