Wojcik v. Hudson Funding LLC et al

Filing 23

Opinion and Order. Defendants' Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings (Related doc # 12 ) is denied. Judge Christopher A. Boyko on 9/20/2013. (H,CM)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
EASTERN DIVISION

WALDEMAR J. WOJCIK,
Plaintiff,
Vs.
HUDSON FUNDING LLC ET AL.,
Defendant.

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CASE NO.1:12CV2960
JUDGE CHRISTOPHER A. BOYKO

OPINION AND ORDER

CHRISTOPHER A. BOYKO, J:
This matter is before the Court on Defendants’ Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings
(ECF # 12). For the following reasons, the Court denies Defendants’ Motion.
Plaintiff Waldemar J. Wojcik, Chapter 7 Trustee of H & K, LLC (“H & K”) brings this
action seeking to avoid certain transfers alleged to be fraudulent under 11 U.S.C. § 548(A)(1)(B)
and 11 U.S.C. § 544(B) against Defendant Hudson Funding LLC (“Funding”). The Trustee’s
Complaint further alleges a Breach of Fiduciary Duty claim against George A. Skestos and
members of the Management Committee, and Recovery of Avoided Transfers under 11 U.S.C. §
550 against Funding and individually named Defendants.
The Trustee seeks to avoid and recover transfers made to Defendant Hudson Funding
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LLC as well as other amounts. In addition, the Trustee seeks to recover damages from
individuals who comprised the Management Committee of H & K. The Trustee claims that
these individuals violated their fiduciary duties to H & K resulting in damages.
According to the Complaint, H & K was a debt buying/collecting, limited liability
company incorporated in Delaware with a principal place of business in Painesville, Ohio.
Pursuant to a 2009 Operating Agreement, the Management Committee had “full and complete
authority, power and discretion to manage and control the business, affairs and properties of the
Company.” The Complaint alleges that George Anthony Skestos, George A. Skestos, Ellen
Hardymon, John F. Havens, D. Scott Clarke and Steven Alonso were all members of the
Management Committee while George Anthony Skestos and George A. Skestos were also
members of Defendant Hudson Funding LLC (“Funding”).
The Complaint further alleges that in May 2007, H & K entered into a Loan Agreement
with Charter One Bank, N.A as Lead Arranger, Sales Book Runner and Administrative Agent for
itself and other lenders identified in the Loan Agreement. Under the terms of the Loan
Agreement, H & K granted Charter One, for the benefit of all the lenders, a security interest in,
and collateral assignment of H & K’s assets, including H & K’s interest in debt receivables. On
August 28, 2009, H & K agreed to purchase debt receivables from HSBC with a face value of
$154,217,192.52 for $3,546,995.43. That same day, H & K sold the debt receivables to Funding
for the same amount H & K purchased the debt receivables from HSBC. Funding was not
permitted by law to engage in collections work.
On September 23, 2009, H & K engaged in the same type of transaction, buying debt
receivables from HSBC with a face value of $100,001,716.78 for $2,300,039.49. H & K then

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sold the newly acquired debt receivables to Funding. H & K did not disclose to HSBC the sale
of the receivables to Funding even though the debt receivables collateralized H & K’s
obligations to HSBC and the various lenders represented by HSBC.
Because Funding could not legally collect debts, H & K and Funding entered into a
Collection Agreement wherein H & K agreed to perform collection work for the benefit of
Funding. Under the Collection Agreement, H & K provided all services necessary to perform
collection work and received $400 per account for legal costs and 25% of all collections paid to
Funding. Funding kept 75% of the proceeds while performing virtually no services.
On October 14, 2009, HSBC sent a letter to H & K informing it that a default had
occurred. HSBC refused to make additional advances to H & K.
On October 22, 2009, H&K’s lenders wrote a letter to H & K’s counsel expressing
concerns over H & K’s management, transactions involving related parties and noting the
unfavorable terms of H & K’s collection and servicing agreements. Shortly thereafter, H & K
agreed to retain a Chief Restructuring Officer. In March 2010, the lenders sold their rights under
the Loan Agreement. On August 31, 2010, Funding terminated the Collection Agreement and on
September 9, 2010, H & K filed for bankruptcy.
Trustee’s Claims
According to the Complaint, H & K entered into the HSBC, Funding and Collection
agreements within two years of its Petition Date. H & K’s transfers of debt receivables under the
Funding Agreements and agreement to incur expenses under the Collection Agreement involved
transfers of interest in H & K property. Because H & K received less than reasonably equivalent
value under these agreements they constitute fraudulent transfers and obligations which may be

