In re Holt

497 B.R. 817, 2013 WL 4864506, 2013 Bankr. LEXIS 3814
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, D. South Carolina
DecidedSeptember 12, 2013
DocketCase No. 13-02506-dd
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 497 B.R. 817 (In re Holt) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, D. South Carolina primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Holt, 497 B.R. 817, 2013 WL 4864506, 2013 Bankr. LEXIS 3814 (S.C. 2013).

Opinion

Chapter 11

ORDER ON MOTION FOR RELIEF FROM STAY AND OBJECTION TO EXEMPTIONS

David R. Duncan, Chief US Bankruptcy Judge

This matter is before the Court on a motion for relief from stay filed by First Citizen Bank and Trust Company, Inc. (“First Citizens”) on June 21, 2013, and an objection filed on June 21, 2013, to exemptions claimed by the debtors, John Woodrow Holt, III (“Mr. Holt”) and Carole Ann Cox Holt (“Ms. Holt”) (collectively, the “Holts”). The Holts responded in opposition to both the motion for relief from stay and the objection to their claimed exemptions. The Court held a hearing on July 23, 2013. Based on the evidence admitted and the arguments presented, the Court hereby issues the following findings of fact and conclusions of law:1

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. On April 29, 2013, the Holts filed their petition for relief under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code.

2. The Holts each own a 50% membership interest in two South Carolina limited liability companies: Low Country Land, LLC (“Low Country”) and Pamplico Highway Development, LLC (“Pamplico Highway”). Low Country and Pamplico Highway were previously debtors-in-possession in this Court, Case No. 11-07554-dd (Low Country) and Case No. 11-04387-jw (Pam-plico Highway).

[819]*8193. First Citizens is the holder of three judgments against the Holts which resulted from their guarantees of two commercial loans to Pamplico Highway and a third commercial loan to Low Country. The judgments were entered in three actions filed in Florence County in the Court of Common Pleas to foreclose on real estate owned by Pamplico Highway and Low Country and to collect on the Holts’ guarantees: (i) First Citizens Bank and Trust Co., Inc. v. Low Country Land, LLC et al., Case No. 2011-CP-21-1765 (“Case No. -1765”); (ii) First Citizens Bank and Trust Co., Inc. v. Pamplico Highway Development, LLC et al., Case No. 2011-CP-21-1680 (“Case No. -1680”); and (iii) First Citizens Bank and Trust Co., Inc. v. Pamplico Highway Development, LLC et al., Case No. 2011-CP-21-1681 (“Case No. - 1681”).

Case No. -1765

4. On September 28, 2011, the Clerk of Court for Florence County entered an Order of Reference in Case No. -1765 which indicates that, pursuant to Rule 53(b) of the South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure, the case is referred to the Honorable Haigh Porter, Special Referee for Florence County. First Citizens’ ex. 1. The Order of Reference in Case No. -1765 states Mr. Porter:

shall exercise all power and authority which a circuit judge sitting without a jury would have, including but not limited to, making findings of fact and conclusions of law; directing entry of final judgment in this action under Rule 53(b) of the South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure; hearing any issues, including motions, after sale or judgment; issuing any and all Orders and Supplemental Orders, Writs of Assistance and hearing any issues involving possession and/or removal of property and appraisal proceedings under Section 29-3-360, et seq. of the South Carolina Code. Pursuant to Rule 53(b) of the South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure, any appeal from the final judgment entered by the Special Referee shall be to the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeals as provided by the South Carolina Appellate Court Rules.

5. By Order of Judgment as to John W. Holt and Carole A. Holt entered on February 6, 2012, First Citizens obtained a judgment against the Holts in Case No. -1765 in the amount of $628,189.25, plus interest. First Citizens’ ex. 2.

Case No. -1680

6. On April 3, 2012, First Citizens obtained an Order of Judgment as to John W. Holt and Carole A. Holt in Case No. -1680 in the amount of $1,240,891.37, plus interest. First Citizens’ ex. 8. On April 20, 2012, a Supplemental Order as to Attorneys’ Fees as to John W. Holt and Carole A. Holt was entered which awarded First Citizens an additional $8,200 in attorneys’ fees and increased the judgment amount to $1,249,091.37, plus interest. First Citizens’ ex. 9.

Case No. -1681

7. On April 3, 2012, First Citizens obtained an Order of Judgment as to John W. Holt and Carole A. Holt in Case No. -1681 in the amount of $1,676,800.54, plus interest. First Citizens’ ex. 12. On April 20, 2012, a Supplemental Order as to Attorneys’ Fees as to John W. Holt and Carole A. Holt was entered which awarded First Citizens an additional $7,500 in attorneys’ fees and increased the judgment amount to $1,684,300.54, plus interest. First Citizens’ ex. 13.

Supplemental Proceedings

8. After obtaining its judgment, First Citizens commenced supplemental proceedings against the Holts in Case No. -1765. On May 31, 2012, Mr. Porter, as [820]*820Special Referee, entered a Rule to Show Cause requiring the Holts to appear for supplemental proceedings on June 28, 2012. First Citizens’ ex. 3.

9. First Citizens also commenced supplemental proceedings in Case No. -1680 and Case No. -1681. On May 18, 2012, the Court of Common Pleas for Florence County entered rules to show cause in Case No. -1680 and Case No. -1681, requiring the Holts to appear for supplemental proceedings on July 11, 2012. First Citizens’ exs. 10, 14.

10. Ms. Holt was unable to appear at the June 28, 2012 hearing held pursuant to the Rule to Show Cause the Special Referee entered in Case No. -1765.

11. At the June 28, 2012 hearing, counsel for First Citizens, Mr. Moore, and counsel for the Holts, Mr. Mikell, indicated on the record that they had reached an agreement as to procedural matters and would be submitting an order to refer supplementary proceedings in Case No. -1680 and Case No. -1681 to Mr. Porter so they could be consolidated with Case No. -1765. Tr. of June 28, 2012 Hearing at 4-5 (First Citizens’ ex. 4).

12. On July 16, 2012, the Court of Common Pleas for Florence County entered an Order of Reference as to Supplemental Proceedings as to John W. Holt, III and Carole A. Holt in Case No. -1680 and Case No. -1681. First Citizens’ ex. 11, 15. These orders referred Case No. -1680 and Case No. -1681 to “the Honorable Haigh Porter, Special Referee for Florence County, to take the testimony and other evidence offered and to issue a final order; to make findings of fact and conclusions of law; to dispose of any and all issues and enter a final order with appeal, if any, directly to the South Carolina Supreme Court; and to hear any issues as to the Rule to Show Cause.”2 Id.

13. The Special Referee entered his Order as to Supplemental Proceedings in Case No. -1765 on July 18, 2012, and signed on July 9, 2012, which stated that counsel for the parties:

agreed to (1) consent to the referral of Supplemental Proceedings scheduled in First Citizens Bank and Trust Co., Inc. vs. Pamplico Highway Development (Civil Action No. 2011-CP-21-1680 and 2011-CP-21-1681); (2) the Supplemental Proceedings hearing for Carole Holt will be continued to a mutually agreed upon time to accommodate her in connection with her work schedule; and (3) any and all Supplemental Proceedings in this action or the above two referenced actions will be applicable to all three actions.

First Citizens’ ex. 5.

14.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
497 B.R. 817, 2013 WL 4864506, 2013 Bankr. LEXIS 3814, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-holt-scb-2013.