PMM Investments, LLC v. Campbell (In re Campbell)

490 B.R. 390
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, D. Arizona
DecidedMarch 31, 2013
DocketBankruptcy No. 2:10-bk-26653-SSC; Adversary No. 2:10-ap-01659-SSC
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 490 B.R. 390 (PMM Investments, LLC v. Campbell (In re Campbell)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, D. Arizona primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
PMM Investments, LLC v. Campbell (In re Campbell), 490 B.R. 390 (Ark. 2013).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM DECISION

SARAH SHARER CURLEY, Bankruptcy Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION

PMM Investments, LLC, the Plaintiff, filed its Complaint commencing this action against the Debtors, Robert and Rebecca Campbell, on September 16, 2010. In the Complaint, the Plaintiff asserted four claims for relief against the Debtors under 11 U.S.C. §§ 523(a)(2)(A), 523(a)(4), and 523(a)(6). The Debtors filed an Answer on September 28, 2010. The Court held the trial over a number of days, commencing on January 31, 2012, and concluding on December 13, 2012.1 At the conclusion of the trial, the Court directed the parties to file simultaneous opening and responsive memoranda of law by January 25, 2013, with the matter being deemed under advisement at that time.

In this Memorandum Decision, the Court has set forth its findings of fact and conclusions of law pursuant to Rule 7052 of the Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure. The issues addressed herein constitute a core proceeding over which this Court has jurisdiction. 28 U.S.C. §§ 1334(b) and 157(b) (West 2012).

II. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

In 2005, the Plaintiff, PMM Investments, LLC (“PMM”) through its member, Mike Marsillo (“Marsillo”) made a $1,000,000 capital contribution to Lone [393]*393Mountain Landing, LLC (“LML”), a company formed to develop a condominium project known as Bali Watergardens (the “Project”). Robert Campbell (“Campbell”) and Steve Kurth (“Kurth”) were the initial members of LML. In addition to PMM, New Horizons Villas, LLC (“NHV”), a Kurth entity, and JQC Development, LLC (“JQC”) were to become members of LML. The members of JQC consisted of Robert and Rebecca Campbell, the Debtors herein.

On or about June 10, 2005, Marsillo and Kurth met to discuss an investment in the Project. The Project was to be built at 12th Street and Devonshire in Phoenix, Arizona. However, the real property was then owned by a third party, Sid Rosen or an entity controlled by him (“Rosen”). On July 14, 2005 SC Homes, a company owned by Kurth and JQC entered into a purchase agreement with Rosen, whereby SC Homes and JQC were to purchase the property located at 12th Street and Devon-shire for $7,500,000.00.2 However, this purchase agreement was amended, from time to time, by the parties.

The Restated and Amended Operating Agreement of LML (“Operating Agreement”) was signed on September 7, 2005,3 by Kurth, as Manager of NHV, Robert Campbell, the Debtor, as Manager of JQC, and Patti Marsillo, as Manager for PMM Investment.4 The purpose of LML is set forth as:

[LML] has been formed to own, manage, develop, lease, sell, hypothecate and otherwise deal with real property, and may engage in any activities suitable or proper for the accomplishment of this purpose or any purpose later established by the unanimous vote of its Members.5

The term of the Operating Agreement commenced upon execution of the Agreement, and did not terminate until all Members agreed in writing or until a Withdrawal Event occurred as defined under the Arizona Limited Liability Company Act.6

Pursuant to the Operating Agreement, membership in LML was conditioned on each member making an “Initial Capital Contribution” within the time period required by the Manager. The initial capital contribution of NHV and JQC consisted of the assignment to LML of the Addendum to Escrow Instructions and Real Property Purchase Agreement, dated July 14, 2005 (“Addendum”), whereby LML would have the right to purchase certain real property located at 12th Street and Devonshire Street (the “Property”).7 However, the Addendum was not the final agreement of the parties concerning the purchase of the Property. Rosen and the other parties to the Addendum continued to negotiate as to the terms of the purchase as set forth more fully hereinafter.

Acquiring the Property was important to LML to proceed with the operation of its business. For instance, numerous Kurth entities were required to be utilized by LML concerning the construction of homes, providing architectural and interior design services, and the marketing and [394]*394sale of the homes on the Property.8 These provisions of the Operating Agreement were not to be changed without the unanimous vote of all Members of LML entitled to vote.9 The facts reflect that these provisions were never changed.

Upon the initial capital contribution being made, NHV and JQC would each own 45% interest in LML. The initial capital contribution of PMM was set forth as a cash contribution of $1,000,000 made in full within five months from the date of the Agreement.10 Upon said contribution being made in full, PMM obtained a 10% interest in LML. The Operating Agreement required that the initial capital contribution of PMM be returned to PMM, without interest, within two years of the date of the Agreement. Even after the return of the Contribution, PMM was to retain the 10% interest in LML.11

PMM made the initial capital contribution in five (5) monthly installments, with the first installment payment made on August 16, 2005 and the last on December 6, 2005.12 According to the LML Operating Account Ledger regarding M & I Bank Account No. 33951225 the following payments were made:

August 16,2005 $300,000
September 9, 2005 $150,000
October 10, 2005 $150,000
November 10, 2005 $200,000
December 6, 2005 $200,00013

It does not appear that NHV or JQC ever formally assigned the Addendum or any purchase agreement to LML, as required by the Operating Agreement. Since their membership in LML was conditioned on their making a specific initial capital contribution, it does not appear that either entity ever became an official member of LML.

However, the Operating Agreement stated that the business and affairs of LML were to be managed exclusively by its Manager. The Manager was to “direct, manage and control the business of [LML] to the best of its ability” and had “full and complete authority, power and discretion to make any and all decisions and to do any and all things which the Manger shall deem to be reasonably required to accomplish the business and objectives of [LML]. No member other than a Manager [would] have the authority to act for or bind [LML].”14 The Agreement provided that there could be more than one Manager for LML, yet the Agreement stated that if there was more than one manager, they would be referred to collectively as “Manager” in the Agreement.15

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Lake v. Esposito
D. Oregon, 2025
Gardiner v. Curtis
D. Idaho, 2025
Miller v. Miller
C.D. California, 2025
Kine v. Lliteras
C.D. California, 2023
Koressel v. Bowman
W.D. Kentucky, 2019
In re: ROGER BERNARD McCLAIN
Ninth Circuit, 2017

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
490 B.R. 390, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/pmm-investments-llc-v-campbell-in-re-campbell-arb-2013.