Magnolia Portfolio, LLC v. Dye (In re Dye)

502 B.R. 47
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Pennsylvania
DecidedNovember 22, 2013
DocketNo. 1:12-bk-00609MDF
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 502 B.R. 47 (Magnolia Portfolio, LLC v. Dye (In re Dye)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Magnolia Portfolio, LLC v. Dye (In re Dye), 502 B.R. 47 (Pa. 2013).

Opinion

OPINION

MARY D. FRANCE, Bankruptcy, Judge.

Magnolia Portfolio, LLC (“Magnolia”) filed a motion for relief from the automatic stay (the “Relief Motion”) to exercise its state law rights against real and personal property owned by Stanley and Susan Dye (“Debtors”). Magnolia also requested the Court to appoint a Chapter 11 trustee, but only as to the operation of Debtors’ businesses and commercial properties. At the hearing on the appointment of a Chapter 11 trustee, the Court declined to appoint a trustee with limited jurisdiction, but agreed to consider whether cause existed under 11 U.S.C. § 1112(b)(1) to convert the case to Chapter 7 (the “Conversion Motion”). For the reasons set forth below, relief from the stay will be granted in part. The case will not be converted to Chapter 7 pending Debtors’ filing of an amended disclosure statement and plan of reorganization on or before January 1, 2014, which addresses the current status of Debtors’ assets and liabilities. If Debtors fail to file an amended disclosure statement and plan by January 1, 2014 or are unable to confirm a plan on or before April 1, 2014, the case will be converted to Chapter 7.

I. Procedural History

Debtors filed a voluntary petition under Chapter 11 on February 2, 2012. In their schedules, Debtors listed the following assets that are relevant to Magnolia’s Relief Motion:

810 North Hanover Street, Carlisle, PA 170131;
1107 Petersburg Road, Boiling Springs, [50]*50PA 170072;
3B-37 W. North Street, Carlisle, PA • 17013;
801 Sand Bank Road, Mt. Holly Springs, PA 17065;
269 Red Tank Road, Boiling Springs, PA 17007;
29 W. North Street, Carlisle, PA 17013;
90 Salem Church Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17056;
155 Salem Church Road, Mechanics-burg, PA 170563;
1998 International (VIN 1HTSCAAM9WH566338);
1991 International (VIN 1HTSDZ7N2MH317100); and
1998 Peterbilt (VIN 3BPNHD7X4WF467604).

On July 5, 2013, Magnolia filed the motion now before me asserting that prior to filing their Chapter 11 petition, Debtors had defaulted on seven loans originated by Orrstown Bank (“Orrstown”) and transferred to Magnolia after the petition was filed. Magnolia asserts that each loan is secured by specific property and that all loans are cross collateralized by the above-listed assets (the “Collateral”). Magnolia alleges that after the petition was filed Debtors failed to make loan payments when they were due, failed to pay property taxes, and failed to maintain casualty insurance on the properties. Magnolia also asserts that relief should be granted because Debtors have allowed the Collateral to deteriorate and have no equity in the properties. Further, Magnolia argues that Debtors’ business projections demonstrate that they are unable to generate sufficient income to cover debt service. Therefore, Magnolia argues, the properties are unnecessary for an effective reorganization. Accordingly, Magnolia seeks relief from the stay as to the remaining Collateral subject to the automatic stay.

Alternatively, Magnolia argues that cause exists to convert the case to Chapter 7. In support of its request for conversion, Magnolia asserts that the Collateral has decreased in value since the filing of the petition, that Debtors have grossly mismanaged estate assets, and that there is inadequate net income from operations to fund a plan. Magnolia also cites Debtors’ failure to comply with the Court’s May 28, 2013 order directing Debtors to cease operation of the drag strip on the Petersburg Road property.4

Debtors filed an Answer to Magnolia’s Relief Motion on July 19, 2013 averring that they have proposed a confirmable plan of reorganization through which Magnolia’s claims will be satisfied in full.5 [51]*51They dispute that cause exists to convert the case, citing to their compliance with reporting requirements and the sale of the Salem Church Road properties which enabled their largest secured creditor — Mid Penn Bank — to be paid in full. Debtors argue that they are making “regular monthly payments” to Magnolia and that Debtors’ septic business is generating sufficient profits to fund payments to Magnolia. A hearing was held on both the Relief Motion and the Conversion Motion on August 6 and 27, 2013. The parties have filed briefs, and the matter is ready for decision.6

II. Factual Findings

Debtors are a married couple who, at the time of the filing of their bankruptcy petition, managed various residential and commercial properties, including three trailer parks, a drag strip, a car wash, and several apartments. Debtor Stanley Dye also operates a septic service, and Debtor Susan Dye is employed in her father’s business.

Between July 2007 and March 2011, Debtors entered into a series of commercial loans with Orrstown secured by the Collateral. The balance due on these loans as of the petition date was $1,738,497.88. Four of the properties comprising the Collateral were sold or are in the process of being sold. None of the sales produced sufficient proceeds to satisfy, even in part, the loans now held by Magnolia.

A. The Collateral

In the motion now before me, Magnolia seeks relief from the stay to pursue its state law remedies against the following real properties:

33-37 W. North Street, Carlisle, PA 17013 (“33-37 W. North Street”);
801 Sand Bank Road, Mt. Holly Springs, PA 17065 (“Sand Bank Road”);
269 Red Tank Road, Boiling Springs, PA 17007 (“Red Tank Road”); and
29 W. North Street, Carlisle, PA 17013 (“29 W. North Street”).7

These properties serve as collateral for one or more of the seven loans now held by Magnolia. The loan documents require Debtors to make timely monthly payments, to maintain appropriate insurance on the properties, and to pay timely all real estate taxes. The mortgage securing each loan, except one, includes a cross-collateralization provision, which states as follows: “[i]n addition to the Note, this [52]*52Mortgage secures all obligations, debts and liabilities, plus interest thereon, of either Grantor or Borrower to Lender, or any one or more of them, whether now existing or hereafter arising, whether related or unrelated to the purpose of the Note, whether voluntary or otherwise, [and] whether due or not due.... ” See, e.g., Exhibit M-13.8

The first of the four properties that remain subject to the automatic stay is actually two adjacent properties on W. North Street in Carlisle — 33 W. North Street and 35-37 W. North Street. The property at 33 W. North Street is a 2.5 story two-family dwelling consisting of a single two-bedroom unit and a one-bedroom unit. Both units were occupied at the time the property was appraised in November 2011.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
502 B.R. 47, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/magnolia-portfolio-llc-v-dye-in-re-dye-pamb-2013.