Crestar Bank v. Neal (In re Kitchin Equipment Co. of Virginia, Inc.)

112 S. Ct. 1242, 960 F.2d 1242

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
• Decided: March 30, 1992
• Docket: No. 91-2060
• Status: Published

Opinions

OPINION

BUTZNER, Senior Circuit Judge:

George W. Neal, trustee in bankruptcy of the debtor, Kitchin Equipment Company of Virginia, Inc., appeals an order granting relief to Crestar Bank from the automatic stay of collection provided by 11 U.S.C. § 362. The district court affirmed the bankruptcy court’s order granting relief. This appeal presents the sole issue whether, after Crestar erroneously filed a termination statement, it still retained a perfected security interest in Kitchin’s assets. We reverse the judgment and remand to the district court with instructions to reinstate the automatic stay.

I

The relevant facts have been stipulated by the parties. In 1984, Kitchin entered into a financing arrangement which secured its debt to Crestar by a lien against Kitchin’s furniture, fixtures, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, and personal property. Crestar perfected its security interest in the collateral by properly filing a financing statement in September of that year. In July 1989, Crestar filed a valid continuation statement, extending its security interest in the collateral. In March 1990, Kitchin obtained a loan of $1,232,-526.26 from Crestar, giving in exchange a negotiable promissory note securing the debt by reference to the previously filed security agreement. In May of 1990, Kitchin sought protection from its creditors under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. In June, Crestar filed a statement that was intended to release from the security agreement only two specific items of heavy equipment.

The statement, entered on a printed form prepared by Crestar, was headed “Financing Statement.” After the name of the debtor appeared a section headed “Check the box indicating the type of statement. Check only one box.” The choices available were: ORIGINAL FINANCING STATEMENT, CONTINUATION — ORIGINAL STILL EFFECTIVE, AMENDMENT, ASSIGNMENT, PARTIAL RELEASE OF COLLATERAL, and TERMINATION. By error, Crestar checked the TERMINATION box. In a space labeled “Description of collateral covered by original financing statement” the bank typed: “The following two (2) specific pieces of equipment are to be released under Crestar’s blanket security lien: 1) Crane ID # LC700 SN C 19006 [and] 2) Crane ID # LRT 220 SN 79055.” The State Corporation Commission and the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Chesapeake recorded the statement; the latter stamped “TERMINATED” across it twice.

In October 1990, Kitchin moved to convert its proceedings to a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Shortly thereafter, Crestar moved for relief from the automatic stay. In its amended answer opposing the modification of the automatic stay, Kitchin denied that Crestar’s claim was secured. The bankruptcy court allowed the trustee to rely on Kitchin’s response.

The bankruptcy court, without discussing its reasons, held that Crestar terminated its perfected security interest only with respect to the two items of equipment listed on the termination statement. On appeal, the district court, affirming the bankruptcy court, held that “no potential creditor could have possibly been misled when confronted with the description of the designated collateral to be released by Cres-tar.” The district court relied on Va.Code § 8.9-402, official comment para. 2, and it distinguished the cases on which the trustee relied.

II

The Bankruptcy Code provides that filing a petition under Chapter 7 or Chapter 11 of the Code operates as an automatic stay against any attempt to collect or enforce any lien, judgment, or claim against the estate. 11 U.S.C. § 362(a). A party with an “interest in property” held by the debtor may ask the court for relief from the stay upon a showing of “lack of adequate protection” of that interest or that the debtor lacks equity in the property. 11 U.S.C. § 362(d)(1). A trustee or a debtor in possession, without regard to any knowledge, is empowered to avoid any transfer of property of the debtor or any obligation of the debtor that is voidable by a hypothetical lien creditor. 11 U.S.C. §§ 544(a)(1) and 1107(a). Rock Hill Nat’l Bank v. York Chem. Indus., Inc., (In re York Chem. Indus., Inc.), 30 B.R. 583, 585 (Bankr.D.S.C.1983). The trustee’s powers “serve essentially to marshal all of the debtor’s assets, including some that the debtor itself could not recover, in order to enhance the resources available to the pool of creditors.” Vineyard v. McKenzie (In re Quality Holstein Leasing), 752 F.2d 1009, 1014 (5th Cir.1985).

