Marilyn WESHNAK, et al., Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., Defendant-Appellee, Nicholas Cosmo, et al., Defendants, 451 F. App'x 61

SUMMARY ORDER Plaintiffs, victims in a Ponzi scheme perpetrated by Nicholas Cosmo through Agape World, Inc., and other entities (collectively, “Agape”), appeal the dismissal of their amended consolidated class action complaint against Bank of America (“BOA”), which alleges aiding and abetting fraud, conversion, and breach of fiduciary duty.

We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts, the procedural history, and the issues presented for review. “[W]e review the grant of a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss de novo, construing the complaint liberally, accepting all factual allegations in the complaint as true, and drawing all reasonable inferences in the plaintiffs favor.” Chase Grp. Alliance LLC v. City of N.Y.

Dep’t of Fin., 620 F.3d 146, 150 (2d Cir.2010) (internal quotation marks omitted). “To survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’ ” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 1949, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007)). “Under New York law, the elements of aiding and abetting a breach of fiduciary duty, aiding and abetting a conversion, and aiding and abetting a fraud are substantially similar.

The claims require the existence of a primary violation, actual knowledge of the violation on the part of the aider and abettor, and substantial assistance.” Kirschner v. Bennett, 648 F.Supp.2d 525, 533 (S.D.N.Y.2009); see also Lerner v. Fleet Bank, N.A., 459 F.3d 273, 292-95 (2d Cir.2006). We need not determine whether Plaintiffs adequately pled that BOA had actual knowledge of Cosmo and Agape’s violation; Plaintiffs’ complaint does not plausibly state a claim that BOA substantially assisted in it.

Plaintiffs allege that Tom Sullivan, a BOA senior manager, recommended a structure of accounts that allowed Agape to move money from sub-accounts into an operating account and a Remote Depository System that allowed Agape to deposit checks from its headquarters. Plaintiffs allege that Rebecca Campagnuolo, a BOA employee, provided banking services to Agape from within Agape’s headquarters, including issuance of a check from an Agape account to an investor. Plaintiffs do not sufficiently allege that these services differed from those BOA provided other large commercial customers.

A bank’s provision of “its usual banking services to a customer ... does not in and of itself rise to the level of substantial assistance.” Rosner v. Bank of China, 2008 WL 5416380, No. 06-CV-13562, at *12 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 18, 2008) (internal quotation marks omitted); see also e.g., Ryan v. Hunton & Williams, 2000 WL 1375265, No. 99-CV-5938, at *9 (E.D.N.Y Sept. 20, 2000).

Plaintiffs allege that when BOA customers received large deposits into their accounts, Campagnuolo tipped off Agape brokers so that they could solicit investments from these potential victims, and that Campagnuolo’s husband received three payments totaling more than $31,000 from Agape. An employer is not vicariously liable for acts committed by employees “for personal motives unrelated to the furtherance of the employer[’s] business.” Artalyan, Inc. v. Kitridge Realty Co., 52 A.D.3d 405, 407, 860 N.Y.S.2d 100, 102 (1st Dep’t 2008); see also Swarna v. Al-Awadi, 622 F.3d 123, 144 (2d Cir.2010).

It is implausible that Campagnuolo acted in furtherance of BOA’s business by identifying its customers to be defrauded. Finding no merit in Plaintiffs’ remaining arguments, we hereby AFFIRM the judgment of the district court.