In Re Norton

347 B.R. 291, 2006 Bankr. LEXIS 1788, 2006 WL 2349172
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Tennessee
DecidedAugust 2, 2006
Docket06-30893
StatusPublished
Cited by17 cases

This text of 347 B.R. 291 (In Re Norton) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Tennessee primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re Norton, 347 B.R. 291, 2006 Bankr. LEXIS 1788, 2006 WL 2349172 (Tenn. 2006).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM ON EXPEDITED MOTION FOR EXTENSION OF TIME UNDER § 521 FOR PROPERTY TO REMAIN PROPERTY OF THE ESTATE, TO EXTEND THE STAY, FOR TURN-OVER OF SECURED PROPERTY AND FOR CASE TO REMAIN OPEN

RICHARD STAIR, JR., Bankruptcy Judge.

This contested matter is before the court on the Expedited Motion for Exten *294 sion of Time Under § 521 for Property to Remain Property of the Estate, to Extend the Stay, for Turn-Over of Secured Property and for Case to Remain Open (Motion) filed by Ann Mostoller, Chapter 7 Trustee, on June 22, 2006, asking the court for the following relief: (1) extend the time in which the Debtor must perform her stated intentions with respect to secured personal property as required under 11 U.S.C. § 521(a)(2) and (6) (2005); (2) grant the Debtor additional time to provide tax returns to the Trustee as required by 11 U.S.C. § 521 (e)(2)(A)(i) (2005); 1 (3) decline dismissing the case pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 521(i)(4) (2005) 2 for the Debtor’s failure to file the payment advices required by 11 U.S.C. § 521(a)(1) (2005) within 45 days after the date of the filing of her petition; (4) allow the estate to retain assets even though the Debtor has not performed her statement of intentions within the time required by 11 U.S.C. § 521(a)(6) or 11 U.S.C. § 362(h) (2005), with respect to such assets; and (5) direct the Debtor to turn over property to the Trustee. A hearing on the Motion was held on July 13, 2006, at which time the court reserved its decision as to the issues presented. The only parties attending the hearing were the Trustee and United States Trustee.

Notwithstanding that the Motion is general and does not state “with particularity the grounds therefor,” 3 the court will, in this instance, address the issues raised in an effort to provide guidance to the Trustee.

I

The Debtor filed the Voluntary Petition commencing her Chapter 7 bankruptcy case on May 2, 2006. On that date, she also filed the Chapter 7 Individual Debt- or’s Statement of Intention (Statement of Intention), stating that she was surrendering to CIT its collateral consisting of a commercial building, 100% of the Debtor’s interest in Carol Ann’s, Inc., and a 2-acre lot in Gurley, Alabama. The Statement of Intention also provides that “Debtor will retain collateral and continue to make regular payments” to Tennessee Bank and Washington Mutual with respect to real property located at 8742 Wimbledon Drive, Knoxville, Tennessee (Residence), and to Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union (Credit Union) on a 2001 PT Cruiser (PT Cruiser). The Debtor’s statements and schedules value the Residence at $172,000.00, subject to liens in the aggregate amount of $187,000.00, and the PT Cruiser at $4,500.00, subject to a lien in the amount of $1,900.00. She has claimed an exemption in the PT Cruiser in the amount of $2,389.00.

The Trustee filed the Motion on June 22, 2006, requesting additional time to investigate the Debtor’s case more closely to determine if there are unencumbered, nonexempt assets, unperfected liens, and/or assets available for liquidation, arguing that doing so is in the best interests of creditors. An Order was entered on June 23, 2006, setting the Motion for hearing on July 13, 2006. 4 The Order, which was *295 served on all creditors and parties in interest on June 25, 2006, also required the Trustee to file an amended certificate of service, certifying service of the Motion on all affected parties and directed any party desirous of filing a response the opportunity to do so by July 10, 2006. The Trustee filed an Amended Certificate on June 29, 2006, certifying service of the Motion on the United States Trastee, the Debtor’s attorney, CIT, and the Credit Union. No party in interest filed a response.

II

The Trustee first asks the court to extend the time within which the Debtor must perform her Statement of Intention with respect to secured personal property under § 521(a)(2). Under the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (BAPCPA), debtors have responsibilities and requirements that, if not followed, will result in the automatic stay being terminated with respect to certain property of the estate. Section 521(a)(2) states as follows:

(a) The debtor shall—
(2) if an individual debtor’s schedule of assets and liabilities includes debts which are secured by property of the estate—
(A)within thirty days after the date of the filing of a petition under chapter 7 of this title or on or before the date of the meeting of creditors, whichever is earlier, or within such additional time as the court, for cause, within such period fixes, the debtor shall file with the clerk a statement of his intention with respect to the retention or surrender of such property and, if applicable, specifying that such property is claimed as exempt, that the debtor intends to redeem such property, or that the debtor intends to reaffirm debts secured by such property;
(B) within 30 days after the first date set for the meeting of creditors under section 341(a), or within such additional time as the court, for cause, within such 30-day period fixes, the debtor shall perform his intention with respect to such property, as specified by subparagraph (A) of this paragraph; and
(C) nothing in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph shall alter the debtor’s or the trustee’s rights with regard to such property under this title, except as provided in section 362(h)[J

11 U.S.C. § 521(a)(2).

As it relates to § 521(a)(2) and this case, § 362(h) provides, in material part:

(h)(1) In a ease in which the debtor is an individual, the stay provided by subsection (a) is terminated with respect to personal property of the estate or of the debtor securing in whole or in part a claim ... and such personal property shall no longer be property of the estate if the debtor fails within the applicable time set by section 521(a)(2)—

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
347 B.R. 291, 2006 Bankr. LEXIS 1788, 2006 WL 2349172, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-norton-tneb-2006.