IMF Sales Associates, Inc. v. Racal-Vadic Information Systems, Inc. (In re IMF Sales Associates, Inc.)

94 B.R. 223, 1988 Bankr. LEXIS 2201
CourtDistrict Court, D. Massachusetts
DecidedMarch 10, 1988
DocketBankruptcy No. 87-10582-HL; Adv. No. 87-1285
StatusPublished

This text of 94 B.R. 223 (IMF Sales Associates, Inc. v. Racal-Vadic Information Systems, Inc. (In re IMF Sales Associates, Inc.)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Massachusetts primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
IMF Sales Associates, Inc. v. Racal-Vadic Information Systems, Inc. (In re IMF Sales Associates, Inc.), 94 B.R. 223, 1988 Bankr. LEXIS 2201 (D. Mass. 1988).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM ON ALLOWANCE OF MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

HAROLD LAVIEN, Bankruptcy Judge.

IMF Sales Associates (“IMF”) filed a five-count complaint against Racal-Vadic Information Systems, Inc.1 (“Racal”). IMF has since withdrawn Count I (preliminary injunction) and Count III (contempt) of its complaint. • Accordingly, the remaining causes of action are breach of contract (Count II), unfair trade practices (Count IV), and avoidance of preferential transfers (Count V). Racal filed a Motion for Summary Judgment on January 27, 1988, on which the Court heard argument, January 28, 1988. Both IMF and Racal have filed memorandum and affidavits.

IMF contends in Count V that it paid $90,963.83 to Racal during the 90 days before the bankruptcy to reduce antecedent debt while it was insolvent. The allegations, if proven true, would allow the debt- or to recover the $90,963.83 as a preferential transfer to Racal. 11 U.S.C. § 547.2 [224]*224IMF cannot avoid the payment to Racal unless it can show it was insolvent during the 90 days prior to the filing of its petition. In its memorandum, Racal argues that this Court has conclusively disposed of the issues of insolvency in IMF Sales Associates, Inc. v. Michael J. Fosko, slip opinion Adv.Pro. No. A87-1230-HAL (1987). In Fosko, the court found the debtor to be solvent for the three years prior to filing its bankruptcy petition. IMF contends Fosko is not conclusive because the debtor did not offer any evidence to prove that it was insolvent the three months prior to the filing of the bankruptcy petition and because it is being appealed. The Court has carefully examined the basis of Count V, the preference action, and the record in Fosko. Principles of collateral estoppel completely bar the relitigation of the insolvency issue. A court finding that collateral estoppel applies requires three determinations: (1) the relationship between the parties allows the application of collateral estoppel; (2) identity of issues; and, (3) an entry of a final judgment on the merits on the first action. Massachusetts Hospital Association v. Harris, 500 F.Supp. 1270 (D.Mass.1980); Matter of Wilcher, 56 B.R. 428 (Bankr.N.D.Ill.1985).

Bankruptcy Judge Robert D.. Martin has masterfully and concisely explained the relationship of parties needed for a finding of collateral estoppel.

Under the doctrine of collateral estoppel any issue which was previously decided and was necessary to the prior judgment may not be relitigated by a party to the first action. Since the demise of the doctrine of mutuality, collateral estoppel may be used defensively by one not party to a prior action against the party (and those in privity who lost on the issues decided in the first action). See Blonder-Tongue Laboratories, Inc. v. University of Illinois Foundation, 402 U.S. 313, 91 S.Ct. 1434, 28 L.Ed.2d 788 (1971). In appropriate circumstances collateral estoppel may also be applied offensively against a party or his privies who lost on an issue in prior litigation. Warren v. McCall, supra [709 F.2d 1183 (1983)] at 1185; see Parklane Hosiery Co., Inc. v. Shore, 439 U.S. 322, 99 S.Ct. 645, 58 L.Ed.2d 552 (1979).
In order to assert the doctrine of collateral estoppel it must be established that the party sought to be bound (or his privies) had a full and fair opportunity to litigate the issues in question in the prior litigation. See id. at 328, 99 S.Ct. at 650; see also Blonder-Tongue Laboratories, supra.

In re Wilcher, 56 B.R. at 436.

It is clear that Racal is asserting collateral estoppel in a permissible manner.

IMF had a full and fair opportunity and every incentive to show it was insolvent during the 90 days before the bankruptcy filing, April 17, 1987. Fosko was a fraudulent conveyance action where the debtor had to establish insolvency for a period of time that included the entire time period of preferences. 11 U.S.C. §§ 547, 548. The debtor’s failure to present evidence to show it was insolvent during the preference period has no legal effect, since the essential requirement for collateral estoppel is that it had the opportunity to offer such evidence which would have been material to the case it was then presenting. Akron Presform Mold Company v. McNeil Corporation, 496 F.2d 230 (1974). J. Moore, A Vestel Moore’s Manual: Federal Practice and Procedure § 30.05(1) n. 14 (1987). It was a material part of the Fosko case since some $15,000 of the fraudulent conveyance claim occurred within the 90-day period. To allow this second bite at the apple would encourage counsel to withhold complete preparation and presentation in a small original trial to test the waters if it could later pursue a second related claim, regardless of the outcome of the first action, and undo all that collateral estoppel was meant to end.

There is no need for the Court to reach the merits of this issue. The Court, however, is disturbed by the debtor’s actions and cannot let them pass without comment.

[225]*225The debtor has filed schedules of assets and liabilities as of the date of the filing of the bankruptcy petition, under the penalty of perjury. Submitting false schedules is a serious bankruptcy crime that can result in a denial of a discharge, 11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(4); Commercial Banking Corporation v. Martel, 123 F.2d 846 (1941) and criminal prosecution. Metheany v. U.S., 365 F.2d 90 (9th Cir.1966). The schedules show that the debtor had an equity of $128,360.60 the date it filed for bankruptcy. Racal has sought to show the debtor was solvent on the basis of the schedules and retrojecting the last three months’ results. Hassan v. Middlesex County National Bank, 333 F.2d 838 (1st Cir.1964).3

The debtor seeks to show it was insolvent on the date of the petition via the affidavits of its president, Thompson D. Irwin, and appraiser, Paul E. Saperstein, signed under the penalty of perjury. The two affidavits consist of Mr. Saperstein’s post-petition valuation of IMF assets and of Mr. Irwin reporting the results of post-petition sales.4 Despite the passage of eleven months since the filing, the debtor has not disavowed its schedules by moving to amend, but simply seeks to discredit its own oath for the limited purpose of this proceeding. Presumably, the pre and post creditors and others are still intended to rely on the valuations set forth in the schedules.

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94 B.R. 223, 1988 Bankr. LEXIS 2201, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/imf-sales-associates-inc-v-racal-vadic-information-systems-inc-in-re-mad-1988.