ROBERT H. JACOBVITZ, Bankruptcy Judge.
THIS MATTER is before the Court on the Motion for Relief from Stay by BANK'34, filed June 7, 2011 ("Motion for Relief From Stay") (Docket No. 12), the Emergency Motion to Prohibit Use of Cash Collateral, filed June 24, 2011 ("Motion to Prohibit Use of Cash Collateral") (Docket No. 29), and the Debtors' objections thereto. See Docket Nos. 24 and 45.
Based on the evidence presented at the final hearing, the relevant case law, and arguments of counsel, and being otherwise sufficiently informed, the Court will deny BANK'34's Motion for Relief From Stay and Motion to Prohibit Use of Cash Collateral but will order adequate protection for BANK'34 consistent with this memorandum opinion.
The Debtors, Tom F. Young Sr. and Consuelo A. Young (known as Connie Young), commenced their chapter 11 case pro se on May 31, 2011 (the "Petition Date"). On June 23, 2011, the United States Trustee filed a motion to dismiss or convert this chapter 11 case, and withdrew the motion on July 28, 2011. On July 5, 2011, William F. Davis & Assoc., P.C. filed an application to represent the Debtors in this bankruptcy case. An order granting the application was entered August 3, 2011. The Debtors filed their Statement of Financial Affairs and Schedules on July 18, 2011. The Section 341(a) creditors meeting was held and concluded on July 21, 2011.
The Debtors are the sole members of Laguna LLC, a New Mexico limited liability company that owns and operates a health club business in Las Cruces, New Mexico known as Tom Young's Fitness Center. Only one of those units is currntly rented. The Debtors commenced their chapter 11 case as result of declining revenues of Laguna LLC and the high vacancy rate of the Santa Fe rental units.
At the final hearing, Mr. Young testified that Tom Young's Fitness Center was profitable in 2007 and 2008, and projected the business will regain profitability within a year or two. The Debtors' exit strategy for their chapter 11 case is to increase revenues at the Tom Young's Fitness Center and to lower their required debt service by selling or surrendering the Santa Fe rental units.
Some years ago, following the Debtors' retirement from the Tom Young's Fitness Center business, one of their sons, Tom Young Jr., and a business partner, were in charge of operating the business. The business partner withdrew from the business in February 2008. The Debtors formed Laguna LLC the next month and again became active in the business. They transferred the Tom Young's Fitness Center business to Laguna LLC, and leased to Laguna LLC, under a Commercial Lease, the land and buildings in Las Cruces (the "Real Property") where the business operates. The Commercial Lease, made as of April 1, 2008 between the Debtors and Laguna LLC (the "Commercial Lease"), provides for the Debtors' lease of the Real Property and equipment
After the formation of Laguna LLC, the Debtors began managing the Tom Young's Fitness Center business along with their son, Tom Young Jr. Since approximately March 2008, the Debtors each have worked at the Tom Young's Fitness Center in Las Cruces, often ten hours per day and generally for at least five consecutive days at a time. They commute between Santa Fe, where they reside, and Las Cruces where the Tom Young's Fitness Center business is located. At times Laguna LLC has had an arrangement with a local hotel to trade fitness center passes for hotel employees for nights the Debtors would stay at the hotel while in Las Cruces. At other times the Debtors lease an apartment in Las Cruces at Laguna LLC's expense, and stay there when working at the fitness center. Laguna LLC also pays the Debtors' food expenses while they stay in Las Cruces. The Debtors use the Debtors' personal vehicles for the commute between Santa Fe and Las Cruces. Laguna LLC makes the lease payments on one of their personal vehicles. Laguna LLC books those lease payments as member withdrawals.
On or about August 30, 2008, BANK'34 made two loans to the Debtors: 1) a term loan in the amount of $1,217,041.38; and 2) a line of credit loan in the amount of up to $199,081.40. The term loan refinanced a loan from a different lender. As collateral for the loans, the Debtors granted BANK'34 a mortgage against the Real Property. At the time the loans were made, BANK'34 was aware that the Debtors had formed Laguna LLC, and that Laguna LLC owned and operated the Tom Young's Fitness Center business. No property of Laguna LLC was pledged to BANK'34 as collateral for the loans. The amount of monthly rent payable by Laguna LLC to the Debtors under the Commercial Lease approximately equaled the amount of monthly debt service to be made by the Debtors to BANK'34.
