Brandywine Townhouses, Inc. v. Federal National Mortgage Ass'n (In re Brandywine Townhouses, Inc.)

518 B.R. 671, 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 3733
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Georgia
DecidedAugust 19, 2014
DocketNo. 13-75582-BEM
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 518 B.R. 671 (Brandywine Townhouses, Inc. v. Federal National Mortgage Ass'n (In re Brandywine Townhouses, 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
Brandywine Townhouses, Inc. v. Federal National Mortgage Ass'n (In re Brandywine Townhouses, Inc.), 518 B.R. 671, 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 3733 (Ga. 2014).

Opinion

ORDER

BARBARA ELLIS-MONRO, Bankruptcy Judge.

This Chapter 11 case came before the Court for a hearing on April 30, 2014, (the “Hearing”) on Debtor’s Objection to Proof of Claim Filed by Fannie Mae [Proof of Claim No. 2] (the “Objection”), [Doc. No. 49], and Fannie Mae’s Response to Debt- or’s Objection to Proof of Claim (the “Response”). [Doc. No. 65]. In the Objection, Debtor seeks to disallow Fannie Mae’s claim based on allegations that: (i) there was no default under the agreements governing the parties’ relationship; (ii) Fannie Mae did not allow the Debtor to cure a default, if there was one; (iii) the prepayment penalty included in Fannie Mae’s claim is unreasonable and was calculated incorrectly; (iv) default interest was calculated incorrectly; (v) late charges are incorrect; (vi) the attorney’s fees are not reasonable; and (vii) there is no proof that Fannie Mae is oversecured. [Doc. No. 73].1 Fannie Mae responded and argues [673]*673that the amounts set forth in its claim are correct and were calculated as provided in the agreements governing Debtor’s obligations. Fannie Mae asserts further that its claim is fully secured. [Doc. No. 65].

After careful consideration of the pleadings of record, the evidence presented, applicable authorities and the argument of counsel, the Court now enters the following findings of fact and conclusions of law pursuant to Fed. R. Bankr.P. 7052 as applied in contested matters by Fed. R. Bankr.P. 9014.

1. Findings of Fact

Debtor is a Georgia non-profit company which owns a low and moderate-income housing cooperative consisting of 238 apartments located at 85 Mt. Zion Rd., SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30054 (the “Property”). Debtor has been in operation for over forty years.

On or about August 10, 2007, Debtor obtained a loan in the original principal amount of $4,366,587.00 (the “Loan”), from Arbor Commercial Funding, LLC (“Arbor”). The Loan is evidenced by two Multifamily Notes dated August 10, 2007, in the amount of $3,850,000.00 and $516,587.00, respectively, executed by the Debtor, and payable to Arbor (the “Notes”).2 To secure repayment of the Notes, Debtor, as grantor, executed a Multifamily Deed to Secured Debt, and an Assignment of Rents and Security Agreement dated August 10, 2007, conveying title to the Property to Arbor, as grantee, (the “Security Deed” and with the Notes, the “Loan Documents”). The Security Deed was recorded on August 14, 2007, in Deed Book 45537, Page 362, Fulton County, Georgia Records, and re-recorded on September 12, 2007 in Deed Book 45680, page 115, Fulton County, Georgia Records. Arbor also assigned the Security Deed and Notes to Fannie Mae on August 10, 2007. [R. Ex. B].3 Arbor continued to service the Loan after assignment. Debtor was current on its payments under the Notes until September 2013.

On or about December 2010, Debtor became aware that its management company was not paying certain utility bills and that, as a result, Debtor owed a significant amount for delinquent water and sewer bills. In January 2011, Debtor hired a new management company, Alton Management (“Alton”) and Debtor began making payments to reduce the balance owed on account of delinquent water and sewer bills.

In June 2013, Debtor met with the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management (“Watershed”) in an effort to negotiate a payment plan for Debtor’s past due water and sewer obligations. From that meeting, Debtor understood that it would have to make an initial payment of approximately $42,000 and the remaining balance due would be payable over a thirty-six (36) month period. In an effort to pursue this arrangement, Debtor requested that Arbor allow Debtor to draw $42,000 from certain funds held in reserve under the Loan Documents to make the initial payment to Watershed. Arbor advised that it would have to present the proposal to upper management. Debtor believed that once the $42,000 payment was made, Watershed would enter into a written agreement regarding payment of [674]*674the past due amounts with Debtor. This arrangement was never consummated.

On August 8, 2013, Watershed issued a Final Disconnection Notice (the “Notice”) to Debtor. [D. Ex 6; R. Ex 6]. The Notice provides that Debtor’s water and sewer service would be disconnected on August 15, 2013, unless a portion of the total amount owed was paid. The partial payment was in the amount of $438,509.29. The Notice provides further that full payment of $480,772.45 was due by August 25, 2013. Debtor was unable to make a payment by August 15, 2013.

On August 16, Arbor advanced $42,-263.126 to Watershed. This advance was made to “prevent disconnection of service.” [R. Ex. F]. Following the advance, on August 26, 2013 Fannie Mae sent Debtor a Notice of Default, Demand and Acceleration (the “Demand Letter”). The Demand Letter informed Debtor that it was in default of its obligations under the Loan Documents because of Debtor’s “failure to pay when due operating expenses of the Property” and because the past due balance owed to Watershed could constitute a lien against the Property. The Demand Letter also accelerated the debt and demanded payment in full of the same. [R. Ex. F; D. Ex. 7],

On or about September 9, 2013, Fannie Mae filed an ex parte complaint in the State Court of Fulton County seeking appointment of a receiver for the Property. [D. Ex. 8]. The State Court of Fulton County entered an Order on September 19, 2013, appointing a receiver. [D. Ex. 9]. On October 10, 2013, the receiver cured the outstanding water bill, making a payment of $423,408.93 to Watershed. Shortly thereafter, on November 25, 2013, (the “Petition Date”) Debtor filed this case. [Doc. No. 1].

A. The Claim

Fannie Mae filed a proof of claim, claim 2 on the claims register in the amount of $5,012,392.86. (the “Claim”). The Claim was filed as secured. A detailed itemization of the Claim amount was attached to the proof of claim filed and is as follows:

ITEM_Amount
Unpaid Principal Balance_$3,556,917.89
Accrued Interesi&wkey;At 6.65% from 8/13/2013 to 11/25/2013_$74,902,76
Default Interest — At 4% from 8/13/2013 to 11/25/2013_$33,197.90
Late charges — For 09/13/2013,10/13/2013, and 11/13/2013_$3,707.34
Prepayment Penalty — Per Paragraph 10 and Schedule A of the Note_$1,263,012.05
Appraisal Cost_$4,500
Physical needs assessment/Cost_$2,750
Environmental Site Assessment/Cost_$2,750
Broker Opinion of Value/Cost_$500
City of Atlanta Watershed — Partial payment of outstanding bill, paid $42,263.16 08/19/2013_
Advance to Receiver to pay Water Bill — Balance of outstanding bill paid by $423,408.93 Receiver on 10/11/2013_
Attorneys Fees_$19,765.00
Attorney/Legal Costs_$2,766.14
Suspense Balance_$-43,555.39

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
518 B.R. 671, 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 3733, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/brandywine-townhouses-inc-v-federal-national-mortgage-assn-in-re-ganb-2014.