In Re TAC Financial, Inc.

Filing 51

ORDER denying 44 Appellant's Ex Parte Motion to Stay Order Pending Appeal; denying as moot 47 Appellant's Amended Ex Parte Motion to Stay with Application to Shorten Time. Signed by Judge Anthony J. Battaglia on 9/22/2017. (acc)

Download PDF
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 12 In re: TAC FINANCIAL, INC., 15 ORDER: Debtor, 13 14 Case No.: 17cv00381-AJB-BGS (1) DENYING APPELLANTS’ EX PARTE MOTION TO STAY ORDER PENDING APPEAL; AND DIRECT BENEFITS, LLC, and ANDREW C. GELLENE, Appellants, 17 CHRISTOPHER R. BARCLAY, Chapter 7 Trustee, and REMAR INVESTMENTS, LP, 18 Appellees. 16 (2) DENYING AS MOOT APPELLANTS’ AMENDED EX PARTE MOTION TO STAY WITH APPLICATION TO SHORTEN TIME 19 20 (Doc. Nos. 44, 47) 21 22 Presently before the Court is Appellants Direct Benefits, LLC and Andrew C. 23 Gellene’s (“Appellants”) ex parte application for an order staying implementation of the 24 Bankruptcy Court Order that is being reviewed on appeal in this appellate case. (Doc. No. 25 44.) Appellees Remar Investments, L.P. (“Remar”) and the Chapter 7 Trustee (“Trustee”) 26 oppose the application. (Doc. Nos. 46, 48.) As explained more fully below, the Court 27 DENYS Appellants’ motion. 28 /// 1 17cv00381-AJB-BGS 1 BACKGROUND 2 The Court provides the foregoing abbreviated summary of material facts pertinent 3 to the instant action. Debtor TAC Financial, Inc. (“TAC”) employed Mr. Roy Eder as its 4 chief executive officer. (Doc. No. 44-1 at 3.) In February of 2013, TAC applied to ReliaStar 5 for a life insurance policy for Mr. Eder. (Id.) TAC was the owner of the policy and paid all 6 the premiums. (Id.) At that time, the listed beneficiaries were as follows (1) TAC 60%; (2) 7 Andrea Kutsch 10%; (3) Cameron Eder 10%; (4) Henry Eder 10%; and (5) Kendall Eder 8 10%. (Id.) 9 Thereafter, in June or July of 2014, Mr. Eder was diagnosed with terminal brain 10 cancer. (Id.) Around that same time, Michael Frager, TAC’s insurance broker, faxed 11 ReliaStar a transfer of ownership form dated June 27, 2014. (Id.) The form requested that 12 ReliaStar change the policy’s owner from TAC to Mr. Eder. (Id.) On July 15, 2014, 13 ReliaStar sent Mr. Eder a letter confirming the ownership change. (Id.) 14 In November of 2014, Remar agreed to purchase the policy from Mr. Eder (“the 15 Policy”). (Id.) The policy amount at that time was $4,750,000. (Id.) On November 20, 16 2014, a third-party, unrelated family trust, grant deeded 3030 Calle Bonita, Santa Ynez, 17 CA 93460 (the “Eder Ranch”) to the Eder Trust. (Id.) In December 2014, Mr. Eder sold 18 the policy to Remar through Montage Financial for $2,025,300, subject to Mr. Eder 19 retaining a $1,100,000 death benefit until the policy would become uncontestable. (Id.) 20 Once the contestability period ended, Remar would pay an additional $1,100,000 and Mr. 21 Eder’s retained death benefit would shift. (Id.) Moreover, it also agreed to pay $250,000 of 22 this retained death benefit in exchange for Mr. Eder accepting a $25,000 discount on the 23 price. (Id.) 24 On January 6, 2015, TAC filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition. (Id. at 4.) The 25 Trustee assigned to TAC then brought an adversary proceeding alleging nine causes of 26 action against various defendants including: (1) fraudulent conveyance; (2) recovery from 27 subsequent transferor’s conversion; (3) conversion; (4) two causes for breach of fiduciary 28 duty; (5) negligence; and (6) injunctive relief. (Id.) As a whole, the Trustee believed that 2 17cv00381-AJB-BGS 1 TAC owned the policy when it was transferred to Mr. Eder without consideration. (Id.; 2 Doc. No. 48 at 7.) At the time of this complaint, the policy’s sale proceeds consisted of 3 money in various banks and stock trading accounts and the Eder Ranch. (Id.) Specifically, 4 the Trustee asserts that the Eder Ranch was purchased with the policy proceeds and is 5 likewise property of TAC’s estate. (Id.) 6 On July 27, 2016, the court granted ReliaStar’s motion for interpleader. (Doc. No. 7 48 at 7.) The interpleader order: (1) discharged and dismissed ReliaStar from this adversary 8 