In re Alderson

144 B.R. 332, 1992 Bankr. LEXIS 2344, 1992 WL 209686
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Louisiana
DecidedApril 12, 1992
DocketBankruptcy No. 91BK-13126
StatusPublished

This text of 144 B.R. 332 (In re Alderson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Louisiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Alderson, 144 B.R. 332, 1992 Bankr. LEXIS 2344, 1992 WL 209686 (W.D. La. 1992).

Opinion

REASONS FOR DECISION

HENLEY A. HUNTER, Bankruptcy Judge.

This matter comes before the Court on the Motion by the Commercial National Bank in Shreveport (“CNB”) for relief from the automatic stay and for abandonment of property from the estate. Objections were filed to the Motion by the Debtor; Judith W. Alderson, debtor’s spouse, from whom he is separate in property; and Robert A. Mackey. Debtor filed a Motion to Strike the Motion and to have the same declared null ab initio. This Court signed an order on March 31, 1992, setting the Motion to Strike for a hearing.

[333]*333Over the strenuous objection of CNB, the hearings on the Motion to Strike and Relief from the Stay and for Abandonment were consolidated for evidentiary purposes. At the conclusion of the hearing, the matters were taken under advisement.

This is a Core Proceeding pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Section 157(b)(2)(A) and (G). This Court has jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Section 1334 and by virtue of the reference by the District Court pursuant to Local District Court Rule 22.01 incorporated into Local Bankruptcy Rule 1.2. No party at interest has sought to withdraw the reference to the bankruptcy court, nor has the District Court done so on its own motion. This Court makes the following findings of fact and conclusions of law in accordance with Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 7052. Pursuant to these Reasons, the Motion to Strike will be denied. The Motion for Relief from Stay and for Abandonment will likewise be denied and the objections sustained.

PROCEDURAL HISTORY

The history and background of the subject motions are necessary for an understanding of the issues before the Court. Debtor filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 on November 20, 1991. This case was routinely assigned to Judge Stephen Y. Callaway, Chief Bankruptcy Judge for the Western District of Louisiana.

Commercial National Bank in Shreveport filed a Motion to Lift Automatic Stay and for Abandonment on February 14, 1992 in Shreveport, Louisiana. Counsel for the Movant, Mr. Curtis Shelton, certified that on the 21st day of February, 1992, he served notice of the hearing to all parties on the mailing list. The Notice of Hearing on Motion to Lift Automatic Stay and for Abandonment provides for a hearing on the 31st day of March, 1992, at 9:30 a.m. This notice and the certificate of notice were filed in Shreveport on February 24, 1992. A supplemental certificate of notice was filed on March 10, 1992.

On February 24, 1992, Judge Callaway disqualified himself from hearing the motion in question and signed an Order setting a hearing for March 31, 1992, at 9:30 a.m., before the undersigned. That order was filed on February 25, 1992.

A conference call was held on March 25, 1992, between the undersigned, Mr. Shelton, Mr. John Frazier, counsel to debtor and Mr. R. Joseph Naus, Counsel to Judith Alderson. Mr. Shelton maintained the automatic stay had lapsed pursuant to 11 U.S.C. Section 362(e). The Court entered an Order deferring all matters to March 31, 1992. That order continued the “status quo” in effect until the date of the hearing by consent of the parties. The parties were directed to file briefs regarding the Section 362(e) issue. The Motion to Strike was filed on March 30, 1992.

STIPULATIONS

The parties have stipulated to the following facts:

1. The motion and memorandum were filed February 14, 1992 by CNB.
2. Upon filing, a copy of the motion was mailed to counsel for debtor.
3. A hearing date was not assigned because Judge Callaway was required to recuse himself.
4. The hearing date was coordinated between the judges’ offices and counsel for defendant.
5. The date furnished was the first available date on the undersigned’s calendar.
6. The date is contained in the order of Judge Callaway recusing himself.
7. The Motion was noticed and a certificate of notice was filed February 24, 1992.
8. The Notice was mailed February 21, 1992, and was received by counsel to debtor on February 24, 1992. A notice was sent to Mrs. Alderson on February 21, 1992.
9. On March 3, 1992, Counsel for Mrs. Alderson filed a request for notice.
10. On March 5, 1992, Counsel for CNB furnished additional notice to Mrs. Ald-erson at her attorney’s address.
[334]*33411. Mrs. Alderson is separate in property from debtor by an instrument filed prior to her marriage. She is also a secured creditor.
12. A supplemental certificate of service was filed on March 10, 1992.
13. The first communication between counsel to debtor and CNB other than the notices of hearing was the conference call on March 25,1992, at approximately 3:00 P.M.
14. The property affected by the motion is unimproved acreage adjacent to the intersection of Interstate Highway 49 and Bert Kouns Industrial Loop in Shreveport, Louisiana.
15. Debtor has filed a plan and disclosure statement pursuant to which a portion of the property is to be transferred to CNB. The Court may take judicial notice of the provisions of same.
16. The remainder of the property is to be transferred to the other creditors, Mrs. Alderson and Mr. Mackey.
17. CNB holds a vendor’s lien. The mortgage documentation is annexed to the proof of claim filed on its behalf.
18. CNB, Mrs. Alderson, and Mr. Mack-ey are parties to a settlement agreement entered in December of 1989. Exhibit CNB 1. An addendum to the agreement is filed as Exhibit CNB 2.
19. The case was filed February 20, 1991. On that same date, a Sheriffs Sale pursuant to executory process had been scheduled for 10:00 a.m., on the subject property.
20. CNB’s appraisal on the subject property reflects a value of $972,000. The value of the portion of the property North of the Bert Kouns Industrial Loop is appraised at $205,000.00 and the value of the property South of the Bert Kouns Industrial Loop is appraised at $767,000.00 in the CNB appraisal.
21. Debtor’s appraisal shows $1,265 Million for the entire tract. The tract lying North of Bert Kouns is valued in debtor’s appraisal at $340,000.00. The portion lying South of the Loop is appraised at $925,000.
22. Approximately 5.6 acres is proposed by the plan to be given to CNB and is reflected in the appraisal done by debt- or as having a worth of $635,000.
23. Under the plan, any transfers would occur on the later of the effective date of the plan or when CNB’s claim is finally allowed.

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144 B.R. 332, 1992 Bankr. LEXIS 2344, 1992 WL 209686, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-alderson-lawd-1992.