In re Blackstone Financial Holdings, LLC

573 B.R. 1, 2017 Bankr. LEXIS 1891, 64 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 106
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, D. Massachusetts
DecidedJuly 7, 2017
DocketCase No. 11-19890-MSH
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 573 B.R. 1 (In re Blackstone Financial Holdings, LLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, D. Massachusetts primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Blackstone Financial Holdings, LLC, 573 B.R. 1, 2017 Bankr. LEXIS 1891, 64 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 106 (Mass. 2017).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OF DECISION ON MOTION OF JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. FOR JUDGMENT ON THE PLEADINGS AS TO THE OBJECTION TO ITS CLAIM

Melvin S. Hoffman, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge

Steven Weiss, the Chapter 7 trustee of the bankruptcy estate of Robert E. Lockwood II, and two of Mr. Lockwood’s creditors, Recovery Capital LLC and Jeffrey Horvitz, (collectively, the “Objectors”) filed a pleading in this case entitled “Objection to JPMorgan Chase Bank’s Claim and Request for Determination of Secured Status” (the “Objection”) seeking the disallowance of the $3,834,976.77 proof of claim filed in this case by JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“Chase”) and a determination that the mortgage securing that claim is invalid. Although the Objection seeks the kind of relief which Fed. R. Bankr. P. 3007(b) mandates be sought by way of a complaint in an adversary proceeding, the Objectors have been permitted to proceed with their Objection, giving rise to a contested matter, subject to their agreeing that all Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure which would apply in an adversary proceeding will apply here. Chase initially filed a response to the Objection but then filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings with respect to the Objection. The latter is now before me for adjudication.

Facts

The facts necessary to decide this matter-are taken from the Objection and attached documents and Chase’s initial response and accompanying documents. I also take judicial notice of the docket and pleadings in this case, including Chase’s motion for relief from stay and the settlements filed and approved in this case, the docket and pleadings in Robert Lockwood’s bankruptcy case (No. 10-15249), and the docket and pleadings in adversary proceeding 13-1045, commenced by Mr. Weiss in Mr. Lockwood’s bankruptcy case.1

For approximately twenty-five years, interrupted only by some time behind bars for securities fraud, Mr. Lockwood resided in a home located at 89-91 West Street in Beverly, Massachusetts. On April 6, 1998, Mary Lockwood, Mr. Lockwood’s former wife, who held title to the Beverly property,2 transferred it to the 89 West Street [4]*4Realty Trust.3 Mr. Lockwood vacated the Beverly ■ property in 2014 as part of á settlement with Mr. Weiss in. Mr. Lockwood’s bankruptcy case.4

When the Trust was established on August 11, 1997, the Lockwoods’ two sons were the beneficiaries.5 Under the Declaration of Trust, one or more of the beneficiaries may terminate the Trust, and acting collectively, may alter the Declaration of Trust or the schedule of beneficiaries.6 The Declaration of Trust further provides that “[t]he natural or legal guardian or conservator may act for any Beneficiary who is not then of full legal age and legal capacity.”7 The Declaration of Trust authorizes the trustee to exercise power over the trust res, which included the Beverly property, but only at the direction of the beneficiaries, acting collectively. For example, the trustee may encumber the Trust property subject to certain conditions:

The Trustee(s) shall have the following powers, in each case only to be exercised at the direction of all of the Beneficiaries, but without order, leave or license of Court: ...
F. To borrow money on such terms as the Trustee may deem desirable and to mortgage, pledge or grant any interest in any real property or personal property as security therefor ,.. .8

In July 2003, when the Lockwoods divorced, Mary Lockwood resigned as trustee of the Trust.9 On July 17, 2003, Mr. Lockwood, as “one hundred percent (100%) beneficiary” of the Trust, appointed Susan Winslow, a long-time employee of Mr. Lockwood,10 as the successor trustee for the Trust.11 A second copy of the July 17, 2003 appointment of Ms, Winslow as trustee contains the additional language “as legal guardian for the beneficiaries” after Mr. Lockwood’s name under the signature line.12 There are two unrecorded schedules of beneficiaries for the Trust. One schedule, dated August 21, 2003, lists the sons as equal beneficiaries of the Trust while another schedule, dated October 14, 2003, states that Mr. Lockwood held a life estate in the Trust with his two then minor sons holding the beneficial remainder interests.13

On December 16, 2003, Mr. Lockwood’s then minor sons executed a certificate authorizing Ms. Winslow to grant Washington Mutual Bank CWAMU”) a mortgage on the Beverly property as security for a loan.14 On or about January 14, 2004, Ms, Winslow, as trustee of the Trust and at [5]*5Mr. Lockwood’s direction, executed a $3.9 million note secured by a mortgage on the Beverly property in favor of WAMU.15 Chase now holds the note and mortgage. The purpose of the loan was to enable Mr. Lockwood to buy out Ms. Lockwood’s interest in the Beverly property as required in their divorce decree.16 Ms. Lockwood received $1,600,000 from the loan proceeds while the prior mortgagee received $1,431,440 in satisfaction of its mortgage.17 It is unclear who received the remaining net proceeds of $32,155.

WAMU became a casualty of the Great Recession. When it failed, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) was appointed its receiver. On September 25, 2008, the FDIC and Chase executed a Purchase and Assumption Agreement (the “P & A Agreement”) whereby Chase purchased WAMU’s assets in bulk from the FDIC, including the note and mortgage on the Beverly property, but assumed only certain of WAMU’s liabilities.

On May 13, 2010, Mr. Lockwood filed a voluntary petition for relief under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code commencing his bankruptcy case.18 Reorganization efforts failed and the case was converted to one under chapter 7 of the Code. Mr. Weiss was appointed the chapter 7 trustee in Mr. Locjcwood’s case. Recovery Capital and Mr. Horowitz, as manager of Recovery Capital and individually, are the major creditors of Mr. Lockwood’s estate.

Meanwhile, with the note secured by the mortgage on the Beverly property in default, Chase, the new owner of the note, began the process of foreclosing its mortgage on the Beverly property. A foreclosure sale eventually was scheduled for October 20, 2011. On October 18, 2011, Mr. Lockwood’s sons, who by then had both reached the age of majority, appointed Mr. Lockwood as trustee of the Trust. On October 19, 2011, Mr. Lockwood caused the Trust to transfer title to the Beverly property to Blackstone Financial Holdings LLC, the debtor in this case. On October 20, 2011, prior to the scheduled foreclosure sale, Blackstone filed a chapter 11 petition commencing this case, Blackstone’s reorganization efforts, like Mr. Lockwood’s, were unsuccessful and its case was converted to one under chapter 7. John Aquino was appointed the chapter 7 trustee of Blackstone’s estate and continues to serve in that capacity. The parties agree that Blackstone held title to the Beverly property when its bankruptcy case was commenced and when the Objection was filed. Mr.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
573 B.R. 1, 2017 Bankr. LEXIS 1891, 64 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 106, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-blackstone-financial-holdings-llc-mab-2017.