LAURIE SELBER SILVERSTEIN, UNITE STATES BANKRUPTCY JUDGE
This bankruptcy case, and the dispute between the parties, revolves around two issues: who—Landlord or Debtor—is entitled to rents generated from the subtenants at a shopping center located in Richmond, Michigan ("Shopping Center"), and in which court(s) should the disputes between the parties be resolved.
Before the Court are two motions. The first motion is for relief from stay ("Motion for Relief from Stay" [D.I. 16]) filed by 67500 South Main Street, Richmond, LLC ("Landlord") to permit it to proceed with eviction proceedings against Scarborough-St. James Corporation ("Debtor") pending in a Michigan state court. The Court held two hearings on the Motion for Relief from Stay and accepted documentary evidence proffered by the parties.
The second motion, also filed by Landlord, is for an order conditioning use of cash collateral and providing adequate protection ("Adequate Protection Motion" [D.I. 41]). After consideration of the arguments and the evidence submitted by the parties, the Court concludes that the Court's recognition of the Modified Interim Order Awarding Injunctive Relief entered in the Michigan Litigation suffices to provide adequate protection to Landlord for its interest in the Shopping Center and its equitable interest, if any, in the rents. As such, no further relief is necessary at this time.
Since 2008, Debtor and Landlord have been litigating the meaning of various provisions in that certain Amended and Restated Intermediate Lease made as of June 26, 2006 ("Lease") between Richmond Realty Limited Partnership, as landlord, and MCANY of Richmond Fund II Limited Partnership ("MCANY"), as tenant.
The disagreements between Debtor and Landlord regarding the Lease led to significant prepetition litigation in both the New York and Michigan state courts. In the first instance, the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division held that the dispute was subject to arbitration pursuant to section 18.13 of the Lease,
The Honorable Garrett E. Brown, Jr. (Ret.) ("Arbitrator")
On November 15, 2013, Arbitrator issued an initial ruling holding, inter alia, that the Lease remains valid and enforceable notwithstanding the foreclosure, that rent is due to Landlord, and that the proper calculation of rent is gross revenues minus operating expenses. [D.I. 16 Ex. A, ex. 2 at 2] Following the initial ruling, Debtor requested reargument on various issues, including the calculation of the rent, and again argued that no rent was due to Landlord. [Id.] Landlord opposed that request, but alternatively stated that if re-argument were allowed, it too wished to re-argue certain points. [Id.] Briefs were submitted and oral argument was held on January 20, 2014. [Id.] On January 27, 2014, Arbitrator issued his Final Award. [Id. at 1]
In the Final Award, Arbitrator ruled on each of the claims and counterclaims advanced by the parties as well as the motion to re-argue. Arbitrator determined, again, that the Lease remained valid and enforceable notwithstanding Landlord's foreclosure and that Landlord was owed rent in the amount of gross revenues minus operating
Landlord filed a motion to confirm the Final Award in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York: Commercial Division Part 49.
After the Final Award, but prior to the Decision and Order, Landlord was not idle. On March 20, 2014, Landlord sent a demand letter to Debtor and MCANY notifying them of an "Event of Default" under the Lease and demanding payment of 2013 rent in the amount of $290,612.51 within 60 days of the date of the letter. [D.I. 16 Ex. A, ex. 4] Landlord calculated the rent pursuant to the formula set forth in the Final Award utilizing the revenue and expense numbers provided by Debtor.
Landlord followed this letter with another on May 20, 2014 to MCANY and Debtor. [D.I. 16 Ex. A, ex. 5] In the May 20 letter, Landlord noted the lack of response to the March 20 letter and wrote: "[a]ccordingly, pursuant to the Lease, including Section 11.02 thereof, this letter constitutes written notice that the Lease shall expire and terminate on June 20, 2014, as a result of Tenant's failures described above." [Id.]
Finally, on August 20, 2014, Landlord sent MCANY and Debtor a Notice to Quit, Termination of Tenancy, and Demand for Immediate Possession ("Notice"). [D.I. 16 Ex. A, ex. 6] In the Notice, Landlord stated that the tenancy under the Lease terminated on June 20, 2014 and demanded that Debtor and MCANY turn over all books and records with the subtenants and all keys to the property, and stop collecting rent from subtenants. [Id.] Landlord demanded that Debtor cease managing the Shopping Center and take no further action whatsoever with respect to the Shopping Center. [Id.] Not surprisingly, this did not happen.
