In re Georgian Villa, Inc.

9 B.R. 969, 1981 Bankr. LEXIS 4968
Procedural entryThis page is a short order in In re Georgian Villa, Inc.. Read the opinion of the Court — 8 B.R. 875
District Court, D. Georgia·Decided February 4, 1981·No. Bankruptcy Nos. B77-2621A, B77-2622A·Published

Opinion

ORDER

HUGH ROBINSON, Bankruptcy Judge.

The objection of City National Bank of Birmingham to the proof of claim filed by First National Bank, Dayton, Ohio in the above-styled cases brings the dispute involved herein before the Court. This matter came on regularly to be heard before the Court on October 7, 1980. The hearing reconvened on October 16, 1980 and concluded the following day. Having considered the testimony and oral arguments presented at the hearing and the briefs submitted by the parties, the Court makes the following decision.

FINDINGS OF FACT

The Georgian Villa, Inc. and Atlanta West General Hospital, Inc. were the owners and operators of a 320 bed acute care hospital in Douglas County, Georgia.1 On September 29, 1977 each of the Debtors filed a petition under Chapter XI of the Bankruptcy Act.

The Georgian Villa, Inc. issued and has outstanding $17 million in principal amount of registered and bearer bonds designated as Atlanta West Hospital Serial First Mortgage Sinking Fund Series I Bonds.2 These bonds are subject to a duly-recorded Trust Indenture executed between The Georgian Villa, Inc. and The First National Bank, Dayton, Ohio, Trustee.3

William B. Ipema is the representative plaintiff in a class action suit brought by the holders of the Atlanta West bonds against several defendants including FNB.4 The complaint filed by Ipema alleges violations of § 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 and §§ 5,12(1), 12(2) and 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933. Numerous breaches of fiduciary duties owed by FNB to the bondholders are also alleged. Compensatory damages of $17 million, punitive damages of an unspecified amount and costs and attorney’s fees are sought. After this suit was filed FNB withdrew as indenture trustee and City National Bank of Birmingham was appointed successor indenture trustee.5

Atlanta West Hospital was sold to the Hospital Corporation of America on December 20, 1979 for $22 million. The sale proceeds were separated into two funds, the General Fund and the Bondholder Fund.6 At the present time these funds remain in [971]*971the hands of Morton P. Levine, the receiver for the Debtors.7

On July 18, 1979 FNB filed a secured claim in these bankruptcy proceedings for $50,600,000.00. This sum includes approximately $600,000.00 in expenses incurred in defending the Ipema suit and approximately $50,000,000.00 in contingent liability FNB may suffer as a result of this suit. FNB claims a position of priority over all secured and unsecured creditors of the Debtors.

The Successor Indenture Trustee filed an objection to the allowance of the claim of FNB.8

It is the position of the Successor Indenture Trustee that the claim of FNB is neither provable nor allowable under the Bankruptcy Act. The Successor Indenture Trustee also contends that FNB’s claim is invalid for the reason that FNB cannot be indemnified for the liabilities it may incur as a result of the Ipema suit.

It is contended by FNB that the concepts of provability and allowability are inapplicable in this case for the reason that FNB’s claim is secured. FNB also argues that its rights as a secured creditor may not be affected in proceedings for an arrangement under Chapter XI of the Bankruptcy Act.

APPLICABLE LAW

The Successor Indenture Trustee contends that the claim of FNB is not provable under Section 63 of the Bankruptcy Act, 11 U.S.C. § 103 nor allowable under Section 57 of the Bankruptcy Act, 11 U.S.C. § 93. It is first argued by the Successor Indenture Trustee that the claim of FNB is a tort claim and therefore not provable under Section 63 of the Bankruptcy Act, 11 /U.S.C. § 103. Generally claims based on are not provable in bankruptcy.9 [3A (Jollier on Bankruptcy (14th Edition) ¶ 63.-25[1]]. However, in the instant case, FNB’s claim for indemnity rests on a provision in the Trust Indenture and is therefore based on an alleged contractual liability. Accordingly the Court finds that FNB’s claim is not a non-provable tort claim.

The Successor Indenture Trustee contends that the claim of FNB is not provable nor allowable for the reason that the claim is contingent, unliquidated and not capable of reasonable estimation.

Under Section 63(a)(8) of the Bankruptcy Act, 11 U.S.C. § 103(a)(8), contingent debts and contingent liabilities are provable in bankruptcy. However this statutory provision is qualified by the proviso in Section 57(d) of the Bankruptcy Act, 11 U.S.C. § 93(d). Thompson v. England, 226 F.2d 488 (9th Cir. 1955); 3A Collier on Bankruptcy (14th Edition) ¶ 63.30. Section 57(d) reads:

“d. Claims which have been duly proved shall be allowed upon receipt by or upon presentation to the court, unless objection to their allowance shall be made by parties in interest or unless the consideration be continued for cause by the court upon its own motion: Provided, however, That an unliquidated or contingent claim shall not be allowed unless liquidated or the amount thereof estimated in the manner and within the time directed by the court; and such claim shall not be allowed if the court shall determine that it is not capable of liquidation or of reasonable estimation or that such liquidation or estimation would unduly delay the administration of the estate or any proceeding under this Act.” —

The claim of FNB, although provable under Section 63(a)(8) seems to be just the type of claim that is not allowable under the proviso of Section 57(d). It is clearly impossible to predict the outcome of the complex Impema ease nor can the Court divine the amount of damages which might possibly be awarded to the class action plaintiffs in the event judgment is entered [972]*972against the defendants. In this situation the only practical way to liquidate this claim would be to wait for the conclusion of the Ipema case. However, after four years this suit is still in the discovery stage. That this suit will not be resolved in the near future is beyond question. It can only be concluded that the liquidation of FNB’s claim would unduly delay the administration of this bankrupt estate.

From the foregoing it is clear that FNB’s claim is not capable of reasonable estimation and that liquidation of this claim would delay the administration of the estate for an indefinite period of time. The Court could easily determine that FNB’s claim is not allowable in these bankruptcy proceedings but for FNB’s assertion that its .claim is secured. FNB’s assertion is based on Section 10.01(s) of the Trust Indenture which reads:

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

In re Georgian Villa, Inc., 9 B.R. 969, 1981 Bankr. LEXIS 4968 (gad 1981).

9 B.R. 969 (In re Georgian Villa, Inc.) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Related