In re McGann Construction Co.

10 B.R. 158, 1981 Bankr. LEXIS 4635
CourtDistrict Court, D. Georgia
DecidedMarch 24, 1981
DocketBankruptcy Nos. B79-29R, B79-31R
StatusPublished

This text of 10 B.R. 158 (In re McGann Construction Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re McGann Construction Co., 10 B.R. 158, 1981 Bankr. LEXIS 4635 (gad 1981).

Opinion

HUGH ROBINSON, Bankruptcy Judge.

ORDER

This matter came before the Court on movant Henry L. Rogers’ motion to dismiss the motion of McGann Construction Company, Inc. and Otha W. McGann, Jr. for modification of an order for substitution of collateral. Having considered the motions, the briefs and arguments of the parties and the pleadings on file the Court makes the following decision.

FINDINGS OF FACT

McGann Construction Company, Inc., (“the Company”) and Otha W. McGann, (“McGann”) originally filed petitions under Chapter XI of the Bankruptcy Act. McGann is a stockholder of more than 25% of the issued and outstanding stock of the Company and is also an officer and director of that corporation.

The Company is indebted to the Hard- . wick Bank and Trust Company, (“Hardwick Bank”), on two promissory notes. These [160]*160notes are secured by various items of property including two parcels of real estate owned by McGann individually. One parcel is located in Hixson, Tennessee and shall be referred to as the Parkshore Circle property. The other parcel is located in Whitfield County, Georgia and shall be referred to as the Tunnel Hill property. The notes and collateral were transferred by Hardwick Bank to the Small Business Administration, (“S.B.A.”).

In June, 1977 McGann signed a real estate sales contract for the purchase of a house and surrounding acreage in Dalton, Georgia from Henry L. Rogers, (“Rogers”). This property shall be referred to as the Cottonwood Mill property. McGann moved into the house in June, 1977, and since that date has made the mortgage payments for Rogers to Dalton Federal Savings & Loan Association and to Motor Contract Company. The sale of the real estate was never closed, and title to the property is still in the name of Rogers.

In September of 1978 SBA, Hardwick Bank and McGann agreed that Hardwick Bank and SBA would release the Parkshore Circle property and the Tunnel Hill property as collateral for the two loan obligations and would receive in substitution as collateral the Cottonwood Mill property. About the time this agreement for substitution of collateral was being negotiated McGann and the Company filed their Chapter XI petitions. The substitution and the closing of the sale of the Cottonwood Mill property has been held in abeyance since the filing of the petitions.

Through negotiations among Hardwick Bank, SBA, Rogers and McGann another agreement for the substitution of collateral was reached. Under this agreement the Tunnel Hill property and the Parkshore Circle property were to be released as collateral on the two notes. The Parkshore Circle property was to be transferred to McGann’s former wife who had been awarded possession and ownership of this property in the McGann’s divorce proceedings. McGann agreed to transfer the Tunnel Hill property to Rogers in exchange for the closing of the sale of the Cottonwood Mill property. Upon acquiring title to the Cottonwood Mill property, McGann was to pledge this real estate as collateral for the Company’s loan debts owed to SBA and Hardwick Bank.

On November 14, 1979 the Company filed an “Application for Leave to Substitute Collateral” seeking approval of the agreement negotiated among McGann, Rogers, Hardwick Bank and SBA. Approval of the agreement was granted. In a rather detailed order entered March 27, 1980 the Court ordered the parties to follow the provisions of the agreement.

Certain liens and encumbrances of record in Whitfield County against the Company and McGann are held by Kinsey Enterprises, Inc.; Insulation Supply Company; Southeastern Municipal Supply Co., Inc.; the State of Georgia; E. Harold Mays, the United States and a county. Because of the existence of these liens and encumbrances Rogers refused to consummate the sale of the Cottonwood Mill property as required by the order of March 27, 1980. Rogers’ refusal to comply with the order prompted McGann and the Company to file “An Application for Modification of Order for Substitution of Collateral”. The applicants request the Court to modify the order of March 27, 1980 to provide that title to the Tunnel Hill property shall vest in Rogers free and clear of all liens and encumbrances and to provide that the judgment liens of record shall attach to the Cottonwood Mill property. All lienholders were served with a copy of the application.

On July 3,1980 Rogers filed a “Motion to Dismiss Debtors’ Application for Modification of Order for Substitution of Collateral”. Rogers asserts several defenses to the enforceability of the sales contract and the agreement which will be addressed below. An amendment to this motion was filed on August 7, 1980 which alleges additional defenses. Rogers’ motion was the subject of the duly scheduled hearing held before this Court on or about August 7, 1980 in Rome, Georgia.

[161]*161APPLICABLE LAW

Rogers has asserted various defenses to the enforceability of the sales contract entered into by McGann and Rogers. It is alleged that the contract does not satisfy the Statute of Frauds for the reason that the description of the real property contained in the contract is inadequate. Rogers contends that because more than a reasonable time for closing the transaction has passed, the contract lapsed and is unenforceable. The sales contract is also alleged to be unenforceable due to the fact that McGann has not been successful in his efforts to assume an outstanding loan debt due to Dalton Federal Savings and Loan Association. The sales contract was made contingent on the ability of McGann to obtain approval of the loan assumption. Finally, Rogers maintains that due to the failure of the trustee in bankruptcy to assume or reject the sales contract within the time permitted by law, the contract is deemed rejected under Rule 607 of the Bankruptcy Rules. It is Roger’s position that the debtors’ motion to modify the order of March 27, 1980 should be dismissed because of the alleged unenforceability of the sales contract.

It may be that Rogers has alleged meritorious defenses which in a different situation would entitle him to avoid the contract. However the factual circumstances of this case require that Rogers be estopped from attacking the contract at this time. At no time while the Company’s application for substitution of collateral was pending before the Court did Rogers assert these challenges to the validity and enforceability of the sales contract. From the negotiations among SBA, Hardwick Bank, McGann and Rogers there emerged an agreement under which a substitution of collateral was to occur. In reliance on the apparent acquiescence of all of the parties in the terms of the agreement the Company presented the plan for substitution to the Court for approval. The agreement was approved, and the parties were ordered to comply with its provisions. Now that SBA, Hardwick Bank and McGann have changed their positions pursuant to the terms of the plan for substitution, Rogers desires to renege.

Estoppel arises when one has acted to mislead another and the one thus misled has relied upon the actions of the inducing party to his prejudice. Lebold v. Inland Steel Company, 125 F.2d 369 (7th Cir. 1941). It is clear that SBA, Hardwick Bank and McGann have acted in reliance on Rogers’ conduct which indicated a willingness to comply with the terms of the agreement.

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Related

Lebold v. Inland Steel Co.
125 F.2d 369 (Seventh Circuit, 1941)

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Bluebook (online)
10 B.R. 158, 1981 Bankr. LEXIS 4635, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-mcgann-construction-co-gad-1981.