CHRISTOPHER R. COOPER, United States District Judge.
In these three related cases, Debtor Stephen Thomas Yelverton has appealed a series of orders of the bankruptcy court approving a settlement agreement between the bankruptcy Trustee and Yelverton's two sisters, Phyllis Edmundson and Deborah Marm, and denying Yelverton's requests to exempt his stock in the family's poultry farm from the bankruptcy estate. Because the Trustee adequately justified the terms of the settlement and Yelverton improperly sought to exempt property, the Court affirms each of the bankruptcy court's orders.
Yelverton filed a Chapter 11 Voluntary Petition for bankruptcy in May 2009. In re Yelverton, 9-414 ("Bankruptcy Proceeding")
In July 2009, Yelverton filed suit in the Eastern District of North Carolina against Yelverton Farms and his two sisters, Edmundson and Marm, the majority stock holders. The suit alleged breach of contract and malicious interference with a contract and sought judicial dissolution of Yelverton Farms or a mandatory buyout, as well as $3,000,000 in damages. Webster v. Yelverton Farms, Ltd., 9-331, Dkt. 3 (E.D.N.C. July 29, 2009). In March 2011, the district court entered an order finding that Yelverton lacked standing to bring the case because his claims were the property of the bankruptcy estate and directed the Trustee to file a notice of substitution, which he did on March 15, 2011. Id. Dkts. 120, 122.
Yelverton also filed two adversary proceedings in bankruptcy court in January 2010. The first sought a transfer of 1,333 shares of stock in Yelverton Farms from Edmundson, her husband, and the company. Webster v. Edmundson, 10-10003, Dkt. 1 (Bankr.D.C. Jan. 14, 2010).
The Trustee then entered into negotiations with Edmundson, Marm, their spouses, and Yelverton Farms on behalf of the bankruptcy estate. The parties reached a settlement agreement on March 23, 2012, dismissing all claims brought by Yelverton and transferring the bankruptcy estate's 1,333 shares of Yelverton Farms to Edmundson and Marm in exchange for a lump sum payment of $110,000. Bankruptcy Proceeding Dkt. 451 Ex. 1. The Trustee moved for approval of the settlement by the bankruptcy court on May 4, 2012. Id. Dkt. 451.
The bankruptcy court subsequently held an evidentiary hearing in which the Trustee explained his determination that the $110,000 settlement payment for Yelverton's share of the company and his litigation claims was in the best interests of the bankruptcy estate and its creditors because Yelverton had overvalued both the stock and claims. Id. Dkt. 546 at 30:14-31:2. The Trustee relied on a North Carolina appraiser's informal estimate that the business would be worth no more than
Yelverton moved to have the Trustee abandon certain of the claims in the North Carolina District Court case on June 3, 2012, and amended the motion on July 5, 2012. Id. Dkts. 481, 484. The bankruptcy court rejected the motion on August 7, 2012. Id. Dkt. 505. Yelverton filed a motion to vacate the order approving the settlement on July 3, 2012, which the bankruptcy court rejected on August 8, 2012. Id. Dkts. 483, 506. Yelverton then filed a motion for relief from judgment, also seeking to reverse the order approving the settlement, on July 14, 2013, which the bankruptcy court denied on August 8, 2013. Id. Dkts. 666, 682. He filed a motion to vacate that order on August 22, 2013, which was denied August 27, 2013, and followed that up with a motion to vacate the August 27 order, which was denied September 4, 2013. Id. Dkts. 693, 696, 702, 704.
