DAWN CURTO v. JOY DIXON

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS FOR THE STATE OF
DELAWARE IN AND FOR NEW CASTLE COUNTY
Dawn Curto, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
Vv. ) Case No. CPU4-19-001955
)
Joy Dixon, )
)
Defendant. )
Submitted: July 23, 2020
Decided: September 17, 2020
Daniel C. Herr, Esq. John R. Weaver Jr., Esq.
Law Office of Daniel C. Herr John R. Weaver., P.A.
1225 N. King Street, Suite 1000 831 N. Tatnall Street, Suite 200
Wilmington, DE 19801 Wilmington, DE 19801
Attorney for Curto/Plaintiff Attorney for Dixon/Defendant
MEMORANDUM OPINION DENYING DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR
SUMMARY JUDGMENT
SMALLS, C.J.
This matter is before the Court on Defendant Joy Dixon’s (hereinafter
“Dixon”) Motion for Summary Judgment and/or to Dismiss.' Plaintiff Dawn Curto
(hereinafter “Curto”) brought this conversion action against Dixon to recover
$30,000 Dixon allegedly wrongfully withdrew from a joint bank account held in the
names of both parties. Dixon argues, inter alia, that Curto’s complaint should be
dismissed for failure to state a claim because Delaware does not recognize a cause
of action for conversion of money where Curto is not able to establish the money
taken out of the account belonged to her. Additionally, she alleges the Statute of
Frauds bars Plaintiff from enforcing the alleged agreement. At the close of the
hearing, the Court reserved decision.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
In September of 2017, Curto and Dixon opened a joint bank account at
Wilmington Savings Fund Society (hereinafter “joint account”). According to Curto,
although the joint account was in both parties’ names, the parties understood and
agreed that all funds therein belonged to Curto, Dixon was included as a signatory
on the joint account purely for convenience purposes, and any withdrawal of funds
required express authorization from Curto.”
' Although Dixon styles her brief as a motion for summary judgment, she raises the argument that Curto’s claims
should be dismissed for failure to state a claim for which relief can be granted. Because the Court finds this issue
dispositive, it need not address Dixon’s summary judgment arguments.
2 Dixon denies the assertion that it was understood or agreed that all the money in the account belonged to Curto and
that authorization was needed before Dixon made a withdrawal.
1
Soon after opening the account, Evan C. Postle, Curto’s son and Dixon’s
grandson, asked Dixon to deposit his Social Security Disability proceeds, totaling
$30,062 into her bank account. Dixon deposited the funds into the joint account she
shared with Curto. Postle subsequently requested the return of his funds, and on
April 27, 2018, Dixon electronically transferred $30,000 from the joint account to
Postle.
This action commenced on May 14, 2019. Curto filed this conversion action
against Dixon seeking the return of the $30,000. Curto alleges Dixon converted
$30,000 from Curto by withdrawing the money from the joint account without prior
authorization and refusing to return such. Dixon filed an answer denying there was
an understanding that Curto owned all the funds in the joint account and denying
that she was required to seek authorization before making a withdrawal. After the
close of discovery, Dixon filed the instant motion.
On July 20, 2020, the Court held oral argument on the motion and took the
matter under advisement. Both parties were afforded the opportunity to submit
supplemental briefing regarding their respective positions. Although supplemental
briefing was submitted, no new arguments were raised in the parties’ respective
briefs.
PARTIES’ CONTENTIONS
Dixon argues that Curto’s claim must be dismissed because Delaware law bars
a conversion action for money and there are no exceptions to this rule. Alternatively,
Dixon argues Curto cannot establish she is the owner of the funds withdrawn from
the account and that the Statue of Frauds bars Curto from enforcing the alleged
agreement regarding control and withdrawal authorization of the joint account
entitling Dixon to summary judgment.
Curto responds that her conversion claim falls within a narrow exception to
the rule prohibiting conversion actions for money because she seeks return of
“identical money” taken by Dixon. Further, Curto admits there is no formal contract
and that the agreements and understanding she allege in her pleadings simply relate
to an understanding as to the ownership of the funds in the account. Lastly, Curto
argues that there is a dispute as to ownership of the funds in the account which raises
an issue of material fact, therefore summary judgment is inappropriate at this stage
of the proceeding.
