In re Koppinger

113 B.R. 588, 12 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 534, 1990 Bankr. LEXIS 862, 1990 WL 51911
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, D. North Dakota
DecidedMarch 20, 1990
DocketBankruptcy No. 89-05740
StatusPublished

This text of 113 B.R. 588 (In re Koppinger) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, D. North Dakota primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Koppinger, 113 B.R. 588, 12 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 534, 1990 Bankr. LEXIS 862, 1990 WL 51911 (N.D. 1990).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

WILLIAM A. HILL, Bankruptcy Judge.

The matter before the court is a Motion for Authorization of Post-Petition Transfer, filed on December 26, 1989, by American State Bank and Trust of Dickinson, North Dakota. Through their motion, American State Bank and Trust seeks a turnover of all of the Debtors’ accounts receivable existing as of September 28, 1989, presently collected and being held by the Debtors or by American State Bank and Trust or to be collected during the pendency of this bankruptcy. The Debtors, Adam and Martha Koppinger d/b/a Koppinger Oil Company, resists the bank’s motion insofar as the money in the accounts receivable represent a sum due and payable the State of North Dakota from the sale of motor fuels. It is American State Bank and Trust’s position that the entire accounts receivable is subject to the bank’s security interest. American State Bank and Trust and the Debtors have filed a stipulation as to certain facts which will facilitate the determination of this issue before the court. The facts as relevant to [589]*589the determination of this motion are as follows:

1.

The Debtors, Adam and Martha Koppinger d/b/a Koppinger Oil Company (Koppinger), operate a bulk oil plant outside of Dickinson, North Dakota. The Debtors entered into a loan agreement with American State Bank and Trust Company (ASB). In return for the loan the Koppingers granted ASB inter alia, a security interest in, “All Accounts (rights to repayment for goods sold or leased or for services rendered) of debtor now existing or hereafter at any time acquired.” See Exhibit B (security agreement dated December 7, 1987). It is stipulated that ASB holds a validly perfected security interest in the Debtors’ accounts receivable. The Koppingers filed for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code on September 28, 1989. ASB asserts that the accounts receivable in its entirety is subject to the bank’s validly perfected security interest. The Debtors contend that the bank’s security interest only attaches to the proceeds of the fuel sales and not the amounts attributable to the North Dakota motor fuel tax due and payable to the State of North Dakota. The parties orally stipulated at a hearing dated February 12, 1990, that the Debtors qualify as a licensed North Dakota motor fuels dealer pursuant to North Dakota Century Code ch. 57-43.1. The court has also been favored with a brief in the nature of an amicus curiae from the North Dakota Office of the Tax Commissioner. It is the Tax Commissioner’s position that the Debtors qualify not only as a North Dakota motor fuels dealer pursuant to ch. 57-43.1 but also as a special motor fuels dealer pursuant to ch. 57-43.2. See N.D.Cent. Code chs. 57-43.1 and 57-43.2. Because the parties have limited their briefs and stipulation to the fact that the Debtors are a licensed motor fuels dealer pursuant to ch. 57-43.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, this court will limit itself in this Order to dealing with the alleged tax proceeds pursuant to ch. 57-43.1. However, the following Order is applicable to any tax collected pursuant to chs. 57-43.1 or 57-43.2 of the North Dakota Century Code.

2.

The State of North Dakota imposes a tax on all motor fuels sold in this state. See N.D.Cent.Code ch. 57-43.1. The tax is imposed on the user/consumer on all sales but is to be collected by the licensed fuel dealer. N.D.Cent.Code § 57-43.1-02(4) (Supp.1989).1 The tax on the motor fuel attaches at time of sale. Id. The motor fuel dealer is required to charge and collect the tax as part of the selling price of the fuel. N.D.Cent.Code § 57-43.1-20 (1983).2 It is the duty of the dealer to then remit the tax proceeds to the State of North Dakota. N.D.CentCode § 57-43.1-23 (1983).3 The dealer is allowed to deduct a percentage of the tax due to cover the cost of collecting the tax and transmitting it to the tax commissioner. N.D.Cent.Code § 57-43.1-24 (1983).4

3.

The stipulation signed and dated February 12, 1990, sets out the customers and amounts either paid or due and owing the Koppingers. The accounts which are paid and being held by a ASB are:

Agnes Boehm $ 25.48
Finian Brinster $ 944.22
City of Dickinson , $ 3,683.86
[590]*590James Clarys 1,801.92
Vick Cymbaluk 53.55
Electric Sales and Service 240.00
Ralph Froehlich 707.40
Clifford Griggs 126.00
Alfred Kubishta 800.00
Joe Hutmacher 1,973.73
Gary Jilek 395.85
Kadrmas Tire 343.00
Alan J. Kadrmas 334.80
Mark Kordon 630.49
Roger Malkowski 3,377.36
Phillip Malkowski 2,583.26
Don Meduna 940.71
Toby Miller 741.11
Parkway Ford 1,432.06
Queen City Beverage 338.25
Pete Raab 1,129.33
John J. Schmidt 3,439.14
Stark Ready Mix 27.14
Charles Svihl 105.37
Thurman Wolf 2,232.28
Norbert Zastoupil 460.97
The accounts which were in existence at the time of filing yet remain unpaid are:
Kevin Arnold $ 114.34
Dennis Binstock $ 58.28
Leo Boehm $ 128.75
Burlington Northern $ 69.48
Rick Burwick $ 902.08
Clays $ 596.58
Mike Dolejak $ 1,860.61
John Dvorak $ 409.16
Earle R. Foster $ 729.62
Ray Forehlich $ 125.06
Conrad Garahofer $ 180.25
Gerald Goodsell $ 371.07
Ron Halstead $ 2,033.92
Alfred Kubishta $ 167.97
Hutton Contracting $ 32.28
J.R. Diesel Service $ 49.71
Ray Karsky $ 388.22
Koppinger Discount $ 48,592.33
Joe Kralicek $ 539.60
L & H Excavation $ 462.93
Tony LaRoque $ 95.88
Lees Hauling $ 4,331.02
John J. Leiss $ 23.39
Wilbert Mayer $ 155.94
Mike J. Miller $ 2,665.36

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113 B.R. 588, 12 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 534, 1990 Bankr. LEXIS 862, 1990 WL 51911, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-koppinger-ndb-1990.