In re Management Control Systems, Inc.

242 B.R. 658, 42 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 1088, 1999 Bankr. LEXIS 1005, 84 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 5633, 1999 WL 675325
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. Indiana
DecidedJuly 21, 1999
DocketBankruptcy No. 95-4993-FJO-7
StatusPublished

This text of 242 B.R. 658 (In re Management Control Systems, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. Indiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Management Control Systems, Inc., 242 B.R. 658, 42 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 1088, 1999 Bankr. LEXIS 1005, 84 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 5633, 1999 WL 675325 (Ind. 1999).

Opinion

[659]*659 FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW AND ENTRY

FRANK J. OTTE, Chief Judge.

This matter came before the Court upon the filing of the Motion for Court Determination of Responsible Party for Tax Liabilities of Management Control Systems filed by E. Alan Whalen. The Court held a hearing on this matter on June 2, 1999. The parties, subsequent to the hearing, submitted additional authority to the Court and this matter is now ready for the Court’s consideration.

Findings of Fact

1. The corporate Debtor, Management Control Systems, Inc. (“MCS”) filed this bankruptcy proceeding on July 3, 1995. The chapter 11 reorganization was converted to a chapter 7 liquidation on November 18,1996.

2. The trustee currently has approximately $10,000.00 left to distribute, which is subject to certain administrative claims.

3. E. Alan Whalen (“Whalen”) seeks to intervene and to file a claim against the bankruptcy estate.

4. The purpose of Whalen’s requested intervention is to adjudicate a potential controversy he believes he has with the United States and its agency the Internal Revenue Service.

5. The potential controversy stems from Whalen’s involvement with the Debt- or’s business as its corporate Secretary, his liability as a result of signing checks for the Debtor’s business, his management position of responsibility, and his payment of bills for the business.

6. Whalen desires this Court to determine whether he is or is not responsible for certain unpaid employment tax liabilities of the Debtor’s business. Such liability would arise from 26 U.S.C. § 6672, which makes certain “responsible persons” liable for certain unpaid payroll taxes.

7.Whalen argues that this Bankruptcy Court should hear his tax case because the controversy between he and the Internal Revenue Service is “related to” the bankruptcy proceeding, because he has a potential claim for reimbursement from the bankruptcy estate should Whalen be required to pay any of the Debtor’s business employment taxes, and because it would be “judicially economical” to decide the issue in this Court.

Conclusions of Law

1. Like all other federal courts, this Bankruptcy Court is a court of limited jurisdiction and receives its jurisdictional mandate in a statutory grant of power. Celotex Corp.v. Edwards, 514 U.S. 300, 307, 115 S.Ct. 1493, 131 L.Ed.2d 403 (1995).

2. Jurisdiction is initially conferred on the District Courts in 28 U.S.C. § 1334(b), which extends it to “all civil proceedings arising under title 11, or arising in or related to cases under title 11.” 28 U.S.C. § 1334(b).

3. In turn, jurisdiction is conferred on the Bankruptcy Courts in 28 U.S.C. § 157(a), which authorizes the District Courts to refer “any or all proceedings arising under title 11 or arising in or related to a case under title 11” to Bankruptcy Courts. 28 U.S.C. § 157(a).

4. Bankruptcy jurisdiction encompasses and is limited to proceedings “arising in,” “arising under,” or “related to” a case under title 11. In re FedPak Systems, Inc., 80 F.3d 207, 213 (7th Cir.1996) (citing Zerand-Bernal Group, Inc. v. Cox, 23 F.3d 159, 161 (7th Cir.1994)).

5. Whalen’s motion can not be characterized as either “arising under” or “arising in” the bankruptcy case. In Ze-rand, the Seventh Circuit Court of Ap[660]*660peals noted that an “arising under” or “arising in” case pertains to “questions that arise during the bankruptcy proceeding and concern the administration of the bankrupt estate, such as whether to discharge a debtor.” Zerand, 23 F.3d at 162. No traditional party to this bankruptcy (such as the debtor, trustee, creditor, or the Bankruptcy Court) initiated the controversy Whalen attempts to have litigated here. Thus, this Court concludes that there is no basis for finding that the controversy “arises in or under” the bankruptcy case.

6. Therefore, this Court’s jurisdiction, if anywhere, must be found in the “related to” jurisdiction in 28 U.S.C. § 157(a). Although “related to” jurisdiction would appear to be more broadly interpreted than “arising in” or “arising under” jurisdiction, the Supreme Court has cautioned that “a bankruptcy court’s “related to” jurisdiction cannot be limitless.” Celotex, 514 U.S. at 308, 115 S.Ct. 1493. Whalen argues that the existence of funds for distribution is sufficient to fulfill the “related to” issue of section 157. First of all, this Court does not agree that merely the existence of funds is sufficient to satisfy the “related to” issue. However, even if such was true, there are no funds available in this case for distribution. The estate is administratively insolvent. The trustee has received only $15,728.08. The United States Trustee has a claim for unpaid quarterly fees in the amount of at least $10,500 and that claim is entitled to administrative priority. There are also other Chapter 7 expenses which will use up all remaining funds.

7. The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals has adopted a narrower interpretation of the “related to” language than some other circuits, holding that a dispute is “related to” a bankruptcy only when the dispute “affects the amount of property available for distribution or the allocation of property among creditors.” In re Xonics, Inc., 813 F.2d 127, 131 (7th Cir.1987). Zerand, a more recent case, narrows the “affects distribution of allocation property” interpretation even further. In this Circuit, “related to” jurisdiction—

... is primarily intended to encompass tort, contract, and other legal claims by and against the debtor, claims that, were it not for bankruptcy, would be ordinary stand-alone lawsuits between the debtor and others but that section 1334(b) allows to be forced into bankruptcy court so that all claims by and against the debtor can be determined in the same forum. Zerand, 23 F.3d at 161 (citing Xonics, 813 F.2d at 131).

8. Whalen has no claim in tort, contract, or otherwise that he has brought against the Debtor. He is attempting to litigate his personal tax liability with the Internal Revenue Service in this Court instead of pursuing the administrative avenues available to him for contesting his tax liability.

9. Zerand set forth a second purpose of the “related to” language: “[Sjuits which may affect the amount of property in the bankrupt estate.” 23 F.3d at 162. However, Whalen has not put forth sufficient evidence or legal authority to support this theory.

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242 B.R. 658, 42 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 1088, 1999 Bankr. LEXIS 1005, 84 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 5633, 1999 WL 675325, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-management-control-systems-inc-insb-1999.