DAVID K. CROWE and COLLEEN M CROWE

• Court: United States Bankruptcy Court, D. Arizona
• Decided: February 4, 2021
• Docket: 4:19-bk-04406
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

Dated: February 4, 2021

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5 Pendle Pore 2/1 — Brenda Moody Whinery, Chief Bankruptcy . 3 5 6 7 UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT 8 DISTRICT OF ARIZONA 9 In re: Chapter 11 DAVID K. CROWE and Case No. 4:19-bk-04406-BMW COLLEEN M. CROWE, 11 RULING AND ORDER REGARDING Debtors. EXPEDITED MOTION FOR 12 (1) DETERMINATION THAT AUTOMATIC STAY IS INAPPLICABLE 13 OR (2) ALTERNATIVELY, FOR RELIEF FROM STAY TO ALLOW 14 ARBITRATOR TO PROCEED; AND (3) RELIEF FROM AUTOMATIC STAY 15 FOR CAUSE TO AUTHORIZE SETOFF (Dkt. 264) 16 17 18 This matter is before the Court pursuant to the Expedited Motion for (1) Determinatioi 19] that Automatic Stay is Inapplicable or (2) Alternatively, for Relief from Stay to Allow Arbitrato to Proceed; and (3) Relief from Automatic Stay for Cause to Authorize Setoff (the □□□□□□□□ 21] (Dkt. 264) filed by Tucson Embedded Systems, Inc. (“TES”) on August 27, 2020; the Debtors Objection to Expedited Motion for (1) Determination that Automatic Stay is Inapplicable o (2) Alternatively, for Relief from Stay to Allow Arbitrator to Proceed; and (3) Relief fron Automatic Stay for Cause to Authorize Setoff (Dkt. 267) filed by David K. Crowe and □□□□□□□ M. Crowe (the “Debtors”’) on September 16, 2020; and all filings related thereto. 26 In the Motion, TES asks the Court to allow all claims brought by the Debtors in Pim: 27 || County Superior Court Case No. C20174904 (the “State Court Action”), and any defenses □□□□□□ 28 || thereto, to be liquidated in the pending arbitration proceeding (the “Arbitration”). Specifically

1 TES asks the Court to: (1) determine that TES may assert common law defenses to claims brought 2 by the Debtors, without violating the automatic stay; (2) affirm this Court’s prior ruling that the 3 arbitrator may liquidate TES’s fee application; (3) alternatively, grant stay relief for cause 4 pursuant to § 362(d)(1)1 to authorize TES to assert and the arbitrator to determine TES’s defenses 5 to the Debtors’ remaining claims and liquidate TES’s fee application; (4) authorize TES to assert 6 a setoff defense to the Debtors’ claims in the Arbitration, or alternatively, grant stay relief to 7 permit the assertion of setoff to be made in the Arbitration; (5) grant TES attorneys’ fees and 8 costs for bringing the Motion; and (6) waive the 14-day stay of any order. 9 The Debtors oppose the Motion, with limited exceptions, as discussed below. 10 The Court held a hearing on the Motion on December 9, 2020, at which time the parties 11 presented oral argument and agreed that the Court could rule on the Motion without taking 12 evidence. Based upon the pleadings, arguments of counsel, and entire record before the Court, 13 the Court now issues its ruling. 14 I. Jurisdiction 15 The Court has jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1334 and 157. No party has contested 16 this Court’s jurisdiction to rule on the Motion. 17 II. Factual & Procedural Background 18 On April 12, 2019 (the “Petition Date”), the Debtors filed a voluntary petition for relief 19 under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, thus commencing this case. The State Court Action 20 and Arbitration were commenced pre-petition. The claims asserted by the Debtors in the State 21 Court Action include breach of contract, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, 22 fraudulent conveyance, interference with contract, fraudulent concealment, fraudulent 23 misrepresentation, and punitive damages claims. As of the Petition Date, the Arbitration 24 remained pending. 25 TES previously sought an order from this Court allowing the Arbitration to proceed. (Dkt. 26 55). On July 29, 2019, the Court entered an Order Allowing Arbitration of Debtors’ Claims and 27

