Independent Bank of Texas v. M/V JANICE RUTH II, Official Number 1118444 et al

Filing 15

JDR ORDER Re: Posting of Notice of Arrest; Notice of Filing Petition in Bankruptcy and STAYING ACTION. U.S. Marshal to Re-post Notice of Vessel Arrest. Signed by Judge John D. Roberts. cc: USM (JAM, Chambers Staff)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF ALASKA

INDEPENDENT BANK OF TEXAS,
Plaintiff,

3:11-cv-00128-TMB-JDR

vs.
M/V JANICE RUTH II, Official
Number 1118444, her engines, gear,
tackle, and appurtenances, In Rem,
and THE MARTHA REYNOLDS
TRUST, In Personam,

ORDER REGARDING POSTING
OF NOTICE OF ARREST; NOTICE
OF FILING OF A PETITION IN
BANKRUPTCY; and STAYING
ACTION
(Docket No. 10)

Defendants.

The Defendant Vessel, JANICE RUTH II was arrested on July 10, 2011
and a Substitute Custodian appointed on the same date.1 The status of the case,
at present, is that the M/V JANICE RUTH II has been arrested according to the
terms of the Order at Docket 8 and a substitute custodian has been appointed
according to the Order at Docket 9. The U.S. Marshal has filed Returns regarding

1

See U.S. Marshals Return on Arrest Warrant, Dockets 11, and U.S.
Marshals Return on Order of Substitute Custodian, Docket 12.

the arrest and the appointment of the substitute custodian.2 In accordance with
Supplemental Rule E(4)(b), the U.S. Marshal affixed notice of the arrest to the M/V
JANICE RUTH II.
The Plaintiff in this action filed a Notice of Filing of a Petition in
Bankruptcy at Docket 10. Plaintiff attached Valdez Police reports to the Notice
indicating that someone removed the notices posted by the U.S. Marshal and that
the Police interviewed witnesses identifying Larry Reynolds as the person who
did so.
In Plaintiff’s Notice, the Court was also made aware that Larry Reynolds
filed a Federal Bankruptcy Petition in the District of Alaska on behalf of The Martha
Reynolds Trust, the In Personam Defendant in this action.3 Mr. Reynolds then filed
a Motion to Dismiss in this action, attaching his Bankruptcy Petition, at Docket 13.
Supplemental Admiralty Rule E(4)(b) states that when arresting
property, “[i]f the character or situation of the property is such that the taking of
actual possession is impracticable, the marshal or other person executing the
process shall affix a copy thereof to the property in a conspicuous place and leave
a copy of the complaint and process with the person having possession or the
person’s agent.” The Marshal complied with this rule when he placed notices on the
2

See Id.

3

See Notice of Filing of a Petition in Bankruptcy, Docket 11, and
Bankruptcy Petition regarding The Martha Reynolds Trust, Docket 13-1.
11-cv-128-TMB-JDR Janice Ruth @ 10 Re Notice of Bankruptcy and Posting of Notice_mtd.wpd

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Vessel in Valdez. While the Court notes that regardless of whether the notice
remains on the Vessel, the Vessel has been arrested pursuant to the action in this
court and the substitute custodian properly has control over the Vessel, the Court
directs the U.S. Marshal to re-place the Notices on the Vessel in order to meet the
directive in Rule E(4)(b). The U.S. Marshal is further ordered to file notice with the
Court upon completion of the re-posting. IT IS SO ORDERED.
Further, the Court notes that, in accordance with 11 U.S.C. § 362, the
filing of the bankruptcy action regarding The Martha Reynolds Trust effects an
automatic stay on this action for foreclosure of a preferred marine mortgage.
Therefore, the Court finds that this action in the case at bar is HEREBY STAYED.
Regarding Mr. Reynolds’ Motion to Dismiss, the Court will address the
Motion in a separate order.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED this 14th day of July, 2011, at Anchorage, Alaska.

/s/ John D. Roberts
JOHN D. ROBERTS
United States Magistrate Judge

11-cv-128-TMB-JDR Janice Ruth @ 10 Re Notice of Bankruptcy and Posting of Notice_mtd.wpd

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