In re Pineda-Pineda

510 B.R. 648, 2014 WL 1576855, 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 1732
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, D. Oregon
DecidedApril 18, 2014
DocketNo. 13-35969-rld13
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 510 B.R. 648 (In re Pineda-Pineda) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, D. Oregon primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Pineda-Pineda, 510 B.R. 648, 2014 WL 1576855, 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 1732 (Or. 2014).

Opinion

[650]*650Memorandum Opinion Sustaining Washington County’s Objection to Confirmation

RANDALL L. DUNN, Bankruptcy Judge.

Cristobal Antonio Pineda-Pineda and Maria Elena Pineda filed their chapter 131 case on September 20, 2013 (“Petition Date”). The Pinedas filed their Initial Chapter 13 Plan (“Proposed Plan”) on October 7, 2013. As relevant to the matter before me, the Proposed Plan included Washington County (the “County”) as the holder of a secured claim against the Pine-das’ residence property (the “Property”). The County’s claim was based on unpaid real property taxes estimated to be in the amount of $25,350. The Pinedas proposed to pay the County’s secured claim with 16% interest during the life of the Proposed Plan at the rate of $150 per month for the first twenty months, and thereafter all available funds after their attorney’s fees had been paid.2 The duration of the Proposed Plan was 36 months. Paragraph 12 of the Proposed Plan provided that the Pinedas would sell or refinance the Property by November 30, 2016; the Pinedas projected that such sale or refinance would result in net proceeds sufficient to pay the County’s secured claim in full and to complete the Proposed Plan.

On December 2, 2013, the County objected (“Objection”) to the Proposed Plan on the basis that it had obtained a judgment and decree foreclosing its tax lien on or about October 14, 2011. In light of the foreclosure, the only remaining interest (other than bare legal title and possession) the Pinedas held in the Property on the Petition Date was a statutory redemption right which expired on October 14, 2013.

I held a hearing (“Hearing”) on the Objection on March 26, 2014, following which I denied confirmation of the Proposed Plan. This Memorandum Opinion sets forth my findings of fact and conclusions of law, made pursuant to Civil Rule 52(a), applicable in this contested matter pursuant to Rules 7052 and 9014, in support of my oral decision sustaining the Objection.

I have core jurisdiction to hear and determine this contested matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(L).

The issue before me is two-fold: what is the nature of the Pinedas’ interest in the Property, and what impact does the bankruptcy case have on that interest. In deciding this matter, I start with the precept that “[pjroperty rights are created and defined by state law.” Butner v. United States, 440 U.S. 48, 55, 99 S.Ct. 914, 59 L.Ed.2d 136 (1979).

The Property was Subject to the Rights of the County to Assess and Collect Ad Valorem Taxes.

The Property was subject to assessment and taxation by the County pursuant to ORS 307.030. Once assessed, real property taxes become a lien on the Property. ORS 311.405(1).

The County is mandated to mail tax statements to property owners not later than October 25th of each tax year. The [651]*651property tax is due beginning November 15th, but may be paid in three installments which are due on November 15th, February 15th, and May 15th, respectively. ORS 311.505(1). Real property taxes become delinquent on May 16th if not paid in full. ORS 311.510.

The real property taxes which are the subject of this contested matter are as follows:

Tax Year Unpaid Tax3
2007 $2,334.69
2008 $2,397.56
2009 $2,503.69
2010 $2,538.18
Delinquency Date
May 16, 2008
May 16, 2009
May 16, 2010
May 16, 2011

ORS 312.010(1) provides: “Real property within this state is subject to foreclosure for delinquent taxes whenever three years have elapsed from the earliest date of delinquency of taxes levied and charged thereon.” In this case, the Property was subject to foreclosure because the real property taxes for the 2007 through 2010 tax years were unpaid as of May 16, 2011. On May 17, 2011, the County issued its First Foreclosure Notice, advising the Pinedas that the Property had become subject to foreclosure because of unpaid real property taxes. Declaration of Diane Belt (“Belt Declaration”), Ex. A, p. 9.

ORS 312.030(3) instructs the County’s tax collector to prepare a list (“List”) of all real properties subject to foreclosure. After the List has been prepared, the property owners are served with notice of a foreclosure proceeding by publication and by certified and first class mail. ORS 312.040. As to any property on the List with respect to which the delinquent real property taxes remain unpaid, the County’s tax collector is required to institute foreclosure proceedings by filing an application (“Application”) for foreclosure with the Circuit Court of the County. ORS 312.050 and 312.060.

ORS 312.110 provides a process for removing a property from such foreclosure proceedings. A property owner has 30 days to file an answer to the Application, after which time the Circuit Court is required to give judgment (“Default Judgment”) to the County for delinquent taxes and interest on all of the remaining properties on the List. ORS 312.090. The Default Judgment provides that each of the properties on the List “shall be sold directly to the [Cjounty for the respective amounts of taxes and interest for which the properties severally are liable.” ORS 312.100.

A Default Judgment was entered as to the Property on October 14, 2011. Declaration of Brad Anderson (“Anderson Declaration”), Ex. A. Exhibit 3 to the Default Judgment is the List. Anderson Declaration, Ex A, pp. 11-29. The Property is No. 103 on the List. Id., Ex. A, p. 10. Exhibit 2 to the Default Judgment is a list of properties (“Dismissed Properties”) dismissed from the foreclosure proceeding. Anderson Declaration, Ex. A, pp. 9-10. The Property is not among the Dismissed Properties. Thus, the Default Judgment applies to the Property.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
510 B.R. 648, 2014 WL 1576855, 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 1732, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-pineda-pineda-orb-2014.