In Re Morysville Body Works, Inc.

86 B.R. 51, 1988 Bankr. LEXIS 653, 1988 WL 45743
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Pennsylvania
DecidedMay 10, 1988
Docket19-11769
StatusPublished
Cited by22 cases

This text of 86 B.R. 51 (In Re Morysville Body Works, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re Morysville Body Works, Inc., 86 B.R. 51, 1988 Bankr. LEXIS 653, 1988 WL 45743 (Pa. 1988).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

THOMAS M. TWARDOWSKI, Bankruptcy Judge.

The Small Business Administration (“SBA”) presses this motion for relief from the automatic stay pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 362(d)(1), § 362(d)(2)(A) and § 362(d)(2)(B) against Morysville Body Works, Inc. (“debtor”), an entity which received a $250,000 second mortgage loan now held by the SBA 1 . Considering the evidentiary burdens in this case, we find that the Debt- or has equity in its real property, and that the existing “equity cushion” is sufficient to provide the SBA with “adequate protection” in spite of debtor’s failure over a 55 month period to make the requisite mortgage payments. The SBA has presented no evidence regarding the value of the equipment and furnishings securing the loan, and thus the equity cushion is even larger than reflected in the calculations contained herein. We deny this motion without prejudice because of the rapidly eroding equity cushion and the length of time this case has remained pending without submission of a Plan of Reorganization.

Two and one-half years after debtor filed a voluntary petition in bankruptcy, the SBA filed this motion for relief from the automatic stay. At the hearings held in this matter, the SBA’s loan officer, William D. McMullen, testified as to the present status of the SBA mortgage, and appraisers for both parties offered their expert valuation testimony.

The property in question comprises all of debtor’s real and personal property, excluding inventory. The real property consists of 17.93 acres of improved land with an eighteen building industrial complex, including three small airplane hangers, a small landing strip and a detached two story dwelling. The main portion of the property is zoned industrial and the rear portion is zoned to allow residential townhouses. The debtor manufactures utility type truck bodies on the property.

I. THE INTERPLAY OF § 362(d)(1) AND § 362(d)(2)

A. The Valuation Issue

The common thread binding these inquiries is our starting point: the value of these properties. The SBA’s appraiser testified that the value of the real property is $375,000. The debtor’s expert arrives at the much higher figure of $934,000. Our obvious task is to evaluate the methods and assumptions utilized by these appraisers.

Debtor’s expert witness, Richard E. Rehrer, testified that he had appraised the property in 1981 for the SBA’s predecessor, the originator of the loan, Hamilton Bank. He determined that the fair market value at that time was $864,500. N.T. 4/28, p. 21. He further testified that the value of the property is now $934,000. 2

*53 The extensive and complete testimony from debtor’s appraiser shows us that he is a local resident who conducts his business in the area in which the debtor’s property is located. He impressed the court as being extremely familiar with local property values. N.T. 4/28, pp. 21, 22 and 28. Explaining the basis for his current appraisal, he testified that land values in the area have increased since 1981, and that the value he had assigned to the land in 1981 had increased to a 1986 figure of $270,000. He added to this the value of the buildings, subtracted the value of two pieces of residential property sold by the debtor since 1981, N.T. 4/28, p. 22, and arrived at $934,-000 as the “market value” of this property. Debtor’s appraisal does not include the value of debtor’s machinery, equipment or furnishings.

We do not share the SBA’s concern that this appraisal is deficient because the base appraisal was completed six years ago. Mr. Rehrer has credibly and competently explained the basis for the adjustments he has made to his initial appraisal, using base land valuation figures not attacked by the SBA. The SBA claims that debtor’s figure includes the two pieces of property previously sold, but a clear examination of the transcript shows that Rehrer correctly excluded the value of those properties. N.T. 4/28, pp. 22. SBA also alleges that this appraisal is inadequate because no “comparable” sales are included. The SBA is correct that Rehrer provided no comparable sales of manufacturing facilities. But it was Rehrer’s uncontradicted testimony that there has been only one other actual (as opposed to stock transfer) sale in the Boyertown area. N.T. 4/28, p. 28. And he described several “comparable” business properties, all located within a short distance of the debtor’s facility. N.T. 4/28, pp. 22, 24. Finally, the SBA complains that Rehrer has not recently entered the buildings. While we agree that this fact may have some bearing on his evaluation of the condition of the buildings, we do not think that the effect would significantly decrease his valuation.

We find it interesting that the SBA did not present any evidence attacking the underlying 1981 appraisal. Further, we find it extremely significant that the SBA never attacked or countered Rehrer’s testimony that property values in the area have been increasing since 1981. Viewed together, this suggests that the value of the property is higher than the 1981 appraisal figure of $864,500.

The SBA’s appraiser, Thomas Myers, Jr., testified that he used only the “Direct Sales Comparison Approach” in valuing this property. See Notes of Testimony, April 28, 1987 (“N.T. 4/28”) pp. 11-15; SBA’s Brief, Ex. “F,” (“Myers’ Appraisal”), pp. 49-50. 3 He claimed that “sufficient sales activity has occurred between users of this type of real estate so that adequate data can be compiled and applied to the value of the subject property.” Myers’ Appraisal, p. 49. Debtor’s expert, of course, disagreed. Indeed, none of the five “com-parables” on which Myers’ appraisal is based are located in the same county as is debtor’s property. We find this distinction to be critical in a case such as the instant involving a manufacturing facility. A prospective purchaser would be looking and paying for more than simply a site: the characteristics of the local labor force and shipping and transportation possibilities will be considerations in any such sale. Accordingly, examination of sites located in different counties is of limited utility.

Myers was considerably less familiar with the property and the Boyertown area *54 than was debtor’s expert. For example, Myers testified that he was unaware that debtor might have additional access to the rear part of its land, failed to consider possible subdivision of that land, Myers’ Appraisal, pp. 9, 47, and attributed no value to that presently unused land. N.T. 4/28, p. 16. He also did not factor in the existence of a new highway linking Boyer-town with the Philadelphia area, a major boon to local manufacturers. He stated that the condition of the property outweighed any increase in value that might have resulted from the highway, but he failed to provide the figures or comparisons that formed the basis of his opinion.

Although we are highly persuaded by the testimony of debtor’s expert, certain adjustments must be considered.

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Bluebook (online)
86 B.R. 51, 1988 Bankr. LEXIS 653, 1988 WL 45743, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-morysville-body-works-inc-paeb-1988.