Over three years after he initially filed for bankruptcy, Yelverton sought in July 2012 to amend his bankruptcy schedules to claim an exemption for his stock in Yelverton Farms, now claiming that his stock and litigation claims were held between his former spouse, Alexandria Nicole Senyi de Nagy-Unyom, and himself as tenants by the entireties. Id. Dkt. 487. Yelverton filed another supplemental amended schedule in August 2012, claiming the stock was also exempt under the wild card exemption and as compensation for lost future earnings. Id. Dkt. 519. He then filed a motion for summary judgment as to his claimed exemptions on November 26, 2012, and the Trustee filed a cross-motion on December 7, 2012. Id. Dkts. 556, 558
The bankruptcy court held a hearing on the parties' cross motions for summary judgment regarding Yelverton's claimed exemptions on January 8, 2013. Id. Dkt. 576. Yelverton then filed three motions for leave to submit supplemental materials regarding the exemptions on January 14, 16, and 25, 2013 respectively. Id. Dkts. 584, 585, 586. On January 30, 2013, the bankruptcy court rebuffed Yelverton's
Given the numbing litigation history outlined above, it will come as no surprise that Yelverton has not hesitated to appeal orders in his bankruptcy proceeding to this Court. He has done so 14 times. This opinion addresses three outstanding appeals. First, in September 2012, Yelverton appealed bankruptcy court orders (1) approving the settlement between the Trustee, Edmundson, and Marm; (2) denying Yelverton's motion for relief from that order, and (3) denying Yelverton's amended motion to compel the Trustee to abandon Yelverton's litigation claims. In re Yelverton ("Yelverton I"), 12-1539, Dkt. 1 (D.D.C. Sep. 17, 2012). Second, in April 2012, Yelverton filed an appeal challenging the bankruptcy court's orders (1) denying his motions to have the Yelverton Farms stock exempted; (2) granting his motions to submit supplemental documents in support of his claimed exemptions — but explaining why they added nothing to the bankruptcy court's decision; (3) denying his motion to amend or alter the bankruptcy court's order denying the exemptions; and (4) denying his motion for leave to appeal the bankruptcy court's orders without paying filing fees. In re Yelverton ("Yelverton II"), 13-454, Dkt. 1 (D.D.C. Apr. 5, 2013). Third, in October 2013, Yelverton appealed bankruptcy court orders that (1) denied his motion for relief from the order approving the settlement — despite his already having appealed that order in his September 2012 appeal; (2) denied his motion to vacate the bankruptcy court order denying his motion for relief; and (3) denied his motion to vacate the order denying his motion to vacate the order denying his motion for relief. In re Yelverton ("Yelverton III"), 13-1544, Dkt. 1 (D.D.C. Oct. 8, 2013).
United States District Courts have jurisdiction over appeals of bankruptcy court decisions. 28 U.S.C. § 158(a). Orders in bankruptcy cases may be immediately appealed as final orders if they dispose of discrete disputes within the larger case. In re St. Charles Preservation Investors, Ltd., 112 B.R. 469, 471 (D.D.C.1990). On appeal from a bankruptcy court, a district court may affirm, modify, or reverse a bankruptcy court's judgment, or remand with instructions for further proceedings. Fed. R. Bankr.P. 8013; In re Johnson, 236 B.R. 510, 518 (D.D.C.1999). A district court shall not set aside findings of fact unless they are clearly erroneous, and due regard shall be given to the opportunity of the bankruptcy court to judge the credibility of the witnesses. Fed. R. Bankr.P. 8013; Johnson, 236 B.R. at 518. "The burden of proof is on the party that seeks to reverse the Bankruptcy Court's holding. That party must show that the court's holding was clearly erroneous as to the assessment of the facts or erroneous in its interpretation of the law and not simply that another conclusion could have been reached." Johnson, 236 B.R. at 518 (citing Anderson v. Bessemer City, 470 U.S. 564, 573-74, 105 S.Ct. 1504, 84 L.Ed.2d 518 (1985)). "A finding is clearly erroneous when, although there is evidence to support it, the reviewing court on the entire evidence is left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed." United States v. U.S. Gypsum Co., 333 U.S. 364, 395, 68 S.Ct. 525, 92 L.Ed. 746 (1948). Courts should review questions
Yelverton makes numerous related arguments in his three briefs on appeal, which the Court will address in turn. The Court will not consider arguments that Yelverton raises for the first time in his reply briefs or in supplemental filings made after briefing concluded. See Taitz v. Obama, 754 F.Supp.2d 57, 61-62 (D.D.C. 2010) ("Courts ordinarily decline to consider arguments that are raised for the first time in a reply to an opposition.") (citing Pub. Citizen Health Research Grp. v. Nat'l Institutes of Health, 209 F.Supp.2d 37, 43-44 (D.D.C.2002)).
In Yelverton I, Yelverton seeks review of bankruptcy court orders approving the settlement agreement between Edmundson, Marm, Yelverton Farms, and the Trustee. A bankruptcy court may approve a settlement pursuant to Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 9019(a). "A bankruptcy court's decision to approve a settlement must be an informed one based upon an objective evaluation of developed facts. Indeed, a bankruptcy judge cannot accept the proponent's word that the settlement is reasonable, nor may the judge merely rubber stamp a proposal." In re Andre Chreky, Inc., 448 B.R. 596, 609 (D.D.C.2011) (quoting Advantage Healthplan, Inc. v. Potter, 391 B.R. 521, 554 (D.D.C.2008)). To determine whether a settlement is "fair and equitable," "`the bankruptcy court should consider: (1) probability of success in the litigation; (2) difficulties, if any, with collection, (3) the complexity of the litigation, including the expense, inconvenience, and delay attendant to the litigation; and (4) the interest of creditors.'" Id. (quoting Advantage Healthplan, 391 B.R. at 554). "In determining the reasonableness of a settlement, a bankruptcy judge must decide only whether the settlement falls between the lowest and highest points in the range of reasonableness." Id. (citing In re W.T. Grant Co., 699 F.2d 599, 608 (2d Cir. 1983)).
