In re Twin Towers Associates

1 B.R. 405, 1979 Bankr. LEXIS 697
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedDecember 4, 1979
DocketBankruptcy Nos. 77B2961, 77B2962
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 1 B.R. 405 (In re Twin Towers Associates) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Twin Towers Associates, 1 B.R. 405, 1979 Bankr. LEXIS 697 (S.D.N.Y. 1979).

Opinion

FINDINGS OF FACT, CONCLUSIONS OF LAW AND ORDER

EDWARD J. RYAN, Bankruptcy Judge.

Jamaica Savings Bank (“Jamaica”), by notice of motion dated July 27, 1979, and a supporting application with exhibits attached thereto dated that same day, moved to dismiss these Chapter XII proceedings upon the grounds, among others, that (i) it, as the sole secured creditor having a first mortgage lien in the amount of $9,986,-213.64, had rejected the debtors’ joint plan of arrangement (the “Original Plan”) dated February 22, 1979, with the result that these proceedings could no longer continue and must be dismissed (the “Dismissal Motion”), and (ii) the Original Plan improperly impaired and extended Jamaica’s first mortgage in contravention of Section 517 of the Bankruptcy Act, as amended (the “Act”) by reason of the fact that Jamaica was a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York.

The Dismissal Motion, originally returnable on August 17, 1979, was adjourned at the request of the debtors. Pending the adjourned return date, the debtors filed a joint amended plan of arrangement on August 23, 1979 (the “Amended Plan”). Shortly before the next adjourned date of the Dismissal Motion on September 19, 1979, the debtors served an answer dated September 17, 1979 in opposition thereto.

Counsel for the parties appeared before me with respect to the Dismissal Motion on September 19, 1979, October 10, 1979, October 18, 1979, November 9, 1979 and November 29, 1979. Immediately prior to the hearing on November 29, 1979, the debtors filed modifications dated November 27, 1979 to the Amended Plan.

While the Dismissal Motion was pending, Jamaica, by notice of motion dated October 2, 1979, supported by an application dated that same day with exhibits attached thereto, moved before me for an order (i) directing Dreyfuss Brothers, Inc., the Managing Agent of .the debtors’ real property, to turn over the Project Balance (as defined in the October 2, 1979 Application) to Jamaica, and (ii) authorizing Jamaica to apply the Project Balance, together with certain additional funds then held by Jamaica in special accounts, against accrued and unpaid interest owing to Jamaica from the debtors upon its aforementioned first mortgage (the “Turnover Motion”). The debtors filed an answer in opposition to the Turnover Motion dated October 17, 1979.

[407]*407At the last hearing before me, on November 29,1979, I deferred consideration of the Turnover Motion until I disposed of the Dismissal Motion for the reason that if I granted the Dismissal Motion, Jamaica’s right to the relief requested in the Turnover Motion would follow.

On November 29, 1979, I heard Messrs. Zalkin, Rodin & Goodman, by Henry L. Goodman, Esq. and Richard S. Toder, Esq., of counsel, in support thereof, and Messrs. Gelberg & Kronovet, by Joel B. Zweibel, Esq. and Bert Weston, Esq., of counsel, in opposition thereto.

After due deliberation, I made my decision to grant the Dismissal Motion and directed that findings of fact, conclusions of law and an order be settled reflecting my decision.

I declined to hold an evidentiary hearing with respect to the Dismissal Motion, as requested by counsel for the debtors. The Amended Plan, as modified, was based upon a proposed sale of the debtors’ real property through a proposed condominium conversion program. Counsel for the debtors made an offer of proof on November 29, 1979.

On December 3, 1979, debtors submitted proposed findings of fact, conclusions of law and an order. On December 5,1979, Jamaica submitted proposed counter-findings. At the request of debtors, I held a hearing on December 12, 1979 to consider the proposed findings that had been submitted.

NOW, upon all of the aforementioned pleadings and hearings held by me thereon, the original Chapter XII petitions filed by the debtors with schedules and statements of affairs annexed thereto, and all prior proceedings heretofore had in these Chapter XII arrangement proceedings, I make the following Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Order:

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. Jamaica is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York.

2. The debtors’ real property interests consist of two high-rise rental apartment buildings located at 1836 Metzerott Road, Adelphi, Prince George’s County, Maryland (the “Premises”). The debtor Presidential Towers Land Associates (“Presidential”), is the owner and lessor of the land upon which the Premises are located. The debtor Twin Towers Associates (“Twin Towers”), is the lessee of the land and the owner of the Premises.

3. In December, 1976, Jamaica caused to be instituted in the Maryland Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, a “Possession Action” and “Foreclosure Action” to foreclosure its first mortgage which burdened both the land and the Premises (collectively, the “Mortgaged Property”).

4. Without delving extensively into the niceties of Maryland foreclosure law, the debtors defended the Possession Action principally upon the grounds that there was an oral forbearance agreement and that the mortgage loan was usurious. Prior to the filing by the debtors of their Chapter XII arrangement proceedings in this Court, the Maryland Circuit Court had rejected the defense of an oral forbearance agreement and, in December, 1977, was preparing to hear and determine the usury issue.

5. However, prior to the Circuit Court’s hearing and determination of the usury issue, both Twin Towers and Presidential filed original petitions under Chapter XII of the Act in this Court on December 20, 1977 and both proceedings were generally referred to me.

6. Immediately after the filing of the Chapter XII proceedings, Jamaica commenced an adversary proceeding before me seeking to modify (i) the stay orders of this Court entered December 21, 1977, and (ii) Chapter XII Rule 12-43, so as to permit the continuation of the Possession and Foreclosure Actions up to the point of sale. I held hearings in connection with that adversary proceeding and entered findings of fact, conclusions of law and an order dated March 10, 1978. I concluded that the interests of justice and the convenience of the parties required that the remaining issues in the Possession Action be tried in the Maryland Circuit Court, that upon the facts [408]*408and the law this Court should not determine the usury and applicable choice of law issues involved in the Possession Action and I ordered a modification of the stay of December 21, 1977 and Chapter XII Rule 12-43, to permit the completion of the Possession Action. My March 10, 1978 order and findings of fact and conclusions of law rendered in connection therewith have become final, and are set forth in full herein.

“1. On December 20, 1977, Twin Towers and Presidential each filed petitions under the provisions of Chapter XII of the Bankruptcy Act in this Court.

“2. On December 21, 1977, orders were entered in the respective Chapter XII proceedings which, among other things, provided as follows:

‘Pursuant to Rule 12-43 of the Rules of Bankruptcy procedure the filing by the debtor herein of its petition under Chapter XII of the Bankruptcy Act shall operate.

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Bluebook (online)
1 B.R. 405, 1979 Bankr. LEXIS 697, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-twin-towers-associates-nysd-1979.