In re Deer Valley Trucking, Inc.

569 B.R. 341, 2017 Bankr. LEXIS 667, 63 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 250
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, D. Idaho
DecidedMarch 13, 2017
DocketBankruptcy Case No. 15-40284-JDP
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 569 B.R. 341 (In re Deer Valley Trucking, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, D. Idaho primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Deer Valley Trucking, Inc., 569 B.R. 341, 2017 Bankr. LEXIS 667, 63 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 250 (Idaho 2017).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OF DECISION

Honorable Jim D. Pappas, United States Bankruptcy Judge

Introduction

[344]*344Chapter 7 trustee1 R. Sam Hopkins (“Trustee”) objects to the proof of claim filed in this chapter 7 case by Duncan Limited Partnership (“DLP”). Dkt. No. 392. DLP contests Trustee’s objection. Dkt. No. 409. The Court conducted a hearing concerning the objection on December 13, 2016, at which the parties presented evidence and testimony. See Minute Entry, Dkt. No. 438. Closing arguments were submitted via briefs, Dkt. Nos. 456, 457, 462, 463. Having taken the issues under advisement, and having considered the evidence and testimony, arguments of the parties, and applicable law, this Memorandum sets forth the Court’s findings, conclusions and reasons for its disposition of the objection. Rules 7052; 9014.

Facts

Deer Valley Trucking, Inc. (“DVT”) was founded by Jason Duncan in late 2009, On April 3, 2015, DVT filed a chapter 11 petition. Dkt. No. 1. On February 12, 2016, the case was converted to a chapter 7 case. Dkt. No. 181. Amended Proof of Claim No. 50 was filed on October 31, 2016, by DLP, an entity owned by Jason’s2 parents, Jack and Janet Duncan (“the Duncans”). Am. Proof of Claim at 1, Ex. 213, The claim asserts that DVT owes DLP approximately $2.4 million, arising from three separate credit transactions. Id, at 3.

A. The Winch Truck Loan and Equipment Loan

Jason testified that, when it began operations, DVT purchased a specialized truck. JD Farms, LLC, an entity owned , by the Duncans, loaned DVT the funds to do so. The parties refer to this transaction as the Winch Truck Loan. Exs. 201.

Jason testified that prior to, and shortly after, the formation of DVT, JD Farms loaned funds to DVT, and to other entities in which Jason held an interest, to purchase other trucks and equipment. Jason testified that once DVT was formed, those trucks and the equipment were transferred to DVT. That DVT also assumed these debts is not disputed by Trustee. The parties refer to these obligations collectively as the Equipment Loan.

Both the Winch Truck Loan and the Equipment Loan balances were to be repaid over a three-year period in monthly installments, together with eight percent interest. Exs. 201, 202. While DVT made numerous payments on the loans to JD Farms, in about June 2012, it began to make payments on the loans to DLP. According to Janet, JD Farms assigned the loans to DLP based upon the advice of an estate planning attorney representing the Duncans. That DVT is now obliged to pay DLP on these loans, rather than JD Farms, is not disputed by Trustee. DVT continued making the required payments to DLP through November 2012; it made no payments on these loans thereafter. Exs. 201 at 2; 202 at 2.

B. The Factoring Loan

Jason testified that in July 2010, DVT had an opportunity to expand its business. To fund that growth, he approached a number of individuals to see if they would be interested in either loaning money to, or making capital investments in, DVT. [345]*345Jason testified that it was during this time that he approached his father about his efforts to raise money for DVT. Janet testified that, when he asked, the Duncans told Jason they were not interested in investing in DVT.

Jason testified that after the Duncans declined to invest in DVT, he requested that they make a “factoring” loan to DVT (the “Factoring Loan”). Jason testified the this loan was intended to enable DVT to hire more employees, Paul Duncan3 explained that he understood that because DVT needed to pay its drivers a month or two before DVT received payment from its customers, DVT needed financing to operate during the gap. The Factoring Loan was intended to provide that financing.

The Duncans agreed to make the Factoring Loan to DVT. Notably, the loan was to accrue interest at 25%. Janet testified that the interest rate on the Factoring Loan was “very attractive” to the Dun-cans. Paul testified that he understood that another lender was already providing factoring to DVT at a higher interest rate, so both the Duncans and DVT stood to benefit from the Factoring Loan. Jason further testified that DVT’s need for financing was significant at that time, and that he was utilizing the loan from the Duncans, funds contributed by his partner, and funds from a factoring company to operate the company’s business.

As with the Winch Truck and Equipment Loans, DVT originally made payments on the Factoring Loan to JD Farms, and then in about June 2012, began making payments to DLP. See Ex. 103-5. Jason testified that the original balance of the Factoring Loan was $1.7 million. See Ex. 203. Jason testified that while under the agreement, DVT was obliged to make monthly interest payments on the Factoring Loan, but he and his father did not agree on a date when the principal balance was to be paid off. DVT made multiple interest payments on the Factoring Loan, but stopped making payments in November 2012. See also Exs. 103-5, 103-6.

C. The Promissory Notes and Subordination Agreement

Jason testified that the original agreements for all of the DLP loans were oral. However, in September 2012, the terms of the loans were renegotiated and formalized through the drafting and execution by DVT of promissory notes. Exs. 214, 215, 216. Jason testified that, at about this time, DVT was attempting to obtain additional financing from GE Capital Corporation, and that the lender would not provide any funds to DVT unless DLP agreed to subordinate its interests to that of GE Capital. Jason testified that to facilitate a subordination agreement between DLP and GE Capital, DVT’s corporate counsel drafted the promissory notes, and DVT’s president, Wade Chapman, signed them. See Exs. 214, 215, 216.

The effective date of the promissory notes for the Winch Truck and Equipment Loans was December 1, 2012. Exs. 214 at 1, 215 at 1. The notes all provided that the remaining balances of the loans were to be repaid in twelve monthly installments at 15% interest. Exs. 214 at 1; 215 at 1. The effective date of the promissory note for the Factoring Loan was January 1, 2013. Ex. 216. It was to be repaid in 120 monthly installments with interest accruing at 15%.

In August, 2013, DLP, GE Capital, and DVT entered into-a subordination agree[346]*346ment. Ex. 207.4 Under its terms and the promissory notes, DVT was precluded from making any payments to DLP, and DLP was precluded from accepting payments from DVT, unless certain “Payment Conditions” were met. Ex. 207 at 1; see also Ex. 214 at 2. For example, the conditions specified that DLP could not be paid if DVT was in default on the GE Capital loan; DVT also had to meet a certain “fixed charge coverage ratio”5 to make payments to DLP. Ex. 207 at ¶ 1(1); see also Ex. 214 at 2. The record does not reflect whether these conditions were ever met by DVT, but no further payments were made by DVT to DLP on the Equipment and Winch Truck Loans.

D. Balances Due on the Loans

The balances due on the loans, asserted in the DLP Amended Proof of Claim, and in DLP’s closing brief, do not coincide.

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Bluebook (online)
569 B.R. 341, 2017 Bankr. LEXIS 667, 63 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 250, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-deer-valley-trucking-inc-idb-2017.