Garrett Bernard Tupper, Jr.

CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. New York
DecidedDecember 10, 2024
Docket8-24-73979
StatusUnknown

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Bluebook
Garrett Bernard Tupper, Jr., (N.Y. 2024).

Opinion

UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK ----------------------------------------------------------------x In re: Chapter 13

Garrett Bernard Tupper, Jr., Case No. 8-24-73979-las

Debtor. ----------------------------------------------------------------x

MEMORANDUM ORDER GRANTING IMMEDIATE AND PROSPECTIVE IN REM RELIEF FROM AUTOMATIC STAY AND RELIEF FROM THE CO-DEBTOR STAY

SN Servicing Corporation as servicer for U.S. Bank Trust National Association as Trustee of the Dwelling Series IV Trust (the “Mortgagee”), filed a motion, dated November 15, 2024 (the “Motion”) [Dkt. No. 28], seeking an order (i) pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 362(d)(4), granting in rem relief from the automatic stay with respect to the residential real property located at 537 Liberty Avenue, Williston Park, NY 11596 (“Property”), (ii) pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 362(d)(1), vacating the automatic stay to permit it to exercise its rights and remedies with respect to the Property, (iii) pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 1301(c), vacating the co-debtor stay in effect pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 1301(a), and (vi) pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 4001(a)(3), granting waiver of the 14-day stay. By Order dated November 15, 2024 [Dkt. No. 29], the Court scheduled a hearing on the Motion. Due and proper notice of the Motion was made on all necessary parties as evidenced by the certificate of service filed by the Mortgagee. [Dkt. No. 31]. Garrett Bernard Tupper, Jr. (the “Debtor”) filed opposition to the Motion on November 19, 2024. [Dkt. No. 33]. Debtor’s wife, Aileen Tupper, the sole borrower and obligor on the mortgage note, did not file a response to the Motion. In his opposition, Debtor principally argues that a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, dated August 5, 2022 and entered on August 8, 2022 (“Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale”) in favor of the Mortgagee in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of Nassau (“State Court”), must be vacated. 1 The Court held a hearing on the Motion on November 21, 2024. Debtor appeared pro se, Michael Rozea, Esq. of Friedman Vartolo, LLP appeared on behalf of the Mortgagee, and Michael Macco, Esq., the Chapter 13 Trustee, appeared. The co-debtor did not attend the hearing. The Court has carefully considered the parties’ submissions and arguments, and the law pertaining to this matter, and for the reasons set forth on the record at the Hearing and as stated below, the Motion is granted. I. Jurisdiction The Court has jurisdiction over the Motion under 28 U.S.C. § 1334 and the Standing

Order of Reference entered by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 157(a), dated August 28, 1986, as amended by Order dated December 5, 2012. Proceedings seeking relief from the automatic stay are core proceedings that the Court may hear and decide. 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(1), (b)(2)(G). II. Discussion The Court presumes the parties’ familiarity with the facts and procedural background of Debtor’s two prior chapter 13 cases, both of which were dismissed by orders of this Court, and the State Court foreclosure proceedings concerning the Property.1 A. Stay Relief Pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 362(d)(1)2 For the following reasons, the Mortgagee has demonstrated “cause” under 11 U.S.C. § 362(d)(1) for granting relief from the automatic stay to permit it to exercise its rights and remedies with respect to the Property. First, Debtor has (i) not made any post-petition

1 See Bankr. Case No. 8-22-73436; Bankr. Case No. 8-23-72869, Dkt. Nos. 7, 15, 23, 48, 53, 68, 69, 72, 92, 107-112; Memorandum and Order dated August 30, 2024 (“District Court August 2024 Memorandum and Order”), Case Nos. 2:23-cv-6644, 2:23-cv-9242, and 2:24-cv-1266 (E.D.N.Y.). 2 The Court made similar findings in Debtor’s second bankruptcy case in granting immediate stay relief as set forth in its Order dated December 7, 2023. Those findings remain applicable in this bankruptcy case and are restated in this Memorandum Order. 2 mortgage payments and (ii) failed to satisfy his burden of proof to demonstrate that the Mortgagee’s interest in the Property is adequately protected. See 11 U.S.C. § 362(g). No offer of adequate protection was forthcoming, and Debtor’s proposed chapter 13 plan [Dkt. No. 19] does not provide for any payments to the Mortgagee. To the contrary, Debtor remains steadfast in his claim that he is not indebted to the Mortgagee despite entry of the Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale. Second, “cause” also exists after application of the relevant factors set forth in Sonnax Indus., Inc. v. Tri Component Prods. Corp. (In re Sonnax Indus., Inc.), 907 F.2d 1280, 1286

(2d Cir. 1990), for granting relief from the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. § 362(d)(1). Specifically, the Court finds applicable here: (i) the first factor in that relief to proceed in state court would result in partial or complete resolution of the issues, (ii) the second factor in that any state court action would not interfere with the bankruptcy case and the trustee would be notified of any surplus arising from a foreclosure sale, (iii) the fourth factor in that the state court is a tribunal with the necessary expertise to hear and determine foreclosure actions, (iv) the seventh factor in that litigation of a foreclosure action before the state court would not prejudice the interests of other creditors and to the extent there is any surplus arising from a foreclosure sale, the trustee would be notified of such surplus; (v) the tenth factor in that the interests of judicial economy and expeditious and economical resolution of litigation favor granting relief from stay to allow the parties to proceed before the state court; and (vi) the twelfth factor in that the impact of the stay and the balance of harms also favor granting relief from the stay in light of the history of non-payment. Furthermore, as previously explained to Debtor in his second bankruptcy case in which he alleged that the Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale must be vacated, lower federal courts lack subject matter jurisdiction under the Rooker-Feldman Doctrine, see Rooker v. 3 Fidelity Trust Co., 44 S.Ct. 149 (1923), and District of Columbia Court of Appeals v. Feldman, 103 S.Ct. 1303 (1983), to review the State Court Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale. Vossbrinck v. Accredited Home Lenders, Inc., 773 F.3d 423, 425 (2d Cir. 2014). Based on the record placed before the Court, the procedural requirements of the Rooker-Feldman Doctrine were clearly satisfied and Debtor’s collateral attack on the Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale is barred by Rooker-Feldman.

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Related

Rooker v. Fidelity Trust Co.
263 U.S. 413 (Supreme Court, 1924)
District of Columbia Court of Appeals v. Feldman
460 U.S. 462 (Supreme Court, 1983)
In Re Lemma
394 B.R. 315 (E.D. New York, 2008)
Vossbrinck v. Deutsche Bank National Trust Co.
773 F.3d 423 (Second Circuit, 2014)
In re Richmond
513 B.R. 34 (E.D. New York, 2014)

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