On September 10, 2014, Landlord commenced litigation in Michigan state court (42nd Judicial District of the State of Michigan) ("Michigan Litigation") by filing a Complaint for Termination of Tenancy and for Possession of Premises ("Complaint").
On September 22, 2014, the Michigan Court heard argument on the Complaint as well as Landlord's motion for injunctive relief. [D.I. 42 Ex. A ¶ 12] The Michigan Court determined to defer its ruling on the complaint for possession pending the entry of a final judgment by the New York Court specifying monetary relief to Landlord. [Id.] The Michigan Court did, however, enter its Interim Order Preserving Status Quo regarding the rents and premises. [Id. ¶ 13] Subsequently, on October 20, 2014, the Michigan Court entered its Modified Interim Order Awarding Injunctive Relief to Landlord. [D.I. 16 Ex. B] In this Order, the court awarded Landlord relief it believed was "necessary and warranted to preserve the status quo and to prevent waste to the premises or injury to Landlord's interest in the premises." [Id. at 2] Specifically, the Order provides as follows:
Id.
On January 12, 2015, the parties appeared before the Michigan Court, which, notwithstanding the New York Court's December 1, 2014 re-issuance of the confirmation of the Final Award, determined to once again defer consideration of the Complaint. [D.I. 42 Ex. A ¶ 18] The Michigan Court scheduled a telephone status conference for March 16, 2015. [Id.] During that call, the Michigan Court was informed that the Judgment had been entered. [Id. 20] The Michigan Court scheduled a further hearing on the Complaint for April 20, 2015. [Id.] In the meantime, Debtor filed its bankruptcy petition.
This voluntary bankruptcy proceeding was filed on March 19, 2015. In the five months since this case was commenced, Debtor filed its statements and schedules, moved to retain and pay professionals, and filed its monthly reports. Debtor has sought no other relief from this Court related to the administration of this case. On June 15, 2015, two days before the second hearing in this matter, Debtor filed an adversary proceeding seeking a declaratory judgment regarding the rent owed under the Lease.
Debtor's schedules reflect few creditors. Debtor lists no secured creditors. [D.I. 4 Schedule D] Debtor lists one creditor as having an unsecured priority claim in the amount of $47,218.29.
According to Debtor, the Lease is its only asset of any real value. Debtor has approximately $63,000 in various bank accounts
Landlord promptly filed the Motion for Relief from Stay seeking to proceed with the Michigan Litigation. Landlord agrees that the automatic stay will remain in effect until a decision on its motion.
This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over these matters. 28 U.S.C. § 1334(b). These matters are core proceedings. 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(G), (M).
The automatic stay is one of the fundamental protections afforded debtors under the bankruptcy laws. Midlantic Nat'l Bank v. New Jersey Dep't. of Envtl. Prot., 474 U.S. 494, 503, 106 S.Ct. 755, 88 L.Ed.2d 859 (1986) reh'g denied 475 U.S. 1090, 106 S.Ct. 1482, 89 L.Ed.2d 736 (1986). The purpose of the automatic stay is "to prevent certain creditors from gaining a preference for their claims against the debtor; to forestall the depletion of the debtor's assets due to legal costs in defending proceedings against it; and, in general, to avoid interference with the orderly liquidation or rehabilitation of the debtor." St. Croix Condo. Owners v. St. Croix Hotel, 682 F.2d 446, 448 (3d Cir. 1982). "The stay is not meant, however, to be used by a debtor to pursue its creditors, as more litigation is hardly consistent with the concept of a breathing spell for the debtor. Instead, the stay is a shield, not a sword that should help the debtor deal with his bankruptcy for the benefit of himself and his creditors." In re Residential Capital, LLC, 2012 WL 3249641, at *2 (Bankr.S.D.N.Y. Aug. 7, 2012) quoting Sternberg v. Johnston, 582 F.3d 1114 (9th Cir.2009) (internal quotation marks omitted).
Landlord asks the Court to lift the stay to proceed with the Michigan Litigation pursuant to section 362(d)(1) for cause or pursuant to section 362(d)(2) because debtor does not have equity in the property and it is not necessary for an effective reorganization.
Section 362(d)(1) provides:
11 U.S.C. § 362(d). "Cause" is not defined in the Bankruptcy Code. Cause is a flexible concept, is fact intensive, and is to be determined on a case-by-case basis upon consideration of the totality of the circumstances. In re Tribune, 418 B.R. 116, 126 (Bankr.D.Del.2009); In re SCO Group, Inc., 395 B.R. 852, 856 (Bankr.D.Del.2007).
