In re Snyder

59 F. Supp. 840, 1945 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2466
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. West Virginia
DecidedApril 11, 1945
DocketNo. 3423—M
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 59 F. Supp. 840 (In re Snyder) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. West Virginia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Snyder, 59 F. Supp. 840, 1945 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2466 (N.D.W. Va. 1945).

Opinion

BAKER, District Judge.

In order to properly understand the question now before the court for decision, a review of the proceedings may be helpful.

John S. Snyder filed his petition and schedules under Section 75 of the Bankruptcy Act, 11 U.S.C.A. § 203, on March 25, 1938, and on the following day an order was entered referring the matter to Darrell K. Koonce, the Conciliation Commissioner having jurisdiction of the territory in which Mr. Snyder’s farm was located.

On March 3, 1939, the Federal Land Bank of Baltimore filed a petition to dismiss the case, alleging that it held a first lien upon the property which, as of October 28, 1938, amounted to $16,811.49; that the mortgage upon which the lien was based required the debtor to pay taxes on the real estate and to maintain insurance on the buildings, both of which the debtor had failed to do; that the debtor had insufficient stock and equipment to operate the farm, and that the income realized from the farm was not sufficient to keep the same in repair; that the debtor’s proposal did not meet the requirements of Section 75, sub. i, of the Bankruptcy Act; and for other alleged irregularities in the proceeding.

Upon April 4, 1939, a hearing upon said petition of the Land Bank was had before me, at which time the debtor requested permission to amend his petition, praying for adjudication as a bankrupt under Section 75, sub. s, of the Act.

[841]*841Upon August 22, 1939, an order was entered by me dismissing the debtor’s petition as not having been filed in good faith. From this order an appeal was taken and on February 10, 1940, a mandate was received from the Circuit Court of Appeals reversing my order of August 22, 1939, and remanding the case for further proceedings. No opinion of the Circuit Court of Appeals accompanied said mandate. It merely stated that it was based upon the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in the case of John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company v. Bartels, 308 U.S. 180, 60 S.Ct. 221, 84 L. Ed. 176, which case had been decided by the Supreme Court of the United States after my order of August 22, 1939.

In accordance with said mandate the amended petition of John S. Snyder, asking to be adjudged a bankrupt under Section 75, sub. s, was filed, and the matter re-referred to Darrell K. Koonce, Conciliation Commissioner.

On June 13, 194-0, this order was amended to include an adjudication in bankruptcy.

On December 10, 1940, the Conciliation Commissioner filed a report, fixing the annual rental of the farm at $900 and on June 12, 1941, this rental was confirmed by me.

On June 28, 1941, John S. Snyder petitioned for a rehearing or a reconsideration of the annual rental.

On September 26, 1941, I entered an order fixing the annual rental at $900 and directing that the debtor was to retain possession of the land, and fixing the value of the farm at $15,803.50.

On June 7, 1944, Forrest A. Brown, trustee under a deed of trust securing a second lien upon the property, petitioned for a reappraisement of the land under Section 75, sub. s(3).

On June 24, 1944, a hearing was had before me in open court. Evidence as to the value of the farm was introduced by John S. Snyder and by the lienholders. At the conclusion of that evidence I fixed the value of the farm as of that date at $25,000, and John S. Snyder was given until July 24, 1944, to redeem the property at the value so determined.

On September 26, 1944, John S. Snyder having failed to redeem the property, I entered an order again referring the case to Darrell K. Koonce, Conciliation Commissioner, and directing him to take appropriate steps under the Act to sell the property involved.

The Conciliation Commissioner convened the creditors as -provided for generally in Section 44 of the Bankruptcy Act, 11 U.S.C.A. § 72, and Forrest A. Brown was elected and confirmed as trustee to sell the property. On March 3, 1945, Mr.. Brown sold the property at public auction to one Elmer E. Roderick, for the sum of $21,500. Of this sum $12,000 was paid in cash on the day of sale, the balance, with interest at 6% per annum, to be paid upon delivery of a proper deed. The trustee reported this sale to the Conciliation Commissioner and asked for an order of confirmation. At-the hearing thereon John S. Snyder appeared and asserted that he had a right to redeem the property within ninety days of said sale by paying into court the amount for which the property was sold; that is, $21,500, plus interest at 5%. This right the Conciliation Commissioner denied and directed the trustee to make a proper deed to Roderick. From this order of the Conciliation Commissioner the case comes to me upon review.

Section 75, sub. s(3), contains the provisions of the Act relating to the method of disposing of the property of a farmer debtor who has failed to obtain from his creditors the acceptance of a composition. In my opinion this sub-section breaks down into several distinct parts. In the first place, the debtor is given the right to pay into court the amount of the appraisal of the property of which he retains possession any time within three years and if such payment is made to regain title to his property free of any encumbrances. It then provides that upon the request of any secured or unsecured creditor, or upon request of the debtor, the court shall cause a reappraisal of the debtor’s property or, after hearing, fix the value thereof. As a protection to lienholders and to meet the objections to the constitutionality of the first Frazi-er-Lemke Act, the sub-section then provides that upon a request by any secured creditor or creditors the property shall be sold at public auction. The Act continues: “The debtor shall have ninety days to redeem any property sold at such, sale, by paying the amount for which any such property was sold, together with 5 per centum per annum interest into court, and he may apply for his discharge, as provided for by this title.”

[842]*842The said sub-section then concludes: “If, however, the debtor at any time fails to comply with the provisions of this section, or with any orders of the court made pursuant to this section, or is unable to refinance himself" within three years, -the court may order the appointment of a trustee, and order the property sold or otherwise disposed of as provided for in this title.”

It should be noted in this case that from September 26, 1941, until June 24, 1944, the debtor was in possession of his property with a value fixed thereon at $15,803.50. At any time during this period the debtor could have redeemed his land by the payment of that amount into court. From June 24, 1944, until September 26, 1944, the debtor could have redeemed his land by paying into court the sum of $25,000. At no time did the debtor make any offer of redemption. It should also be borne in mind that the sale of this property was not made at the request of any of the secured creditors, but was made upon order of the court.

It is the debtor’s contention, however, that the ninety-day redemption period provided for, where the sale is made upon motion of a secured creditor, should also apply where the sale is made by a trustee appointed by the court. With this conclusion I am unable to agree.

Collier on Bankruptcy, 14th Edition, Volume 5, page 227, states: “Appointment of Trustee; Public Sale.

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Bluebook (online)
59 F. Supp. 840, 1945 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2466, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-snyder-wvnd-1945.