Aiolova v. Tese-Milner (In re Aiolova)

496 B.R. 123, 2013 WL 3995270, 2013 Bankr. LEXIS 3107
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. New York
DecidedAugust 1, 2013
DocketCase No. 11-10503 (BRL); Adv. Pro. No. 12-02073 (BRL)
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 496 B.R. 123 (Aiolova v. Tese-Milner (In re Aiolova)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Aiolova v. Tese-Milner (In re Aiolova), 496 B.R. 123, 2013 WL 3995270, 2013 Bankr. LEXIS 3107 (N.Y. 2013).

Opinion

Chapter 7

MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER (I) GRANTING TRUSTEE’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT PURSUANT TO BANKRUPTCY RULE 7056 AND (II) DENYING THE REQUEST OF THE TRUSTEE AND CHASE FOR SANCTIONS AGAINST JACKMAN

Burton R. Lifland, United States Bankruptcy Judge

Before the Court is the motion for summary judgment (the “Motion”) pursuant to [126]*126Federal Rule of Civil Procedure (“Rule”) 56(c), made applicable herein by Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure (“Bankruptcy Rule”) 7056, of Angela Tese-Milner (the “Trustee”), co-defendant in the above-captioned adversary proceeding and Chapter 7 trustee for the estate of Maria Aiolo-va (the “Debtor” or “Aiolova”), requesting that the Court grant summary judgment and declare that Clifford Jackman (“Jack-man”), the above-captioned plaintiff, has no legal or equitable interest in the property located at 1565 Sag Harbor Bridge-hampton Highway, Sag Harbor, New York (the “Property”). Aiolova and Jackman were, at one time, prepetition business associates who were romantically involved. It would appear that those relationships have been extinguished. In addition, in their reply briefs, the Trustee and JPMor-gan Chase Bank, N.A. (“Chase”), the other co-defendant in the above-captioned adversary proceeding, request that sanctions be imposed against Jackman.

More than a year ago, this Court entered an uncontested order authorizing the sale of the Property. The implementation of that order, however, has been delayed inordinately due to litigation brought by Jackman that has rendered a chill for potential purchasers of the Property. Specifically, Jackman filed a complaint seeking a declaration that he is the rightful owner of the Property and requesting the imposition of a constructive trust over the Property for his benefit. Although Jackman admits that he deeded the Property to Aiolova prepetition for $675,000, he argues that he retains an equitable interest in the Property because Aiolova secretly promised to reconvey the Property back to him. Jackman’s own actions, however, before this Court and other tribunals, have repudiated the central allegations in the complaint. Not only has Jackman twice tried to purchase the Property in which he claims to have an equitable interest, once from Aiolova and once from the Trustee, he has also testified in a state court action that he never requested that the Property be reconveyed to him.

Putting aside Jackman’s inconsistent arguments, drawing all reasonable inferences and resolving all ambiguities in Jackman’s favor, as a court must do i n a motion for summary judgment, the Court still finds that the Trustee is entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law. Jackman had a full and fair opportunity to object to the sale authorization order, but chose not to. As such, res judicata prevents Jack-man from avoiding the effects of that order by now asserting an ownership interest in the Property in the instant proceeding. Further, the Trustee’s status under section 544(a)(3) of the Bankruptcy Code, as a bona fide purchaser of real property for value, defeats any secret interests Jack-man may have in the Property. Accordingly, the Motion for summary judgment is GRANTED, and Jackman’s Amended Complaint is DISMISSED in its entirety with prejudice. In addition, the request of the Trustee and Chase for the imposition of sanctions against Jackman is DENIED without prejudice.

BACKGROUND

The essential facts, largely set forth in the pleadings and filed papers, are as follows.

The Debtor’s Bankruptcy

On February 9, 2011, Aiolova filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 7 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. She asserted a fee simple interest in the Property in her schedules. See Petition (Case No. 11-10503, Dkt. No. 1), Schedule A.

On June 9, 2011, the Debtor moved to convert the case to Chapter 13, which was subsequently denied by the Court. See [127]*127Case No. 11-10503, Dkt. Nos. 25, 35. Jackman objected to the motion to convert and argued that, although there was no formal agreement between himself and the Debtor, there was a mutual understanding that the net sale proceeds of the Property would be shared. See Conversion Objection (Case No. 11-10503, Dkt. No. 31), ¶ 2. He did not allege, however, that the Debt- or had promised to reconvey the Property to him. In fact, in a decision (the “State Court Decision”) from the Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County,1 which Jackman attached as an exhibit to his objection, Jackman testified that “he had never asked [the Debtor] to transfer title to the [PJroperty back to him.” See Conversion Objection, Ex. B, p. 2 (emphasis added). Significantly, around the time of the 2007 Lawsuit, Jackman entered into a contract with a nominee of Aiolova to purchase the Property back from her for $630,000. See Trustee Motion (Adv.Pro. No. 12-02073, Dkt. No. 25), Ex. A; Jackman Aff. (Adv.Pro. No. 12-02073, Dkt. No. 32), ¶ 29. Jackman never tendered the purchase price and the sale was never consummated. See Trustee Motion, ¶ 9; Jackman Aff., ¶ 30.

On June 27, 20 11, Jackman filed a proof of claim (the “Proof of Claim”) against the Debtor, asserting a claim of $434,907.00 on account of mortgage payments and other expenses made in connection with the Property. See Am. Compl.,2 ¶ 41. The Proof of Claim does not allege any legal or equitable interest in the Property.

On November 18, 2011, the Trustee filed a motion to sell the Property free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances. See Sale Motion (Case No. 11-10503, Dkt. No. 51). Chase, as the holder of the first mortgage obligations secured by the Property, objected to the proposed sale. See Chase Objections (Case No. 11-10503, Dkt. Nos. 55, 69). On notice to all creditors and parties in interest, the Court so ordered a stipulation (the “Sale Authorization Order”) consensually resolving the dispute between the Trustee and Chase. See Case No. 11-10503, Dkt. Nos. 79, 84. The Sale Authorization Order, inter alia, authorized the Trustee to sell the Property free and clear of all liens, claims, and encumbrances, other than those of Chase, and determined that the amount due to Chase under the loan and secured by the Mortgage was $724,731.43. Id. at ¶¶ 5-6. The Sale Authorization Order also noted that an offer by Jackman to purchase the Property from the Trustee (the “Jackman Offer”) had been rejected as insufficient. See Sale D Authorization Order, p. 2; see also Jackman Aff., ¶ 26; Trustee Motion, ¶ 9. Jackman did not object to the Sale Motion or the Sale Authorization Order.

One week after this Court entered the Sale Authorization Order, the Trustee moved, by order to show cause, for an order, subsequently granted by this Court, directing Jackman to immediately remove his personal items and vacate the Property. See Case No. 11-10503, Dkt. Nos. 85, [128]*12893. The Trustee argued that the Property did not have a certificate of occupancy and that Jackman’s presence could chill the marketing and sale of the Property. See Case No. 11-DOH RI VA 10503, Dkt. No. 85, at ¶ 7. In an objection, Jackman argued that the Debtor and Jackman had an understanding that they jointly owned the Property, even though title had passed from Jackman to Debtor. See Vacatur of Property Opp. (Case No. 11-10503, Dkt. No.

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Bluebook (online)
496 B.R. 123, 2013 WL 3995270, 2013 Bankr. LEXIS 3107, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/aiolova-v-tese-milner-in-re-aiolova-nysb-2013.