When a party seeks relief from stay to continue with prepetition litigation, this Court generally applies the following three prong balancing test:
Izzarelli v. Rexene Products Co. (In re Rexene Prods. Co.), 141 B.R. 574, 576 (Bankr.D.Del.1992). The movant has the initial burden of proof to put forth a prima facie case for cause before the debtor must then rebut the case. Id. at 577. Importantly, in making its determination, this Court also considers the general policies underlying the automatic stay. SCO Group, 395 B.R. at 857.
Landlord argues that Debtor will suffer no harm if relief is granted and Landlord continues with the Michigan Litigation because the Lease was terminated on June 20, 2014, and as such, it is not property of the estate. Landlord further argues that the only remaining issue is the award of possession of the Shopping Center to Landlord and the virtual eviction of the former tenant. Landlord asserts that such issues are properly resolved in the Michigan Litigation.
Debtor denies that the Lease has been terminated and argues that it will be significantly prejudiced if the Michigan Litigation continues because it will be vulnerable to a determination regarding its lease rights prior to the determination by the New York appellate court of its appeal of the Judgment. Debtor also argues that it will suffer significant prejudice because the continuance of the Michigan Litigation will distract from and interfere with Debtor's administration of the case and will "expose [Debtor] and its estate to the burden of defending the Michigan Litigation, including time expended by certain of [sic] Debtor's president, expenditure of defense costs, the time and participation in completing discovery, and participating in motion practice and would result in distraction from the Debtor's reorganization efforts." [D.I. 27 ¶ 31]
The Court concludes that Debtor will not suffer great prejudice if the stay is lifted so that the Michigan Litigation can proceed. The issue of whether or not the Lease was terminated prepetition must be decided in order to determine Debtor's interest in the Lease. The Michigan Court is in a position to make that determination and has familiarity with the parties and the facts of the case as evidenced by the previous orders it has entered.
Moreover, based on the docket to date, the Court concludes that continuation of the Michigan Litigation will in no way impact the administration of the estate. As previously stated, in the five months since this case was commenced, Debtor has not sought assistance from this Court in administering these cases. The duties of Debtor's president appear to be the
Landlord argues that it will suffer prejudice if the Michigan Litigation is delayed because the Lease is not property of the estate. Debtor disputes this issue. As discussed in connection with the first prong of the analysis, this issue of whether the Lease has been terminated must be decided. Thus, I find that Landlord will suffer prejudice that outweighs the hardship to Debtor if stay relief is not granted.
This prong of the balancing test examines the movant's probability of success on the merits of the Michigan Litigation. "Even a slight probability of success on the merits may be sufficient to support lifting an automatic stay in an appropriate case." In re Continental Airlines, Inc., 152 B.R. 420, 426 (Bankr.D.Del.1993). Landlord argues that the Final Award established Debtor's obligation to pay rent under the Lease and was confirmed by the New York Supreme Court. Landlord argues that based upon the findings in the Final Award it properly sent the demand letter and Notice effectively terminating the Lease on June 20, 2014 pursuant to its terms. Thus, Landlord concludes it will succeed on the merits in the Michigan Litigation.
Citing no authority, Debtor argues that Landlord has "jumped the gun" in the Michigan Litigation and is required to wait until the formula and other issues raised by the Final Award are examined by the New York appellate court. Debtor assets that both Arbitrator and the New York Supreme Court are wrong and, as such, both the Final Award and the Judgment are "fatally flawed making reversal on appeal a foregone conclusion." [D.I. 27 ¶ 41] Debtor argues that Arbitrator improperly modified the Lease [Id. ¶ 42] and that the New York Supreme Court was incorrect because the presiding judge "failed to understand" previous decisions of that court in related litigation [Id. ¶ 44].
