In Re Helmuth

92 B.R. 494, 1988 WL 115374
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Oklahoma
DecidedNovember 1, 1988
Docket19-10276
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 92 B.R. 494 (In Re Helmuth) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re Helmuth, 92 B.R. 494, 1988 WL 115374 (Okla. 1988).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM ORDER AND DECISION

MICKEY DAN WILSON, Bankruptcy Judge.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

Mr. and Mrs. Helmuth (“Debtors”) filed this bankruptcy petition seeking relief under Chapter 11 of Title 11 a number of years ago and subsequent thereto filed their schedules which includes claims of exemption. The Debtors are dairy farmers and have been since 1961 and dairy farming and other farming related activities are their sole source of income. After various and sundry amendments to the claim of exemption, Debtors claim personal property as exempt in the amount of $143,850.00 1 pursuant to 31 O.S.A. (1981) 1 et seq.

*495 American Bank of Oklahoma (“American Bank”) and Farmers Home Administration (“FmHA”) timely object to the claim of exemption and Debtors file their motion to avoid the lien of American Bank and FmHA. Both American Bank and FmHA have a valid, perfected, non-purchase-money, non-possessory security interest in all equipment owned by the Debtors. The Debtors then file their motion to avoid the lien of American Bank and FmHA. Evidence shows and it is not contested that there is no equity interest in the equipment and that the amount of allowed secured claim of each creditor exceeds the value of the personalty sought to be exempted. At the time of the filing of the bankruptcy petition the dairy herd of the Debtors consisted of about one hundred fifty milk cows which was composed of leased cattle and all such cattle were returned to the lessor about three and one-half months after the filing of the petition in bankruptcy and thereafter the Debtors continued their farming operations growing cash crops and forage, the forage to be used in the maintenance of another herd when and if the Debtors acquired the same. The objections to the claim of exemption and motion to avoid lien were consolidated for purposes of trial.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

Let this be made clear. Debtors borrowed money only on condition they grant a security interest in collateral valued at over $140,000 to secure repayment of the loan; now Debtors propose to keep the money and the collateral, cancel the security interest worth over $140,000, and walk away, leaving the lender with nothing.

Debtors say the law lets them do this. The “law” in question is actually several laws, interacting in Oklahoma bankruptcy cases. 11 U.S.C. § 522(b) provides for exemption of certain estate property to Debtors in bankruptcy, as specified in 11 U.S.C. *496 § 522(d), or only as specified in State exemption laws — regardless or exclusive of § 522(d) — if State exemption laws provide for their exclusive application in bankruptcy. 11 U.S.C. § 522(f) provides for avoidance of liens on certain exempt property, including “(2) ... (B) implements ... or tools, of the trade of the debtor or the trade of a dependent of the debtor ...” 31 O.S.A. (1981) § 1(A)(6) provides for exemption of “[a]ll tools, apparatus ... used in any trade or profession of such person or a dependent of such person.” 31 O.S.A. (1981) § 1(B) provides that Oklahoma exemptions shall apply in bankruptcy exclusive of Federal exemptions under 11 U.S.C. § 522(d). According to Debtors, the combined effect of these statutes is as follows: under 11 U.S.C. § 522(b) and 31 O.S.A. § 1(B), Debtors can exempt in bankruptcy whatever they may exempt under Oklahoma exemption laws; under 31 O.S.A. (1981) § 1(A)(6), Debtors may exempt any items useful to them in their “trade” as farmers, absolutely regardless of value, size, complexity, or suchlike factors; under 11 U.S.C. § 522(f)(2), security interests in whatever is exempt as “implements of ... tools ...” are subject to lien avoidance, absolutely regardless of the collateral’s value, size, complexity, or suchlike factors; therefore, in the present case, a security interest in farm equipment worth over $140,000 is avoidable.

*495 $ 3,000.00 5,000.00 20 ft. Gooseneck Trailer w/grain sides 1980 Chevrolet 1 Ton flat bed Pickup SR # ccw33avl29101
$ 150.00 700.00 12 ft. Grain Auger 62 ft. Mayrath Auger 1952 AC WD45 Tractor SR #4530911G
500.00 w/wheels 1 HC 4 Row Cultivator 1952 Chev. lVz Ton Truck SR # 5UKE2171 (cracked block) 8 8
3,000.00 Harvestor Supplement Meter A O Smith 14 ft. X 12 ft. Belt 1979 MF 250 Forage Chopper SR #1919101800 8
$ 800.00 5,000.00 Conveyer w/electric motor A O Smith 1500 Gal. liquid 1976 (2) Calhoun Forage wagons SR #4-312
$ 2,000.00 1,500.00 Manure Spr. Model 1350 #710186 1978 Gehl 99 Forage Blower Model FB-99 SR #9218
$ 4,000.00 7,000.00 A O Smith 20 x 80 Harvestor unloader 1980 NH 114 Pivot Tongue Mower Cond SR #380621
$ 40,000.00 3,000.00 ’76-78 A O Smith 20 X 80 Harve-stor Silo 1968 Case 960 Combine 16' Header SR #8339252
$ 6,000.00 f 3,500.00 $ 3,500.00 5,000.00 200.00 1,000.00 500.00 75-78 Goliath Unloaders SR # 770771278 & 770651312 1975 A O Smith 100 ft. Beltfeeder 1975 (2) A O Smith Chain conveyors Model 125 (2) A O Smith Chain conveyors 1980 Bush Hog 19' Disc Model 1439 SR # 1100629 IHC 12' Disc Graham Hoeme 16' Chiesel Plow Ford 4 Ros Planter Model 311 SR #3037
$ 1,500.00 750.00 200.00 400 BU Wa-Ro-Matic Roller-mill 1966 Farmhand Hay Grinder Model F83B SR #261 Badger 6' Manure Pump 4^4^
$ 1,500.00 $ 2,500.00 $ 5,500.00 $ 550.00 $ 200.00 $ 450.00 $143,850.00 300.00 200.00 1,500.00 1,500.00 250.00 100.00 100.00 Auger 8 Unit Delaval Milker w/auto takeoffs/universal pump 1500 Mueller-Matic Bulk Tank (2) 4hp Compressors (2) Water Tanks Lincoln Welder-Cutting Torch-Misc. tools 1968 Field Sprayer Bailey w/200 gal tank JD Grain Drill Marathon Electric 75 hp Motor Frame Win Power 45 kw PTO Generator SR # FF1269-57 Mone 6' Rotary Mower Shop Built Blade 8' 5" Auger w/electric motor W 4^^

*496 According to the creditors the Debtors’ interpretation mangles the Oklahoma exemption and the bankruptcy avoidance statutes; that the Debtors give meaning to the statutes never intended by the enactors thereof and that the intent and purpose of the exemption and avoidance statutes are lost in the maze of technical interpretations and go far beyond the liberal interpretation of the same; and creditors use examples of the “fresh start — head start”, “Christmas comes early”, and “wholesale giveaway” analogies and pray this Court deny Debtors’ claim of exemption and the motion to avoid the particular creditors' liens.

The Court must determine whether 11 U.S.C.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
92 B.R. 494, 1988 WL 115374, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-helmuth-oknb-1988.