Dixon v. Kelley (In Re Producers Energy Corp.)

11 B.R. 669, 31 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 1475, 1981 Bankr. LEXIS 3578
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, W.D. Oklahoma
DecidedJune 11, 1981
Docket19-10737
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 11 B.R. 669 (Dixon v. Kelley (In Re Producers Energy Corp.)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, W.D. Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Dixon v. Kelley (In Re Producers Energy Corp.), 11 B.R. 669, 31 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 1475, 1981 Bankr. LEXIS 3578 (Okla. 1981).

Opinion

OPINION

DAVID KLINE, Bankruptcy Judge.

STATEMENT

The debtor, defendant Producers Energy Corporation, was engaged in coal mining operations on the property of plaintiffs Roy and Betty Dixon under a mining lease. On December 17,1979, the Dixons by adversary proceeding and complaint asserted ownership over all machinery and tools used in Producers’ mining operation. The complaint [# 78-0010] named Producers and all other entities as defendants whom plaintiffs believed might assert interests in such property.

Defendants Penn Square Bank and James Wilkett d/b/a Wilkett Trucking Co. failed to answer the complaint. Defendant Turner Brothers, Inc., filed an answer, counterclaim and cross-claim based on miner’s, mechanic’s and materialman’s liens. Defendant Thomas Freeman, as Penn Square Bank’s assignee, intervened as a defendant and claimed security interests in all of Producers accounts receivable, a coal crusher, an office trailer, and certain office furniture and equipment.

Quail Creek Coal Joint Venture, by its nominee John F. Freeman, was also named a defendant. John Freeman answered individually stating that he had no authority to receive process on behalf of Quail Creek. The answer further stated that Quail Creek had no interest in any of the equipment listed in plaintiffs’ complaint but remarked that Thomas Freeman, his brother, had a superior security interest. Quail Creek Joint Venture filed no other answer.

Maple Oil Co. intervened as a defendant claiming an interest by virtue of an asserted mechanic’s and materialman’s lien. Defendant Little Rock Road Machinery Company filed an answer claiming a security interest in a certain pump. The chapter 7 trustee appeared and answered the complaint but made no affirmative claims.

Adversary proceeding # 79-0019 was commenced with a complaint filed by Thomas Freeman against certain of the parties involved in adversary proceeding # 79-0010 wherein a declaration of the rights of those asserting interests in Producers’ assets was sought. Since the same parties, issues and property are involved in both proceedings, they have been consolidated for decision pursuant to motions for summary judgment filed by Little Rock, Dixon, Turner Brothers and Thomas Freeman.

FACTS

Producers Energy Corp. was formed in 1978 by Mr. R. Robert Grant and Mr. Joe Watkins to acquire coal leases and form coal mining joint ventures. Quail Creek Coal Joint Venture, promoted by Grant, was also originated in 1978 to serve as a coal investment vehicle for the individual joint ventures.

In August of 1978, Mr. and Mrs. Roy R. Dixon, as lessors, entered into a coal mining lease with Producers, as lessee, which was subsequently assigned by Producers to Quail Creek Coal Joint Venture. Under the lease terms Producers was to pay the Dix-ons certain royalties. Because of a quiet title action in the state court, Producers was required to pay a portion of the monthly royalties directly to the Dixons and the remainder of the royalties into an escrow bank account. The lease further provided:

“. .. Should Lessee default in the payment of royalties hereunder or breach or default remain incurred for a period of sixty (60) days after notice thereof is given in writing by Lessor to Lessee, then Lessor may, at its option, terminate this lease and thereupon reenter and take possession of the leased premises. Lessee shall, however, have the right for a period of six (6) months thereafter, after paying all royalties due, to remove all machinery and equipment owned by it from the leased premises.”

*672 On November 14,1978, Producers entered into a contract with Turner Brothers, Inc., Charles R. Turner, and his three sons. The contract contained employment provisions with stated salaries for each of the four Turners to conduct the contemplated coal mining operations and also provided for the leasing of certain mining equipment to Producers Energy Corp. by Turner Brothers, Inc.

Mining operations at the Quail Creek Coal mine began in late 1978. In January, 1979, Mr. Grant approached Mr. Thomas F. Freeman regarding Producers’ need for additional operating capital. Thomas Freeman and his brother, John Freeman, had formed a partnership, Freeman Brothers, a joint venturer in Quail Creek Coal Joint Venture. Thomas Freeman was also a partner in Parceners, Ltd., another of the Quail Creek Joint Venturers. On January 19, 1979, Freeman Brothers loaned $200,-000.00 to Producers and took Producers’ unsecured promissory note. On the same day Parceners, Ltd. also loaned $50,000.00, unsécured, to Producers.

On January 5, 1979, Producers purchased a Gorman-Rupp Water Pump from the Little Rock Road Machinery Co. and gave a promissory note for $7,963.71 and a security interest in the water pump. Little Rock Road Machinery filed a financing statement in Oklahoma County on January 30, 1979.

On March 16, 1979, Producers executed a promissory note to Penn Square Bank for $160,000.00 guaranteed by Thomas and John Freeman. This loan was secured by equipment used in the operation of Producers’ business as well as all inventory, contract rights, accounts receivable, other property and proceeds. A financing statement was then filed in Oklahoma County on March 22, 1979.

On April 5, 1979, Producers executed a second promissory note to Penn Square Bank for $117,000.00, again guaranteed by Thomas and John Freeman, to finance the purchase of a coal crusher. The bank was granted a security interest in the coal crusher and on April 11, 1979 a financing statement was filed in Oklahoma County.

On April 27, 1979, the Dixons notified Producers by letter that Producers was in default on that portion of the royalty payments payable directly to the Dixons for March, 1979. Thereafter this default was cured.

On June 27, 1979, Producers executed a third promissory note to the Penn Square Bank for $50,000.00 also guaranteed by the Freemans and secured by Producers’ accounts receivable and inventory and on July 2, 1979 a financing statement thereon was filed in Oklahoma County.

On August 13, 1979, Turner Brothers, Inc., filed a “Miner’s and Mechanic’s or Materialman’s Lien Statement” for $274,-598.68 in Haskell County.

On September 4, 1979, the Dixons notified Producers that it was again in default for July royalties.

On September 10, 1979, Turner Brothers, Inc., filed a second lien statement in Has-kell County for $398,000.00.

On October 12, 1979, Producers was in default on the note to Little Rock Road Machinery Company and Little Rock took possession of the pump. On October 16, 1979, Producers filed its voluntary chapter 7 petition in this court.

On October 23, 1979, Maple Oil Company filed a $58,839.31 mechanic’s and material-man’s lien statement with the Haskell County Court Clerk for fuel, parts, service, oil, gas and lubricants furnished by Maple to Producers from July to September of 1979. Later, on January 5, 1980, this lien statement was filed with the Haskell County Clerk.

On January 8, 1980, the Penn Square Bank assigned to Thomas Freeman the three notes that Producers had executed in the bank’s favor which assignment covered the bank’s entire interest in the notes and collateral.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Leroy Adventures, Inc. v. Cafritz Harbour Group, Inc.
640 A.2d 193 (District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 1994)
In Re Tri-State Fabricators, Inc.
32 B.R. 260 (W.D. Oklahoma, 1983)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
11 B.R. 669, 31 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 1475, 1981 Bankr. LEXIS 3578, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/dixon-v-kelley-in-re-producers-energy-corp-okwb-1981.