Leibowitz v. Hall (In re Hall)

477 B.R. 74, 2012 WL 2497287, 2012 Bankr. LEXIS 2962, 56 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 196
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Illinois
DecidedJune 28, 2012
DocketBankruptcy No. 09 B 49463; Adversary No. 10 A 02693
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 477 B.R. 74 (Leibowitz v. Hall (In re Hall)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Leibowitz v. Hall (In re Hall), 477 B.R. 74, 2012 WL 2497287, 2012 Bankr. LEXIS 2962, 56 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 196 (Ill. 2012).

Opinion

FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

JACK B. SCHMETTERER, Bankruptcy Judge.

Debtor Michael S. Hall filed his petition for relief under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code. The Debtor co-owns with his brother, James Hall, farm land located in Garber, Iowa. David P. Leibowitz, the Chapter 7 Trustee for Debtor’s estate, filed the above-captioned adversary proceeding to sell the Defendant’s interest in the farm pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 363(b) and (h). The matter was set for trial. Defendant’s Exhibits 1 through 13, 15, and 16 were admitted into evidence. Trustee’s Exhibits 3 and 6 through 16 were admitted into evidence without objection. Trustee’s Exhibit 1 was admitted over objection for the limited purpose of showing the marketability of the property at issue at auction versus through private sale. Trustee’s Exhibit 2 was admitted over objection on limited grounds to show the trend toward growth in value of Iowa cropland generally. Stipulations of Fact were entered into by the parties and admitted into evidence.

Both sides rested after presentation of evidence and argument. Based thereon, the following Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law are made and entered. Pursuant thereto the Trustee’s request to sell the bankruptcy estate’s interest and the interest of co-owner, Michael A. Hall, in real property commonly known as 34362 Iowa Ave., Garber, IA pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 363(b) and (h) will be denied and entry of any judgment will be denied. The Adversary proceeding will instead be dismissed since no case or controversy under the Constitution has been presented in absence of any offer by anyone to purchase the subject property.

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. Michael S. Hall (“Debtor”) filed his original voluntary petition under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code on December 31, 2009. (09 B 49463, Dkt. 1) David P. Leibowitz (“Trustee”) was appointed as the Chapter 7 Trustee for this estate and because no trustee was elected at the first meeting of creditors held pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 341, he continues to serve in that capacity in accordance with 11 U.S.C. § 702(d).
2. James Hall (“Defendant”) is Debt- or’s brother and resides in Palatine, Illinois.
3. Prior to the petition date, the Debt- or and Defendant each own an undivided 50% interest of farmland in Garber, Iowa (“Iowa Property”), consisting of approximately 115 acres. Debtor and Defendant own the Iowa Property as tenants in common. That property is not used in the production, transmission, or distribution, for sale, of electric energy or of natural or synthetic gas for heat, light, or power.
4. Debtor and Defendant purchased the farm in 2003 from other family [78]*78members following the death of their uncle. The combined tax basis in the Iowa Property of James and Michael Hall is $178,200.00 (Tr. 126)
5. The parties stipulated that at least 17 acres of the Iowa Property is tillable hill ground. (Jt. Stip. ¶ 16) They also agreed that at least 64 acres of the Iowa Property are tillable bottom ground. (Id. at ¶ 17)
6. Community Savings Bank (“Bank”) holds two mortgages on the Iowa Property and has its principal office in Edgewood, Iowa.
7. Bank intervened in the Adversary proceeding but has since ceased participation in this proceeding after reaching agreement with the Trustee. (10 A 02693, Dkt. 6, Answer to Complaint by Community Savings Bank ¶ 10)
8. On July 14, 2003, Defendant and Debtor borrowed $135,000.00 from the Bank (the “First Mortgage Loan”). Proceeds of that loan were used to buy the Iowa Property. Defendant and Debtor executed and delivered to Bank a note in the principal amount of $135,000.00 (“First Mortgage Note”). (Def. Ex. 2) The First Mortgage Note was secured by a first mortgage on the Iowa Property that Debtor and Defendant granted to Bank on July 14, 2003. The lien on the Iowa Property granted to the Bank by the First Mortgage as attached, is perfected, and remains in effect as the senior encumbrance against the Iowa Property.
9. On February 7, 2012, Defendant and Debtor were personally indebted to the Bank on the First Mortgage Loan in the amount of $95,618.56 (comprising principal and interest). (Jt.Ex.4) Interest continues to accrue on the principal balance of the First Mortgage Loan at the rate of $13.34 per day from and after February 8, 2012. (Id.) The foregoing balance does not include legal fees and expenses incurred by Bank with respect to the First Mortgage Loan as of February 7, 2012, or any future fees and expenses that Bank may incur prior to the conclusion of this litigation and repayment of the First Mortgage.
10. On March 25, 2008, Debtor borrowed $125,000.00 from Bank (the “Second Mortgage Loan”). At this time, Debtor and Defendant each owned an undivided half interest in the Iowa Property. Debtor and Defendant granted a second mortgage note to secure that loan. Defendant signed and delivered to Bank a hypothecation agreement to secure the Second Mortgage Loan.
11. Bank was not willing to make the Second Mortgage Loan unless Defendant signed both the Second Mortgage and Hypothecation Agreement. (Def.’s Ex. 16) (“Community Savings Bank, in granting credit to Michael S. Hall, requires the pledge of the undivided % interest of real estate described herein by James A. Hall_”).
12. The lien on the Iowa Property granted to Bank by the Second Mortgage has attached, is perfected, and remains in effect as an encumbrance against the Iowa Property junior to the lien of the First Mortgage, but senior to all other encumbrances against the Iowa Property.
13. On February 7, 2012, Debtor was personally indebted to Bank on the [79]*79Second Mortgage in the amount of $130,991.58 inclusive of principal and interest. (Jt. Ex. 7) Interest continues to accrue on the principal balance of the Second Mortgage Loan at the rate of $21.27 per day from and after February 8, 2012. The foregoing balance does not include legal expenses and fees incurred by professionals and paraprofessionals employed by Bank with respect to the Second Mortgage Note not applied as of February 7, 2012, or such future fees and expenses that Bank may incur pri- or to the conclusion of this litigation and the repayment of the Second Mortgage Note.
14. Apart from the First and Second Mortgages, and accrued but unpaid real estate taxes, there are no other encumbrances against the Iowa Property.
15. Neither the Debtor, the Trustee, nor Defendant have contested the validity, priority, or extent of the Bank’s claims against the Debtor or Defendant by reason of their promissory note on the First Mortgage Loan, against Debtor by reason of his Second Mortgage Note, or against Debtor, Defendant, or the Estate by reason of Bank’s secured mortgage liens in and to the Iowa Property that arise from the First and Second Mortgage.
16.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
477 B.R. 74, 2012 WL 2497287, 2012 Bankr. LEXIS 2962, 56 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 196, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/leibowitz-v-hall-in-re-hall-ilnb-2012.