JPMCC 2007 - CIBC 19 East Greenway LLC v. Bataa/Kierland LLC
Filing
45
MEMORANDUM DECISION - The order of the bankruptcy court confirming the Plan of Reorganization is hereby VACATED and REMANDED to the bankruptcy court for such further proceedings as may be necessary or appropriate consistent with this decision. The Clerk of the Court is directed to enter judgment accordingly. Signed by Judge John W Sedwick on 7/22/2013. (KMG)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA
In re:
2:12-cv-01783 JWS
BATAA/KIERLAND LLC,
MEMORANDUM DECISION
Debtor.
JPMCC 2007–CIBC 19 EAST
GREENWAY, LLC,
Appellant,
vs.
On Appeal From
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Arizona
Hon. Randolph J. Haines, Judge
Bankruptcy Case No. 2:11-bk-05850-RJH
BATAA/KIERLAND LLC,
Appellee.
JPMCC 2007–CIBC 19 East Greenway, LLC timely appeals from the Order of
the bankruptcy court confirming the Plan of Reorganization proposed by Debtor
Bataa/Kierland LLC (hereinafter “Plan”). The bankruptcy court had jurisdiction under 28
U.S.C. §§ 157(a), (b)(2)(A) and 1334. This court has jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C.
§ 158(a)(1), (c)(1)(A).
Dean C. Waldt and Andrew A. Harnish of Ballard Spahr LLP, Phoenix, Arizona.
appeared on behalf of the Appellant, JPMCC 2007–CIBC 19 East Greenway, LLC.,
John J. Hebert, and Philip R. Rudd of Polsinelli PC, Phoenix, Arizona, appeared on
behalf the Appellee Bataa/Kierland LLC.
Oral argument was heard on May 28, 2013. The court being fully apprised in the
proceeding now enters it decision.
I. BACKGROUND/ISSUES PRESENTED
Bataa/Kierland LLC (hereinafter “Debtor”) filed a petition for bankruptcy relief
under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. After holding a hearing, the bankruptcy
court confirmed the plan of reorganization proposed by Debtor, over the objections of
JPMCC 2007–CIBC 19 East Greenway, LLC (hereinafter “JPMCC”), the holder of a $28
million secured, pre-petition claim. JPMCC appeals the confirmation order.
Initially, the property upon which stood an office building was owned entirely by
Debtor. In 2008 the property was divided into two parcels, with Debtor retaining that
portion of the subdivided property that included the existing building and approximately
79 surface parking spaces. The remainder of the property, including a number of
surface parking spaces, was conveyed to an affiliate, Bataa/Kierland II (hereinafter
“Kierland II”).1 As part of the subdivision process, Debtor recorded a Declaration of
Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (“CC&Rs”), in which Debtor reserved an
easement in the parking spaces on that portion of the property conveyed to Kierland II.
Subsequently, Kierland II developed its property, erecting an office building and a
parking garage. Although Debtor had used some of the parking spaces in the parking
garage, Debtor had not paid Kierland II for use of the parking garage prior to the filing of
the petition for relief.2 During the course of the bankruptcy proceeding Debtor and
Kierland II entered into an agreement providing for payment by Debtor for Debtor’s use
of the parking garage. Under the terms of that agreement, Debtor was to reimburse
1
It is undisputed that both Debtor and Kierland II are owned by Bataa Oil, which in turn
is owned by the same principals.
2
The record reflects that Debtor had, however, paid Kierland II the amount Debtor
received from its tenants for the use of the parking garage on a pass-through basis.
2
Kierland II for Debtor’s proportionate share of the cost of constructing the parking
garage ($5.16 million), plus its annual pro rata share of the operating costs.3 Payment
of the $5.16 million was deferred until after payment of JPMCC’s secured claim and the
unsecured creditors’ subordinated debenture in the seventh year following confirmation
of the plan, effectively deferring payment until the plan had been consummated. After
the proposed plan was filed, but prior to the confirmation hearing, JPMCC filed an
adversary action seeking a declaration of the rights of Debtor and Kierland II under the
CC&Rs. The bankruptcy court included the issue raised in the adversary proceeding in
the hearing on the plan of reorganization and approved the agreement.
The value of Debtor’s property also was an issue in the context of determining
the extent to which JPMCC’s $28 million claim was secured. The bankruptcy court
accepted the base appraisal by Debtor’s expert of $12.5 million, but reduced it to $7.7
million to account for JPMCC’s proportionate share of the cost of erecting the parking
structure on the Kierland II property. This left JPMCC with a $20 million unsecured
claim to be paid pro rata from a $500,000 subordinated debenture.
At some point prior to 2010, Debtor made distributions to its principal, Bataa Oil.
These distributions were initially booked by both Debtor and Bataa Oil as inter-company
receivables from Bataa Oil to Debtor. Sixty-eight days prior to the filing of the Chapter
11 petition, $14.9 million of the payments were re-characterized on Debtor’s books as
equity distributions by Debtor to Bataa Oil.4 It is undisputed that the books of Bataa Oil
continue to show an inter-company debt owed to Debtor of approximately $15.7 million.
3
This included Debtor’s share of the monthly maintenance and real property taxes.
4
Shown on Debtor’s books in two parts: $6,990,301 and $7,897,542.
3
As part of the approved plan, Bataa Oil, as the Debtor’s principal, injected
$350,000 into Debtor which the bankruptcy court deemed sufficient “new value” to
satisfy the absolute priority rule.5 The confirmed plan also permitted Debtor to retain
$729,427 in cash collateral proceeds held at the time of confirmation.
