In Re Northeastern Ohio General Hospital Ass'n

126 B.R. 513, 1991 Bankr. LEXIS 560, 1991 WL 64196
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Ohio
DecidedApril 24, 1991
Docket18-62556
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 126 B.R. 513 (In Re Northeastern Ohio General Hospital Ass'n) 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 Northeastern Ohio General Hospital Ass'n, 126 B.R. 513, 1991 Bankr. LEXIS 560, 1991 WL 64196 (Ohio 1991).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OF OPINION AND DECISION

WILLIAM J. O’NEILL, Bankruptcy Judge.

In this Chapter 11 case of Northeastern Ohio General Hospital Association (NEOGH), the Trustee, William E. Schon-berg, objects to the claim of Ohio Hospital Association (OHA) who responds thereto. Jurisdiction of this core proceeding is authorized by Sections 1334 and 157(b)(2)(B) of Title 28 of the United States Bankruptcy Code.

The parties submitted the matter on stipulations and briefs. Stipulations are as follows:—

“1. The OHA claim, No. 366, is in the amount of $140,755.26 as of August 31, 1990. Of that total, the OHA claims $65,-266.20 as a general unsecured claim, and $75,486.06 as a first priority claim for administrative expenses. The OHA claim reserves the right to assert additional priority amounts, up to $15,692.00, as asserted therein.

2. The Debtor terminated its business on November 30, 1988. Except for thirteen administrative and maintenance employees retained for administrative and maintenance work, all its employees were terminated on or before November 30, 1988. The Debtor had four employees remaining on its payroll at March 21,1989, the date of its Chapter 11 filing, two of whom left employment within a few months thereafter.

3. The OHA claim reflects charges for unemployment compensation payments made pursuant to Chapter 4141, Ohio Revised Code, by the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services (“OBES”) to unemployed individuals who had been employed by the Debtor prior to termination of its business. The OHA $65,266.20 general unsecured claim reflects charges by the OBES for unemployment compensation payments made to such former employees during the period January, 1989 through March 21, 1989. The OHA $75,486.06 administrative expense claim reflects charges by the OBES for unemployment compensation payments made to such former employees during the period commencing March 22, 1989 through August 31, 1990.

4. At March 21, 1989, the Debtor and OHA were parties to a certain Agreement, dated December 27, 1971, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit A to supporting memoranda filed by OHA and the Trustee in this matter.

5. The OHA Proof of Claim was timely filed on July 26, 1989.

6. While in operation, the Debtor was a non-profit hospital subject to the Ohio unemployment compensation laws, Chapter 4141, Ohio Revised Code, and had effected on election under O.R.C. 4141.241(A)(1).” The Court adopts the stipulations, and upon consideration of Exhibit A, Debtor’s “Agreement to participate in The Ohio Association Statewide Group Unemployment Compensation Program”, further finds:—

7. OHA acted as agent and conduit for payment of Debtor’s quarterly billings to the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services. Pursuant to the agreement, payment of the billings remained the primary obligation of NEOGH. (Exh A, Para 4 (page 1) and Para (4) page (2)).

Section 503 of the United States Bankruptcy Code provides for allowance of administrative expenses. 11 U.S.C. § 503. Pursuant to subsection (b) thereof, administrative expenses include:—

“any tax—
(i) incurred by the estate, except a tax of a kind specified in section 507(a)(7) of this title ...”
11 U.S.C. § 503(b)(l)(B)(i)

*515 Taxes which are administrative expenses are entitled to priority payment. 11 U.S.C. § 507(a)(1). The issue, therefore, is the status of NEOGH’s post-petition unemployment compensation charges under Section 503. OHA asserts post-petition charges of $75,486.06 plus any additional charges are administrative expenses, while the $65,-266.20 pre-petition charges are a general unsecured claim. Trustee maintains the total amount claimed is general unsecured debt. The specific issue is whether the post-petition charges are taxes “incurred by the estate”. It is undisputed the entire amount is a tax obligation within the meaning of the Bankruptcy Code.

Taxes incurred by the estate are administrative expenses pursuant to Section 503(b)(l)(B)(i). Because the estate does not exist pre-petition, priority treatment is limited to taxes incurred post-petition. United States v. Friendship College, Inc., 737 F.2d 430 (4th Cir.1984). This section has been interpreted to preclude administrative claim status for taxes not incurred in post-petition operation of a debtor’s business. In re O.P.M. Leasing Services, Inc., 68 B.R. 979 (Bankr.S.D.N.Y.1987); In re Westholt Manufacturing Inc., 20 B.R. 368 (Bankr.D.Kan 1982), aff’d 36 B.R. 932 (S.D.Kan.1984). For purposes of administrative expense allowance, a tax claim is incurred on the date it accrues rather than the date it is assessed or becomes payable. In re Overly-Hautz Co., 57 B.R. 932 (Bankr.N.D.Ohio 1986) aff’d on other grounds 81 B.R. 434 (1987). Accord In re Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp., 103 B.R. 672 (W.D.Pa 1989), In re Scrap Disposal, Inc., 24 B.R. 178 (Bankr.S.D.Calif 1982) aff’d 38 B.R. 765 (9th Cir. BAP 1984).

Chapter 4141 of the Ohio Revised Code establishes the policy and laws of the State regarding unemployment compensation. Ohio Rev.Code §§ 4141.01 et seq. Pursuant to its provisions employers are required to fund the cost of providing unemployment benefits to their former employees. See Ohio Rev.Code §§ 4141.09, 4141.24, 4141.241, 4141.25, 4141.28. The right to unemployment compensation for eligible individuals arises upon involuntary total or partial unemployment. Ohio Rev. Code § 4141.29. Benefits payable are based on an employee’s average weekly wage. No benefits are paid except upon application. Ohio Rev.Code § 4141.29. Employers are required to make periodic contributions to the state unemployment compensation fund by Section 4141.25. A non-profit organization may, however, elect to make payments in lieu of contributions. Ohio Revised Code § 4141.241. Debtor opted for payments. As a reimbursing employer, pursuant to Section 4141.241, it was required to make periodic payments equal to “the full amount of regular benefits paid plus one half of the amount of extended benefits paid” during such period attributable to service in its employ. Ohio Rev.Code § 4141.241(B). OHA argues the unemployment compensation charges of a reimbursing employer are measured on the basis of actual payment of benefits.

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126 B.R. 513, 1991 Bankr. LEXIS 560, 1991 WL 64196, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-northeastern-ohio-general-hospital-assn-ohnb-1991.