28 1 Unless otherwise indicated, statutory references are to the Bankruptcy Code, title 11 of the United States 1 Related Issues to Be Determined (the “Arbitration Order”) (Dkt. 124), in which order the Court 2 “determin[ed] that the automatic stay of 11 U.S.C. § 362(a) does not apply to the arbitration of 3 claims brought by the Debtors in Pima County Superior Court Case No. C20174904 . . . and that 4 the Arbitrator may decide the summary judgment motion currently before him and may enter any 5 judgments and awards of pre-petition fees and costs (whether in favor of or against the Debtors) 6 if appropriate; provided, however, that TES may not execute on any judgment that may be issued 7 in its favor, except as provided in any confirmed plan of reorganization or Order of this Court, 8 or unless this case has been dismissed without any plan having been confirmed[.]” The 9 Arbitration Order applies only to the issues that were before the Court at the time the Arbitration 10 Order was entered, and the Court “reserve[d] its right to rule on further matters relating to the 11 Arbitration,” as well as “preserve[d] all rights of both the Debtors and TES as it relates to the 12 Arbitration[.]” The Arbitration Order further provides that “no other claims or counterclaims may 13 be brought against the Debtors in the Arbitration during the pendency of this case without further 14 Order of this Court, and that all parties reserve their rights with respect to any such claims.” The 15 terms of the Arbitration Order remain binding and are incorporated herein. 16 On September 4, 2019, the arbitrator granted a motion for partial summary judgment filed 17 by TES and other defendants. (See Dkt. 267, Ex. 2 at 2). Thereafter, TES and the other defendants 18 filed a second summary judgment motion, which the arbitrator granted in its entirety. (See Dkt. 19 267 at Ex. 2). In his decision regarding the second summary judgment motion, the arbitrator 20 awarded TES and the other defendants their reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, subject to 21 appropriate application, given that the matter arises from contract. (Dkt. 267, Ex. 2 at 12). 22 TES argues that there are two components of the Arbitration that remain outstanding: 23 (1) the determination of TES’s application for attorneys’ fees and costs, asserted as the successful 24 litigant in the summary judgment proceedings; and (2) the disposition of a claim asserted by the 25 Debtors against TES in the amount of $62,500 (the “Payment” or “Payment Claim”), which claim 26 TES disputes, and in response to which claim TES has raised the following rights and defenses: 27 (a) excuse by material breach or failure of consideration; (b) recoupment; and (c) offset, i.e. 28 setoff. It is TES’s position that the arbitrator should be permitted to liquidate the above-listed 1 claims and defenses. The Debtors contest the extent to which the arbitrator should be allowed to 2 allocate any fees that are awarded, dispute that the Payment Claim is part of the Arbitration, and 3 contend that resolution of the Payment Claim should be determined by this Court. 4 III. Legal Analysis & Conclusions of Law 5 1. Fee Award 6 The Debtors do not dispute that the arbitrator may, consistent with this Court’s Arbitration 7 Order, determine and enter a fee award against them arising from their failed contract claims in 8 the Arbitration. (12/9/2020 Hearing Tr. 55:14-22). However, the Debtors oppose allowing the 9 arbitrator to impose joint and several liability or entertain any equitable shifting theories. 10 The arbitrator has already awarded TES its reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, subject 11 to appropriate application, and the Debtors retain any and all rights to defend against such fee 12 applications. The Court finds no basis to limit the ability of the arbitrator to determine and enter 13 awards of pre-petition fees and costs arising from the Arbitration which are attributable to the 14 Debtors. This being said, any fees arising from actions taken in this bankruptcy case are reserved 15 for determination by this Court. This Court further retains jurisdiction to determine the 16 allowability of any claims asserted against this bankruptcy estate. 