Franklin-Lee Homes, Inc. v. First Union National Bank of North Carolina (In Re Franklin-Lee Homes, Inc.)

102 B.R. 477, 1989 WL 80159
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. North Carolina
DecidedJune 28, 1989
Docket89-444-CIV-5-H, Adv. Nos. S-88-0261-AP, S-88-0223-AP and S-88-0176-AP
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 102 B.R. 477 (Franklin-Lee Homes, Inc. v. First Union National Bank of North Carolina (In Re Franklin-Lee Homes, Inc.)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. North Carolina primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Franklin-Lee Homes, Inc. v. First Union National Bank of North Carolina (In Re Franklin-Lee Homes, Inc.), 102 B.R. 477, 1989 WL 80159 (E.D.N.C. 1989).

Opinion

ORDER

MALCOLM J. HOWARD, District Judge.

These matters come before the court on appeal of First Union National Bank of North Carolina, N.A. (“First Union”), Fred H. Adams, Jr., Paving Company, Inc. (“Fred Adams”), and Waco Electrical Company (“Waco”), pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 158, from an order entered March 2, 1989 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina denying appellants’ Motions to Dismiss adversary proceedings brought against each for failure of the complaint to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. By orders entered April 19 and May 18, 1989, this court established and amended a briefing schedule providing for submission of briefs by appellants and others similarly situated, and appellee. After careful consideration of those briefs, and after hearing June 23, 1989, this court denied appellants’ appeals for reasons stated below.

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

The debtor, Franklin-Lee Homes, Inc. (“Franklin-Lee Homes”), filed for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code on December 9, 1986 in the Eastern District of North Carolina. ' Franklin-Lee Homes is a debtor-in-possession within the meaning of the Bankruptcy Code and is vested with all the rights, powers and duties of a trustee, subject to the limitations imposed by Bankruptcy Code § 1107. At the time of filing of the voluntary petition, the debtor was the owner and developer of numerous real estate projects located in Wake County, North Carolina.

By order entered July 23, 1987, Algernon L. Butler, Jr. was appointed examiner under § 1104 of the Bankruptcy Code to review and investigate pre-petition and post-petition affairs of the debtor and to report to the court the results of his investigation.

On August 17, 1987 Butler, pursuant to § 1106(a)(4) of the Bankruptcy Code, filed his report of investigation with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. The report alleged defects in the loan documentation and loan administration of the debtor’s primary secured lenders; indicated the existence of alleged avoidable transfers; and specifically made recommendation as to sale and liquidation of certain property of the debtor.

On June 6, 1988 the debtor-in-possession, Franklin-Lee Hómes, filed its Amended Disclosure Statement in which the debtor represented that:

The Examiner will be reviewing the possibility that avoidable transfers and preferences were received by various creditors ... The Plan of Reorganization filed by the debtor will propose that the Examiner be authorized to bring any adversary proceeding which, in his opinion, will be productive in generating funds for the bankruptcy estate.

On June 6, 1988 the debtor-in-possession filed its Amended Plan of Reorganization. Under the plan, Article III provided “Mr. Algernon L. Butler, Jr., Examiner, will *479 serve as designated agent to bring any adversary proceedings, which in his opinion, can generate funds for the benefit of the Bankruptcy Estate.”

On August 25, 1988 the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina entered an order confirming the Amended Plan, specifically ordering:

The Plan of Reorganization reserves all rights of the Court appointed Examiner to initiate proceedings which, in the opinion of the Examiner, will recover funds for the bankruptcy estate.

On December 6, 1988 Butler, pursuant to the order of August 25, 1988, instituted separate complaints as examiner in the name of and on behalf of the debtor against Fred Adams and Waco, to recover alleged preferences and fraudulent conveyances. On December 8, 1988 Butler similarly instituted a complaint to recover alleged preferences, transfers and obligations against First Union.

In January, 1988 each of the above named defendants filed a Motion to Dismiss the complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. In support of their Rule 12(b)(6), F.R.Civ.P., motions, defendants represented to the court that the examiner was not a proper party to bring the actions.

It was and is appellants’ contention that plaintiff, as examiner, is specifically prohibited by 11 U.S.C. §§ 321(b), 327(f) and 1106(b) from bringing these adversary proceedings and, therefore, cannot state a claim against appellants for the recovery of preferences or fraudulent conveyances.

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina considered and denied the motions by order entered March 2, 1989, concluding that the expansion of the examiner’s duties to include filing adversary proceedings to recover money or property for the estate is specifically authorized by 11 U.S.C. § 1106(b), and that Butler was properly authorized as examiner to institute the adversary proceedings at issue here. On April 19, 1989 this court granted appellants’ motions for leave to appeal from the order of the Bankruptcy Court.

COURT’S DISCUSSION

Pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 8013, findings of fact by the Bankruptcy Court shall not be set aside unless they are found to be clearly erroneous. In The Matter of Campbell, 812 F.2d 1465 (4th Cir.1987). Issues of law are to be reviewed de novo. Id.

It is appellants’ contention that 11 U.S.C. §§ 321(b), 327(f) and 1106(b), when read together, preclude the filing of adversary proceedings by an examiner as a matter of law. Relying primarily on In re International Distribution Centers, Inc., 74 B.R. 221 (S.D.N.Y.1987), appellants argue that because §§ 327(f) and 321(b) do not allow the debtor in possession to employ a person that has served as an examiner in the case or allow an examiner in a case to serve as a trustee in the same case, and because § 1106(b) does not allow the Bankruptcy Court to authorize an examiner to file complaints to recover preferences and fraudulent conveyances on behalf of the debtor-in-possession, the examiner improperly brought these adversary proceedings.

11 U.S.C. § 321(b) reads:

A person that has served as an examiner in a case may not serve as trustee in the case.

While providing that the trustee may employ with court approval attorneys, accountants, appraisers, auctioneers, or other professional persons that are not adverse and that are disinterested, 11 U.S.C.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

In Re Mirant Corp.
314 B.R. 555 (N.D. Texas, 2004)
In Re Gross
121 B.R. 587 (D. South Dakota, 1990)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
102 B.R. 477, 1989 WL 80159, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/franklin-lee-homes-inc-v-first-union-national-bank-of-north-carolina-in-nced-1989.