proceeding without prejudice; (2) allowed ReliaStar to continue administering the policy; 9 (3) required ReliaStar, if the death benefit became payable under the policy, to immediately 10 deposit it with the court; (4) released ReliaStar from all liability as to the policy’s 11 ownership; (5) enjoined Remar and the Trustee from maintaining or pursuing any future 12 claim out of the policy’s ownership; and (6) awarded ReliaStar attorneys’ fees payable 13 from the policy’s death benefit. (Id.) 14 At issue in the present matter are two different settlements. The first is a settlement 15 between Remar and the Trustee wherein the Trustee was to assign the Policy and 93% of 16 its proceeds ($4,383,903.02) in exchange for Remar assigning its fraud claims against Eder 17 to the Trustee so that it could prosecute them. (Doc. No. 44 at 9; Doc. No. 44-1 at 14–15.) 18 Moreover, the settlement stated that the parties would enter into a general mutual release 19 agreement as to the adversary proceeding and that the Trustee would dismiss the estate’s 20 claim against Remar with prejudice. (Doc. No. 48 at 8.) Appellants objected to this 21 settlement arguing that it was not fair and equitable to creditors nor in the best interests of 22 the bankruptcy estate. (Id.) Nonetheless, the bankruptcy court overruled the objections and 23 approved this settlement (“the Remar Settlement”). (Id.) 24 The second settlement was between the Trustee and Eder’s estate. (Doc. No. 44-1 at 25 4–5.) The pertinent terms of this settlement are (1) the parties stipulate to a judgment that 26 the Eder Ranch is property of the TAC estate; (2) Upon the Eder Ranch’s transfer, the 27 Trustee shall market it for sale; and (3) the Trustee, Mrs. Eder, and the Eder Trust mutually 28 release all claims against one another. (Id. at 4–5.) Similarly, Appellants objected to this 3 17cv00381-AJB-BGS 1 settlement. (Id. at 3.) However, after analyzing the Ninth Circuit’s multi factor test 2 determining if a settlement agreement is fair, reasonable, or adequate, the bankruptcy court 3 approved the Eder Settlement. (Id. at 12.) 4 LEGAL STANDARD 5 A motion to stay of a judgment, order, or decree of the bankruptcy court must 6 ordinarily be presented to the bankruptcy judge in the first instance. Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8007. 7 A motion for relief, or of modification or termination of relief granted by the bankruptcy 8 court, may be made to the district court, but such motion must show why the relief, 9 modification, or termination was not obtained from the bankruptcy court. Id.; In re North 10 Plaza, LLC, 395 B.R. 113, 118 (S.D. Cal. 2008). 11 Where the bankruptcy court has already denied a stay under Rule 8007 of the Federal 12 Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, the reviewing court is limited to determining whether the 13 bankruptcy court abused its discretion. In re Wymer, 5 B.R. 802, 807 (9th Cir. 1980); In re 14 North Plaza, LLC, 395 B.R. at 119. Under this standard, the bankruptcy court’s conclusions 15 of law are reviewed de novo, but its findings of facts will be upheld unless they are clearly 16 erroneous. Figter Ltd. v. Teachers Ins. & Annuity Ass’n, 118 F.3d 635, 638 (9th Cir. 1997) 17 (citing Feder v. Lazar, 83 F.3d 306, 308 (9th Cir. 1996)). 18 DISCUSSION 19 Appellants request that this Court stay both the disbursement of Mr. Eder’s life 20 insurance policy and the implementation of the Eder Settlement.1 (Doc. No. 44 at 2.) Remar 21 counters that Appellants are not entitled to ex parte relief, that they have not made a 22 showing of irreparable harm, and that Appellants delayed in bringing this motion. (See 23 generally Doc. No. 46.) Trustee contends that Appellants failed to follow Judge Battaglia’s 24 25 26 27 28 1 Appellants filed a motion to stay with this Court on May 30, 2017, (Doc. No. 16), which was denied on June 30, 2017, for failure to first file their motion to stay with the bankruptcy court per Rule 8007, (Doc. No. 28 at 5). The Court finds that Appellants have fixed that error in the present motion and filed a motion to stay with the bankruptcy court first, which the court later denied. (Doc. No. 44-1 at 11.) 