Goger v. Merchants Bank of Atlanta (In re Feifer Industries, Inc.)

155 B.R. 256, 22 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 934, 1993 Bankr. LEXIS 861
CourtDistrict Court, D. Georgia
DecidedMarch 22, 1993
DocketBankruptcy No. 90-07472; Adversary No. 91-6089
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 155 B.R. 256 (Goger v. Merchants Bank of Atlanta (In re Feifer Industries, Inc.)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Goger v. Merchants Bank of Atlanta (In re Feifer Industries, Inc.), 155 B.R. 256, 22 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 934, 1993 Bankr. LEXIS 861 (gad 1993).

Opinion

ORDER

STACEY W. COTTON, Bankruptcy Judge.

Before the court is plaintiff’s motion for partial summary judgment and the cross-motion for summary judgment filed by defendant McCoy Lumber Company (“McCoy”). Plaintiff seeks a determination of the validity, extent, and priority of several liens. This matter is a core proceeding pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(E). The court will grant plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment and deny defendant McCoy's cross-motion.

FACTS

Prior to filing for bankruptcy, Feifer Industries, Inc. was in the business of manufacturing building trusses. As part of a general business and facility expansion program, debtor participated in a local 1986 Industrial Revenue Bond issue to raise capital. The Developmental Authority of Fulton County (“issuer”) issued its revenue bond series 1986, in the aggregate principal amount of $3,000,000. The issuer made loans (“loan agreements”) from the pro[258]*258ceeds of the bond issue to provide financing for debtor’s manufacturing facilities.

Under the loan agreements, debtor became indebted to First Georgia Bank (now known as First Union National Bank of Georgia, N.A. and hereinafter referred to as “First Union”), as trustee of the bond issue, and Standard Chartered Bank (“Standard”), as the issuer of a stand-by letter of credit. Debtor’s obligations to both First Union and Standard were secured by a deed to secure debt1 and a security agreement.

Under the security agreement, First Union and Standard were each granted a security interest in debtor’s equipment, inventory, and sale proceeds resulting therefrom. (Plaintiff’s Exhibit “B”, p. 1-3). To perfect the security interests of First Union and Standard, a financing statement, UCC-1 No. 656054, was filed in the Superior Court of Fulton County on June 11, 1986. (Plaintiff’s Exhibit “C”). First Union and Standard were listed on the financing statement as secured parties. On March 20, 1987, a UCC termination statement signed by an officer of First Union was filed which provided for the termination of UCC-1 No. 656054 dated June 11, 1986. (Plaintiff’s Exhibit “D”).

In February of 1989, McCoy filed a lawsuit against debtor and Allen Feifer, debt- or’s president, in the State Court of Fulton County to recover amounts due for lumber sold on account during 1988. Allen Feifer was the guarantor of debtor’s obligation that was the subject of that lawsuit. On August 25, 1989, debtor and Allen Feifer consented to an entry of judgment against them in the amount of $152,519.89 on the condition that McCoy enter into a covenant not to levy execution so long as payments on the judgment were made pursuant to an agreed schedule. Based on the consent judgment, McCoy recorded its writ of fieri facias (“fi fa”) against debtor and Allen Feifer on September 27, 1989.

On July 21, 1988, Bernard Feifer executed a promissory note in favor of defendant, the Merchants Bank of Atlanta (“Merchants Bank”), in the principal amount of $200,000 with a maturity date of August 1, 1989. On August 15, 1989, Bernard Feifer and debtor executed a promissory note in favor of Merchants Bank in the amount of $200,000.00, which proceeds were immediately paid to Merchants Bank to satisfy Bernard Feifer’s personal obligation under the original note. The August 15, 1989 note was accompanied by a security agreement which granted Merchants Bank a security interest in debtor’s equipment and inventory. On September 28, 1989, Merchants Bank filed a UCC-1 financing statement, perfecting its security interest in debtor’s equipment and inventory.

Debtor filed its Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition on June 1, 1990. Plaintiff John J. Goger was appointed as the Chapter 11 trustee and so served until succeeding himself as the Chapter 7 trustee upon conversion. On January 23, 1991, plaintiff conducted an auction in which all of debtor’s equipment and inventory were sold for approximately $230,000. Thereafter, plaintiff filed this adversary proceeding to determine the validity, extent, and priority of several liens.

Each defendant has claimed at one time an interest in the sale proceeds or has a recorded lien or security interest in debt- or’s equipment. McCoy’s claim to the sale proceeds is based upon its consent judgment and fi fa recorded on September 27, 1989. Merchants Bank’s claim to the sale proceeds is based upon its security agreement and financing statement filed on September 28, 1989.

Since the filing of this adversary proceeding defendants Continental Timber, State of Georgia Department of Labor, and Georgia Department of Revenue have stipulated that their respective claims have either been satisfied, are otherwise subordinate to plaintiff, or are entitled to priority of a deminimis amount. Defendant March Construction is currently in bank[259]*259ruptcy and plaintiff does not seek any relief as to it at this time.

Pursuant to an order of this court dated July 1, 1992, Standard assigned to plaintiff for the benefit of debtor’s estate the “right, title, and interest in and to [Standard’s] security agreement and financial statement” filed on June 11, 1986, “as well as its claim as a secured party to the equipment sales proceeds.... ” On August 7, 1992, plaintiff filed a motion for partial summary judgment seeking to establish a secured claim to the sale proceeds which has priority over the claims of McCoy and Merchants Bank (collectively referred to as “defendants”). Plaintiff asserts in the alternative that the estate can avoid McCoy’s judgment lien and Merchants Bank’s security interest pursuant to the provisions of 11 U.S.C. §§ 547 and 548. Along with his motion, plaintiff has filed a statement of uncontested facts and several exhibits. Merchants Bank responded by filing a statement of material facts as to which a genuine issue exists and several exhibits. In addition to responding to plaintiff’s motion, McCoy filed a cross-motion for summary judgment along with its statement of uncontested facts.

DISCUSSION

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56, made applicable by Bankruptcy Rule 7056, provides for the granting of summary judgment if “... there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and ... the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). A fact is material if it “... might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing (substantive) law....” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 2510, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1985). A dispute of fact is genuine “... if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.” Id. The moving party has the burden of establishing the right of summary judgment. Clark v. Coats & Clark, Inc., 929 F.2d 604, 608 (11th Cir.1991); Clark v. Union Mut. Life Ins. Co.,

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Bluebook (online)
155 B.R. 256, 22 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 934, 1993 Bankr. LEXIS 861, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/goger-v-merchants-bank-of-atlanta-in-re-feifer-industries-inc-gad-1993.