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avoided.
Likewise, the Trustee contends he may avoid any transfer of H & K’s interest in property
that is voidable under applicable law by a creditor holding an allowable unsecured claim or an
unsecured claim that is not allowable under 502(e) of the Bankruptcy Code.
The Trustee further alleges George A. Skestos breached his fiduciary duty as a Manager
and controlling member of H & K by acting in concert with his son George Anthony Skestos to
improperly usurp a corporate opportunity belonging to H & K, by diverting H & K’s opportunity
to purchase HSBC accounts to Funding. This diversion deprived H & K of substantial revenue
because H & K did all the collection services but received only one quarter of the revenue
stream.
The Trustee also alleges a cause of action to recover the alleged fraudulent transfers
under 11 U.S.C. §550 from Funding, Skestos and other transferees.
Finally, the Trustee alleges breach of fiduciary claims against individually named
Members of the Management Committee and Clarke as an officer of H & K for failing to act in
good faith for the benefit of H & K. The Trustee contends the Funding Agreements furthered the
interests of Funding to the detriment of H & K. By approving the Funding Agreements, the
Management Committee willfully violated their fiduciary duties. Furthermore, Clarke breached
his fiduciary duties by maintaining staff in excess of need and mischaracterized Lenders’
response to proposed joint ventures and outstanding asset values and nature of Funding
Agreements to the Management Committee.

Standard of Review

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After the pleadings are closed but within such time as not to delay the trial, any party
may move for judgment on the pleadings. Fed. R. C.iv. P. 12(c). A motion for judgment on the
pleadings is governed by the same legal standard as a Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss
for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. Almedares v. Palmer, 284 F. Supp.
2d 799, 802 (N.D. Ohio 2003). “The Supreme Court has recently clarified the pleading standard
necessary to survive a Rule 12(b)(6) motion.” CHG Transport Inc. v. Quabecor World, Inc.,
261 Fed. App’x 817, 819 (6th Cir. 2008), (citing Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544
(2007)). Factual allegations contained in a complaint must “raise a right to relief above the
speculative level.” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555. Twombly does not “require heightened fact
pleading of specifics, but only enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.”
Id. at 570. “In reviewing a motion to dismiss, we construe the complaint in the light most
favorable to the plaintiff, accept its allegations as true, and draw all reasonable inferences in
favor of the plaintiff.” Directv, Inc. v. Treesh, 487 F.3d 471, 476 (6th Cir. 2007). Dismissal is
warranted if the complaint lacks an allegation as to a necessary element of the claim raised.
Craighead v. E.F. Hutton & Co., 899 F.2d 485 (6th Cir. 1990). The United States Supreme
Court, in Ashcroft v. Iqbal 556 U.S. 662 (2009), discussed Twombly and provided additional
analysis of the motion to dismiss standard:
In keeping with these principles a court considering a motion to dismiss can
choose to begin by identifying pleadings that, because they are no more than
conclusion, are not entitled to the assumption of truth. While legal conclusions
can provide the framework of a complaint, they must be supported by factual
allegations. When there are well-plead factual allegations a court should assume
their veracity and then determine whether they plausibly give rise to an
entitlement to relief.
Id. at 679.
Lastly, a Rule 12(c) motion “is granted when no material issue of fact exists and the
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party making the motion is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Paskvan v. City of
Cleveland Civil Serv. Comm’n, 946 F.2d 1233, 1235 (6th Cir. 1991) (emphasis added). When
deciding a Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings a court may consider the Complaint and “any
exhibits attached thereto, public records, items appearing in the record of the case and exhibits
attached to defendant's motion to dismiss so long as they are referred to in the Complaint and are
central to the claims contained therein.” Bassett v. National Collegiate Athletic Ass'n 528 F.3d
426, 430 (6th Cir. 2008).
Defendants’ Arguments
According to Defendants, they are entitled to dismissal of the Trustee’s claims because
the transactions at issue resulted in no negative impact on H & K; instead, they provided income
stream and business opportunity. Therefore, the Trustee has stated no cognizable claim against
Defendants.
As stated in the Trustee’s Complaint, H & K received the exact same amount from
Funding in the Funding Agreements H & K expended in the purchase of the debt receivables
from HSBC. Not only did H & K receive equivalent value in the transactions, it further obtained
an income stream, receiving 25 % of amounts collected, plus a fee per each transaction.
Furthermore, Defendants argue the Trustee’s Complaint fails to allege facts
demonstrating H & K was insolvent at the time of the transfers or that the transfers negatively
affected H & K’s finances. Instead, the Complaint merely recites the elements, thus failing to
demonstrate a plausible claim under Twombley/Iqbal.
Furthermore, H & K’s own representations at the time of the transactions stated it was
solvent at the time of the transactions now alleged to be fraudulent.

