Frederes v. Ferguson (In re Frederes)

108 B.R. 419, 1990 Bankr. LEXIS 2
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. New York
DecidedJanuary 2, 1990
DocketBankruptcy Nos. 88-21065, 89-2083A
StatusPublished

This text of 108 B.R. 419 (Frederes v. Ferguson (In re Frederes)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Frederes v. Ferguson (In re Frederes), 108 B.R. 419, 1990 Bankr. LEXIS 2 (W.D.N.Y. 1990).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND DECISION

EDWARD D. HAYES, Bankruptcy Judge.

This is a motion by the Plaintiff, Daryl B. Frederes (hereinafter “Frederes”) for partial summary judgment. Essentially, the [420]*420Plaintiff is seeking summary judgment to determine that Foremeadows Investment, Ltd. (hereinafter “Foremeadows”) and Larry James Ferguson (hereinafter “Ferguson”) breached the contract and to determine partial damages.

The following facts are undisputed. Fre-deres doing business as Alexandria Bay Boatworks, filed for protection under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code on July 21, 1988. Some time during the Fall of 1988, Ferguson acting on behalf of Foremeadows approached Frederes with a joint venture proposal. Subsequently, an agreement to purchase (hereinafter the “Contract”) was entered into between Fre-deres as debtor-in-possession, Ferguson personally and Foremeadows. A hearing was conducted and an Order approving the Contract was signed on January 9, 1989. The essence of the Contract was that Fre-deres would convey approximately 4.5 acres of real property located in Alexandria Bay, Alexandria, New York to Foremea-dows and in consideration, Foremeadows was to renovate, repair and improve both the property retained by Frederes and the property conveyed to Foremeadows at a cost of not less than $200,000. One of the things specifically listed in this category required Foremeadows to move a Butler Steel building off its newly acquired property to a site to be chosen by Frederes.

The agreement also called for Foremea-dows to construct 60 dwelling units on the property it had purchased. These units were to be constructed in accordance with specifications stated in the Contract.1 For-emeadows was solely responsible for construction and completion of the 60 units. Foremeadows also agreed to transfer four units in Unit B of the dwelling project to Frederes. The four units were to be conveyed to Frederes free and clear of any liens or encumbrances. Under the Contract, Foremeadows was to keep the “entire property” free and clear of all mechanics liens.

The closing was on March 6, 1989. In April, 1989, a controversy arose over the Butler Steel building. This, however, was settled by a stipulation between Frederes and Foremeadows entered into in open Court on April 27, 1989 and approved by Order dated May 25, 1989. Foremeadows did not comply with the stipulation and Order. Foremeadows was required to enter into a contract to have a new foundation built for the building and supply Fre-deres with a copy. Frederes has not received a copy and no foundation has been built. Foremeadows was to construct a roadway on which the building could be moved to its new location. The roadway built extended only far enough so that the building could be moved off the property which Foremeadows was to convey to its general contractor. The building now rests on steel girders at the end of a partially constructed roadway.

The dwelling units were not complete at the time this motion was heard and were open to the weather.2 No work has been done on them since April or May of 1989. Foremeadows claims the units are sixty percent complete but admits they have no doors, no interior walls, no floors, no electrical service, water, sewerage or shingles. Further, they are not furnished and carpeted. Foremeadows did tender a deed for four units in Unit B to Frederes on August 31, 1989. However, Foremeadows acknowledges that at the time the deed was tendered there were at least $250,000 worth of mechanics liens filed against the property. The deed was rejected by letter 41 days after it was tendered. Finally, no condominium approval has been applied for and no environmental impact statement has been filed.

Bankruptcy Rule 7056, Summary Judgement, makes F.R.C.P. 56 applicable to an adversary proceeding in Bankruptcy Court. “The essence of a motion for summary judgment is that no proof need be taken since the question presented is one of law and not of fact.” In re Bullen, 11 B.R. 440, 441 (Bkrtcy.W.D.N.Y.1981). When a summary judgment motion is brought and [421]*421properly supported, an opposing party may not rest on mere allegations but must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. F.R.C.P. 56(e). See In re C.H. Stuart, Inc., 17 B.R. 610 (Bkrtcy .W.D.N.Y.1982).