4 17cv00381-AJB-BGS 1 civil case procedures for ex parte applications, the relief requested in the motion is largely 2 moot, and that Judge Latham’s motion to stay was well-reasoned. (See generally Doc. No. 3 48.) The Court notes that neither Remar nor the Trustee addressed any of the Ninth Circuit 4 factors related to motions to stay. 5 In assessing the propriety of a stay pending appeal under Rule 8007, courts within 6 the Ninth Circuit apply the same four-factor test that applies to motions for preliminary 7 injunction. Hilton v. Braunskill, 481 U.S. 770, 776 (1987); Wymer, 5 B.R. at 806; In re 8 North Plaza, LLC, 395 B.R. at 119–20. Accordingly, the party seeking a stay must establish 9 the following factors: “(1) whether the stay applicant has made a strong showing that he is 10 likely to succeed on the merits; (2) whether the applicant will be irreparably injured absent 11 a stay; (3) whether the issuance of the stay will substantially injure other parties’ interest 12 in the proceeding; and (4) where the public interest lies.” Nken v. Holder, 556 U.S. 418, 13 434 (2009) (citation omitted). “Failure to establish even one of these elements dooms the 14 motion.” In re Lindsey, No. CC-08-1287-PaDMK, 2009 WL 7751414, at *2 (B.A.P. 9th 15 Cir. 2009). 16 As a threshold matter, the Court notes that it disagrees with Remar’s contentions that 17 Appellants’ ex parte motion to stay is procedurally defective as they have failed to follow 18 the emergency motion procedures in Rule 8011(d). (Doc. No. 46 at 2.) The Court notes 19 that Rule 8011 makes no mention of emergency filing procedures. Instead, Rule 8011 20 relates to filing, service, and signatures. Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8011. 21 Next, as to the Trustee’s procedural arguments, the Court agrees. This Court’s civil 22 case procedures clearly state that the moving party is to contact opposing counsel prior to 23 filing the motion to meet and confer, and that all ex parte motions will be accompanied by 24 a declaration documenting their various efforts. Civ. Case Proc. III.1. The Trustee states 25 that he only found out about the motion after it was filed through ECF notice and that no 26 meet and confer efforts were made by Appellants. (Doc. No. 48 at 2.) Consequently, 27 Appellants have failed to follow the case procedures set forth by this Court. 28 Nevertheless, despite these procedural deficiencies, the Court finds it important to 5 17cv00381-AJB-BGS 1 reach the Ninth Circuit factors to address whether a motion to stay is warranted in this 2 matter. Consequently, the Court turns its attention to the first element. 3 A. Likelihood of Success on the Merits 4 Appellants argue that they will likely succeed on their appeal because, according to 5 them, the bankruptcy court erred by using the wrong legal standard in assessing the 6 Trustee’s actions and that the bankruptcy court failed to examine the fact and law 7 surrounding their fraud claims. (Doc. No. 44 at 18–23.) 8 The Ninth Circuit adopts a multi-factor test a court must consider in determining a 9 settlement agreement’s fairness, reasonableness, and adequacy: (1) “the probability of 10 success in the litigation”; (2) “the difficulties, if any, to be encountered in the matter of 11 collection”; (3) “the complexity of the litigation involved, and the expense, inconvenience, 12 and delay necessarily attending it”; and (4) “the paramount interest of the creditors and a 13 proper deference to their reasonable views in the premises.” Martin v. Kane (In re A & C 14 Props.), 784 F.2d 1377, 1381 (9th Cir. 1986). Specifically, “[a]lthough the bankruptcy 15 court has ‘great latitude’ in authorizing a compromise, it may only approve a proposal that 16 is ‘fair and equitable.’” In re MGS Mktg., 111 B.R. 264, 267 (B.A.P. 9th Cir. 1990) (citing 17 Woodson v. Fireman’s Fund Ins. Co., 839 F.2d 610, 620 (9th Cir. 1988)). 