Duplitronics, Inc. v. Concept Design Electronics & Manufacturing, Inc. (In Re Duplitronics, Inc.)

183 B.R. 1010, 29 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 300, 1995 Bankr. LEXIS 883, 27 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 538, 1995 WL 385076
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Illinois
DecidedJune 20, 1995
Docket19-05788
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 183 B.R. 1010 (Duplitronics, Inc. v. Concept Design Electronics & Manufacturing, Inc. (In Re Duplitronics, Inc.)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Duplitronics, Inc. v. Concept Design Electronics & Manufacturing, Inc. (In Re Duplitronics, Inc.), 183 B.R. 1010, 29 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 300, 1995 Bankr. LEXIS 883, 27 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 538, 1995 WL 385076 (Ill. 1995).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

JOHN D. SCHWARTZ, Chief Judge.

Duplitronics, Inc. (“Duplitronics” or “Debt- or”) has filed a complaint seeking a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction and permanent injunction and declaratory judgment (“Complaint”) against Concept Design Electronics and Manufacturing, Inc. (“Concept Design”), The Hanover Bay Insurance Company (“Hanover”), Massachusetts Bay Insurance Company (“Massachusetts Bay”) and LaSalle National Bank (“La-Salle”). The gist of the Complaint is to prevent the payment of a judgment entered by the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina in favor of Concept Design, affirmed by the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. A superse-deas bond was posted by Duplitronics and a letter of credit issued as collateral for that bond. Duplitronics seeks to enjoin any demand or payment of the bond and the letter of credit. It also filed a motion for a temporary restraining order. In addition, LaSalle has moved this Court for direction as to how to handle payment of the letter of credit. Although this court may have jurisdiction to enter a temporary restraining order following the Supreme Court’s decision in Celotex Corp. v. Edwards, — U.S.-, 115 S.Ct. 1493, 131 L.Ed.2d 403 (1995), it declines to do so. The court is of the opinion, for the reasons hereinafter set forth, that given the undisputed facts there are no legal grounds on which to grant Duplitronics’ motion for a temporary restraining order.

BACKGROUND — UNDISPUTED FACTS

On November 17, 1993, the District Court for the Western District of North Carolina entered judgment in favor of Concept Design and against the Debtor, Duplitronics, in the amount of $900,000. Duplitronics appealed the judgment to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. To stay enforcement of the judgment pending this appeal, Duplitronics posted a supersedeas bond (“Bond”) to secure the judgment, interest, damages and costs if it lost the appeal. Duplitronics executed the Bond as principal, and Hanover as the surety. Hanover was apparently unwilling to act as surety on the Bond without some assurance that it could collect any monies it paid on the judgment. Therefore, Duplitronics secured its obligation under its agreement with Hanover by what is described as a clean irrevocable letter of credit issued by LaSalle (“Letter of Credit”). This type of letter is called a “standby” letter of credit for obvious reasons — it “stands by”, ready to be used if certain conditions are or are not fulfilled. This letter of credit is dated November 29, 1993 and states:

We warrant to you that all your drafts under this Clean Irrevocable Letter of Credit will be duly honored upon presentation of your draft(s) drawn on us at La-Salle National Bank, 120 South LaSalle Street, Attention International Department, Chicago, Illinois 60603 on or before the expiration date or on or before any automatically extended date as set forth below. Our obligation under this Letter of Credit is the individual obligation of the Bank, in no way contingent upon reimbursement with respect thereto, or upon our ability to perfect any lien or security interest. Further, our obligation is no way contingent upon your obligation under any guaranty or surety bond for which this Letter of Credit is or may be given as full or partial collateral, (emphasis added)

*1013 This Letter of Credit is subject to the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits (1983 Revision) International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 400.

The Federal Circuit affirmed the judgment. Duplitronics petitioned for rehearing and suggested a rehearing en banc. On February 21, 1995, the Circuit Court issued an order denying the petition for rehearing and the suggestion for rehearing en banc. Dupli-tronics’ Motion to Stay Mandate was denied by that court on March 6, 1995 and the mandate issued. On March 8, 1995, Concept Design moved in the District Court for an order compelling payment of the judgment. Duplitronics filed a motion pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2101(f) on March 27, 1995 for an order staying execution on the judgment to permit application to the Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari. In a carefully reasoned and persuasive opinion, Judge Robert Potter on May 19, 1995 granted Concept Design’s motion to enforce liability against Hanover and denied Duplitronics’ motion to stay execution while seeking certiorari. Although Duplitronics could have presented an application to stay enforcement of the judgment to the Supreme Court under 28 U.S.C. § 2101(f) and Sup.Ct.R. 23, it apparently determined not to do so.

Concept Design, as it has a right to do, has demanded that Hanover honor its obligations under the Bond, and Hanover is apparently facing a contempt motion in the District Court to compel payment on the Bond. Hanover, to protect at least a portion of its obligations under the Bond, 1 on June 2, 1995 delivered a conforming sight draft to LaSalle requesting a full draw on the Letter of Credit. LaSalle advised Hanover that it would honor the sight draft on June 7, 1995, which this Court understands to be within the guidelines set forth in the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, but thus far LaSalle has failed to do so. Likewise, Hanover has not paid Concept Design on its obligation as surety under the Bond.

On June 2, 1995, Duplitronics commenced proceedings under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. On June 7, 1995, Duplitronics filed its Complaint. On June 9,1995, LaSalle moved this Court for direction on how to handle payment of the Letter of Credit. The court refused to entertain the motion and continued it to June 14,1995. The court has heard and considered oral argument from counsel for all parties and has received and examined all pleadings and other documents filed with the court. 2

JURISDICTION

This matter is before the Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 157, and is referred here under Local District Rule 2.33. This court has subject matter jurisdiction and this is a core proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(A) and (O).

DISCUSSION

The hearing on Duplitronics’ Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order [“TRO”] was held on June 14, 1995. The facts are not an issue between the parties, except as to whether or not the Supreme Court will grant the relief Duplitronics seeks in its petition for certiorari (see infra pp. 1016-17). The issues of whether the § 362 automatic stay 3 applies *1014 or whether Hanover or its affiliate, Massachusetts Bay, 4 ought to be enjoined from payment of the Bond and requesting payment of the Letter of Credit are questions of law.

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183 B.R. 1010, 29 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 300, 1995 Bankr. LEXIS 883, 27 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 538, 1995 WL 385076, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/duplitronics-inc-v-concept-design-electronics-manufacturing-inc-in-ilnb-1995.