CRAIG A. GARGOTTA, Bankruptcy Judge.
This is the Court's Order on Debtor's Motion to Modify Plan Post-Confirmation in Response to Trustee's Motion to Dismiss, To Add Post-Petition Mortgage Arrears and First Request for Additional Attorney's Fees (ECF No. 21). On August 7, 2018, the Trustee filed Trustee's Motion to Dismiss Case for Failure to Make Plan Payments (ECF No. 16) as Debtor was in arrears $1,928.00 through July 2018. On September 13, 2018, Debtor filed Debtor's Motion to Modify Plan Post-Confirmation in Response to Trustee's Motion to Dismiss, To Add Post-Petition Mortgage Arrears and First Request for Additional Attorney's Fees (the "Motion to Modify") (ECF No. 21). The Court held a hearing on this matter on October 25, 2018. At the hearing, the Trustee raised an oral objection to the Motion to Modify. Thereafter, the Court requested briefing from the Parties, and ultimately took the matter under advisement. For reasons stated in this Order, the Court is of the opinion that the Motion to Modify should be DENIED.
The Court has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1334, and this is a core proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(A). Venue is proper under 28 U.S.C. § 1408(1).
On March 9, 2018, Mary Walker Thomas ("Debtor") filed a petition for relief under chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code. (ECF No. 1). On July 5, 2018, Debtor's Plan
Debtor did not make her July plan payment,
Debtor proposes to modify her Plan to: (1) cure the post-petition mortgage arrears incurred through November 2018, (2) resume conduit mortgage payments in December 2018, and (3) cure Plan payment arrears incurred through August 2018, by increasing Debtor's Plan payment and without extending Debtor's Plan beyond 60 months from confirmation of Debtor's Plan. (Id.) To accomplish this, Debtor proposes to add a secured claim to the Plan for post-petition mortgage payment arrears being cured in the amount of $2,537.24 to be paid at 0% interest through Debtor's Plan. (Id.) The arrearage amount of $2,537.24 reflects four post-petition mortgage payments which "includes a gap payment through the November 2018 mortgage payment." (Id.) As Debtor's Motion to Modify was filed in September 2018, this proposal includes months for which the mortgage payment has not yet come due—namely October and November 2018. (ECF No. 23). Thus, Debtor proposes that the Trustee cease making the conduit mortgage payments, rather than paying the post-petition mortgage arrears retroactively, and to resume making the conduit mortgage payments in December 2018. Debtor also proposes to increase her plan payment to $1,022.00 per month for one month and then increase her payment to $1,050.00 for the remaining term of the Plan. (ECF No. 21.). Under the terms of the Motion to Modify, Debtor will still pay a 100% dividend to scheduled general unsecured debt. (Id.).
As of the date of the Hearing on the Trustee's Motion to Dismiss, Debtor was in arrears $1,726.00 on plan payments of $950.00 through October. (Hearing Audio, 1:16:44, Oct. 25, 2018). As of the date of the Trustee's Brief in Support of Trustee's Motion to Dismiss Chapter 13 Case and Objection to Debtor's Motion to Modify Plan Post-Confirmation in Response to Trustee's Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 23), December 4, 2018, Debtor has made the proposed plan payments through November. Moreover, the Trustee notes that as of the Trustee's disbursement dated November 1, 2018, Debtor is current on the post-petition conduit mortgage payments for May through November. (ECF No. 23). As such, the Court understands this to mean that the Trustee has retroactively paid Shellpoint the post-petition mortgage arrears.
The Trustee argues that Debtor's Motion to Modify must be denied because the issue of adding post-petition mortgage payments is moot. According to the Trustee's records, Debtor has made the proposed plan payments for August through November and is current with the post-petition mortgage payments for May through November. Thus, according to the Trustee, the only remaining issue before the Court is whether the increased Plan Payment proposed by the Debtor is sufficient to cure the plan payment arrears and maintain a 100% distribution to the unsecured creditors pursuant to the Plan. Alternatively, the Trustee argues that Debtor's modification is in direct contradiction of the maintain requirement of 11 U.S.C. § 1325(b)(5).