17 2. The Payment Claim 18 It is the Debtors’ position that the Payment Claim, which is property of this bankruptcy 19 estate, as well as the defenses and determination of setoff rights pertaining thereto are beyond 20 the scope of the Arbitration and should be determined by this Court. 21 The stay generally “prohibit[s] the continuation of a judicial action ‘against the debtor’ 22 that was commenced before the bankruptcy” and “prohibits ‘any act to obtain possession of 23 property of the estate . . . or to exercise control over property of the estate.’” In re White, 186 24 B.R. 700, 703 (B.A.P. 9th Cir. 1995) (quoting 11 U.S.C. §§ 362(a)(1) & (a)(3)). It follows that 25 the primary purpose of § 362 does not apply to offensive actions taken by the debtor. Id. at 704. 26 “Where the debtor has initiated a prepetition lawsuit against a creditor, the same policy 27 considerations [underlying § 362] do not exist.” Id. 28 Because § 362 does not prevent debtor-plaintiffs from continuing to prosecute pre- 1 bankruptcy litigation, “[o]ut of fairness, the defendant should be allowed to defend himself from 2 attack, and ‘[t]he automatic stay should not tie the hands of a defendant while the plaintiff debtor 3 is given free rein to litigate.’” Id. at 706 (quoting In re Merrick, 175 B.R. 333, 338 (B.A.P. 9th 4 Cir. 1994)). “This is true, even if the defendant’s successful defense will result in the loss of an 5 allegedly valuable claim asserted by the debtor.” In re Palmdale Hills Prop., LLC, 654 F.3d 868, 6 875 (9th Cir. 2011). 7 The Court will note that although the operative complaint underlying the Arbitration does 8 not specifically reference the Payment Claim, in the complaint, the Debtors expressly allege that 9 TES and other defendants breached the Purchase Term Sheet (the “Purchase Term Sheet”) (Dkt. 10 84, Ex. B), under which the Payment Claim arises, including by “depriv[ing] [them] of their 11 consideration under the [Purchase Term Sheet], thus rendering the [Purchase Term Sheet] 12 unsupported by adequate consideration.” (See Dkt. 308, Ex. 1 at ¶¶ 62-63, 126-130). Further, in 13 the Claimants’ Memorandum Re Scope of Arbitration (Dkt. 264 at Ex. A) submitted by the 14 Debtors to the arbitrator on April 14, 2018, the Debtors took the position that “[a]ll breaches of 15 the Term Sheet fall within the scope of th[e] Arbitration[,]” including TES’s failure to make the 16 Payment. (Dkt. 264, Ex. A at ¶ I.B). Consistent with this position, in the Plaintiff’s Initial 17 Disclosure Statement (Dkt. 264 at Ex. B), which was submitted by the Debtors to the arbitrator 18 on or about July 27, 2018, the Debtors included an intentional breach claim pertaining to the 19 Payment in their list of alleged breaches of contract. (Dkt. 264, Ex. B at ¶ II.1.iv). Further, in the 20 Decision on Motion for Summary Judgment (Dkt. 267 at Ex. 2) issued by the arbitrator on 21 September 16, 2020, the arbitrator acknowledged that the Payment Claim remained an 22 outstanding issue. 23 Based upon the foregoing, given that the Payment Claim was clearly submitted to 24 arbitration by the Debtors, it is the determination of the Court that liquidation of the Payment 25 Claim is not subject to the automatic stay of § 362. TES’s assertion of the defenses of material 26 breach and recoupment are likewise not subject to the automatic stay.2 27 2 The automatic stay does not prohibit TES from asserting its material breach defense, and unlike setoff, 28 which is discussed below, the doctrine of equitable recoupment is not subject to the automatic stay. In re 1 That being said, § 362(a)(7) stays “the setoff of any debt owing to the debtor that arose 2 before the commencement of the [bankruptcy] case . . . against any claim against the debtor[,]” 3 and § 553 generally preserves a party’s setoff rights.3 “Courts generally recognize that, by 4 establishing a right of setoff, the creditor has established a prima facie showing of ‘cause’ 5 for relief from the automatic stay under § 362(d)(1).” In re Gould, 401 B.R. 415, 426 (B.A.P. 9th 6 Cir. 2009), aff’d, 603 F.3d 1100 (9th Cir. 2010) (quoting In re Ealy, 392 B.R. 408, 414 (Bankr. 