In re Tillman

565 B.R. 586, 2016 Bankr. LEXIS 3600
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. North Carolina
DecidedSeptember 30, 2016
DocketCASE NO. 15-01033-5-DMW
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 565 B.R. 586 (In re Tillman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. North Carolina primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Tillman, 565 B.R. 586, 2016 Bankr. LEXIS 3600 (N.C. 2016).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

David M. Warren, United States Bankruptcy Judge

This matter comes before the court upon the Motion for Relief from the Automatic Stay and, in the Alternative, for Adequate Protection (“Stay Motion”) filed by Charles and Wanda Hughes (collectively “Hughes”) on October 6, 2015 and the Response to Motion for Relief from Automatic Stay (“Stay Response”) filed by Glenn M. Tillman II (“Debtor”) on October 29, 2015 and upon the Motion for Evaluation and Treatment of Claim (“Valuation Motion”) and Motion to Avoid Judicial Liens (“Avoidance Motion”) filed by the Debtor on January 15, 2016 and the Response in Opposition to Debtor’s Motion to Avoid Lien of Charles and Wanda Hughes (“Valuation and Avoidance' Response”) .filed by Hughes on January 19, 2016. The court conducted a hearing (“Hearing”) in New Bern, North Carolina on March 17, 2016. J. Allen Murphy, Esq. and Jonathan E. Friesen, Esq. appeared on behalf of the Debtor, Ramsay Tyler Archie, Esq. appeared on behalf of Hughes, and Joseph A. Bledsoe III, Esq. ^“Trustee”) appeared as the Chapter 13 trustee in this case.

[589]*589The predominant issue before the court is the valuation of real property of the Debtor’s bankruptcy estate, specifically whether a manufactured1 home situated upon that property is sufficiently attached to the land under state law to be included in the valuation. At the Hearing, the Debt- or presented testimony from Charles Hughes (“Mr. Hughes”), the Debtor, and Joe C. Sumrell (“Sumrell”) of Sumrell’s Appraisal Service of Emerald Isle, North Carolina. Hughes presented testimony from Jerry D. Shackelford II (“Shackel-ford”) of Shackelford & Associates, Green-ville, North Carolina and Terry L. Andrews (“Andrews”), owner of Modular Technologies, Incorporated of Kinston, North Carolina. The Debtor and Hughes stipulated that Sumrell and ■ Shackelford were each experts in the area of appraising manufactured homes and real property, particularly in Eastern North Carolina. Andrews is a general contractor whose company sets up and installs commercial and residential modular and mobile homes in several southeastern states, and Hughes tendered him as an expert in the sale and installation of mobile homes. The court accepted Sumrell, Shackleford, and Andrews as expert witnesses for these purposes pursuant to Rule 702 of the Federal Rules of Evidence. Based upon the pleadings, testimony, and other evidence presented and upon the arguments of counsel, the court makes the following findings of fact and conclusions of law:

BACKGROUND

1.The Debtor filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 13 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (“Code”) on February 25, 2015 (“Petition Date”), and the court appointed the Trustee to administer the estate pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 1302.2

2. The Debtor is the sole owner of approximately 0.16 acres of real property (“Lot”) located at 118 Snow Goose Lane, Newport, North Carolina. The Lot is located within Goose Creek Landing, a manufactured home community in Carteret County, North Carolina.3 The Debtor also owns a 1990 Southern Dreams Mobile Home (“MH”), serial number SSLAL 14907, which is located on the Lot. On the Petition Date and at all times thereafter, the Debtor has resided in the MH.

3. The Debtor’s Amended Schedules filed with the court on February 24, 2016 state that on the Petition Date, the Lot had a value of $65,000.00, and the MH had a value of $35,000.00. The Debtor claimed a homestead exemption in the Lot and the MH (collectively referred to as “Property”) in the amount of $30,000.00 pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § lC-1601(a)(l).

4. Hughes owned the Property prior to the Debtor. Hughes purchased the Property in June, 2000, and since that time and at all times relevant to this matter, the MH has been on the Lot. Hughes received from the sellers a deed to the Lot and the MH’s certificate of title (“MH Title”), which was forwarded to the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (“DMV”) to have the MH titled in Hughes’ names.

5. The MH had been on the Lot for about 10 years before Hughes’ acquisition of the Property. During the time Hughes owned the Property, no modifications were [590]*590made to the MH’s foundation, and the MH had a vinyl skirting.

6. Hughes sold the Property to the Debtor on June 2, 2011. The deed of the Lot from Hughes to the Debtor does not contain any reference to the MH, but the MH Title indicates an assignment from Hughes as sellers to the Debtor as buyer on July 25, 2011.

7. The sales price of the Property from Hughes to the Debtor was $144,900.00. To finance the purchase of the Property, the Debtor obtained a loan from I.T. Bagley, Jr. and Nancy J. Bagley (collectively “Bag-ley”) in the amount of $117,000.00, evidenced by a promissory note (“Bagley Note”) dated June 2, 2011 and a loan from Hughes in the amount of $17,900.00, also evidenced by a promissory note (“Hughes Note”) dated June 2,2011.

8. To secure the Bagley Note, the Debtor executed a deed of trust (“Bagley Deed of Trust”) encumbering the Lot and any property affixed thereto.4 The Debtor also executed an undated security agreement granting Bagley a security interest in the MH. Bagley’s lien on the MH is noted on the MH Title, and the Bagley Deed of Trust is recorded in Book 1377, Page 238 of the Carteret County Register of Deeds. The Bagley Deed of Trust does not reference the MH.

9. To secure the Hughes Note, the Debtor executed a deed of trust (“Hughes Deed of Trust”) upon the Lot and any property affixed thereto.5 The Hughes Deed of Trust is recorded in Book 1377, Page 239 of the Carteret County Register of Deeds, just after the Bagley Deed of Trust. Like the Bagley Deed of Trust, the Hughes Deed of Trust does not reference the MH. •

10. After the Debtor’s purchase of the Property, various creditors obtained the following judgments against the Debtor which created liens (“Judicial Liens”) upon the Debtor’s real property in Carteret County, North Carolina:

Creditor Name Judgment Lien Priority Carteret County File Number Amount6

Carl Perry 1st 09-CVM-352 $ 545.72

Carl Perry 2nd 09-CYD-1608 $5,297.45

Carl Perry yi 10-M-235 $69.13

Havelock Building Supply 4⅛ 10-CVM-297 $120.16

Yoham Zary 5® 10-CVM-310 $1,809.79

Sunland Building, Inc. 6® 10-CVM-335 $407.20

Sound Bank '†h 10-CVM-417 $6,745.38

Boulia Enterprise 8® 10-CVD-600 $7,826.00

Cedar Point Tire, Inc. pth 10-CVM-729 $775.94

Carolina Home and Garden, Inc. 10® 10-CVM-730 $2,751.65

Paul Christopher Boie 11® ll-CVM-259 $1,050.00

Blance Delgado 12® ll-CVM-469 $3,608.67

Border Magic 13® ll-CVS-1258 $88,377.50

Ally Financial 14® 12-CVD-399 $2,924.00

Wanda Hughes 15® 12-CVM-347 $1,790.00

Charles W. Hughes 16® 14-CVM-421 $7,854.00

[591]*59111.

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Bluebook (online)
565 B.R. 586, 2016 Bankr. LEXIS 3600, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-tillman-nceb-2016.