Floyd v. American Block Roland Niles International, Inc. (In re Cooper Manufacturing Corp.)

344 B.R. 496, 60 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 143, 2006 Bankr. LEXIS 1097, 46 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 117
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. Texas
DecidedApril 11, 2006
DocketBankruptcy No. 03-36812-H4-7; Adversary Nos. 05-03317, 05-03335, 05-03332, 05-03337
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 344 B.R. 496 (Floyd v. American Block Roland Niles International, Inc. (In re Cooper Manufacturing Corp.)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Floyd v. American Block Roland Niles International, Inc. (In re Cooper Manufacturing Corp.), 344 B.R. 496, 60 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 143, 2006 Bankr. LEXIS 1097, 46 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 117 (Tex. 2006).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

JEFF BOHM, Bankruptcy Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION

The matters before the Court are cross-motions for Partial Summary Judgment brought by Ben B. Floyd, the Chapter 7 Trustee (the Trustee), as the plaintiff, and certain creditors, as the defendants. The parties request the Court to adjudicate whether certain transfers of letters of credit proceeds (the LOC Transfers) made by Cooper Manufacturing Corporation (Cooper) to its four creditors constitute avoidable preferences under 11 U.S.C. § 547(b).1

Cooper is the Debtor in this Chapter 7 bankruptcy case filed on May 7, 2003. On May 6, 2005, the Trustee brought an adversary proceeding against some vendors of Cooper to recover various transfers pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §§ 547, 549 and 550. On March 1, 2006, the Trustee moved for Partial Summary Judgment against American Block (American), Roland Niles International, Inc. (Roland), Oilfield Shelters, Inc. (Oilfield), and Triple-S Steel Supply Co. (Triple-S) (collectively, Defendants). Defendants sold parts and services to Cooper prior to the 2003 bankruptcy filing. In his Motions, the Trustee alleges that the LOC Transfers to Defendants constitute preferences under § 547(b). At the same time, Oilfield filed a Motion for Summary Judgment. Triple-S filed a Motion for Partial Summary Judgment. In their Motions, Oilfield, and Triple-S seek a judgment that the Trustee take nothing from this adversary proceeding on the LOC Transfers. American and Roland filed Responses to the Trustee’s Motion but did not move for summary judgment.

[500]*500On May 6, 2003, Defendants received proceeds of a Letter of Credit (the LOC) issued to Cooper, as beneficiary, pursuant to purported assignments made by Cooper to Defendants in May 2002. The disposi-tive question presented by the parties’ competing Motions is whether the LOC Transfers occurred within the 90-day preference period, or more specifically, whether the LOC Transfers occurred in May 2002 when the alleged assignments were made, or in May 2003 when the payments were received. The Trustee argues that the LOC Transfers occurred when Defendants received the actual payments on May 6, 2003 and therefore are subject to the Trustee’s avoidance power under § 547(b). This Court disagrees. Because the Court believes that valid irrevocable assignments of the LOC proceeds were completed in May 2002, almost one year before the bankruptcy petition, the LOC Transfers occurred outside the 90-day preference period and thus cannot be avoided as preferences by Trustee under § 547(b). Therefore, the Court denies the Trustee’s Motions for Partial Summary Judgment as to the LOC Transfers and grants Oilfield’s and Triple-S’ Motions for Partial Summary Judgment.

In his Motions, the Trustee also claims that certain cash payments in the forms of checks (Cash Transfers) made by Cooper to American, Roland, and Triple-S within the preceding 90 days of the bankruptcy petition constitute preferences under § 547(b). American, Roland, and Triple-S do not challenge the Trustee’s position that the Cash Transfers were preferences under § 547(b), but reserve their affirmative defenses for trial. Therefore, the Trustee’s Motions for Partial Summary Judgment as to the Cash Transfers are granted. Trial will be held solely on the affirmative defenses to the Cash Transfers.

In sum, the Trustee’s Motions for Partial Summary Judgment are granted in part and denied in part, and Oilfield’s and Triple-S’ Motions for Partial Summary Judgment are granted in their entirety. As there is no dispute over the Cash Transfers for the purpose of the Trustee’s Summary Judgment Motions, this Memorandum Opinion addresses only the LOC Transfers.