In 2010, at the Debtors' request, BANK'34 agreed to reduce the payments under both loans to monthly installments of interest only for the months of July 2010 through December 2010. The Debtors requested the loan concession as a result of decreased revenue of the Tom Young's Fitness Center business. In exchange, on or about August 20, 2010, the Debtors granted BANK'34 a security interest in, among other things, all of their inventory, equipment, accounts, money, rights to payment and performance, and general intangibles. BANK'34 perfected the security interests by filing a financing statement on September 9, 2010 in the records of the New Mexico Secretary of State.
In connection with the Debtors' request to pay interest only to BANK'34, the Debtors submitted a personal financial statement to BANK'34 dated August 3, 2010. The personal financial statement reflected that Connie Young's monthly average income in the form of commissions from the sale of real estate was $8,000 for the "last tax year." The Debtors listed no other income on the financial statement except for social security income. The Debtors' federal income tax return for tax year 2009 reflects to receipts by Connie Young from real estate sales and service in the amount of $31,692, or approximately $3,000 per month.
The Debtors made the interest only payments to BANK'34 for the months of July 2010 through December 2010 from rent paid them by Laguna LLC under the Commercial Lease for the Real Property. BANK'34 declined the Debtors' request to extend the interest only period beyond December 31, 2010 because the Debtors failed to provide BANK'34 with a business plan showing how they would be able to pay the loans on a current basis after the requested extended interest only period would expire. After December 2010, the Debtors made two principal and interests payments to BANK'34, and then stopped making payments. The last payment the Debtors made to BANK'34 was in April 2011, which represented the amount due under the loans in February 2011. By a letter dated March 30, 2011, BANK'34 gave the Debtors notice of default and a 10-day opportunity to cure.
Laguna LLC's compiled financial statements for the eleven month period ending November 30, 2010 reflects revenue in the amount of $483,189.01, or a monthly average of about $44,925. In recent years the Debtors generally have taken less than $1,000 per month as member withdrawals from Laguna LLC. Laguna LLC's general ledger for the six month period ending June 30, 2011 reflects the following pre-petition member withdrawals: 1) $400.00 by Connie Young in May 2011; 2) $5,526.73 by Tom Young Sr. in January 2011; and 3) an average of $699.80 per month for the months of February through May 2011 by Tom Young Sr. During this period, the Debtors had other sources of income to pay their living expenses, including rental income and income from the sale of property. The general ledger shows post-petition withdrawals in June 2011 by Connie Young in the amount of $700.00 and by Tom Young Sr. in the amount of $5,480.06.
Tom Young Jr. is paid $4,000 per month for his services as general manager of the Tom Young's Fitness Center business. He works full time in exchange for the compensation Laguna LLC pays him. After commencement of this chapter 11 case, Laguna LLC has been paying the Debtors in the form of membership withdrawals a total of approximately $3,000 to $5,000 per month in exchange for their services. Tom Young Sr. testified that the Debtors no longer have the same access to funds from other sources to pay their living expenses and are now more dependent on taking draws from Laguna LLC in exchange for services.
Laguna LLC, which owns and operates the Tom Young's Fitness Center business, maintains its own books and records of account, has its own bank accounts, files its own tax returns, has employees, issues its own financial statements, and retains its own professionals.
Laguna LLC paid the Debtors pre-petition rent in the amount of $45,930.90 for the period from January 2011 through May 2011. Laguna LCC's general ledger reflects that Laguna LLC paid the Debtors post-petition rent on June 11, 2011 in the amount of $2,000.00.
Laguna LLC has paid certain expenses incurred by the Debtors personally. Those expenses include $91.57 on May 5, 2011 to Break Masters; $145.70 on May 31, 2011 to the City of Santa Fe; $80.00 on June 2, 2011 to a medical doctor; and $124.74 on July 12, 2011 to AutoZone. Laguna LLC booked the disbursements to Brake Masters and the City of Albuquerque as member withdrawals.