Debtor argues that the circumstances that exist pre-confirmation that necessitate including a gap payment for purposes of accommodating the delay between a debtor's first plan payment and when the Trustee makes its disbursement are no different than the circumstances that exist for purposes of a post-confirmation modification to cure a post-petition debt and therefore, Debtor should be permitted to propose gap payments to cure post-petition mortgage defaults. Debtor also argues that if a gap payment is not included between the time when a debtor resumes paying the Trustee and when the Trustee will be able to disburse the conduit mortgage payment, a debtor's mortgage will not be fully cured and in effect reinstated, otherwise the Trustee will not be able to make Debtor's mortgage payments on time. Next, Debtor contends that the Trustee's approach would result in Debtor's mortgage continuing to be behind for months with no other creditor, such as car lenders and attorneys, being paid for extended periods of time depending on the percentage of the Plan payment that is attributable to the conduit mortgage payment. Debtor asserts this would result in car lenders seeking to lift the automatic stay due to lack of adequate protection and Debtor's attorney having to go without payment until the mortgage becomes current. Debtor also argues that the Trustee's approach is contrary to section 7.6, paragraph 7 of the District Form Chapter 13 Plan. Last, Debtor also argues that Debtor's approach is consistent with the Fifth Circuit's decision in
The Trustee argues that Debtor's Motion to Modify must be denied because Debtor is now current on her conduit mortgage and therefore the issue of adding missed post-petition mortgage payments is moot. Thus, according to the Trustee, the only remaining issue before the Court is whether the increased Plan payment proposed by the Debtor is sufficient to cure the plan payment arrears and maintain a 100% distribution to the unsecured creditors pursuant to the Plan. The Court disagrees.
To determine whether the issue of adding post-petition mortgage payments is moot depends on whether the proposed terms of a plan modification which have not been approved or disapproved by a court may be mooted by an objecting party who, subsequent to the filing of the plan modification, takes action to moot the issue. The Fifth Circuit has addressed this issue under different circumstances in
The Court finds that the principles articulated in
Debtor articulates the issue before the Court as "whether motions to modify plans to cure both plan payment arrears and conduit mortgage payment arrears should contain gap payment(s) in order to account for the delay between the time that a Debtor resumes making plan payments and the time the trustee will be able to resume remitting conduit mortgage payments to Debtor's mortgage creditor." (ECF NO. 24). The Court has considered the arguments of both Parties, whether or not addressed herein, and is of the opinion that the answer should be "no."
As previously mentioned, Debtor's Motion to Modify proposes to add a secured claim to the Plan for four post-petition mortgage payments through the November 2018 mortgage payment to be paid with 0.0% interest over the life of the plan and increase the plan monthly payments. Debtor's Motion to Modify, when filed, includes months for which the mortgage had not yet come due. The basis for Debtor's Motion to Modify is § 1322(b)(5), which states that a plan may, "notwithstanding paragraph 2 of this subsection, provide for the curing of any default within a reasonable time and maintenance of payments while the case is pending on any unsecured claim or secured claim on which the last payment is due after the date on which the final payment under the plan is due[.]" Section 1322(b)(2) states that a plan may "modify the rights of holders of secured claims, other than a claim secured only by a security interest in real property that is the debtor's principal business[.]" Thus, the prohibition on the modification of a mortgagee's rights under 1322(b)(2) is subject to a debtor's right to propose a plan, or modify a plan, that provides for curing of any default and maintenance of payments under § 1322(b)(5).
The Parties do not dispute that the Fifth Circuit's opinion in
To satisfy the second prong under
The Court notes that Shellpoint has not taken a position on the Motion to Modify. Shellpoint's participation in the matter, however, does not change the result. Section 1322(b) applies to any modification filed under § 1329(a). 11 U.S.C § 1329(b)(1). Section 1322(b)(5) allows for the curing of a delinquent long-term debt, but permitting such a cure is conditioned upon the Debtor also simultaneously maintaining current payments on such debt.
Debtor also argues that Debtor's approach is consistent with the Fifth Circuit's decision in
Debtor cites to
First, the Court does not disagree with the holding in
Having the Trustee to act as the disbursing agent for mortgage payments is not only consistent with the Bankruptcy Code, it is required under the Bankruptcy Code. Section 1326(c) requires the Trustee make payments to creditors under the plan except as otherwise provided in the plan or order confirmation the plan. Whether a plan may allow for direct disbursements by the debtor is up to the discretion of the bankruptcy court.
Debtor also argues that if a gap payment is not included between the time when a debtor resumes paying the Trustee and when the Trustee will be able to disburse the conduit mortgage payment, a Debtor's mortgage will not be fully cured and in effect reinstated, otherwise the Trustee will not be able to make Debtor's mortgage payments on time. The Court concludes otherwise. First, whether a debtor's mortgage has been fully cured and therefore reinstated is not determined on an interim basis throughout the life of a debtor's case, but rather after completion of a debtor's plan. The District Plan expressly addresses this:
District Plan, § 7.7. Thus, whether a debtor's mortgage has been fully cured and therefore reinstated is not determined on an interim basis throughout the life of a debtor's case, but rather after completion of a debtor's plan and upon discharge. See also Fed. R. Bankr. Proc. 3002.1 (providing the procedure for determining whether: (1) debtor has paid the full amount required to cure the default on its claim and (2) whether the debtor is otherwise current on all payments). Second, the Trustee represented to the Court, and Debtor did not dispute, that as of the date of the Trustee's Brief, Debtor has made the proposed plan payments through November and as of the Trustee's disbursement dated November 1, 2018, Debtor is current on the post-petition conduit mortgage payments for May through November. Trustee's brief is dated December 4, 2018. According to the Court's calculations, Debtor's subsequent Plan payment was due sometime around December 9, 2019. If Debtor's mortgage is current through November and Debtor continues to timely make her Plan Payments, Debtor's mortgage will remain current and the Trustee can continue to timely disburse Debtor's mortgage payments.