The Contract in question did not specify a date upon which the dwelling units to be conveyed were to be completed and the date title for the four units in Unit B was to pass to Frederes. Both parties agree that a reasonable time must be implied when no time is set forth in the Contract.

Frederes argues that a reasonable time is determined by looking at the contemplation of the parties when contracting. He asserts and Foremeadows acknowledges that prior to entering into the Contract, he informed Foremeadows of his desire to achieve a tax savings by structuring the deal as a like-kind exchange under the Internal Revenue Code.3 Frederes claims that as a matter of law, a reasonable time is the time in which the exchange had to have been made to effect a like-kind exchange. This is 180 days from the date of the closing, March 6, 1989 or September 2, 1989.

Foremeadows asserts that a reasonable time has not passed. Further, it contends that what is a reasonable time is a question of fact that will preclude summary judgment. Foremeadows also contends that even though it had no obligation to do so under the Contract, it tendered a deed to Frederes for four unfinished units on August 31, 1989. It did this to accommodate Frederes’ desire to effect a like-kind exchange. Finally, Foremeadows asserts that any failure on its part to deliver the units to Frederes is directly attributable to Frederes’ interference with the project by asserting a reeision claim against Foremea-dows.

When a contract does not specify a time for performance, a reasonable one will be implied. Schmidt v. McKay, 555 F.2d 30, 35 (2d Cir.1977) (applying New York law); City of New York v. N.Y. Central R.R. Co., 275 N.Y, 287, 292-93, 9 N.E.2d 931 (1937); Young v. Whitney, 111 A.D.2d 1013, 1014, 490 N.Y.S.2d 330 (3rd Dept.1985); Lake Steel Erection, Inc. v. Egan, 61 A.D.2d 1125, 1126, 403 N.Y.S.2d 387 (4th Dept.1978). Ordinarily, the question of what is a reasonable time is one of fact, however, if the facts are undisputed, it becomes a question of law and can be decided upon summary judgment. Spagna v. Licht, 87 A.D.2d 626, 627, 448 N.Y.S.2d 236 (2nd Dept.1982); Towl v. Estate of Block, 546 N.Y.S.2d 924, 926 (N.Y.Sup.Ct. 1989); Fischl v. Fischl, 59 Misc.2d 282, 283, 298 N.Y.S.2d 402 (1969). Since there are no facts in dispute, this is a question of law which may properly be decided on motion for summary judgment. In re Bullen, 11 B.R. 440, 441 (BkrtcyW.D.N.Y.1981).

Simply put, the Contract required Fore-meadows to construct 60 dwelling units in Alexandria Bay and then to deliver four of those units free and clear of all liens and encumbrances to Frederes. Foremeadows admits the project is not complete and no work has been done on it since May of 1989.

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Related

SCHMIDT v. McKAY
555 F.2d 30 (Second Circuit, 1977)
City of New York v. New York Central Railroad
9 N.E.2d 931 (New York Court of Appeals, 1937)
Zev v. Merman
533 N.E.2d 669 (New York Court of Appeals, 1988)
Lake Steel Erection, Inc. v. Egan
61 A.D.2d 1125 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1978)
Spagna v. Licht
87 A.D.2d 626 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1982)
Young v. Whitney
111 A.D.2d 1013 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1985)
Fischl v. Fischl
59 Misc. 2d 282 (New York Supreme Court, 1969)
Towl v. Estate of Block
145 Misc. 2d 433 (New York Supreme Court, 1989)
Meiri v. Dacon
759 F.2d 989 (Second Circuit, 1985)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
108 B.R. 419, 1990 Bankr. LEXIS 2, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/frederes-v-ferguson-in-re-frederes-nywd-1990.