In Re McCormick

354 B.R. 246, 2006 Bankr. LEXIS 2903, 2006 WL 3007634
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, C.D. Illinois
DecidedOctober 23, 2006
Docket05-78194
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 354 B.R. 246 (In Re McCormick) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, C.D. Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re McCormick, 354 B.R. 246, 2006 Bankr. LEXIS 2903, 2006 WL 3007634 (Ill. 2006).

Opinion

OPINION

MARY P. GORMAN, Bankruptcy Judge.

This matter came before the Court for trial on confirmation of the Second Amended Chapter 13 Plan (“Plan”) filed on May 31, 2006 by Dennis P. McCormick and Marcia McCormick (sometimes hereinafter “Debtors”). Confirmation is opposed by U.S. Bank, a secured creditor. This case and the proposed Plan raise interesting issues regarding the use of a secured creditor’s cash collateral to fund a Chapter 13 plan, the proper classification and treatment of student loan debt, and the feasibility of proposing a significant “balloon” payment at the end of a Chapter 13 plan term. Because the McCormicks have failed to properly address each of these issues, their Plan cannot be confirmed.

Debtors filed their voluntary petition under Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code on October 16, 2005. 1 The McCormicks are both 46 years of age and reside in Springfield, Illinois. They have a daughter who is a junior in college and a son who is a senior in high school.

Mr. McCormick is self-employed and has been in the insurance business for 23 years. He sells insurance products and securities, and his income is derived exclusively from commissions earned from such sales. Mr. McCormick pays all of his business expenses from his commissions, including a salary and benefits for one employee. In 2003, Mr. McCormick’s business grossed approximately $269,000, which netted him, after business expenses but before taxes, almost $181,000. In 2004, the business gross was about $225,000 with approximately $129,000 distributed to Mr. McCormick. In 2005, the business gross was again about $225,000 and the distribution to Mr. McCormick was approximately $139,000. On his schedules filed and presented at trial, Mr. McCormick estimated that his expected annual business gross for 2006 and future years will be about $243,000 and his projected annual pre-tax draw will be $152,000.

Mrs. McCormick is a nurse and works part-time for the State of Illinois reviewing disability claims. The McCormicks’ 2003 income tax return shows no income earned by Mrs. McCormick. The 2004 return shows that she earned $4,417 and the 2005 return shows her earnings as $16,133. Mr. McCormick testified at trial that Mrs. McCormick now earns $1,500 gross per month.

The McCormicks’ financial problems began with a failed home construction project several years ago. U.S. Bank advanced money for the project and held a first and second mortgage on the real estate involved. Although the details presented at trial were sketchy, it appears *250 that there were significant cost overruns, and the home was ultimately sold at a substantial loss. After the sale, the deficiency amount owed to U.S. Bank was approximately $71,000. In January, 2003, U.S. Bank agreed to refinance that balance and lend an additional $90,000 to pay off the McCormicks’ credit cards.

The McCormicks executed documents with U.S. Bank for a loan of $163,857.38. Monthly payments of $1,758.05 began in February, 2003, and were to continue until January 28, 2006, when the balance of $123,357.66 was due in full. The McCor-micks secured this obligation by pledging Mr. McCormick’s renewal commissions from his insurance business.

Notwithstanding the strain that the monthly payment to U.S. Bank placed on their budget, the McCormicks purchased a new home in November, 2004, incurring new debt of approximately $250,000. The McCormicks’ mortgage payment, including an escrow for real estate taxes and insurance, is $1,950 per month.

During the period from January, 2003, until October, 2005, when this case was filed, the McCormicks incurred over $75,000 of credit card debt. They also borrowed more than $16,000 for their daughter’s education. Further, during the same time period, they failed to pay their income taxes and, at the time of filing, had liabilities to the Internal Revenue Service in the amount of $28,598 and to the Illinois Department of Revenue in the amount of $1,550.

The McCormicks owned three vehicles at the time of filing. Each month they make a $412 payment on a 1997 Mercedes and a $169 payment on a 2000 Mazda. Their 1995 Ford Explorer is free and clear of liens and is driven by their son. After filing, they purchased a fourth vehicle to be driven by their daughter. Mr. McCormick testified that his current transportation costs for the four vehicles including the installment payments are about $2,000 per month.

The McCormicks’ budget shows a $260 per month payment on the student loan debt and a $525 payment for the daughter’s other monthly expenses at school. Mr. McCormick testified that they will continue to incur debt in the amount of $18,000 to $20,000 this year and next year for their daughter’s education. He did not discuss their plans for their son’s college education.

The McCormicks’ Plan proposes to pay the IRS and the Illinois Department of Revenue in full through payments to the Trustee. The Plan also proposes a 13.4% dividend to unsecured creditors to be paid through the Trustee. The Plan proposes direct payments on the home mortgage loan and the vehicle loans. The Plan proposes a $1,023.40 per month direct payment to U.S. Bank with a balloon payment at the end of the Plan term.

The Court has considered the testimony presented at trial and all of the exhibits admitted into evidence. There are numerous reasons why the McCormicks’ Plan does not comply with the requirements of the Bankruptcy Code and confirmation must be denied. Because the McCormicks will be given an opportunity to file another amended plan, the major issues which compel denial of confirmation will each be discussed.

A. Valuation of Renewal Commissions

Mr. McCormick’s principal asset consists of his renewal commissions from sales of life insurance, disability insurance, and other insurance and investments products. Some of these renewal commissions secure the McCormicks’ obligation to U.S. Bank. On the McCormicks’ Schedule B, the renewal commissions are disclosed and valued at $150,000. At trial, Mr. McCormick *251 testified that the gross value of the renewal commissions is $300,000 to $350,000 and that the value continues to grow with new sales. He further testified that the $150,000 scheduled value was “discounted.”

Mr. McCormick did not explain how the value of $300,000 to $350,000 was calculated. The Court does not know whether Mr. McCormick simply added up every possible premium which may come in from sales he has made or whether he used a “rule of thumb” or industry formula to determíne a value for expected renewals. Likewise, Mr. McCormick did not explain how he “discounted” the gross value to reach the scheduled value of $150,000. The Court originally understood Mr. McCormick to refer to the discount as being for the time value of money because the renewal commissions will only be paid to him as customers actually pay their renewal premiums. Later testimony indicated, however, that other factors were considered in the discount, such as Mr. McCormick’s ability to compete for his own customers to purchase new policies rather than renew old policies in the event of a forced liquidation. How and why such factors were included in the calculation was not explained in any way.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

James E. Mager
E.D. Pennsylvania, 2020
In re Alonso
570 B.R. 622 (D. Idaho, 2017)
In Re Moffet
455 B.R. 718 (N.D. Iowa, 2011)
In Re Carlton
370 B.R. 188 (C.D. Illinois, 2007)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
354 B.R. 246, 2006 Bankr. LEXIS 2903, 2006 WL 3007634, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-mccormick-ilcb-2006.