In re Bunting Bearings

331 B.R. 313, 2005 Bankr. LEXIS 1905, 2005 WL 2496389
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Ohio
DecidedApril 22, 2005
DocketNo. 02-32578
StatusPublished

This text of 331 B.R. 313 (In re Bunting Bearings) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Ohio primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Bunting Bearings, 331 B.R. 313, 2005 Bankr. LEXIS 1905, 2005 WL 2496389 (Ohio 2005).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND DECISION

RICHARD L. SPEER, Bankruptcy Judge.

This cause comes before the Court after a Hearing on the Motion of National City Bank to Approve a Postpetition Setoff. Bunting Bearings, LLC, having assumed the Debtor’s outstanding obligations to the Movant, disputes the liability giving rise to the setoff. On National City Bank’s right to setoff, the Debtor took no position. After considering the Parties’ arguments made at the Hearing and by brief, the Court, for the reasons set forth herein, finds that the Motion of National City Bank has merit.

BACKGROUND FACTS

The background giving rise to the Parties’ dispute began in 1997. In that year, the Debtor was the recipient of a favorable loan arrangement, with the proceeds for the loan stemming from the sale of Industrial Revenue Bonds by the county government. As security to the bondholder(s), National City Bank (“National City”) issued for the Debtor’s benefit a letter-of-credit. In return, National City was given a security interest in a significant portion of the Debtor’s assets. With this transaction, the Debtor and National City executed a Reimbursement Agreement, substantively setting forth that the Debtor would reimburse National City for all of its reasonable costs and expenses, including legal fees, associated with the Ietter-of-credit. (Reimbursement Agreement, § 13).

Subsequently, in 2002, the Debtor filed a petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. During the administration of its case, Bunting Bearings (“Bunting”), a company formed for the specific purpose of consummating a sale of substantially all of the Debtor’s assets under 11 U.S.C. § 363 (and hence its namesake with the Debtor), offered to purchase from the estate the bulk of the Debtor’s assets. And importantly here, so as to obtain the consent of National City to the transaction, Bunting also agreed to assume the Debt- or’s liabilities to National City. In more specific terms, a Purchase Agreement was enacted, memorializing the terms of the sale, and set forth that Bunting was to assume the Debtor’s “obligations under the Industrial RevemmBond ... financing and the Letter of Credit issued by National City Bank with respect thereto.” (Purchase Agreement, § 3.1(d)). The transaction was consummated at or around May 11, 2004, at which time Bunting posted sufficient funds to fully satisfy all of its potential liabilities on the bonds and letter-of-credit. On July 1, 2004, National City formally discharged Bunting’s obligation on these liabilities, thereby contemporaneously terminating the accretion of any further fees or other charges.

Following the sale, National City filed with the Court its Motion To Approve [316]*316Setoff. In its Motion, National City acknowledged a debt owing to the Debtor— and thus by extension to Bunting — in the amount $27,994.74. This amount was derived from a refund due Bunting in the amount of $6,049.35 for one month’s letter-of-credit fees paid after July 1, 2004; and $21,945.39 for the overpayment of interest on the Revenue Bonds.

Against this debt, National City seeks an offset in the amount of $36,031.16,1 thereby leaving it a claim against Bunting in the amount $8,036.42. This charge stems primarily from legal fees it incurred on account of the Debtor’s pending bankruptcy case, but also includes costs for title work and a remarketing fee. Bunting entirely disputes National City’s entitlement to these fees, thus taking the position that National City holds no right of setoff.

DISCUSSION

This Court is asked to determine the extent to which, if any, National City has a right of setoff against Bunting. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(L), and the retention of jurisdiction articles, as set forth in both the Debtor’s third amended confirmed plan of reorganization, (¶ 12.4(c)), and the Order Approving Sale of Assets Free and Clear, (¶¶ 11, S), this is a core proceeding over which this Court has the jurisdictional authority to enter final judgments and orders.

In general terms, setoff represents the right which one party has against another to use his claim in full or partial satisfaction of what he owes to the other. Baker v. Nat’l City Bank, 511 F.2d 1016, 1018 (6th Cir.1975). Here, National City seeks to apply this legal doctrine so as to offset a debt it has to Bunting in the amount of $27,994.74 against a debt it claims it is owed by Bunting in the amount of $36,031.16. As overall authority for this action, National City relies on the following relevant language of two provisions set forth in its Reimbursement Agreement with the Debtor:

[T]he Company agrees to pay to the Bank a Commitment Fee with respect to the issuance and maintenance of the Letter of Credit from the Date of Issuance to and including the Termination Date. (...) If the Termination Date shall occur prior to the Stated Expiration Date ... the Company shall have no obligation to pay a Commitment Fee after the Termination Date. The Company shall not be entitled to a rebate of any portion of the Commitment Fee paid to the Bank. (Section 2(a)).
To the extent permitted by law, the Company hereby indemnifies and holds harmless the Bank from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, reasonable costs and expenses whatsoever (including reasonable attorney’s fees) which the Bank may incur ... by reason of or in connection with the execution and delivery or transfer of, or payment or failure to pay under, the Letter of Credit[.] (Section 13).

In opposition to National City’s right of setoff under these two provisions, Bunting raises what can be distilled down to essentially two points of opposition. First, Bunting stated in its supplemental brief to the Court: “No Letter of Credit fees should have been charged after [National City] had in its possession sufficient funds to discharge all obligations under the [Industrial Revenue] Bonds.” (Doc. No. 1040, at pgs. 1-2). In other terms, Bunting argues that, after the May 11, 2004 sale of [317]*317the Debtor’s assets and liabilities, National City improperly kept the meter running. Therefore, according to Bunting, it is due from National City an additional amount of $10,328.67, representing those fees paid for the letter-of-credit from May 11, 2004,— the date on which the National City received as a part of the sale of the Debtor’s assets sufficient funds to fully satisfy the Bond and letter-of-credit obligations — to July 1, 2004, — the date on which Bunting’s obligation under these liabilities was actually discharged by National City. (Doc. No. 1040, at pgs., 1-2).

Bunting’s second argument against National City’s right to setoff holds that those fees for which it seeks reimbursement is tantamount to a double-recovery. In Bunting’s view, this situation arises because during the pendency of the Debtor’s bankruptcy case, National City twice increased its letter-of-credit fees, which, under its understanding of the situation, were meant to cover those costs associated with the Debtor’s bankruptcy filing, including legal fees.

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Bluebook (online)
331 B.R. 313, 2005 Bankr. LEXIS 1905, 2005 WL 2496389, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-bunting-bearings-ohnb-2005.