While federal law confers on the trustee the power to avoid some transfers and obligations of the debtor, state law controls the exercise of this power. Havee v. Belk, 775 F.2d 1209, 1218 (4th Cir.1985). In Virginia, secured transactions are governed by Va.Code Ann. Title 8.9, which enacts the Uniform Commercial Code. A security interest in personal property and fixtures must be perfected by filing of a financing statement. Va.Code Ann. § 8.9-302(1) (Michie 1991). An effective financing statement may be amended by a second filing signed by both parties. The term “financing statement” in the Code refers both to the original and to any amendments. Va.Code Ann. § 8.9-402(4) (Michie 1991). A financing statement “substantially complying” with statutory requirements “is effective even though it contains minor errors which are not seriously misleading.” Va.Code Ann. § 8.9-402(8) (Michie 1991).

Another section, § 8.9-404, governs a “termination statement,” which is to be filed by the secured creditor after the debt is satisfied and the debtor makes a written demand. § 8.9-404(1) (Michie 1991). Unlike § 8.9-402, § 8.9-404 contains no provision excusing minor errors that are not seriously misleading. Termination of a security interest does not discharge the debtor’s obligation to pay the creditor. Termination, however, releases the secured creditor’s lien against the debt- or’s property.

Ill

Crestar advances several reasons why it retained its security interest in most of Kitchin’s assets. As its first ground, it argues that the statement it filed complied with Va.Code Ann. § 8.9-406, which permits a secured creditor to release a part of the collateral by filing a “statement of release.” Crestar contends that the release it filed cannot be considered a termination statement within the meaning of § 8.9-404 because that section requires that such a statement be filed after there is no outstanding secured obligation and upon written demand of the debtor. These prerequisites to a valid termination statement, Crestar points out, are absent.

Neither the bankruptcy court nor the district court adopted Crestar’s argument, and we are not persuaded. Crestar designed the form it filed. The form provided a space for inserting the file number of the original financing statement. Crestar complied. The form then directs: “Check the box indicating the kind of statement. Check only one box.” The form contained a box for “PARTIAL RELEASE OF COLLATERAL.” Crestar did not check this box.

Crestar checked the box marked TERMINATION, indicating in accordance with the language of the form that this was a termination statement, not a partial release. Contrary to Crestar’s argument, a filing specifically described as a termination statement, for which provision is made in § 8.9-404, is not the kind of partial release contemplated by § 8.9-406.

Crestar cannot prevail by its argument that its filing could not be a termination statement because it had not been preceded by payment of the debt and a demand by the debtor as specified in § 8.9-404(1). These provisions are for the benefit of the debtor. When the conditions for their application are met, the creditor must file a termination statement. Failure to do so imposes liability for damages under § 8.9-404(1). But nothing in the statute prevents the creditor from filing a termination statement on its own volition without awaiting demand. Under Crestar’s theory a potential creditor could not rely upon a termination statement without inquiring whether the debtor had paid his obligation and made demand. Acceptance of Crestar’s reasoning would defeat the utility of § 8.9-404.

There is no merit in Crestar’s argument that its filing is ineffective as a termination statement because it does not recite that the secured party “no longer claims a security interest under the financing statement.” This language, Crestar contends, is required by § 8.9-404. Crestar has misread the statute. There is no requirement that a termination statement must contain the text Crestar quotes. The only requirement is that the termination statement be “to the effect” that the secured party no longer claims a security interest. A check in the TERMINATION box on Crestar’s form in conjunction with the printed language of the form discloses that the filing is a termination statement. This is all that § 8.9-404 requires. Crestar’s argument would invalidate every termination statement it has filed on its own printed form and place in jeopardy liens acquired by other creditors in reliance on Crestar’s termination statements.

