Everett v. Whitney (In re Pac. Thomas Corp.)

603 B.R. 455
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. California
DecidedMay 28, 2019
DocketCase No. 14-54232 MEH; Adv. No. 14-05114
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 603 B.R. 455 (Everett v. Whitney (In re Pac. Thomas Corp.)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Everett v. Whitney (In re Pac. Thomas Corp.), 603 B.R. 455 (Cal. 2019).

Opinion

M. Elaine Hammond, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge

On March 27, 2018, the Ninth Circuit issued a memorandum vacating this court's judgment and remanding for further findings (Dkt. #234). Following entry of the Order Vacating Judgment (Dkt. #235) this court conducted a bifurcated trial on whether the parties' lease agreements are void under principles of California law and the appropriate judgment amount. As set forth in the Supplement to Decision After Trial Following Remand (Dkt. #264), this court found that the 2005 lease agreement between Pacific Trading Ventures ("PTV") and Pacific Thomas Corporation ("Debtor") was invalid. In its remand, the Ninth Circuit instructed the court to determine whether the parties' various lease agreements (the 2005 lease, the 2008 lease, the 2010 extension, and the 2012 amendment) were void under principles of California law. Following determination of this issue, the court was required to calculate the extent to which PTV's right to reimbursement under the management agreement affects any turnover award.

An evidentiary hearing was held on March 14, 2019, to determine what amounts, if any, are owed by PTV to the Debtor's estate. The Chapter 11 Trustee ("Trustee") and PTV participated in the hearing.

It is Trustee's burden to establish the estate is entitled to a turnover. In re Jacobson , 676 F.3d 1193, 1200-01 (9th Cir. 2012). Trustee must establish by a preponderance of the evidence that: "(1) the property is (or was during the bankruptcy case) in the possession, custody or control of a noncustodial third party; (2) the property constitutes property of the estate; (3) the property is a the type that the trustee could use, sell or lease pursuant to section 363 ..., and (4) the property is not of inconsequential value or benefit to the estate." 5 Collier on Bankruptcy ¶ 542.03 (16th 2019).1

*462Pursuant to the 2003 Management Agreement between PTV and Debtor ("Management Agreement"), as amended in January 2011 ("Amended Management Agreement"), PTV operated Debtor's self-storage facility in Oakland and managed real property owned by Debtor at the same location (collectively, the "Premises"). PTV collected all rents and self-storage fees due from tenants and made or had control over all operations, maintenance, repairs, and capital improvements of the Premises.2 In operation, PTV collected Debtor's income and used it directly to pay Debtor's expenses, or paid Debtor's expenses with PTV funds and reimbursed itself from Debtor's funds. The Management Agreement authorizes PTV to receive a fee of six percent (6%) of the gross revenues per months based on accrued charges or $2,000 per month, whichever is greater. Additional compensation is allowed for non-recurring repairs, capital improvements or large projects.3 Further, "the cost of certain personnel who supervise, or otherwise participate in, the direct management of the [self-storage and related business] will be paid by [Debtor]."4

Trustee asserts that PTV collected rents owed to Debtor and, in addition to using them for Debtor's expenses, used these funds for purposes that did not benefit Debtor - instead benefiting PTV, Darrow Family Partners, Thomas Capital Investments, Randall Whitney and Jill Worsley. Trustee testified that if these funds had been available to Debtor, then Debtor could have used them for payment of property taxes and other obligations. Trustee seeks turnover of $376,522 which is not of inconsequential benefit to the estate.

Trustee's claim is based on entries contained in the Quickbooks created and maintained by PTV, and obtained from PTV's bookkeeper in December 2013 (the "PTV Quickbooks"). Trustee relies on the check detail and notations contained in the PTV Quickbooks, along with supporting invoices where available. Notably, much of Trustee's concern relates to the lack of backup, such as invoices or receipts, to support the expenditures. All claims relate to the period between Debtor's petition date, August 6, 2012, and December 10, 2013, following termination of the Management Agreement for cause by Trustee and entry of a preliminary injunction.

In his review of the PTV Quickbooks and any notations or other information provided therein, Trustee determined that PTV received a total of $697,786.35 during this time period. In review on remand, the funds paid out by PTV were divided into categories based on the check, invoice, and/or Quickbooks notes detail. Trustee then identified each category as those that "appeared to be legitimate estate operating expenses" and those that "do not appear to be legitimate estate operating expenditures." A summary by category was admitted into evidence, in addition to line item entries by category. In total, Trustee *463identified $321,234.25 in expenditures that appeared to be legitimate.5

The Trustee then testified as to to those categories that did not appear to be legitimate expenses of Debtor. In sum, Trustee identified $376,552.10, in disputed expenses divided into 37 categories.

Randall Whitney, Debtor's former president, and an officer of PTV presented opposing testimony. Through his testimony, Whitney asserted that a portion of the claims in 28 of the categories were for the benefit of Debtor or Debtor's estate. PTV's president, Jill Worsley, also testified about her control over expenditures. Worsley did not address the disputed expenditures by category or line item but testified that she was the primary individual responsible for PTV's management of PTC's self-storage and real property interests. Specifically, she stated that she was the only authorized signer of PTV's checks, that twice a month she and the PTV bookkeeper would review monthly expenses and the budget; and that Worsley maintained final approval over all payments. She was adamant that neither she nor the bookkeeper would authorize payment without sufficient back-up.

The PTV Quickbooks established that in accordance with the Management Agreement, PTV collected income generated by Debtor's self-storage facility and real properties and used these receivables to pay the operating expenses of Debtor. However, PTV also used Debtor's income to fund expenses of PTV and additional entities affiliated with Whitney or Worsley, such as Darrow Family Partner and Thomas Capital Investments.

Consistent with the parties' presentation of evidence, the amounts in dispute are reviewed by category as follows:

Rents Received but Not Deposited:

Trustee testified that PTV's Quickbooks reflected $37,000 in cash received on behalf of Debtor that was never deposited into a bank account. Instead, the funds were applied towards cash payments. Of these funds, Trustee identified $6,000 that he testified do not appear to be legitimate expenses of the Debtor, with the remainder allocated to "Outside Labor Cash" (discussed in the following section). PTV did not address these funds at trial. In its closing brief, PTV argues this assertion should be disregarded because the only evidence to support it is oral testimony. Witness testimony is a form of evidence, subject to determinations of credibility by the trier of fact. United States v. 4.0 Acres of Land

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
603 B.R. 455, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/everett-v-whitney-in-re-pac-thomas-corp-canb-2019.