DISCUSSION
The issue before the Court is whether Plaintiff can pursue an action for
conversion of money. Dismissal is appropriate only if “the plaintiff would not be
entitled to recover under any reasonably conceivable set of circumstances
susceptible to proof.”? In considering motions to dismiss, the Court must assume that
all well-pled facts in the complaint are true.*
Conversion is defined as an “act of dominion wrongfully exerted over the
property of another, in denial of his right, or inconsistent with it.”> To prove
conversion, a plaintiff must show: 1) That the plaintiff had a property interest in the
converted property; 2) plaintiff had a right to possession of the property; and 3)
defendant wrongfully possessed or disposed of the property as if it were their own.®
Because Delaware law focuses on whether the conversion claim relates to “specific
property,”’ Delaware does not recognize a cause of action for the conversion of
money.®
As Dixon correctly states, and contrary to Curto’s argument, Delaware has
not adopted an exception to the bar against conversion for money claims,’ although
many courts have entertained arguments under a narrow exception, adopted in other
jurisdictions.!° This exception allows an action for conversion of money where there
is an “obligation to return the identical money” delivered by the plaintiff to the
3 Id.
‘ Battista v. Chrysler Corp., 454 A.2d 286, 287 (Del. Super. 1982).
> Arnold v. Soc'y for Sav. Bancorp, Inc., 678 A.2d 533, 536 (Del. 1996) (citing Drug, Inc. v. Hunt, 168 A. 87, 93
(Del Supr 1933); Sanirab Corp. v. Sunroc Corp., 2002 WL 1288732, at *4 (Del. Super. Ct. 2002).
6 Israel Disc. Bank of New York v. First State Depository Co., LLC, 2013 WL 2326875, at *19 (Del. Ch. 2013),
judgment entered, (Del. Ch. 2013).
7 Id at *21.
8 DeFranco v. Pordham, 2015 WL 4751217, at *2 (Del. Super. 2015).
° Anschutz Corp. v. Brown Robin Capital, LLC, 2020 WL 3096744, at *18 (Del. Ch. 2020) (“Delaware law has not
formally recognized any exception to this rule...”).
10 E.g. Stone & Paper Inv'rs, LLC v. Blanch, 2020 WL 3496694, at *11 (Del. Ch. 2020).
4
defendant.'! Assuming arguendo that the exception which Curto relies was adopted
in Delaware, it would not support Curto’s position. To meet this exception, a plaintiff
must be seeking the return of money or currency “that could be described or
identified as specific chattel”!?, such as numismatic coins.'? However, this exception
is not met when any currency can satisfy the obligation.'* Curto’s claim for
conversion is based entirely on money electronically transferred from a joint bank
account. Curto does not allege the funds to be specifically identifiable nor does Curto
argue how such loss cannot be discharged by the payment of money generally.
Therefore, I find that facts here fails to support a claim of conversion.
ACCORDINGLY, Dixon’s motion for summary judgment is DENIED and
Dixon’s motion to dismiss is GRANTED without prejudice. Curto is given leave to
file an amended complaint for a cognizable action within 20 days of this Order.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
ae J-Smalls,
ee
"| Goodrich v. E.F. Hutton Grp., Inc., 542 A.2d 1200, 1203 (Del. Ch. 1988); Kuroda v. SPJS Holdings, L.L.C., 971
A.2d 872, 890 (Del. Ch. 2009).
2 Kuroda, 971 A.2d 872, 890; Xu Hong Bin v. Heckmann Corp, 2009 WL 3440004, at *13 (Del. Ch. 2009) (“some
jurisdictions recognize a narrow exception ... where there is “an obligation to return the identical money delivered
by the plaintiff to the defendant,” because the money “can be described or identified as a specific chattel,””’).
3 Israel Disc. Bank of New York, 2013 WL 2326875, at *21 (Finding that rare coins or bullion constituted specific,
identifiable, and tangible property).
'4 Kuroda, 971 A.2d 872, 890.