Dwyer v. Insurance Co. of Pennsylvania (In re Pihl, Inc.)

560 B.R. 1, 76 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 671, 2016 Bankr. LEXIS 3482
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, D. Massachusetts
DecidedSeptember 26, 2016
DocketCase No. 13-15575-MSH; Adversary Proceeding No. 13-1384
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 560 B.R. 1 (Dwyer v. Insurance Co. of Pennsylvania (In re Pihl, Inc.)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, D. Massachusetts primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Dwyer v. Insurance Co. of Pennsylvania (In re Pihl, Inc.), 560 B.R. 1, 76 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 671, 2016 Bankr. LEXIS 3482 (Mass. 2016).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OF DECISION

Melvin S. Hoffman, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge

Kathleen P. Dwyer, the chapter 7 trustee of the estate of Pihl, Inc., the debtor in the main case, initiated this adversary proceeding by filing a six-count complaint against the Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania (“ICSP”) and American International Companies (“AIC,” and collectively with ICSP, the “Sureties”) seeking to set aside and recover certain alleged preferential transfers (counts IIV) and for a turnover order and injunctive relief (counts I and IV) with respect to certain funds held by the third defendant, Middlesex Savings Bank (“Middlesex”).1

A bench trial in this adversary proceeding took place over two days. Based on the evidence introduced, arguments most ably delivered by counsel and matters of which I may take judicial notice, I present this memorandum of decision which includes my findings of fact and conclusions of law in accordance with Fed. R. Bankr. P. 7052.

Jurisdiction

This court has jurisdiction over this adversary proceeding pursuant to 28 U.S.C. [4]*4§ 1334 and § 157. This is a core proceeding pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(A), (E), (F) and (0) which I may determine by final order. Venue is appropriate pursuant to 28 U.S..C. § ,1409.

The Court’s Prior Ruling

Judge William C, Hillman of this Court had occasion to discuss many of the factual and legal issues in this adversary proceeding in a memorandum of decision denying the parties’ cross-motions for summary judgment. Dwyer v. The Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania (In re Pihl, Inc.), 529 B.R. 414 (Bankr. D. Mass. 2015) [hereinafter Pihl /]• While Judge Hillman’s interlocutory findings and rulings in Pihl I are not preclusive with respect to my rulings here, they are, characteristically thoughtful and well-reasoned, and have informed many of my conclusions.2

Findings of Fact

The debtor, Pihl, Inc., was the American subsidiary of E. Pihl & Son A.S, a Danish company. Pihl provided general contracting services' on large public works projects, including several highway and bridge construction projects.3 The defendant, ICSP, a member of American International Group (“AIG”),4 issued performance and payment contract surety bonds for certain of Pihl’s projects.5 The defendant, AIC, is also a member of AIG. Pihl as principal entered into an Agreement of Indemnity dated January 12, 2006 (the “Indemnity Agreement”), with AIC pursuant to which Pihl agreed to indemnify the Sureties for any losses or expenses they incurred in connection with any surety bonds issued on behalf of Pihl.6 To secure its obligations under the Indemnity Agreement, Pihl as Principal assigned to the Sureties rights in various assets including:

(a) All the rights of the Principals in, and growing in any manner out of, all contracts, referred to in the Bonds, or in, or growing in any manner out of the Bonds; ... (e) Any and all percentages retained and any and all sums that may be due or hereafter become due on account of any and all contracts referred to in the Bonds and all other contracts whether bonded or not in which the Principal has an interest.7

By contract dated April 27, 2010 (the “Nahant Contract”), Pihl undertook to perform the Nahant Beach Reservation Reconstruction in Nahant, Massachusetts (the “Nahant Project”) for the awarding authority, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (the “DCR”).8 By contract dated April 13, 2011 (the ‘Willimansett Contract”), Pihl undertook to perform the Willimansett Bridge [5]*5Deck and Replacement in Chicopee and Holyoke, Massachusetts (the “Willimansett Project,” and collectively with the Nahant Project, the “Bonded Projects”), for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (the “DOT,” and collectively with the DCR, the “Project Owners”).9 ICSP issued payment and performance bonds for the Nahant and Willimansett Projects on April 29, 2010, and April 26, 2011, respectively.10

Each contract permitted the respective Project Owner to terminate the contract for cause. The Nahant Contract states in relevant part:

The DCR may without prejudice to any other right or remedy deem this Contract terminated for cause-if any of the following defaults shall occur and not be cured within five (5) days after the giving of notice thereof by the DCR to the Contractor and any surety that has given bonds in connection' with this Contract.11

The Willimansett Contract .incorporates the Standard Specifications for Highways and Bridges.12 The Standard Specifications contains a section titled “Default Termination” that states in relevant part:

If the Contractor shall be adjudged a bankrupt, or if he shall make a general assignment for the benefit of his creditors, or if a receiver of his property shall be appointed, or if the work done under the Contract shall be abandoned, ... the Party, of the First Part may notify the Contractor to discontinue all work, or any part thereof. Such notice shall be given to the Contractor in writing and thereupon the Contractor shall discontinue such work or part thereof ....13

On September 12, 2013, Pihl informed ICSP that Pihl was letting all of its employees go on that day and would not continue to work on the Bonded Projects.14 On September 13, 2013, Pihl ceased work on the Bonded Projects.15 On September 13, 2013, Douglas Fine, on behalf of ICSP, sent letters to the DOT and the DCR demanding that “no further funds be released under the [Bonded Projects] without the written consent and direction of ICSP.”16 On September 13, 2013, Mr. Fine sent a letter bearing the reference line “Projects: Improvement to the Third Avenue Bridge,” by express and certified mail, to Pihl.17 The body of the letter referenced by bond number the bonds for the Bonded Projects, among others, and noted that Pihl had terminated all of its employees and was unable to complete all of the projects bonded by ISCP. The letter pointed out that litigation had been commenced by All-Set Corp. against Pihl and ICSP pursuant to certain bonds, including the Willimansett Project bond, and stated that ICSP “has been and continues to be exposed to substantial losses under its bonds.”18 The letter was délivered to Pihl [6]*6on or about September 14th. Pihl never responded, prompting Mr. Fine to send another letter on September 17, 2013, demanding that Pihl provide collateral security of at least $ 1,072,804.00 by September 19, 2013.19 Again there was no response. On September 16, 2013, AIC filed a UCC-1 financing statement describing a security interest in the property identified in the assignment provision of the Indemnity Agreement.20

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Bluebook (online)
560 B.R. 1, 76 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 671, 2016 Bankr. LEXIS 3482, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/dwyer-v-insurance-co-of-pennsylvania-in-re-pihl-inc-mab-2016.