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
A district court sitting in its bankruptcy appellate capacity reviews findings of fact
for clear error and conclusions of law de novo.6 The bankruptcy court’s findings of fact
must be accepted “unless the court is left with the definite and firm conviction that a
mistake has been committed.”3 “Mixed questions of fact are reviewed de novo.”4
The interpretation of a contract in this case is governed by Arizona law, and is reviewed
de novo.5 A bankruptcy court’s determination of whether a proposed plan of
reorganization is feasible, i.e., not likely to be followed by liquidation or further
reorganization, is one of fact reviewed for clear error.6
5
11 U.S.C. § 1129(b)(2)(b)(II); see Bonner Mall P’ship v. U.S. Bancorp Mortgage Co.
(In re Bonner Mall P’Ship), 2 F.3d 899, 905–17 (9th Cir. 1993).
6
Decker v Tramiel (In re JTS Corp.), 617 F.3d 1102, 1086–87 (9th Cir. 2010) (citing In
re Strand, 375 F.3d 854, 857 (9th Cir. 2004)).
3
Id. (quoting In re Greene, 583 F.3d 614, 618 (9th Cir. 2009) (internal quotation marks
omitted)).
4
Id. (quoting In re Chang, 163 F.3d 1138, 1140 (9th Cir. 1998) (internal quotation marks
omitted)).
5
Starrag v. Maersk, Inc., 486 F.3d 607, 611 (9th Cir. 2007).
6
Harbin v. IndyMac Bank, FSB (In re Harbin), 486 F.3d 510, 517 (9th Cir. 2007).
4
III. DISCUSSION
A. Procedural Issues
During the course of the proceedings, JPMCC initiated an adversary action
challenging the post-petition parking agreement between Debtor and Kierland II. As
noted above, the bankruptcy court addressed that question in the confirmation hearing
and approved the parking agreement as part of the plan confirmation process. JPMCC
challenges the decision of the bankruptcy court on two procedural grounds: (1) that the
bankruptcy court lacked jurisdiction to enter the final order under Stern;7 and (2) that
under Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 7001, the controversy over the
interpretation of the CC&R’s and the parking agreement was required to be determined
in an adversary proceeding, not as part of plan confirmation. For the reasons that
follow, this court disagrees with JPMCC on both points.
In Stern, the widow brought an adversary action in her Chapter 11 proceeding to
recover damages for her stepson’s alleged tortious interference with her expectancy of
an inheritance or gift from her deceased husband as a compulsory counterclaim to the
stepson’s claim against the estate. The bankruptcy court entered judgment for the
widow, and the stepson appealed. The Supreme Court held that the bankruptcy court
lacked authority under Article III to enter final judgment on the widow’s counterclaim.
At the heart of Stern was the determination that, even though the counterclaim in
Stern was a core proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code, the widow’s claim arose
under state common law and was between two private parties, it did not flow from the
7
Stern v. Marshall, 131 S. Ct. 2594 (2011).
5
federal statutory scheme, was not a matter of public right, and it would not necessarily
be resolved by the process of ruling on the stepson’s proof of claim in the bankruptcy
proceedings.8
The issue in this case is significantly different. Unlike Stern, resolution of the
extent to which Debtor had access to the parking spaces located on the Kierland II
property was necessarily integral to the resolution of JPMCC’s claim, i.e., the extent to
which the claim was allowed as a secured claim. This court agrees that, in light of
Stern, the authority of bankruptcy courts over state-law issues is somewhat unsettled.
However, this court finds persuasive the reasoning used by the bankruptcy court in the
Southern District of Texas when it determined that the dischargeability of a creditor’s
claim fell outside the scope of Stern:
The Court concludes, however, that it may exercise authority over
essential bankruptcy matters under the “public rights” exception. Under
Thomas v. Union Carbide Agric. Prods. Co., a right closely integrated into a
public regulatory scheme may be resolved by a non-Article III tribunal. 473
U.S. 568, 593, 105 S.Ct. 3325, 87 L.Ed.2d 409 (1985). The Bankruptcy
Code is a public scheme for restructuring debtor-creditor relations,
necessarily including “the exercise of exclusive jurisdiction over all of the
debtor's property, the equitable distribution of that property among the
debtor's creditors, and the ultimate discharge that gives the debtor a ‘fresh
start’ by releasing him, her, or it from further liability for old debts.” Cent. Va.
Cmty. Coll. v. Katz, 546 U.S. 356, 363–64, 126 S.Ct. 990, 163 L.Ed.2d 945
(2006); see N. Pipeline Const. Co. v. Marathon Pipe Line Co., 458 U.S. 50,
71, 102 S.Ct. 2858, 73 L.Ed.2d 598 (1982) (plurality opinion) (noting in dicta
that the restructuring of debtor-creditor relations “may well be a ‘public
right’”). But see Stern, 131 S.Ct. at *2614 n. 7 (“We noted [in Granfinanciera]
that we did not mean to ‘suggest that the restructuring of debtor-creditor
relations is in fact a public right.’”).9
8
Id. at 2611–18.
9
Husky Intern’l Elec., Inc. v. Ritz (In re Ritz), 469 B.R. 623, 631 (Bankr.. S.D. Tex.
2011).
