HOLLOWELL, Bankruptcy Judge.
The Bankruptcy Code requires an individual debtor in a chapter 7
In this case, the debtor did not file a statement of intention with respect to personal property that was pledged to a creditor
Edra Blixseth (the Debtor) guaranteed a $13,650,000 loan (Loan) made to her son by Western Capital Partners, LLC (Western Capital). The Debtor also pledged certain personal property as collateral for the Loan (the Collateral).
On March 26, 2009, the Debtor filed for chapter 11 relief. She filed her bankruptcy schedules and statement of financial affairs on April 29, 2009 (the Schedules). In her Schedules, Western Capital was listed as a secured creditor holding a $13,298,628.13 claim secured by $2 million in "ALL PERSONAL PROPERTY OWED [sic] BY DEBTOR, FAMILY COMPOUND AT YELLOWSTONE MOUNTAIN CLUB." The Debtor's Schedule B listed personal property valued at $76 million.
On May 29, 2009, the case was converted to chapter 7 and Richard Samson was appointed the chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee (the Trustee). The Debtor amended her Schedules on June 14, 2009 (the Amended Schedules) to, among other things, correct the list of personal property assets to reflect a value of $69,216,315. The Amended Schedules did not alter the description of Western Capital's debt or the $2 million value given to the Collateral.
On June 30, 2009, the chapter 7 § 341 meeting of creditors was held.
During the bankruptcy case, Western Capital filed three motions for relief from the automatic stay (the Stay Relief Motions). The Stay Relief Motions sought relief under § 362(d)(2) and were filed on May 1, 2009 (pre-conversion), June 30, 2009, and August 24, 2009. In its May 1, 2009 Stay Relief Motion, Western Capital sought relief from the stay in order to liquidate the Debtor's stock in BLX Group, Inc. (BLX).
In its June 30, 2009 Stay Relief Motion, Western Capital sought relief in order to liquidate the Debtor's fine art, furnishings, collectibles, jewelry and other personal property located at the Debtor's California residence, known as Porcupine Creek, in Rancho Mirage, California. In its August 24, 2009 Stay Relief Motion, Western Capital sought relief in order to liquidate some of the Debtor's jewelry. The Trustee did not file objections to the Stay Relief Motions.
On October 6, 2009, the bankruptcy court held a hearing on Western Capital's May 1, 2009 and August 24, 2009 Stay Relief Motions.
(1) the Debtor had not filed a statement of intention; and
(2) the Trustee had not objected to the Stay Relief Motions "indicating to this Court that the bankruptcy estate has determined that Debtor's personal property is of inconsequential value to the bankruptcy estate." The bankruptcy court held that § 362(h) provided Western Capital mandatory relief.
Western Capital subsequently filed various notices of UCC sales to liquidate the Collateral. The sales were postponed while Western Capital and the Trustee worked to resolve the Trustee's concerns regarding the sales, including the Trustee's assertion that the sales violated the automatic stay. However, on March 22, 2010, Western Capital moved forward with a sale of BLX stock, which was the subject of the Order Granting Relief (the March Sale). The March Sale also sold the Debtor's interest in two entities and various accounts receivable, which were not the subject of the Order Granting Relief. Western Capital was the successful bidder at the sale for $250,000.
On May 3, 2010, Western Capital filed a notice of sale (the May Sale) that proposed to sell some of the Debtor's contract rights. The May Sale was postponed several times at the request of the Trustee but was ultimately scheduled for August 11, 2010. On August 4, 2010, the Trustee filed a Motion to Enforce the Automatic Stay Against Western Capital (Motion to Enforce) in order to stop the May Sale.
In his Motion to Enforce, the Trustee contended that the May Sale proposed to sell property that was protected by the automatic stay because the automatic stay
Western Capital filed an objection to the Motion to Enforce, contending that § 362(h) applied to all the Collateral securing the Loan. On August 10, 2010, the bankruptcy court held a hearing on the Motion to Enforce. It issued a Memorandum of Decision on August 16, 2010, holding that § 362(h) terminated the automatic stay on the Collateral regardless of whether it was listed on the Schedules. An order denying the Motion to Enforce was entered the same day (the Order Denying Enforcement). On August 30, 2010, the Trustee filed a notice of appeal.
The bankruptcy court had jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(A). We address our jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 158 below.
