In re Aurora Graphics, Inc.

2000 BNH 44, 255 B.R. 612, 2000 Bankr. LEXIS 1497, 37 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 10, 2000 WL 1804169
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, D. New Hampshire
DecidedNovember 22, 2000
DocketNo. 00-11143-MWV
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 2000 BNH 44 (In re Aurora Graphics, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, D. New Hampshire primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Aurora Graphics, Inc., 2000 BNH 44, 255 B.R. 612, 2000 Bankr. LEXIS 1497, 37 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 10, 2000 WL 1804169 (N.H. 2000).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

MARK W. VAUGHN, Chief Judge.

The Court has before it the Trustee’s objection to the proof of claim of CNA UniSource originally seeking a 507(a)(3) priority claim in the amount of $69,150.65, which was amended to $34,319.15 and further reduced to $30,473.27. Specifically, the Trustee objects to the claimed priority status of CNA UniSource. At a hearing held on October 17, 2000, the Court permitted the parties to provide additional memoranda of law and submit the matter for ruling based on the pleadings, including exhibits attached thereto and their memoranda. For the reasons set out below, the Court sustains the Trustee’s objection.

Jurisdiction

This Court has jurisdiction of the subject matter and the parties pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1334 and 157(a) and the “Standing Order of Referral of Title 11 Proceedings to the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Hampshire,” dated January 18, 1994 (DiClerico, C.J.). This is a core proceeding in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 157(b).

Facts

On or about November 1, 1998, the Debtor, Aurora Graphics, Inc., and CNA UniSource entered into a “Professional Employer Services Agreement” (the “Agreement”). On April 18, 2000, when the Debtor filed its petition under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code, this Agreement was still in effect. Subsequent to the petition filing date, CNA UniSource paid certain employees’ claims for wages and/or benefits and obtained an assignment for each of the employees’ claims. Based on these assignments, CNA UniSource claims it is entitled to be paid as a priority creditor under section 507(a)(3) of the Bankruptcy Code. The Trustee objected on the grounds that pursuant to the Agreement, CNA UniSource was in fact an employer of these wage claimants with an independent duty to pay them and, thus, there was no consideration for the assignment.

Discussion

A party that pays wage claims of a debtor where such party is under no legal obligation to do so may receive an assignment of those employees’ priority claims against the debtor. See In re Paris Industries Corp., 95 B.R. 258 (Bankr.D.Me.1989). In support of its claim for [614]*614priority status, CNA UniSource argues that it was not an employer, but that it only provided administrative services. Therefore, CNA UniSource argues, it was under no obligation to pay the wages or benefit claims of the Debtor’s employees, and by doing so it provided consideration for the assignment of the employee claims.

In determining its status, CNA Uni-Source asks the Court to look to the “totality of the circumstances,” citing New Hampshire cases applying this test in determining whether an individual is an employee or independent contractor for purposes of workers’ compensation benefits. See Burnham v. Downing, 125 N.H. 293, 480 A.2d 128 (1984); Hamel Real Estate, Inc. v. Sheperd, 121 N.H. 733, 433 A.2d 1320 (1981). It also cites Continental Insurance Co. v. New Hampshire Insurance Co., 120 N.H. 713, 422 A.2d 1309 (1980), which determined whether vicarious liability would be imposed based upon “whether on all the facts the community would consider the person an employee.” Id. at 716, 422 A.2d at 1311. The Court finds these cases to be inapposite since the specific circumstances to which those tests apply are not present here. Rather, the Court will first look to the unambiguous terms of the Agreement.

In support of its argument that it is not an employer, CNA UniSource urges the court to look only to paragraph 15 of the Agreement, which applies to third party rights, stating: “This Agreement shall in no way be interpreted as creating an employment contract express or implied between CNA UniSource, Client [Aurora] or any employee assigned to the Client’s worksite.” See Trustee’s Objection to Allowance of Claim, Ex. A, ¶ 15. However, whether there is an employment contract between CNA UniSource and individual employees is not controlling since, in most instances, individuals who are unquestionably employees do not work pursuant to employment contracts.

In assessing CNA UniSource’s status, the Court will look to the entire Agreement. A reasonable interpretation of the Agreement must lead to a finding that CNA UniSource is at least a co-employer of the individuals and, thus, obligated to pay wages. Evidence of CNA UniSource’s clear intent to act a co-employer is found throughout the Agreement, including the following passages:

Paragraph 1 of the Agreement entitled “Employment Arrangement” contains, in part, the following language:
This Agreement establishes a co-employer employment arrangement between CNA UniSource and Client [Aurora] where CNA UniSource will assume certain of the Client’s common law employer responsibilities as stated in this Agreement and as may be required by law.... CNA Uni-Source shall retain responsibility for the overall direction and control of such employees.... Under this arrangement, Client and CNA Uni-Source mutually acknowledge and agree that the intent of this Agreement is to materially change the nature of the employment relationship at the Client’s worksite(s) to a co-employer employment arrangement where CNA UniSource shall be the “administrative employer” and Client shall be the “worksite employer” with respect to those employees assigned by CNA UniSource to work at Client’s worksite(s).
Id. at 1 ¶ 1;
Paragraph 2 of the Agreement establishes that CNA UniSource will provide “professional employment services as Client’s co-employer,” requiring that CNA UniSource pay employees from its accounts, that CNA UniSource’s federal tax identification number will be used, and that CNA UniSource will obtain worker’s compensation insurance for the employees. Id. at ¶ 2;
Paragraph 6A, which pertains to workers compensation, clearly indicates that [615]*615the employees shall be considered employees of CNA UniSource:
Client understands, agrees, and acknowledges that no person shall become employed by CNA UniSource, be covered by CNA UniSource’s workers’ compensation insurance or any other benefit or term or condition of employment, or be issued a payroll check unless that person has prior to commencing such employment, completed CNA UniSource’s employment application, W-4 withholding form and form 1-9, all of which must be delivered to CNA UniSource before the person commences employment. CNA UniSource shall not be considered an employer for any person until that individual completes these forms and Client is notified that the person has been hired by CNA UniSource.
Id. at ¶ 6A;
Paragraph 13C of the Agreement sets out the status of the parties upon termination of the Agreement:

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

In re Shells Seafood Restaurant, Inc.
544 B.R. 228 (M.D. Florida, 2015)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
2000 BNH 44, 255 B.R. 612, 2000 Bankr. LEXIS 1497, 37 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 10, 2000 WL 1804169, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-aurora-graphics-inc-nhb-2000.