Farrell v. Burlington Tennis Associates (In re Burlington Tennis Associates)

34 B.R. 832, 1983 Bankr. LEXIS 5751
United States Bankruptcy Court, D. Vermont·Decided July 22, 1983·No. Bankruptcy No. 82-189; Adv. No. 82-0168·Published

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

CHARLES J. MARRO, Bankruptcy Judge.

On October 1,1982 David M. Farrell (Farrell) filed a request under Bankruptcy Code (Code) section 362(d) for relief from the automatic stay of Code section 362(a). With the consent of the parties the hearing on the request was continued from time to time and the final hearing was held on June 30, 1983. Farrell seeks relief in order to bring an action in ejectment against the Debtor, Burlington Tennis Associates (BTA), which entity is Farrell’s lessee. Farrell also filed a request under Code section 363(e) for adequate protection of his interest in the premises leased to be BTA.

FACTS

In 1973 Farrell as lessor conveyed to Cross-Court Burlington Associates (Cross-Court) as lessee a term for years in land; Farrell and Cross-Court then mortgaged their interests in the land to Vermont Federal Savings and Loan Association (the Bank) as security for a construction loan. In 1977 Cross-Court with Farrell’s consent assigned the leasehold to BTA as a non-assuming assignee (BTA took the leasehold subject to the first mortgage but did not incur liability on the 1973 promissory note). In conjunction with the agreement, Farrell and BTA joined in signing (1) a notarized document amending and restating the lease; (2) an agreement inter se to execute and deliver as security for a construction [833] loan sought by BTA, a second mortgage on the premises; and (3) the second mortgage deed. The amended and restated lease requires BTA to keep open a letter of credit in Farrell’s favor as security for rents, and contains an augmented rents clause which takes BTA’s gross receipts into account, but contains no language requiring BTA to pay either the 1973 note or the promissory note BTA executed in conjunction with the second mortgage deed and loan. (Farrell is a signatory of neither note). The second mortgage deed contains typed-in language as follows: “[Farrell] is executing this mortgage for the purpose of subordinating his ownership of the [premises] to the security interest being acquired hereby by [the Bank].”

Cross-Court defaulted on the 1973 note. BTA defaulted on the 1977 note. The letter of credit expired and was not renewed. Beginning in September 1978 BTA paid Farrell less rent each month than required by the lease. Farrell did not protest. Years went by. In May 1982 Farrell notified BTA that it was partially in arrears in rents for the previous 44 months. BTA tendered no cure. In July 1982 the Bank accelerated the 1973 and 1977 notes and subsequently instituted foreclosure proceedings against Farrell and BTA. On August 11,1982, BTA filed for relief under Chapter 11 of the Code. Farrell brought an action in ejectment against BTA the following day.

On December 3,1982, BTA filed a Plan of Reorganization (the Plan), which envisions BTA’s business use of the premises generating cash flow sufficient to pay the mortgage debt, allowed creditors claims and operations expenses. As to Farrell, the Plan provides for monthly payment of current rents with arrears to be paid off over time. During the pendency of this proceeding, BTA has paid rent at the current annual rate demanded by Farrell in May 1982.

DISCUSSION

Code section 362(d) provides that “... the court shall grant relief ... (1) for cause, including the lack of adequate protection of an interest in property ... or (2) if (A) the debtor does not have an equity in such property; and (B) such property is not necessary to an effective reorganization.” In that BTA must retain possession of the leasehold as a business property if it is to consummate reorganization, the Court may not grant relief under subsection 362(d)(2).

Subsection 362(d)(1) contemplates compensatory protection for creditors interests imperilled by the debtor’s performance. Roslyn Savings Bank v. Comcoach Corp., 7 Collier Bankr.Cas.2d 1191, 1992, 698 F.2d 571 (2d Cir.1983). To obtain relief under the subsection Farrell must demonstrate that he has a creditor's interest which is not adequately protected. Id. at 1192,1193, 698 F.2d 571. As mortgagor, Farrell has an equitable right of redemption should the Bank foreclose its mortgages on the premises. As lessor, Farrell has a reversion entitling him to injunctive relief or damages should waste to the premises occur. Neither of these interests is in issue today. However, Farrell as lessor also has a posses-sory interest in rents under the lease. As BTA is in arrears with respect to rents, Farrell has a creditor’s interest which may entitle him to relief from stay “for cause.”

The gist of Farrell’s first line of argument is that the amount due under the mortgages exceeds the fair market value of the premises. The Court notes that the argument is wide of the mark. It is a fundamental principle of jurisprudence that courts grant relief where the law affords redress. A corollary of this principle is that to obtain a remedy one must assert one’s own right; one cannot enforce the right of another. Since Farrell has mortgaged his reversion to the Bank, he may not be heard to complain that insufficient equity exists in the premises to protect the security interests of the Bank. Put simply, Farrell as mortgagor does not have standing to assert the interests of the Bank as mortgagee. It is understandable that Farrell does not wish to lose his land through foreclosure by the Bank; but it is not within the power of the Court to enlarge his rights under applicable non-bankruptcy law. In any event, it ap[834] pears that there is equity in the premises sufficient to protect the Bank:

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There is an “equity cushion” even if Farrell’s figures are used:

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Farrell v. Burlington Tennis Associates (In re Burlington Tennis Associates), 34 B.R. 832, 1983 Bankr. LEXIS 5751 (Vt. 1983).

34 B.R. 832 (Farrell v. Burlington Tennis Associates (In re Burlington Tennis Associates)) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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