6
The court then went on to explain: “When a bankruptcy court determines the extent of a
creditor's [secured] claim, the court simply decides that a particular creditor is entitled to
something more than the creditor would otherwise get out of the bankruptcy bargain. Such
determinations are inextricably tied to the bankruptcy scheme and involve the adjudication
of rights created by the Bankruptcy Code.”10
The Texas bankruptcy court’s decision is consistent with the recent decision by
the Ninth Circuit rejecting the argument that a fraudulent conveyance claim (falling
within the ambit of Stern) was indistinguishable from the preferential transfer claim that
was at issue in Katchen:11
That is wrong for two reasons. First, the dispositive distinction
between the claims in Stern and Katchen was that in Katchen, the trustee's
preference action “would necessarily be resolved in the claims allowance
process” because the defendant had filed a proof of claim against the
bankruptcy estate. Stern, 131 S.Ct. at 2618. The preference action
necessarily had to be resolved in the course of deciding whether to allow the
defendant's claim on the estate. By contrast, Vickie Marshall's counterclaim
in Stern required the bankruptcy court to “make several factual and legal
determinations that were not disposed of in passing on objections to Pierce's
proof of claim for defamation.” Id. at 2617 (internal quotation marks omitted).
“There thus was never reason to believe that the process of ruling on
Pierce's proof of claim would necessarily result in the resolution of Vickie's
counterclaim.” Id. at 2617–18.
Second, a rule that classified any federal-law claim as a “public right”
would render Stern internally contradictory. Assume that the Stern Court's
observation that “Vickie's claim . . . is in no way derived from or dependent
upon bankruptcy law” was the sole basis by which the Court distinguished
the counterclaim in that case from the preference action in Katchen. If that
were so, the Stern Court's characterization of the holding in
Granfinanciera—that “Congress could not constitutionally assign resolution
10
Id. at 632.
11
Katchen v. Landy, 382 U.S. 323, 329–30, 332-33 (1966) (holding that bankruptcy
referees acting under the Bankruptcy Acts of 1898 and 1938 could exercise summary
jurisdiction over a voidable preference claim brought by a bankruptcy trustee against a creditor
who filed proof of claim in the bankruptcy proceeding).
7
of the fraudulent conveyance action to a non-Article III court,” 131 S.Ct. at
2614 n.7—would be incoherent, because the claim in Granfinanciera arose
under § 548 of the Bankruptcy Code. See 492 U.S. at 36, 109 S.Ct. 2782.
Granfinanciera involved a federal-law claim, and Stern involved a
state-law claim. But Stern held that both claims required an Article III court.
Thus, the only principled basis on which to distinguish Katchen from both
Stern and Granfinanciera is that Katchen involved a claim against a creditor
that necessarily had to be resolved in the course of the claims-allowance
process, and Stern and Granfinanciera did not.12
Just as resolution of a preferential transfer to a creditor was necessarily resolved as a
part of the claims allowance process, the question of the value of the property in which
a secured creditor claims an interest is integral to determining the extent of the
creditor’s secured claim. Furthermore, resolving the question of the scope of the
easement constituted the de facto resolution of Kierland II’s scheduled (but unfiled)
$4,168,000 contingent/unliquidated/disputed claim.13 This court finds that the
Bankruptcy Court had jurisdiction to enter a final judgment on the question of the scope
of Debtor’s rights under the easement.14
JPMCC also contends that under Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 7001,
the controversy over the interpretation of the CC&R’s was required to be determined in
12
Executive Benefits Ins. Agency v. Arkinson (In re Bellingham Ins. Agency, Inc.), 702
F.3d 553, 564 (9th Cir. 2012).
13
Docket 18-4 at 3.
14
Any other interpretation would render all objections to creditor claims subject to Stern
for the simple reason that in general creditor’s claims are initially determined by reference to
state law. See Travelers Cas. and Sur. Co. of America v. Pacific gas Co. 549 U.S. 443, 444
(2007) (noting that bankruptcy courts are required to consult state law in determining the validity
of most claims); Butner v. United States, 440 U.S. 48, 54 (1979) (noting that “Congress has
generally left the determination of property rights in the assets of a bankrupt’s estate to state
law”).
8
an adversary proceeding, not as part of plan confirmation. This issue is reviewed de
novo.15 JPMCC relies principally upon the Ninth Circuit’s decision in Enewally:
Here, during plan confirmation and modification, the bankruptcy court
specifically reserved the question at issue because it had been raised via an
adversary proceeding. “[I]f an issue must be raised through an adversary
proceeding it is not part of the confirmation process and, unless it is actually
litigated, confirmation will not have a preclusive effect.” [Citations omitted.]
Thus a Chapter 13 plan confirmed while an adversary proceeding was
pending would not have res judicata effect on the adversary proceeding.16
In a subsequent case involving the effect of a confirmed Chapter 13 plan on the
dischargeability of a debt, the Ninth Circuit declined to follow Enewally considering what
it said to be dicta and inapplicable where, as here, the bankruptcy court actually litigated
the question in the confirmation process.
Whelton appears to have been misled by a stray remark in one of our
opinions, Enewally v. Washington Mutual Bank ( In re Enewally ), 368 F.3d
1165, 1173 (9th Cir.2004), to the effect that “the confirmed plan has no
preclusive effect on issues that must be brought by an adversary
proceeding.” This statement was correct in the circumstances presented in
Enewally, where “the bankruptcy court specifically reserved the question at
issue [during plan confirmation] because it had been raised via an adversary
proceeding.” Id. It is true, of course, that a plan can have no preclusive effect
on matters that have been specifically reserved for resolution by way of an
ongoing adversary proceeding. We had no occasion in Enewally to consider
the situation where there is no adversary and the case is resolved entirely by
confirmation of the plan. Anything Enewally has to say as to matters not
presented in that case is, in any event, dicta and thus not binding on us.