Whether § 362(h) terminates the automatic stay on all personal property of the estate pledged to secure a scheduled debt or only terminates the stay on personal property specifically identified in a debtor's schedules as securing the debt.
We review issues of statutory construction and conclusions of law, including the bankruptcy court's interpretation of the Bankruptcy Code, de novo. Am. Express Bank, FSB v. Smith (In re Smith), 418 B.R. 359, 364 (9th Cir. BAP 2009); Dumont v. Ford Motor Credit Co. (In re Dumont), 383 B.R. 481, 484 (9th Cir. BAP 2008), aff'd, 581 F.3d 1104 (9th Cir.2009).
We lack jurisdiction over an appeal that is not timely filed. Saunders v. Band Plus Mortg. Corp. (In re Saunders), 31 F.3d 767 (9th Cir.1994) (requirement of timely notice of appeal is mandatory and jurisdictional). Western Capital contends that this appeal is untimely. See Rule 8002 (a notice of appeal must be filed within 14 days of the date of the entry of the judgment or order). According to Western Capital, the Order Granting Relief, entered on October 16, 2009, determined that the automatic stay terminated under § 362(h) on the Collateral, and therefore, the Trustee should have appealed that order.
Although the bankruptcy court granted relief pursuant to § 362(h), the Trustee's argument that § 362(h) applies only to personal property identified by the Debtor on her Schedules was not at issue. The Trustee did not object to the Stay Relief Motions because the personal property subject to the Stay Relief Motions was either scheduled or the Trustee had determined it was of no value to the estate. When Western Capital refused to postpone the May Sale of personal property, which was not the subject of the Order Granting
The Trustee contends that when the Debtor did not file a statement of intention, § 362(h) terminated the automatic stay only on the personal property identified on the Debtor's Schedules as securing Western Capital's claim. According to the Trustee, § 362(h)'s application was limited to personal property located at the Family Compound at Yellowstone Mountain Club because the Debtor's Schedules identified Western Capital's claim as having a value well below the total value of all of the Debtor's personal property and because the Schedules referenced the "Yellowstone Mountain Club" in the description of Western Capital's security interest.
Admittedly, the description of Western Capital's secured claim, "ALL PERSONAL PROPERTY OWED [sic], FAMILY COMPOUND AT YELLOWSTONE MOUNTAIN CLUB," is unclear. However, as we explain below, the effects of § 362(h) and § 521(a)(2) do not depend on how (or even if) personal property securing a debt is scheduled.
Because this case presents a question of statutory interpretation, "our interpretation of the Bankruptcy Code starts `where all such inquiries must begin: with the language of the statute itself.'" Ransom v. FIA Card Servs., N.A. (In re Ransom), ___ U.S. ___, 131 S.Ct. 716, 723-24, 178 L.Ed.2d 603 (2011) quoting United States v. Ron Pair Enters., Inc., 489 U.S. 235, 241, 109 S.Ct. 1026, 103 L.Ed.2d 290 (1989).
Section 362(h) terminates the automatic stay "with respect to personal property of the estate or of the debtor securing in whole or in part a claim . . . if the debtor fails within the applicable time set by section 521(a)(2) . . . to file timely any statement of intention required under § 521(a)(2)" indicating whether she will surrender or retain such personal property.
Section 362(h) applies to personal property of the estate securing a claim. "Property of the estate" is defined in § 541(a) as all of a debtor's legal or equitable interests in property, wherever located,
When language is used in one section of a statute and the same language is used in another section, we "can infer that Congress intended the same meaning." Consol. Freightways Corp. of Del. v. Aetna, Inc. (In re Consol. Freightways Corp. of Del.), 564 F.3d 1161, 1165 (9th Cir.2009); N. Sports, Inc. v. Knupfer (In re Wind N' Wave), 509 F.3d 938, 944 (9th Cir.2007) ("identical words used in different parts of the same act are intended to have the same meaning"). We assume, therefore, that when a debtor fails to timely file her statement of intention, § 362(h) terminates the stay on "property of the estate" as defined by § 541.
The Trustee asserts that because § 362(h) refers to § 521(a)(2), there is a requirement that personal property subject to § 362(h) be scheduled. He focuses on the following language of § 521(a)(2) to support his argument: "if an individual debtor's schedule of assets and liabilities includes debts which are secured by property of the estate" then a debtor must timely file a statement of intention with regard to "such property."
