In Re London Tiles, Inc.

35 B.R. 681, 1983 Bankr. LEXIS 4805
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Ohio
DecidedDecember 21, 1983
Docket19-10285
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 35 B.R. 681 (In Re London Tiles, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Ohio primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re London Tiles, Inc., 35 B.R. 681, 1983 Bankr. LEXIS 4805 (Ohio 1983).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

RICHARD L. SPEER, Bankruptcy Judge.

This cause came before this Court upon the Motion for Authority to Use Cash Collateral filed by the Debtor-In-Possession and the Motion for Relief From Stay filed *682 by Huntington National Bank. The Court has held a Hearing on these Motions and, upon agreement between the parties, will make a ruling on both of these Motions based upon the evidence adduced at that hearing.

FACTS

The Court has reviewed the testimony offered at the hearing along with the arguments of counsel. Based upon that review, the Court finds the following facts:

1. The Debtor-In-Possession is engaged in the business of manufacturing ceramic tile.

2. The Debtor-In-Possession currently is obligated to Huntington National Bank (the Bank) on two (2) promissory notes. The first is a term note in the amount of Four Hundred Fifty Thousand and no/100 Dollars ($450,000.00), on which there is owing Three Hundred Fifty-six Thousand Two Hundred Fifty and no/100 Dollars ($356,-250.00). The second is a demand note which the Debtor-In-Possession used as a revolving line of credit for its business operations. The original amount of this second note was Two Hundred Fifty Thousand and no/100 Dollars ($250,000.00). However, subsequent to the filing of the petition, the Bank agreed to lend an additional Thirty-two Thousand and no/100 Dollars ($32,000.00) on this line of credit. The total due on this note is Two Hundred Eighty-two Thousand and no/100 Dollars ($282,000.00). The total indebtedness to the Bank is Six Hundred Thirty-eight Thousand Two Hundred Fifty and no/100 Dollars ($638,250.00). (Although the Bank has indicated it is primarily concerned with the demand note, for purposes of these Motions, the Court will consider the entire debt.)

3. The term note is secured by a first mortgage on the real estate and equipment owned by the Debtor-In-Possession. The plant is situated on that portion of the real estate that is located within the City of New London, Ohio. Another portion contiguously located to the plant site is in New London Township. The remaining portion of this real estate is a one hundred three (103) acre plot that is used by the Debtor-In-Possession for the excavation of the raw materials used in its operations.

4. The demand note is secured by a first lien on the Debtor-In-Possession’s inventory and accounts receivable, as well as a second mortgage on the equipment and personal residence of the president of the Debtor-In-Possession. The residential portion of the second mortgage, which includes the 87.5 acres, the house, and all other improvements, is limited to One Hundred Thousand and no/100 Dollars ($100,000.00) in value.

5. The Debtor-In-Possession and the Bank had agreed, prior to the bankruptcy petition, that for purposes of determining whether or not the Bank was adequately secured, only eighty percent (80%) of the accounts receivable under ninety (90) days old and fifty percent (50%) of the value of the inventory would be considered.

6. The Debtor-In-Possession is and has always been current on its payments to the Bank on both notes.

7. The accounts receivable less than ninety (90) days old total One Hundred Seventy-seven Thousand Three Hundred Twelve and 38/100 Dollars ($177,312.38), eighty percent (80%) of which is One Hundred Forty-one Thousand Eight Hundred Forty-nine and 90/100 Dollars ($141,849.90). The accounts receivable over ninety (90) days old total Seventy-two Thousand Eight Hundred Forty-nine and 02/100 Dollars ($72,849.02). There was testimony that some of the older accounts were going to be difficult to collect.

8. According to the Bank’s appraiser, the factory buildings, factory land, and the excavation site have a fair market value of Four Hundred Seventy Thousand and no/100 Dollars ($470,000.00) and a liquidation value of Three Hundred Thousand and no/100 Dollars ($300,000.00). He also testified that the personal residence has a fair market value of Two Hundred Twenty-five Thousand and no/100 Dollars ($225,000.00), and is subject to approximately Seventy Thousand and no/100 Dollars ($70,000.00) in superior mortgages to other creditors.

*683 9. According to the Bank’s other appraiser, the aggregate value of the equipment is Fifteen Thousand and no/100 Dollars ($15,-000.00), and that the current inventory is valueless. This appraiser did not itemize the value of individual pieces of equipment and indicated that there was no distinction between the equipment’s fair market value and liquidation value.

10. According to the Debtor-In-Possession’s appraiser, the equipment has a fair market value of Two Hundred Nineteen Thousand Three Hundred Fifty and no/100 Dollars ($219,350.00) and a liquidation value of One Hundred Twenty-four Thousand Three Hundred Fifty and no/100 Dollars ($124,350.00). This assessment resulted from a detailed examination and itemization of the equipment.

LAW

When a debtor initiates a bankruptcy proceeding an automatic stay is imposed which enjoins any action being taken against a debtor to collect on an obligation. 11 U.S.C. § 362(a). However, a party in interest may obtain relief from this stay pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 362(d) which states that:

“(d) On request of a party in interest and after notice and a hearing, the court shall grant relief from the stay provided under subsection (a) of this section, such as by terminating, annulling, modifying, or conditioning such stay—•
(1) for cause, including the lack of adequate protection of an interest in property of such party in interest; or
(2) with respect to a stay of an act against property, if—
(A) the debtor does not have an equity in such property; and
(B) such property is not necessary to an effective reorganization.

If a creditor requests a relief from stay, he must show either that he is not adequately protected, or that the debtor has no equity in the property and that the collateral is not required for an éffective reorganization. In re Shriver, 33 B.R. 176 (Bkrtcy.N.D.Ohio 1983).

Adequate protection is not specifically defined by the Bankruptcy Code. However, examples of adequate protection are set forth in 11 U.S.C. § 361 which states in part:

“When adequate protection is required under section 362 ... of this title of an interest of an entity in property, such adequate protection may be provided by—
(3)granting such other relief, other than entitling such entity to compensation allowable under section 503(b)(1) of this title as an administrative expense, as will result in the realization by such entity of the indubitable equivalent of such entity’s interest in such property.”

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Related

In Re W.L. Mead Inc.
42 B.R. 57 (N.D. Ohio, 1984)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
35 B.R. 681, 1983 Bankr. LEXIS 4805, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-london-tiles-inc-ohnb-1983.