Interstate Finance Corporation v. J. T. Scrogham

265 F.2d 889, 1959 U.S. App. LEXIS 4865
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
DecidedApril 23, 1959
Docket13477
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 265 F.2d 889 (Interstate Finance Corporation v. J. T. Scrogham) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Interstate Finance Corporation v. J. T. Scrogham, 265 F.2d 889, 1959 U.S. App. LEXIS 4865 (6th Cir. 1959).

Opinions

CECIL, District Judge.

This is an appeal from a judgment of the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. The District Judge affirmed decisions of the Referee in Bankruptcy confirming a wage earner’s plan in a proceeding under Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Act and denying a reclamation petition of the appellant.

On February 19, 1957, J. T. Scrogham petitioned the Court in accordance with Sections 1022 and 1023, Title 11 U. S. C., for leave to submit a plan for an extension of time in which to pay his creditors. With this petition, he submitted statements of all debts and property and a plan for the payment of his debts.

[890]*890The appellant’s claim was listed, “Interstate Loan Co., 2752 West Dumesnil, Lou., Ky., $248.50”, and as unsecured. In Schedule A appeared the statement “(no recorded mortgages found in chattel check going through January 1st, 1955)”.

A meeting of creditors as prescribed by Section 1032 of the above Title was called for March 4, 1957. In conformity to Section 1033, subdivision (5) the notice advised that if the Plan were accepted, an application for confirmation would be filed and a hearing held on it at time of the meeting.

At the meeting of creditors counsel for the appellant appeared and stated that the appellant’s claim was secured by a chattel mortgage on a 1949 Pontiac automobile and that his client objected to the plan. The automobile in question is the one listed by the debtor in his property statement.

As indicated by the Statements of Fact in the Referee’s Certificate of Review, he found that a majority in number and amount of the debtor’s creditors had accepted the plan at the meeting of creditors. Accordingly, on March 5, 1957, the Referee sustained the debtor’s application for confirmation in an order which recited that at a meeting of creditors the matter had been heard and duly considered.

On March 11, 1957, the appellant filed a petition for reclamation. The petition alleged that the bankrupt had in his possession a 1949 two-door Pontiac automobile, that the appellant was the owner of said car or had a special interest in it by virtue of the execution of a note and chattel mortgage by the debtor to Interstate Finance Corporation of Kentucky. It was further alleged that the mortgage was duly recorded on April 10, 1956, with the County Clerk of Jefferson County, Kentucky, that the debtor was in default in his payments, that the value of the motor vehicle was less than the balance owed to the petitioner, and that there was a balance due of $247.37.

Responsive pleadings were filed by the debtor and the Trustee, a hearing was had at which testimony was taken and on March 26, 1957, by an order of the Referee, the petition for reclamation was denied.

A Certificate of Review in which he made Findings of Fact and stated Conclusions of Law, was issued by the Referee and the matter was referred to the-District Judge.

The facts concerning the mortgage,, including the fact that it was duly filed and recorded, are not in dispute. It is-also conceded that counsel for the appellant appeared at the meeting of creditors and stated that the automobile was mortgaged and that the appellant objected to the plan.

The District Judge affirmed the Referee and his order under date of December 16, 1957, reads in part as follows:

“However, no formal steps were taken by the petitioner to contradict the listing of its claim as unsecured in debtor’s petition nor was a request made for additional time to establish that its claim was secured. The wage earner’s plan was confirmed and it affected petitioner’s claim. Thereafter petitioner filed a reclamation petition which was denied by the Referee for failure to (1) file proof of its secured claim, (2) show reason for extension of time within which such claim could be filed and/or (3) ask the Court to require the debtor to list it as a secured rather than an unsecured creditor.
“While creditors may file their claims within six months after the date for the first meeting of creditors (Section 57, Bankruptcy Act [11 U.S.C. § 93]), it is expressly provided in Section 657 of the Act that, ‘Upon confirmation of a plan, the plan and its provisions shall be binding upon the debtor and upon all creditors of the debtor, whether or not they are affected by the plan or have accepted it or have filed their claims, and whether or not their claims have been scheduled or allowed or are allowable.’ Petition[891]*891er was therefore upon notice that unless he satisfied the Court his claim was secured he would be bound upon confirmation of the plan.”

The issue presented is whether the confirmation was properly granted. If properly granted, the plan and its provisions are binding upon the debtor and upon all creditors of the debtor, whether or not they have accepted the plan or have filed their claims. Sec. 1057, Title 11 U.S.Code.

The question then arises whether or not under the facts in this case the appellant waived the security of its mortgage and lost its right to be treated as a secured creditor by reason of its failure to take affirmative, formal action in filing a proof of claim to establish its security at the meeting of creditors.

It is conceded by counsel on both sides that if a secured creditor does not consent to a proposed plan, it can not be put into effect. Sec. 1052, Title 11 U.S.Code.

Research has disclosed no authorities exactly in point on the question at issue.

The provisions of chapters 1 to 7 inclusive, applicable to ordinary bankruptcy proceedings, are also applicable to Chapter 13 proceedings insofar as they are not in conflict therewith. See. 1002, Title 11 U.S.Code.

Sec. 1024, Title 11 U.S.Code, provides, “The petition shall be accompanied— (1) * * * (2) by the schedules and statements of affairs, if not previously filed; and * * * ”

General Order 38 in bankruptcy provides, “The several forms annexed to these general orders shall be observed and used, with such alterations as may be necessary to suit the circumstances of any particular case.” These forms are in Chapter 4 of Title 11 U.S.Code.

The form of petition alleges that “Schedule A” is attached. Schedule A is divided into five classifications and there is a form for each. Schedule A 2 is for creditors holding securities.

The debtor herein attempted to follow these schedules and listed “Schedule A 2. Creditors holding securities * * * None (no recorded mortgages found in chattel check going through January 1st, 1955)” Joint Appendix p. 7a. This was obviously in error since the mortgage was admittedly properly filed and recorded.

Sec. 25, Title 11 U.S.Code, provides, “The bankrupt shall * * * (8) prepare, make oath to, and file in court within ten days, unless further time is granted, after the adjudication, if an involuntary bankrupt, and with the petition if a voluntary bankrupt, a schedule of his property, showing the amount and kind of property, the location thereof, its money value in detail, and a list of his creditors, showing their residences, if known, if unknown, that fact to be stated, the amounts due each of them, the consideration thereof, the security held by them,

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Matteson v. Bank of America, N.A. (In re Matteson)
535 B.R. 156 (Sixth Circuit, 2015)
In re: Donald Matteson v.
Sixth Circuit, 2015
In Re Rutledge
277 F. Supp. 933 (E.D. Arkansas, 1967)
In re Cheetham
272 F. Supp. 501 (D. Maine, 1967)
In Re Pappas
216 F. Supp. 819 (S.D. Ohio, 1962)
In Re O'Dell
198 F. Supp. 389 (D. Kansas, 1961)
In Re Heger
180 F. Supp. 147 (D. Minnesota, 1959)
Interstate Finance Corporation v. J. T. Scrogham
265 F.2d 889 (Sixth Circuit, 1959)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
265 F.2d 889, 1959 U.S. App. LEXIS 4865, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/interstate-finance-corporation-v-j-t-scrogham-ca6-1959.