In re Banner Yachts

158 B.R. 452, 1993 Bankr. LEXIS 1301, 1993 WL 359844
United States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Ohio·Decided August 12, 1993·No. Bankruptcy No. 89-02070·Published·Cited by 1 cases

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

RICHARD L. SPEER, Bankruptcy Judge.

This cause comes before the Court upon Hearing on Application of Mark Schlachet, Attorney for Debtor, for Allowance of Fees/Expenses. A Hearing was convened and only the Trustee, John Hunter, Sr., (hereafter “Trustee”) appeared. The parties were afforded the opportunity to present evidence and arguments they wished the Court to consider in reaching its decision. The Court has reviewed the entire record in this case. Based upon that review, and for the following reasons, this Court finds that Mark Schlachet’s Application for Allowance of Fees/Expenses in the total amount of Five Thousand Five Hundred Seventy Six and 34/100 Dollars ($5,776.34) should be Allowed; that fees totalling Four Thousand Six Hundred Eighty Three and 50/100 Dollars ($4,683.50) and expenses totalling Four Hundred Sixty Six and 34/100 Dollars ($466.34) should be paid by RTC pursuant to this Court’s Order of August 28, 1989; and that fees totalling Four Hundred Twenty Six and 50/100 Dollars ($426.50) are deemed an administrative priority to be paid by the Trustee.

FACTS

Debtor filed a Voluntary Petition under Chapter 11 which was converted to a case under Chapter 7 on December 1, 1989. Mark Schlachet was hired as counsel for Debtor pursuant to the payment of a retainer totalling Fourteen Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($14,000.00). After conversion, Mr. Schlachet filed a Motion for Determination of Priority Administrative Expense Priority, attendant Affidavit and Time Sheets. The Motion seeks an award of Five Thousand One Hundred Ten and 00/100 Dollars ($5,110.00) in fees and Four Hundred Sixty Six and 34/100 Dollars ($466.34) in expenses. Four Thousand Six Hundred Thirty Seven and 50/100 Dollars ($4,637.50) of Mr. Schlachet’s request for fees is attributed to legal work completed during the pendency of the Chapter 11 proceedings. Four Hundred Seventy Two and 50/100 Dollars ($472.50) of the professional fee request is attributable to work completed during the pendency of the Chapter 7 proceeding. Neither the Trustee’s nor RTC’s Response raise an objection to the determination of said fees as an administrative priority expense under 11 U.S.C. §§ 503 and 507.

First Federal Savings dba Resolution Trust Corporation (hereafter “RTC”) is a Creditor, who along with Huron Marine Supply, Debtor, and the U.S. Trustee, filed a Joint Motion seeking an Order granting RTC administrative expenses superiority over other administrative expenses pursuant to Section 364(c)(1) of the Bankruptcy Code. On August 28, 1989, this Court issued an Order granting RTC the first and best lien against all property of the estate; and granting RTC priority administrative status as to its claims arising from advances under the Revolving Credit Agreement, subject only to court costs, professional fees and the fees of the United States Trustee, under 28 U.S.C. § 1930. RTC and the Trustee filed an Application to Compromise which was approved by this Court on March 11, 1993. Prior to Trial, Counsel for RTC filed a Response to Notice Regarding Application for Allowance of Compensation and Expenses by Attorney for Debtor-In-Possession. In response, the Trustee filed a Comment In Response to Resolution Trust Corp.

[454] LAW

The relevant portions of the Bankruptcy Code are as follows:

11 U.S.C. § 364. Obtaining credit.
(c) If the trustee is unable to obtain unsecured credit allowable under section 503(b)(1) of this title as an administrative expenses, the court, after notice and a hearing, may authorize the obtaining of credit or the incurring debt—
(1) with priority over any or all administrative expenses of the kind specified in section 503(b) or 507(b) of this title;
11 U.S.C. § 503. Allowance of administrative expenses.
(a) An entity may file a request for payment of an administrative expense.
(b) After notice and a hearing, there shall be allowed administrative expenses, other than claims allowed under section 502(f) of this title, including—
(4) reasonable compensation for professional services rendered by an attorney or an accountant of an entity whose expense is allowable under paragraph (3) of this subsection, based on the time, the nature, the extent, and the value of such services, and the costs of comparable services other than in a case under this title, and reimbursement for actual, necessary expenses incurred by such attorney or accountant.
11 U.S.C. § 507. Priorities
(a) the following expenses and claims have priority in the following order:
(1) First, administrative expenses allowed under section 503(b) of this title, and any fees and charges assessed against the estate under chapter 123 of title 28 [28 USC §§ 1911 et seq.].

DISCUSSION

Neither the Trustee nor RTC have raised any issues regarding the reasonableness of Attorney Schlachet’s fees or expenses; or the classification of said fees and expenses as a priority administrative expense. Therefore the sole issue before this Court is the source of payment for Mr. Schla-chet’s fees and expenses. Since the issue to be resolved in the instant case involves the administration of Debtor’s estate, it is a core proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(A).

RTC argues that under the Compromise, the Trustee is the only professional authorized to retain reasonable costs and expenses incurred during the administration of the Chapter 7 proceeding from the Fifty Five Thousand and 00/100 Dollars retained. Since most of the expenses were incurred during the pendency of the Chapter 11 case, none of the professional fees requested by Mr. Schlachet should be paid from funds to which RTC is entitled. In response, the Trustee argues that RTC is responsible for payment of professional fees, court costs and fees of the United States Trustee, all pursuant to the Order filed on August 28,1992. According to the Trustee, the money which he has retained is for the sole benefit of the unsecured creditors.

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In re Banner Yachts, 158 B.R. 452, 1993 Bankr. LEXIS 1301, 1993 WL 359844 (Ohio 1993).

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