In re STN Enterprises, Inc.

45 B.R. 946, 1984 Bankr. LEXIS 4437
Procedural entryThis page is a short order in In re STN Enterprises, Inc.. Read the opinion of the Court — 70 B.R. 823
United States Bankruptcy Court, D. Vermont·Decided December 14, 1984·No. Bankruptcy No. 84-00098·Published

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

CHARLES J. MARRO, Bankruptcy Judge.

The issue before the Court is whether Kenneth Cestone is entitled to recover from the Debtor two Colt Revolvers under his Motion for Reclamation filed July 31, 1984. Both the Debtor and the Committee of Unsecured Creditors oppose this Motion.

FACTS

The Debtor, STN Enterprises, Inc., was organized as a corporation on August 6, 1982 for the purpose of engaging in the purchase and sale of collectible firearms and related collectibles under the trade name of “Atwater Arms.” Stephen T. Noyes was its president, sole stockholder and the driving force behind the corporate business. The corporation also conducted an investment program which included the so-called San Antonio Collection involving the purchase of 77 individual antique firearms. Noyes died on May 5, 1984 as a result of injuries received in an automobile accident, and for several weeks prior thereto, the Debtor was having financial difficulties. These apparently precipitated the filing of a Petition for Relief on June 28, 1984 under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. The Schedules show total liabilities of $12,-989,844.35 and assets of $5,284,415.05. Included in the assets are Bennington Firearms inventory and Greenwich Firearms inventory, listed at an estimated market value without forced sale of $2,500,000.00 and $1,500,000.00, respectively.

Kenneth Cestone is a practicing physician in Bennington, Vermont, and he had known Mr. Noyes for close to 20 years and, since they lived close to each other, Dr. Cestone would see Noyes at least every week. As a result of this acquaintanceship, Dr. Cestone became interested in the purchase and sale of firearms and prior to August 26, 1983, he had consummated about nine or ten transactions with the Debtor. These were all handled by Noyes under a loose arrangement whereby Dr. Cestone would tender money to Noyes for the purchase of firearms and a resale of them by the Debtor. These transactions commenced in 1982 and Dr. Cestone left the purchase and sale of the firearms entirely to the judgment of Noyes. Cestone never checked the price paid for the particular firearm. Noyes would arrange for the sale and several months later Cestone would receive a check which included the profit from the transaction. Cestone never saw the particular weapon purchased. He considered the transactions investments as he was trying to build up a college fund for his children.

On August 26, 1983, Cestone turned over to- the Debtor the sum of $20,000.00 as a participating share interest in a 5 Month— Combined Winchester Rifle/Colts SAA Revolver Collection. As evidence of this transaction the Debtor delivered to Cestone [948]*948a receipt which carried the note “Item for Collateralization 1 — Colt SAA Revolver Serial # 259641” and indicated a charge of $19,230.77 for the share in the revolver with tax of $769.23 for a total of $20,-000.00.

At the same time, Cestone received a “Purchase Pact Sheet” from the Debtor indicating that the specific item covered was 1 — Colt SAA Revolver Serial # with the terms being 90% — 5 months and a 10% commission of resale. The total purchase was shown as $20,000.00 on 8-26-83 with a remittance date on or before 1-26-84.

Even though remittance was due on January 26, 1984, payment was not made by the Debtor until March 4, 1984 with Ce-stone receiving a check from it in the sum of $32,192.00 in return for his investment of $20,000.00. The payment was delayed due to the fact that Noyes had been in a plane crash and was hospitalized for some time. Cestone had no control over this transaction and he left it entirely to the discretion of Noyes.

On August 26, 1983, Cestone turned over to the Debtor the sum of $17,160.00 for the purchase of 1 — Colt SAA Revolver Serial # 336281 for the sum of $16,500.00 with tax of $660.00 representing a total of $17,-160.00. This payment was made by check dated 8/26/83 in the sum of $17,160.00 payable to Atwater Arms.

On March 7, 1984, Cestone turned over to the Debtor by check of the same date the sum of $20,000.00 for the purchase of 1 — Colt 1851 Navy Model Revolver Serial # 48106 engraved by Gustave Young Shop with only known inscription “Langdon’s Express.” On the same date the Debtor delivered to Cestone a “Purchase Fact Sheet” defining the item as “1 — Colt 1851 Navy Revolver Serial # 48106” with the terms “1 yr. plus program designed to provide a long-term positive gain through the resale of the aforementioned item” and commission of 10% of resale. The purchase price was given as $20,000.00 on 3-7-84 with a remittance date by 3-25-85.

On July 15, 1984, Cestone filed a Proof of Claim in this Court in the sum of $67,-160.00 with the consideration recited as “bills of sale for One 1851 Navy Colt Revolver, Serial No. 48106, one 1917 44-cali-ber Single Action Army Colt Revolver, Serial No. 336281 and a participating share interest in the purchase of a multi-unit percussion revolver collection, copies of which Bills of Sale are attached hereto.” This proof covered the purchase price of the aforesaid revolvers together with the payment of $30,000.00 by Cestone on March 7, 1984 for a participating share in the purchase of a multi-unit percussion revolver collection. The proof also recited that Cestone claimed a security interest under the writings constituting the bills of sale.

Cestone was fully aware that the Debtor was engaged in the purchase and sale of firearms; that Noyes maintained a showroom and office in the basement of his house in Bennington, Vermont, which he had visited on several occasions; that it was generally known in and around Ben-nington that the Debtor was engaged in the purchase and sale of firearms; that Noyes co-mingled guns; that there were about 75 guns on display in the showroom; that the guns which he purchased had no identification marks on them as to ownership.

Prior to Cestone’s transaction with the Debtor on August 26, 1983, for the purchase of a Colt Revolver, Cestone had received a profit on all of his previous transactions with the Debtor. No security agreements or financing statements were executed in connection with the foregoing transactions, and none was filed either in the office of the Town Clerk of Bennington where the Debtor conducted business or in the office of the Secretary of State in Montpelier.

The two revolvers claimed by Cestone are part of the inventory of the Debtor and there is nothing in its records to show that Dr. Cestone has any ownership interest in them.

DISCUSSION

Dr. Cestone is claiming title to the two revolvers as bailed property. He contends [949]*949that the transactions involving these weapons were “true bailments.”

In bankruptcy, his rights in the guns as a creditor are defined by state law, not federal law. Butner v. United States, 440 U.S. 48, 54, 99 S.Ct. 914, 917, 59 L.Ed.2d 136; In Re Shelly Jr. (U.S. District Court—D. Delaware—1984), 38 B.R. 1000, 1001. State law also defines the nature and extent of debtor’s and therefore, the estate’s interest in property. Butner v. U.S., supra; In Re Abdallah (Bankr.D.Mass.1984) 39 B.R. 384, 386; In Re Ford (Bankr.MD.1980) 3 B.R. 559, aff’d 638 F.2d 14 (4th Cir.1981).

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In re STN Enterprises, Inc., 45 B.R. 946, 1984 Bankr. LEXIS 4437 (Vt. 1984).

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