BANK'34's appraiser, Karen Mundy, testified that the fair market value of the Real Property was $1,860,000 as of April 18, 2011. The Debtors did not contest that opinion of value for purposes of the Court's rulings on BANK'34's two pending motions. Ms. Mundy testified that as of the date of the August 5, 2011 hearing on BANK'34's motions, the value of the Real Property had not changed.
As of the Petition Date, the Debtors were indebted to BANK'34 in the total amount of $1,455,489.14, including principal, interest, late fees and an appraisal fee but excluding accrued interest calculated at the difference between the non-default and default rates and further excluding attorney's fees.
BANK'34's appraiser testified that the estimated marketing period to sell the Real Property is "up to" 12 months. She opined that a sale likely would occur closer to the end of the 12-month period because of the special use nature of the Real Property.
If BANK'34 were to sell the Real Property at its appraised value on the date that is 12 months after July 19, 2011 as part of the Bank's real estate owned, and the Debtors made no further payments to BANK'34 and no further property taxes were paid in relation to the Real Property prior to the date of sale, the estimated net sale proceeds after payment to BANK'34 in full would be approximately $30,000 to $60,000, calculated as follows:
BANK'34 seeks relief from the automatic stay pursuant to both 11 U.S.C. § 362(d)(1) and 11 U.S.C. § 362(d)(2). Under 11 U.S.C. § 362(g), BANK'34 has the burden of proof on the issue of the Debtors' equity in the collateral pledged to BANK'34, and the Debtors have the burden of proof on all other issues.
BANK'34 argues that cause exists for relief from the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. § 362(d)(1) because of the Debtors' bad faith conduct. The bad faith conduct alleged by the BANK'34 includes that Debtors' failure to enforce the terms of the Commercial Lease between them and Laguna LLC to deprive BANK'34 to a claim to cash collateral in this chapter 11 case, while at the same time the Debtors have 1) increased the amount of their personal draws from Laguna LLC; 2) used funds of Laguna LLC to pay personal bills; and 3) caused Laguna LLC to unnecessarily employ both the Debtors and their son Tom Young Jr. In addition, BANK'34 asserts that the Debtors issued a false financial statement to BANK'34 in August 2010 by overstating the amount of Connie Young's commission income from her realtor business, and improperly depreciated a vehicle on a 2009 tax return as an asset of the realtor business.
The Bankruptcy Code does not define "cause" under 11 U.S.C. § 362(d)(1). In re Trident Associates Ltd. Partnership, 52 F.3d 127, 131 (6
The Court does not find bad faith on the part of the Debtors in connection with their failure to enforce the terms of the Commercial Lease. The Debtors, as debtors-in-possession, owe a fiduciary duty to creditors to maximize the value of the estate.
BANK'34 questions whether Laguna LLC requires the services of both Debtors and their son Tom Young Jr. Based on the facts in evidence, the Court finds that Laguna LLC's employment of Tom Young Sr., Connie Young and Tom Young Jr. is a reasonable exercise of business judgment. The family members work long hours for below market wages in an effort to save a family business.
BANK'34 asserts that Tom Young Sr. and Connie Young should not take draws in excess of the approximate $1,000 month they historically withdrew from Laguna LLC in exchange for services so additional Laguna LLC funds would be available to pay rent. BANK'34 further asserts that Laguna LLC should not pay for lodging or food for the Debtors while they reside in Las Cruces while working for Laguna LLC. Taking into account the amount Laguna LLC pays the Debtors, the amount Laguna LLC expends for lodging and food for the Debtors, the Debtors' explanation about their no longer having other sources of funds to pay personal expenses, and the number of hours the Debtors work for Laguna LLC, the Court finds that the Debtors are exercising reasonable business judgment regarding these matters and further finds that the amount of their monthly draws is not excessive.
BANK'34 urges that the Debtors are improperly using Laguna LLC as their "personal piggy bank" in disregard of the separate nature of the entity, which is further evidence of bad faith on their part. In support of its position, BANK'34 relies on four disbursements in the first six months of 2011 totaling $350.44, at least two of which Laguna LLC booked as member withdrawals; monthly lease payments made by Laguna LLC on one of the Debtors' personal vehicles, which Laguna LLC booked as member withdrawals; and an unauthorized loan made by Laguna LLC in the amount of $2,475 where the funds were returned upon Tom Young Sr. learning of the loan. Laguna LLC's annual revenue exceeds $500,000. The Court finds that this conduct, considered either alone or in conjunction with the Debtors' other conduct, does not constitute bad faith for which relief from the automatic stay should be granted.
