Ameriflex Eng'g LLC v. Zoller (In re Ameriflex Eng'g LLC)

587 B.R. 108
United States Bankruptcy Court, D. Oregon·Decided March 12, 2018·No. Bankruptcy Case No. 17–60837–tmr11; Adversary Proceeding No. 17–6024–tmr·Published·Cited by 2 cases

Opinion

THOMAS M. RENN, Bankruptcy Judge

Ameriflex Engineering LLC (Ameriflex) filed the instant adversary complaint seeking to subordinate the unsecured claim of creditor Michael Zoller to all other claims and interests pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 510(b).1 The parties have each filed motions for summary judgment on the ultimate issue of application of the statute. They have supported their motions with concise statements of material facts, declarations establishing material facts, and briefs in support of their positions. Following oral argument on the motions, the parties were given time to file supplemental memoranda addressing three new issues that arose during oral argument. Based on its review of the filed materials and its own legal research, the Court has determined that entry of summary judgment is appropriate. For the reasons outlined below, Ameriflex's motion for summary judgment is partially granted, and Mr. Zoller's claim is subordinated below the other non-priority, unsecured claims, but will remain senior in priority to the interest holders.

Facts

The material facts are not disputed, as reflected in the consistency of the parties' statements and supporting documents. Ameriflex was formed as an Oregon limited liability company (LLC) in March 2008. It originally had four members: RiverHawk *111Boats, Inc. (RiverHawk), which was owned by Mr. Zoller2 ; Pacific Diamond & Precious Metals, Inc. (PDPM); Cajon, Inc. (Cajon); and AERS, Inc. (AERS). On the date of formation, each member acquired a one-fourth interest in Ameriflex. In December 2008, AERS released its interest in Ameriflex and the interests of each of the three remaining members increased to one-third. Between March 2009 and January 2011, the three members amended the operating agreement several times, settling on the agreement dated January 15, 2011, and signed on January 17, 2011, (Operating Agreement).

On March 31, 2014, PDPM and Cajon voted to expel RiverHawk and Mr. Zoller from Ameriflex. After Mr. Zoller invoked the buy-back process established in the Operating Agreement for purchasing a dissociated member's interest, Ameriflex notified Mr. Zoller in May 2014 that it wished to purchase his interest. When the parties could not agree on a purchase price, Mr. Zoller initiated arbitration, as required by the Operating Agreement for resolution of disputes arising out of or in connection with the agreement. On February 15, 2017, a three-member arbitration panel entered an award (Award), valuing Mr. Zoller's one-third interest in Ameriflex at $1,500,000. The Award concluded the arbitration and directed the parties to the relevant provisions of the Operating Agreement to effectuate Ameriflex's purchase of Mr. Zoller's interest for the amount stated. On February 28, 2017, he petitioned Jackson County Circuit Court to confirm the Award as a judgment of the court.3 He amended the petition on March 2, 2017.4 On March 22, 2017, before the circuit court could confirm the Award as a judgment, Ameriflex filed its bankruptcy petition. Shortly thereafter, it filed this adversary proceeding.

Issues

The threshold issue is whether Mr. Zoller's claim, based on an unconfirmed arbitration award, constitutes a claim for damages arising from the purchase or sale of a security of the debtor for purposes of subordination under § 510(b). If it does, to what priority level does the "senior to or equal" language of § 510(b) require for subordination of Mr. Zoller's claim?

Discussion

FRCP 56(a) Standards

The parties' motions are brought under Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a) (made applicable by FRBP 7056 ) on the assertion that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and each are entitled to judgment as a matter of law. The substantive law governing a claim or defense determines *112whether a fact is material. T.W. Elec. Service, Inc. v. Pacific Elec. Contractors Ass'n , 809 F.2d 626, 630 (9th Cir. 1987). Material facts are such facts as may affect the outcome of the case. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc. , 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 2510, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). Inferences must be drawn in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. T.W. Elec. Service, Inc. , 809 F.2d at 631.

Status of the Claim

Because Mr. Zoller bases his proof of claim (Claim # 8-1; filed 5/11/17) on the Award, the Court must determine the status of the Award before analyzing the applicability of § 510(b). Oregon law provides that, after a party files a petition to the circuit court for an order confirming an arbitration award, the court shall issue a confirming order unless, within 20 days, the other party requests that the arbitrator modify or correct the award or requests that the court vacate, modify, or correct the award. ORS § 36.700(1). Mr. Zoller filed his Amended Petition with the circuit court on March 2, 2017. Under Oregon law, Ameriflex had until March 27, 2017,5 in which to request that the arbitrator modify or correct the award or, alternatively, petition the court to vacate, modify, or correct the award. All action involving the matter was complete except for the passage of the 20 days. When Ameriflex filed its bankruptcy petition on March 22, 2017, it invoked Title 11 and, by operation of § 108(b), acquired 60 days from that date in which to seek to modify or vacate the Award under Oregon law. It did not do so within the time allotted.

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Ameriflex Eng'g LLC v. Zoller (In re Ameriflex Eng'g LLC), 587 B.R. 108 (Or. 2018).

587 B.R. 108 (Ameriflex Eng'g LLC v. Zoller (In re Ameriflex Eng'g LLC)) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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