In re Residential Capital, LLC

528 B.R. 570, 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 1617, 59 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 102, 2014 WL 1410310
United States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. New York·Decided April 14, 2014·No. Case No. 12-12020 (MG) Jointly Administered·Published·Cited by 4 cases

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION

MARTIN GLENN, UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY JUDGE

Pending before the Court is the Motion for Reconsideration of the Memorandum and Order Sustaining in Part and Overruling in Part Debtors’ Objection to Proof of Claim No. 198k Filed by Katherine Parker-Lowe and Proof of Claim No. 1991 Filed by Rex T. Gilbert, Jr. and Daniela Gilbert (ECF Doc. # 5983), filed by Rex T. Gilbert, Jr. and Daniela Gilbert (collectively, “the Gilberts”). The Gilberts filed an Amended Motion for Reconsideration (the “Motion,” ECF Doc. #6386), clarifying that they seek relief pursuant to Rule 3008 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (the “Bankruptcy Rules”) and 11 U.S.C. § 502(j), which relate to reconsideration of an order disallowing a claim. The Gilberts ask the Court to reconsider its opinion and order (the “Original Opinion”) granting in part and denying in part an objection to the separate claims filed by the Gilberts and their attorney. See In re Residential Capital, LLC, 501 B.R. 531 (Bankr.S.D.N.Y.2013). In the Original Opinion, the Court deemed a portion of the parties’ dispute to be a contested matter. The Gilberts raise several issues warranting further discussion. As explained below, the Court GRANTS the Motion in part and DENIES it in part.

I. BACKGROUND

The Court’s prior opinion contains an extensive description of the facts. See Residential Capital, 501 B.R. at 535-38. This Opinion recounts the facts only to the extent relevant to this decision.

The Gilberts filed proof of claim no. 1991 against the Debtors in the amount of $5,948,900 (“Claim No. 1991”); Katherine Parker-Lowe, (“Parker-Lowe” and together with the Gilberts, the “Claimants”), filed proof of claim no. 1984 in the amount of $83,181.11, seeking payment of attorney’s fees for her representation of the Gilberts (“Claim No. 1984”).

The Debtors filed the Debtors’ Objection to Proofs of Claim Filed by Rex and Da-niela Gilbert and Katherine Parker-Lowe (the “Claims Objection,” ECF Doc. #4767). The Claimants filed a response to the Claims Objection (the “Claimants’ Response,” ECF Doc. # 5004), and the Debtors filed a reply to the Claimants’ Response (the “Debtors’ Reply,” ECF Doc. # 5129).

The Court issued the Original Opinion on November 12, .2013. On December 2, 2013, the Claimants filed the Motion, which they ¿mended on January 30, 2014. The ResCap Borrower Claims Trust, the Debtors’ successor in interest, filed an objection to the Motion (ECF Doc. # 6269).

II. DISCUSSION

Under Section 502(j), “[a] claim that has been allowed or disallowed may be reconsidered for cause.” 11 U.S.C. § 502(j). The Bankruptcy Code does .not define “cause,” but when deciding a motion under section 502(j), the court should:

[ajpply the same analysis that it would to a motion under Fed. R. Bankr.P. 9023 (incorporating Fed.R.Civ.P. 59) or Fed. R. Bankr.P. 9024 (incorporating Fed. R.Civ.P. 60), depending on whether the [573]*573movant ... sought reconsideration within [fourteen] days after the entry of the order disallowing the claim, or did so only later.

In re Terrestar Networks, Inc., No. 10-15446 (SHL), 2013 WL 781618, at *2 (Feb. 28, 2013) (collecting cases).

Bankruptcy Rule 9023 incorporates Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59, which regulates motions for amendment of a judgment. Rule 9023 states: “[a] motion ... to alter or amend a judgment shall be filed ... no later than 14 days after entry of judgment.” Fed. R. BankeP. 9023 (emphasis added). The Gilberts filed the Motion twenty days after the Court entered the Opinion, which prevents them from obtaining relief under Bankruptcy Rule 9023. See In re Terrestar Networks, Inc., 2013 WL 781613, at *2. Therefore, the Court will apply Rule 9024, which incorporates Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60.

Rule 60 permits a court to grant relief from a final judgment or order for the following reasons: (1) “mistake, inadvertence, surprise, excusable neglect”; (2) newly discovered evidence; (3) fraud, misrepresentation, or misconduct. (4) the judgment is void; (5) the judgment has been satisfied, released, discharged, or it is “no longer equitable”; or (6) “any other reason that justifies relief.” Fed.R.CivP. 60(b). A motion for reconsideration “is generally not favored and is properly granted only upon a showing of exceptional circumstances.” Marrero Pichardo v. Ashcroft, 374 F.3d 46, 55 (2d Cir.2004) (citation omitted); see also United States v. Int’l Bhd. of Teamsters, 247 F.3d 370, 391 (2d Cir.2001) (same). “A motion for reconsideration should be granted only when the [moving party] identifies ‘an intervening change of controlling law, the availability of new evidence, or the need to correct a clear error or prevent manifest injustice.’ ” Kolel Beth Yechiel Mechil of Tartikov, Inc. v. YLL Irrevocable Trust, 729 F.3d 99, 104 (2d Cir.2013) (emphasis added) (quoting Virgin Atl. Airways, Ltd. v. Nat’l Mediation Bd., 956 F.2d 1245, 1255 (2d Cir.1992)).

The party seeking Rule 60 relief bears the burden of proof. See Int’l Bhd. of Teamsters, 247 F.3d at 391. Whether to grant a motion for relief under Rule 60 is within the discretion of the court. Stevens v. Miller, 676 F.3d 62, 67 (2d Cir.2012).

The Gilberts- have neither identified any intervening change of controlling law nor introduced new evidence. Thus, to prevail, the Gilberts must show the need to correct clear error of law or to prevent manifest injustice. The Court addresses each of the Gilberts’ requests in turn.

A. Truth in Lending Act Claims

The Gilberts concede that their claim for monetary damages pursuant to the Truth in Lending Act (“TILA”) is time-barred. (Motion ¶ 20.) The Court need not revisit that issue.

Instead, the Motion asks the Court to reconsider its finding that GMAC Mortgage, LLC (“GMACM”) cannot be liable for a claim for rescission or rescissionary damages.

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In re Residential Capital, LLC, 528 B.R. 570, 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 1617, 59 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 102, 2014 WL 1410310 (N.Y. 2014).

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