In re 473 West End Realty Corp.

507 B.R. 496, 2014 WL 1322821, 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 1321, 59 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 81
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. New York
DecidedApril 3, 2014
DocketCase No. 14-35211 (CGM)
StatusPublished
Cited by31 cases

This text of 507 B.R. 496 (In re 473 West End Realty Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re 473 West End Realty Corp., 507 B.R. 496, 2014 WL 1322821, 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 1321, 59 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 81 (N.Y. 2014).

Opinion

Chapter 11 (Involuntary)

MEMORANDUM DECISION DENYING LAROE ESTATES LLC’S REQUEST FOR A STAY PENDING APPEAL

CECELIA G. MORRIS, CHIEF UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY JUDGE

Before the Court is LaRoe Estates LLC (“LaRoe”)’s motion for a stay pending appeal of this Court’s March 7, 2014 order granting TD Bank, N.A. (“TD”) relief from the automatic stay. The Court had previously granted TD relief from the automatic stay in connection with the alleged Debt- or’s previous voluntary chapter 11 bankruptcy case. The prior case was dismissed shortly thereafter. This involuntary chapter 11 ease was filed less than one month later by LaRoe, an alleged creditor with hopes of purchasing the alleged Debtor and its property. The Court granted TD’s motion to lift the automatic stay for the second time on March 7, 2014, finding that LaRoe was not able to establish that the alleged Debtor can reorganize within a reasonable time. As LaRoe has not come forward with any evidence demonstrating that this Court’s March 7, 2014 order should be reversed on appeal and has not met its burden on this motion, the Court denies its request for a stay pending appeal.

In conjunction with this motion for stay pending appeal, LaRoe submitted a proposed order to show cause asking the Court to stay the scheduled foreclosure sale, as there are no grounds to grant LaRoe’s request for a stay pending appeal, the Court also denies its request to prevent the sale from occurring as scheduled.

Jurisdiction

This Court has subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1334(a), 28 U.S.C. § 157(a) and the Standing Order of Reference signed by Chief Judge Loretta A. Preska dated January 31, 2012. This is a “core proceeding” under 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(A) (matters concerning the administration of the estate).

Background1

The alleged Debtor, 473 West End Realty Corp. (“Debtor2”), is the owner of a 1.3 acre parcel of land located in Chester, New York, on which the Debtor operates a private water company (the “Property”). See Vol. Pet., 13-36955, ECF No. 1. The Debtor’s president and sole shareholder, Steven M. Sherman (“Mr. Sherman”), passed away on September 29, 2013, while Debtor’s voluntary chapter 11 case was pending. See Local R. 1007-2 Sherman Aff. ¶ 1, No. 13-36955, ECF No. 1. The Debtor’s shares now belong to Mr. Sherman’s estate. The Property adjoins approximately 300 acres of vacant property, which is also owned by Mr. Sherman’s estate. See Mar. 4, 2014 Hr’g Tr. 3:14-15, [500]*500ECF No. 20. Mr. Sherman acquired the Property and the 300 acre lot for the purpose of developing a residential housing subdivision. See Mar. 4, 2014 Hr’g Tr. at 11.

TD alleges that the Property and the adjoining 300 acre lot both serve as security for a guarantee made by Debtor for a loan by TD to Mr. Sherman and for a loan by TD to a different corporation, Walden Oaks, Inc. Third Lift Stay Motion ¶ 9, ECF No. 3. The loans matured on July 1, 2007, and TD alleges that no payments have been made thereafter. Id. On January 4, 2008, TD brought a foreclosure action against the Debtor in Orange County Supreme Court, which resulted in a judgment of foreclosure in favor of TD dated April 29, 2013. See Paxson Aff. ¶ 9, ECF No. 3, Ex. A; Local R. 1007-2 Sherman Aff. ¶ 10, No. 13-36955, ECF No. 1.

