McDaniel v. American Druggists' Insurance Co. (In re National Buy-Rite, Inc.)

11 B.R. 191, 1981 Bankr. LEXIS 3910
CourtDistrict Court, D. Georgia
DecidedApril 15, 1981
DocketBankruptcy No. 80-00309A; Adv. No. 80-0231A
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 11 B.R. 191 (McDaniel v. American Druggists' Insurance Co. (In re National Buy-Rite, Inc.)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
McDaniel v. American Druggists' Insurance Co. (In re National Buy-Rite, Inc.), 11 B.R. 191, 1981 Bankr. LEXIS 3910 (gad 1981).

Opinion

ORDER

HUGH ROBINSON, Bankruptcy Judge.

The motion of Sumner Communications, Inc. d/b/a Sumner, Inc. to intervene in the instant adversary proceeding brought the matter involved herein before the Court. Upon consideration of this motion, the briefs of the parties and the pleadings on file, the Court makes the following entry.

FINDINGS OF FACT

National Buy-Rite, (“Debtor”), was a corporation engaged in the business of providing buying services to its members. Debtor was required by the law of the State of Georgia to maintain a surety bond payable to the Governor of Georgia to cover any losses sustained by its members as a result of the Debtor’s fraudulent misrepresentation or breach of contract. American Druggists Insurance Company, (“American Druggists”), served as a surety for Debtor pursuant to a contract entered into on August 14, 1979. The liability of American Druggists was limited to $25,000.00. Debt- or was required to deposit $12,500.00 with American Druggists as collateral for the surety contract by the terms of a “Collateral Security Receipt and Agreement”.

Debtor filed a petition under Chapter 7 of Title 11 of the United States Code on January 31, 1980, and William G. McDaniel, (“Plaintiff”), was appointed trustee. On March 19, 1980 Plaintiff commenced the instant adversary proceeding to recover the $12,500.00 security deposit, (“the deposit”), held by American Druggists.

Timothy A. Siler, (“Siler”), claims to have a security interest in the deposit. Siler and Lawrence A. Mabry, (“Mabry”), who allegedly was the vice president and a director of Debtor, guaranteed certain obligations of Debtor. Debtor, Siler and Mabry entered into a security agreement on August 24, 1979 in which Debtor pledged the deposit held by American Druggists as security for the guarantees. American Druggists was notified by Siler in a letter dated August 24, 1979 that Siler and Mabry claimed a security interest in the deposit.

[193]*193Plaintiff claims that the deposit is property which may be used, sold or leased under 11 U.S.C. § 363 and therefore must be turned over to Plaintiff pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 542(a). Siler claims a perfected security interest in the deposit and has requested the Court to order Plaintiff to hold the deposit until such time as it is determined whether or not Siler will sustain any loss as a result of his guarantee. Plaintiff contends that this security interest was not properly perfected and is therefore invalid. American Druggists claims an equitable interest in the deposit and has requested the Court’s permission to retain this fund until all claims under the surety bond have been satisfied in full.

On July. 11, 1980 Sumner Communications, Inc. d/b/a Sumner, Inc., (“Sumner”), filed a motion to intervene as a party defendant in this adversary proceeding pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of Rule 24 of the F.R.Civ.P. Sumner provided advertising and promotional services to Debtor pri- or to the institution of Debtor’s bankruptcy proceedings. To induce Sumner to continue providing services to Debtor, defendants Siler and Mabry guaranteed the indebtedness of Debtor to Sumner. Because the guarantees of Siler and Mabry are allegedly secured by the deposit, Sumner claims to have a direct interest in any actions which might affect the deposits or Siler’s and Ma-bry’s interest therein. There is presently pending in a Georgia state court an action on the guarantee brought by Sumner against Siler.

APPLICABLE LAW

I. Intervention as a Matter of Right

Rule 24(a) of the F.R. of Civ.P. governs intervention of right. To intervene as a matter of right in a pending action a party must demonstrate: (1) a timely application; (2) an interest relating to the property or transaction that .is the subject of the action; (3) the danger that such interest will be impaired; and (4) the inadequacy of representation for his interest. Cohn v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 569 F.2d 909 (5th Cir. 1978). If the potential, intervenor fails to meet any one of these four requirements he may not intervene as a matter of right. International Tank Terminals, Ltd. v. M/V Acadia Forest, 579 F.2d 964 (5th Cir. 1978).

The question of the timeliness is a matter within the discretion of the trial court and is determined from all of the circumstances of the case. United States v. United States Steel Corporation, 548 F.2d 1232 (5th Cir. 1977). In the instant case it appears that Sumner was reasonably prompt in filing its motion to intervene as less than four months elapsed between the commencement of this case and the filing of Sumner’s motion. There has been no final decision on the merits. A motion for judgment on the pleadings filed by defendant Siler was denied by this Court on August 29, 1980, and there is presently pending Plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment. Considering the posture of this case it is unlikely that the existing parties will suffer any prejudice if intervention is allowed other than the inconvenience of having to respond to Sumner’s assertions. Therefore the Court concludes that Sumner’s motion to intervene was timely filed.

Rule 24(a) of the F.R.Civ.P. requires the intervening party to have an interest relating to the property or transaction that is the subject of the action. Although there is no clear cut test to determine the nature of the interest required for intervention of right, the Fifth Circuit has held that intervention requires a direct, substantial, legally protectable interest in the proceedings. United States v. Perry County Board of Education, 567 F.2d 277 (5th Cir. 1978). In Diaz v. The Southern Drilling Corporation, 427 F.2d 1118, 1124 (5th Cir. 1970) cert. denied sub nom. Trefina, A. G. v. United States, 400 U.S. 878, 91 S.Ct. 118, 27 L.Ed.2d 115 (1970) the Court said:

“We do not believe, however, that the interest has to be of a legal nature identical to that of the claims asserted in the main action. All that is required by the terms of the rule is an interest in the property or other rights that are at issue, [194]*194provided the other elements of intervention are present.”

Sumner contends that the alleged security interest of Siler and Mabry in the deposit held by American Druggists was created and exists for the benefit of Sumner. Especially Sumner claims an interest in the deposit as a third party beneficiary of the security agreement entered into by Debtor, Siler and Mabry. The Court must determine whether Sumner is, in fact, a third party beneficiary of the security agreement and whether the status of third party beneficiary would give Sumner a direct, substantial, legally protectable interest in the deposit.

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11 B.R. 191, 1981 Bankr. LEXIS 3910, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mcdaniel-v-american-druggists-insurance-co-in-re-national-buy-rite-gad-1981.