Reading Enewally broadly to speak to that hypothetical situation would also
bring it into conflict with Pardee, which addresses precisely this issue.17
15
American Sports Radio Network, Inc. v. Krause (In re Krause), 546 F.3d 2070, 1073
(9th Cir. 2008).
16
Enewally v. Washington (In re Enewally) 368 F.3d 1168, 1173 (9th Cir. 2004).
17
Espinoza v. United Student Aid Funds, Inc., 553 F.3d 1193, 1199 n.3 (9th Cir. 2008).
9
There is no reason for this court to blindly follow Enewally and ignore Espinosa.
This conclusion is bolstered by the fact that JPMCC has not identified any substantive
or procedural right that it might have had in the adversary proceeding that was
unavailable in the plan confirmation hearing.
B. Interpretation of the CC&Rs
Central to the controversy before this Court is the extent, if any, to which Debtor
must reimburse Kierland II for the use of the parking structure. It is undisputed that the
CC&R’s provide that “there will be no material charge for parking in the common area
without the prior written consent of all Owners or unless otherwise required by the
law.”18 JPMCC disputes the Bankruptcy Court’s interpretation of the CC&Rs to the
extent that it found that the parking garage was a “building” excluded from the definition
of a “common area.” JPMCC argues that the term “buildings” encompasses solely the
office building on Kierland II property, not the parking structure. JPMCC contends that:
(1) the Bankruptcy Court’s interpretation nullified the clear and unambiguous language
of the CC&Rs; and (2) contradicted the testimony of the principal (Mr. Calvin) that it was
his intent to have the easement extend to the parking garage. According to JPMCC the
Bankruptcy Court should have considered the testimony as parole evidence to the
extent that it deemed the CC&Rs ambiguous.
As this court reads the bankruptcy court’s decision, that court did not find the
language in the CC&Rs ambiguous, for in interpreting the document the Bankruptcy
Court referred solely to the terms of the CC&Rs. Of course, “[t]he construction of a
18
Decision re: Confirmation of Amended Plan [Docket 19-4 at 3].
10
contract is a question of law where the terms of the agreement are clear and
unambiguous.”19 “[But,] an appellate court [is not] bound by a lower court’s conclusions
with respect to an ambiguity. It may independently determine the presence of an
ambiguity in a contract.”20 Under Arizona law, a contract is not ambiguous merely
because the parties cannot agree to its meaning; rather, an agreement is ambiguous
only if the language can reasonably be construed in more than one sense and the
interpretation cannot be determined within the four corners of the instrument.21 Where
there is an ambiguity, the trier of fact must determine “the intent of the parties, based on
extrinsic evidence.”21
As pointed out by JPMCC, the linchpin for the bankruptcy court’s decision
requiring payment to the Debtor for use of parking spaces in the parking structure
erected on the Kierland II property was its finding that the CC&Rs excluded the parking
structure from the “Common Area” It did so on the basis that the parking structure was a
“Building” as that term is used in the document. The problem is that the definition of
Common Areas expressly says that it includes parking areas. This creates an
ambiguity, a proposition which is supported by the additional arguments made by
JPMCC in its opening brief. Given the existence of the ambiguity, the bankruptcy court
19
Smith v. Melson, Inc., 659 P.2d 1264, 1266 (Ariz. 1983).
20
Beaudreau v. Borg-Warner Acceptance Corp., 616 F.2d 1077, 1079 (9th Cir. 1980)
(citing Polk v. Koerner, 533 P.2d 660 (Ariz. 1975); Federal Ins. Co. v. P.A.T. Homes, Inc., 547
P.2d 1050 (Ariz. 1976)),
21
J.D. Land Co. v. Killian, 762 P.2d 124, 126 (Ariz. App. 1988); see Richards Dev. Co.
v. Singh, 358 P.2d 329, 330 (Ariz. 1961).
21
Leo Eisenberg & Co., Inc. v. Payson, 785 P.2d 49, 52 (Ariz. 1989).
11
should have examined the available extrinsic evidence in deciding whether the CC&Rs
provided for Debtor’s use of parking in the parking structure without any payment.
As this court understands the decision of the bankruptcy court, it interpreted the
easement created by the CC&Rs as being limited to the surface parking spaces on the
Kierland II property, but that easement did not extend to the additional parking in the
parking structure based on its finding that the CC&Rs were not ambiguous on this point.
However, because this court finds that an ambiguity existed, resolution of that ambiguity
is a factual determination to be resolved by the trier of fact on remand.22
C. Approval of Post-petition Parking Agreement
After considering the extrinsic evidence, the bankruptcy court may not change its
interpretation of the easement provided in the CC&Rs, so it is necessary to consider the
bankruptcy court’s treatment of the post -petition parking agreement. It is undisputed
that at the time the bankruptcy petition was filed, no cost-sharing agreement existed
between Debtor and Kierland II regarding the costs incurred in erecting the parking
structure on the Keirland II property or the subsequent costs associated with its
operation. To rectify what Debtor and Kierland II perceived to be a material deficiency,
they entered into a cost-sharing agreement requiring Debtor to reimburse Kierland II for
a proportionate share of the cost of constructing the parking garage. JPMMC
challenges the Bankruptcy Court’s approval of this agreement. This issue is a mixed
question of law and fact, subject to de novo review.23 According to Debtor, Debtor’s
22
Hartford v. Industrial Comm’n of Ariz., 870 P.2d 1202, 1207 (Ariz. App. 1994); see In
re Estate of Lamparella, 109 P.3d 959, 963 (Ariz. App. 2005)
23
See Conrad v. Ace Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co., 532 F.3d 1000, 1004 (9th Cir. 2008).
