Majors v. Capitol Chevrolet Co. (In Re Majors)

19 B.R. 275, 6 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 545, 1982 Bankr. LEXIS 4472
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Tennessee
DecidedMarch 29, 1982
DocketBankruptcy No. 381-02486, Adv. No. 382-0056
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 19 B.R. 275 (Majors v. Capitol Chevrolet Co. (In Re Majors)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Tennessee primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Majors v. Capitol Chevrolet Co. (In Re Majors), 19 B.R. 275, 6 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 545, 1982 Bankr. LEXIS 4472 (Tenn. 1982).

Opinion

*277 MEMORANDUM

GEORGE C. PAINE, II, Bankruptcy Judge.

This adversary proceeding was commenced by the debtors Roy Lee and Mary Thompson Majors’ complaint to compel the defendant, Capitol Chevrolet Company (hereinafter “Capitol Chevrolet”), to turnover a 1972 Chevrolet Nova automobile owned by the debtors. Capitol Chevrolet is currently holding the automobile to secure payment for repairs to the automobile in the amount of $468.00. Capitol Chevrolet opposes the debtors’ complaint, contending that the automobile is subject to the defendant’s mechanics’ lien and therefore may be retained until the bill for the repairs is paid or the debtors offer to adequately protect the defendant’s lien in the automobile. Capitol Chevrolet further contends that it did not receive notice of the debtors’ bankruptcy proceedings until after the confirmation of the debtors’ Chapter 13 plan. A hearing on this matter was held on February 8, 1982. Upon consideration of the proof presented at this hearing, stipulations, exhibits and the entire record, the court finds that the defendant should turnover the automobile in question to the debtors pursuant to the provisions of 11 U.S.C. § 1327(b).

The following shall constitute findings of fact and conclusions of law pursuant to Rule 752 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure.

In June of 1981, the debtors delivered their 1972 Chevrolet Nova automobile to Capitol Chevrolet for repair work. The cost of the repairs to the automobile totaled approximately $465.93. The debtors subsequently filed a Chapter 13 petition in this court on August 4, 1981. In their Statement of Schedules and Affairs, the debtors listed Capitol Chevrolet as a secured creditor in the amount of $468.00. The name and address of Capitol Chevrolet was also listed on the xerox typing matrix used by the Bankruptcy Court Clerk’s office to identify all parties who are to receive notice of any events occurring in the bankruptcy case.

On August 19, 1981, the court issued the order and notice for the debtors’ meeting of creditors and the confirmation hearing on the debtors’ Chapter 13 plan pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 342 and Rule 13-203 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure. The court records indicate that Capitol Chevrolet was sent a copy of this notice. The meeting of creditors and confirmation hearing were held successively on September 15, 1981. Capitol Chevrolet was not present at either hearing.

The court issued an order confirming the debtors’ Chapter 13 plan on September 15, 1981. The plan provided that Capitol Chevrolet’s secured claim would be paid in full by cash payments in the amount of $20.00 per month. The plan also provided that Capitol Chevrolet would retain its lien in the debtors’ automobile pursuant to 11 U.S.C. 1325(a)(5)(B)(i).

On October 13, 1981, the debtors’ attorney made a written request upon Capitol Chevrolet to return the automobile to the debtors. Capitol Chevrolet has refused to comply with this request.

This matter is now before the court for final resolution.

Capitol Chevrolet initially asserts that it failed to receive notice of the debtors’ bankruptcy proceedings until after the confirmation of the debtors’ Chapter 13 plan. The record discloses, however, that the debtors correctly listed the defendant’s name and address in their bankruptcy schedules. This same name and address was included on the xerox typing matrix provided by the debtors’ attorney for use by the Bankruptcy Court Clerk’s office in mailing notices to the debtors’ creditors. The record further reveals that the order and notice for the debtors’ meeting of creditors and confirmation hearing was mailed to Capitol Chevrolet on August 19,1981. This mailing was in conformity with Bankruptcy Rule 13-203, which requires the court to give all creditors at least ten days’ notice of the meeting of creditors and the confirmation hearing. Finally, there is no indication that the letter sent to Capitol Chevrolet was returned to the court as undeliverable.

*278 Rule 906(e) of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure specifically provides that “service of notice by mail is complete upon mailing.” Notice in a Chapter 13 proceeding is sufficient if it is reasonably designed to bring the matter in question to the creditor’s attention. The actual receipt of notice by the creditor is not necessary. North American Car Corp. v. Peerless Weighing & Vending Machine Corp., 143 F.2d 938, 941 (2d Cir. 1944); In re Torres, 15 B.R. 794, 796 (Bkrtcy.E.D.N.Y.1981). Notice was therefore effectuated upon the mailing of the August 19, 1981, order to Capitol Chevrolet.

In any event, the law is well established that a timely and accurate mailing, such as in this case, raises a rebuttable presumption that the mailed material was received. Hagner v. United States, 285 U.S. 427, 430, 52 S.Ct. 417, 418, 76 L.Ed. 861 (1932); In Re Nimz Transportation, Inc., 505 F.2d 177, 179 (7th Cir. 1974); American Family Insurance Group v. Gumieny, 8 B.R. 602, 604 (Bkrtcy.E.D.Wis.1981); In the Matter of Heyward, 15 B.R. 629, 632 (Bkrtcy.E.D.N.Y.1981); In re Torres, 15 B.R. at 797. Capitol Chevrolet’s mere assertion that they did not receive notice is insufficient to rebut this presumption. In re Torres, 15 B.R. at 797.

Capitol Chevrolet next asserts that it is entitled to retain possession of the debtors’ automobile until either the debtors’ bill is paid or the debtors offer adequate protection for Capitol Chevrolet’s lien on the vehicle. The debtors’ plan, which was confirmed by this court on September 15, 1981, specifically provided that Capitol Chevrolet would have a lien on the debtors’ automobile and that the debtors would pay Capitol Chevrolet $20.00 per month until the creditor’s claim was fully paid. Pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 1327, Capitol Chevrolet is bound by the provisions of this confirmed plan regardless of whether it objects to, accepts or rejects the plan.

Even if Capitol Chevrolet had been present at the confirmation hearing, it could not have prevented the confirmation of the debtors’ plan.

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Bluebook (online)
19 B.R. 275, 6 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 545, 1982 Bankr. LEXIS 4472, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/majors-v-capitol-chevrolet-co-in-re-majors-tnmb-1982.