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Because Plaintiff cannot demonstrate a fraudulent transfer his claims at Counts IV and V
for recovery of avoidable transfers necessarily fail as a matter of law.
Defendants also contend Plaintiff’s claim for breach of fiduciary duty by George Skestos
Sr., for diverting HSBC debt receivables from H & K to Funding, fails because Skestos Sr. has
never been a member of Funding. Furthermore, the individual members cannot be liable for a
breach of their fiduciary duties because, under Delaware law, which applies to the claims in this
case, only willful conduct may result in a breach of fiduciary duty when members are governed
by an operating agreement limiting fiduciary duties. The Operating Agreement at issue
specifically limits liability of the Management Committee to willful misconduct. Since the
Complaint only alleges conclusory statements of willfulness without supporting facts, Trustee’s
claims for breach of fiduciary duty fail as a matter of law. Furthermore, Defendant Committee
Members’ actions are protected by the business judgment rule.
Trustee’s Response
The Trustee argues that the Complaint alleges sufficient facts in accordance with
Twombley and Iqbal. The Complaint alleges that H & K sold the debt receivables acquired from
HSBC to Funding for no profit, then agreed to service the debt collections in exchange for only
25% of the collected amounts while Funding retained 75% for doing nothing. Furthermore, the
Management Committee, which possessed full authority to manage and control the business of H
& K, had one or more members who were members of Funding, and permitted the challenged
transactions which benefitted Funding to the detriment of H & K. Also, the Complaint
specifically alleges that at the time of the transfers H & K was insolvent.
Also, Plaintiff contends the individual Defendants may not rely on the business judgment

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rule because they were not disinterested members since at least one Defendant was a member of
Funding. Furthermore, Defendants admit they did not even consider the allegedly fraudulent
transactions, therefore, they cannot contend they acted on an informed basis. Finally, the
transactions at issue were not in the ordinary course of business because these transactions were
unique.
Law and Analysis
When analyzing a claim that a Debtor did not receive reasonably equivalent value, the
Sixth Circuit has held the question to be largely a factual one. “Determining reasonably
equivalent value is a question of fact and considerable latitude must be allowed to the trier of
facts. (Citations omitted). Whether a transfer is made for reasonably equivalent value is a
question of fact to be determined from all the evidence in a particular case.” (Citation omitted).
In re Gabor 280 B.R. 149, 162 (Bkrtcy. N. D. Ohio, 2002). See also In re Wilkinson, 196 Fed.
App’x 337,341 (6th Cir. 2006). Thus, in considering the issue, the Court must examine the
evidence in the case. Because Plaintiff has alleged sufficient facts to state a claim for fraudulent
transfer, the Court finds the issue is not properly addressed on a Motion for Judgment on the
Pleadings. In addition, Defendants claims they fronted the money to H & K to purchase the debt
receivables from HSBC. This further presents issues concerning the interrelationship between H
& K and Funding, its officers, and the nature and particulars of the transactions, all militating
against dismissal at this stage of the proceedings.
Furthermore, with respect to the Trustee’s claims for breach of fiduciary duty, he has
alleged that Defendants acted willfully, that at least one, if not all, had conflicts of interest and
that all failed to fulfill their obligations to H & K by considering the transactions. Nor does the

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business judgment rule warrant dismissal at this stage of the proceedings. “[W]hen it is shown
that a board action is not the product of an informed, disinterested, and independent board, the
business-judgment-rule presumption is overcome...” In re Dwight's Piano Co. 424 B.R. 260, 284
(S.D.Ohio,2009) (relying on Delaware law). Because Plaintiff has alleged the individual
Management Committee Defendants were not disinterested and did not take the time to become
informed on the transactions at issue, they cannot rely on the business judgment rule defense on
a Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings. All the above present issues of fact that militate
against determining the case on a Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings as well.
Therefore, for the foregoing reasons, the Court denies Defendants’ Motion for Judgment
on the Pleadings. The Court holds that converting it to a summary judgment at this point is not
appropriate since no discovery has been conducted. The issues raised by Defendants may be
addressed at a later date once discovery has been conducted.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

s/ Christopher A. Boyko
CHRISTOPHER A. BOYKO
United States District Judge
Dated: September 20, 2013

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