Algonquin Power Income Fund v. Christine Falls of New York, Inc.

466 B.R. 175, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 147846, 2011 WL 6178802
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. New York
DecidedOctober 25, 2011
DocketNo. 6:07-CV-1258
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 466 B.R. 175 (Algonquin Power Income Fund v. Christine Falls of New York, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Algonquin Power Income Fund v. Christine Falls of New York, Inc., 466 B.R. 175, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 147846, 2011 WL 6178802 (N.D.N.Y. 2011).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM-DECISION and ORDER

DAVID N. HURD, District Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION

On March 30, 2010, the Judgment entered on November 6, 2008, was vacated in accordance with the direction of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. See Algonquin Power Income Fund v. Christine Falls of N.Y., Inc., 362 Fed.Appx. 151, 152 (2d Cir.2010) (summary order) (“Algonquin III”), vacating & remanding 396 B.R. 106 (N.D.N.Y.2008) (“Algonquin II”), affirming 377 B.R. 32 (Bankr.N.D.N.Y.2007) (“Algonquin I”). The Court of Appeals found that, rather than applying the doctrine of collateral estoppel regarding claims Algonquin Power Income Fund; Algonquin Power Corporation, Inc.; Algonquin Power U.S. Holdings, Inc.; Algonquin Power Fund (Canada), Inc.; and Algonquin Power Systems, Inc. (collectively “Algonquin”) made against the es-crowed proceeds of an engineering malpractice judgment (“malpractice escrow”) received by debtors in bankruptcy Christine Falls of New York, Inc. and Trafalgar Power, Inc., (collectively “Trafalgar”), the merits of Algonquin’s claim of a security interest in the malpractice judgment proceeds held by Trafalgar should have been considered. Id. at 156. Decision on the merits was reserved.

II. BACKGROUND

Only the facts necessary for consideration of the merits of Algonquin’s security [178]*178interest claim are set forth to provide context for the analysis. Further details as to the facts and procedural history are set forth in the prior decisions, familiarity with which is assumed. See Algonquin III, 362 Fed.Appx. 151; Algonquin II, 396 B.R. 106; Algonquin I, 377 B.R. 32; see also Trafalgar Power, Inc. v. Aetna Life Ins. Co., 396 B.R. 584, 586-87 (N.D.N.Y.2008) (collecting cases), relief from judgment denied 414 B.R. 22 (2009), aff'd in part & vacated in part sub nom, Christine Falls Corp. v. Algonquin Power Fund, Inc., 401 Fed.Appx. 584 (2d Cir.2010) (summary order) (also affirming in part and vacating in part 427 F.Supp.2d 202 (N.D.N.Y.2006)).

In the mid-1980’s Trafalgar developed six hydroelectric power plants in upstate New York. Trafalgar procured interim financing for the development,1 and then in 1988 secured permanent financing in the amount of $22.5 million from Aetna Insurance Company (“Aetna”). Algonquin I, 377 B.R. at 33. The parties executed an indenture agreement and a Consolidation, Extension, Spreader and Modification Agreement (“Consolidation Agreement”) to close the financing deal.

In 1996 the Aetna loan was restructured with the execution of an Extension and Modification Agreement (“Modification Agreement”) and an Amended and Restated Collateral Trust Indenture2 (“Indenture”). Id. The restructured loan was secured by two notes, which Algonquin eventually purchased. Id. at 33 & n. 1.

Meanwhile, in 1989 Trafalgar brought suit against the engineering firm and one of its engineers who designed the power plants, alleging engineering malpractice (“malpractice claim”). Id. at 33-34. In 1999 the engineering malpractice lawsuit culminated in a jury award of $7.6 million in favor of Trafalgar, and an award of interest pursuant to a decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Id. at 34. Trafalgar and the engineering firm stipulated to a judgment amount of $11.1 million, which was paid in January 2001 (“malpractice judgment”). Id.

Trafalgar assigned its interest in the malpractice judgment to one of its affiliates, Pine Run Virginia, Inc. (“Pine Run”). In August 2000, Algonquin brought suit against Trafalgar and Pine Run, inter alia, challenging Trafalgar’s assignment of its interest in the malpractice judgment to Pine Run, based upon its own purported prior security interest in the malpractice claim.3 Id. In February 2001, an order was entered in that case granting Algonquin’s motion for a preliminary injunction precluding Trafalgar from assigning or otherwise disposing of the malpractice judgment proceeds. Id. (citing Trafalgar Power, Inc. v. Aetna Life Ins. Co., 131 F.Supp.2d 341 (N.D.N.Y.2001) (McCurn, J.)).

On August 27, 2001, Trafalgar and its affiliates filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the Eastern District of North [179]*179Carolina. Algonquin II, 396 B.R. at 108. The bankruptcy cases were subsequently transferred to the Northern District of New York. Id. In May 2002, the parties stipulated to, and the district court so ordered, dissolution of the preliminary injunction and then escrow of the malpractice judgment proceeds, hence creation of the malpractice escrow, to be administered as part of the bankruptcy estate. See id. The malpractice escrow was protected from disbursement except upon an order of the Bankruptcy Court. Id.

In December 2006 Trafalgar filed an adversary complaint seeking a declaration that Algonquin does not have a security interest in the malpractice escrow. Id. at 107. The Bankruptcy Court found that Algonquin did not have a security interest in the malpractice escrow and therefore granted Trafalgar’s motion for summary judgment and denied Algonquin’s motion for summary judgment. Id. As noted above, affirmance of the Bankruptcy Court’s determinations solely upon collateral estoppel grounds was deemed error by the Second Circuit, and the matter is now ready for consideration of the merits of Algonquin’s claim of a security interest in the malpractice escrow.

III. STANDARD OF REVIEW

In reviewing a bankruptcy court’s decision, a district court applies the clearly erroneous standard to conclusions of fact and de novo review to conclusions of law. In re Manville Forest Prods. Corp., 209 F.3d 125, 128 (2d Cir.2000); In re Petition of Bd. of Directors of Hopewell Int’l Ins. Ltd., 275 B.R. 699, 703 (Bankr.S.D.N.Y. 2002); Fed. R. Bankr.P. 8013. Conclusions of law made by the Bankruptcy Court are at issue here. Therefore, a de novo review will be undertaken.

IY. DISCUSSION

Algonquin asserts four bases for its contention that the Bankruptcy Court erred in determining that it had no security interest in the malpractice claim and consequently the malpractice escrow. First, it contends that pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, which the parties agree is governed by Connecticut law, Trafalgar assigned its interest in the malpractice claim to Algonquin. Second, according to Algonquin the terms of the Consolidation Agreement, which is governed by New York law according to Trafalgar, conferred upon it an assignment of Trafalgar’s interest in the malpractice claim. Third, appellant contends that even if it did not originally have a security interest in the malpractice claim, when the claim transformed into a judgment, bond claim, contract claim, and interest in an escrow account it obtained a security interest. Finally, Algonquin argues that it was error to find that the revised New York Uniform Commercial Code Article 9 (“revised Article 9”) was not applicable to the security interest at issue, and that even if it did apply Algonquin still did not have a security interest in the malpractice claim or its proceeds.

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466 B.R. 175, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 147846, 2011 WL 6178802, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/algonquin-power-income-fund-v-christine-falls-of-new-york-inc-nynd-2011.