Rotman Electrical Co. v. Cullen (In re Vappi & Co.)

145 B.R. 719, 1992 Bankr. LEXIS 1555, 23 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 809
CourtDistrict Court, D. Massachusetts
DecidedSeptember 17, 1992
DocketBankruptcy No. 91-13914-JNG; Adv. No. 91-1576-JNG
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 145 B.R. 719 (Rotman Electrical Co. v. Cullen (In re Vappi & Co.)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Massachusetts primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Rotman Electrical Co. v. Cullen (In re Vappi & Co.), 145 B.R. 719, 1992 Bankr. LEXIS 1555, 23 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 809 (D. Mass. 1992).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM

JAMES A. GOODMAN, Chief Judge.

1. INTRODUCTION

The matters before the Court are cross motions for summary judgment filed by the [720]*720Chapter 7 Trustee of the bankruptcy estate of Vappi & Co., Inc. (“Vappi” or the “Debt- or”) and Rotman Electrical Co., Inc. (“Rot-man”). Rotman commenced an adversary proceeding against John F. Cullen (the “Trustee”) and the President and Fellows of Harvard University (Harvard”) in October of 1991. Through its two count complaint, Rotman seeks 1) a declaratory judgment that funds held by Harvard1 are not property of the Debtor’s estate and are subject to a constructive trust or equitable lien in favor of Rotman for the payment of a debt in the amount of $86,8682 or 2) in the alternative, a declaratory judgment that payments received by the Debtor from Harvard on behalf of Rotman are not property of the estate and are subject to a constructive trust or an equitable lien in favor of Rotman. With respect to payments made to and received by Vappi, Rot-man seeks a declaration that the Trustee must pay it out of funds now in the Debt- or’s estate. The relief sought by Rotman is predicated upon the Debtor’s alleged breach of contract and fraud (Count I and Count II of the complaint, respectively).

II. STANDARD FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

Summary judgment is appropriate when “there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and ... the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c), made applicable to this proceeding by Fed.R.Bankr.P. 7056. The party moving for summary judgment must establish “an absence of evidence to support the nonmoving party’s case.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett 477 U.S. 317, 325, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 2554, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). The non-moving party then has the burden of establishing at least one “genuine” and “material” factual issue in order to avoid the entry of summary judgment. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 2510, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986); Garside v. Osco Drug, Inc., 895 F.2d 46, 48 (1st Cir.1990). Where a party responding to a motion for summary judgment bears the burden of proof on the underlying issue, Rotman in this case, that party must establish that specific facts exist to create an authentic dispute. Garside, 895 F.2d at 48.

III. FACTS

On or about July 20, 1989, the Debtor, as general contractor, entered into a written contract with Harvard to renovate Vanderbilt Hall at Harvard Medical School (the “Project”). The written contract entered into between Harvard and Debtor provided, inter alia, that: [721]*721from payments to the [Debtor] on account of such Subcontractor’s Work.” (Contract, General Conditions, clause 9.5.2);

[720]*720a) “On all applications for Payment, the [Debtor] shall indicate the sums of money being requisitioned for payment of [the Debtor’s] principal Suppliers and Subcontractors for each subdivision of Work and shall include therewith a certificate for payment and release of claims in form approved by [Harvard] stating that all such money will be used to pay named Suppliers and Subcontractors as their interests may appear within ten (10) calendar days after receipt of payment from [Harvard]. At [Harvard’s] discretion and upon his [sic] request ... the [Debtor] shall provide affidavits from each of his [sic] Subcontractors which attest to the fact that they have received the previous month’s payment from the Debtor.” (Contract, Modifications to General Conditions, clause 9.3.1.1);
b) “The [Debtor] shall promptly pay each Subcontractor, upon receipt of payment from [Harvard], ... the amount to which said Subcontractor is entitled, reflecting the percentage actually retained, if any,

[721]*721c) The Debtor certify with each application and certificate for payment submitted to Harvard that “to the best of the Contractor’s knowledge, information and belief the Work covered by the Application for Payment has been completed in accordance with the Contract Documents, that all amounts have been paid by the Contractor for Work for which previous Certificates for Payment were issued and payments received from the Owner, and that current payment shown herein is now due.” (Application and Certificate for Payment, AIA Document G702);

d) “Neither the final payment nor the remaining retained percentage shall become due until the [Debtor] submits to the Architect (1) an affidavit that all payrolls, bills for materials and equipment, and other indebtedness connected with the work for which [Harvard] or [its] property might in any way be responsible, have been paid or otherwise satisfied. ...” (Contract, General Conditions, clause 9.9.2); and

e) “The [Debtor] shall, as a condition precedent to final payment, sign a release form stating that the [Debtor] certifies that all payrolls, material bills, and other indebtedness connected with the Work have been paid and, in consideration of all prior payments and of a final payment, [Debtor] releases and forever discharges [Harvard] from all claims, demands, obligations, and liabilities of every kind and nature arising out of or relating to the Contract. [Debtor] will, upon request of the Architect or [Harvard], furnish [Harvard] with statements of Subcontractors and/or Suppliers substantiating prior payments by [Debtor].” (See Contract, Modifications to General Conditions, clause 9.9.5.1).

On or about November 15, 1989, Rotman entered into a subcontract agreement with the Debtor whereby Rotman agreed to perform certain electrical work at the Project, for and on behalf of the Debtor. The subcontract price was $1,540,000, subject to additions and deductions for changes as provided for in the subcontract agreement.

The subcontract entered into between Rotman and the Debtor provided that periodic payments would be made by the Debt- or to Rotman, on account of work performed by Rotman, conditioned upon payment by Harvard to the Debtor of the amount allowed on account of Rotman’s materials and work. The subcontract stated the following:

“[a]n amount equal to 10% of the total amount of the [subcontract] Price shall be retained until final acceptance and approval of the project by [Harvard]. [Rotman] shall have no right to such retainer until paid by [Harvard], Should [Harvard] elect to reduce the retainer, the amount released by [Harvard] shall be paid over to [Rotman] when received by the [Debtor].”

(Subcontract, Art. II, para. 3).

From approximately July 6, 1989 to February 1, 1991, Rotman furnished labor, materials and services to the Debtor and otherwise fully performed in accordance with the terms and conditions of its subcontract with the Debtor. As a result of change orders issued by the Debtor, Rotman’s approved and adjusted subcontract price was increased from $1,540,000 to $1,758,610, as of the date that Rotman completed its work.

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Bluebook (online)
145 B.R. 719, 1992 Bankr. LEXIS 1555, 23 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 809, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/rotman-electrical-co-v-cullen-in-re-vappi-co-mad-1992.