DAVID R. DUNCAN, Bankruptcy Judge.
This matter is before the Court for confirmation of George Walter Fisette's ("Debtor") amended chapter 11 plan ("Plan") filed March 30, 2011. Objections to confirmation of the Plan were filed by the United States Trustee ("UST") on April 28, 2011 and JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. ("Chase") on April 18, 2011. A hearing was held May 10, 2011. At the hearing, Chase indicated that it had reached an agreement with Debtor, and the parties entered into a consent order. UST continued to object. Following the hearing, the Court took the matter under advisement so it could further consider the matter. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 52, which is made applicable to this matter by Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure 7052 and 9014(c), the Court now makes the following findings of fact and conclusions of law.
Debtor filed for chapter 13 protection on August 3, 2010. Debtor's case was converted to chapter 11 after Debtor filed a Motion to Convert on October 8, 2010. An Order granting Debtor's Motion to Convert was entered November 5, 2010. Debtor then filed his original chapter 11 plan on February 1, 2011. Confirmation of that plan was denied on March 16, 2011. Debtor filed a second plan on March 30, 2011.
Debtor's plan provides for total plan payments of approximately $2,500 per month.
Debtor's Schedule D discloses $494,482 of secured debt, consisting of a mortgage on Debtor's residence and a lien on a 2006 Dodge Ram. Debtor's Schedule F shows $230,961.32 of unsecured debt. Debtor's Statement of Financial Affairs indicates that his sole source of income for the years 2008 and 2009 was income received from two individuals, Judith Rickman and Greg Winton. In 2010, Debtor's year to date income prior to filing of the petition was comprised of $9,600.18 of income from real
In September 2010, Debtor began an event production company called P.E. Productions. Debtor operates this business as a sole proprietorship, although he testified that he is in the process of incorporating the business. His company produces shows for Live Nation.
Debtor testified that all of the shows he has previously produced have been successful, and that he anticipates those scheduled in the future will be as well. To date, none of his shows have been canceled, although he testified that at least one had been rescheduled to a later date. Currently, the events have two sponsors, SDC Media and Caliente Resorts. Debtor testified that together, the sponsors' financial commitment totals over $100,000.
At some point during the infancy of his production company, Debtor spent over $10,000 on various equipment, including "stage props, lighting, musical instruments, wardrobe, drape & skirting." Debtor's March 2011 Monthly Operating Report, docket no. 127, pg. 10. Debtor indicated that these expenses were necessary in order for him to continue producing events and that the cash profits showing on his monthly operating reports were substantially reduced by these one-time expenditures. Debtor also testified that his monthly operating reports do not accurately reflect his financial condition because UST forced him to report on a cash accounting basis rather than on an accrual basis.
11 U.S.C. § 1129 governs confirmation of chapter 11 plans, and sets forth numerous requirements that must be met before a chapter 11 plan can be confirmed. If all requirements set forth in section 1129 are met, the Court "shall" confirm the plan. 11 U.S.C. § 1129; In re Gyro-Trac (USA), Inc., 441 B.R. 470, 477 (Bankr.D.S.C.2010). The Court must independently evaluate a proposed chapter 11 plan to ensure it complies with the requirements of section 1129 even if no creditors object. Gyro-Trac, 441 B.R. at 477 (citing In re Landscaping Servs., Inc., 39 B.R. 588, 590 (Bankr.E.D.N.C.1984); In re Econ. Cast Stone Co., 16 B.R. 647, 650 (Bankr.E.D.Va.1981)). The debtor bears the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that his plan meets all section 1129 confirmation requirements. Id. (citing In re Byrd Foods, Inc., 253 B.R. 196, 199 (Bankr.E.D.Va.2000)).
Chase's objection to the second plan was sustained by a consent order executed by Debtor and Chase and entered on May 10, 2011. As a result, UST's objection is the only remaining objection to Debtor's Plan. UST's objection is based primarily on the feasibility of Debtor's Plan; however, UST also raised issues regarding unfiled tax returns, inaccurate monthly operating reports, and the failure to pay UST fees.
At the confirmation hearing, Debtor testified that he was current on his domestic support obligation since the filing of his case.