7 E.D. Ark. 2008)). However, even if the creditor establishes a prima facie showing of cause within 8 the meaning of § 362(d)(1), the party opposing stay relief may nevertheless establish that stay 9 relief is inappropriate under the facts of the case. Id. 10 In this case, TES has represented that it seeks to have the arbitrator first rule with respect 11 to its material breach and recoupment defenses. Then, to the extent the arbitrator does not find 12 that the Debtors’ Payment Claim is barred by either of these defenses, TES seeks authority to 13 allow its setoff claim to be determined by the arbitrator. 14 Even assuming that TES can establish a prima facie showing that there is cause to allow 15 the arbitrator to determine its setoff rights, the Debtors have raised significant due process 16 concerns and issues negatively impacting administration of the estate, and as such, have 17 demonstrated that stay relief with respect to TES’s setoff claim is inappropriate at this time, given 18 the facts of this case. 19 Generally speaking, the Bankruptcy Code dictates the priority in which claims are paid. 20 Setoff, however, effectively “elevates an unsecured claim to secured status,” whereby overriding 21 the priority scheme in the Code. Lee v. Schweiker, 739 F.2d 870, 875 (3d Cir. 1984). As such, 22 resolution of the setoff claim at issue would implicate core bankruptcy matters and may prejudice 23 creditors of this estate, who have no ability to participate in the Arbitration. At this juncture, the 24 fee claims which provide the basis for TES’s asserted setoff rights have not yet been liquidated. 25 It is the determination of this Court that until such claims are liquidated, the extent to which 26 B.R. 749, 754 (B.A.P. 9th Cir. 2001). 27 3 Section 553 provides in part: “Except as otherwise provided . . . [the Bankruptcy Code] does not affect any right of a creditor to offset a mutual debt owing by such creditor to the debtor that arose before the 28 commencement of the case under [the Bankruptcy Code] against a claim of such creditor against the 1 creditors could be prejudiced by a setoff determination made by the arbitrator remains unknown, 2 such that stay relief is not warranted. 3 Based upon the foregoing, the Court does not find cause to grant stay relief pursuant to 4 § 362(d)(1) to allow the arbitrator to consider any setoff claim asserted by TES, and such relief 5 must be denied. 6 IV. Conclusion 7 Wherefore, based upon the foregoing, upon consideration of the entire record before the 8 Court, and for good cause shown; 9 IT IS HEREBY ORDERED authorizing the Arbitration to proceed to determine the 10 application(s) for fees and costs incurred by TES in the Arbitration which are attributable to the 11 Debtors. Any fees arising from actions taken in this bankruptcy case are reserved for 12 determination by this Court, as is the ultimate allowability of claims asserted against this estate. 13 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED authorizing the Arbitration to proceed to liquidate the 14 Payment Claim, subject to the limitations set forth herein. 15 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that TES’s request for stay relief to assert a right of setoff 16 in the Arbitration is denied, and TES must return to this Court for any determination of setoff or 17 offset rights pertaining to the Payment Claim. 18 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED denying TES’s claim for attorneys’ fees related to this 19 motion, without prejudice. 20 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED denying the request to waive the 14-day stay of this Order. 21 DATED AND SIGNED ABOVE. 22

24 Notice to be sent through the Bankruptcy Noticing Center (“BNC”) to the following: 25

26 David K. Crowe Colleen M. Crowe 27 3650 W Camino Christy Tucson, AZ 85742 28 1 Notice of Electronic Filing to be sent via email, 2 through the CM/ECF System, to ALL registered users, including:

3 Frederick J. Petersen 4 Issac D. Rothschild Mesch, Clark & Rothschild, P.C. 5 Counsel for the Debtors

6 Kasey C. Nye 7 Waterfall, Economidis, Caldwell, Hanshaw & Villamana, P.C. Co-counsel for Tucson Embedded Systems, Inc. 8

9 Todd Jackson Jean Roof 10 Jackson & Oden, PLLC Co-Counsel for Tucson Embedded Systems, Inc. 11

12 Bradley J. Stevens Joel F. Newell 13 Jennings, Strouss & Salmon, P.L.C. 14 Counsel for Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors

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