The bankruptcy court found that Yelverton likely owned one-fourth of Yelverton Farms, not one-third as he had claimed. Bankruptcy Proceeding Dkt. 546 at 216:19-218:7. The court reached this conclusion because Yelverton offered no evidence to dispute that a valid issuance of stock by the company — to which he had not objected — had diluted his ownership share. Id. The bankruptcy court next found that the Trustee properly valued the company at $400,000 or less because it did not own the land on which it operated, its lease was set to expire in a year, and its value to a new owner was limited by whatever terms Edmundson might offer to renew the lease. Id. at 218:25-221:12. The bankruptcy court next found that Yelverton's claim for back rent against Yelverton Farms was barred by the statute of limitations, his malicious interference with a prospective contract claim was not supported by evidence and would be very costly to litigate, and he had no facts to support his claim for a distribution of corporate profits. Id. at 223:1-225:22. It also rejected Yelverton's argument that he had control over the company's production contract with Maxwell Foods, Inc. because: (1) the contract is assigned to Yelverton Farms as profits are paid to the company, not Yelverton; (2) the settlement did not dispose of the estate's ownership of the contract, whatever it might be; and (3) the contract was valueless because nothing prevented Maxwell Foods from canceling the contract and creating a new one with Yelverton
Yelverton argues that the Trustee was compromised "and thereby was unable to exercise independent judgment to protect the interest of the Creditors" because the Trustee was "forced into being substituted for Yelverton as the plaintiff" in the North Carolina litigation while the bankruptcy estate lacked funds to litigate the case. Appellant's Br. at 22-23, Yelverton I. Yelverton cites to cases holding that a bankruptcy trustee cannot have a personal interest in the bankruptcy estate, e.g., Mosser v. Darrow, 341 U.S. 267, 271, 71 S.Ct. 680, 95 L.Ed. 927 (1951), but the cashflow of the bankruptcy estate has nothing to do with whether the Trustee was self-interested in the settlement. Yelverton provides no evidence to indicate any self-interest. Moreover, it was perfectly within the Trustee's business judgment to compare the cost of litigating Yelverton's claims to their likelihood of success in determining whether to settle.
Yelverton further claims that Edmundson and Marm fraudulently represented to the bankruptcy court that Yelverton had previously transferred his stock in Yelverton Farms to an associate, Wade H. Atkinson, and that the Trustee relied on these representations in valuating Yelverton's claims. Appellant's Br. at 24-26, Yelverton I.
Yelverton next argues that Edmundson and Marm breached their fiduciary duties as majority stock holders in Yelverton Farms by entering into the settlement because they falsely claimed that Atkinson owned Yelverton's stock and told the Trustee
Yelverton similarly argues that equitable estoppel prevents this settlement because Edmundson and Marm previously represented that they would work for the benefit of Yelverton Farms, yet now maintain that they will not renew the lease on the underlying land. Appellant's Br. at 28-29, Yelverton I. Equitable estoppel precludes a party from "contradicting testimony or pleadings successfully maintained in a prior judicial proceeding.... The party seeking to invoke the estoppel, however, must have been an adverse party in the prior proceeding, must have acted in reliance upon his opponent's prior position, and must now face injury if a court were to permit his opponent to change positions." Konstantinidis v. Chen, 626 F.2d 933, 937 (D.C.Cir.1980) (citations omitted). Yelverton asserts that he acted in detrimental reliance on Edmundson's and Marm's affidavits in the Eastern District of North Carolina litigation where they swore they would preserve the corporate assets of Yelverton Farms. But Yelverton does not identify any acts that he took in reliance on those statements; he asserts only that he "reasonably believed" they would not damage the value of his stock. Appellant's Br. at 29, Yelverton I. Additionally, failing to promise to renew the company's lease at equivalent terms does not contradict Edmundson and Marm's prior statements, which say nothing about Edmundson's lease of her privately-owned land to the company.
