In re Laguna Associates Ltd.

147 B.R. 703
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Michigan
DecidedAugust 12, 1992
DocketBankruptcy No. 92-02870-S
StatusPublished

This text of 147 B.R. 703 (In re Laguna Associates Ltd.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Michigan primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Laguna Associates Ltd., 147 B.R. 703 (E.D. Mich. 1992).

Opinion

OPINION GRANTING AETNA’S MOTION TO LIFT STAY

WALTER SHAPERO, Bankruptcy Judge.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

On March 6, 1992, Laguna Associates Limited Partnership (“Debtor”) filed a Chapter 11 petition. Aetna Casualty and Surety Company (“Aetna”) filed a Motion for Relief from the Stay pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 362(d)(1) alleging that the case was filed in bad faith and thus, “cause” exists to lift the stay.

Aetna agreed to advance approximately $19.5 million1 to Beztak Company (“Bez-tak”), a Michigan co-partnership pursuant to certain loan documents dated as of July 20, 1988 designed to finance the acquisition and construction costs of a multiple residential rental project, (comprising some thirty (30) acres and some 384 units) is known as Lakeside Terrace Apartments (“Property”). Beztak also owned a contiguous twelve (12) acre parcel which is subject to a mortgage to Manufacturers Bank, N.A., and which Debtor states is vacant or undeveloped realty. The general partners of Beztak are: (a) Beznos Realty Investment Company, a Michigan co-partnership, whose partners are Harold Beznos, Norman Beznos and Maurice J. Beznos, each as trustees of their own separate revocable trusts; and (b) Jerry D. Luptak and Nina D. Luptak, individually. Aetna’s loan is secured by a first mortgage on the Property, an assignment of leases and rents and a security interest in fixtures and other personal property used in connection with the Property. The loan may now be a non-recourse loan in whole or in part. The original loan was a construction loan which by its terms was “converted” into a long term loan upon completion of construction. The original note set forth a limited deficiency liability prior to the conversion date, and essentially none afterward (except for certain “Surviving Indemnities”). A contemporaneous Construction Loan Agreement between Beztak and Aetna dated as of July 20, 1988 (“Loan Agreement”) does refer to guarantees of certain “guarantors” defined as Harold Beznos, Maurice J. Beznos, Norman Beznos, Nina D. Luptak and Jerry D. Luptak. The extent of those original guarantees is not apparent, nor is the extent, if any, to which, any such guarantees still remain in effect.

Beztak also contemporaneously entered into a “Master Lease” between itself as lessor or “Owner” and each of its general partners as lessees or “Residents.” That “Master Lease” essentially provides that:

(a) Beztak retains the right to lease the tenant units to occupants of the units pursuant to an approved lease form at rentals equal to or greater than those set forth in an attached schedule;
(b) The lessees (general partners of Bez-tak) are liable to Beztak for the rentals for actually occupied units at the rates specified in the schedule, but receive as a credit on that obligation, the amount of all rent actually paid by the lessees (general partners of [711]*711Beztak) to Beztak (or Aetna) and applied to payment of operating expenses of the subject property and debt service on Aetna’s loan.

The Mortgage between Aetna and Bez-tak citing extensively the importance of Beztak’s (and its partners’) knowledgeability, background and experience, and their creditworthiness, made assignment by Bez-tak (or by its partners of their interests in Beztak) or termination of Beztak’s existence or change of form of ownership without consent of Aetna, an event of default. In respect to the subject of assignment, Section 5.08 of the Loan Agreement provided that notwithstanding the mortgage, Bez-tak had a right, once during the term of the loan, to transfer the Property under certain conditions, as well as another assignment right, the provision being as follows:

5.08 Permitted Transfers of Interests in Borrower or Collateral. Notwithstanding anything in the Mortgage to the contrary, Borrower shall have the right once during the term of the Loan to transfer the Property and Improvements without any modification of the terms of the Loan Documents upon the payment to Lender of a fee equal to one percent (1%) of the then current Loan Balance; provided, however, that:
(a) no default or Event of Default shall exist hereunder or under any of the Loan Documents; and
(b) Lender shall have received written notice of the proposed transfer from Borrower at least thirty (30) days prior to the anticipated closing of such transfer, such notice to be accompanied by (i) copies of the transfer documents, (ii) evidence satisfactory to Lender that the proposed transferee meets Lender’s customary credit and experience standards, and (iii) payment of the then current processing fee being charged by Lender for its review of such transactions and the fees and expenses of Lender’s counsel if any is engaged, and
(c) Borrower shall have complied with all of Lender’s customary requirements in connection with the proposed transfer (including, without limitation, the amendment of all UCC financing statements) at no cost to Lender.
Furthermore, Borrower or any partner in Borrower may from time to time upon complying with the requirements of clauses (a), (b) (except subclause (ii)), and (c) above of this Section 5.08, transfer all or any part of its interest in the Property and Improvements to a Permitted Transferee, so long as at all times after such transfer one or more of MB, NB, HB or JL retains (a) a minimum five percent (5%) general partnership interest in any entity which is a Permitted Transferee, and (b) practical control of the business of developing, managing and constructing the Improvements upon the Property.

Debtor, Laguna Associates Limited Partnership, was formed as a Michigan limited partnership on February 11, 1992, which is the date the Michigan Department of Commerce accepted the required filing. The Certificate was received by the Department of Commerce on February 10, 1992 and was stated to have been signed “as of January 2, 1992.” Debtor’s Certificate of Limited Partnership identifies Beztak as the sole limited partner (and owner of a 99% interest) and Laguna General, Inc. (“Laguna General”), as the sole general partner. Debtor states in its pleadings that the partners of Beztak own 100% of the stock of Laguna General. The bankruptcy schedules and other evidence indicate (a) the Debtor considered itself to be in business from and after January 2, 1992, its “inception,” and, (b) the development is managed by Beztak Management Company, an entity related to Debtor.

By letter dated February 28, 1992, and received by it shortly thereafter, Aetna was notified by Debtor’s attorney that:

“This letter is to serve as the written notice required under Section 5.08 of the Loan Agreement entered into between The Aetna Casualty and Surety Company, as Lender, and Beztak Company, as Borrower, with respect to permitted transfers of Lakeside Apartments. In accordance with Section 5.08, you are advised that the Borrower is transferring the mortgage property for estate plan[712]*712ning purposes to a Michigan limited partnership which is a Permitted Transferee. I have enclosed copies of the transfer documents in accordance with the requirements of the Loan Documents:
1. Quit Claim Deed (executed but not recorded); and
2. Assignment and Assumption Agreement.”

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
147 B.R. 703, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-laguna-associates-ltd-mied-1992.