In re HT Pueblo Properties, LLC

462 B.R. 812, 2011 Bankr. LEXIS 4124, 55 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 176, 2011 WL 5041767
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, D. Colorado
DecidedOctober 24, 2011
DocketNo. 11-24718 MER
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 462 B.R. 812 (In re HT Pueblo Properties, LLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, D. Colorado primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re HT Pueblo Properties, LLC, 462 B.R. 812, 2011 Bankr. LEXIS 4124, 55 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 176, 2011 WL 5041767 (Colo. 2011).

Opinion

ORDER

MICHAEL E. ROMERO, Bankruptcy Judge.

THIS MATTER comes before Court on the Motion to Prohibit Use of Cash Collateral filed by Zions First National Bank (“Zions”), and the Motion for Order Authorizing Use of Cash Collateral filed by Debtor HT Pueblo Properties, LLC (“Debtor”). Having considered the pleadings, the facts to which the parties agreed, and the legal arguments presented, the Court makes the following findings of fact and conclusions of law.

JURISDICTION

The Court has jurisdiction over this matter under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1334(a) and (b) and 157(a) and (b). This is a core proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(M), as it concerns the use of cash collateral.

[813]*813BACKGROUND FACTS

The Debtor filed its voluntary Chapter 11 petition on June 21, 2011 (the “Petition Date”). The Debtor owns a Ramada Inn in Pueblo, Colorado, which it values at approximately $2.1 million. According to the Debtor’s schedules, it has approximately $5.2 million of debt on the property, of which $3.1 million is held by Zions, and $1.7 million is held by the Small Business Administration.

It is undisputed Zions holds a first lien on all the Debtor’s real and personal property, as well as an assignment of rents. Zions claims room rents are cash collateral subject to its lien interest and does not consent to the Debtor’s use of these room rents to fund operating expenses. Zions has also filed a notice of its non-consent under 11 U.S.C. § 546(b).1

The Debtor, however, asserts its use of room rents and other income is necessary and proper.2 The Debtor’s Motion for Authorization for Use of Cash Collateral seeks leave to use room rents and other income (“Operating Capital”) on deposit in its debtor-in-possession account, stating its business depends upon uninterrupted access to those funds. The Debtor proposes an operating budget, and plans to continue operation of the motel throughout this case, anticipating a plan of reorganization providing for the continuation of the Debt- or’s business. According to the Debtor, on the Petition Date it had approximately $8,000 in its checking account, and as of June 29, 2011, it had approximately $26,141.88 in its debtor-in-possession account. The Debtor anticipates it will replace the cash and cash equivalents in the course of its daily operations and, therefore, the collateral base will remain stable.

The Debtor filed a new Motion to Use Cash Collateral on August 26, 2011. According to that motion, the Debtor had not yet completed its investigation to determine whether Zions held a perfected security interest against the Operating Capital on the Petition Date, and specifically preserved the argument that the Operating Capital is not cash collateral under the provisions of § 363. Zions has indicated its willingness to continue the interim use of cash collateral pending resolution of the matter.

The parties do not dispute Zions holds a Promissory Note dated May 30, 2007, in the face amount of $2,614,800.3 The Promissory Note is secured by a Deed of Trust also dated May 30, 2007 and was recorded in the office of the Pueblo County Clerk and Recorder on June 4, 2007.4 Zions also holds an Assignment of Rents dated May 30, 2007, which was recorded with the Pueblo County Clerk and Recorder on June 7, 2007.5 Additionally, as part of this transaction, the Debtor executed a Commercial Security Agreement (“Security Agreement”).6

In connection with the Security Agreement, financing statements were filed with the Colorado Secretary of State’s office on June 5, 2007 (the “Financing Statements”).7 Zions asserts, and the Debtor [814]*814does not dispute, that the Note was originally made payable to Choice Bank. However, the Note was sold, endorsed, and delivered to Zions on June 8, 2007, pursuant to an Assignment of Deed of Trust and Assignment of Assignment of Rents, both of which were recorded in Pueblo County, and pursuant to assignments of the Financing Statements, which assignments were filed with the Colorado Secretary of State’s office.8

THE LOAN DOCUMENTS

• The Deed of Trust provides:

For valuable consideration, Grantor [Debtor] hereby irrevocably grants, transfers, and assigns to [the Pueblo County Public Trustee] for the benefit of Lender [Zions] as Beneficiary all of Grantor’s right, title, and interest in and to the following described real property, together with all existing or subsequently erected or affixed buildings, improvements and fixtures, all easements, rights of way, and appurtenances; all water, water rights and ditch rights, (including stock in utilities with ditch or irrigation rights); and all other rights, royalties, and profits relating to the real property, including without limitation all mineral, oil, gas, geothermal, and similar matters (the “Real Property”) located in Pueblo County, State of Colorado [legal description omitted].
Grantor presently assigns to Lender (also known as Beneficiary in this Deed of Trust) all of grantor’s right, title, and interest in and to all present and future leases of the property and all Rents from the Property. In addition, Grantor grants to Lender a Uniform Commercial Code security interest in the Personal Property and Rents.9

The Deed of Trust goes on to define “Personal Property” as

all equipment, fixtures, and other articles of personal property, now or hereafter owned by Grantor, and now or hereafter attached or affixed to the real property; together with all accessions, parts, and additions to, all replacements of, and all substitutes for, any such property; and together with all proceeds (including without limitation all insurance proceeds and refunds of premiums) from any sale or other disposition of the property.10

Further, the Deed of Trust defines “Rents” to mean “all present and future rents revenues, income, issues, royalties, profits, and other benefits derived from the [subject] Property.”11

• The Assignment of Rents provides in relevant part:

For valuable consideration, Grantor hereby assigns, grants a continuing security interest in, and conveys to Lender all of Grantor’s right, title, and interest in and to the Rents from [the Property].12

The Assignment of Rents defines “Rents” as meaning:

all of Grantor’s present and future rights, title, and interest in, to and under any and all present and future leases, including, without limitation, all rents, revenue, income, issues, royalties, bonuses, accounts receivable, cash or security deposits, advance rentals, profits and proceeds from the Property, and other payments and benefits derived or to be derived from such leases of every kind and nature, whether due now or later, including without limitation Grant- [815]

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
462 B.R. 812, 2011 Bankr. LEXIS 4124, 55 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 176, 2011 WL 5041767, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-ht-pueblo-properties-llc-cob-2011.