Chemold Systems, Inc. v. Powers (In re Chemold Systems, Inc.)

124 B.R. 573, 1991 Bankr. LEXIS 286
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, D. Kansas
DecidedFebruary 25, 1991
DocketBankruptcy No. 88-20170-11; Adv. No. 88-0031
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 124 B.R. 573 (Chemold Systems, Inc. v. Powers (In re Chemold Systems, Inc.)) 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
Chemold Systems, Inc. v. Powers (In re Chemold Systems, Inc.), 124 B.R. 573, 1991 Bankr. LEXIS 286 (Kan. 1991).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

BENJAMIN E. FRANKLIN, Chief Judge.

This matter comes on before the Court pursuant to the July 25 & 26, and November 30, 1989 hearing on Plaintiff/Debtor Chemold Systems, Inc.’s Complaint to Avoid Pre-petition Transfer. The plaintiff/debtor, Chemold Systems, Inc. (hereinafter “Chemold”) appeared by and through its attorney, David H. Neighbor. The code-fendant, Edward Powers, Jr. (hereinafter “Powers”) appeared pro se. The codefend-ant, Collonade Corporation (hereinafter “Collonade”) appeared by and through its attorney, George E. Mallon.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Based upon the testimony at the hearing, the pleadings, exhibits and the record, this Court finds as follows:

1. That Ray Holden (hereinafter “Holden”) has been the president of Chemold Systems, Inc. since August, 1985.

2. Holden testified that in and around October, 1987, the defendant Powers met with him and Bill Duckworth of Chemold Systems, Inc. for the purpose of restructuring the corporation.

3. Holden also testified that Powers told them that he had expertise in restructuring corporations.

[575]*5754. That it is the contention of the defendants that Powers told Duckworth and Holden that he offered business consultation through the Collonade Corporation; but that although he was an attorney, he would not give legal advice.

5. Mr. Duckworth and Mr. Holden testified that although they asked him what his fees would be for assisting them, Mr. Powers would always reply by stating that he was “pondering” his compensation. Further, it is the plaintiffs contention that neither Powers nor Collonade provided them with an itemized statement for services rendered on behalf of Chemold.

6. Mr. Powers testified that he did inform Mr. Holden and Mr. Duckworth of his fee preference of a one-third stock interest in Chemold and if that was not possible he would accept a contingent fee of $100.00 per hour.

7. That it is further contended by the defendants that Collonade immediately commenced rendering consultation services to Chemold at an average of 20 hours per week during the months of October, November and December, 1987, and that the reasonable value of services was $20,000.

8. That sometime in November, 1987, Skip Crumpecker, an attorney for plaintiff/debtor Chemold settled a lawsuit wherein a check for $20,000 was received.

9. That the parties agreed that due to the outstanding tax liens against Chemold this $20,000 check could not be deposited into either Chemold’s account or their law firm’s (Swanson, Midgley, Gangware, Clark & Kitchen) account at that time. Powers suggested he would take the $20,000 check to an accountant who would then deposit the monies into a trust account to be held in escrow to satisfy the IRS levy against Chemold at some later date.

10. That instead of giving the monies to the accountant, Powers opened two new accounts in the name of Collonade and deposited the check into those accounts.

11. Holden testified that Powers never advised them of the existence of Collonade and his relationship with it until the plaintiff discovered that the $20,000 check had been placed in the Collonade account.

12. That on December 1, 1987, subsequent to depositing the checks, Powers proceeded to pay certain expenses for Che-mold out of the Collonade account without Chemold’s authorization. They are as follows:

(a) $2,656.30 for the services of Mr. Crumpecker.
(b) $5,000 to Williams & Hughey, the accountants that had been hired by Collonade.
(c) The defendant Powers testified that upon learning that the payment of his services in the form of stock could not be made and that he would have to be paid in fees, Collonade paid itself and Powers (its officer and employee) the sum of $12,343.70 for services rendered through December, 1987.

13. That Mr. Powers used Collonade’s funds to purchase the Chemold equity of redemption rights of Mr. Duckworth for $2,000 in December, 1987.

14. That Mr. Powers also purchased Chemold’s lease of the premises, which plaintiff contends was revised to reflect the amount of actual space occupied by Che-mold (another tenant now leased part of the space once occupied by Chemold).

15. Plaintiff further contends that the terms of the previous lease remained the same under this new lease except for the square footage of Chemold’s premises.

16. Defendants contend that after the sale of the equity of redemption rights to the defendants, Chemold continued to occupy the leased premises until February 11, 1987 [sic] when Chemold filed bankruptcy. (The Court notes that Chemold actually filed bankruptcy on February 8,1988.) After that time and through May, 1988, Che-mold remained on the premises as a debtor in possession.

17. Defendants contend that Chemold did not pay Collonade any rent but that rent had been paid, at a later date, to Brotherhood State Bank.

[576]*57618. Plaintiff contends that no rents were paid to Collonade because plaintiff felt it would be ridiculous for Chemold to pay rent, since Collonade was holding a $20,000 advance.

19. Both parties stipulate that in regard to the rents, neither Chemold nor Holden made payments to the Brotherhood Bank prior to or during the redemption period (November 24, 1987 to May 24, 1988).

20. That on February 8, 1988, the plaintiff/debtor Chemold Systems, Inc. sought relief under Chapter 11 of Title 11, United States Code.

21. That on April 18, 1988, the debtor in possession filed its Complaint to Avoid Pre-Petition Transfer.

22. That Chemold continued in possession of the premises until May 1, 1989.

23. That defendant Collonade claims there is due and owing $36,000 in back rent on the space that the debtor in possession occupied.

24. That on July 25 & 26, and November 30, 1989 a hearing was held on Plaintiffs Complaint to Avoid Pre-Petition Transfer, and the Court took the matter under advisement.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

A trustee may avoid certain transactions in which the debtor may have transferred some of its interest in property prior to the filing of its petition. Under sect. 1107(a) this avoidance power of the trustee is also applicable to a debtor in possession under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code.

Section 547(b) provides in part:

(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, the trustee may avoid any transfer of an interest of the debtor in property—
(1) to or for the benefit of a creditor;
(2) for or on account of an antecedent debt owed by the debtor before such transfer was made;
(3) made while the debtor was insolvent;
(4) made—
(A) on or within 90 days before the date of the filing of the petition; or
(B) between ninety days and one year before the date of the filing of the petition, if such creditor at the time of such transfer was an insider; and
(5)that enables such creditor to receive more than such creditor would receive if—

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