CCDC Financial Corp. v. Craven (In re CCDC Financial Corp.)

135 B.R. 423, 1992 Bankr. LEXIS 52
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, D. Kansas
DecidedJanuary 6, 1992
DocketBankruptcy Nos. 91-22083-11, 91-22084-11; Adv. No. 91-6119
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 135 B.R. 423 (CCDC Financial Corp. v. Craven (In re CCDC Financial Corp.)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, D. Kansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
CCDC Financial Corp. v. Craven (In re CCDC Financial Corp.), 135 B.R. 423, 1992 Bankr. LEXIS 52 (Kan. 1992).

Opinion

[424]*424MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

BENJAMIN E. FRANKLIN, Chief Judge.

This matter comes on before the Court pursuant to the November 8, 1991 hearing on CCDC Financial Corporation’s (hereinafter “CCDC”) request for preliminary injunction. The debtor appeared by and through its attorneys, John P. Bennett and Thomas Steele. Clifford R. Roth, president of CCDC, also appeared. Donald C. Craven and Timothy B. Matz appeared by and through their attorneys, Joseph M. Chiarel-li and Peter R. Kolker. Kuno Laren, Mary Laren, Kumala Inc., and U.S. Securities Corporation appeared by and through their attorney, Jean C. Hemphill.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Based upon the pleadings, the record, arguments of counsel and testimony of witnesses, this Court finds as follows:

1. That on October 7, 1991, CCDC filed for relief under Chapter 11 of Title 11, United States Code.

2. That CCDC’s parent corporation, American Consolidated Financial Corporation (hereinafter “AmCo”), also filed its Chapter 11 petition on October 7, 1991. Both proceedings were administratively consolidated.

3. That Clifford R. Roth (hereinafter “Roth”), is the sole officer and employee of CCDC and the sole director of AmCo.

4. That on October 18,1991, CCDC filed its Complaint Seeking to Enjoin Continuation of Actions Extending Automatic Stay and Preliminary Injunction.

5. That on October 21, 1991, the Court entered its Order Granting Temporary Restraining Order and Setting Time for Hearing on Preliminary Injunction, as to Continuation of Action and Extension of Automatic Stay to include Roth who is not a debtor in this case.

6. CCDC, AmCo, Roth, Donald C. Craven (hereinafter “Craven”), and Timothy B. Matz (hereinafter “Matz”), are all parties to an action pending in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, styled CCDC Financial Corporation v. Donald B. Craven, et al., Civil Action Number 91-1069-LFO (hereinafter “D.C. action”).

7. Kuno Laren, Mary Laren, Kumala Inc., and U.S. Securities Corporation (hereinafter collectively referred to as “Laren”), along with Roth, CCDC, and AmCo are parties to an action pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, styled Kuno Laren v. Micron Products, Inc., et al., Civil Action Number 91-4186 (hereinafter “Micron action”).

8. That a hearing was held on November 8, 1991, at which time the parties agreed to continue the temporary restraining order for sixty days, with regard to the Micron action. The debtor has also agreed to give an accounting firm access to its records. With regard to the D.C. action, the Court took the matter under advisement pending the filing of supplemental briefs and proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law by the parties. Said briefs and findings of fact and conclusions of law have now been filed.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

Plaintiff is seeking to enjoin the defendants from proceeding with or attempting to obtain a judgment or decree with regard to certain legal actions, in particular the D.C. action, or from otherwise enforcing or attempting to enforce any personal obligation asserted against plaintiffs president, Roth. In other words, plaintiff is asking this Court to invoke its equitable power to extend the protection of the automatic stay provided in 11 U.S.C. § 362 to Roth, a non-debtor.

The Court may rely upon its equitable power under 11 U.S.C. § 105(a) to subject actions and conduct excepted from the automatic stay to specific injunctive relief. See In re Western Real Estate Fund, Inc., 922 F.2d 592, 599 (10th Cir.1990), modified sub nom. Abel v. West, 932 F.2d 898(10th Cir.1991). “Section 105(a) has been widely utilized in attempts to enjoin court proceedings against nondebtor [425]*425parties that allegedly will have an impact on the debtor’s bankruptcy case,” and such attempts require “case by case decisions as to whether any particular action excepted from the automatic stay will result in sufficient harm or interference with the bankruptcy case to warrant the issuance of a specific injunction.” Id., citing 2 Collier on Bankruptcy par. 105-7 to -9. This Court finds that the facts and circumstances in the present case, as set forth below, do not warrant an extension of the automatic stay to protect Roth, and the actions that plaintiff seeks to enjoin would not result in sufficient harm or interference with the bankruptcy case to warrant the issuance of a specific injunction.

Because the debtor is seeking an injunction, this Court is governed by the general principles applicable to injunctions. In re TRS, Inc., 76 B.R. 805, 808 (Bankr.D.Kan.1987). In order to show entitlement to injunctive relief, the moving party must establish four prerequisites: (1) A substantial likelihood that the movant will eventually prevail on the merits; (2) A showing that the movant will suffer irreparable injury unless the injunction issues; (3) Proof that the threatened injury to the movant outweighs whatever damage the proposed injunction may cause the opposing party; and (4) A showing that the injunction, if issued, would not be adverse to the public interest. Id. (citations omitted). “The movant’s burden of proof is a heavy one and must be supported by substantial evidence, the quantum of which will necessarily vary depending on the scope and duration of the stay sought.” Id. (citations omitted).

The probability of success on the merits requirement has been interpreted in the bankruptcy context as the possibility of successfully effectuating a plan of reorganization. Id. (citations omitted). In the present case, there was evidence that the debtor was making progress toward formulation of a plan of reorganization. Roth testified that he believed CCDC could successfully reorganize.

With regard to the second element, the Court finds that CCDC has failed to meet its heavy burden of proving that it will suffer irreparable injury unless the injunction issues. CCDC, AmCo and Roth all brought an action in the nature of a Complaint for Interpleader and for Declaratory, Injunctive and Other Relief, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia (previously referred to as the “D.C. action”). Although the complex issues involved in the D.C. action are not presently before this Court, the Court finds it necessary to summarize the facts underlying the D.C. action in order to assess the nature of the relief plaintiff is seeking in the present action.

CCDC, AmCo and Roth were all plaintiffs in the D.C. action. The complaint named Craven, Matz and John Doe Corporations 1-10 as defendants. The complaint alleges that “John Doe Corporations 1-10 are those financial institutions or other creditors of the Limited Partnerships who have or may have an interest in, or claim to, the funds that, as described hereinafter, have been bailed to Plaintiff CCDC by Defendants Craven and Matz.” A summary of these facts are set forth in the September 26, 1991 Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law filed by the Honorable Louis F. Oberdorfer, United States District Judge.

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135 B.R. 423, 1992 Bankr. LEXIS 52, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ccdc-financial-corp-v-craven-in-re-ccdc-financial-corp-ksb-1992.