Wicker v. Bank Meridian NA et al

Filing 64

ORDER RULING ON REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION; declines to adopt 57 Report and Recommendation, 46 Motion to Remand, filed by Steven R Wicker is granted, 48 Motion to Dismiss filed by SCBT NA is denied. Signed by Honorable Timothy M Cain on 1/14/2013. (gpre, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA
SPARTANBURG DIVISION
In re: Earth Structures, Inc.,

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Debtor.

C/A No. 7:12-1958-TMC

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Steven R. W icker,
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Appellant,
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v.
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SCBT, N.A., as Successor in
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Interest to Bank Meridian, N.A.,
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Appellee.
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_________________________________

OPINION & ORDER

This matter is before the court on review of the Report and Recommendation filed
by Magistrate Judge Jacquelyn D. Austin made in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)
and Local Civil Rule 73.02, DSC. (Dkt. # 57).1 The Magistrate Judge recommended that
the Motion to Dismiss filed by Appellee SCBT, N.A., (“SCBT’s”) (Dkt. # 48) be granted
and the Motion to Remand filed by Appellant Steven W icker (“W icker) (Dkt. # 46) be
denied.

W icker has filed objections (Dkt. # 60) and SCBT has filed a reply to those

objections. (Dkt. # 62). For the reasons set forth below, the court respectfully declines to

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The Magistrate Judge's recommendation has no presumptive weight, and the
responsibility for making a final determination remains with the United States District
Court. Mathews v. Weber, 423 U.S. 261, 270 (1976). The court is charged with making a
de novo determination of those portions of the Report to which specific objection is made.
The court may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the recommendation made by
a magistrate judge or recommit the matter with instructions. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1).

adopt the Magistrate Judge's Report and Recommendation. Instead, the court denies
SCBT’s Motion to Dismiss (Dkt. # 48) and grants W icker’s Motion to Remand (Dkt. # 46).
I. Background
The Magistrate Judge accurately sets forth the background and procedural history
of this action. (Report 1-9). Briefly, this appeal is from the Bankruptcy Court. On February
9, 2009, Bank Meridian, N.A., (“Bank Meridian”) filed a civil action in state court against
several defendants, including Debtor Earth Structures, Inc. (“ESI”). On May 19, 2009,
ESI filed bankruptcy under Chapter 11 2 and the state action was removed to the
Bankruptcy Court. Subsequently, several claims were remanded back to state court.
Bank Meridian was closed on July 29, 2011, and the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation (“FDIC”) was appointed as receiver. Thereafter, SCBT became Bank
Meridian’s successor in interest and joined the adversary proceeding in the Bankruptcy
Court.3

On November 21, 2011, SCBT filed a summary judgment motion which the

Bankruptcy Court granted on February 28, 2012. (Dkt. # 32 Attach. 1; and # 33 Attach.
6). On April 19, 2012, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order denying ESI’s motion to
alter or amend the summary judgment order. (Dkt. # 33 Attach. 19).
On May 4, 2012, W icker, acting pro se, filed a notice of appeal. (Dkt. # 33 Attach.
22). On May 18, 2012, W icker also filed a motion for a stay pending appeal. (Dkt. # 33
Attach. 26).

On June 3, 2012, the Bankruptcy Court granted the motion to stay noting

that “[g]iven the record before [it] indicating that opposing counsel concedes that the
Court’s prior order may need modification, it is not difficult for the Court to find that the

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11 U.S.C. § 101 et. seq.

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At the request of the opposing party, Bank Meridian remained in the action as a
named party.

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requirements for a stay pending appeal are present at this time.” (Dkt. # 33 Attach. 38 at
4). The Bankruptcy Court granted the stay until “such time as it can be determined which
portions of the prior order(s), if any, need revision as a result of any new information
referenced by SCBT.”

In a footnote immediately following this sentence, the Bankruptcy

Court noted that “[d]ue to the fact that [its] order is the subject of a pending appeal, this
may be a question for the appellate court.” (Dkt. # 33 Attach. 38 at 4 n.11).
On July 19, 2012, this court ordered W icker to file his brief within fourteen days
(plus three days for mailing), or by August 6, 2012. (Dkt. # 34). On August 1, 2012,
W icker filed a motion for an extension on the ground that he was seeking counsel. (Dkt.
# 37). The court granted W icker an extension making his brief due August 27, 2012.
(Dkt. # 42). On August 27, 2012, rather than file a brief, W icker, still proceeding pro se,
filed a motion to remand on the grounds that there was new evidence. (Dkt. # 46). On
September 12, 2012, SCB&T filed a response opposing a remand and a motion to
dismiss on the ground that W icker had not timely filed his brief. (Dkt. # 48 and 49). On
October 18, 2012, W icker filed a response opposing the motion to dismiss and seeking
additional time to file his brief if the court denied his motion to remand. (Dkt. # 54 at 7).
II. Discussion
Citing the Federal Rues of Bankruptcy Procedure and Serra Builders, Inc., v. John
Hanson Sav. Bank (In Re Serra Builders, Inc.), 970 F.2d 1309 (4 th Cir. 1992), the
Magistrate Judge recommended granting SCBT’s motion to dismiss based upon W icker’s
failure to timely file his brief. Additionally, the Magistrate Judge stated that, in any event,
a remand would be futile based upon the Bankruptcy Court’s finding that the
counterclaims are barred by 12 U.S.C. §1823(e) - a finding she noted that W icker does

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not challenge. (Report at 14).4
In his objections, W icker concedes that he did not timely file his brief. However,
prior to the filing deadline for his brief, W icker filed a motion for remand in light of new
evidence which the Bankruptcy Court has indicated may affect the prior order granting
SCBT summary judgment.

As W icker explained in his response to SCBT’s motion to

dismiss, he believed that the filing of the remand motion, in essence, extended the
deadline for filing his brief.

(Dkt. # 54 at 2-3).

Furthermore, in response to SCBT’s

motion to dismiss, W icker requested an extension of time within which to file his brief if
his motion for a remand was denied. (Id. at 7).
W hile it appears that despite the new evidence, W icker’s claims may be barred by

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Section 1823(e)(1) provides:

Agreements against interests of Corporation
(1) In general
No agreement which tends to diminish or defeat the interest of the
Corporation in any asset acquired by it under this section or section 1821 of
this title, either as security for a loan or by purchase or as receiver of any
insured depository institution, shall be valid against the Corporation unless
such agreement-(A) is in writing,
(B) was executed by the depository institution and any person claiming an
adverse interest thereunder, including the obligor, contemporaneously with
the acquisition of the asset by the depository institution,
(C) was approved by the board of directors of the depository institution or its
loan committee, which approval shall be reflected in the minutes of said
board or committee, and
(D) has been, continuously, from the time of its execution, an official record
of the depository institution.

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§ 1823(e), as noted by the Bankruptcy Court in a footnote in her order, the court declines
to rule on this prior to the Bankruptcy Court’s revisions, if any, to the order granting SCBT
summary judgment. Further, given that W icker has not filed a brief, the court is hesitant
to state that he has not challenged certain issues. As the Bankruptcy Court has indicated
that revisions to its order may be needed, the court finds a remand is appropriate.
III. Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, the court declines to adopt the Report. The Motion to
Dismiss (Dkt. # 48) is DENIED and Appellant’s Motion to Remand (Dkt. # 46) is
GRANTED.

Accordingly, this action is remanded to the Bankruptcy Court.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

s/Timothy M. Cain
United States District Judge

Anderson, South Carolina
January 14, 2013

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