In Re Holder

94 B.R. 395, 8 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 238, 1988 Bankr. LEXIS 2151, 18 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 917, 1988 WL 137761
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. North Carolina
DecidedApril 29, 1988
Docket14-51073
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 94 B.R. 395 (In Re Holder) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. North Carolina primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re Holder, 94 B.R. 395, 8 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 238, 1988 Bankr. LEXIS 2151, 18 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 917, 1988 WL 137761 (N.C. 1988).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

JERRY G. TART, Bankruptcy Judge.

THIS MATTER came on for consideration upon the motion of the Chapter 13 Standing Trustee for avoidance of a lien on a motor vehicle pursuant to 11 U.S.C. section 547. The creditor, Wachovia Bank & Trust Company, N.A., filed an objection to the Trustee’s motion and tendered for the Court’s consideration a Memorandum of Law in support of that objection. At the hearing on the matter this Court heard arguments of counsel and rendered its decision from the bench reserving the right to file a Memorandum Opinion in support of its decision if the matter was appealed by either party. After considering the applicable federal bankruptcy law, the Memorandum of Law filed by Wachovia, the recommendation of the Chapter 13 Standing Trustee, the official court file, and the arguments of counsel at the hearing on the matter, the Court does herewith make its findings of fact and conclusions of law.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Steven Thomas Holder filed his petition for relief under Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code on November 2, 1987. Wacho-via Bank & Trust Company, N.A. filed a secured proof of claim in the amount of $14,214.92 based upon a note and security agreement executed July 24, 1987, for the purchase of a 1987 Dodge Dakota truck. Attached to its proof of claim was the certificate of title to the truck showing that the lien on the vehicle was perfected by Wachovia on August 12, 1987. After reviewing the documentation provided with Wachovia’s proof of claim, the Trustee proposed to avoid Wachovia’s lien on the vehicle and allow Wachovia’s claim as an unsecured claim under the Chapter 13 plan of the debtor. Upon Wachovia’s verbal objection to this classification, the Trustee filed a motion to avoid the lien of Wachovia pursuant to 11 U.S.C. section 547 as a preferential transfer. 1

ISSUES

The threshhold issue in this case is whether, despite the federally mandated *397 10-day grace period found in 11 U.S.C. 547(e)(2), the 20-day grace period allowed under North Carolina Gen.Stat. 25-9-301(2) for the perfection of purchase money security interests would cause the lien placed on the vehicle August 12, 1987, to relate back to the purchase date of July 24, 1987.

The second issue raised by Wachovia is whether the execution of a security agreement and perfection of a lien on a vehicle constitutes a “contemporaneous exchange” within the meaning of 11 U.S.C. section 547(c)(1).

Finally, after reviewing the aforementioned exceptions or defenses to section 547, this Court must determine whether the transaction was in fact a preferential transfer under 11 U.S.C. section 547(b).

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

The Chapter 13 Standing Trustee filed this motion to avoid a lien held by Wacho-via Bank & Trust Company, N.A. as a preferential transfer pursuant to 11 U.S.C. section 547(b). The purpose behind section 547(b) is to facilitate a policy of equality of distribution among creditors of the debtor. Although sometimes harsh in its application, the guidelines provided by the Bankruptcy Code in section 547(b) must be strictly followed to prevent a depletion or dimunition of the debtor’s estate to the benefit of one creditor and the detriment of all others.

The Trustee may avoid as a preference any transfer of property of the debtor,

(1) to or for the benefit of a creditor;
(2) for or on account of an antecedent debt owed by the debtor before such transfer was made;
(3) made while the debtor was insolvent;
(4) made—
(A) on or within 90 days before the date of the filing of the petition ...;
(5) that enables such creditor to receive more than such creditor would receive if—
(A) the case were a case under Chapter 7 of this title;
(B) the transfer had not been made; and
•(C) such creditor received payment of such debt to the extent provided by the provisions of this title.

11 U.S.C. section 547(b) (Collier on Bankruptcy 1988).

The first element of a preference is a "transfer to or for the benefit of a creditor.” In the instant case the “transfer” was the creation of the security interest given by the debtor to Wachovia.

The second element of a preference is that the transfer be “for or on account of an antecedent debt.” In order to determine whether the transfer was made for an antecedent debt the date of transfer must be determined. Under the Bankruptcy Code the date of transfer is determined with reference to the date the security interest is “perfected.” 11 U.S.C. section 547(e)(2) (Collier on Bankruptcy 1988); In re Millerburg, 61 B.R. 125, 127 (Bkrtcy.E. D.N.C.1986); In re Murray, 27 B.R. 445, 447 (Bkrtcy.M.D.Tenn.1983). The Bankruptcy Code provides that if the security interest in personal property is perfected within ten days after the creation of the security interest, then the date of transfer is considered to be the date of creation of the security interest, when the transaction took effect between the parties. If, however, a security interest is perfected after ten days, the transfer is considered to have been made on the date of perfection. 11 U.S.C. section 547(e)(2)(A) and (B) (Collier on Bankruptcy 1988). Furthermore, perfection occurs when a creditor cannot acquire a judicial lien that is superior to the lien of the transferee. 11 U.S.C. section 547(e)(1)(B) (Collier on Bankruptcy 1988). Thus, the time of transfer is determined by reference to the federal law prescribed by the Bankruptcy Code in section 547(e)(2). That section determines the date of transfer based upon when perfection of the lien occurred.

The time of perfection is a question of state law. In North Carolina, unless an application for the notation of a security interest is delivered to the Division of Motor Vehicles within ten days after the date of the security agreement, the security interest is perfected as of the date of deliv *398 ery of the application to the Division. N.C. Gen.Stat. section 20-58.2 (Michie 1983). In re Millerburg, 61 B.R.

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

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
94 B.R. 395, 8 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 238, 1988 Bankr. LEXIS 2151, 18 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 917, 1988 WL 137761, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-holder-ncmb-1988.