Guam Economic Development Authority v. Black Enterprises, Inc. (In Re Black Enterprises, Inc.)

39 B.R. 253, 1982 Bankr. LEXIS 3074
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, D. Guam
DecidedOctober 26, 1982
Docket19-00014
StatusPublished

This text of 39 B.R. 253 (Guam Economic Development Authority v. Black Enterprises, Inc. (In Re Black Enterprises, Inc.)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, D. Guam primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Guam Economic Development Authority v. Black Enterprises, Inc. (In Re Black Enterprises, Inc.), 39 B.R. 253, 1982 Bankr. LEXIS 3074 (gub 1982).

Opinion

JON J. CHINEN, Bankruptcy Judge.

On June 18, 1982, Lydia F. Black (“Mrs. Black”) filed a chapter 11 petition under the Bankruptcy Code. Then, on June 21, 1982, Black Enterprises, Inc. (“Black Enterprises”) filed a chapter 11 petition, also under the Bankruptcy Code,

On July 23, 1982, Guam Economic Development Authority (“GEDA”), an alleged secured creditor of both Black Enterprises and Mrs. Black, filed a complaint to lift the automatic stay as against Black Enterprises, followed by a similar complaint against Mrs. Black, filed on July 28, 1982.

The consolidated hearings on both complaints to lift the stay were held on September 15, 1982 before the undersigned Judge. Black Enterprises was represented by John Moore of Crain, Moore, Lawlor & Hall, and Roger Crouthamel of Carlsmith, Carlsmith, Wichman & Case. Mrs. Black was represented by Russell Tansey. GEDA was represented by Norman L. Ashton of Ferenz, Williams, Gruskin & Ashton, P.C.

Based upon the evidence adduced, the memoranda and records filed herein and arguments of counsel, the Court makes the following Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law:

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. At the commencement of the trial, the respective attorneys for GEDA, Black Enterprises and Mrs. Black stipulated to the following facts:

(a)That as of August 19, 1982, Black Enterprises was indebted to GEDA in the sum of $690,974.33 principal and interest accrued as of such date, with interest continuing to accrue at the respective note rates from and after such date. The parties further stipulated and agreed that the original Black Enterprises loans from GEDA were in default, and that GEDA was a secured creditor via leasehold mortgages, chattel mortgages, UCC-1 financing statements, assignment of rents and security agreements properly signed and delivered by Black Enterprises to GEDA. It was stipulated and agreed that the leasehold mortgages, chattel mortgages, assignments, rents, promissory notes, assignment of sublease, and other documents annexed as exhibits to GEDA’s complaints to lift stay against Black Enterprises were true and accurate copies of the original instruments, and that the same were validly signed and delivered by Black Enterprises to GEDA. All of such documents and instruments were admitted in evidence by stipulation.

(b) That the mortgage and guarantee instruments signed by Mrs. Black to GEDA and annexed as exhibits to GEDA’s complaint to lift,stay against Mrs. Black were true and accurate and such instruments had been signed by Mrs. Black and that the same were also admitted into evidence. The parties agreed to stay trial on the challenges to the continued enforceability of Mrs. Black’s mortgage to GEDA and of the continued enforceability of her guarantee to GEDA pending a decision by the court with respect to GEDA’s complaint to lift the automatic stay against Black Enterprises.

(c) That GEDA had advanced and incurred various attorneys’ fees and costs with respect to seeking enforcement and collection of its secured loan against Black Enterprises. That a hearing on the amount of such fees and the imposition of the same as additional sums secured by the Black Enterprises mortgages and other secured instruments to GEDA would be stayed pending the final hearing before the court on the issue of valuation and a decision with respect to whether GEDA is adequately protected, whether Black Enterprises has any equity in the collateral securing the GEDA debt, and whether such property is necessary for a.viable reorganization of Black Enterprises.

(d) That there had been an assignment of rents executed among GEDA, Black Enterprises and the Government of Guam (De *255 partment of Revenue and Taxation) with respect to monthly rents payable by various tenants of the leasehold mortgaged properties known as the Guerrero warehouses. A copy of this assignment of rent agreement was introduced in evidence. By earlier order of this Court, at the preliminary hearing on GEDA’s complaint to lift stay held via telephone conference, the assigned amount of rents for the Guerrero warehouses due the Government of Guam under such agreement in the monthly sum of $3,000 have been directed to be placed in a suspense account by GEDA.

2. With respect to the issue of attorneys’ fees and costs, GEDA advised the court that, as of the September 15, 1982 hearing, it had already advanced and paid attorneys’ fees and costs with respect to seeking enforcement and collection of the Black Enterprises loans in the sum of $8,461.00. GEDA anticipated that additional legal fees and costs already incurred but not yet invoiced, plus additional anticipated fees for bankruptcy litigation, would approximate $9,000.00, which sum could increase depending on the extent of ongoing litigation in the bankruptcy proceedings.

3. A summary description of the collateral which secured the Black Enterprises loans with GEDA is as follows:

(a) Lot 64, Unit 4, Tract 1445, Barrigada Heights (hereafter “Barrigada Heights residence”). This collateral is pursuant to a mortgage to GEDA from Eugene W. Black and Mrs. Black, the former wife of Eugene W. Black. Mrs. Black is challenging the validity of this mortgage.

(b) Leasehold mortgage from Black Enterprises to GEDA over real property Lots 13 and 14, Block 4, Calvo Memorial Park together with warehouse situate thereon (hereafter “Plastics factory property”).

(c) Leasehold mortgage with assignment of rents over Lots A and B, portions of Lot 2140-5, Dededo, with four warehouses situate thereon (hereafter “Guerrero warehouses”).

(d) Chattel mortgage and accompanying UCC loan financing statement with respect to various equipment and chattels situate in the Plastics factory consisting primarily of Plastics manufacturing equipment (hereafter “Plastics equipment”).

4. At the final hearing, this Court continued in force and effect its earlier order requiring Black Enterprises to assume or reject that certain executory sublease originally entered into by and between Black Enterprises and Cathay Plasties which such sublease was subsequently assigned by Cathay to GEDA, and which assignment was admitted into evidence in this proceeding. Black Enterprises is to assume or reject this sublease on or before September 30, 1982.

5. At the final hearing, GEDA called as its witness Woodrow Gaspard, who was duly qualified as an expert and whose testimony was admitted into evidence together with his supporting written appraisal reports.

6. Mr. Gaspard’s opinion of the fair market value of the various described collateral was as follows:

A. Barrigada Heights residence: $174,000.00

This residence is subject to a first mortgage held by the Bank of Hawaii with an outstanding balance of $44,000, resulting in an equity interest to Mrs. Black of $130,-000.00.

B. Guerrero warehouses: $286,900.00
C. Plastic Factory property:

For the Plastic Factory property, Mr. Gaspard submitted two appraisals. He first appraised the leasehold interest in such property as though there were no restrictive covenants limiting the use of the leasehold premises. Then, he made a separate appraisal based on the assumption that such leasehold premises were restricted solely to plastics manufacturing.

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39 B.R. 253, 1982 Bankr. LEXIS 3074, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/guam-economic-development-authority-v-black-enterprises-inc-in-re-black-gub-1982.