Crestar’s second ground for retaining its security interest is also based on a misreading of the statute. Crestar relies on § 8.9-402(8): “A financing statement substantially complying with the requirements of this section is effective even though it contains minor errors which are not seriously misleading.” This section deals with financing statements and amendments. The drafters of the U.C.C. did not include a similar exculpatory provision in § 8.9-404, which deals with termination statements, and the official comment does not disclose that § 8.9-402(8) was intended to apply also to § 8.9-404. The sole case Crestar cites on this issue, In re Bumper Sales, Inc., 907 F.2d 1430 (4th Cir.1990), dealt with an inconsequential misnomer in a financing statement filed under § 8.9-402. 907 F.2d at 1434. The opinion does not refer to § 8.9-404 expressly or by implication.

We have no doubt that a court could apply equitable principles to relieve a party of a termination statement’s minor error, such as an inconsequential misnomer, especially—unlike the situation here—in the absence of a trustee in bankruptcy.

Even if we did apply a harmless error standard to Crestar’s filing, § 9-402(8) requires that errors be both “minor” and “not seriously misleading.” Both statutory requirements must be given effect. It is an axiom of statutory construction that courts are obliged to give effect, if possible, to every word used by the legislature. Reiter v. Sonotone Corp., 442 U.S. 330, 339, 99 S.Ct. 2326, 2331, 60 L.Ed.2d 931 (1979); USV Pharmaceutical Corp. v. Richardson, 461 F.2d 223, 227 (4th Cir.1972); Tilton v. Commonwealth, 196 Va. 774, 784, 85 S.E.2d 368, 374 (1955). One commentary concludes that the Code’s drafters “intended two conditions and that subsection (8) does not save a financing statement which contains major but not misleading errors.” 2 James J. White & Robert S. Summers, Uniform Commercial Code § 24-18 at 371 (3d ed. 1988). The liberality of the Code’s filing provisions is not intended to vitiate the benefits of a simple and clear filing system, which tolerance of major errors would do. In re Edwards Equip. Co., 46 B.R. 689, 691-92 (Bankr.W.D.Okla.1985).

A termination statement is a unique filing created by a different code section than the one governing financing statements and amendments. Its effect on a secured interest is dramatic and final. See Koehring Co. v. Nolden (In re Pacific Trencher & Equip., Inc.), 735 F.2d 362, 365 (9th Cir.1984). Crestar’s failure to identify the statement as PARTIAL RELEASE OF COLLATERAL and specifically identifying it as a TERMINATION statement cannot be considered a minor error.

In addition, Crestar’s filing cannot pass the “not seriously misleading prong” of § 8.9-402(8). The stipulation of facts did not mention whether Crestar’s filing was misleading. The bankruptcy court did not find, or even discuss, whether it was misleading; its opinion does not cite § 8.9-402(8). The district court mistakenly stated that the bankruptcy court had held that the statements were not seriously misleading for the purpose of § 8.9-402(8). Consequently, without considering any evidence other than the stipulation and the form, the district court followed what it perceived to be the bankruptcy court’s conclusion and held that the statements were not seriously misleading. Whether this is considered a finding or, as the district court indicated, a conclusion of law, we cannot accept it.

On its face the filing does not disclose that it signifies only a partial release, as Crestar contends. The PARTIAL RELEASE OF COLLATERAL box was not checked. The release was written in a space on the form provided for “Description of collateral covered by original financing statement.” When the text of the release is read with the text of the form, a potential creditor could conclude that the termination box was correctly checked because the two cranes constituted the “Description of collateral covered by the original financing statement,” which Crestar called its “blanket security lien.” Crestar added no statement that it retained a security interest on Kitchin’s other assets. The decision of the clerk of the Circuit Court of Chesapeake to stamp Crestar’s statement TERMINATED is evidence — and the only evidence bearing on this question — that the filing was misleading.