Next, Debtor contends that the Trustee's approach would result in Debtor's mortgage continuing to be behind for months with no other creditor, such as car lenders and attorneys, being paid for extended periods of time depending on the percentage of the Plan payment that is attributable to the conduit mortgage payment. Debtor asserts this would result in car lenders seeking to lift the automatic stay due to lack of adequate protection and Debtor's attorney having to go without payment until the mortgage becomes current. The Court understands Debtor's concern; however, all parties, including Debtor's attorney and all its creditors are on notice of such a consequence. The Consolidated Standing Order for the Adoption of a District Form Chapter 13 Plan (the "Standing Order") sets forth such plan provisions in addition to those set forth in the Plan which all parties have notice of an opportunity to object. Section II.I of the Standing Order instructs the Trustee to disburse funds according to a specific priority scheme:
Thus, if the Trustee receives funds, the Trustee is directed by the Plan to disburse such funds according to the priority scheme enumerated above which prioritizes ongoing mortgage payments, including maintenance of current mortgage payments under § 1322(b)(5) ahead of payments to other creditors. Furthermore, section 7.6 of the Plan prescribes that "when Debtor makes a Plan Payment that is insufficient for the Trustee to disburse all ongoing mortgage payments required [under the Plan], the Trustee shall hold Plan payments until a sufficient amount is received to make a full ongoing mortgage payment." District Plan, § 7.6. Here, Debtor identifies her ongoing mortgage payment under section 7.6 as her monthly mortgage payment to Shellpoint due on the first of each month. (ECF No. 2). Therefore, under section 7.6, even if Debtor does not pay her plan payment in full, so long as the Trustee has sufficient funds on hand to pay the full ongoing mortgage payment, Shellpoint will be paid even when other creditors are not paid. Thus, under these two provisions, creditors and other parties-in-interest are on notice that their right to payment is subordinated to that of a mortgage creditor.
Debtor also argues that the Trustee's approach is contrary to section 7.6, paragraph 7 of the District Form Chapter 13 Plan. Section 7.6, paragraph 7 of the District Plan provides:
District Plan, § 7.6 (emphasis added). Thus, according to Debtor, not permitting gap payments to cure post-petition arrears is inconsistent with the District Plan which allows post-petition gap payments for plan modifications seeking to transition from a non-conduit to a conduit plan. The Court disagrees.
Section 7.6 of the District Plan applies only to debtors who were current on their mortgage as of the petition date and elected to pay their ongoing mortgage payments directly rather than through the Trustee as a disbursing agent. In this situation, a logistical problem also arises because the Trustee must take into account the time delay between when a debtor makes their first mortgage payment to the Trustee and when the Trustee makes its subsequent disbursement to the mortgage creditor.
The Court recognizes that facially, the Trustee's approach does appear to contradict section 7.6 of the District Plan. Court notes, however, as previously explained, under the Code, unless the plan states otherwise, a chapter 13 trustee is required to make all payments to creditors under the plan. 11 U.S.C. § 1326(b). Whether a plan may allow for direct disbursements by the debtor is up to the discretion of the bankruptcy court.
The Bankruptcy Court in the Western District of Texas has exercised that discretion and determined that debtors who are current on their mortgage payments as of the petition date may pay their ongoing mortgage payments directly. Where a debtor subsequently defaults on its mortgage payment, however, the Courts determined that the chapter 13 trustee should step into the debtor's shoes as the disbursing agent. The Court is of the opinion that such a determination was a proper exercise of discretion. As such, section 7.6 of the District Plan simply reflects the use of gap payments to facilitate the change in disbursement agents. Without doing so, the debtors would not be able to effectuate a proper cure and maintain which would ultimately result in debtors possibly losing their home—a consequence the Court is trying to avoid.
Based on the foregoing analysis, the Motion to Modify is denied, Trustee's Objection to the Motion to Modify is sustained, and the Trustee's Motion to Dismiss is reset to March 26, 2019 at 9:30 a.m.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED Debtor's Motion to Modify Plan Post-Confirmation in Response to Trustee's Motion to Dismiss, To Add Post-Petition Mortgage Arrears and First Request for Additional Attorney's Fees (ECF No. 21) is DENIED.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Trustee's Objection to Debtor's Motion to Modify Plan Post-Confirmation in Response to Trustee's Motion to Dismiss, To Add Post-Petition Mortgage Arrears and First Request for Additional Attorney's Fees is SUSTAINED.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Trustee's Motion to Dismiss Case for Failure to Make Plan Payments (ECF No. 16) is RESET to March 26, 2019 at 9:30 a.m.