Giese v. Community Trust Bank (In re HNRC Dissolution Co.)

549 B.R. 469
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Kentucky
DecidedApril 15, 2016
DocketCASE NO. 02-14261; ADV. NO. 15-1005
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 549 B.R. 469 (Giese v. Community Trust Bank (In re HNRC Dissolution Co.)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Kentucky primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Giese v. Community Trust Bank (In re HNRC Dissolution Co.), 549 B.R. 469 (Ky. 2016).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Tracey N. Wise, Bankruptcy Judge

This removed action is related to prior adjudications that discuss the fourteen year history of the underlying bankruptcy case. First, the United States District Court determined it had bankruptcy jurisdiction over this matter and denied the Plaintiffs Motion to Remand, Giese v. Cmty. Tr. Bank, Inc., No. 14-126-GFVT, 2015 WL 1481618, at *1 (E.D.Ky. Mar. 31, 2015). Second, this Court determined this [473]*473is a core proceeding and thus denied the Plaintiffs Motion for Mandatory Abstention. [ECF No. 18.] Now, the Court delves deeper into the record and concludes the Plaintiffs claims must be dismissed on principles of res judicata and failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. The Court will grant Defendants Community Trust Bank’s and Lexington Coal Company’s Motion to Dismiss [ECF No. 25].1

Background and Procedural History2 A. The Horizon Bankruptcy

In November 2002, Leslie Resources, Inc. (“LRI”), along with 160 affiliates (collectively, the “Horizon Debtors”), filed voluntary chapter 11 bankruptcy petitions. The cases were jointly administered under the lead case styled In re Horizon Natural Resources Company, Case No. 02-14261 (the “Horizon Bankruptcy”). The Joint Administration Motion noted that collectively, the Horizon Debtors were one of the largest coal producers in the United States. [HNRC ECF No, 3 at 12.] Relevant to the issues raised herein, LRI listed $316,358.00. in “restricted cash” in its personal property schedule. [LRI ECF No. 7 at 20.] LRI did not indicate the bank in which funds were deposited, nor the nature of the restriction.

In April 2004, the Horizon Debtors filed two plans — one debtor group, which included LRI, filed a Joint Plan of Reorganization and the remaining debtors filed a Joint Liquidating Plan (the “Initial Plans”). The Initial Plans contemplated an open auction sale of substantially all of the Horizon Debtors’ assets based on an Asset Purchase Agreement proposed by the Horizon Debtors. In connection with the Initial Plans, the Horizon Debtors sought approval of certain bidding procedures, including the Horizon Debtors’ rights to select a stalking horse bidder. [See HNRC ECF No. 2883.]

On May 13, 2004, the Horizon Debtors filed their First Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization and First Amended Joint Liquidating Plan which contemplated a sale of substantially all of the Debtors’ assets pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement between the Horizon Debtors, including LRI, and proposed purchaser, Newcoal, LLC (now known as International Coal Group, Inc.)3 [HNRC ECF No. 3018], subject generally to overbids. In connection therewith, the Horizon Debtors filed an Amended Motion for Order (A) Approving (i) Auction Procedures, (ii) a Breakup Fee, and (iii) Form and Manner of Notice, and (B) Setting Sale Hearing Date [HNRC ECF No. 3016] (the “Procedures Motion”). In addition to seeking approval of auction procedures, the Procedures Motion sought approval of a Sale Notice.

The Sale Notice described the auction procedures, including requirements for bids, bidder participation, bid procedure deadlines, and court approval requirements. The Horizon Debtors sought to serve the Sale Notice on, among others, creditors, parties-in-interest, counterparties to contracts and leases and potential [474]*474buyers. In addition, the Horizon Debtors asked to publish the Sale Notice in business and industry publications that they determined would promote the marketing and sale of the assets. The Procedures Motion was granted by order entered on June 16, 2004. [HNRC ECF No. 3337.] The order directed that “[t]he Debtors shall publish the Sale Notice in the Wall Street Journal and in such other financial and industry publications as the Debtors and their investment bankers determine will promote the marketing and sale of the Purchased Assets.” [Id. at 5.] The order further set a deadline for filing any objections to the proposed sale. [Id. at 13.]

The Horizon Debtors amended their plans and disclosure statements two additional times. On July 11, 2004, they filed their Third Amended Joint Plans, the Reorganization Plan [ECF No. 3526], the Liquidation Plan [HNRC ECF No. 3527] and related amended disclosure statements. By order entered July 13, 2004, the Court approved the Horizon Debtors’ Disclosure Statements and set August 31, 2004, as the date for the hearing on confirmation of the plans. [HNRC ECF No. 3549.] That order also established voting deadlines and objection procedures for the pending plans (collectively the “Confirmation Procedures”). In conformity therewith, on August 27, 2004, the Horizon Debtors filed a “Notice of Filings of Affidavits of Publication of the Confirmation Hearing Notice and the Auction Notice” which set forth that the Confirmation Procedures had been published in the following:

1. Huntington Herald-Dispatch;
2. Wall Street Journal;
3. Lexington Herald-Leader,
4. Ashland Daily Independent; and
5. Appalachian News-Express.

That Notice also provided that the Sale Notice had been published in the following:

6. Wall Street Journal;
7. Williamson Daily News;
8. Charleston Newspapers — Saturday Gazette Mail;
9. Ashland Daily Independent; and
10. Huntington Herald-Dispatch.

[HNRC ECF No. 3948.]

The auction was held on August 17, 2004, and two transactions emerged, one with International Coal Group, Inc. (“ICG”) and one with Lexington Coal Company, LLC (“Lexington Coal”).4 ICG offered to purchase substantially all of LRI’s assets, with the remainder to be sold to Lexington Coal. The Lexington Coal Asset Purchase Agreement identified LRI as a “Partial Seller.” [HNRC ECF No. 3958 at 25.]

While the two purchasers each bought different assets, both agreements contained similar language regarding the sale of Debtor’s cash. See HNRC ECF No. 3172 ¶ 2.1(a)(xii) (providing, absent certain exclusions, for the sale of “all cash and cash equivalents of the [Debtor]” to ICG); HNRC ECF No. 3915 ¶2.1^)&]1) (providing, absent certain exclusions, for the sale of “all cash and cash equivalents of the [Debtor]” to Lexington Coal). Neither agreement provided a schedule listing the cash assets. As relevant here, ICG also purchased a leasehold interest from LRI in Leslie County, Kentucky, listed on the schedules of ICG’s asset purchase agreement as “Emmit Begley Heirs Escrow” [HNRC ECF No. 3172-4 at 23], and LRI’s [475]*475rights in a lease agreement, also listed on the schedules of ICG’s asset purchase agreement as “Emmit Begley Heirs Escrow” [HNRC ECF No. 3172-5 at 23]. Neither asset was listed in the schedules to Lexington Coal’s asset purchase agreement.

In September 2004, this Court entered orders approving the sales and confirming the Horizon Debtors’ Plans of Reorganization and Liquidation. Specifically, on September 16, 2004, the Court entered:

1.

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Bluebook (online)
549 B.R. 469, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/giese-v-community-trust-bank-in-re-hnrc-dissolution-co-kyeb-2016.