French v. Fifth Third Bank of Western Ohio, N.A. (In re Marbella & Co. of Ohio)

141 B.R. 150, 18 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 935, 1992 Bankr. LEXIS 871
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Ohio
DecidedMay 7, 1992
DocketBankruptcy No. 1-90-0075; Adv. No. 90-0088
StatusPublished

This text of 141 B.R. 150 (French v. Fifth Third Bank of Western Ohio, N.A. (In re Marbella & Co. of Ohio)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Ohio primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
French v. Fifth Third Bank of Western Ohio, N.A. (In re Marbella & Co. of Ohio), 141 B.R. 150, 18 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 935, 1992 Bankr. LEXIS 871 (Ohio 1992).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER PERMITTING PARTIAL SETOFF AND GRANTING JUDGMENT AGAINST DEFENDANT

WALTER J. KRASNIEWSKI, Bankruptcy Judge.

This matter is before the court upon plaintiff trustee’s motion for summary judgment of the complaint to recover property, specifically cash deposits at, and a setoff by, defendant Fifth Third Bank of Ohio; plaintiffs/creditors Robert and Henrietta Miller’s motion for summary judgment requesting that their security interest in the proceeds be entitled to priority; opposition thereto by defendant Fifth Third Bank of Western Ohio to the plaintiffs’ motions for summary judgment; and defendant’s cross motion for summary judgment requesting dismissal of plaintiffs’ complaint. Upon consideration thereof, the court finds that the setoff by defendant Fifth Third Bank of Western Ohio in the amount of $97,748.80 improved its position within 90 days of the date of Debtor’s petition in the amount of $74,515.48 which the trustee is entitled to recover and that plaintiffs Millers’ claim to these funds is denied.

[152]*152FACTS

This complaint was filed by the Debtor in possession during the pendency of its chapter 11 case. However, upon conversion of Debtor’s ease to a case under chapter 7, the trustee assumed prosecution of this complaint. Furthermore, Robert Miller and Henrietta Miller [the Millers], at their request, were joined as party plaintiffs. The parties have stipulated:

1. That the Debtor’s chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding was filed on March 9, 1990.
2. At the time of filing of voluntary chapter 11 proceeding, the Debtor had a commercial checking account with the defendant, Fifth Third Bank, [hereinafter the bank] Account Number 760-30281.
3. The Debtor had said operating account in existence more than ninety (90) days prior to the date of filing its chapter 11 proceeding.
4. December 8, 1989 is ninety (90) days prior to the date the Debtor filed its chapter 11 proceeding.
5. That the account balance in said account on December 8, 1989 as per the bank statement of [the bank] was $46,-871.19.
6. That the account balance in said account on December 7, 1989 as per the bank statement of Fifth Third was $48,-549.03.
7. The checks posted on December 7, 1989 as per the bank statement of [the bank] were $4,789.45.
8. Total deposits on December 8,1989 as per the bank statement of [the bank] were $9,470.83.
9. That on March 6, 1990, [the bank] offset $87,168.37 from the Debtor’s checking account as evidenced by its statement and cashier check issued March 6, 1990.
10. On March 7, 1990, [the bank] offset an additional $10,580.43, from the Debtor’s checking account as evidenced by a cashier’s check dated the same date.
11. On March 12, 1990, the Bank credited $2,842.76 to the Debtor’s checking account. Said amount was credited back as a result of a returned check which was deposited in the Debtor’s checking account and dishonored by the Bank upon which said check was drawn. The deposit on March 12 of $2,842.76 was honored by [the bank] by crediting back part of the money offset and by increasing the loan balance on the note in the amount of $300,000.00.
12. On March 12, 1990, the Bank credited $6,670.83 to the Debtor’s checking account. Said amount was credited back as a payment on one of the Debtor’s commercial loan accounts. Check No. 3807 was in the amount of $6,670.83. Said check was a payment in process on the $300,000.00 note. This check constituted the return of a debit item in the amount of $6,670.83 credited to the account on March 12, 1990.
13. On March 13, 1990, the Bank credited $433.27 to the Debtor's checking account. Said amount was credited back as a result of a returned check which was deposited in the Debtor’s checking account and dishonored by the Bank upon which said check was drawn. The deposit on March 12 of $433.27 was honored by [the bank] by crediting back part of the money offset and by increasing the loan balance on the note in the amount of $300,000.00.
14. That the Debtor entered into a transaction to purchase the business known as the Wapak Truck Plaza with [the Millers].
15. The Debtor entered into a security agreement in order to secure the obligation stated therein and granting [the Millers] a security interest in the collateral listed therein.
16. Said security agreement contains no date as to the date of execution by either the secured party or the Debtor named therein.
17. The Debtor also executed U.C.C.l’s setting forth the same collateral as the security agreement and filed for record in the Auglaize County Recorder’s Office on the 28th day of August 1986 and with the Secretary of State’s Office on the 29th day of August 1986.
[153]*15318. On May 20, 1987, [the bank] loaned the sum of $800,000.00 to the Debtor which was deposited in Account Number 760-30281 on June 1, 1987. The purpose of said loan as stated on the application was “purchase Greyhound Food Management — Wapak Truck Plaza.”
19. In order to secure the $300,000.00 loan, a security agreement dated May 20, 1987 was executed in favor of [the bank]. Said security agreement provided for security in the collateral listed therein.
20. In conjunction with signing of the security agreement, financing statements were also signed. Said financing statements were duly recorded with the Auglaize County Recorder’s Office on July 1, 1987 along with the Secretary of State’s Office on July 2, 1987.
21. On October 7, 1989, [the bank] loaned the sum of $100,000.00 to the Debtor, the proceeds of which were deposited in Account Number 760-30281 on October 10, 1989. The purpose of said loan was for capital improvements and purchase of inventory.
22. In order to secure the $100,000.00 loan, a security agreement dated October 7, 1989 was executed in favor of [the bank]. Said security agreement provided for security in the collateral as listed therein.
23. In conjunction with signing of the security agreement, financing statements were also signed. Said financing statements were duly recorded with the Auglaize County Recorder’s Office on October 12, 1989 along with the Secretary of State’s Office on October 17, 1989.
24. The beginning checking account balance on September 29, 1989 was $60,-355.47. The funds from the October loan were credited to the account on October 10, 1989 and the ending balance on October 31, 1989 was $3,780.73.

Partial Stipulation of Facts (September 12, 1991).

The parties further stipulated that:

this matter is ripe for summary judgment as no factual disputes; [the bank] withdraws the subordination issue; [the bank’s] dispute as to Millers’ security interest is premised upon the lack of an execution date on the security agreement; that no dispute exists that the entity signing the security agreement with the bank is the Debtor; [and pertinent balances]:

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141 B.R. 150, 18 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 935, 1992 Bankr. LEXIS 871, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/french-v-fifth-third-bank-of-western-ohio-na-in-re-marbella-co-of-ohnb-1992.