Debtor's Schedules and testimony indicate that his monthly child support obligation is $1,250 per month. Over the last five months, this would equal $7,500. The payments listed above, excluding birthday gift expenses, equal $5,240 in payments. Debtor's testimony was that he is obligated to pay child support, but Debtor failed to present any evidence proving that he is current on his child support obligations. It appears that since the conversion of his case, Debtor has failed to make all child support payments due. As a result, Debtor does not meet the requirement of section 1129(a)(14) and his Plan cannot be confirmed.
Second, Debtor has not shown that he meets the requirement of section 1129(a)(12) that all fees payable under 28 U.S.C. § 1930 have been paid. The fees due to UST are one such fee. See 28 U.S.C. § 1930(a)(6). Debtor testified that he mailed a check in payment of his quarterly fees for two quarters several days before the confirmation hearing. However, UST indicated that the payment had not been received and posted as of the morning of the confirmation hearing. An otherwise unsupported claim that payment has been placed in the mail is not sufficient to show compliance with section 1129(a)(12), especially in the face of evidence that more than one payment is outstanding.
Finally, Debtor's Plan also has numerous feasibility problems, relating to Debtor's domestic support arrearages, unfiled tax returns, and his personal expenses. First, Debtor's Schedules indicate that Debtor owes $7,500 in domestic support arrearages to his ex-wife. Section
Debtor's ex-wife is listed on Schedule E, and her claim is not listed as disputed, contingent, or unliquidated. Additionally, there has been no objection to her claim and no dispute regarding the validity or amount of the arrearages. As a result, her $7,500 claim is deemed filed and allowed. Section 1129(a)(9) provides that domestic support claims must be paid, depending on whether they have voted to accept the plan, either "deferred cash payments of a value, as of the effective date of the plan, equal to the allowed amount of such claim; . . . or cash on the effective date of the plan equal to the allowed amount of such claim." To the extent that Debtor's Plan treats his ex-wife's claim differently by attempting to alter the time of payment or claims allowance procedure, it violates section 1129 and cannot be confirmed. In addition, there is no evidence that Debtor has $7,500 which he could use to pay his ex-wife's claim, nor is there evidence that he can quickly obtain these funds to pay the claim. Debtor's Plan is not feasible due to Debtor's apparent inability to pay his ex-wife's Class One priority claim.
In addition, Debtor testified that he has not filed tax returns for four or five years. He stated he did not file returns because he did not have any income. However, Debtor began his production company in September 2010; this means that Debtor had at least some income in 2010. Debtor stated that he is currently working on his 2010 tax returns with his accountant and that they would be filed "by the end of the month." However, without filed tax returns, the Court is unable to determine Debtor's income and potential tax liability, creating additional uncertainty with respect to the feasibility of Debtor's Plan. The Court also notes that the South Carolina Department of Revenue has filed a proof of claim for 2009 priority taxes of an undetermined amount; the amount is undetermined due to Debtor's failure to file his tax returns. Debtor's Plan, however, states that there are no priority tax claims; therefore, it appears that Debtor has ignored this proof of claim and has not made provision to pay this debt through his Plan once his returns are filed and his liability is established.
Debtor has failed to paint a clear picture of his financial situation. Debtor has failed to list the majority of his personal expenses on his monthly operating reports and could not even articulate the amount of those ongoing expenses at the confirmation hearing. Debtor testified that Judith Rickman, his former business partner and
Debtor argues that the Court's determination of the feasibility of the plan should not rest on his past but should focus on his projections of future business success. Clearly, no chapter 11 plan would ever be confirmed if a debtor's past financial failings circumscribed any projection of future profitability. At the same time, Debtor's past, as well as his behavior during the chapter 11 case, is some evidence of future profitability. Debtor has the burden of proof on all requirements for confirmation. While his past business failings are of little relevance, especially since Debtor is involved in a new business, his ongoing financial performance, coupled with missing information concerning taxes, domestic support, and personal expenses, leaves the Court without a foundation upon which to rest a finding of feasibility.
Debtor is not current on his ongoing domestic support payments and therefore cannot meet the requirement of section 1129(a)(14). Debtor has not shown that quarterly fees due to UST have actually been paid. Additionally, Debtor has not met his burden of showing feasibility. As a result, Debtor's Plan does not meet the requirements of section 1129 and confirmation is denied. A previous proposed plan was denied confirmation by this Court on March 16, 2011. While Debtor may propose yet another plan, the Court intends to schedule a hearing on whether Debtor's case should be dismissed for failure to propose a confirmable plan.
AND IT IS SO ORDERED.