In Re Johnson

35 B.R. 54, 1983 Bankr. LEXIS 5036
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Tennessee
DecidedNovember 14, 1983
DocketBankruptcy 382-03237
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 35 B.R. 54 (In Re Johnson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Tennessee primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re Johnson, 35 B.R. 54, 1983 Bankr. LEXIS 5036 (Tenn. 1983).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM

GEORGE C. PAINE, II, Bankruptcy Judge.

This matter is before the court on the debtor Alice Lee Johnson’s objection to the creditor Geneseo Employees Credit Association’s (hereinafter “Geneseo”) amended proof of claim filed on March 7, 1983. After consideration of the evidence presented at the hearing, stipulations, exhibits, briefs of the parties and the entire record, this court concludes that this claim should be disallowed. The court further finds that the debtor’s confirmed Chapter 13 plan must provide payments to Geneseo equal to the present value of Genesco’s secured claim at the time of the filing of this bankruptcy petition, which amount is $1,369.56 plus interest at the current market rate on the date that this plan was confirmed.

The following shall represent findings of fact and conclusions of law pursuant to Rule 7052 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure.

The debtor filed a voluntary Chapter 13 wage earner petition in this court on October 6,1982. In her Statement of Schedules and Affairs, the debtor listed the “amount due or claimed by” Geneseo as $1,039.37. The statement further reflected that Genes-co’s claim was secured by a 1979 Buick Regal valued at $4,800.00.

The debtor proposed a 52 month Chapter 13 plan with Geneseo receiving monthly payments of $45.00. This plan did not indicate when the payments to Geneseo would cease.

On November 1, 1982, Geneseo filed a proof of claim in the debtor’s bankruptcy case for $1,369.56. This claim represented the balance due at the time of the filing of the debtor’s petition on a promissory note signed by the debtor with Geneseo on April 5, 1982. This note had provided for payment to Geneseo of $1,789.41 with interest at the rate of 15% over a period of 30 months. The proof of claim stated that the debt was secured by the 1979 Buick which Geneseo valued at $5,575.00. In addition, the following written statement appeared on the proof of claim:

“Our Claim is For $1,369.56 Plus Interest At The Court Approved rate.”

Geneseo, along with all other creditors and parties in interest; was mailed an order and notice setting the debtor’s meeting of creditors on November 23,1982. This order informed all secured creditors that the value of their collateral might be considered at the meeting of creditors and notified all creditors that the treatment of their claim by the debtor’s proposed Chapter 13 plan would also be considered and that the debt- or might adjust or modify the proposed treatment at that time. The order and notice further stated that a hearing on the confirmation of the debtor’s plan would be held promptly following the conclusion of the meeting of creditors.

Geneseo failed to appear at the meeting of creditors despite this clear warning that *56 the status and treatment of its claim would be considered. At the conclusion of the meeting of creditors, the court held a confirmation hearing and confirmed the debt- or’s plan. The plan provided that Genesco as a fully secured creditor would retain its lien and be paid $45.00 per month. Although the plan was to extend for 36 months, it does not indicate when payments to Genesco would cease. And, except for a vague reference that secured creditors would receive “the value of their security as indicated,” the plan does not specify the total amount of money that Genesco would be paid under the plan. 1

On March 7, 1983, approximately three months after the confirmation of the debt- or’s plan, Genesco filed another proof of claim alleging that the debtor owed Genes-co an additional $366.19 at the time of the filing of the bankruptcy petition. The consideration for this debt was stated as “Present Value payments over time.” The debtor has now objected to this proof of claim.

Genesco’s second proof of claim for $366.19, which amount apparently represents the unmatured interest on the note between the debtor and Genesco, must be disallowed. Section 502(b)(2) expressly prohibits allowance of this type of claim. 2

This finding does not, however, end the court’s inquiry. The question remains whether the debtor’s plan makes provision for the payment of interest on Genesco’s fully secured claim. The record is far from clear on this point. While Genesco’s original proof of claim requested payment of its claim “plus interest at the court approved rate,” the confirmed plan does not state that Genesco is to receive such interest. The debtor argues that the plan’s silence implies that Genesco was not to receive any interest on its secured claim.

The court cannot accept the debtor’s assumption that this Chapter 13 plan does or can fail to pay Genesco interest on its fully secured claim. In reaching this conclusion, the court is guided by § 1325(a)(5) of the Bankruptcy Code and the teachings of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Memphis Bank & Trust Co. v. Whitman, 692 F.2d 427 (6th Cir.1982). 11 U.S.C.A. § 1325(a)(5) (West 1979) provides as follows:

“(a) The court shall confirm a plan if—
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(5) with respect to each allowed secured claim provided for by the plan—
(A) the holder of such claim has accepted the plan;
(B)(i) the plan provides that the holder of such claim retain the lien securing such claim; and
(ii) the value, as of the effective date of the plan, of property to be distributed under the plan on account of such claim is not less than the allowed amount of such claim; or
(C) the debtor surrenders the property securing such claim to such holder; ..."

To be confirmed, the debtor’s plan must provide for Genesco’s claim in one of the three aforementioned ways. Neither § 1325(a)(5)(A) nor (C) has been satisfied in this case. The debtor has not surrendered the automobile, which is the collateral for the secured claim, to the creditor nor has the creditor affirmatively accepted the plan as envisioned by the debtor. Genesco’s failure to object to the plan as confirmed creates no inference that Genesco intended to forego any payment of interest on its se *57 cured claim. To the contrary, Genesco stated in its proof of claim that it expected to receive interest at the court approved rate and the plan itself provides no provision expressly negating Genesco’s request.

Confirmation of the plan thus depended upon compliance with § 1325(a)(5)(B). In Memphis Bank & Trust Company, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals stated that § 1325(a)(5)(B) “seems to require the Bankruptcy Court to assess interest on the secured claim for the present value of the collateral (if it is not to be paid immediately) in order not to dilute the value of that claim through delay in payment.” Memphis Bank & Trust Co. v.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
35 B.R. 54, 1983 Bankr. LEXIS 5036, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-johnson-tnmb-1983.