In re Bullitt Utilities, Inc.

558 B.R. 181, 2016 Bankr. LEXIS 3390, 2016 WL 4991526
United States Bankruptcy Court, W.D. Kentucky·Decided September 16, 2016·No. CASE NO. 15-34000(1)(7)·Published·Cited by 5 cases

Opinion

MEMORANDUM-OPINION

Joan A. Lloyd, United States Bankruptcy Judge

This matter is before the Court on the Application Pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §§ 327 and 328 and Bankruptcy Rule 2014(a) for an Order Authorizing Robert W. Keats, Chapter 7 Trustee to Employ Bingham, Greenebaum, Doll, LLP as Special Counsel, Nunc Pro Tunc, as of May 1, 2016 (hereinafter “the Application”). The Court considered the Application, the Objection to the Application filed by the United States Trustee, Charles R. Merrill (“UST”), the Objection to the Application filed by Interested Party Bullitt County Sanitation District (“BCSD”), the Reply to the Objections filed by the Chapter 7 Trustee, Robert W. Keats (“Trustee”) and the comments of counsel for the parties held at the hearing on the matter. For the following reasons, the Court will GRANT the Application. An Order accompanies this Memorandum-Opinion.

PROCEDURAL AND FACTUAL BACKGROUND

On December 18, 2015, two of the largest unsecured Creditors of Debtor Bullitt Utilities, Inc. (“Debtor”), Veolia Water Technologies, Inc.. (“Veolia”) and Perdue Environmental Contracting, Co., Inc., (“PECCO”) filed a Chapter 7 Involuntary Petition against Debtor. Veolia and PEC-CO were represented by attorney James R. Irving with the law firm Bingham, Greenebaum, Doll, LLP (“BGD”).

On December 29, 2015, the Court entered an Order granting Veolia and PEC-CO’s Emergency Motion to Appoint a Trustee.

On December 29, 2015, the UST entered a Notice of Appointment appointing Robert W. Keats as the Chapter 7 Trustee in the case.

On January 20, 2016, the Order for Relief was entered.

On February 18, 2016, the Court entered an Order granting the Trustee’s Ap[183]*183plication to Employ his law firm, Keats & Schwietz, PLLC to act as attorney for the Trustee and the bankruptcy estate.

On June 15, 2016, the Trastee filed the Application.

On July 5, 2016, the UST filed its Objection to the Application.

On July 6, 2016, BCSD filed its Objection to the Application.

On July 22, 2016, the Trustee filed his Reply to Objection to the Application.

LEGAL ANALYSIS

The Trustee seeks an Order approving the employment of BGD as Special Counsel, nunc pro tunc, as of May 1, 2016. The Trustee seeks the Order pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §§ 327 and 328 and Rule 2014(a) of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure. The Application indicates that BGD will serve to represent the Trustee and Bullitt Utilities in asserting three matters;

1. The Surcharge Claim on behalf of the Debtor’s estate before the Public Service Commission;
2. Any causes of action held by Debtor against BCSD; and
3. Any causes of action held by Debtor’s estate against the Officers and Directors of Bullitt Utilities.

' BGD had previously represented Veolia in all matters related to its debt owed by Debtor, including Bullitt Utilities’ request for a surcharge before the PSC. The purpose of the surcharge was to pay creditors, such as Veolia and PECCO, who had provided emergency services to the Debtor following a catastrophic failure at Debtor’s Hunters Hollow Wastewater Treatment Facility.

BGD’s engagement letter with the Trustee sets forth the manner in which BGD will be compensated. In essence, BGD will recover a contingency fee and a flat fee on monies recovered by the bankruptcy estate. BGD will be entitled to a contingent fee of 40% for any recoveries of assets from BCSD or Debtor’s Officers and Directors or any other source, except funds recovered for the estate from the surcharge case or other rate increases from Debtor’s customers. These fees are capped on the recoveries at $1,100,000. The contingency fee percentage increases by 5% should there be any appeals.

BGD will also receive a flat fee of $75,000 for any services it renders in connection with the surcharge case from funds recovered for the estate.

BGD will advance all expenses, with such expenses reimbursed from any recoveries prior to the recoveries being distributed to any other party.

The final form of compensation for BGD is set forth in the Engagement Letter as follows:

BGD’s current clients, Veolia Water Technologies, Inc. formerly known as Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies North America, Inc. and Purdue Environmental Contracting Company, Inc. (“PECCO”) have agreed to compensate BGD at 30% of its hourly rate and to ■advance any expenses for any matters in which BGD represents the Trustee and BU’s bankruptcy estate. Veolia and PECCO will be entitled to reimbursement of any fees paid or costs advanced to BGD for money paid to BGD from BU’s bankruptcy estate before BGD recovers any additional sums.

See, Engagement Letter at p. 2, attached as Exhibit 2 to the Application.

The UST objected to the Application because at the time the Application was filed, BGD continued to represent Veolia and PECCO. The provision in the Application providing for payment of 30% of BGD’s hourly rate by third-party payors, [184]*184namely Veolia and PECCO, created an actual conflict of interest whereby BGD would be representing the Trustee of the bankruptcy estate, while receiving a portion of its fees, from another client, both of whom filed Proof of Claims against the estate. This arrangement created a clear scenario where BGD’s loyalties could be called into question.

In an effort to resolve this conflict, BGD, in its Reply, filed Declarations from Representatives of Veolia and PECCO, indicating that BGD no longer represents Veolia and PECCO, that going forward, BGD would represent only the Debtor’s bankruptcy estate and take direction only from the Trustee regarding the three matters it is engaged to pursue. The representatives confirmed their understanding of this arrangement and that they would execute a Common Interest Agreement to protect confidential information as they coordinate their efforts with the Trustee. BGD contends these changes resolve the existence of any actual conflicts.

The Trustee seeks approval of BGD’s employment as Special Counsel under 11 U.S.C. § 327. This statute provides,

... the trustee, with the court’s approval, may employ one or more attorneys,
... that do not hold or represent an interest adverse to the estate, and that are disinterested persons, to represent or assist the trustee in carrying out the trustee’s duty under this title.

11 U.S.C. § 327(a).

Section (c) of the statute provides,

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In re Bullitt Utilities, Inc., 558 B.R. 181, 2016 Bankr. LEXIS 3390, 2016 WL 4991526 (Ky. 2016).

558 B.R. 181 (In re Bullitt Utilities, Inc.) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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