M & I Thunderbird Bank v. Birmingham (In Re Consolidated Water Utilities, Inc.)

217 B.R. 588, 39 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 525, 98 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 1223, 98 Daily Journal DAR 1551, 1998 Bankr. LEXIS 108, 32 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 99
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Ninth Circuit
DecidedJanuary 9, 1998
DocketBAP No. AZ-96-1417-MERBO, Bankruptcy No. 93-06643-PHX-GBN
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 217 B.R. 588 (M & I Thunderbird Bank v. Birmingham (In Re Consolidated Water Utilities, Inc.)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Ninth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
M & I Thunderbird Bank v. Birmingham (In Re Consolidated Water Utilities, Inc.), 217 B.R. 588, 39 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 525, 98 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 1223, 98 Daily Journal DAR 1551, 1998 Bankr. LEXIS 108, 32 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 99 (bap9 1998).

Opinion

OPINION

MEYERS, Bankruptcy Judge.

I

The sale of the debtor’s assets pursuant to its Chapter 11 liquidating plan proved more successful than expected, resulting in a solvent estate. The appellant, an unsecured creditor, argues that the bankruptcy court erred in denying it postpetition interest on its claim.

We AFFIRM.

II

FACTS

Consolidated Water Utilities, Inc. (“Debt- or”) filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition on June 30, 1993. Both the Debtor and creditor Jaco Oil Company (“Jaco”) proposed plans of reorganization. Unsecured creditor M & I Thunderbird Bank (“Appellant”) voted in favor of Jaco’s plan (“Plan”). The Plan *590 provided that all of the Debtor’s assets would be sold by auction. The Plan was confirmed by the bankruptcy court.

The proceeds from the sale held on October 16,1995 were more than sufficient to pay all secured and unsecured claims. On November 17, 1995, the Post-Confirmation Agent who had been appointed to administer the estate filed a Motion to Approve Distribution. The Appellant objected to the motion on the basis that it failed to provide for interest payments on unsecured claims. Sue Birmingham (“Birmingham”), one of the Debtor’s limited partners, filed a brief asserting that postpetition interest was not appropriate.

The court heard the matter and denied the objection to the motion. The Appellant appealed the order denying its objection to the Motion to Approve Distribution.

The Post-Confirmation Agent subsequently obtained a court order which segregated funds to pay postpetition interest in the event the court’s order denying interest were to be reversed.

Ill

STANDARD OF REVIEW

The focus of this appeal is whether the Plan provides for postpetition interest. Several courts have held that an appellate court should defer to the bankruptcy court’s interpretation of the confirmed Chapter 11 plan. See Monarch Life Ins. Co. v. Ropes & Gray, 65 F.3d 973, 983 (1st Cir.1995); Matter of Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific R.R. Co., 961 F.2d 1260, 1264 (7th Cir.1992); In re Ranch House of Orange-Brevard, Inc., 773 F.2d 1166, 1168-69 (11th Cir.1985).

Neither the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals nor the Ninth Circuit BAP has ruled on the issue. It may be that deference should not be given under Ninth Circuit case law. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has held that “[a] reorganization plan resembles a consent decree and therefore, should be construed basically as a contract,” Hillis Motors, Inc. v. Hawaii Auto. Dealers’Ass’n, 997 F.2d 581, 588 (9th Cir.1993), and that “[questions of contract enforcement and interpretation are subject to de novo review unless extrinsic evidence was admissible on issues, such as intent.” In re Ankeny, 184 B.R. 64, 68 (9th Cir. BAP 1995).

We need not decide whether we should defer to the trial court’s interpretation of the Plan, since our independent review of the Plan accords with the bankruptcy court’s.

IV-

DISCUSSION

A. Res Judicata Effect of Confirmed Plan

Birmingham contends that the Appellant is bound by the confirmed Plan, which did not give the unsecured creditors postpetition interest. The Appellant argues that the Plan did provide as such, as did Jaco’s disclosure statement.

Pursuant to Bankruptcy Code (“Code”) Section 1141(a), all parties to a confirmed plan are bound by its terms. A confirmation order is a binding, final order, to be accorded full res judicata effect. In re Heritage Hotel Partnership I, 160 B.R. 374, 377 (9th Cir. BAP 1993), aff'd without op. 59 F.3d 175 (9th Cir.1995). As long as due process is complied with, a confirmed plan binds all entities that hold a claim or interest, even if they are not scheduled, have not filed a claim, have not received a distribution under the plan or are not permitted to retain an interest under such plan. Id. A plan confirmation order precludes the raising of issues which could or should have been raised during the pendency of the case. Id.

At the close of hearing, the bankruptcy court concluded that the Plan did not establish a right to postpetition interest. The court stated: “The notion that the plan can be read to support payment of post-petition interest, I think, is strained, especially considering that it was a creditors plan.”

Our construction of the Plan accords with the bankruptcy court’s. Pages 39-40 of the Plan describe the treatment of general unsecured claims. These Class 10 claims are to be paid pro rata after the auction sale. If the auction sale is not held, the Plan provides that the Class 10 claims will be paid “without interest” from the “Distribution Account” after payment of other specified claims. The Plan states: “The *591 Class 10 Claims are impaired pursuant to the Plan.”. Page 2 of the Plan provides: “Any funds remaining in the Debtor’s estate after the payment of unsecured claims will be distributed to holders of equity interests.”

Jaco’s disclosure statement provides further detail. It states: “If there is any inconsistency between the Plan and the Disclosure Statement, the Plan will be, and is controlling.” The disclosure statement éstimates that the allowed or provisionally allowed claims in Class 10 will total $970,000 and distributions to that class will total $650,000 - $700,000. The “Assumptions” section attached to the disclosure statement assumes that the Class 10 creditors will.be paid 69 percent of their total claims.

Neither the Plan nor the disclosure statement distinctly addresses whether general unsecured creditors could receive postpetition interest. On one hand, it could be argued that by specifying that no interest will be paid if an auction sale is not held, the Plan implies that interest will be paid if there is an auction sale. On the other hand, this provision could be construed as demonstrating that interest payments were considered and rejected.

The other cited Plan provisions indicate that there was no intent to pay postpetition interest. The Plan provides that the general unsecured claims are impaired and that equity holders will be paid after unsecured claims are paid, and the disclosure statement estimates that the claims will not be paid in full. These latter statements indicate that postpetition interest was not intended. Viewing the Plan and disclosure statement in toto, it appears that postpetition interest was not contemplated.'

Birmingham also points out that under Code Section 502(b)(2), postpetition interest is not an authorized element of an allowed claim. This point has little relevance. Whether postpetition interest may be included in the amount of an allowed claim is a separate issue from whether that allowed claim may accrue postpetition interest.

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217 B.R. 588, 39 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 525, 98 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 1223, 98 Daily Journal DAR 1551, 1998 Bankr. LEXIS 108, 32 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 99, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/m-i-thunderbird-bank-v-birmingham-in-re-consolidated-water-utilities-bap9-1998.