The language of § 521(a)(2) requires that the secured debt be listed but does not require that the property securing the debt be scheduled: "if a debtor's schedule of assets and liabilities includes debts secured by property of the estate. . . ." 11 U.S.C. § 521(a)(2) (emphasis added). The reference to "such property" in the statute refers to the "property of the estate" that secures the debt. Where the language is plain and does not lead to absurd or impractical consequences, the words are taken as the final expression of the meaning intended. In re Dumont, 581 F.3d at 1111.
The combined effect of §§ 362(h) and 521(a)(2) is to lift the stay and remove personal property from the estate when no timely statement of intention is filed and a trustee fails to timely file a motion to determine the value or benefit of the property. The result may be harsh but is not absurd. Lamie v. United States Trustee, 540 U.S. 526, 538, 124 S.Ct. 1023, 157 L.Ed.2d 1024 (2004) (a plain, non-absurd meaning is enforceable even if outcome is harsh).
Section 362(h) was added to the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (BAPCPA) as part of the amendments characterized as "Protections for Secured Creditors." H.R.REP. No. 109-31(I), 109th Cong., 1st Sess. 2005, reprinted in 2005 U.S.C.C.A.N. 88, 103. Section 362(h) was intended to provide greater protection to creditors by terminating the automatic stay with respect to personal property of the debtor if the debtor failed to timely reaffirm the underlying obligation or redeem the property. Id.; see also In re Dumont, 581 F.3d at 1111 (secured creditors have been the subject of particular congressional solicitude in BAPCPA). Under the Trustee's interpretation, secured creditors would not be afforded the protection of the 2005 amendments because the deadlines of §§ 362(h) and 521(a)(2) would never be triggered if a debtor failed to properly describe, or schedule, personal property securing a scheduled debt.
The Trustee asserts that if § 362(h) is interpreted to apply to unscheduled property, it will harm the bankruptcy system because trustees, creditors, and the courts would remain "entirely ignorant of the existence of property that would be removed from the estate." The Trustee argues that trustees would be compelled in every case to move for blanket protection under § 362(h) to "guard against the possibility that some property has been left off the schedules."
The Trustee ignores that §§ 521(a)(2) and 362(h) apply only if the schedules list debts secured by personal property. As long as a debt is scheduled as secured, it provides notice to other creditors and the trustee that there is a creditor with a security interest in personal property of the estate. If there is a concern about the benefit that property may have for the estate, the trustee has the ability to keep the property protected by filing a motion under § 362(h).
The Trustee also suggests that the failure to adopt his interpretation of § 362(h) will permit debtors and secured creditors to collude to deprive unsecured creditors of valuable assets. We disagree, but even if it were so, there are remedies for such conduct. If a debtor fraudulently completes
Accordingly, we conclude that the plain language of § 362(h) and § 521(a)(2) does not lead to an absurd result. Under the unambiguous language of § 362(h), all personal property secured by a scheduled debt is released from the automatic stay if a debtor fails to timely file and comply with her statement of intention.
For the reasons given above, we AFFIRM.
When a case has been converted to chapter 7, the statement of intention must be filed within 30 days after entry of the order of conversion or before the first date set for the meeting of creditors, whichever is earlier, or within an extended time if sought and granted. Rule 1019(1)(B).
(1) In a case in which the debtor is an individual, the stay provided by subsection (a) is terminated with respect to personal property of the estate or of the debtor securing in whole or in part a claim, . . . and such personal property shall no longer be property of the estate if the debtor fails within the applicable time set by section 521(a)(2)—
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply if the court determines, on the motion of the trustee filed before the expiration of the applicable time set by 521(a)(2), after notice and a hearing, that such personal property is of consequential value or benefit to the estate, . . . .
(2) if an individual debtor's schedules of assets and liabilities includes debts which are secured by property of the estate—
(A) within thirty days after the date of the filing of a petition under chapter 7 of this title or on or before the date of the meeting of creditors, whichever is earlier, or within such additional time as the court for cause within such period fixes, the debtor shall file with the clerk a statement of his intention with respect to the retention or surrender of such property and, if applicable, specifying that such property is claimed as exempt, that the debtor intends to redeem such property, or that the debtor intends to reaffirm debts secured by such property.