12
property has either 76 or 82 parking spaces. The Kierland II property has 202 or 206
surface parking spaces, plus another 341 located in the parking garage. Thus,
exclusive of the parking garage, Debtor has the use of approximately 283 surface
parking spaces, either on its own property or on Kierland II property. The bankruptcy
court noted in its decision that under the easement Debtor was permitted to use the
“relatively few” surface parking spaces without further payment to Kierland II. This court
agrees that Debtor is entitled to use the surface parking spaces without payment to
Kierland II. The problem is that the bankruptcy court required Debtor to reimburse
Kierland II for approximately 75% of the cost of the parking garage, apparently on the
assumption that approximately 75% of the parking garage was to be used by Debtor,
but the bankruptcy court did not explain how it arrived at that allocation, an allocation
which appears to be incorrect as discussed in the next paragraph.
From the figures provided in Debtor’s brief,24 it appears that Debtor’s building is
approximately 110,000 ft2, and the building code requires 3.5 parking spaces per
thousand square-feet. Thus, about 385 parking spaces must be available for Debtor’s
tenants. The difference between the available surface spaces and the required spaces
is approximately 102 parking spaces. Thus, of the 341 parking spaces available in the
parking garage, approximately 102 (30%) are necessary for Debtor’s use. This is
considerably less than the 75% share of costs imposed on Debtor by the parking
agreement.
24
This Court uses these figures for illustration. They should not, indeed may not, be
used as findings of fact binding in this matter.
13
Resolution of this issue on the record before this court is impossible. There is no
evidence to show how many surface parking spaces were available for use by Debtor’s
tenants on the Kierland II property prior to erection of the second office building. That
number is essential to a determination of how many spaces would be needed in the
parking garage to satisfy applicable parking regulations. What the bankruptcy court
appears to have overlooked is the fact that until Kierland II erected the second office
building there was no apparent necessity for additional parking, let alone a parking
garage. This proposition which is at least consistent with the record suggests that the
necessity for the construction of the parking garage might have been solely a result of
the construction of the second office building by Kierland II.
Bankruptcy is an equitable proceeding.25 It may be equitable to require Debtor to
reimburse Kierland II for the reasonable value of constructing additional parking needed
to meet Debtor’s parking requirements, it would not be equitable to require Debtor to
contribute to the cost of erecting parking spaces for the use of Kierland II. Debtor and
Kierland II may be likened to pockets in a pair of pants owned by Bataa Oil. It is
inequitable to permit the transfer of funds from one pocket in a pair of pants (Debtor) to
the other pocket (Kierland II) simply to prevent the funds from being taken by the person
to whom they are owed (JPMCC) for the ultimate benefit of the owner of the pants
(Bataa Oil).
25
Young v. United States, 535 U.S. 43, 50 (2002) (“bankruptcy courts . . . are courts of
equity and appl[y] the principles and rules of equity jurisprudence.”) (alteration in the original)
(quoting Pepper v. Litton, 308 U.S. 295, 304 (1939) (internal quotation marks omitted)).
14
D. Valuation of JPMCC’s Secured Claim
The bankruptcy court accepted Debtor’s base valuation of the property, $12.5
million, reduced that to $7.7 million to account for JPMCC’s proportionate share of the
cost of erecting the parking structure on Kierland II property.26 JPMCC does not
challenge the “base” FMV appraisal by the Debtor’s expert, $12.5 million dollars.27
JPMCC does challenge reducing that value by the amount of the alleged obligation of
Debtor to reimburse Kierland II for 75% of the cost of constructing the parking garage.28
Even if debtor must compensate Kierland II for the use of the additional parking spaces
in the parking garage, as explained below, that would not reduce the value of JPMCC’s
secured claim. Additionally, the pass-through of the revenue generated from the use of
the additional parking spaces may be sufficient compensation for their use.
The threshold issue involves the nature of Kierland II’s “claim.” Debtor
scheduled Kierland II as a creditor holding a $4,168,000
contingent/unliquidated/disputed claim.29 It does not appear from the record that
Kierland II filed a proof of claim. The manner in which this “claim” was effectively
26
In so doing, the Bankruptcy Court effectively treated Kierland II’s unfiled, unsecured
claim as a senior secured claim contrary to be hierarchal treatment of claims inherent in the
Bankruptcy Code. See 11 U.S.C. § 507.
27
Indeed, a contrary position would be futile. See Tuma v. Firstmark Leasing Corp. (In
re Tuma), 916 F.2d 488, 491 (1990) (holding bankruptcy judge's determination was not clearly
erroneous even though there were many different methods of determining value).
28
Puzzling is the fact that there are three different figures utilized in accounting for
Debtor’s proportionate share of the cost of the parking structure: $4.17 million on Debtor’s
schedules; $4.8 million used by Debtor’s appraiser; and $5.16 million in the agreement between
Debtor and Kierland II.
29
The reason for a “negotiated” amount nearly a million dollars greater also remains a
mystery.
