Rice v. Mills et al

Filing 10

ORDER granting Motions to Withdraw Reference. Signed by Judge Brian S. Miller on 9/7/11. (hph)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
LITTLE ROCK DIVISION

IN RE SHUR-VALU STAMPS, INC.

DEBTOR

CASE NO. 4:09BK13183
AP NO. 4:11AP01151

M. RANDY RICE, Chapter 7 Trustee for
SHUR-VALUE STAMPS, INC. et al.
v.

PLAINTIFF

CASE NO. 4:11MC00024 BSM (Lead case)
CASE NO. 4:11MC00025 BSM (Consolidated case)
CASE NO. 4:11MC00026 BSM (Consolidated case)
CASE NO. 4:11MC00027 BSM (Consolidated case)
CASE NO. 4:11MC00028 BSM (Consolidated case)

JOHN MILLS et al.

DEFENDANTS
ORDER

Defendants David Hendrix, Bob Hudson, John Miller, Larry Cranford, Billy
Dickerson, Kevin Doucet, Tandy Key, Dwight Sawyer, Brett Wright, and John Mills move
to withdraw the reference of the above-styled adversary proceeding and transfer the case to
the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. Plaintiff M. Randy
Rice, the Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustee, objects. For the reasons set forth below, defendants’
motion to withdraw is GRANTED.
I. BACKGROUND
On May 5, 2009, Shur-Value Stamps, Inc. (“Shur-Valu”) filed a voluntary petition
under Chapter 11 of the bankruptcy code and the case was converted to a Chapter 7

liquidation on August 13, 2009. Shortly thereafter, Rice was appointed as the trustee.
On May 4, 2011, Rice commenced an adversary proceeding against fourteen former
Shur-Valu managers and board members. In that adversary proceeding, Rice seeks monetary
damages on behalf of Shur-Valu’s creditors for: breach of fiduciary duties; avoidance and
recovery of preference and fraudulent transfers; avoidance and recovery of unlawful
distributions; unlawful loans to directors; unjust enrichment; waste of corporate assets; gross
negligence; civil conspiracy to commit fraud; and aiding and abetting breaches of fiduciary
duties and fraud. Defendants demand jury trials and move to withdraw the reference of
Rice’s adversary proceeding. Defendants also move for an order of abstention.
II. LEGAL STANDARD
The Seventh Amendment provides a right to a jury trial in civil cases so long as the
action sounds in law, rather than in equity. Curtis v. Loether, 415 U.S. 189, 193 (1974). This
right also applies to adversary proceedings brought in a bankruptcy case. Granfinanciera,
S.A. v. Nordberg, 492 U.S. 33, 47-49 (1989). Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 157(e), a bankruptcy
judge may conduct a jury trial “with the express consent of all the parties.” See also Fed. R.
Bankr. P. 9015(b).
III. DISCUSSION
Rice alleges that defendants fraudulently transferred assets and that those transfers
must be avoided. The action is legal in nature and the parties have a right to a jury trial. See
Granfinanciera, 492 U.S. at 47-49. Further, none of the defendants consent to have the jury

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trial conducted in the bankruptcy court.
Accordingly, defendants’ motions to withdraw the reference are granted. The
reference is hereby withdrawn with respect to M. Randy Rice, Trustee for Shur-Valu Stamps,
Inc. v. John Mills et al., United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas,
Adversary Proceeding No. 4:11-ap-01151. The clerk of the bankruptcy court and the clerk
of this court are directed to take appropriate action to transfer the adversary proceeding to
the undersigned where the proceeding will be docketed as a civil action.
Defendants’ motions to abstain will be held in abeyance pending further
consideration.
Dated this 7th day of September 2011.
________________________________
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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