Pergament v. Maghazeh Family Trust (In Re Maghazeh)

310 B.R. 5, 52 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 217, 2004 Bankr. LEXIS 641, 93 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2313, 2004 WL 1178353
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. New York
DecidedMay 6, 2004
Docket1-19-40501
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 310 B.R. 5 (Pergament v. Maghazeh Family Trust (In Re Maghazeh)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Pergament v. Maghazeh Family Trust (In Re Maghazeh), 310 B.R. 5, 52 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 217, 2004 Bankr. LEXIS 641, 93 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2313, 2004 WL 1178353 (N.Y. 2004).

Opinion

DECISION ON MOTION AND CROSS-MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

DOROTHY EISENBERG, Bankruptcy Judge.

The Chapter 7 trustee (the “Trustee”) has moved under Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Rule 7056 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure for an order and judgment declaring, inter alia, that a trust set up by the Debtor for the benefit of his two children (the “Maghazeh Trust”) is entitled to the remaining net proceeds from the sale of real property owned by the Debtor in Brooklyn, New York, and that the Magha-zeh Trust is entitled to a portion of the remaining net proceeds from the sale of real property owned by the Debtor in Cutchogue, New York (the “Motion”). The United States, which has federal tax liens on the property located in Brooklyn, and which has claims against the Cutc-hogue property, cross-moves for summary judgment for an order declaring that the Maghazeh Trust is the alter ego of the Debtor and consequently the Maghazeh Trust’s claim in this case has no value by reason of the doctrine of merger and/or because the collateral mortgages on which they are based have been released to the Debtor (the “Cross-Motion”). In the alternative, the United States opposes entry of summary judgment in favor of the Trustee on the grounds that there are genuine issues of material fact with respect to the Trustee’s motion, including whether the Maghazeh Trust’s claim in this case has been satisfied.

Based on the papers filed with the Court and the relevant case law, the Court denies the Trustee’s Motion and grants the United States’ Cross-Motion to the extent that the Court finds that the Maghazeh Trust is the alter ego of the Debtor. Based on this finding, the mortgages held by the Magha-zeh Trust are deemed to be part of the Debtor’s estate without any ownership interest on behalf of the Maghazeh Trust. There are sufficient funds from the sale of both properties which belong to the Debt- or’s estate to satisfy all of the claims of the remaining creditors, including the United States. 1 The following constitutes the Court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law as required by Fed. R. Bankr.P. 7052.

BACKGROUND AND FACTS

1. The Debtor and his Family Relationships.

The Debtor is a physician. The Debtor and Joan Maghazeh were married. Paul Maghazeh, Jr. and Lisa Maghazeh are the *8 Debtor and Joan Maghazeh’s son and daughter. Paul Maghazeh, Jr., as of the date of the depositions, was approximately 40 years old. Lisa Maghazeh was approximately 43 years old. Joan Maghazeh died on August 12, 1991. On October 30, 1992, the Debtor, as grantor, Paul Maghazeh, Jr., as trustee, and Lisa Maghazeh, as trustee, executed a trust agreement titled “Maghazeh Family Irrevocable Trust,” (the “Maghazeh Trust”) effective as of September 17, 1992. (United States Ex. 1). 2 The beneficiaries of the Maghazeh Trust are Paul Maghazeh, Jr., and Lisa Maghazeh. The Debtor has no reversion-ary interest in the irrevocable Maghazeh Trust.

Although there are two trustees of the Maghazeh Trust, either trustee has the authority to act on behalf of and bind the Maghazeh Trust with the consent of the other trustee, which consent need not be in writing. Pursuant to the terms of the Maghazeh Trust, the trustees have the power and discretion to, among other things, borrow funds from any other person, invest in any property, whether real or personal, and extend the time for payment, litigate or settle any debt or obligation. (United States Ex. 1). At various times, the Maghazeh Trust maintained bank accounts at JPMorgan Chase and Citibank, N.A. (Maghazeh Trust Ex. 1).

Upon the formation of the Maghazeh Trust, the Maghazeh Trust became the owner of a Metropolitan Life insurance policy insuring the Debtor’s life in the amount of $1 million. (United States Ex. 2). The premium payments were either paid directly by the Debtor, or the Debtor made deposits into the Maghazeh Trust’s bank account to cover the premium payments due under the life insurance policy. (United States Ex. 36). This life insurance policy lapsed within one or two years as the Debtor stopped funding the premium payments. In 1996, the Maghazeh Trust owned a New England Life term life insurance policy insuring the Debtor’s life. (United States Ex. 3). This life insurance policy lapsed after approximately one year. As with the Metropolitan Life insurance policy, the premiums were paid with either the Debtor’s funds or from funds deposited by the Debtor into the Maghazeh Trust’s bank account. (United States Ex. 36). The only premiums paid for either policy came from the Debtor’s funds. Until February 25, 1997, the Maghazeh Trust owned no other assets.

The Debtor and his two children, Lisa Maghazeh and Paul Maghazeh, Jr., lived together in the Debtor’s Brooklyn residence, and continue to live together. From about 1988 until the present Lisa Maghazeh has lived with her father and has not earned any income. From about 1989 until the present, Paul Maghazeh, Jr. has lived with his father. Paul Maghazeh, Jr. worked for approximately one year for Empire State Diagnostic Laboratories, Inc. (“Empire”) between 1989 and 1990, for which he was paid “very little.” (United States Ex. 39, p. 74). Empire was a corporation in which his father had a substantial interest. Paul Maghazeh, Jr. also worked for approximately one year for his father’s medical practice between 1996 and 1997, for which he was paid approximately $25,000. (United States Ex. 39, p. 74). Paul Maghazeh, Jr. has been working as a broker of ferrous and nonferrous metals, between mid — 2002 to the present. (United States Ex. 39, p. 75).

The Debtor’s records and the records for the Maghazeh Trust are both located at the Debtor’s current residence, and counsel for the Maghazeh Trust has stated that the Debtor’s personal records are *9 commingled with the records of the Ma-ghazeh Trust. (United States Ex. 36, p. 26, 27).

2. The Debtor’s Business Relations with A. Hassan Mohaideen and Jyoti Pirlamarla.

The Debtor, A. Hassan Mohaideen and Jyoti Pirlamarla, were all doctors who entered into a business venture together. The doctors agreed to purchase a building in which to operate a laboratory facility and a radiological facility to treat their patients. The parties formed three entities. The Debtor and A. Hassan Mohai-deen were each 42.5% shareholders in Empire, a diagnostic laboratory, and Jyoti Pirlamarla owned the remaining shares. Empire’s laboratory was situated in the commercial building located at 348-356 13th Street, Brooklyn, New York (the “Mapmot Building”). The Debtor and A. Hassan Mohaideen were each 42.5% partners in Mapmot Realty Associates (“Map-mot”), together with Jyoti Pirlamarla, who was a 15% partner.

3.

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310 B.R. 5, 52 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 217, 2004 Bankr. LEXIS 641, 93 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2313, 2004 WL 1178353, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/pergament-v-maghazeh-family-trust-in-re-maghazeh-nyeb-2004.