In re Hyong Jin Kim

15 B.R. 198, 1981 Bankr. LEXIS 2609
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedNovember 10, 1981
DocketBankruptcy No. 80 B 11866; Adv. No. 80-5431-A
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 15 B.R. 198 (In re Hyong Jin Kim) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Hyong Jin Kim, 15 B.R. 198, 1981 Bankr. LEXIS 2609 (S.D.N.Y. 1981).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM & ORDER

JOHN J. GALGAY, Bankruptcy Judge.

Under the aegis of this court, Francis Mandina and Joseph Mandina (the “Mandi-nas”) and Hyong Jin Kim (“Kim”) entered into a Stipulation of Settlement (the “Stipulation”) dated December 31, 1980. Pursuant to § 1123 of the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C., Kim, a Chapter 11 Debtor-in-possession agreed to surrender his unexpired leasehold to the Mandinas according to conditions set forth in the presently contested Stipulation. Kim substantially performed his part of the Stipulation when he surrendered the leasehold to the Mandinas on January 23rd at 6:00 P.M. as agreed. The Mandinas allege however that since certain conditions were violated by Kim, they are entitled to void the Stipulation, thereby recovering the consideration held in escrow, and enabling them to revive their state court claims. They seek additional monetary damages of $24,500 for repairs to the leasehold and unrealized rent during the time of repair. This Court determines that the Stipulation remains in full force and effect. However, the Mandinas are entitled to $9,350 in damages as a result of Debtor’s inadequate performance of condition 5 of the Stipulation.

A summary of events culminating in the adversary hearings of April 8th and 13th, 1979, is helpful to an understanding of the issues now before this Court. Kim, a retail fruit and vegetable merchant, entered into a lease agreement effective March 12, 1979 with the Mandinas for a term certain of ten years. The Mandinas leased Kim the first floor store and partial basement of a three story building in which the Mandinas themselves reside. Almost from the inception of Kim’s tenancy, the Mandinas objected to Kim’s use and treatment of the leasehold. Therefore, they sought and obtained an eviction order in New York Civil Court on October 29, 1980. Execution of judgment was stayed under section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code following Kim’s filing of an application for relief before this court on November 6,1980. Subsequently, the Man-dinas and Kim entered into the contested Stipulation. In essence it requires Kim to surrender the leasehold to the Mandinas on or before January 23, 1980. In consideration, $43,600 now held in escrow will be delivered to Kim. The escrow account represents various funding sources, including Kim’s security deposit, Kim’s pre-petition payment for damages, and the Mandinas1 payment of consideration for the remaining term of the leasehold.

Kim surrendered his leasehold. However, the escrow funds were not delivered to Kim because the Mandinas seek to rescind the Stipulation alleging that Kim willfully caused substantial damage to the leasehold thus violating the Stipulation.

In deciding that the Stipulation should remain in full force and effect but that the Mandinas are entitled to a measure of damages they seek, this Court determines that the breach of the Stipulation by Kim is not of such a substantial nature as to warrant its recission. The terms and composition of the Stipulation itself support this result. Condition 2 of the Stipulation reads: “The Escrow Funds shall be paid over .. . only upon condition that Kim vacates the premises ... in broom clean condition by no later than 6:00 P.M. on January 23, 1981. ... ” Condition 7 states that recission is possible “[i]n the event that the Mandinas pay the Escrow Funds ... and Kim does not vacate the premises in broom clean condition on or before 6 P.M. on January 23, 1981.” The surrender of the leasehold is effected under section 1123 of the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C., which is concerned solely with the assumption or rejection of executory contracts and unexpired leases. The Stipulation itself and the un-[200]*200derlying purpose of the Chapter 11 reorganization procedure indicate that surrender of the leasehold is the condition precedent2 to the execution of the remaining conditions of the Stipulation. Kim substantially performed his part of the Stipulation when he vacated his leasehold on the determined date. Therefore, the condition precedent is satisfied and the Stipulation is not defeated. A stipulation, according to New York law (which applies here), is a contract (and defeated only by that which would defeat a contract). Galasso v. Galasso, 361 N.Y.S.2d 871, 872, 35 N.Y.2d 319, 20 N.E.2d 618 (1974); Myers v. Bernard, 326 N.Y.S.2d 279, 38 A.D.2d 619 (Sup.Ct.1971); Schweber v. Berger, 27 A.D.2d 840, 277 N.Y.S.2d 855 (Sup.Ct.1967); Ressler v. Druck, 40 Misc.2d 654, 243 N.Y.S.2d 552 (Sup.Ct.1963).

Recission is so drastic that it can only be justified by substantial breach that goes to the essence of the contract itself, “depriving one of the parties of the fruit of the agreement.” Fink v. Friedman, 78 Misc.2d 429, 358 N.Y.S.2d 250, 259 (Sup.Ct. 1974). In the instant case, recission rather than enforcement of the Stipulation would deprive Kim of the “fruit of the agreement” since only the Mandinas have received the benefit of the bargain. Therefore, this Court as a court of equity, declines to rescind. Our reluctance is reinforced by the knowledge that in the instant case partial performance makes it impossible to return the parties to the status quo. Holdeen v. Rinaldo, 28 A.D.2d 947, 281 N.Y. S.2d 657, 661 (Sup.Ct.1967).

We briefly consider the term “broom swept” which appears in condition 2 of the Stipulation. This term will be given its plain meaning. Evidence was offered by a witness for the Debtor that the leasehold was left in broom swept condition at the time of its surrender. With nothing contrary offered by the Mandinas, this court finds that the premises were left in broom swept condition, as required by the Stipulation.

While sustaining the legal effect of the Stipulation this Court finds that condition 5 of the Stipulation which states that “Kim agrees to refrain from damaging the premises,” has been breached. Therefore, the Mandinas are entitled to damages. In order to determine the extent of the damages to which the Mandinas are entitled, this court must consider New York State law and the terms of the Stipulation, including the fact that certain damages which were the subject of the prior civil court judgment are subject to automatic stay under § 362 of the Code-3 and forever waived under the Stipulation. That many of the damages now claimed by the Mandinas were the subject of the prior state court proceeding is clear upon review of the Notice to Cure of November 7, 1979 and the New York State Civil Court Transcripts. These damages are properly excluded under the Code and the Stipulation itself.

The Stipulation while instructing Kim to refrain from damaging the premises also instructs that Kim “will remove any and all fixtures and equipment and trade fixtures.” (emphasis added). The Mandinas now allege that the removal of trade and other fixtures caused serious damage to the leasehold. Ordinarily New York State fixture law proscribes the removal of plumbing and lighting fixtures by a lessee. Jack Dowls Music Mart, Inc., 205 Misc. 852, 133 N.Y.S.2d 734 (1954); In re City of New York, 101 App.Div. 527, 92 N.Y.S. 8 (1st Dept.), affd. 182 N.Y. 281, 74 N.E. 840 (1905); Regan v. Luthy, 16 Daly 413, 11 N.Y.S. 709 (C.P.N.Y.1890). However, it is well settled that controlling principles regarding removal of trade fixtures may be altered by agreement between the parties. People ex rel. Interborough Rapid Transit [201]*201Co. v. O’Donnel, 202 N.Y. 313, 95 N.E. 762, 764 (1911); 23 N.Y.Jur., Fixtures, § 8 (1962).

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Bluebook (online)
15 B.R. 198, 1981 Bankr. LEXIS 2609, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-hyong-jin-kim-nysd-1981.