In re Vigil Bros. Construction, Inc.

181 B.R. 453, 27 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 1033, 1995 Bankr. LEXIS 537, 1995 WL 241810
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, D. Arizona
DecidedApril 19, 1995
DocketBankruptcy No. 90-11948-PHX-SSC
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 181 B.R. 453 (In re Vigil Bros. Construction, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, D. Arizona primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Vigil Bros. Construction, Inc., 181 B.R. 453, 27 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 1033, 1995 Bankr. LEXIS 537, 1995 WL 241810 (Ark. 1995).

Opinion

AMENDED MEMORANDUM DECISION

SARAH SHARER CURLEY, Bankruptcy Judge.

PROCEDURAL HISTORY

This matter comes before this Court on an objection to proof of claim filed by James D. Fox, the Chapter 7 Trustee (hereinafter “Trustee”), on January 14, 1993. On February 16, 1993, Concrete Equipment Co., Inc. (hereinafter “CECO”) filed its response. At the May 26, 1993 hearing on the objection to proof of claim, this Court ordered the parties to file simultaneous memoranda of law by July 15, 1993. This Court further ordered the parties to file any responsive memoranda of law on or before July 29, 1993.

On August 17, 1993, CECO and the Trustee filed a stipulation as to the briefing schedule. On August 20, 1993, a motion to continue the oral argument set for August 30,1993 was filed. The Court granted the stipulation as to the briefing schedule and set a continued hearing for November 4, 1993.

On November 4, 1993, the Trustee and CECO filed a second stipulation as to the briefing schedule and a joint motion to continue the hearing set for November 4, 1993. On November 5, 1993 this Court granted the stipulation and entered an order continuing the hearing to January 27, 1994. The January 27, 1994 hearing was again continued. On February 16, 1994, this Court entered an order granting the stipulation concerning the briefing schedule and noted that no further extensions would be granted. This Court further set a continued hearing for April 4, 1994.

On March 4, 1994, the Trustee filed his opening brief. CECO filed its responsive brief on March 21,1994 and the Trustee filed his reply brief on March 28, 1994. The Court initially conducted a hearing consisting solely of oral argument on April 4, 1994. The Court set forth the remaining issue upon which CECO would have the opportunity to present evidence. This Court set a trial on the remaining issue for July 5, 1994.

The trial was continued from July 5, 1994 to August 2, 1994 because a witness did not appear. The joint pretrial statement was filed by the parties on July 15, 1994. On August 2, 1994, the trial was held. Only Mr. Vigil testified before the Court. The Court then deemed this matter under advisement.

This constitutes this Court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law pursuant to Rule 7052, Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (hereinafter “RBP”). This is a “core” proceeding and this Court has jurisdiction over this matter. 28 U.S.C. §§ 1334 and 157.

ISSUE

The issue before this Court is narrow; that is, whether the Debtor transferred an insignificant portion of its accounts receivable to CECO, so that a financing statement need not be filed by CECO to obtain and maintain a perfected security interest in the account receivable.

ANALYSIS

On June 25, 1989, the Debtor and CECO executed a promissory note pursuant to which the Debtor agreed to pay CECO the sum of $49,385.56, with interest to accrue at a certain prime rate plus three percent (3%) [455]*455per annum.1 Simultaneously, the Debtor assigned to CECO a “sum not to exceed $49,-385.56 of assignor’s interest in a debt due to it [Debtor] from Joe E. Woods, Inc.” as security for the repayment of the promissory note.2 The Assignment further stated that the Joe E. Woods, Inc. receivable (hereinafter “the Woods Receivable”) arose from work performed at Arizona State University.3 No financing statement was filed by CECO.

This Court notes that neither party was able to produce the books and records of the Debtor. In fact, this Court was informed that the books and records of the Debtor for the relevant time period could not be located. Thus, this Court must rely on the testimony and exhibits presented at the trial.

Mr. Vigil testified that he worked “in the field” and was not in charge of the books and records of the Debtor. However, Mr. Vigil did state that he received the Debtor’s financial statements on an annual basis. Mr. Vigil apparently last thoroughly reviewed the financial statements of the Debtor around January, 1989. Mr. Vigil subsequently resigned from the Debtor in November, 1989.

Mr. Vigil testified as to the business operations of the Debtor. He stated that at one point in time, the annual gross revenues of the Debtor were between $3 million to $4 million. At one point the Debtor had approximately 80 employees, of which between twelve to fifteen employees were long-term.

Mr. Vigil further testified that by 1989, the operations of the Debtor had changed. As projects were completed, the Debtor laid off employees and did not enter bids on any new construction projects. Mr. Vigil further stated that by June, 1989, the Debtor lacked sufficient funds to pay CECO; thus, the Debtor assigned the Woods Receivable to CECO.

Mr. Vigil testified that in early 1989, the following amounts were owed to the Debtor on various contracts:

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Mr. Vigil then estimated that approximately $125,000 was owed on a variety of contracts as of June 25, 1989. Mr. Vigil stated that approximately $90,000 was owed to the Debt- or on the Arizona State University project and $35,000 was owed to the Debtor on other miscellaneous contracts; however, Mr. Vigil was not able to reconcile this amount of $125,000 with the amounts indicated as being owed on the contracts listed above. The Court concludes that $125,000 was due and owing on a variety of contracts as of June 25, 1989.

Mr. Vigil testified as to his best estimate as to the aggregate amount of accounts receivable still due and owing to the Debtor at the time the Woods Receivable was assigned to CECO. However, this Court does have concerns as to the accuracy of the information provided by Mr. Vigil, since he was not in charge of the books and records of the Debtor, did not review the books and records of the Debtor on a more frequent basis than annually, and was not able to reconcile his estimate of the accounts receivable outstanding as of June 25, 1989 with his estimate of the outstanding accounts receivable on the aforementioned contracts.

To resolve this dispute, the Court must analyze Arizona law. Butner v. United States, 440 U.S. 48, 99 S.Ct. 914, 59 L.Ed.2d 136 (1979). This Court notes that CECO, as the assignee, has the burden of proof to show that it was not required to file a financing statement in order to have a properly perfected security interest in the Woods Receivable. See Black, Robertshaw, Frederick, Copple & Wright, P.C. v. United States, 130 Ariz. 110, 634 P.2d 398, 402 (App.1981) (citing to Consol. Film Indus. v. United States, 547 [456]*456F.2d 533 (10th Cir.1977) and Architectural Woods, Inc. v. State, 88 Wash.2d 406, 562 P.2d 248 (1977)).

Under Ariz.Rev.Stat. Ann.

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181 B.R. 453, 27 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 1033, 1995 Bankr. LEXIS 537, 1995 WL 241810, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-vigil-bros-construction-inc-arb-1995.