BANK'34 asserts it is entitled to stay relief under 11 U.S.C. § 362(d)(1) because its secured claim is not adequately protected. BANK'34 has a secured claim in the amount of $1,491,611.65 as of July 17, 2011.
The concept of adequate protection is derived from the property interest protections found in the Fifth Amendment's prohibition against taking private property without just compensation.
A decline in the value of the estate's interest in property that is the creditor's collateral, which entitles the creditor to adequate protection, can result from such causes as a decline in the market value of the collateral,
The evidence before the Court is that the Real Property is neither increasing nor declining in value, that the Debtors are not paying post-petition property taxes accruing against the Real Property, that the Debtors have collected $2,000 of post-petition rents under the Commercial Lease, and that the Bank's has a 10.9% security cushion. BANK'34 is entitled to adequate protection from a decline in the value of its interest in the Real Property as a result of the Debtors' nonpayment of property taxes accruing from and after the date BANK'34 filed its Motion for Relief From Stay, and with respect to the Debtors' use of $2,000 of post-petition rents pledged to the Bank without the consent of the Bank or an order of the Court. BANK'34 has established that its security cushion is insufficient to protect the Bank from the risk of accruing taxes or the expenditure of its cash collateral without authority.
As adequate protection for Bank'34, the Debtors will be required to deposit in a separate account by the 20
BANK'34 is not entitled to adequate protection to compensate or protect it from erosion of its security cushion caused by post-petition interest accrual.
The United State Supreme Court further reasoned that because a secured creditor's claim is limited to the value of its collateral, if an under-secured creditor were paid post-petition interest on the value of its collateral then the amount of its secured claim would increase with the passage of time as the stay continues, which is not what is intended under the Bankruptcy Code.
Applying these principles explicated in Timbers, a secured creditor is not entitled to adequate protection under 11 U.S.C. § 362(d)(1) to compensate or protect it from erosion of its security cushion by post-petition interest accrual for at least four reasons. First, a secured creditor is entitled to adequate protection under 11 U.S.C. § 362(d)(1) only to compensate or protect it from a decline or threatened decline in the value of the estate's interest in property that is the creditor's collateral. Payment of post-petition interest as adequate protection to maintain a security cushion does not serve this purpose. Second, a secured creditor is paid post-petition interest out of its security cushion. Therefore, payment of post-petition interest necessarily reduces the amount of the security cushion. Third, if payment of post-petition interest had no effect on the amount of the creditor's security cushion, then the amount of post-petition interest accrual would not be limited by the amount of the security cushion contrary to the requirement of 11 U.S.C. § 506(b). Finally, if a secured creditor were entitled to payment of post-petition interest to maintain its security cushion, it would create the anomalous result that a slightly over-secured creditor could accrue post-petition interest in an amount vastly disproportionate to its security cushion, while a slightly under-secured creditor would accrue no post-petition interest.
Likewise, BANK'34 is not entitled to adequate protection to compensate it for erosion of its security cushion by post-petition attorney's fees. To the extent BANK'34 asserts a secured claim for post-petition attorneys fees, under 11 U.S.C. § 506(b) post-petition attorneys fees, like post-petition interest, is paid out of and is limited by the amount of the Bank's security cushion. Section 506(b) contains the same limitations on the amount of an allowable secured claim for post-petition attorney's fees as it does for post-petition interest accrual. See 11 U.S.C. § 506(b).
