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In re Johns Trucking, Inc., 17-20954. (2018)

Court: United States Bankruptcy Court, D. Utah Number: inbco20180323931 Visitors: 2
Filed: Mar. 22, 2018
Latest Update: Mar. 22, 2018
Summary: FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW FOR HEARING HELD ON MARCH 20, 2018, RELATED TO CONFIRMATION OF THE DEBTOR'S PLAN OF REORGANIZATION DATED JANUARY 30, 2018. R. KIMBALL MOSIER , Bankruptcy Judge . The Debtor's Plan of Reorganization Dated January 30, 2018 (the "Plan") proposed by the Debtor and Debtor in Possession, Johns Trucking, Inc. (the "Debtor") came on for hearing on March 20, 2018. All appearances were noted on the record. The Court makes the following findings of fact and conc
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FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW FOR HEARING HELD ON MARCH 20, 2018, RELATED TO CONFIRMATION OF THE DEBTOR'S PLAN OF REORGANIZATION DATED JANUARY 30, 2018.

The Debtor's Plan of Reorganization Dated January 30, 2018 (the "Plan") proposed by the Debtor and Debtor in Possession, Johns Trucking, Inc. (the "Debtor") came on for hearing on March 20, 2018. All appearances were noted on the record. The Court makes the following findings of fact and conclusions of law on the record, which findings are incorporated and supplemented herein. THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY FOUND AND DETERMINED THAT:

Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law

1. Exclusive Jurisdiction; Venue; Core Proceeding (28 U.S.C. §§ 157 (b)(2) and 1334(a)). This Court has jurisdiction over the Bankruptcy Case pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 157 and 1334. Venue is proper pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1408 and 1409. Confirmation of the Plan is a core proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2), and this Court has exclusive jurisdiction to determine whether the Plan complies with the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code and should be confirmed.

2. Judicial Notice. This Court takes judicial notice of the docket of the Bankruptcy Case maintained by the Bankruptcy Court, including, without limitation, all pleadings and other documents filed, all orders entered, and the transcripts of, and all minute entries on the docket indicating the evidence and arguments made, proffered or adduced, at the hearings held before the Court during the pendency of the Bankruptcy Case.

3. Transmittal and Mailing of Materials; Notice. All due, adequate, and sufficient notices of the Disclosure Statement, the Plan, and the Confirmation Hearing, along with all deadlines for voting on, or filing objections to, the Plan, have been given to all known holders of Claims and/or Equity Interests in accordance with the Bankruptcy Rules. The Disclosure Statement, Plan, Ballots and Confirmation Notice were transmitted and served in substantial compliance with the Bankruptcy Rules, and such transmittal and service were adequate and sufficient. Adequate and sufficient notice of the Confirmation Hearing was given in compliance with the Bankruptcy Rules, and no other or further notice is or shall be required.

4. Solicitation. The solicitation of votes for acceptance or rejection of the Plan complied with Bankruptcy Code §§ 1125 and 1126, Fed. R. Bankr. P. 3017 and 3018, the Disclosure Statement, all other applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, and all other rules, laws, and regulations. Based on the record before the Court in this Bankruptcy Case, the Debtor has acted in "good faith" within the meaning of Bankruptcy Code § 1125, and is entitled to the protections afforded by Bankruptcy Code § 1125(e).

5. Distribution. All procedures used to distribute the solicitation materials to the applicable holders of Claims and Equity Interests, and to tabulate the Ballots were fair, and in accordance with the Bankruptcy Code, the Bankruptcy Rules, the local rules of the Bankruptcy Court, and all other rules, laws, and regulations and orders of this Court.

6. Voting. In accordance with the Report of Balloting for the Debtor's Plan of Reorganization Dated January 30, 2018, and the Summary of the Ballots attached thereto, all Claimants and Equity Interests that voted on the Plan voted in favor of the Plan.

