In re Realty Associates Securities Corp.

57 F. Supp. 596, 1944 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1761
Procedural entryThis page is a short order in In re Realty Associates Securities Corp.. Read the opinion of the Court — 61 F. Supp. 574
District Court, E.D. New York·Decided November 9, 1944·No. No. 45024·Published

Opinion

MOSCOWITZ, District Judge.

This is a motion made by Prudence Realization Corporation, a creditor, the holder and owner of participations in the sum of $197,413.97 in the first mortgage affecting premises 531 'East Lincoln Avenue, Mt. Vernon, New York, owned by the debtor, “for an order impounding the list of creditors of the debtor herein, providing, however, that the trustees of the debtor shall be instructed to mail to- security holders any communications given to them for that [597]*597purpose by any creditor or stockholder upon receiving payment from such creditor or stockholder of the cost of such mailing.” The Espade Realty Corporation, debtor, is a wholly-owned subsidiary qf the Realty Associates Securities Corporation, debtor.

This court granted a motion impounding the list of creditors of the Realty Associates Securities Corporation, and in an opinion (53 F.Supp. 1012) expressed the view:

“The court is quite in accord with the idea that creditors should be permitted to communicate with each other as it is desirable that the creditors receive as much light and correct information as is possible concerning the affairs of the debtor.
“Under the statute, the disinterested trustees are called upon to make an investigation of the property, liabilities and financial condition of the debtor, the operation of its business and the desirability of the continuance of such business, and to submit a statement of such investigation to the creditors. Section 167(5), 11 U.S.C.A. § 567(5). The facts apparently presently in dispute between some of the creditors and the debt- or will be developed by such investigation, and the true facts established.
“The large number of creditors here are entitled to protection against any solicitation which may be made for the purchase of their securities at prices which may be less than their true worth. Such solicitation may well be by persons whose interest is adverse to that of the creditors, and subject such creditors not alone to inconvenience and annoyance, but to financial loss as well. If the lists are permitted to remain open, it will be impossible to restrict the use to which such lists may be put by anyone.
“Under the circumstances it seems appropriate to impound the lists of creditors. However, applications will be entertained for orders authorizing specific communications, such applications to include a copy of the proposed letter and to provide that they shall be mailed by the trustees at the expense of the applicant.”

It was thought that the creditors, there being 2300 in number, were entitled to protection against any undue solicitation which might be made for the purchase of their securities at prices below their worth. The impounding order was not designed to harm but rather to benefit the creditors, they being permitted under its terms to freely communicate with each other.

After the opinion was filed and an order entered thereon, no application was made for permission to communicate with the other creditors. Had such application been made it would have been granted, as this court believed then and believes now that creditors should be permitted to communicate with each other. It did not believe and does not believe that advantage should be taken of creditors who may be ignorant of the true worth of their securities. Many times the public requires protection against itself. In the administration of debtors’ estates, the court has found instances where great advantage has been taken by solicitors and buyers of securities of the creditors who own such securities and it seems to this court that it is highly desirable that a measure of protection be afforded them. At the same time, they should be permitted to communicate among themselves.

The determination made by this court in impounding the list of creditors was reversed by the Circuit Court of Appeals, Delatour v. Meredith, 2 Cir., 144 F.2d 594, and this court must accept with great respect and follow the decision of the Circuit Court.

The grounds urged in the petition of the Prudence Realization Corporation for the granting of this motion are as follows:

“4. That there are approximately 220 individual certificate holders holding participations in the mortgage on the premises owned by the Debtor; that since the institution of the instant proceeding, such certificate holders have been advised merely that a petition was filed and approved and have no information as to the present condition of the premises and that any information with respect to its operations will be forthcoming only upon the filing of the report by the trustees of the Debtor herein as required by Section 167 of the Bankruptcy Act.
“5. Upon information and belief, several offers have been received by the trustees of the Debtor herein for the purchase of the property. That at least one such offer has been submitted to your petitioner. That from the foregoing it is apparent that there is a substantial possibility that this property may be sold as a part of a plan of reorganization.
“6. That heretofore an order was entered herein extending the time of the trustees of the Debtor herein to file a list of creditors by not later than September 29th, [598]*5981944, and that unless either an extension of such time is granted by this court or an order impounding the list upon appropriate conditions is entered upon this application, such list will be made available to all persons and for all purposes.
“7. That in the opinion of your petitioner, provision should be made against the indiscriminate use of such list of creditors, so that creditors may not be subjected to solicitation by brokers or others interested in acquiring or adding to their interests in the mortgage affecting the debtor’s premises at less than their true value.
“8. That there are no quotations for the mortgage certificates here involved appearing in any publication of general circulation; that the certificate holders have no way of determining the present or prospective value of their certificates; that communication with certificate holders of relevant facts from time to time will be inadequate protection since it is impossible to communicate day to day, or even month to month, developments to certificate holders; that based upon prior experience in Prudence certificate issues, your petitioner is of the opinion that anyone securing such information can and probably will utilize such information to further their own interests at the expense of the uninformed certificate holder.
“9. That as servicing and transfer agent of the certificate issue, your petitioner has had contact with many of the certificate holders; that from such contact it is your petitioner’s opinion that with a few exceptions, such certificate holders have no great familiarity with business affairs, and are likely to be misled by persons who are interested in acquiring the certificates at less than their true value.
“10.

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In re Realty Associates Securities Corp., 57 F. Supp. 596, 1944 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1761 (E.D.N.Y. 1944).

57 F. Supp. 596 (In re Realty Associates Securities Corp.) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Related

Delatour v. Meredith
144 F.2d 594 (Second Circuit, 1944)
In re Realty Associates Securities Corp.
53 F. Supp. 1012 (E.D. New York, 1943)