In re McSwine Creek Farms, Inc.

276 B.R. 461, 2000 Bankr. LEXIS 1939, 2000 WL 33733107
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Mississippi
DecidedAugust 30, 2000
DocketNo. 99-34619
StatusPublished

This text of 276 B.R. 461 (In re McSwine Creek Farms, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Mississippi primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re McSwine Creek Farms, Inc., 276 B.R. 461, 2000 Bankr. LEXIS 1939, 2000 WL 33733107 (Miss. 2000).

Opinion

OPINION

DAVID W. HOUSTON, III, Bankruptcy Judge.

On consideration before the court are the following:

1. Motion to dismiss filed by the Chapter 12 trustee asserting that the debtor, MeSwine Creek Farms, Inc., is not eligible for Chapter 12 relief pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 101(18) and (19).
2. Motion to dismiss for failure to qualify as a Chapter 12 debtor filed by the United States of America— Farm Service Agency (FSA).
3. Objection to the confirmation of the debtor’s Chapter 12 plan filed by FSA.
4. Motion, filed by FSA, to declare that the automatic stay is not in effect or, alternatively, to lift the automatic stay and abandon real property and farm equipment.

Responses to each of the aforesaid pleadings were filed by the debtor; and the court, having heard and considered same, hereby finds as follows, to-wit:

I.

The court has jurisdiction of the parties to and the subject matter of these proceedings pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1334 and 28 U.S.C. § 157. These are core proceedings as defined in 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(A), (B), (G), (L), and (0).

II.

MOTIONS TO DISMISS

The Chapter 12 trustee and FSA have premised their motions to dismiss on the argument that the debtor is ineligible for Chapter 12 bankruptcy relief pursuant to the definitions set forth in 11 U.S.C. § 101(18)(B) and (19), which read as follows:

(18) “family farmer” means—
(B) corporation or partnership in which more than 50 percent of the outstanding stock or equity is held by one family, or by one family and then relatives of the members of such family, and such family or such relatives conduct the farming operation, and
(i) more than 80 percent of the value of its assets consists of assets related to the farming operation;
(ii) its aggregate debts do not exceed $1,500,000 and not less than 80 percent of its aggregate noncontingent, liquidated debts (excluding a debt for one dwelling which is owned by such corporation or partnership and which a shareholder or partner maintains as a principal residence, unless such debt [463]*463arises out of a farming operation), on the date the case is filed, arise out of the farming operation owned or operated by such corporation or such partnership; and
(iii) if such corporation issues stock, such stock is not publicly traded;
(19) “family farmer with regular annual income” means family farmer whose annual income is sufficiently stable and regular to engage such family farmer to make payments under a plan under chapter 12 of this title.

Cloy M. Case (Case), the president and sole stockholder of the debtor, originally incurred several debts with FSA beginning as early as April 18, 1979, with the execution of a promissory note in the sum of $165,000.00, bearing interest at the rate 8 1/2% per annum. This was followed by the execution of a second promissory note on April 3, 1981, in the principal sum of $37,760.00, bearing interest at the rate of 5% per annum. The evidence indicates these notes were collateralized by real property and farm equipment, the hens of which were perfected by appropriately recorded deeds of trust and financing, statements. One or both of these notes were renewed on several occasions, the last instrument being dated April 11, 1985. As of November 1, 1999, the total debt owed to FSA had risen to the sum of $661,190.26. The respective promissory notes, their principal amounts, annual rates of interest, and due dates of their final installments are set forth as follows:

Date of Instrument Principal Amount Annual Rate of Interest Due Date of Final Installment

4/18/79 $165,000.00 8.50% 4/18/2004

4/3/81 37,760.00 5.00% 4/3/2000

4/20/82 8,000.00 14.25% 4/20/83

5/4/83 53,700.00 10.25% 5/4/84

3/5/84 67,500.00 7.25% 3/5/85

5/2/84 12,030.00 7.25% 5/2/85

4/11/85 85,670.00 7.25% 4/11/86

The deeds of trust encumber 412.2 acres of real property, formerly owned by Case, which FSA previously valued at $354,500.00. The debts were also secured by certain items of farm equipment, valued by FSA in the sum of $3,450.00.

Because of a moratorium, prohibiting foreclosures by FSA and its predecessor in interest, Farmers Home Administration, as well as, because of an intervening individual bankruptcy petition filed by Case and his wife, Linda Joyce Case, No. 89-12398, FSA has made little effort to enforce its security interests over the past several years.

As alleged in FSA’s pleadings, Case applied to FSA for permission to sell the subject real property in July, 1998. The application was conditionally approved subject to the buyer paying the fair market value of the property in the sum of $354,500.00, plus $94,894.00, representing the value of gravel and timber allegedly sold by Case without FSA’s permission. This condition could not be met so the application was denied on July 24, 1998.

In July, 1999, FSA gave notice to Case of its intent to foreclose its deeds of trust. Case then incorporated the debtor, McSwine Creek Farms, Inc., and trans[464]*464ferred title to the real property to the corporation on August 20, 1999, by an Assumption Quitclaim Deed. The consideration for this transfer was the assumption by the corporation of all debts owed to FSA to the extent of the fair market value of the real property.

Case indicated that he transferred his cattle, certain farm equipment, and an eighteen-wheeler dump truck with trailer to the debtor in exchange for the execution of a promissory note in the principal sum of $20,000.00.

Shortly after its incorporation, the debt- or filed a corporate Chapter 12 bankruptcy petition on October 7, 1999. The debtor filed a plan of reorganization proposing to pay FSA as follows:

Class 111(a) — $165,000.00 shall be paid in 40 equal amortized installments at the rate of 8.5% per annum, which shall begin on February 15, 2001, with a like amount due on the same day of each succeeding year with the final payment being due on February 15, 2040.

Class 111(b) — $35,000.00 shall be paid in a single balloon payment to come due in 10 years plus interest accrued at the rate of 5% per annum. The proceeds of any timber sales by the debtor prior to the maturity of this claim shall be applied to the balance of principal and interest. (In another section of the plan, this number is expressed as $37,760.00.)

The aforesaid amounts to be paid to FSA are based on the promissory note dated April 18, 1979, in the principal sum of $165,000.00, and the promissory note dated April 3, 1981, in the principal sum of $37,760.00.

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Bluebook (online)
276 B.R. 461, 2000 Bankr. LEXIS 1939, 2000 WL 33733107, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-mcswine-creek-farms-inc-msnb-2000.