In Re Bushee

319 B.R. 542, 54 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 10, 2004 Bankr. LEXIS 2133, 2004 WL 3104816
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Tennessee
DecidedDecember 22, 2004
Docket04-34134
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 319 B.R. 542 (In Re Bushee) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Tennessee primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re Bushee, 319 B.R. 542, 54 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 10, 2004 Bankr. LEXIS 2133, 2004 WL 3104816 (Tenn. 2004).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM ON MOTION FOR RELIEF FROM AUTOMATIC STAY

RICHARD STAIR, JR., Bankruptcy Judge.

This contested matter is before the court upon the Motion for Relief From Automatic Stay (Motion for Relief) filed by Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, Pk/a Banker’s Trust Company, as Trustee (Deutsche Bank), on September 29, 2004, seeking relief from the automatic stay pursuant to 11 U.S.C.A. § 362(d)(1) (West 2004) so that it may foreclose a lien encumbering the Debtors’ residence. Pursuant to 11 U.S.C.A. § 554(b) (West 2004), Deutsche Bank also requests that the court order the Chapter 7 Trustee, John P. Newton, Jr. (Trustee), to abandon his interest in the residence as burdensome or of inconsequential value to the estate. The Trustee opposes the Motion for Relief, arguing that Deutsche Bank’s lien is avoidable based upon an improperly acknowledged Deed of Trust.

The facts and documents essential for resolution of the Motion for Relief are before the court upon the Joint Stipulations filed by the parties on November 24, 2004, the Brief of Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas in Favor of Motion for Relief From the Automatic Stay filed on December 1, 2004, and the Brief of the *545 Trustee filed on December 3, 2004. The parties agree that an evidentiary hearing is not required.

This is a core proceeding. 28 U.S.C.A. § 157(b)(2)(G) (West 1993).

I

On July 25, 2003, the Debtors purchased real property located at 316 Orchard Knob Road, Clinton, Anderson County, Tennessee (Real Property). Pursuant to a Deed of Trust also dated July 25, 2003, the Debtors granted America’s MoneyLine, Inc. a lien against the Real Property to secure a $149,600.00 loan. 1 On August 6, 2004, the Debtors filed the Voluntary Petition commencing their Chapter 7 bankruptcy case, and the Trustee was duly appointed.

In support of the Motion for Relief, Deutsche Bank avers that the Debtors are in default in the amount of $3,388.33 on the loan secured by the Deed of Trust and that the unpaid balance of the Debtors’ mortgage is $148,622.86. Deutsche Bank also avers that the value of the Real Property is $158,000.00 and that its security interest in the Real Property is not adequately protected. Accordingly, Deutsche Bank requests relief from the automatic stay in order to foreclose upon the Real Property, or in the alternative, adequate protection. Deutsche Bank also asks the court to order the Trustee to abandon his interest in the Real Property pursuant to 11 U.S.C.A. § 554(b).

The Trustee filed his objection to the Motion for Relief on October 7, 2004, arguing that the Deed of Trust was not properly acknowledged and, based upon the outstanding balance and Deutsche Bank’s valuation, the Real Property had between $9,000.00 and $19,000.00 in equity. Pursuant to the Order entered following the preliminary hearing on November 4, 2004, the primary issue before the court is whether the acknowledgment of Mrs. Bushee’s signature on the Deed of Trust is valid under Tennessee law. The parties do not dispute that the acknowledgment of Mr. Bushee’s signature is valid.

II

Deeds of trust are among the documents eligible for registration in Tennessee. Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-24-101(a)(8) (2004). In order to be validly registered, deeds of trust must be authenticated by either two subscribing witnesses or one of the following statutorily authorized parties: the county clerk, deputy county clerk, clerk and master of any state chancery court, or a notary public, under seal. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-22-101 (2004); Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-22-102 (2004); Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-22-110 (2004). “The acknowledgment ‘authenticates the due execution of a document and is the formal statement of the person signing the document that his [or her] signature was freely done’ ... [and] that the instrument was not fraudulently executed.” Limor v. Fleet Mortgage Group (In re Marsh), 12 5.W.3d 449, 453 (Tenn.2000) (quoting D.T. McCall & Sons v. Seagraves, 796 S.W.2d 457, 463 (Tenn.Ct.App.1990)). 2

Registration is imperative because, although it continues to be effective between the parties thereto, see TENN. CODE ANN. § 66-26-101 (2004), a deed of trust “not so proved, or acknowledged *546 and registered, or noted for registration shall be null and void as to existing or subsequent creditors of, or bona fide purchasers from, the makers without notice.” Tenn. Code ANN. § 66-26-103 (2004); see also Newton v. Herskowitz (In re Gatlinburg Motel Enters., Ltd.), 119 B.R. 955, 964 (Bankr.E.D.Tenn.1990). Under Tennessee law, “whatever is sufficient to put a person upon inquiry, is notice of all the facts to which that inquiry will lead, when prosecuted with reasonable diligence and in good faith.” Texas Co. v. Aycock, 190 Tenn. 16, 227 S.W.2d 41, 46 (1950) (quoting Covington v. Anderson, 84 Tenn. 310, 319 (Tenn.1886)). Legally registered documents place creditors and subsequent purchasers “on constructive notice.” Marsh, 12 S.W.3d at 454. Accordingly, if a deed of trust is improperly acknowledged, it is not legally registered under section 66-26-101, and therefore, “it is only effective between the ‘parties to the same, and their heirs and representatives.’ ” Marsh, 12 S.W.3d at 454 (quoting Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-26-101).

Additional problems arise when a party to an improperly acknowledged deed of trust files for bankruptcy because of 11 U.S.C.A. § 544(a) (2004), which allows Chapter 7 trustees to succeed to the rights of creditors, judicial lienholders, and bona fide purchasers as of the commencement of the bankruptcy case. Additionally, under this “strong arm statute,” Chapter 7 trustees may avoid any transfer that would be voidable by a creditor, judicial lienholder, or bona fide purchaser. See 11 U.S.C.A. § 544(a). When this occurs, the Chapter 7 trustee obtains the rights possessed by the secured creditor and holds the property for the benefit of the bankruptcy estate, while the formerly secured creditor is reduced to the status of an unsecured creditor. Walker v. Elam (In re Fowler), 201 B.R. 771, 779-81 (Bankr.E.D.Tenn.1996); Waldschmidt v. Dennis (In re Muller), 185 B.R. 552, 555 (Bankr.M.D.Tenn.1995). In summary “[t]he status which [§ 544(a)] confers upon the trustee in bankruptcy is that of ‘the ideal creditor, irreproachable and without notice, armed cap-a-pie with every right and power which is conferred by the law of the state upon its most favored creditor who has acquired a lien by legal or equitable proceedings.’ ” Lancaster v.

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Bluebook (online)
319 B.R. 542, 54 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 10, 2004 Bankr. LEXIS 2133, 2004 WL 3104816, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-bushee-tneb-2004.