BANK'34 asserts that the Court should grant stay relief under Bankruptcy Code § 362(d)(2). That section provides for relief from the automatic stay with respect to an act against property if "(A) the debtor does not have an equity in such property; and (B) such property is not necessary to an effective reorganization." 11 U.S.C. § 362(d)(2). BANK'34 asserts that the Debtors have no equity in the Real Property taking into account interest and tax accruals during the expected marketing period following a foreclosure sale, additional attorney's fees BANK'34 will incur to collect its claim, costs of sale, and the inherently distressed nature of a sale of real estate owned by a financial institution. Additionally, BANK'34 asserts that the Debtors do not have a feasible chapter 11 plan in prospect. Because the Court finds that the Debtors have equity in the Real Property, is not necessary for the Court to reach the second prong of the requirement for stay relief under 11 U.S.C. § 362(d)(2), that such property is not necessary to an effective reorganization.
Unlike the adequate protection provision of 11 U.S.C. § 362(d)(1), which focuses on harm to a secured creditor from the decline or threatened decline in the value of the estate's interest in property that is its collateral, 11 U.S.C. § 362(d)(2) focuses on whether keeping the stay in place will benefit other creditors. The debtor has equity in property pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 362(d)(2)(A) if a comparison of the value that can be realized from the sale of the property in the bankruptcy case with the aggregate amount of all secured claims against the property shows that value from a sale can be realized for the benefit of unsecured creditors.
BANK'34 argues that in considering value the Court should factor in the inherently distressed nature of a sale of the Real Property by BANK'34 if it acquires the Real Property at a foreclosure sale. But the appropriate measure of value under 11 U.S.C. § 362(d)(2)(A) is not what the lender could obtain if it sold the Real Property; it is the amount that the Debtors or a bankruptcy trustee could realize upon a sale in this bankruptcy case. BANK'34's appraiser testified that the fair market value of the Real Property based on a marketing period of "up to" 12 months is $1,860,000. The value that can benefit an unsecured creditor upon a sale of the Real Property requires deduction of the estimated $186,000 of costs of sale.
BANK'34 holds the only secured claim against the Real Property. Its claim as of the date of the final hearing on its motion for relief from stay was $1,497,564.08, excluding certain amounts for which no evidence was presented.
Having determined that the Debtors have an equity in the Real Property under 11 U.S.C. § 362(d)(2)(A), relief from the stay under 11 U.S.C. § 362(d)(2) must be denied.
BANK'34 requests an order prohibiting the Debtors from using cash collateral resulting from the operation of Tom Young's Fitness Center in Las Cruces, including member payments for use of the facilities, cash, cash equivalents, deposit accounts, and rents. See Emergency Motion to Prohibit Use of Cash Collateral. Docket No. 29.
Bankruptcy Code §§363(c)(2) and (4) provide:
11 U.S.C. §363(c)(2) and (4)
Laguna LLC, not the Debtors, owns and operates the Tom Young's Fitness Center business. Laguna LLC did not pledge any property to BANK'34. Further, the evidence before the Court does not establish that Laguna LLC is the alter ego of the Debtors or that Laguna LLC's corporate form should be disregarded.
BANK'34 has a security interest in rents paid to the Debtors by Laguna LLC for its use of the Real Property, and in the Debtors' cash, rights to receive payments, and general intangibles. BANK'34 asserts that its security interest in general intangibles attaches to the Debtors' discretionary post petition member withdrawals from Laguna LLC. The Court disagrees. Regardless of whether BANK'34's security interest in general intangibles attaches to the Debtors' member interests in Laguna LLC, the security interest does not extend to post-petition member withdrawals.
Bankruptcy Code §§ 506(a) and (b)(1) provide:
Under these sections, except as provided by 11 U.S.C. § 506(b)(2), which is inapplicable to member withdrawals, BANK'34's prepetition liens do not extend to property in which the Debtors had no interest on the date they commenced their chapter 11 case unless the property is proceeds, products, offspring, or profits of property in which the Debtors had an interest on that date.
The Tenth Circuit's decision in In re Hastie, 2 F.3d 1042 (10
Under 11 U.S.C. § 552(b)(2), BANK'34 does have a lien against rents the Debtors receive from Laguna LLC post-petition for its lease of the Real Property.
For the foregoing reasons, the Court will deny BANK'34's Motion for Relief From Stay and Motion to Prohibit Use of Cash Collateral but will order adequate protection for BANK'34 consistent with this memorandum opinion. An order consistent with this memorandum opinion will be entered.
Timbers, 484 U.S. at 372; 108 S.Ct. at 631.