Rosebud Farm, Inc.

United States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Illinois·Decided August 21, 2019·No. 18-24763·Unknown

Opinion

ONITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS EASTERN DIVISION In re: ) ) Case No. 18bk24763 ROSEBUD FARM, INC. ) ) Chapter 7 Debtor. ) ). Honorable Timothy A. Barnes FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW IN SUPPORT OF ORDER AWARDING TO MOGLIA ADVISORS, FINANCIAL ADVISORS FOR CHAPTER 7 TRUSTEE, FOR ALLOWANCE AND PAYMENT OF FIRST INTERIM COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES TOTAL FEES REQUESTED: $32,190.00 TOTAL COSTS REQUESTED: $188.22 TOTAL FEES REDUCED: $ 6,370.00 TOTAL COSTS REDUCED: $ 188.22 TOTAL FEES ALLOWED: $ 25,820.00 TOTAL COSTS ALLOWED: $ 0.00 TOTAL FEES AND COSTS ALLOWED: $ 25,820.00 The attached time and expense entries have been highlighted to reflect disallowance in whole or in part. The basis for each disallowance is reflected by numerical notations that appear on the left of each highlighted entry. The numerical notations correspond to the enumerated paragraphs below. (1) Unauthorized Work —- TOTAL of disallowed amounts $ 500.00 The Court denies the allowance of compensation for work done prior to the authorization of retention. In re Spanjer Bros., Inc, 203 B.R. 85, 94 (Bankr. N.D. Til. 1996) (Squires, J.) (“The Court will not retrospectively allow any of the time expended prior to the time of the authorized retention because to do so would be to reward any delay ot tardiness in promptly seeking retention. To allow bootstrapping of objected to fees paid at the expense of unsecured creditors undermines the policy in favor of prompt application for retention by professionals who will be seeking compensation from the bankruptcy estate. See generally 11 U.S.C. § 327 (prerequisite to the allowance of any fees or expenses that professional be employed); In re Peoples Sav. Corp., 114 B.R. 151, 154 (Bankr. N.D. IIL 1990) (‘In the absence of a court order approving the Applicant’s employment, there is no statutory basis upon which the Court can make a fee award.’)”). In this case, the Applicant sought retention only retroactive to November 1, 2018 and the disallowed amounts represent charges prior to the approved effective retention. ‘This reduction is final and will not be available for challenge on a final application. (2) Lumping — TOTAL of disallowed amounts (10% of affected entries): $ 120.00 The Court may impose a ten percent penalty on entries that appear to be “lumping.” The Court will reduce each entry marked as such per the penalty. In re Wildman, 72 B.R. 700, 709 (Bankr.

N.D. Hl. 1987) (Schmetterer, J.) (“Applicants may not circumvent the minimum time requirement or any of the requirements of detail by “lumping” a bunch of activities into a single entry. [citation omitted]. Each type of service should be listed with the corresponding specific time allotment.”). (3) Trustee Work Can Not Be Compensated As Professional Services — TOTAL of disallowed amounts: $ 2,750.00 “The Trustee cannot effectively expand the maximum limits of Section 326(a) by hiring other people to perform his duties for him, whether they are paralegals, attorneys, accountants or other professional persons, and utilize the potentially unlimited scope of Section 330 as a basis for award of reasonable compensation.” Boldt v. United States Trustee (In re Jenkins), 130 F.3d 1335, 1341 (9th Cir. 1997) (quoting In re Prame Cent. Ry. Co., 87 B.R. 952, 959 (Bankr. N.D. IIL. 1988) (Squires, J.}). As noted by the court, the Trustee cannot employ himself in any other capacity other than attorney or accountant according to 11 U.S.C. § 327(d). Additionally, where the Trustee is working with another professional and both are charging for the time, the Trustee is deemed to have done so in his capacity as a Trustee working with a client. (4) Unreasonable Travel Rate —'TOTAL of disalowed amounts (50% of affected entries): $ 3,000.00 The Court dentes the allowance in part of compensation for travel time or entries that are lumped with travel time, where compensation at the normal hourly rate (not the customary one-half discounted rate) is sought without explanation. In re Planter, Case No. 08 B 16883, 2009 WL 1393691 (Bankr. N.D. Ill. May 18, 2009) (Barbosa, J.) (“this Court has routinely held that time spent traveling to and from a location typically shall be compensated at one-half of the attorneys’ or other professionals’ hourly rate.”); In re McKeeman, 236 B.R. 667 (B.A.P. 8th Cit.1999); In re Spanjer Bros., 191 BR. 738, 755 (Bankr. N.D. ILL. 1996) (Squires, J.). (5) Reimbursement Limited to Actual, Necessary Expenses ~ TOTAL of disallowed amounts: $ 188.22 The Court denies the allowance of reimbursement for expenses that were not actually and necessarily incurred by the applicant. See 11 U.S.C. §§ 330(a)(1)(B) & 331. The fee application fails to demonstrate that the requested expenses for in-town travel were beyond the scope of the daily, ordinary expenses incurred in going to work or overhead of a firm. Absent explanation, such expenses ate not reimbursed in this court. fs,

Dated: August 21, 2019 a NES hu Timed ny Baimes > United States Bankruptcy Judge

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Invoice submitted to: Rosebud M.A.

August 6, 2019 PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL

Invoice #12467 Terms: Due on receipt Professional Services Urs/Rate Amount REVI 0.10. 50.00 ADM tract search that may affect saleability and price as part of our duties as financial §00.00/hr. 4¢visors and consultants, and specifically, to pursue sale of the real estate □□ 0.90 450.00 ADM —_Lauren Newman and Ryan Nelson re building information needed; market rate for 600.00/hr. monthly rate (.4); send lease to Ryan and Lauren; keys for bullding; have codes; appraisal, market value vs. agreeable price? (.4) Ryan needs tour of property; Survey? co Ryan and Lauren; Friday visit and follow up notes (.1); all above affect price and saleability of the. real estate and other assets: per our duties to pursue the sale of assets 11/6/2018 Review 1.00 400.00 JG Rosebud BK Filing for background and requirements for work of Moglia Advisors 400.00/hr ("Mogtia") which includes, but not limited to, preference and fraudulent transfer analyses, sell the real estate, trace cash, analyze real estate lease, sale of equipment and pursue causes of action, as stated and defined in retention motion and order 11/7/2018 Review 1.45 580.00 JG lease and lease amendment; understand funds flow and possible rationale for 400.00/hr adjusting rent charges as part of Moglia's duties to analyzeleases

1325 Remington Road, Suite H, Schaumburg, IL 60173 (847) 884-8282 Fax: (847) 884-1188

Rosebud VA. Page 2

Hrs/Rate Amoun' 11/7/2018.

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Rosebud Farm, Inc., (Ill. 2019).

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Related

In Re Wildman
72 B.R. 700 (N.D. Illinois, 1987)
Bachman v. Laughlin (In Re McKeeman)
236 B.R. 667 (Eighth Circuit, 1999)
In Re Peoples Savings Corp.
114 B.R. 151 (N.D. Illinois, 1990)
In Re Spanjer Bros., Inc.
203 B.R. 85 (N.D. Illinois, 1996)
In Re Prairie Central Railway Co.
87 B.R. 952 (N.D. Illinois, 1988)