In re Rexford Properties, LLC

557 B.R. 788, 2016 Bankr. LEXIS 3278, 63 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 42, 2016 WL 4697939
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, C.D. California
DecidedSeptember 7, 2016
DocketCase No.: 1:15-bk-12116-MB
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 557 B.R. 788 (In re Rexford Properties, LLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, C.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Rexford Properties, LLC, 557 B.R. 788, 2016 Bankr. LEXIS 3278, 63 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 42, 2016 WL 4697939 (Cal. 2016).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OF DECISION RE: DEBTOR’S MOTION TO DETERMINE NON-INSIDER STATUS OF THE 1979 EHRLICH INVESTMENT TRUST AND LURLINE GARDENS LIMITED HOUSING PARTNERSHIP [Dkt. No. 262]

Martin R. Barash, United States Bankruptcy Judge

On May 6, 2016, Rexford Properties, LLC (“Rexford”) filed Debtor’s Motion to Determine Non-Insider Status of the 1979 Ehrlich Investment Trust and Lurline Gardens Limited Housing Partnership (the “Motion”). Dkt. No. 262. The Motion requests that the Court determine whether certain creditors, the 1979 Ehrlich Investment Trust (the “Trust”) and Lurline Gardens Limited Housing Partnership, LP (“Lurline”), are insiders for purposes of voting for a chapter 11 plan pursuant to Bankruptcy Code section 1129(a)(10); The purpose of seeking this relief now is to assist Rexford in formulating a confirma-ble chapter 11 plan.1 On May 13, 2016, creditor United States Fidelity & Guaranty Company (“USF&G”) filed its Opposition to Motion to Determine Non-Insider Status of the 1979 Investment Trust and Lurline Gardens Limited Housing Partnership (the “Opposition). Dkt. No. 275.

On June 7,' 2016, the Court held an evidentiary hearing on the Motion. Following the June 7 hearing, the Court requested supplemental briefing from the parties and continued the hearing on the Motion to June 20, 2016. The following constitute the Court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law pursuant to Rules 9014 and 7052 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure. For reasons discussed herein, the Court finds that: (i) the Trust is a non-statutory insider of Rexford, and (ii) Lur-line is a statutory insider of Rexford, or in the alternative, a non-statutory insider of Rexford. Accordingly, the Motion is DENIED.

I. JURISDICTION

This Court has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1334(b). Venue in this Court is proper pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1409(a). This mat[792]*792ter is a core matter under 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(A), and therefore, this Court has the constitutional authority to enter a final ruling on the matter. Stern v. Marshall, 564 U.S. 462, 131 S.Ct. 2594, 180 L.Ed.2d 475 (2011).

II. FACTS

On June 16, 2015 (the “Petition Date”), Rexford, debtor and debtor in possession herein, filed its petition for relief under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. Dkt. No. 1. Rexford was formed by Richard Ehrlich (“Richard”),2 now deceased. Richard also formed several other business entities, including the Trust and Lurline.

A. The Proofs of Claim

On September 9, 2015, the Trust filed a timely proof of claim (“POC 17”) for an unsecured debt of $9,738,190.02 (the “Trust Debt”). In support of the Trust Debt, POC 17 includes an installment note dated December 11, 2009 in the principal sum of $5,793,300.00 (the “Trust Note”) and an unrecorded deed of trust securing the Trust Note to unknown real property (the “Trust DOT”).3 Also attached to POC 17 is a chart entitled “Cash Flow Data,” and a second chart entitled “Amortization Schedule,” both of which show that between the years 2000 and 2007, the Trust advanced money to Rexford that resulted in the Trust Debt. Both charts also show that the last payment Rexford made to the Trust was for $400,000.00 on December 11, 2009.

On September 9, 2015, Lurline filed a timely proof of claim (“POC 19”) for an unsecured debt of $651,141.39 (the “Lur-line Debt”). Similar to POC 17, in support of the Lurline Debt, POC 19 includes an installment note dated December 11, 2009 in the sum of $406,387.50 (the “Lurline Note”) and an unrecorded deed of trust securing the Lurline Note to unknown real property (the “Lurline DOT”).4 Also attached to POC 19 is a chart entitled “Cash Flow Data,” and a second chart entitled “Amortization Schedule,” both of which show that between May 2001 and October 2001, Lurline advanced money to Rexford that resulted in the Lurline Debt. Both charts also show that the one and only payment Rexford made to Lurline was for $31,140.00 on May 15, 2006.

B. The Relationships between the Entities

Because the relationships between Rex-ford, the Trust, Lurline, and Rexford’s managing member, Lisa Ehrlich (“Lisa”), are complex, the Court found it helpful to chart the connections:

Table 1: Rexford’s Corporate Structure as of the Petition Date

[793]*793[[Image here]]

As shown in Table 1, the Trust currently holds a 1.00% interest in Rexford. Prior to 2000, the Trust was Rexford’s majority interest holder. The trustee to the Trust is currently Donald Crasnick (“Crasnick”), who was a friend of Richard’s, Lisa’s stepfather. Lisa and her brother Stephen Ehrlich (“Stephen”) are (i) income beneficiaries of the Trust and (ii) co-trustees of the Richard Ehrlich Q-Tip Trust (“Q-Tip Trust”), which is a 30.50 % interest holder in the Debtor. The income beneficiary of the Q-Tip Trust is Marcia Ehrlich, Lisa’s mother. Lisa is herself á 38.00% interest holder in Rexford and is Rexford’s managing member.

Table 2: Lurline’s Ownership Interests as of the Petition Date5

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As shown in Table 2, Lurline has no direct connection to Rexford. However, Lurline and Rexford share two of the same interest holders: Lisa and the Q-Tip Trust. [794]*794Lurline is managed by the Q-Tip Trust, its general partner and 49.00% interest holder. As noted, the Q-Tip Trust is, in turn, managed by Lisa and Stephen as co-trustees. Lisa and Stephen also hold small ownership interests in Lurline.

III. LEGAL ANALYSIS

Insiders are those who have a “sufficiently close relationship with a debtor to warrant special treatment.” In re The Vill. at Lakeridge, LLC, 814 F,3d 993, 999 (9th Cir.2016). In the context presented, the insider status of the Trust and Lurline is relevant to whether their acceptances of a chapter 11 plan would satisfy the requirement of Bankruptcy Code section ll29(a)(10) that at least one class of claims accepts the plan, not counting the votes of insiders. The Ninth Circuit recognizes two kinds of insiders: (i) statutory insiders (those specifically listed among the examples given in Bankruptcy Code section 101(31)) and (ii) non-statutory insiders (those insiders that do not fit squarely within one of the examples provided in the text of section 101(31)). Id, The Court will address each of these alternatives in turn.

A. Statutory Insiders

Bankruptcy Code section 101(31) provides a non-exhaustive list of “per se” or “statutory insiders.” When the debtor is an individual, the term “insider” specifically includes: (i) a relative of the debtor or of a general partner of the debtor, (ii) a partnership in which the debtor is a general partner, (iii) a general partner of the debt- or, or (iv) a corporation of which the debt- or is a director, officer, or person in control. 11 U.S.C.

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557 B.R. 788, 2016 Bankr. LEXIS 3278, 63 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 42, 2016 WL 4697939, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-rexford-properties-llc-cacb-2016.