On August 30, 2013, the Debtor filed a voluntary chapter 11 case (“First Bankruptcy Case”) in an attempt to come to a resolution with TD in the bankruptcy court. See Vol. Pet., 13-36955, ECF No. 1. On September 16, 2013, TD filed its first motion seeking relief from the automatic stay, which was denied upon the record of the October 1, 2013 hearing (“First Lift Stay Motion”). See First Lift Stay Motion, No. 13-36955, ECF No. 11. On October 16, 2013, TD filed its second motion for relief from the automatic stay (“Second Lift Stay Motion”), which was granted on November 19, 2013, during the First Bankruptcy Case. See Second Lift Stay Motion, No. 13-36955, ECF No. 22; Order, No. 13-36955, ECF No. 41. The First Bankruptcy Case was subsequently dismissed voluntarily on January 10, 2014. Dismiss Order, No. 13-36955, ECF No. 47.

Less than one month later, on February 4, 2014, an involuntary chapter 11 petition (“Second Bankruptcy Case3”) was filed against the Debtor by LaRoe as the sole petitioning creditor. Invol. Pet., ECF No. 1. On February 14, 2014, TD moved for relief from stay in this Second Bankruptcy Case (“Third Lift Stay Motion”). Third Lift Stay Motion, ECF No. 3.

According to the motion, the total amount of $4,933,079.87 was due and owing on the loans as of the petition date, with interest continuing to accrue at a rate of $1,099.47 per day or $32,984.10 per month, plus attorneys’ fees and costs and expenses. Id. ¶ 11. TD also alleged that no real estate taxes have been paid since before 2007, that TD has advanced the sum of $685,137.07 to pay real estate taxes on the properties, and that the real estate taxes continue to go unpaid. Id.

LaRoe is allegedly an unsecured creditor of the Debtor in the amount of $2.5 million.4 See Draft App. Br. 8-9, ECF No. 16, Ex. D. LaRoe opposed the Third Lift Stay Motion. Opp., ECF No. 7. TD Bank filed a response to LaRoe’s opposition. Resp., ECF No. 8. LaRoe filed an unauthorized sur-reply. Supp. Opp., ECF No. 10. Nancy Sherman (“Ms. Sherman”), Mr. Sherman’s widow and the executor of his estate, joined LaRoe in opposing the relief [501]*501requested by TD.5 ECF No. 12. After a hearing held on March 4, 2014, the Court granted TD relief from the automatic stay for a second time in four months. Order, No. 13-36955, ECF No., 41.

On March 13, 2014, LaRoe filed a notice of appeal of this Court’s order lifting the automatic stay dated March 7, 2014. On March 21, 2014, LaRoe filed a motion for a stay pending appeal, which is currently before the Court. Mot., ECF No. 16. La-Roe argues that if the order is not stayed upon appeal, the appeal will become moot as TD has scheduled a sale of the Debtor’s real property on April 7, 2014. See id. at 2. LaRoe argues that this Court committed reversible error when it found cause to lift the stay. Id. at 3. LaRoe argues that the estate will be irreparably injured absent a stay as the real property is essential to the Debtor’s ability to reorganize. Id. LaRoe argues that TD would not be harmed as LaRoe would be willing to condition the stay pending appeal on payment of prospective real estate taxes and any other expense, which, if not paid, would cause TD to suffer injury. Id. at 4. LaRoe argues that the public interest is best served by a continuation of the stay as the Debtor is a utility company supplying water to forty-eight homes.

TD opposes the motion, arguing that LaRoe has no probability of success on the merits, LaRoe would not suffer an irreparable injury, that the public interest would not be harmed, and that TD would greatly suffer if the stay were granted. Opp., ECF No. 17.

LaRoe filed a reply to TD’s opposition. See Reply, ECF No. 19.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
507 B.R. 496, 2014 WL 1322821, 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 1321, 59 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 81, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-473-west-end-realty-corp-nysb-2014.