The Court finds that Landlord has made (at least) the requisite slight showing of the probability of success on the merits of the Michigan Litigation. The Final Award entitles Landlord to rent and establishes a formula for calculation of the rent. The Final Award is final as between the parties (JSC Sec. Inc. v. Gebbia, 4 F.Supp.2d 243, 250 (S.D.N.Y.1998)) even when an appeal is pending (In re Bear Stearns Companies, Inc. Sec. Derivative, & Erisa Litig., 763 F.Supp.2d 423, 544 (S.D.N.Y.2011)). Further, there is a high hurdle to overturn an arbitrator's award. New York State Corr. Officers & Police Benev. Ass'n, Inc. v. State of New York, 94 N.Y.2d 321, 326, 704 N.Y.S.2d 910, 726 N.E.2d 462 (1999) (A New York appellate court will not "examine the merits of an arbitration award and substitute its judgment for that of the arbitrator simply because it believes that its interpretation would be the better one. Indeed, even in circumstances where an arbitrator makes errors of law or fact, courts will not assume the role of overseers to conform the award to their sense of justice."); Revson v. Hack, 239 A.D.2d 169, 657 N.Y.S.2d 51, 52 (1st Dep't.1977)
Next, Debtor argues that Landlord is bound by Arbitrator's determinations that Landlord may not unilaterally terminate the Lease by sending a demand letter and notice, and that Debtor was not required to obtain a so-called Yellowstone Injunction
In the Final Award, Arbitrator found Landlord's previous attempt to terminate the Lease by sending a demand letter and notice was ineffective because the parties were required to arbitrate disputes under the Lease. Arbitrator found that Debtor had effectively sought Yellowstone Injunction-type relief in the arbitration, which was then pending, rather than in the state court. [D.I. 16 Ex. A, ex. 2] The arbitration has now concluded. Arbitrator awarded Landlord rent and determined the calculation for future rent. Based on the completed arbitration, Landlord sent a new demand letter and Notice, which are now the subject of the Michigan Litigation. Debtor did not seek a Yellowstone Injunction with respect to the demand letter and Notice before the Michigan Court, and Debtor cites no case for the proposition that a Yellowstone Injunction is not needed in circumstances such as this where the arbitration has concluded or judgment has been entered. Accordingly, the Michigan Court may find that the termination was effective.
Based on the three-prong balancing test, the Court concludes that lifting the stay is appropriate to permit the Michigan Litigation to go forward. This ruling is bolstered by the policies underlying the automatic stay. In filing its bankruptcy case, Debtor is not seeking "breathing room" from its litigation; it is continuing litigation. Not only did Debtor remove the Michigan Litigation to federal court, it has filed an adversary proceeding in this court regarding interpretation of the Lease. Thus, it appears that Debtor is not shying away from litigation; rather, Debtor seeks to litigate only issues of its choosing and in its preferred forum. Debtor is using its bankruptcy case as a "sword" and not a "shield."
Landlord also filed a motion to condition the use of cash collateral and for adequate protection.
Debtor argues that a plain reading of Section 363 suggests that adequate protection may only be provided to secured creditors and that a contingent right to collect a judgment resulting from the Final Order does not provide a basis for adequate protection. Further, Debtor argues that if the Lease were deemed a "traditional lease" requiring cash payment, there is no provision in the Bankruptcy Code for payment of interim rent because rent is due annually, in April of each year. Debtor further argues that the Court should ignore the Modified Interim Order Awarding Injunctive Relief because it was obtained without an evidentiary hearing or even opposition papers, that pursuant to Fed. R.Civ.P. 65(b), the Order expired within 14 days of its issuance, or that this Court should vacate the Modified Interim Order Awarding Injunctive Relief under 28 U.S.C. § 1450. For this last proposition, Debtor cites to Granny Goose Foods, Inc. v. Bhd. Of Teamsters & Auto Truck Drivers Local No. 70 of Alameda Cnty., 415 U.S. 423, 434-37, 94 S.Ct. 1113, 1122-23, 39 L.Ed.2d 435 (1974) ("Granny Goose"). Finally, Debtor argues that the Modified Interim Order Awarding Injunctive Relief has been pre-empted. Debtor cites no authority for this position.
The Court finds that the Modified Interim Order Awarding Injunctive Relief
The Modified Interim Order Awarding Injunctive Relief was entered five months prior to the filing of the bankruptcy and limits the ability of Debtor, inter alia, to use the rents other than in the ordinary course of managing and operating the Shopping Center without further permission.
In the Matter of Donald E. Sanders, 969 F.2d 591 (7th Cir.1992).
Further, the Court concludes that keeping in place the Modified Interim Order Awarding Injunctive Relief will serve as adequate protection for Landlord's equitable interest in the post-bankruptcy rents to the extent it exists. The
Finally, Landlord has stated that it does not oppose, and in fact supports, the continued payment of operating expenses, subject to a reasonable budget. The Court finds that using rents for operating expenses adequately protects Landlord's ownership interest in the Shopping Center.
For the reasons set forth above, Landlord's Motion for Relief from Stay will be granted, and its Adequate Protection Motion will be denied at this time. The Modified Interim Order Awarding Injunctive Relief remains in full effect.
An appropriate order follows.