7. Plan Complies with Bankruptcy Code (11 U.S.C. § 1129(a)(1)). The Plan complies with the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, thereby satisfying Bankruptcy Code § 1129(a)(1).

i. Proper Classification (11 U.S.C. §§ 1122, 1123 (a)(1)). The Claims or Equity Interests placed in each Class are substantially similar to other Claims or Equity Interests in each such Class. The Plan properly classifies Claims and Interests. In addition to Administrative Expense Claims and Priority Tax Claims, which are not classified under the Plan, the Plan designates four Classes of Claims and one Class of Equity Interests. Article III of the Plan provides for the separate classification of Claims and Interests into five distinct Classes based on differences in their legal nature or priority. Valid business, factual, and legal reasons exist for separately classifying the various Classes of Claims and Equity Interests created under the Plan. Thus, the Plan satisfies Bankruptcy Code §§ 1122 and 1123(a)(1).

ii. Specify Unimpaired Classes (11 U.S.C. § 1123(a)(2)). The Plan complies with Bankruptcy Code § 1123(a)(2) in that Classes 1 and 2 are specifically classified as unimpaired and the each creditor in those classes retained all of their contractual and statutory rights under the Plan.

iii. Specify Treatment of Impaired Classes (11 U.S.C. § 1123(a)(3)). Classes 3 through 5 are designated as impaired under the Plan. Article III of the Plan specifies the treatment of impaired Claims and Equity Interests, thereby satisfying Bankruptcy Code § 1123(a)(3).

iv. No Discrimination (11 U.S.C. § 1123(a)(4)). The Plan provides for the same treatment for each Claim and Equity Interest in each respective Class unless the holder of a particular Claim or Equity Interest has agreed to less favorable treatment with respect to such Claim or Interest, thereby satisfying Bankruptcy Code § 1123(a)(4).

v. Implementation Of Plan (11 U.S.C. § 1123(a)(5)). The Plan provides adequate and proper means for implementation of the Plan, thereby satisfying Bankruptcy Code § 1123(a)(5).

vi. Required Corporate Charter Provisions (11 U.S.C. § 1123(a)(6)). The Plan provides for a single class of equity securities with the right to vote on the Plan. Therefore, the Plan does not prefer one class of equity security holders over any other class of equity security holders, thereby satisfying Bankruptcy Code § 1123(a)(6).

vii. Selection Of Officers And Directors (11 U.S.C. § 1123(a)(7)). The Plan provides that the current equity security holders shall retain their interests in the reorganized Debtor in the same amount as in the Debtor. Hence, the Plan contains only provisions that are consistent with the interests of creditors and equity security holders and with public policy with respect to the manner of selection of the successor to the Debtor and management of the Debtor, thereby satisfying Bankruptcy Code § 1123(a)(7).

viii. Additional Plan Provisions (11 U.S.C. § 1123(b)). The Plan's provisions are appropriate and consistent with the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, including provisions for (a) the assumption and/or rejection of all executory contracts and unexpired leases and (b) the settlement of certain disputes between and among the Debtor and other parties in interest. Therefore, the Plan satisfies Bankruptcy Code § 1123(b).

ix. Fed. R. Bankr. P. 3016(a). The Plan is dated and identifies the entity submitting it, thereby satisfying Fed. R. Bankr. P. 3016(a).

8. The Debtors Have Complied with Bankruptcy Code (11 U.S.C. § 1129(a)(2)). The Debtor has complied with the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, thereby satisfying Bankruptcy Code § 1129(a)(2).

i. The Debtor is a proper proponent of the Plan under Bankruptcy Code § 1121(c).

ii. The Debtor has complied with the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code.

iii. The Debtor has complied with the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, the Bankruptcy Rules, and other orders of the Court in transmitting the Plan, the Disclosure Statement, the Ballots and related documents and notices, and in soliciting and tabulating votes on the Plan.

9. Plan Proposed in Good Faith (11 U.S.C. § 1129(a)(3)). The Debtor proposed the Plan in good faith and not by any means forbidden by law, thereby satisfying Bankruptcy Code § 1129(a)(3). The Debtor filed the proposed Plan with the legitimate and honest purposes of, among other things, reaching a fair, equitable, and expeditious resolution of the complex business and legal issues presented by this chapter 11 case.

10. Payments For Services Or Costs And Expenses (11 U.S.C. § 1129(a)(4)). Any payment made or to be made under the Plan for services or for costs and expenses in or in connection with the Bankruptcy Case, including all fees and expenses incurred by professionals, or in connection with the Plan and incident to the Bankruptcy Case, has been approved by, or is subject to the approval of, the Court as reasonable, thereby satisfying Bankruptcy Code § 1129(a)(4).

11. Directors, Officers, And Insiders (11 U.S.C. § 1129(a)(5)). The Debtor has disclosed the identity and affiliations of the successor to the Debtor under the Plan, and the management of that successor, thereby satisfying Bankruptcy Code § 1129(a)(5). David Johns is President of the Debtor and currently manages the Debtor and shall continue as President and to manage the reorganized Debtor. The Debtor has also disclosed that there are no other insiders that will be employed or retained by the reorganized Debtor.