18 Appellants first argue that the bankruptcy court ignored the role and capacity of the 19 Trustee as a fiduciary. (Doc. No. 44 at 20.) However, the Court disagrees. As the 20 bankruptcy court clearly stated, the court’s holding in A & C, i.e., the business judgment 21 rule, controls approval of settlements and compromises. (Doc. No. 48 at 14.) Thus, the 22 court should presume that the debtor-in-possession acted “prudently, on an informed basis, 23 in good faith, and in the honest belief that the action taken was in the best interests of the 24 bankruptcy estate.” In re Pomona Valley Med. Grp., Inc., 476 F.3d 665, 670 (9th Cir. 25 2007). Here, the bankruptcy court specifically followed the guidelines as set forth in A & 26 C and deferred to the trustee’s business judgment in settling litigation. (Doc. No. 48 at 14.) 27 To oppose the use of the business judgment rule, Appellants cite to In re Woodson, 28 839 F.2d 619 (9th Cir. 1988), to contend that the business judgment standard runs “counter 6 17cv00381-AJB-BGS 1 to controlling legal authority.” (Doc. No. 44 at 19.) Curiously, the court in Woodson 2 reiterates the standard for the business judgment standard—“The Court may approve a 3 compromise only if it is ‘fair and equitable.’” Id. at 620. Moreover, the court in Woodson 4 rejected the compromise as it left nothing to the creditors. Id. This is not the case here 5 where the Trustee now has control of the Eder Ranch, which he will market and sell, and 6 where Appellants have retained 7% of the Policy proceeds. (Doc. No. 44 at 13; Doc. No. 7 48 at 17.) 8 Appellants also contend that there are serious legal issues revolving around the 9 bankruptcy court’s decision to approve the Eder and Remar Settlements. (Doc. No. 44 at 10 19–22.) The Court does not agree. As the bankruptcy court made clear in its order denying 11 Appellants’ motion for stay, the court did base its findings in approving the Remar 12 Settlement based on sufficient facts in the record involving the ultra vires claim. (Doc. No. 13 48 at 14.) Specifically, based on the significant litigation risk in bringing this case to trial 14 where a jury could find for Remar and thus the estate would receive nothing, as well as 15 based on the fact that a board member of TAC suggested that the board ratified Eder’s life 16 insurance policy transfer, the court found that Appellants failed to make a minimum 17 permissible showing that it would prevail on the merits of their appeal. (Id. at 14–17.) 18 Furthermore, the bankruptcy court highlighted that the expense and burdens that came with 19 continuing to litigate this issue were reasons enough alone to approve the settlement. (Id. 20 at 15 (citing In re WCI Cable, Inc., 282 B.R. 457, 472–73 (Bankr. D. Or. 2002).) 21 Additionally, in denying Appellants’ motion to stay, the bankruptcy court 22 highlighted that it did give deference to their views as TAC’s largest creditor. (Doc. No. 23 48 at 16.) However, finding that the Trustee represented all of the creditors’ interests, has 24 no personal stake in the case’s outcome, reviewed several thousand documents, and only 25 attended mediation after gaining a thorough grasp of the parties’ claims and defenses, the 26 bankruptcy court found the Remar Settlement fair and equitable. (Id. at 15–16.) Thus, 27 because Appellants have not raised a colorable question as to whether the Remar 28 Settlement was fair and equitable, let alone a strong showing of their likely success on this 7 17cv00381-AJB-BGS 1 issue’s merits, the Court finds that Appellants have failed to carry their burden on this 2 motion. See Hughes v. Arnold, No. 2:08-00490 JAM, 2008 WL 2169511, at *1 (E.D. Cal. 3 May 22, 2008) (“The movant’s failure to establish even one of the elements dooms the 4 motion.”). Thus, the Court DENIES Appellants’ ex parte application for a motion to stay. 5 CONCLUSION 6 As explained more fully above, the Court DENIES Appellants’ ex parte application 7 for a motion to stay and DENIES AS MOOT Appellants’ amended ex parte motion to stay 8 order pending appeal with application to shorten time. (Doc. Nos. 44, 47.) 9 10 IT IS SO ORDERED. 11 12 Dated: September 22, 2017 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 8 17cv00381-AJB-BGS

Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.


Why Is My Information Online?