Barnes Freight Line, Inc. v. Chase Commercial Corp. (In Re Barnes Freight Line, Inc.)

29 B.R. 664, 36 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 953, 1983 Bankr. LEXIS 6283
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Georgia
DecidedMay 4, 1983
Docket19-51602
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 29 B.R. 664 (Barnes Freight Line, Inc. v. Chase Commercial Corp. (In Re Barnes Freight Line, Inc.)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Barnes Freight Line, Inc. v. Chase Commercial Corp. (In Re Barnes Freight Line, Inc.), 29 B.R. 664, 36 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 953, 1983 Bankr. LEXIS 6283 (Ga. 1983).

Opinion

ORDER

W. HOMER DRAKE, Bankruptcy Judge.

On August 13, 1982, the above-styled Chapter 11 proceeding was filed. On August 20,1982, the debtor filed its Complaint for Turnover of Property seeking the proceeds from the auction of certain of the debtor’s equipment which was then being held by Sproull Dempsey & Sons Auction Company (“Sproull Dempsey”). On September 21, 1982, Sproull Dempsey filed its answer and counterclaim for interpleader and motion to dismiss itself as a defendant in the interpleader action. The Court ordered that Sproull Dempsey pay into the Registry of the Court $196,226.30, said amount representing the proceeds of the auction which Sproull Dempsey had conducted and on October 25, 1982, the Court dismissed Sproull Dempsey from the inter-pleader action. On November 4, 1982, Barnes Freight Line, Inc. (“Barnes”) filed its motion to add parties defendants and on November 15, 1982, Barnes amended its complaint to reflect the addition of Chase Commercial Corporation (“Chase”), Central Terminal and Transfer Co., Inc., and The United States of America (“IRS”) as party defendants. These party-defendants were added on November 15, 1982. This case is presently before the Court on Barnes’ motion for summary judgment and the IRS’ and Chase’s cross-motions for summary judgment.

The facts giving rise to the motions for summary judgment which have been filed are as follows: At the time of the filing of the debtor’s petition, Sproull Dempsey held approximately $193,393.19 in proceeds generated from the sale of certain of the debt- or’s equipment. Chase alleges that it has a perfected security interest in this fund in the amount of $46,467.29. On July 28,1982, the day Sproull Dempsey conducted its auction, the IRS served a notice of levy upon Sproull Dempsey, which levy stated that Barnes was indebted to the IRS in the amount of $477,840.19. The IRS filed its Notice of Tax Lien on July 29, 1982. The debtor is seeking the turnover of the auction fund. The debtor contests the IRS’ claim, while it concedes that Chase has a valid secured claim to a portion of the auction funds. Central has not participated in this case, apparently in recognition of the fact that its judgment lien is a voidable preference.

JURISDICTION

The IRS has asserted in its motion for summary judgment that this Court lacks jurisdiction over this case because the *667 property that is the subject of this action is not property of the bankruptcy estate; The IRS bases this argument on the case of Phelps v. United States, 421 U.S. 330, 95 S.Ct. 1728, 44 L.Ed.2d 201 (1975). The is-, sues raised by the IRS concerning the jurisdiction of this Court have been addressed in great detail in the case of United States v. Whiting Pools, Inc., 674 F.2d 144 (2d Cir.1982). Whiting Pools clearly sets forth the fact that, even where property is seized by the IRS prior to the filing of a petition in bankruptcy, until that property is sold and the debtor’s corresponding right of redemption under 26 U.S.C. § 6337 is extinguished, the debtor retains an interest in the subject property. Whiting Pools also limited the holding in Phelps, supra, by noting that Phelps was a case under the Bankruptcy Act and that it dealt with the distinction between summary and plenary jurisdiction which is not relevant under the current Bankruptcy Code as adopted in 1978. United States v. Whiting Pools, Inc., 674 F.2d at 156. Therefore, pursuant to the holding in United States v. Whiting Pools, Inc., supra, the IRS’ claim that this Court does not have jurisdiction to hear this case or to order turnover is rejected.

TURNOVER

Having determined that the auction fund presently in the Registry of the Court is subject to turnover, the Court will concern itself with the question of whether turnover may be ordered in the instant case. 11 U.S.C. § 542 allows turnover of property which a debtor in possession may use, sell, or lease under § 363 of the Bankruptcy Code. This Court, as did the Court in Whiting Pools, supra, will order turnover only if adequate protection can be provided to an interested party adversely affected by an order of turnover. See In re International Horizons, Inc., et al., 15 B.R. 798, 5 C.B.C.2d 849 (Bkrtcy.N.D.Ga.1981); Reversed on other grounds, 7 C.B.C.2d 109 (N.D.Ga.1982); 11 U.S.C. § 363(e). The debtor in this case has given no indication of what, if any, adequate protection can be offered the IRS and Chase for their interests in the auction fund. While it is not unusual to allow a debtor to use cash proceeds, the use of cash must be conditioned on adequate protection for its use. In the instant case, where the debtor is undergoing a liquidation through a Chapter 11 proceeding, the Court does not see any reason to require turnover of the auction fund to the debtor.

The debtor has argued that failure to require turnover of the auction fund would frustrate the provisions of 11 U.S.C. § 507, which section establishes priority for payment in bankruptcy proceedings. This contention would have merit in the event that the IRS were an unsecured creditor. However, when the IRS has levied against the property, even though the IRS does not have actual physical possession of said property, the IRS obtains a status similar to that of a secured creditor that has repossessed property. Phelps v. United States, 421 U.S. at 337, 95 S.Ct. at 1732; United States v. Whiting Pools, Inc., supra. Accordingly, the Court finds that the Internal Revenue Service has a valid lien in the auction fund and therefore that § 507 of the Bankruptcy Code is not at issue in the instant case.

PRIORITY

The next issue the Court must address is the relative priority of interest between the IRS and Chase. The IRS has asserted in its Brief in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment that Chase’s description in its financing statement is inadequate to provide Chase with a perfected security interest in the auction fund. The IRS bases this contention on the fact that the description contained in Chase’s financing statement does not include equipment, and that this requires the conclusion that Chase’s security interest cannot include the proceeds from the sale of equipment.

Chase’s security agreement reads in relevant part as follows:

“Debtor hereby grants to Secured Party a security interest in all Accounts, whether now existing or hereafter arising, including, without limitation, Pledged Accounts, all guarantees, securities and liens for payment of any Account, all *668

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Bluebook (online)
29 B.R. 664, 36 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 953, 1983 Bankr. LEXIS 6283, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/barnes-freight-line-inc-v-chase-commercial-corp-in-re-barnes-freight-ganb-1983.