Citibank v. Aralpa Holdings Limited Partnership and Rodrigo Lebois Mateos

Background

Counsel for Aralpa Holdings Limited Partnership and Rodrigo Lebois Mateos asked the court to vacate or adjourn the September 29, 2025 Order to Show Cause hearing. The request concerned Citibank’s renewed effort to obtain turnover of certain artwork and installment payments in connection with enforcement of a money judgment.

The letter argued that interested nonparties had not been properly served. It relied on Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 69, which requires enforcement procedures for a money judgment to follow the law of the state where the federal court is located. The letter also cited New York Civil Practice Law and Rules §§ 5222 and 5239, asserting that Citibank should use restraining notices and serve interested parties so they could challenge the requested turnover through the procedures provided by state law.

Counsel further argued that Citibank’s request improperly sought to use a preliminary-injunction process for post-judgment enforcement. The letter stated that the court had previously adjourned a similar hearing until service on interested nonparties was completed, and that Citibank acknowledged it had not completed that service. The letter also asserted that nonparties, including Unifin Credit, S.A. de C.V. and Unifin Financiera, had interests in some or all of the artwork.

Court’s Action

The court denied the request to adjourn the hearing. It directed the parties and third parties to appear for the Order to Show Cause hearing as scheduled on September 29, 2025, stating that it would then have a fuller opportunity to consider the parties’ positions.

This order ruled on the request to adjourn. The opinion text does not state a final ruling on Citibank’s underlying requests for turnover, installment payments, or a preliminary injunction. Judge Jennifer L. Rochon signed the order.