12. No Rate Changes (11 U.S.C. § 1129(a)(6)). Bankruptcy Code § 1129(a)(6) is satisfied because the Debtor is not subject to any governmental regulatory commission regarding rates.

13. Best Interests of Creditors Test (11 U.S.C. § 1129(a)(7)). The Plan satisfies Bankruptcy Code § 1129(a)(7) because each holder of a Claim in each Class that is impaired and entitled to vote under the Plan either voted to accept the Plan or shall receive as much as they would receive under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code.

14. Acceptance by Certain Classes (11 U.S.C. § 1129(a)(8)). The Plan satisfies Bankruptcy Code § 1129(a)(8).

15. Treatment of Administrative Expense Claims and Priority Tax Claims (11 U.S.C. § 1129(a)(9)). The Plan satisfies the requirements of Bankruptcy Code § 1129(a)(9) because, except to the extent the holder of a particular Claim has agreed to a different treatment of such Claim, the Plan provides that Administrative Expense Claims pursuant to Bankruptcy Code § 507(a)(1) and Priority Claims pursuant to Bankruptcy Code § 507(a)(2) through § 507(a)(8), shall be treated in accordance with the provisions of Bankruptcy Code § 1129(a)(9).

16. Acceptance by at Least One Impaired Class (11 U.S.C. § 1129(a)(10)). The acceptance of at least one of such accepting impaired Classes has been determined without including the votes of any Insiders, thus satisfying Bankruptcy Code § 1129(a)(10).

17. Feasibility (11 U.S.C. § 1129(a)(11)). The Plan is feasible and is not likely to be followed by a liquidation or further financial reorganization. The Debtor has presented credible and persuasive evidence that it will be able to make all payments required to be made under the Plan, and will otherwise be able to satisfy all of its obligations under the Plan.

18. Payment of Fees (11 U.S.C. § 1129(a)(12)). All fees payable under 28 U.S.C. § 1930 have been paid or will be paid on or before the Effective Date of the Plan, thereby satisfying Bankruptcy Code § 1129(a)(12).

19. Continuation of Retiree Benefits (11 U.S.C. § 1129(a)(13)). Bankruptcy Code § 1129(a)(13) is inapplicable to the Plan because the Debtor has no retiree benefits.

20. Support Obligations (11 U.S.C. § 1129(a)(14)). Bankruptcy Code § 1129(a)(14) is inapplicable because the Debtor is not an individual and has no support obligations.

21. Projected Disposable Income (11 U.S.C. § 1129(a)(15)). Bankruptcy Code § 1129(a)(15) is inapplicable because the Debtor is not an individual.

22. Transfers of Property (11 U.S.C. § 1129(a)(16)). Bankruptcy Code § 1129(a)(16) is inapplicable because the Plan does not provide for the transfer of any property.

23. No Other Plan (11 U.S.C. § 1129(c)). No other Chapter 11 plan has been filed in connection with the Bankruptcy Case.

24. Principal Purpose of Plan (11 U.S.C. § 1129(d)). The principal purpose of the Plan is not the avoidance of taxes or the avoidance of the application of Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. § 77e). Therefore, the Plan satisfies the requirements of Bankruptcy Code § 1129(d).

25. Tax documents (11 U.S.C. §1129(a)). All required tax documents have been filed with the Court thereby satisfying the requirements of Bankruptcy Code § 1129(a).

26. Plan Settlements (11 U.S.C § 1123(b)(3)(A). In accordance with Bankruptcy Code § 1123(b)(3)(A) and Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9019, the Plan incorporates the terms of any settlements reached with any creditors and the Debtor. In entering into any settlements, the Debtor considered the following: (i) the probability of success in the litigation against the settling parties; (ii) the difficulties to be encountered in collecting upon any affirmative claims under those actions; (iii) the complexity and likely duration of such litigation and the attendant expense, inconvenience and delay resulting from such litigation, and (iv) the paramount interest of its creditors including the inability to confirm and consummate a consensual plan of reorganization. The settlement of any disputes is well within the range of the Debtor's business judgment, and the Debtor has made a good-faith determination that the granting of the compromise, settlement, waiver and releases contained in the Plan is in the best interest of the Debtor, its creditors, and all parties in interest.

Source:  Leagle

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