In Re Summit Staffing Polk County, Inc.

305 B.R. 347, 17 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. B 74, 2003 Bankr. LEXIS 1911, 2003 WL 23273254
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Florida
DecidedOctober 15, 2003
Docket02-20352-8G7
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 305 B.R. 347 (In Re Summit Staffing Polk County, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re Summit Staffing Polk County, Inc., 305 B.R. 347, 17 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. B 74, 2003 Bankr. LEXIS 1911, 2003 WL 23273254 (Fla. 2003).

Opinion

ORDER ON TRUSTEE’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT, ASSOCIATED RECEIVABLES FUNDING OF FLORIDA, INC.’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT, AND ASSOCIATED RECEIVABLES FUNDING OF FLORIDA, INC.’S AMENDED MOTION FOR RELIEF FROM AUTOMATIC STAY

PAUL M. GLENN, Chief Judge.

THIS CASE came on for hearing on the Trustee’s Motion for Summary Judgment Against Associated Receivables Funding of Florida, Inc. and Associated Receivables Funding of Florida, Inc.’s Motion for Summary Judgment in connection with Associated Receivables Funding of Florida, Inc.’s Amended Motion for Relief from Automatic Stay.

Background

On October 16, 2002, a Chapter 7 petition was filed on behalf of Summit Staffing Polk County, Inc. (the Debtor). In the section of the petition requiring all other names used by the Debtor in the last 6 years, the name R & K Services was the only name entered. The street address of the Debtor was entered as 5903 Charloma Drive, Lakeland FI 33813. In the list of equity security holders, the only entry was Randolf Vincent, with the same address as the Debtor.

From the affidavits, exhibits, and pleadings in support of the motions for sum- *349 maty judgment, the following facts appear to be uncontroverted:

1. On August 22, 2001, an agreement was entered between Associated Receivables Funding of Florida, Inc. (Associated Receivables) and Randy Vincent d/b/a Summit Staffing. Pursuant to the agreement, Vincent obtained operating funds from Associated Receivables, and sold and assigned certain accounts receivable to Associated Receivables. Vincent also granted Associated Receivables a security interest in all of his accounts receivable and in other collateral.

2. On September 4, 2001, a UCC Financing Statement was filed with the Secretary of State, Tallahassee, Florida, with Associated Receivables Funding, Inc. as the secured party, Randy A. Vincent as the debtor, and “Summit Staffing” as an additional debtor. The addresses of the debtor and of the additional debtor were both shown as 5903 Charloma Drive, Lake-land, Florida 33813. The additional debtor was identified as a sole proprietorship.

3. On March 14, 2002, Summit Staffing of Polk County, Inc. was incorporated, and on March 15, 2002, the Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Florida Secretary of State.

4. Summit Staffing of Polk County, Inc. conducted the business formerly conducted by Randy A. Vincent d/b/a Summit Staffing. Summit Staffing of Polk County, Inc. obtained operating funds from Associated Receivables, and sold and assigned accounts receivable to Associated Receivables, in the same manner as had Randy Vincent doing business as Summit Staffing. No new written agreement was signed between Associated Receivables and Summit Staffing of Polk County, Inc., however, and no new financing statement was filed with the Secretary of State.

5. Summit Staffing of Polk County, Inc. filed its Chapter 7 petition in the bankruptcy court on October 16, 2002, showing its name as Summit Staffing Polk County, Inc.

6. As of the date the petition was filed, Cutrale Citrus owed the Debtor approximately $190,000 (the Cutrale accounts receivable). These accounts receivable had been sold and assigned by the Debtor to Associated Receivables. The entire balance owed to the Debtor accrued more than four months after the Debtor’s incorporation. (Some of the accounts have been paid, and the proceeds are being held in trust pending the outcome of this motion.)

7. In her affidavit in support of her motion for summary judgment, the Trustee states that she conducted a UCC search through the official Florida Secured Transaction Registry Internet website using the actual corporate name of the Debt- or, “Summit Staffing of Polk County, Inc.” The trustee stated: “This UCC search did not result in the disclosure of Randy Vincent’s financing statement and no secured interest in any of the Debtor’s assets was found.”

8. In support of the motion for summary judgment of Associated Receivables, Robin Garcia, legal assistant to counsel for Associated Receivables, executed an affidavit. Ms. Garcia set forth in detail the steps she took in performing a UCC search through the same official Internet website, the Florida Secured Transaction Registry, for “Summit Staffing of Polk County, Inc.” Attached to her affidavit were copies of the results pages of her search. According to Ms. Garcia’s affidavit, after entering the Debtor’s name, an alphabetical listing appeared on the results page, with “Summit Staffing Services” as the first listing on the page. Ms. Garcia then selected the “Previous” command to *350 display the results page with alphabetical listings immediately prior to “Summit Staffing Services.” On this page was a listing for “Summit Staffing” with an address of 5903 Charloma Drive, and a listing for “Summit Staffing Inc.” with a West Broward address.

Discussion

Associated Receivables requests relief from the automatic stay to enforce its security interest in the Cutrale Citrus accounts receivable (the Cutrale accounts receivable). The Chapter 7 Trustee claims priority over the rights of Associated Receivables to the Cutrale accounts receivable. Both the Chapter 7 Trustee and Associated Receivables have filed motions for summary judgment. With regard to the motions for summary judgment, Bankruptcy Rule 7056, which applies in contested matters, states:

The judgment sought shall be rendered forthwith if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.

The parties agree that there are no issues as to any material facts. The parties also acknowledge that the issues may be resolved in this procedural context.

Section 544(a) states, in part, as follows:

11 USC § 544. Trustee as lien creditor and as successor to certain creditors and purchasers

(a) The trustee shall have, as of the commencement of the case, and without regard to any knowledge of the trustee or of any creditor, the rights and powers of, or may avoid any transfer of property of the debtor or any obligation incurred by the debtor that is voidable by-
(1) a creditor that extends credit to the debtor at the time of the commencement of the case, and that obtains, at such time and with respect to such credit, a judicial lien on all property on which a creditor on a simple contract could have obtained such a judicial lien, whether or not such a creditor exists;
(2) a creditor that extends credit to the debtor at the time of the commencement of the case, and obtains, at such time and with respect to such credit, an execution against the debtor that is returned unsatisfied at such time, whether or not such a creditor exists;

The Trustee’s powers are the same as those of a hypothetical creditor of a debtor who has completed the legal process for perfection of its lien upon all property available for the satisfaction of its claim against the debtor. The Trustee’s lien takes priority over all unperfected liens or security interests.

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Bluebook (online)
305 B.R. 347, 17 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. B 74, 2003 Bankr. LEXIS 1911, 2003 WL 23273254, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-summit-staffing-polk-county-inc-flmb-2003.