Louis John Capra

United States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Illinois·Decided January 28, 2020·No. 19-15935·Unknown

Opinion

UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS EASTERN DIVISION IN RE: ) Bankruptcy No. 19 B 15935 } Chapter 11 LOUIS JOHN CAPRA, ) Judge Donald R. Cassling Debtor.

MEMORANDUM OPINION Once cause to dismiss or convert a case under 11 U.S.C. § 1112(b) has been established, the Court’s choice between these two remedies must be based on its determination of which remedy “is in the best interests of creditors and the estate.” But when the major creditors are sharply divided on which remedy is more appropriate, what additional factors should the Court consider? Here, the Court concludes that its mandate to protect the “best interests of the estate” includes protection of the bankruptcy process itself. The Court further concludes that its mandate to protect the “best interests of creditors” includes ensuring that all creditors within a particular class are treated equally. For the reasons below, consideration of these two factors leads the Court to conclude that conversion is preferable to dismissal. JURISDICTION The Court has jurisdiction to hear and determine this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1334(a). This matter is a core proceeding in which the Court may enter a final order under 28 U.S.C. § 157 (b)(2)(A) because it is a matter concerning the administration of a bankruptcy estate. FACTS AND BACKGROUND The relevant facts are undisputed. All parties, including the Debtor, agree that ample cause

exists under § 1112(b) to either dismiss or convert this case.! The parties disagree, however, about which of these remedies better serves the interests of the creditors and the estate. The Debtor and two creditors support dismissal of his case, while the United States Trustee (the “UST”) and two other creditors support conversion. The Debtor, representing himself, filed his Chapter 11 case on June 4, 2019. (Dkt. No. 1.) He did so because he mistakenly believed that his bankruptcy filing would automatically lead to the removal of a state-court receiver who had been appointed over one of his properties during litigation with McCormick 106 LLC, one of his creditors in these bankruptcy proceedings. (Hearing Transcript p. 17, line 20 through p. 18, line 1.} As discussed below, the Debtor then repeatedly filed inaccurate, incomplete, and sometimes contradictory schedules and forms with the Court, sold two of his luxury automobiles without Court authorization or notice to creditors, failed to put the proceeds from one of those sales in his debtor-in-possession account, and misstated the number of creditors and the nature of their claims. The Debtor Repeatedly Filed Incomplete and Inaccurate Schedules The Debtor filed the first version of his Schedules on June 30, 2019 (the “First Schedules”), after he had retained a bankruptcy attorney. (Dkt. No. 39.) These Schedules contained many significant errors: 1, The Debtor swore that he owned only two parcels of real estate: a single-family home in Bartlett, Illinois valued at $437,500 and property on Creekview Road in Rockford, Hlinois valued at $1,750,000. (d., Schedule A/B.) As discussed below, this list was significantly incomplete. 2. The Debtor also said that he only owned three vehicles: (i) a 2007 Ferrari valued at $100,000 (the “Ferrari”); (ii) a 2006 Bentley valued at $30,000 (the “Bentley”); and

The facts described are mainly drawn from the UST’s motion to dismiss or convert the case (Dkt. No. 128) and supplemented by materials from the docket in this case. The Court held a hearing on the UST’s motion to convert or dismiss on December 10, 2019. No party requested an evidentiary hearing and all the relevant facts are before the Court. See in re Aurora Memory Care, LLC, 589 B.R. 631, 634 (Bankr. N_D. Ill. 2018) (citing Jn re Bartle, 560 F.3d 724, 729 (7th Cir. 2009)).

(ii) a 2015 Honda Accord valued at $10,000 (/d.) This listing was also seriously incomplete. 3. The Debtor listed $2,500 worth of miscellaneous jewelry. (/d.) The jewelry turned out to be worth nearly ten times that amount. (See Dkt. No. 115.) 4. Finaily, in the First Schedule G, the Debtor said he was not a party to any unexpired leases or executory contracts. (Dkt. No. 39, Schedule G.) That was not true. (See Dkt. No. 115.) On September 19, 2019, the Debtor tried again, filing substantial amendments to his First Schedules (the “Second Schedules”). (Dkt. No. 98). The Second Schedules added several significant property interests that he had failed to include in the First Schedules, including real estate in Loves Park, Illinois valued at $100,000; a Rolls Royce valued at $77,450; and $4,375 worth of previously undisclosed firearms. (/d., Schedule A/B.} The Debtor also admitted that the true value of his miscellaneous jewelry was $24,870, not the $2,500 he had stated in his First Schedules. (/d.) These changes resulted in an increase of $204,195 in the value of his property.

But the Debtor was not yet done. On October 10, 2019, he again significantly amended his schedules (the “Third Schedules”). (Dkt. No. 115.) This time, the Debtor listed ownership interests in four additional parcels of property worth a combined $2,605,000. U/d., Schedule A/B.) The Debtor Sold Property Without the Court’s Permission After Filing But failing to accurately and completely list his assets was not the worst of the Debtor's bankruptcy sins. On September 11, 2019, the Debtor revealed at the creditors’ meeting that he had sold two luxury vehicles for over $100,000 after he filed bankruptcy but without the Court’s authorization or prior knowledge. (Dkt. No. 28, 49.) The Debtor sold his Rolls Royce, property

* The newly disclosed properties are 810 Morse, Schaumburg, Illinois, valued at $725,000; 1603-1617 Overdene Avenue, Rockford, Illinois, valued at $865,000; 3319-3327 Sun Valley Terrace, Rockford, Illinois, valued at $700,000; and 2312 North Rockton Avenue, Rockford, Illinois, valued at $315,000. The total value of those properties is $2,605,000.

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