Chattanooga Federal Savings & Loan Ass'n v. Northwest Recreational Activities, Inc. (In Re Northwest Recreational Activities, Inc.)

4 B.R. 36
United States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Georgia·Decided July 10, 1980·No. 19-40196·Published·Cited by 70 cases

Opinion

CONTENTIONS OF THE PARTIES

WILLIAM L. NORTON, Jr., Bankruptcy Judge.

This case is before the court on a motion of two secured creditors to dismiss the Chapter 11 case filed by Northwest Recreational Activities, Inc. (“Northwest”) d/b/a. The Chattahoochee Plantation Club, (“Club”) and/or Robmac, Inc., or, alternatively, to lift the stay against lien enforcement as to the Club property located in Cobb County, Georgia.

Plaintiffs argue first that the transfer of the Club property from Messrs. William C. Ellis and Robert J. Butt to debtor Northwest was a fraudulent conveyance under the law of Georgia, and as such, debtor Northwest acquired no title to the property, *37 and the property, therefore, is not an asset of the estate of Northwest.

Plaintiffs argue second that debtor Northwest’s Chapter 11 petition was not filed in good faith since the transfer of the Club property to the corporation, and its filing for Chapter 11 relief under the Bankruptcy Code on the same day as its corporate organization show an attempt to improperly invoke this court’s jurisdiction and to abuse the purpose of the reorganization provisions of the Bankruptcy Code.

Finally, plaintiffs argue that debtor ROBMAC, Inc. has no legal cognizable right or interest in the Club property which would subject the property to the automatic stay under Chapter 11.

Debtor-defendant contends that the transfer of the Club property from Ellis and Butt to the corporation was not a fraudulent conveyance, that lack of “good faith” is not a ground for dismissal in a Chapter 11 case that there is no “cause” for dismissal under § 1112, and that because ROBMAC, Inc. is a separate entity with a legally cognizable leasehold interest in the subject property, plaintiff’s request to dismiss is without merit.

FINDING OF FACT

Northwest Recreational Activities, Inc., a Georgia corporation filed its petition seeking relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code on October 1, 1979. It is presently record owner of real property known as Chattahoochee Plantation Club, a recreational and club facility located in northwest Atlanta, Cobb County, Georgia. ROBMAC, Inc., another Georgia corporation which also filed a petition for relief under Chapter 11 on October 1,1979, operates the Club under an agreement with Northwest Recreational Activities, Inc.

The Chattahoochee Plantation Club originated in 1972 when L. M. Adamson (“Ad-amson”) and R. Arnold Baker (“Baker”) obtained a loan in the amount of $1,250,-000.00 from the plaintiff, Chattanooga Federal Savings and Loan Association (“Chattanooga Federal”), the proceeds from which loan were used to purchase and improve the real property on which the Club is now located.

The Club itself is located on a tract consisting of approximately thirty acres, on which is situated a clubhouse, seventeen tennis courts; a pro shop; three swimming pools and snack bar; playground areas; and horseback riding facilities.

On November 2, 1973, Baker, a plaintiff also in this proceeding, sold his interest in the Club’s property to Adamson subject to the Chattanooga Federal loan, taking a $400,000.00 note and a security deed to the real property.

In April 1977, Robert J. Butt (“Butt”) and Thomas R. McDonald (“McDonald”) purchased the Club from Adamson, subject to the debts due to Chattanooga Federal and Baker, taking a security deed and note. Butt and McDonald also obtained a loan from the Citizens and Southern National Bank (“C&S”) and gave to it a note and security deed to the property.

At or about this same time, Butt and McDonald incorporated ROBMAC, Inc. (“ROBMAC”), a Georgia corporation, the purpose for which company was to perform as the operating entity of the Club. On April 14,1977, Butt and McDonald, as partners, entered into a written lease agreement with ROBMAC whereby they leased to ROBMAC the Club premises, as well as all the personal property located thereon and Used in the Club’s operations.

In the spring of 1979 defendant Ellis approached McDonald through a broker regarding purchase of McDonald’s two-thirds interest in the property and in ROBMAC. Negotiations which took place during the summer resulted in the execution by Ellis of a letter of intent on August 20, 1979, following which McDonald turned over the day-to-day operation of the Club to Ellis, although the sale was not consummated until September 12, 1979.

During this time, ROBMAC, which according to McDonald has had poor financial record ever since its creation, took a turn for the worse. Although the opening of another nearby tennis resort and the general poor state of the economy may have contributed to the financial difficulties of ROBMAC, the discontinuation by C&S Bank in July, 1979 of a charge card arrangement whereby 80% of Club members *38 charged their dues was a serious financial blow. Debtor’s cash flow was immediately reduced.

Ellis testified that on August 25,1979, he met with an Atlanta attorney, Donald E. O’Brien (“O’Brien”), to discuss his desire to purchase McDonald’s two-thirds interest in the Club. At this initial meeting, Ellis testified that he instructed O’Brien to set up a corporation to which McDonald and Butt would convey the real estate. Ellis claimed that it always had been his practice to undertake his business endeavors through corporate entities.

The last payment made to Chattanooga Federal had been made in June 1979. On August 24, 1979, Chattanooga Federal sent registered letters to Baker, Adamson, McDonald and Butt demanding that its loan be brought current. On September 7, 1979, it began running a foreclosure ad in Cobb County, Georgia, the location of the property-

McDonald having agreed to the sale of his interest in the Club to Ellis, the sale was closed on September 12, 1979. O’Brien contends he was making preparations for the incorporation of the new company, and since the incorporation had not been completed, McDonald’s interests were conveyed directly to Ellis. As a result, Ellis became the owner of a two-thirds interest in the real property, as a partner with Butt, as well as the owner of two-thirds of the stock of ROBMAC, with Butt owning the remaining one-third.

On Thursday, September 27, 1979, attorney O’Brien reserved the name “Northwest Recreational Activities, Inc.” On Saturday, September 29, Ellis met with O’Brien and attorneys from Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers to discuss the unwillingness of Chattanooga Federal to continue negotiating with Ellis and Butt. The following Monday, October 1,1979, Northwest Recreational Activities, Inc. was chartered as a Georgia corporation at 11:56 a. m. Butt and Ellis transferred to it their respective interests in the Club property on the same day. At 4:08 that afternoon, it filed a petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the new Bankruptcy Code, which Code went into effect that same day. The foreclosure sale of the property which had been advertised in September was to occur the following day, October 2, 1979.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

1. Good Faith As An Issue Under the Bankruptcy Code

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Chattanooga Federal Savings & Loan Ass'n v. Northwest Recreational Activities, Inc. (In Re Northwest Recreational Activities, Inc.), 4 B.R. 36 (Ga. 1980).

4 B.R. 36 (Chattanooga Federal Savings & Loan Ass'n v. Northwest Recreational Activities, Inc. (In Re Northwest Recreational Activities, Inc.)) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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