In re Commonwealth Mortgage Co.

149 B.R. 4, 1992 Bankr. LEXIS 2040, 1992 WL 395898
District Court, D. Massachusetts·Decided December 3, 1992·No. Bankruptcy No. 92-17073-WCH·Published·Cited by 1 cases

Opinion

DECISION ON MOTION FOR RELIEF FROM STAY OF CONNECTICUT HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY

WILLIAM C. HILLMAN, Bankruptcy Judge.

The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (“CHFA”) filed this motion for relief from stay pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 362(d)(1)1 in order to terminate one of two contracts between it and the Debtor (“CMC”).

FINDINGS OF FACT

On October 24, 1986, CHFA entered into two agreements with CMC. The first is a Master Commitment Agreement for Mortgage Purchases, not directly involved in this case. The second is a Home Mortgage Servicing Agreement (the “Servicing Agreement”).2 CHFA wishes to terminate the Servicing Agreement.

[6]*6Under the terms of the Servicing Agreement, CMC services mortgages owned by CHFA, which activity includes maintaining records and reporting and accounting to CHFA, for which it receives an annual fee measured by the outstanding principal balances of the mortgages serviced.3 CMC must comply with all applicable laws and regulations.4 The Servicing Agreement includes a provision that “this agreement shall not be assigned, whether by operation of law or otherwise, by [CMC] or its successors or assigns without the written consent of CHFA.” 5

CHFA is permitted to terminate the servicing relationship as to any mortgage by transferring it, an action which does not require CMC’s consent.6 CHFA also has a right to terminate the Servicing Agreement entirely.7 If the termination is without cause, CMC is entitled to a 1% termination fee.8 “Cause,” which would permit CHFA to terminate without paying a termination fee, is discussed later.

While the CMC-CHFA relationship continued, CMC entered into a credit arrangement with a group of banks9 (the “Term Lenders”).10 By a security agreement dated September 30,1991, CMC granted to the Term Lenders a security interest in all of CMC’s servicing agreements, including specifically that with CHFA.

CMC filed its petition in this case on July 13, 1992. On the following day the Court held an emergency hearing and approved a stipulation pursuant to which the Term Lenders were authorized to take possession of and either hold or sell the pledged servicing agreements.11

As part of the process which followed, on July 31, 1992, the Term Lenders entered into an agreement with Farragut Mortgage Company (“Farragut”) to provide interim servicing of the CHFA mortgages, among others.12 Farragut also agreed to purchase CMC’s interest in the various servicing agreements, subject to (in this case) CHFA’s consent.13

Farragut requested the consent14 but it was declined. Both a document introduced 15 and the testimony of CHFA’s witness 16 demonstrate that it is CHFA’s policy to resist assignments of servicing agreements with a view toward taking the servicing “in house” thus avoiding the payment of fees to outside servicers.17

The present motion seeks relief for cause under 11 U.S.C. § 362(d)(1) and specifies as grounds therefor that;
1. CMC is no longer servicing CHFA’s loans.
2. CMC has abandoned its obligations under the Servicing Agreement.
3. The Term Lenders have no right to perform or delegate the performance of services under the Servicing Agreement.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

CHFA takes the position that an assignment has already taken place, since Farragut is currently servicing mortgages on behalf of the Term Lenders. However, [7]*7The Court finds that the interim arrangement with Farragut does not amount to an assignment.

The motion seeks relief under § 362(d)(1). Considering the nature of the Servicing Agreement, “cause” under that section will be demonstrated if CMC is unable to assume and assign the Servicing Agreement, either because the Servicing Agreement is incapable of assignment by CMC or its successors, the Term Lenders, or because CMC has violated the contractual terms in a manner not subject to cure. If either of these situations are found to exist, the motion should be granted, as there is no value to the estate in retaining any interest in the Servicing Agreement. Any current income potential has already passed from the estate to the Term Lenders.

The initial inquiry must be whether the Servicing Agreement may be assumed and assigned. We find in 11 U.S.C. § 365(c) that the debtor in possession may not assume or assign an executory contract ... if—

(1)(A) applicable law excuses a party, other than the debtor, to such contract ... from accepting performance from or rendering performance to an entity other than the debtor or the debtor in possession ...; and
(B) such party does not consent to such assumption or assignment....

The “applicable law” with which we are here concerned is applicable non-bankruptcy law. In re Pioneer Ford Sales, Inc., 729 F.2d 27, 28 (1st Cir.1984). The purpose of the clause is to “prevent parties from using contractual language to prevent the trustee from assigning contracts that (when the contract is silent) contract law typically makes assignable.” Id.

The state law applicable to the Servicing Agreement is agreed to be the law of Connecticut.18

CHFA would have us find the applicable law in the provisions of the Servicing Agreement and the enabling language of § III(A-2)(c) of CHFA’s procedures which provides that CHFA may terminate the Servicing Agreement “in accordance with its terms.”19 The inquiry must be whether CHFA’s regulatory requirements, and the contractual terms incorporated into them by reference, rise to the level of the “applicable law” respected in other cases.

In support of its position CHFA cites Fidelity Guarantee Mortgage Corp. v. Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, 532 F.Supp. 81 (D.Conn.1982). That case dealt with the constitutional validity of other provisions of § III(A-2) of CHFA’s procedures.

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In re Commonwealth Mortgage Co., 149 B.R. 4, 1992 Bankr. LEXIS 2040, 1992 WL 395898 (D. Mass. 1992).

149 B.R. 4 (In re Commonwealth Mortgage Co.) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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