15
allowed was inconsisent with the requirements of the Bankrupcty Code. First, it should
have been disallowed as a matter of law.30 Second, even not disallowed, it was at most
an unsecured claim. There is no evidence that Kierland II’s “claim” constituted a lien on
Debtor’s property, including Debtor’s interest in the easement in the existing parking on
the Kierland II property. Nor, because the claim arose, if at all, prior to the date the
bankruptcy petition was filed can it be considered an allowable expense of estate
administration.31 Consequently, by reducing JPMCC’s secured claim by the amount of
to be paid to Kierland II, it appears that the bankruptcy court treated Kierland II’s “claim”
as a senior encumbrance.32
E. Re-characterization of Inter-company Transactions/New Value
At issue is $14.9 million representing transfers from Debtor to Bataa Oil over a
period of time initially booked on Debtor’s books as receivables that were eliminated by
reclassifying them as equity distributions.33 According to the testimony of Debtor’s
bookkeeper the inter-company transfers were determined to have been initially
erroneously booked as a loan to Bataa Oil, and they were reclassified as equity
30
Fed. R. Bank. P. 3003(c)(2) (“Any creditor or equity security holder whose claim or
interest is not scheduled or scheduled as disputed, contingent, or unliquidated shall file a proof
of claim or interest within the time prescribed by subdivision (c)(3) of this rule; any creditor who
fails to do so shall not be treated as a creditor with respect to such claim for the purposes of
voting and distribution.”).
31
11 U.S.C. § 503.
32
In delaying payment, other than interest, until after the plan had been consummated, it
might be said that technically the distribution was not being made “under the plan;” therefore it
would not violate Rule 3003(c)(2).
33
The bankruptcy court had authority to make this determination. See Official
Committee of Creditors v. Hancock Park Capital II, L.P. (In re Fitness Holdings Intern., Inc.) 714
F.3d 1141, 1148 (9th Cir. 2013).
16
distributions without explanation except that it was done on the advice of the CPA.34 In
the CPA’s deposition testimony read into the record at the evidentiary hearing on the
proposed plan, when asked if he told the bookkeeper to make a change in the books of
Debtor and Bataa Oil, his response was: “Not that I can recall. No, not that I
remember.”35 At the hearing the Bankruptcy Court observed in connection with the new
value argument:
I am however, still very troubled with the argument that this is truly
new value. I don’t think I really heard any competent evidence on the nature
or the effect of the re-characterization that apparently occurred only on the
Debtor’s books and not on Bataa/Kierland’s [sic Bataa Oil’s ?] books. And
I have a real problem with an argument based solely on the bookkeeper’s
testimony that on the one hand she says it was recognized by an accountant,
and the accountant says, “No. He didn’t recommend that” Frankly, says he
never even analyzed it. Because to him the way it had been accounted for
made no difference. I can understand that analysis. But I didn’t understand
his testimony to be, “And it would make no different if you re-characterized
it.” I didn’t hear him opining on that at all. Therefore I am still very troubled
by the idea that at least according to Bataa/Kierland’s [sic Bataa Oil’s?]
books it apparently still owes the Debtor millions of dollars.
That testimony appears to be un-contradicted. That is based on
Bataa/Kierland’s [sic Bataa Oil’s?] books. And how, given that as apparently
an uncontested fact, how possibly can any money it contributes to the Debtor
be called new money?36
In confirming the plan, the Bankruptcy Court ultimately found:
Aside from the fact of how the 2007 distribution had been reported on
the Debtor’s and Bataa’s balance sheets, no evidence was presented by
anyone that there actually had been a loan or a debt. Anne Cline [sic], who
acted as the Debtor’s bookkeeper when the bookkeeping change was made
in 2009, had not been responsible for the books in 2007, and testified she
made the change on the recommendation of the Debtor’s accountant. She
testified it was made only to correct a mistake, not to make a change of any
34
D.t. 19-5 at 29.
35
Dkt. 19-6 at 8.
36
Decision re: Confirmation of Amended Plan [D.t. 19-6 at 9].
17
financial significance. Although such testimony may not be highly reliable or
credible, the Lender presented no evidence to demonstrate that there ever
had been a loan by the Debtor or a debt owed to the Debtor by Bataa Oil.
Nor was there any evidence presented by the Lender that it ever relied on a
Debtor’s balance sheet as showing a significant asset in the form of a
receivable from Bataa Oil, which the Lender would have been expected to be
able to provide if it had any valid reason to believe that the proposed
contribution was not really “new.”
Moreover, the evidence is uncontroverted that the original lender
agreed in 2007 that the Debtor could distribute to its equity owners $9.6
million of the loan proceeds. Given the significantly deteriorated and
deteriorating real estate market in 2007, and the fact that the Debtor would
still have a debt to the lender for the amount of any such distribution for
which it received no valuable asset in exchange, there is a significant
likelihood that the distribution rendered the Debtor balance sheet insolvent.
There is no evidence that the original lender’s authorization for that
distribution was conditioned upon proof that the Debtor would not thereby be
rendered insolvent, or that the “distribution” could only be in the form of a
loan (and if the lender had so required, it probably also would have required
that the loan be documented, which it was not). In short, it appears that if
there were any impropriety in the 2007 distribution such as a fraudulent
transfer, the lender aided and abetted that impropriety. Equitable doctrines
such as estoppel and unclean hands therefore now bar the creditor standing
in the shoes of the original lender -- the only objector to the plan -- from
arguing that the money Bataa Oil is now contributing is not new. It would be
at least ironic if the Lender could use a transaction that it authorized and
facilitated to prevent a debtor from reorganizing for the benefit of both its
secured and unsecured creditors, many of whom might have been
substantially injured by the very transaction the Lender now seeks to wield
as a sword to prevent the reorganization.
