GEORGE J. PLATSIS, INDIVIDUALLY AND ON BEHALF OF ALL OTHERS SIMILARLY SITUATED, PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT,
v.
E.F. HUTTON & COMPANY, INC., DEFENDANT-APPELLEE

6th Cir. | 1987-09-25
No. 86-1781
Before JONES, WELLFORD and GUY, Circuit Judges.
829 F.2d 13 United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (1987) Caution
Cited by 5 cases

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Holding

The court affirmed the district court's judgment for the defendant, finding the plaintiff failed to carry his burden of proof on all claims.


Facts & Procedural History

Plaintiff invested in oil and gas tax shelters based on consultations with a defendant's representative. After incurring losses, plaintiff sued for da…

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Opinion of the Court
PER CURIAM.

PER CURIAM.

After investing substantial sums in a number of oil and gas tax shelters following consultations with an official and sales representative of defendant E.F. Hutton & Company, Inc. (“Hutton”) in Lansing, Michigan, plaintiff, George Platsis, an attorney, has sued Hutton for damages because of losses eventually incurred. The relationship between the parties commenced in 1980 shortly before a sharp decline in oil and gas prices. All but one of Platsis’. investments were in publicly offered oil and gas limited partnerships based on prior issuance to him of a prospectus and other investment material before the decision to make an investment. All investments were made with an admitted prime purpose of tax savings. One final investment came about through direct communication between plaintiff and the program sponsor; Hutton did not act as sales agent.

Platsis suffered the loss of the major part of his investment. He claims that Hutton and its representative, Joseph Potvin, made oral misrepresentations about the nature and character of these investments and that he relied upon them to his detriment. He also claims violations of sections 11(a), 12(1) and 12(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, written misrepresentations, violations of section 10 and Rule 10b-5 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and violations of the Michigan Securities Act. In addition, Platsis claims that Hutton and its agent were guilty of fraud and a violation of the Michigan Consumer Protection Act as well as a breach of fiduciary duty which it owed to him as a customer and investor. Finally, plaintiff claims a breach of contract and violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (RICO), 18 U.S.C. sections 1961-1968.

Judge Douglas Hillman considered the proof and evidence and rendered an extensive opinion finding for defendant Hutton and against each of plaintiff’s contentions. See Platsis v. E.F. Hutton & Co., Inc., 642 F.Supp. 1277 (W.D.Mich.1986). The district court opinion addresses each of plaintiff’s claims and makes findings as to each from which he concluded that plaintiff has failed to carry his burden of proof. He cited in support of his legal conclusions a number of authorities, including a then district court decision, Kennedy v. Josephthal & Co., Inc., 635 F.Supp. 399 (D.Mass.1985). That decision has since been affirmed by the First Circuit Court of Appeals at 814 F. 2d 798 (1st Cir.1987).

For the reasons carefully set out by Judge Hillman and based upon the additional authority of Josephtkal, heretofore referred to, we AFFIRM the judgment for the defendant, Hutton, in all respects.


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Citator

Cited By

  • In re Sahlen & Assocs., 773 F. Supp. 342 (S.D. Fla. 1991)
    …it did not buy securities in the open market, but rather, in a private dealing. In re MDC Holdings Securities Litig., 754 F.Supp. 785, 804 (S.D.Cal.1990); Platsis v. E.F. Hutton & Co., 642 F.Supp. 1277, 1301 (W.D.Mich.1986), aff'd, 829 F.2d 13 (6th Cir.1987), cert. denied, 485 U.S. 962, 108 S.Ct. 1227, 99 L.Ed.2d 427 (1988). 15 . The Supreme Court has not yet addressed the application of the fraud on the market theory to the primary market context. 16 . There are suf…
  • Freeman v. Laventhol & Horwath, 915 F.2d 193 (6th Cir. 1990)
  • Platsis v. E.F. Hutton & Co., Inc., 946 F.2d 38 (6th Cir. 1991)

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