CMF Loudoun Ltd. Partnership v. Nattchase Associates Ltd. Partnership (In Re Nattchase Associates Ltd. Partnership)

178 B.R. 409, 1994 Bankr. LEXIS 2126, 1994 WL 765950
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Virginia
DecidedDecember 27, 1994
Docket19-50281
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 178 B.R. 409 (CMF Loudoun Ltd. Partnership v. Nattchase Associates Ltd. Partnership (In Re Nattchase Associates Ltd. Partnership)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Virginia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
CMF Loudoun Ltd. Partnership v. Nattchase Associates Ltd. Partnership (In Re Nattchase Associates Ltd. Partnership), 178 B.R. 409, 1994 Bankr. LEXIS 2126, 1994 WL 765950 (Va. 1994).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

DAVID H. ADAMS, Bankruptcy Judge.

This Contested Matter comes before the Court on the Motion for Relief from the Automatic Stay filed by CMF Loudoun Limited Partnership (“CMF”), the holder of a security interest in property owned by the debtor, Nattchase Associates Limited Partnership (“Nattchase”), which collateral consists of real property located in Loudoun County, Virginia. The obligation of Natt-chase owned by CMF is evidenced by that certain Deferred Purchase Money Deed of Trust Note (“Note”), dated June 28, 1988, representing an indebtedness as of the filing of the Chapter 11 petition of at least $51,-458,414.71. The Note was purchased along with other unrelated notes by CMF from the Resolution Trust Corporation (“RTC”) on May 6, 1993.

The Court has jurisdiction over the parties and the matter in controversy by virtue of 28 U.S.C. §§ 1334(b) and (d), 28 U.S.C. §§ 157(a) and (b)(1), 11 U.S.C. § 362 and this *412 is a core proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(1)(G). This opinion and order constitutes the Court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 7052.

The parties stipulated the controlling facts concerning the execution of the Note, the collateral securing the obligation due thereunder, the total amount of the indebtedness, the fact that the debtor, Nattehase, disputes the debt due and the market value of the debtor’s property as $13,600,000.

Background

Before addressing the findings of fact and substantive issues before the Court on the relief from stay motion, it is instructive to discuss the history of the Note and the procedural history of the ongoing litigation between the parties.

Nattehase is a limited partnership formed under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia and filed an involuntary petition under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code on January 31, 1994. Sidney Brown (“Brown”) and Saul Bernstein (“Bernstein”) are experienced real estate developers and the general partners of Nattehase. On June 28, 1988, Natt-ehase purchased four parcels totalling approximately 311 acres of undeveloped real property for $45,000,000 in Loudoun County, Virginia. 1 Nattehase made a $9,000,000 down payment at settlement, and obtained a loan from San Jacinto Savings Association 2 for the balance, represented by the non-recourse promissory Note which is secured by the debtor’s property. The Note requires the payment of principal and interest in quarterly installments of $1,111,563 commencing on October 1, 1988, and continuing until the maturity date of June 28, 1998, at which time all outstanding amounts are due and payable. Five payments were made under the Note by Nattehase, and the last payment was made on or about December 1989.

In December of 1990, the RTC was appointed receiver for San Jacinto, becoming the successor in interest in the Note and mortgage held as security for the payment of the remaining balance. Nattehase offered to purchase the Note and mortgage from the RTC, but the RTC rejected its offer. The RTC opted to offer a portfolio of assets, including the Note and two other notes with respect to which the debtor had absolutely no relationship, for sale by bid on March 9, 1993. By March, 1993, Nattehase was at least $14 million in arrears, and pursuant to the terms and conditions of the bidding established by the RTC, no principal of the borrower on the Note could bid on the assets offered for sale by the RTC. 3 On May 5, 1993, the RTC announced the winning bid, and on July 28, 1993, CMF purchased the portfolio of financial assets, including the Note, from the RTC for $14,250,108.00. The three secured notes in the portfolio had a total principal balance of $70,766,564 plus accrued interest in excess of $15,000,000 (debtor’s Proposed Findings of Fact).

Procedural History

Nattehase did not make any payments to CMF on the Note; therefore, CMF scheduled a foreclosure sale of the debtor’s property on November 22, 1993. On November 18, 1993, several individuals and business entities 4 in which Brown was involved, (hereinaf *413 ter “Brown, et al.”) filed suit against the RTC and CMF among others. 5 Identical suits were simultaneously filed, one in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, and the other in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. 6 The suits contained a myriad of counts, however the most pertinent allegations challenged the constitutionality of bidding procedures of the RTC, based on equal protection and due process considerations, and requested a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to prevent CMF from foreclosing. Both suits were heard on November 19, 1993. 7 The first suit to be heard was before Judge Green of the District Court of the District of Columbia. In Brown, et al. v. Resolution Trust Corp., et al., No. 93-2386 (D.D.C.1993), Judge Green denied the temporary restraining order finding no substantial likelihood of success on the merits, no irreparable harm, and ultimately dismissed the case in that jurisdiction without prejudice. 8 Later that day, Judge Brinkema of the Eastern District of Virginia, after being advised of the disposition of the case in the District of Columbia, heard Brown, et al. v. Resolution Trust Corp., et al., 93-1450-A (E.D.Va.1993). Judge Brinkema found no cause on any of the four prongs [as articulated by the Fourth Circuit in Blackwelder Furniture Co. of Statesville, Inc. v. Seilig Manufacturing Co., Inc., 550 F.2d 189 (4th Cir.1977) ] to issue a temporary restraining order. In light of the fact that Nattchase was at least $14 million in arrears, Judge Brinkema found that the “plaintiff did not come into court with clean hands in that he is significantly in arrears on debt that is involved in this case.” Transcript at 29, Brown, et al. v. Resolution Trust Corp., et al. (E.D.Va.1993) (No. 93-1450) The Court found as a matter of law that there is no basis upon which the plaintiff could prevail against any of the defendants and therefore dismissed the case with prejudice. Id. Unable to find relief in the district courts, Natt-chase filed for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code on November 19, 1993. 9

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Bluebook (online)
178 B.R. 409, 1994 Bankr. LEXIS 2126, 1994 WL 765950, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cmf-loudoun-ltd-partnership-v-nattchase-associates-ltd-partnership-in-vaeb-1994.