Bitfinex and Tether claim ‘victory’ in court battle against NYAG

In the latest chapter of the legal dispute between Bitfinex and the New York Attorney General’s office (NYAG), a New York Supreme Court judge has granted a “stay of the document demands” in what the Hong Kong-based exchange is calling another “victory”.

The long-established cryptocurrency exchange is praising the New York Supreme Court judge’s recent ruling, which it claims supports its assertion that the actions of the New York Attorney General’s office against the exchange lack legal validity.

In the latest ruling, Joel M Cohen of the New York Supreme Court granted a motion that limits the scope of the documents Bitfinex and Tether must produce at the request of the New York Attorney General’s office, according to an announcement from Tether.

Bitfinex and Tether had previously filed a motion to dismiss the case outright, citing a lack of jurisdiction since they say neither Bitfinex nor Tether conduct business in New York. But the judge instead granted a stay of the document demands, which restricts the NYAG to viewing only documents regarding its activities in New York.

No jurisdiction or business in New York

Prior to this ruling, Bitfinex and Tether had been arguing that New York has no jurisdiction over them. With Cohen’s granting of the motion, they will now have to produce documents supporting that claim.

Bitfinex and Tether called Cohen’s decision to grant the stay of documents another “victory” in the ongoing legal battle, stating: “We welcome Justice Cohen’s decision, which reflects that our motion raises significant legal challenges to the validity of the Attorney General’s actions.”

Lawyers for the firm then submitted a motion limiting the document demands under penalty of perjury. If Cohen can be convinced that Tether and Bitfinex currently have no ties to New York, then it seems like the state will no longer have jurisdiction over the case.

The hearing for the motion to dismiss is now scheduled for July 29.

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