In Re Southwest Equipment Rental, Inc.

193 B.R. 276, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3468, 1996 WL 101847
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Tennessee
DecidedJanuary 23, 1996
Docket1:94-cv-00483
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 193 B.R. 276 (In Re Southwest Equipment Rental, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Tennessee primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re Southwest Equipment Rental, Inc., 193 B.R. 276, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3468, 1996 WL 101847 (E.D. Tenn. 1996).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM

COLLIER, District Judge.

This is an appeal by appellant, John A. Stefaniak (Stefaniak) from an October 14, 1995 oral decision (the decision) by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee (Stinnett, J.) concerning two claims Stefaniak made in the Chapter 7 bankruptcy matter of Southwest Equipment Rental, Inc. (Southwest).

Because J. Stinnett’s order was a final decision as to Stefaniak’s rights, this Court has jurisdiction to consider this appeal. 28 U.S.C. § 158. 1

In determining Stefaniak’s claims, the Court reviews the Bankruptcy Court’s findings of fact under a clearly erroneous standard, but conducts a de novo review of the Bankruptcy’s Court’s conclusions of law. Fed.R.Bankr.P. 8013; In re Isaacman, 26 F.3d 629, 630 (6th Cir.1994); Harbour Lights Marina v. Wandstrat, 153 B.R. 781 (Bankr.S.D.Ohio 1993). However, matters within the discretion of the Bankruptcy Court may be overturned only for an abuse of discretion. Fed.R.Bankr.P. 8003; American Imaging Services, Inc. v. Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc. (In re Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc.), 963 F.2d 855, 858 (6th Cir.1992). Accord Investors Credit Corp. v. Batie, 995 F.2d 85, 88 (6th Cir.1993).

I. FACTS

The record in this case reveals the following material facts. On October 14, 1994, Judge Stinnett held a full evidentiary hearing on the issues involved in this case.

Southwest was a trucking corporation headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Stefaniak was a vice-president and director of Southwest, and was also an officer, director and stockholder in Southwest’s holding company, Thiele-Rogers, Inc., prior to the filing of Southwest’s bankruptcy petition. Stefaniak played an active role in the management of Southwest. William R. Thiele was the president of Southwest, and an officer, director and stockholder of Thiele-Rog-ers, Inc. Before November 2, 1984, Southwest was owned by Clyde and Elizabeth Fuller (the Fullers). Thiele negotiated with the Fullers to purchase Southwest. Prior to this purchase, Stefaniak was involved in developing various financial proposals for Thiele to support the financing of the acquisition of Southwest stock.

The purchase was a leverage buyout for the stock of Southwest. The purchase, in large part, was secured by the assets of Southwest. Thiele-Rogers was the acquiring entity. Exchange National Bank of Chicago was the initial primary lender. Subsequently, Congress Financial Corporation (Southwest) (Congress) assumed that role and became Southwest’s major lender. Thiele-Rogers did not have sources of income other than Southwest to repay the loans used to make the purchase.

Stefaniak was a sophisticated businessman, with a Bachelors Degree from Cornell University, and an MBA from Columbia University. He had spent considerable time in the trucking industry serving in responsible positions. He was involved in the analysis of acquisitions, in corporate planning, and treasury functions of Hertz Corporation and its successor, Hertz-Penske, and later just Penske. Stefaniak had knowledge of the possible acquisition of Southwest and participated in the plans to acquire Southwest.

Shortly after the purchase, Southwest became overdrawn in its accounts. Within three months, its overdrafts in its banks was approximately $500,000. Southwest had significant cash flow problems from the time of *280 the sale onward. An expert witness testified at the hearing that Southwest was under-capitalized from the time of the purchase and was in effect insolvent.

Stefaniak received a personal loan from Summitt and Elizabeth Trust Company of New Jersey in April 1987. This loan was for approximately $250,000. This loan was taken out to pay a debt of Southwest owed to Great Dane Trailers. Stefaniak therefore became an unsecured creditor of Southwest. Stefan-iak secured the loan by pledging stock he owned in Eh Lilly and Company. In June 1987, Southwest borrowed money from Congress Financial (Congress). Southwest secured this loan by a pledge of assets. Some of the money from this loan paid off Stefan-iak’s personal loan with Summitt and Elizabeth Trust. Stefaniak agreed to guarantee the Congress loan by a limited guarantee and waiver up to a maximum amount of $500,000 plus costs and attorneys’ fees. Stefaniak executed a stock pledge agreement and an irrevocable stock power and assigned the shares of stock that he owned in Eli Lilly and Company. Internal records of Southwest regarding its loan position with Congress did not show an increase in its borrowing capacity with Congress at or near the time of this loan.

On January 8, 1988, Southwest filed a Chapter 11 petition in bankruptcy. Stefan-iak participated in the decision to file for bankruptcy protection. Shortly thereafter, on March 8, 1988, the Chapter 11 was converted to a Chapter 7. After the filing of the bankruptcy petition, Southwest obtained post-petition financing from Congress, which was also guaranteed by Stefaniak to the extent of the limited guarantee and waiver already in Congress’ possession. Congress was repaid all of its post-petition financing by Southwest. Pursuant to an amended proof of claim, as of November 80, 1991, Congress contended it was still owed a pre-petition debt of $695,494.35.

Exercising its rights under the limited guarantee and stock pledge agreement, Congress, after the filing of the bankruptcy petition of Southwest, filed suit against Stefaniak and obtained a court judgment in July 1989, in the amount of $554,449.01. This included costs and attorney’s fees. Congress, thereafter, sold the Eh Lilly stock held as collateral for the limited guarantee and received the amount of its judgment.

On June 22, 1988, Stefaniak filed two proofs of claim against the Southwest bankruptcy estate. Claim No. 6879 was filed in the amount of one million dollars, seeking payment of amounts for which Stefaniak may have been hable to Congress. Claim No. 6880 was filed in the amount of $12,205.30 for alleged unpaid vacation, unpaid sick leave, and unpaid medical expenses, arising out of appellant’s employment by Southwest. By order dated March 8, 1988, the Bankruptcy Court set June 6, 1988 as the last date for filing proofs of claim. Although represented by counsel, Stefaniak personally filed these two claims.

Stefaniak took an active role in the pursuit of his claims. He personally filed the claims. He also objected to the payment of wage claims of Southwest employees and appeared pro se at a hearing on those claims and contested them.

On November 29, 1991, the Bankruptcy Court ordered Stefaniak to amend his original claims within thirty days. Stefaniak’s amended proof of claim No.

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Bluebook (online)
193 B.R. 276, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3468, 1996 WL 101847, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-southwest-equipment-rental-inc-tned-1996.