In re Mansfield Tire & Rubber Co.

152 B.R. 477, 1993 Bankr. LEXIS 1121, 71 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 1458, 1993 WL 93528
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Ohio
DecidedFebruary 26, 1993
DocketBankruptcy No. 679-01238
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 152 B.R. 477 (In re Mansfield Tire & Rubber Co.) 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 Mansfield Tire & Rubber Co., 152 B.R. 477, 1993 Bankr. LEXIS 1121, 71 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 1458, 1993 WL 93528 (Ohio 1993).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OF DECISION

JAMES H. WILLIAMS, Chief Judge.

This case is before the court on remand for further proceedings from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. In October, 1986, the Disposition Assets Trustees (Trustees) objected to claims filed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for certain excise taxes. This court agreed with the Trustees, held that the IRS’ claims were penalties, subordinated its claims and the District Court affirmed. In re Mansfield Tire & Rubber Company, 80 B.R. 395 (Bankr.N.D.Ohio 1987), aff'd, 120 B.R. 862 (N.D.Ohio 1990). The Court of Appeals reversed and held that the excise taxes assessed against the debtors were not penalties and were entitled to priority under 11 U.S.C. § 507(a)(7)(E). In re Mansfield Tire & Rubber Co., 942 F.2d 1055, 1059 (6th Cir. 1991), cert. denied, Krugliak v. United States, — U.S.-, 112 S.Ct. 1165, 117 L.Ed.2d 412 (1992).

The IRS now asserts that because it holds allowed claims it is entitled to interest on the unpaid balances from the consummation date of the plan, January 29, 1986, until the date of payment.

The Trustees and the IRS submitted stipulated findings of fact, briefed the issues, and, following oral argument, the court took the matter under advisement.

FACTS

The court substantially adopts the facts as agreed upon by the parties.

[479]*4791. On October 1, 1979, Mansfield Tire & Rubber Company (Mansfield) and a related company, The Pennsylvania Tire and Rubber Company of Mississippi, Inc. (Penn-Miss) filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the Bankruptcy Code.

2. On November 1, 1979, another related company, Pennsylvania Tire Company, an Ohio corporation, (PennOhio), filed for protection under the bankruptcy laws.

3. On February 6, 1980, the IRS filed a proof of claim for withholding and Federal Insurance Contributions Act taxes (FICA taxes) in the amount of $6,304.63 for the third quarter of 1979 for Mansfield.

4. On February 6, 1980, the IRS filed a proof of claim for withholding and FICA taxes in the amount of $14,042.50 for the third quarter of 1979 and for excise taxes for the third quarter of 1979 in the amount of $256,244.00 for PennMiss.

5. On May 19, 1980, the IRS filed a supplemental claim for Form 5330 excise taxes (Pension Excise Taxes) in the amount of $315,208 for 1977 and 1978 and for unemployment taxes for 1979 in the amount of $1,560.38 for Mansfield.

6. On May 19, 1980, the IRS filed an administrative claim, which it designated as Supplemental # 2 to its proof of claim filed on February 6, 1980 for Mansfield. The claim was for withholding and FICA taxes for the fourth quarter of 1979 for Mansfield in the amount of $2,453.73.

7. On November 26, 1980, the IRS filed supplement three to its February 6, 1980 proof of claim for Mansfield for $19,125.82 in excise taxes for all four quarters of 1977 and the first three quarters of 1978 and for $16,061.20 in Pension Excise Taxes for 1978 for Mansfield.

8. On June 4,1981, the IRS filed supplemental claim four for $31,842.00 for Pension Excise Taxes for 1979 for Mansfield.

9. On March 29, 1984, the IRS filed a proof of claim to amend and supersede its claim filed on February 6, 1980 for Penn-Miss. This proof of claim alleged third quarter excise taxes in the amount of $201,021.31.

10. On March 29, 1984, the IRS filed a proof of claim for unpaid withholding and FICA taxes for the fourth quarter of 1979 for PennOhio in the amount of $242.86.

11. On December 23, 1985, the United States filed an objection to the Debtors’ Second Modified Consolidated Plan of Reorganization. The objection alleged, inter alia, that the plan

is ambiguous to the extent that Article III (Treatment of Claims and Interest), ¶ 3.1, provides for alternative dates of payment of allowed claims. The Internal Revenue Service is entitled to payment in full on the effective date of the Plan; or, alternatively, to interest on its claim if not paid in full on the effective date. 11 U.S.C. § 1129(a)(9)(A), (C).

12. By letter dated December 26, 1985, the United States Attorney’s office notified Mr. Schwartzberg, then counsel for the Trustee, that:

assuming the correctness, validity, and amounts of the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS’s) priority and administrative claims, all of these claims, including pre-petition interest, will be paid in cash on the date of confirmation of the second modified consolidated plan of reorganization. With this understanding, the IRS withdraws its objection to the second modified plan.

13. As of the date of the December 26, 1985 letter referred to in paragraph 12, supra, no period of limitations had been set by the Court for filing objections to the allowance of any or all Claims, priority, general unsecured or otherwise, and no objection had been filed with respect to any claims of the IRS.

14. On December 30, 1985, the Second Modified Consolidated Plan was confirmed by the Court. Plan provisions provide that:

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
* * * * * *
(a) “Allowed Claim ” shall mean any claim against the Debtors, proof of which was filed on or before March 30, 1984, or [480]*480which has been or hereafter is scheduled by the Debtors as liquidated in amount and not disputed or contingent and, in either case, a claim as to which no objection to the allowance thereof has been interposed within the applicable period of limitation fixed by the Bankruptcy Code, the Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure or an order of the Bankruptcy Court, or as to which any objection has been determined by an order or judgment of the Bankruptcy Court allowing such claim that is no longer subject to appeal or certiorari proceeding, and as to which no appeal or certiorari is pending.
* * * * * *
(i) “Consummation Date” shall mean the first business day after the thirtieth day following the Confirmation Date or such later business day as soon as practicable thereafter ...
***** *
(m) “Distribution Date” shall mean any date, subsequent to the Consummation Date, on which additional distributions of Available Cash are made to holders of Allowed Claims in Classes 2 and 3.
******
1.2 Terms defined in the Bankruptcy Code, and not otherwise specifically defined in the Plan, shall, when used in the Plan, have the meanings attributed to them in the Bankruptcy Code.
ARTICLE II
CLASSIFICATION OF CLAIMS AND INTERESTS
For the purposes of the Plan, Claims and Interests are designated as follows:

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152 B.R. 477, 1993 Bankr. LEXIS 1121, 71 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 1458, 1993 WL 93528, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-mansfield-tire-rubber-co-ohnb-1993.