Considering all the facts that were established by competent
testimony, the fact that the contribution is at least facially “new” as of the
confirmation hearing because it is an asset that was not on the Debtor’s
balance sheet as of the date of the petition, the absolute lack of any evidence
that the balance sheet recharacterization in 2009 was a “transfer” of
anything, and the failure of the lender to present any evidence (as distinct
from lawyer argument) relevant to showing that it was not new money, the
Court must find and conclude that the contribution is “new.”
The Court therefore finds that the plan satisfies the new value
corollary to the absolute priority rule, and therefore is fair and equitable. And
based on these findings and conclusions, the Court denies as moot the
18
Debtor’s motion to reopen the evidence on the lack of any loan or obligation
to Bataa Oil.37
The bankruptcy court’s reliance on the lack of any evidence that the recharacterization constituted a “transfer” appears insufficient. Whether a particular event
is a transfer for bankruptcy purposes is a matter of federal law,38 and the Bankruptcy
Code defines a “transfer” as “each mode, direct or indirect, absolute or conditional,
voluntary or involuntary, of disposing of or parting with— [¶] (I) property; or [¶] (ii)
interest in property.”39 This definition is extremely broad.40 The crux of the definition is
that the debtor no longer has the rights that the debtor possessed prior to the event.41 It
cannot be argued that an account receivable is not a property interest under Arizona
law. Thus, to the extent Debtor had any right in the inter-company receivable its
extinction by re-characterizing it as a return of equity constituted a transfer. The
question becomes: Was the inter-company transaction initially booked as a receivable
properly booked? The bankruptcy court, accepting the testimony of the bookkeeper,
effectively held that it was not but her testimony was clearly inadequate to support that
conclusion.
37
Id. [D.t. 19-4 at 12–13].
38
Barnhill v. Johnson, 503 U.S. 393, 397-98 (1992).
39
11 U.S.C. § 101(54).
40
Batlan v. Bledsoe (In re Bledsoe) 569 F.3d 1106, 1113 (9th Cir. 2009); see Bernard v.
Sheaffer (In re Bernard) 96 F.3d 1279, 1282 (1996) (“‘The definition of transfer is as broad as
possible.’” (quoting S.Rep. No. 989, 95th Cong., 2d Sess. 27 (1978), reprinted in 1978
U.S.C.C.A.N. 5787, 5813)).
41
Towers v. United States (In re Feiler) 218 B.R. 957, 961 (Bankr. N.D. Cal. 1998) aff’d
218 F.3d 948 (9th Cir. 2000).
19
Debtor argues and the bankruptcy court apparently accepted as an alternate
basis for the conclusion that the account receivable was actually a distribution of equity
the fact that a distribution was specifically authorized by the loan documents. Debtor
points to the Loan Agreement, which provides:
2.04 Use of Funds Borrower hereby warrants, represents that the
loan evidenced hereby is for business or commercial purposes only, and no
advance of funds evidenced hereby shall be used by borrower for personal,
family, agricultural or household purposes. The foregoing shall not, however,
prohibit borrower from distributing surplus proceeds (after payment from time
to time of all amounts that borrower is required to pay pursuant to the Loan
Documents) to the owners of equity interests in Borrower.42
Debtor also points to the Borrower’s Settlement Statement Final, which provides:
“Refund due borrower 9,672,425.94.”43
Even accepting that the original lender consented to the distribution of surplus
loan proceeds to the equity holders does not necessarily mean the lender acceded to
treatment of the distribution as a distribution of equity rather than as a loan. Moreover,
the alleged consent does not reach all the distributions. The “consent” at most
extended to $9.7 million. Yet, there was an additional $5.2 million involved. Debtor’s
books also show the re-characterization in two parts: $7 million and $7.9 million, without
further explanation. The logical conclusion is that there were at least two separate
distributions, at least one of which likely cannot be logically tied to the initial lender’s
consent to the distribution of “surplus” funds, even if that consent could support the
conclusion that the distribution necessarily was a distribution of equity.
42
Docket No. 35-2 at 12.
43
Docket No. 33-1 at 47.
20
This court also notes that the re-characterization was not made in 2009, but at
the end of 2010, just over two months before the petition was filed.44 There is no
evidence in the record other than the uncorroborated-indeed contradicted–testimony of
the bookkeeper for the re-characterization. And there is no evidence in the record
beyond the less than satisfactory reliance on the original lender’s approval to support
any error in the original treatment as an account receivable. Finally, there is no
explanation for the continued treatment of the transfers as loans on the books of Bataa
Oil. The bankruptcy court’s conclusion on this point does not withstand scrutiny on the
available record. Weighing all of the evidence, creates a definite and firm conviction
that the bankruptcy court’s finding of fact was mistaken on the record before it. This is
very significant, because if JPMCC were to prevail on a more complete record, Bataa
Oil would be compelled to repay Debtor several million dollars, a sum far in excess of
the $350,000 contribution actually made by Bataa Oil.45
In sum, the bankruptcy court’s decision deprives the creditors of millions to the
benefit of the equity holder based upon less than adequate credible evidence. Approval
of the plan on the available record simply fails the “fair and equitable” test.46 The
bankruptcy court denied JPMCC’s motion to reopen the evidence as moot, effectively
44
If so, then this case presents a fraudulent transfer question. See 11 U.S.C.
§ 548(a)(1)(B) (a transfer without consideration by an insolvent debtor). That is, if Debtor was
not already insolvent, the elimination of a $14.9 million receivable certainly rendered it so. 11
U.S.C. § 101(32). This question is incapable of answer on the record before this Court, and
must, if otherwise appropriate, be determined by the Bankruptcy Court on remand.