Yelverton next posits that the Trustee failed to submit an appraisal as required by D.C. Local Bankruptcy Rule 6004-1, which provides that notice of the private sale of estate property must include an appraisal or scheduled valuation. Rule 6004-1 is not applicable, however, because the Trustee did not engage in a private sale of property; rather he negotiated the settlement of claims owned by the bankruptcy estate. Regardless, to the extent any notice requirement existed, the Court finds that there is good cause to suspend it pursuant to Local Bankruptcy Rule 9029-1. The Trustee found, and bankruptcy court agreed, that a formal appraisal was not appropriate because its cost would outweigh its benefit. A scheduled valuation was also unwarranted because the settlement value was based on a global settlement of all litigation claims that incorporated the litigation judgments of the Trustee and North Carolina counsel.
Yelverton makes a series of additional arguments, which the Court will address in turn. First, he contends that the settlement agreement failed to take into account the value of the production contract with Maxwell Foods, Inc., and the Trustee did not explain how the contract was taken into account. Appellant's Br. at 29-30, Yelverton I. The bankruptcy court found, however, that the settlement agreement does not dispose of the bankruptcy estate's interest in the contract, so this issue is immaterial. Moreover, the bankruptcy
Lastly, Yelverton asserts that the Trustee must abandon the claims because he is "giving only nominal or no value to these litigation claims[.]" Appellant's Br. at 35, Yelverton I. Under the relevant statute, a Trustee can abandon property that is burdensome to the estate or is of inconsequential value. 11 U.S.C. § 554. The Trustee was able to acquire $110,000 for the bankruptcy estate in exchange for Yelverton's stock and a global settlement of all litigation claims. While Yelverton maintained at the settlement approval hearing, and reasserts before this Court, that the Trustee is treating his litigation claims as valueless, this is not so. He simply took a less optimistic view of the likely of success of some of Yelverton's litigation claims than Yelverton did.
Yelverton II concerns Yelverton's claimed exemptions of his stock in Yelverton Farms as property held as tenants by the entireties, under the wildcard exemption,
Under 11 U.S.C. § 522(b)(3)(B), a debtor may exempt from bankruptcy any interest in property held as a tenant by
Under D.C. law, property of a married couple may be held as tenants by the entireties if the four common law unities of interest are present: "unity of time, title, interest and possession." Daniel v. Wright, 352 F.Supp. 1, 3 & nn.5-6 (D.D.C. 1972). "That is to say, the interests must be identical, they must accrue by the same conveyance, they must commence at the same time and the estate must be held by the same undivided possession." Harrington v. Emmerman, 186 F.2d 757, 760 n. 8 (D.C.Cir.1950). The only interest Senyi de Nagy-Unyom arguably may have acquired in the stock was through a writing from Yelverton in 2008, which promises to give her $100,000 from the sale of his stock. The four unities are not present here because: (1) the interest are not identical, under the writing as Senyi de Nagy-Unyom only acquired a right to proceeds from the sale of the stock, while Yelverton maintained an ownership interest; (2) Senyi de Nagy-Unyom acquired her interest by a separate conveyance than Yelverton; and (3) Yelverton acquired his interest in Yelverton Farms, and thus the legal claims that arose from his ownership of that stock, well before his conveyance to Senyi de Nagy-Unyom. Thus, the stock is clearly not property held as tenants by the entireties.
A debtor filing a claim prior to April 1, 2010 may exempt up to $11,200 from his interest in property that is part of the bankruptcy estate. 11 U.S.C. § 522(d)(5); see 75 Fed.Reg. 8747 (Feb. 25, 2010). A debtor may not exempt property under this exemption, only a capped dollar amount from the debtor's interest in the property. Schwab v. Reilly, 560 U.S. 770, 782, 130 S.Ct. 2652, 177 L.Ed.2d 234 (2010) ("a debtor may `clai[m] as exempt' as the debtor's `interest' — up to a specified dollar amount — in the assets described in the category, not as the assets themselves"). The bankruptcy court permitted Yelverton to claim $11,200 from the proceeds of the settlement agreement. This is precisely what subsection 522(d)(5) permits.
A debtor may also exempt litigation claims as compensation for lost future earnings. 11 U.S.C. § 522(d)(11)(E). The bankruptcy court denied this exemption without prejudice because Yelverton did not specifically describe the property claimed as exempt. Bankruptcy Proceeding Dkt. 587 at 19-20 (citing among other cases In re Bell, 179 B.R. 129, 131 (Bankr. E.D.Wis.1995)). Yelverton had not specified which of his litigation claims sought compensation for lost future earnings or the value of those claims. Accordingly, the bankruptcy court properly denied his claim of exemption under section 522(d)(11)(E).