II. FINDINGS OF FACT

The facts, either as stipulated to or admitted by counsel of record, or as determined from the record and from the testimony set forth in, and exhibits attached to, the affidavits incorporated into the motions for summary judgment, in chronological order, are as follows:

1. On March 29, 2002, Cooper became the beneficiary of a letter of credit (the LOC) issued by Commerzbank Eurasjia (the Issuing Bank). Com-merzbank New York served as the confirming bank for the LOC (the Confirming Bank). JPMorgan Chase Bank (Chase) served as the advising bank of the LOC. (See the Letter of Credit, Tr’s Mot. Summ. J., Adv. No. 05-03317, Doc. No. 23, Ex. CB2; Adv. No. 05-03335, Doc. No. 22, Ex. CB2; Adv. No. 05-03332, Doe. No. 32, Ex. CB2; Adv. No. 05-03337, Doc. No. 37, Ex. CB2.)
2. In March 2002, Cooper attempted to assign certain proceeds of the LOC to Defendants, in the amounts of $142,000.00 to American, $78,636.00 to Roland, $96,280.00 to Oilfield, and $193,321.93 to Triple-S, respectively. Cooper issued written instructions to the Confirming Bank instructing it to pay Defendants the stated amount from the proceeds of the LOC upon the Confirming Bank’s [501]*501honor of the Debtor’s draft. The Confirming Bank, however, rejected Cooper’s request to assign the LOC proceeds, refusing to handle the large number of assignments Cooper had requested. (See Teichgraeber Affs., Tr’s Mot. Summ. J., Adv. No. 05-03317, Doc. No. 23, Ex. B; Adv. No. 05-03335, Doc. No. 22, Ex. B; Adv. No. 05-03332, Doc. No. 32, Ex. B; Adv. No. 05-03337, Doc. No. 37, Ex. B.)
3.On May 22, 2002, Cooper executed four separate letters of “Assignment of Proceeds” (collectively, Assignment Letters or Letters) instructing Chase to pay $142,000.00 to American, $78,636.00 to Roland, $96,280.00 to Oilfield, and $193,321.93 to Triple-S, respectively, when Cooper’s draft on the LOC was honored. (See Assignment Letters, Tr’s Mot. Summ. J., Adv. No. 05-03317, Doc. No. 23, Ex. A at CHASE00026; Adv. No. 05-03335, Doc. No. 22, Ex. A at CHASE00057; Adv. No. 05-03332, Doc. No. 32, Ex. A at CHASE00061; Adv. No. 05-03337, Doc. No. 37, Ex. A at CHASE00069.) Cooper gave these instructions with the understanding that it would provide Chase with all documents necessary for presentment under the LOC. Under this arrangement, Chase would then present these documents to the Confirming Bank, receive the LOC proceeds, and disburse payment to Defendants. (See Teichgraeber Affs., Tr’s Mot. Summ. J., Adv. No. 05-03317, Doc. No. 23, Ex. B; Adv. No. 05-03335, Doc. No. 22, Ex. B; Adv. No. 05-03332, Doc. No. 32, Ex. B; Adv. No. 05-03337, Doc. No. 37, Ex. B.) Together with the Assignment Letters, Cooper delivered the actual LOC to Chase. (Stude Aff., Tripie-s’ Mot. Summ. J., Adv. No. 05-03337, Doc. No. 38, Ex. E at ¶ 3.) Chase approved the assignments and endorsed the LOC. (Id.)
4. On April 23, 2003, Cooper provided all documents to Chase necessary for presentment of its draft on the LOC. (See Trustee’s Mot. Summ. J., Adv. No. 05-03317, Doc. No. 23, Ex. A at CHASE00104; Adv. No. 05-03335, Doc. No. 22, Ex. A at CHASE00104; Adv. No. 05-03332, Doc. No. 32, Ex. A at CHASE00104; Adv. No. 05-03337, Doc. No. 37, Ex. A at CHASE00104.)
5. On April 25, 2003, Chase presented these documents to the Confirming Bank. (See Trustee’s Mot. Summ.

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344 B.R. 496, 60 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 143, 2006 Bankr. LEXIS 1097, 46 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 117, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/floyd-v-american-block-roland-niles-international-inc-in-re-cooper-txsb-2006.