45
This court agrees with JPMCC that this $350,000 contribution, at most less than two
percent (2%) of the discharged debt is de minimus. See Liberty Nat’l Enter. v. Ambanc La Mesa
Ltd P’ship (In re Ambanc La Mesa Ltd P’ship), 115 F.3d 650, 654–56 (9th Cir. 1997). That too
is an issue that the Bankruptcy Court must address on remand if necessary.
46
See 11 U.S.C. § 1129(b)(1).
21
precluding full development of the record. Consequently, on remand, the bankruptcy
court should reopen the record and take such additional evidence as may be necessary
or appropriate to resolve this issue.
F. Property Taxes
As an ongoing expense during the life of the plan, Debtor is required to pay
Kierland II the common expenses associated with the parking garage, including its
proportionate share of the real property taxes. As Debtor correctly points out, the
CC&Rs specifically exclude property taxes from those items of common expenses that
Debtor agreed to pay. This does not, however, necessarily insulate Debtor from all
property taxes, only those associated with the number of parking spaces covered by the
reserved easement. To the extent that the construction of the parking garage increased
the number parking spaces to which Debtor was entitled, as discussed in subpart III.C.,
above, the common expenses for which Debtor is responsible is not governed by the
CC&Rs. This, as with the number of additional parking spaces, if any, for the use of
which Debtor must pay Kierland II, is left to the bankruptcy court to determine in the first
instance on remand.
G. Use of the Cash Collateral
At the time of confirmation, Debtor held $729,467.44 in net cash collateral. The
Bankruptcy Court allowed Debtor to retain these proceeds, treating them as part of
JPMCC’s secured claim.47 This issue is reviewed de novo.48
47
Adding it to the $7.7 million the bankruptcy court determined was the fair market value
of the property securing JPMCC’s debt.
48
Arnold & Baker Farms v. United States, (In re Arnold & Baker Farms) 85 F.3d 1415,
(continued...)
22
In permitting Debtor to retain the cash collateral proceeds post-confirmation, the
Bankruptcy Court held:
The Lender objects that the plan does not require the Debtor to turn
over all of its cash collateral to the Lender. This objection is without merit
because there is no such requirement in the Code.
Cash collateral is a debtor’s property, in the form of cash, that secures
a lender. Nothing in Code §§ 1123 or 1129 requires that the collateral be
surrendered to the lender, any more than they require a surrender of the real
property (although surrender of the property is an alternative under
§ 1129(b)(2)(A)(iii), which the Supreme Court recently clarified in its RadLAX
decision,3 but which the Debtor’s plan does not utilize). Rather, § 1129 can
be satisfied if the lender retains its lien while the debtor retains the use of the
collateral so long as the lender is paid the present value of its secured claim.
Section 506 certainly requires, as made clear by the Ninth Circuit in
Ambanc,4 that the value of the cash collateral be added to the value of the
real property collateral to determine the amount of an undersecured claim.
But nothing in Ambanc or in §§ 363, 506 or 1129 requires a turnover of the
cash collateral.49
3
RadLAX Gateway Hotel LLC. v. Amalgamated Bank, ___ U.S. ___,
132 S. Ct.205 (2012) (the third alternative under § 1129(b)(2)(A) is to provide
a creditor with the “indubitable equivalent” of its secured claim, which might
be achieved via a surrender of the property to the secured creditor).
4
In re Ambanc La Mesa P’ship, 115 F.3d 650 (9th Cir. 1997).
This court notes that the bankruptcy court’s reliance on Ambanc was misplaced.
The Ambanc bankruptcy court first found that the value of the real property securing the
obligation was $4.3 million, then offset that by the amount of the cash collateral retained
by the secured creditor. The Ninth Circuit held that, because the total secured claim
included the cash collateral, the conclusion that the secured claim total was $4.3 million,
not $4.6 million, was error.50 Here, unlike Ambanc, the Debtor, not JPMCC, the
48
(...continued)
1421 (9th Cir. 1996).
49
Decision re: Confirmation of Amended Plan [D.t. 19-4 at 9].
50
Ambanc, 115 F.3d at 652–54.
23
creditor, retains the cash collateral. Because JPMCC was already under-secured,
Debtor could not provide substitute security for the use of the cash collateral.
What escapes explanation is how simply increasing a “secured” claim, which has
already been reduced to the value of the collateral leaving no value to secure any
additional debt, is the “indubitable equivalent” of nearly three-quarters of a million
dollars in cash. In other words, in the context of the use of the cash collateral, the
Bankruptcy Court simply treated it as part of the secured claim for purpose of plan
payments. It does not appear that under the terms of the Plan JPMCC’s security
interest in the cash collateral survived confirmation.51 Even if it did, it does not appear
that any provision is made for preserving JPMCC’s secured position as the cash is
consumed. The bankruptcy court did not provide any substitute security for payment,
i.e., it effectively substituted an unsecured obligation for a secured obligation. While
this constituted error, it is also a matter that may be addressed further on remand taking
into consideration the facts presented to the bankruptcy court.
51
Upon confirmation under the plan JPMCC effectively had an allowed “secured claim”
of $8,449,467 secured by $7,700 ,000 in assets.
24
IV. ORDER
The order of the bankruptcy court confirming the Plan of Reorganization is
hereby VACATED and REMANDED to the bankruptcy court for such further
proceedings as may be necessary or appropriate consistent with this decision.
The Clerk of the Court is directed to enter judgment accordingly.52
Dated: July 22nd 2013
/S/
JOHN W. SEDWICK
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
52
Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8016(a).
25
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