Hof v. Pride Centric Res., Inc. (In re Hof)

592 B.R. 112
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Louisiana
DecidedAugust 30, 2018
DocketCASE NO. 16-11179; ADVERSARY NO. 18-1002
StatusPublished

This text of 592 B.R. 112 (Hof v. Pride Centric Res., Inc. (In re Hof)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Louisiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hof v. Pride Centric Res., Inc. (In re Hof), 592 B.R. 112 (La. 2018).

Opinion

Hon. Elizabeth W. Magner, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge

This matter came before the Court on the Motion for Preliminary Injunction filed by Ronald Hof in his capacity as Chapter 7 Trustee for FoodServiceWarehouse.com, L.L.C. ("FSW").

I. Facts

Pride Centric Resources, Inc., f.k.a. Pride Marketing and Procurement, Inc., ("Pride") is a food service equipment collective. Members of Pride formed FSW in 2006 to sell equipment online. Many of FSW's members and managers are also members and/or managers of Pride.

During the relevant period, Pride's Board members were Kevin Bouma, Mike Bell, Jay Pattinger, Demetre Selevredes, Gary Thiakos, Ian McIntyre, Steve Dickler, David Castino, Ellison Berlin, David Curran, and Tom Carr. Exh. 42. Pride's Chief Financial Officer ("CFO") was Louis Puissegur, and Pride's Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") was Robert Autenreith.

On October 15, 2012, FSW opened a line of credit with IberiaBank ("Iberia") in the amount of $3,000,000.

On October 15, 2013, Pride agreed to guarantee $2,000,000 on an increase of $5,000,000 in FSW's line of credit.

On May 27, 2014, Iberia increased FSW's line of credit to $10,000,000, and Pride increased its guaranty to $5,000,000.

On June 19, 2014, FSW hired LaPorte APLC to conduct an audit of its books and records as of December 31, 2013. Exh. 5.

On June 19, 2014, Pride hired LaPorte APLC to conduct an audit of its books and records as of December 31, 2013. Exh. 35.

On September 12, 2014, LaPorte APLC completed its audit report of FSW for 2012 and 2013 ("FSW Audit 1"). Exh. 7.

On September 12, 2014, LaPorte APLC completed its audit report of Pride for 2012 and 2013 ("Pride Audit 1"). Exh. 8.

On October 14, 2014, Iberia increased FSW's line of credit to $20,000,000, and Pride increased its guaranty to $10,000,000.

On April 24, 2015, Iberia increased FSW's line of credit to $21,000,000.

On June 19, 2015, FSW contracted with LaPorte APLC to audit its books and records as of December 31, 2014. Exh. 14.

On June 19, 2015, Pride contracted with LaPorte APLC to audit its books and records as of December 31, 2014. Exh. 15.

On June 29, 2015, FSW approached JP Morgan Chase Bank ("Chase") for a loan in the amount of $75,000,000.00.

On July 9, 2015, Chase began an audit of FSW.

On August 31, 2015, FSW hired Brad Stone as CFO.

*116On September 14, 2015, LaPorte APLC completed its audit of Pride for 2013 and 2014 ("Pride Audit 2"). Exh. 18.

On October 13, 2015, LaPorte APLC's completed its audit of FSW for 2014 ("FSW Audit 2"). Exh. 19.

On December 3, 2015, Robert Autenreith sent an email to Kevin Bouma, Tom Carr, David Curran, Steve Dickler, Gary Licht, Ian McIntyre, Mike Bell, and Madhu Natarajan, Brad Stone, and Louis Puissegur stating that FSW had "cash flow and net income problems which are being solved." Exh. 21. One of the solutions being explored was a loan from JP Morgan Chase.

On December 21, 2015, Robert Autenreith emailed David Castino, David Curran, Demetre Selevredes, Ellison Berlin, Gary Thiakos, Ian McIntyre, Jay Pattinger, Kevin Bouma, Mike Bell, Mini,1 Rudy Ourso, Ryan Carr, Sherri Lilly, and Steve Dickler advising of Iberia's request for an increase in the Pride guaranty from $10,000,000 to $15,000,000. Exh. 22.

On December 22, 2015, Robert Autenreith notified Iberia Bank that Pride's Board had voted in favor of increasing its guaranty of FSW's debt Iberia to $15,000,000. Exh. 23.

In January 2016, Chase informed FSW that it could not proceed with FSW's requested loan.

On or about March 10, 2016, Iberia swept approximately $8,590,000 from Pride's bank account.

After March 10, 2016, Pride entered into an agreement with Iberia to satisfy its guaranty obligation by paying $7,500,000 in addition to the amount that Iberia swept from Pride's bank account. Exh. 48.

On March 18, 2016, FSW hired Thomas Kim as its Chief Executive and Restructuring Officer.

On May 20, 2016, Debtor filed a Voluntary Petition for Relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. The case was converted to Chapter 7 on October 12, 2016, and Ronald Hof was appointed Chapter 7 trustee ("Trustee").

On September 19, 2016, Pride filed Proofs of Claim 209-1 and 209-2 in the unsecured amount of $32,624.563.93. On January 19, 2017, Pride amended its claim by filing Claim 209-3 in the same amount.

On October 12, 2016, Pride filed an Application for Accountant Review Panel against LaPorte APLC and Cheryl Haspel, Tracy Tufts, Anthony M. Rutledge, Michael Simon, and Terri Troyer, employees of Laporte (collectively "LaPorte"). On August 16, 2017, Pride filed a First Supplemental and Restated Application for Accountant Review Panel. On November 27, 2017, Pride filed a Second Supplemental, Amending and Restated Application for Accountant Review Panel ("Pride Complaint"). Exh. 48.

Pride alleges it incurred the following direct damages between September 15, 2015, and June 30, 2016, in reliance on FSW Audits 1 and 2 (collectively "FSW Audits") as well as the Pride Audits 1 and 2 (collectively the "Pride Audits"). The damages requested can be described as:

1. Advances of $1,204,054.79 to FSW for rebates to FSW customers earned but not yet paid by FSW vendors to FSW ("Rebate Costs");
2. Advances of $5,715,061.20 in additional guarantees to Iberia;
3. Loans of $3,762,677.53 to FSW ("Loans");
*1174. Payroll advances of $50,811.50 to FSW ("Payroll Costs");
5. $100,130.81 in advances to Primoris, LLC d/b/a Saturn ("Saturn");
6. Advances, expenses incurred or resources expended for FSW's licensing program of $84,995.79 ("Licensing Costs");
7. Advances, expenses incurred or resources expended for FSW's Market Source Operating Division of $1,258.42 ("Marketing Costs");
8. Advances, expenses incurred or resources expended for FSW's operations ("Operating Costs") totaling $398,276.53; and
9. Payments of $7,003,733.78 to vendors of FSW on invoices guaranteed by Pride ("Vendor Guarantees").

P-35.

On October 31, 2016, Trustee filed an Application to Employ Special Counsel for FSW's claims against LaPorte. Case 16-11179, P-320. The Application was approved by the Court on November 14, 2016. Case 6-11179, P-337.

II. Procedural History

On January 15, 2018, Trustee initiated the above-captioned adversary by filing a Complaint against Pride for declaratory and injunctive relief ("Trustee Complaint"). P-1. The Trustee Complaint seeks declaratory judgment on the applicability of 11 U.S.C. § 362(a)(3) to the Pride Complaint.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
592 B.R. 112, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hof-v-pride-centric-res-inc-in-re-hof-laeb-2018.