EFTA01386064.pdf

amended complaint does not specify who within Citigroup or Citibank recommended the AIG investment, the defendants are aware of which of their employees are implicated in this matter. Moreover, the plaintiffs submit that the defendants are responsible for the "universal fungibility" of the Citigroup and Citibank names. The plaintiffs ask that this Court find that the amended complaint meets Rule 9(b)'s requirements, or, alternatively, permit them to replead their allegations of fraud under Federal Rule 15(a). (Pis.' Mem. Of Law in Opp'n to Mot. To Dismiss at 30-32, 39-41.) Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9(b) requires parties alleging fraud to describe the circumstances constituting fraud "with particularity? Rule 9(b) requires that the plaintiff "give( J defendants notice of the claims against them, provide( I an increased measure of protection for their reputations, and reduce[ ] the number of frivolous suits brought solely to extract settlements: In re Rockefeller Ctr. Props.. Inc.. 311 F.3d at 215 (quoting In re Burlington Coat Factory Sec. Litig., 114 F.3d at 1418). "Rule 9(b) requires a plaintiff to plead (1) a specific false representation of material fact; (2) knowledge by the person who made it that it was false; (3) ignorance of its falsity by the person to whom it was made; (4) the intention that it should be acted upon; and (5) that the plaintiff acted upon it to his damage." Shapiro v. UJB Fin. Corp., 964 F.2d 272, 284 (3d Cir.1992). Although the rule does not require a recitation of "every material detail" of the alleged fraud, it does require, at a minimum, "that plaintiffs support their allegations of fraud with all of the essential factual background that would accompany 'the first paragraph of any newspaper story—that is, the 'who, what, when, where and how' of the events at issue." In re Rockefeller Ctr. Props.. Inc.. 311 F.3d at 217 (quoting In re Burlington, 114 F.3d at 1422). In Count I, plaintiffs allege that the defendants' conduct "constituted the making of fraudulent misrepresentations ... regarding the AIG Investment" that the defendants knew were materially misleading "because of their failure to state or disclose the additional or qualifying information regarding the investment banking relationship" of SSB with AIG. (Id, ¶ 46.) Count II vaguely states that the defendants'"statements and conducts ... included the expression of opinions which [the defendants] did not, in fact, truthfully hold." (Id.150.) Count III claims that the defendants are liable to the plaintiffs for their failure to disclose this information, "because they knew that their nondisclosure would justifiably induce the Plaintiffs to proceed with the proposed investment." (Id. ¶ 52.) Finally, Count VI again claims that the defendants' conduct "constituted the making of fraudulent misrepresentations to, and/or fraudulent concealment and non-disclosure of material facts: (Id. ¶ 63.) I agree with the defendants' assertions that Counts I, II, Ill, and VI do not meet Rule 9(b)'s heightened pleading requirements. First, nowhere does the complaint state who made the alleged misrepresentations to the plaintiffs. See In re Rockefeller Ctr. Props., Inc., 311 F.3d at 218 (finding that complaint failed to comply with Rule 9(b) because the allegation failed to identify the speaker, and "there is no indication that the speaker had the authority to speak on behalf of [the defendant) or that the employee was in regular contact with the [defendant]"). Second. the complaint fails to allege exactly what false statement or representation was made. Instead, it claims that the defendants' failure to inform them of SSB's relationship with AIG was fraudulent. This does not meet Rule 9(bl's requirement that there be a false statement that the defendants knew was false. In addition, the plaintiffs' allegation that the defendants misrepresented their claims that they aspired to "the highest standards of moral and ethical conduct" is vague. Accordingly. I find that Counts I. II, III, and VI do not meet Rule 9(b)'s heightened pleading requirement, and, therefore, I will dismiss them. I shall, however, grant the plaintiffs thirty days within which to amend the complaint to comport with Rule 9(b).3 See In re Burlington Coat Factory Sec. Litig., 114 F.3d at 1434 (noting that ordinarily, when a complaint is dismissed under Rule 9(b) for failure to plead fraud with the requisite particularity, leave to amend the complaint is granted). III. CONCLUSION For the foregoing reasons, I will deny Citibank's and Ciligroup's motions to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction, to dismiss for improper venue, and to transfer this matter to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. I find that the amended complaint adequately states claims of breach of fiduciary duty and negligent misrepresentation, and therefore, will deny the defendants' Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim. Finally, because I find that Counts I, II, Ill, and VI fail to meet Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9(b)'s heightened pleading standard for claims of fraud, I will dismiss these claims and grant the plaintiffs leave to amend the complaint. ORDER For the reasons given in the Memorandum Opinion of even date, it is HEREBY ORDERED that the defendants' motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction under Federal Rule 12(b)(2), motion to dismiss under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), and motion to transfer this matter are DENIED. Counts I, II, III, and VI fail to meet Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9(b)'s heightened pleading standard for claims of fraud and are hereby DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. The plaintiffs, however, shall have THIRTY DAYS within which to file an amended complaint with respect to these counts. FOOTNOTES 1. Sometime in 2000, Davison informed Epstein about a second, similar investment fund to be managed by Mass Mutual CONFIDENTIAL - PURSUANT TO FED. R. CRIM. P. 6(e) DB-SDNY-0087598 CONFIDENTIAL SDNY_GM_00233782 EFTA01386064