Crestar next argues that U.C.C. has adopted notice filing, a system which contemplates further inquiry to determine the scope of a security agreement. It relies on Girard Trust Co. v. Strickler (In re Varney Wood Products, Inc.), 458 F.2d 435 (4th Cir.1972), and both the Virginia and Official Comments about § 8.9-402.

The difficulty with Crestar’s argument is that Varney and the comments to § 8.9-402 refer only to financing statements, and not to termination statements. The purpose of notice filing, as explained in paragraph 2 of the Official Comments, is to give notice that the secured party may have an interest in the collateral. Prospective creditors must make further inquiries about the complete state of affairs. Notice filing relieves the secured party of the necessity of refiling on each of a series of transactions in a continuing arrangement where inventory, accounts, and chattel papers may change from day to day. Also, a financing statement may cover after-acquired property and future advances under security agreements, which need not be mentioned in the financing statement.

There is no similar comment regarding notice filing with respect to § 8.9-404. Nor need there be. In the context of termination, there is no necessity for the type of notice required by § 8.9-402. The secured creditor can comply with § 8.9-404 by simply providing a statement to the effect that it no longer claims a security interest under the financing statement identified by number on the termination statement. Crestar complied with these requirements by designing a form into which the requisite number was inserted and by providing a box to be checked for TERMINATION. There is no suggestion in § 8.9-404 or its comments that a prospective creditor must make further inquiry to the secured party of the kind contemplated in § 8.9-402.

IV

The trustee relies primarily on Koehring Co. v. Nolden (In re Pacific Trencher & Equip., Inc.), 735 F.2d 362 (9th Cir.1984). In that case, the creditor also intended a partial release but submitted its own multipurpose form on which it had erroneously checked “Termination.” Also on the form was a detailed description of the specific collateral to which the partial release was intended to apply. The creditor sought a judgment that the statement terminated only its security interest in the collateral described. 735 F.2d at 364.

The court rejected the argument that the form released only the specified collateral. It cited the language on the form that read: “TERMINATION — The Secured Party certifies that the Secured Party no longer claims a security interest under the Financing Statement bearing the file number above.” 735 F.2d at 364 (emphasis added by Ninth Circuit). “Given the language of the form,” the court held, “there is no possibility of construing a partial termination of items listed in a financing statement.” 735 F.2d at 364. Because “[t]he clause [was] unambiguous as a matter of law,” the listing of specific items was “mere surplusage.” 735 F.2d at 364-65. “This court is unpersuaded that there is any possibility of a ‘partial’ termination if the wrong box has been checked.” 735 F.2d at 365.

As it successfully did in the district court, Crestar seeks to distinguish its situation from that in Pacific Trencher because Crestar’s form did not include the detailed description of the effect of the “TERMINATION” box included on the form at issue in Pacific Trencher. Though the language on Crestar’s form is unquestionably less verbose than that on the Pacific Trencher form, the message both forms convey is the same. Checking a box marked TERMINATION on Crestar’s form standing alone would signify very little. But when the check is read with the printed language of the Crestar form, it is clear that the filing is a termination statement conforming to requirements of a termination statement in § 8.9-404. In effect, Crestar claims that its termination forms should be construed in favor of Crestar, because they do not contain a notation of the effect of checking the TERMINATION box. Acceptance of Crestar’s argument would defeat the purposes of the U.C.C. by serving as a trap for unwary creditors who rely on the bank’s termination statements.

