In re Garris

496 B.R. 343, 70 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 516, 2013 Bankr. LEXIS 3674, 2013 WL 4757520
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. New York
DecidedSeptember 5, 2013
DocketCase No. 11-36799 (cgm)
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 496 B.R. 343 (In re Garris) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Garris, 496 B.R. 343, 70 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 516, 2013 Bankr. LEXIS 3674, 2013 WL 4757520 (N.Y. 2013).

Opinion

Chapter 13

MEMORANDUM DECISION CONSIDERING OBJECTION TO FEES

CECELIA G. MORRIS, CHIEF UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY JUDGE

Introduction

The Debtors filed a letter pro se objecting to attorney fees in this dismissed chapter 13 case. The Debtors claimed that their bankruptcy counsel never remitted to them plan payments that should have been refunded to them by the trustee upon dismissal. The Court finds that section 1322(a)(2) applies and excepts section 503(b) administrative claims from funds that would otherwise return to the Debtors. The Court will exercise ancillary jurisdiction over counsel’s section 503(b) fee request.

Jurisdiction

This Court has subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1334(a), 28 U.S.C. § 157(a) and the Amended Standing Order of Reference signed by Chief Judge Loretta A. Preska dated January 31, 2012. This is a “core proceeding” under 28 U.S.C. § 157(A), (b)(2)(B) (allowance of claims against the estate), and (b)(2)(K) (determinations of the validity, extent, or priority of liens).

Background

I. Case history

Debtors filed this chapter 13 case on June 23, 2011. Debtors participated in this Court’s Loss Mitigation program. No agreement was reached. See Loss Mit. Final Rep. 1, ECF No. 57. This Court terminated Loss Mitigation on March 15, 2013. Id.

[347]*347On February 25, 2013 the chapter 13 trustee filed a motion to dismiss both Debtors, stating that the Debtors were in arrears on account of their proposed chapter 13 plan payments. Mot. Dismiss 2, ECF No. 56. The Court granted the motion to dismiss on April 24, 2013. Ord. Dismiss Case 1, ECF No. 58; see also 11 U.S.C. § 1307(c)(4). At the time the motion to dismiss was granted, the Debtors had remitted $14,906 to the trustee. Mot. Dismiss 2, ECF No. 56.

On June 22, 2011, apparently contemporaneous with the execution of the petition, the Debtors signed an “assignment of rights” whereby they “assigned] and conveyed] to Genova & Malin any and all funds returned to [them] by the chapter 13 Trustee ... deducting from said refund any amounts due and owing to Genova & Malin for legal services and reimbursement of expenses performed or incurred on my behalf.” Assgn Rights 1, ECF No. 2. The assignment also directs the trustee to return funds to the firm on the Debtors’ behalf. Id. The balance of funds, after deducting attorney fees, is to be returned to the Debtor. Id.

II. Debtors’ letter to the Court objecting to attorney fees

On August 13, 2013 the Debtors filed a brief handwritten letter with the Court, which states in full:

My husband Stacy and I applied for a ch. 13 bank, a year & a half ago. Our case # was 11-36799. Our attorney was Andrea Malin. We are a bit confused about this process. We paid Andrea $3,500 as a retaining fee (cash). We did not finish the process of a modification and Ms. Malin kept out $14,300 from the trustee (see attached). To date our bills were never paid. Is this the normal process?

Dr’s Let. 1, ECF No. 60. Debtors attach a letter from the trustee to Debtors’ counsel in which the Debtors were copied. Id. at 2. The letter, dated May 3, 2013, states that $14,275.17 will be transmitted via check to Debtors’ counsel. Id. In other words, the trustee transmitted the money paid into the plan to Debtors’ counsel upon dismissal.

III. Response of counsel to the Debtors’ letter.

Debtors’ counsel filed a response to the letter. Att’y Resp., ECF No. 63. In the response, counsel states that the Debtors took time to review her retainer agreement and said that they understood that agreement. Att’y Resp. 1, ECF No. 63. They signed the retainer agreement on June 22, 2011. Id. They were charged $3,500 as a flat fee for the filing of the case. Att’y Resp. Ex. A, ECF No. 63. Counsel states that Loss Mitigation services were not included in the flat fee. Att’y Resp. 1, ECF No. 63. Indeed, the Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 2016(b) disclosure of attorney compensation statement includes only the following services in the flat fee:

A. Analysis of the financial situation and rendering advice and assistance to the debtor in determining whether to file a petition under title 13 of the United States Code.
B. Preparation and filing of the petition, schedules, statement of financial affairs, and other documents required by the court.
C. Representation of the debtor at the meeting of creditors.

Att’y Disci, of Comp. 1, ECF No. 1. The disclosure statement did not exclude any fees. Id. Counsel also states that Loss Mitigation was unsuccessful due to the Debtors being unable to provide bank statements or pay stubs confirming their [348]*348stated income. Att’y Resp. 2, EOF No. 63. Counsel’s billing records and time sheets reflected an additional $5,196.98 in fees above the flat fee incurred for representation during Loss Mitigation. Id.

Counsel states that the money remitted by the trustee was placed in escrow on May 7, 2013, upon receipt of those funds. Id. at 3. Counsel states that the firm’s ledger indicates that a $9,078.19 check was remitted to Debtors on May 17, 2013. Id. The additional fees incurred for Loss Mitigation services were deducted from the refund before the remainder was remitted to the Debtors.1 Id.

On May 20, 2013, allegedly without contacting counsel, the Debtors filed a grievance action with the State of New York. Id. The Debtor’s stated that the firm was rude, offensive, and took advantage of them. Id. Counsel believes that the Debtors did not receive the check that was remitted to them from escrow. Id. at 4. To date, the firm’s records reflect that the check has not been cashed. Id.

In the response, counsel asks the Court to approve her fees. Id. The response was served on the chapter 13 trustee, the Debtors, and the New York State Grievance committee; it was not served on any other party. See Att’y Resp. Aff. of Serv. 1, ECF No. 63

Discussion

Under section 1326(a)(1), Chapter 13 debtors are required to commence making plan payments to the chapter 13 trustee within 30 days after filing the bankruptcy petition. 11 U.S.C. § 1326(a)(1). The requirement is not contingent upon confirmation of the debtor’s plan; the debtor must make payments in the amount stated in the proposed plan. Id.

The chapter 13 trustee holds those payments until confirmation of the debtor’s plan or denial of confirmation. 11 U.S.C.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
496 B.R. 343, 70 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 516, 2013 Bankr. LEXIS 3674, 2013 WL 4757520, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-garris-nysb-2013.