Yelverton argues that this appeal must be remanded because, after the bankruptcy court granted summary judgment against him regarding these exemptions, he filed an additional claim for an exemption
Yelverton further contends that the bankruptcy court may only deny a claim of an exemption if it finds that the debtor claims the exemption in bad faith or if the exemption would prejudice the creditors. Appellant's Br. at 10-12, Yelverton II. This is simply incorrect as a matter of law. A debtor may not amend his claimed exemptions, even if timely, if he does so in bad faith or to prejudice creditors, e.g., In re Michael, 163 F.3d 526, 529 (9th Cir. 1998), but Yelverton was permitted to amend his claimed exemptions. A debtor may never exempt property that falls outside the statutorily permitted exemptions no matter if done in good faith.
Yelverton next argues that because his stock and litigation claims are exempt property, the settlement agreement is retroactively void. Appellant's Br. at 10-12, Yelverton II. This puts the cart before the horse, however, as both the bankruptcy court and this Court have determined that the stock and litigation claims were not properly exempted. Moreover, Yelverton provides no support for his contention that a later amendment to his claims of exempt property retroactively voids an otherwise valid settlement agreement.
Lastly, Yelverton argues that the bankruptcy court erroneously denied his application to proceed in forma pauperis. Appellant's Br. at 13-14, Yelverton II. This Court has already determined that Yelverton must pay for his many appeals of the bankruptcy court's orders because he is an abusive filer. See Memorandum Opinion and Order, In re Yelverton, 13-74, Dkts. 10, 11 (D.D.C. Nov. 12, 2013). The reasoning of that opinion applies equally to the denial of his in forma pauperis application in this case and the Court adopts it in affirming the bankruptcy court's order here.
Yelverton's third appeal targets bankruptcy court orders denying reconsideration of the order approving the settlement between the Trustee, Edmundson, Marm, and Yelverton Farms. While the Court will address the merits of Yelverton's arguments in this appeal, he may not continue to move, ad infinitum, to reconsider each bankruptcy court order with which he disagrees. Further frivolous appeals of this kind may warrant sanctions beyond the restrictions the Court is issuing in a pre-filing injunction in this case contemporaneously with this opinion. See Opinion and Order, Yelverton III, Dkt. 19 (Aug. 6, 2014).
Yelverton argues that the settlement between the Trustee and Marm was procured by fraud on the bankruptcy court, which warrants relief under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b)(3). As evidence of this supposed fraud, Yelverton points to an email in which the Trustee stated "[w]hy don't I ask the family to agree that the pig farm lease will not be renewed as part of the settlement and if it is renewed I reserve the right to reevaluate Mr. Yelverton's share of the business." Appellant's Br. at 18-19 & Ex. 2, Yelverton III.
Yelverton next argues that the order approving the settlement agreement is void for lack of subject matter jurisdiction because the settlement involves the stock in Yelverton Farms, which is marital property. Appellant's Br. at 22-23, Yelverton III. The bankruptcy court and this Court have already determined that the stock is not held as tenants by the entireties with Senyi de Nagy-Unyom. See infra. More importantly, whether or not the settlement is valid, the bankruptcy court has jurisdiction over whether to approve it. Fed. R. Bankr.P. 9019(a). Yelverton's argument that the contents of the settlement somehow affect the court's jurisdiction is patently wrong.
Finally, Yelverton argues that the order approving the settlement violated due process because he was denied an opportunity to be heard and because the decision was "based on factual assertions that were not subject to cross-examination[.]" Appellant's Br. at 23, Yelverton III (emphasis omitted). The order approving the settlement was made after a full-day evidentiary hearing that complied with any conceivable notion of due process. Having reviewed the transcript of that proceeding, the Court is satisfied that Yelverton was provided a full opportunity to present his case and cross-examine witnesses.
For the reasons stated above, the following orders of the bankruptcy court will be affirmed: Order Granting Motion to Approve Settlement Agreement, Dkt. 477; Order Denying Amended Motion to Compel Trustee to Abandon Litigation Claims, Dkt. 505; Order Denying Motion to Vacate Order Approving Settlement, Dkt. 507; Order re Cross Motions for Summary Judgment Regarding Objection to Exemptions, Dkt. 588; Memorandum Decision and Order re Motion for Leave to Submit Supplemental Filings, Dkt 589; Memorandum Decision and Order Denying Motion to Alter or Amend Decision, Dkt. 597; Memorandum Decision and Order Denying Motion to Vacate Order Denying Leave to Pursue Appeal in District Court Without Prepaying Fees or Costs, Dkt. 613; Order Denying Second Motion to Vacate Order Approving Settlement, Dkt. 682; Order Denying Motion to Vacate Order Denying Motion for Relief from Judgment, Dkt. 696; and Order Denying Motion to Vacate Memorandum Decision, Dkt. 704. The Court will issue an order consistent with this memorandum opinion.