The trustee also relies on Rock Hill Nat’l Bank v. York Chem Indus., Inc. (In re York Chem. Indus., Inc.), 30 B.R. 583, 586 (Bankr.D.S.C.1983). In that case, as here, a bank inadvertently filed a termination statement. 30 B.R. at 585. The bankruptcy court denied relief from the automatic stay because the hypothetical lien of a debtor in possession provided by 11 U.S.C. §§ 1107(a) and 544(a)(1) took priority. 30 B.R. at 586. Crestar argues that York is distinguishable because the creditor had filed nothing but a “pure termination statement.” Crestar is mistaken. The creditor had a financing statement on record. 30 B.R. at 584. The bankruptcy court found that all parties agreed that neither the debtor nor the creditor intended this financing statement to be terminated. 30 B.R. at 585. The bankruptcy court held that the creditor was responsible for terminating its financing statement “albeit unintentionally and inadvertently.” The court declined “to recreate a perfected security interest” and denied relief from the stay. 30 B.R. at 586.

Another case reaching the same result as Pacific Trencher and York is J.I. Case Credit Corp. v. Foos, 11 Kan.App.2d 185, 717 P.2d 1064 (1986), which dealt with a mistaken termination statement in the context of competitive liens, not bankruptcy. 11 Kan.App.2d 185, 717 P.2d at 1065. A subsequent lien creditor was entitled to prevail over a prior lienholder that inadvertently filed a termination statement releasing its lien. The knowledge of the debtor that his debt had not been paid was irrelevant. 11 Kan.App.2d at 189, 717 P.2d at 1067. See also William D. Hawkland, Uniform Commercial Code Series § 9-404:01 (Callaghan Supp.1991).

In re Burkhard, 6 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (Callaghan) 244 (Bankr.S.D.Ohio 1969), cited by neither party, at first blush seems to support Crestar. After the debtor filed a petition in bankruptcy, a bank that had filed a financing statement called upon the guarantor of the debtor’s note to pay the debt. The guarantor paid, and the bank endorsed the note without recourse and mistakenly filed a termination statement. 6 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. at 246. Concerned about the loss to the innocent guarantor, the bankruptcy court held that since the termination statement was filed after the trustee’s statutory lien attached, the mistake should be rectified in equity and the guarantor should prevail over the trustee. The court reasoned that “it would be unjust enrichment to permit [the trustee] to benefit by the payment of a third party.” 6 U.C.C.Rep. Serv. at 248. The court did not venture an opinion what the outcome would have been if the bank, rather than the guarantor, had remained the creditor, other than to note that third parties were not privy to any “malfeasance” of the bank. 6 U.C.C.Rep. Serv. at 247. But the court cautioned in dictum that if the termination statement had been filed before the trustee’s statutory lien had attached, “there is a grave possibility that the trustee’s lien might be unimpeachable.” 6 U.C.C.Rep. Serv. at 248. This dictum and the factual differences render the case of questionable value to Crestar.

V

Crestar next argues that the filing should be reformed because of mutual mistake. The eases it cites are inapplicable here. Even though Crestar alone made the mistake, Crestar’s argument for reformation would be strong against Kitchin itself, had it not filed for bankruptcy. See Dan B. Dobbs, Handbook on the Law of Remedies § 11.6 at 748 & n. 19 (1973). However, in this case, the mistake was made in the context of a system designed to give notice to third parties who, by definition, could not be party to the mistake. In addition, the mutuality of the mistake, if any, has been destroyed by the intervening Chapter 7 petition in bankruptcy, which gave the trustee the avoiding powers of a hypothetical lien creditor without knowledge of agreements between the parties. 11 U.S.C. § 544(a). Under the terms of the statute, the trustee cannot be considered a party to the mistake, nor need he prove prejudice. In the cases dealing with inadvertently filed termination statements that were contested by a trustee in bankruptcy, or a debtor in possession, courts have denied equitable relief to the improvident creditors. See, e.g., Pacific Trencher, 735 F.2d at 354, York, 30 B.R. at 585-86. Cres-tar cites no case to the contrary.

VI

In sum, we conclude that neither the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code and the U.C.C., nor equitable principles, entitle Crestar’s financing statement to prevail over the trustee’s statutory lien. The judgment of the district court modifying the automatic stay is reversed, and the case is remanded for reinstatement of the stay.

REVERSED AND REMANDED.