GLC Limited v. Barry Switzer Family, LLC et al

Filing 2

ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS' MOTION TO WITHDRAW THE REFERENCE TO THE BANKRUPTCY COURT (Doc. 1 ). The reference to the Bankruptcy Court in case number 1:13-ap-1017 is hereby WITHDRAWN in whole and transferred to this Court for further proceedings. This case is set for a status conference by telephone on 2/4/2015 at 11:00 a.m. Counsel are advised to have their calendars available in order to set a trial date. COUNSEL SHALL CALL: 1-888-684-8852; Access code: 8411435; Security code: 123456, and wait for the Court to join the conference. Signed by Judge Timothy S. Black on 1/21/2015. (mr1)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
WESTERN DIVISION
In re GLC LIMITED,
Debtor.

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Case No. 1:15-cv-26
Judge Timothy S. Black

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GLC LIMITED,
Plaintiff,
vs.
BARRY SWITZER FAMILY, LLC, et al.,
Defendants.

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ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION
TO WITHDRAW THE REFERENCE TO THE BANKRUPTCY COURT (Doc. 1)
This civil action is before the Court on Defendants’ Motion to Withdraw the
Reference. (Doc. 1). Plaintiff did not file an opposition and the matter is now ripe for
decision.
On February 19, 2013, Plaintiff GLC Limited, a chapter 11 debtor, commenced an
adversary proceeding in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Ohio
against Defendants Barry Switzer Family, LLC and Barry Switzer. 1 Plaintiff sought to
avoid $100,000 in payments to Defendants as allegedly fraudulent transfers pursuant to
11 U.S.C. § 548(a)(1). Defendants asserted an affirmative defense under § 548(c) and
demanded a jury trial, but did not file a claim against the bankruptcy estate.

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Plaintiff’s bankruptcy proceeding is case number 1:11-bk-11090 and the adversary proceeding
is case number 1:13-ap-1017.

After the completion of discovery, the parties filed cross motions for summary
judgment. Plaintiff argued that the payments were fraudulent transfers under both the
actual fraud and constructive fraud standards in § 548(a)(1)(A) and § 548(a)(1)(B).
Defendants contended that they were entitled to an affirmative defense under § 548(c)
because the payments were made in good faith and for reasonably equivalent value. On
November 18, 2014, the Bankruptcy Court issued an ordering granting partial summary
judgment to Plaintiff under the actual fraud standard in § 548(a)(1)(A). The Bankruptcy
Court also concluded that factual disputes precluded summary judgment for Defendants
on their affirmative defense and for Plaintiff on claim for a constructively fraudulent
transfer under § 548(a)(1)(B). Accordingly, the Bankruptcy Court ordered the case to
proceed to trial on Defendants’ § 548(c) defense and Plaintiff’s § 548(a)(1)(B) claim, if it
chose to pursue it.
Defendants subsequently filed a notice of election for a jury trial in the District
Court. On December 16, 2014, the Bankruptcy Court issued an order concluding that it
did not possess the constitutional authority to enter a final judgment in this fraudulent
transfer action because Defendants had not filed a claim against the bankruptcy estate.
Further, the Bankruptcy Court found that Defendants were entitled to a jury trial, but that
it was unable to conduct a jury trial because Defendants did not consent to a jury trial in
the Bankruptcy Court. Accordingly, the Bankruptcy Court advised Defendants to file a
motion to withdraw the reference with the District Court if they wished to preserve their
right to a jury trial. Defendants timely filed their Motion to Withdraw the Reference on
December 19, 2014. (Doc. 1).
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Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 157(d), “[t]he district court may withdraw, in whole or in
part, any case or proceeding referred under this section, on its own motion or on timely
motion of any party, for cause shown.” “Where the party seeking withdrawal of the
reference is entitled to a jury trial under the Seventh Amendment, cause to withdraw the
reference automatically exists.” In re Oasis Corp., No. 2:08-cv-288, 2008 WL 2473496,
at *2 (S.D. Ohio June 18, 2008). Withdrawal of the reference is particularly appropriate
when, as here, the Bankruptcy Court has resolved all pretrial matters and the case is ripe
for trial. In re Oakley, No. 2:06-cv-556, 2007 WL 710244, at *3 (S.D. Ohio Mar. 6,
2007). The Supreme Court has conclusively held that a defendant who has not submitted
a claim against the bankruptcy estate and is sued by the estate for an allegedly fraudulent
transfer under § 548 has a Seventh Amendment right to a jury trial. Granfinanciera, S.A.
v. Nordberg, 492 U.S. 33, 58-61 (1989).
Accordingly, Defendants’ Motion to Withdraw the Reference (Doc. 1) is
GRANTED. The reference to the Bankruptcy Court in case number 1:13-ap-1017 is
hereby WITHDRAWN in whole and transferred to this Court for further proceedings.
This case is set for a status conference by telephone on 2/4/2015 at 11:00 a.m.
Counsel are advised to have their calendars available in order to set a trial date.
COUNSEL SHALL CALL: 1-888-684-8852; Access code: 8411435; Security code:
123456, and wait for the Court to join the conference.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Date: 1/21/15

/s/ Timothy S. Black
Timothy S. Black
United States District Judge
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