Securities Investor Protection Corp. v. Waddell Jenmar Securities, Inc. (In Re Waddell Jenmar Securities, Inc.)

126 B.R. 935, 1991 Bankr. LEXIS 666, 1991 WL 79393
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. North Carolina
DecidedMay 10, 1991
Docket19-01003
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 126 B.R. 935 (Securities Investor Protection Corp. v. Waddell Jenmar Securities, Inc. (In Re Waddell Jenmar Securities, Inc.)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. North Carolina primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Securities Investor Protection Corp. v. Waddell Jenmar Securities, Inc. (In Re Waddell Jenmar Securities, Inc.), 126 B.R. 935, 1991 Bankr. LEXIS 666, 1991 WL 79393 (N.C. 1991).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

A. THOMAS SMALL, Bankruptcy Judge.

This is an adversary proceeding to determine the validity of claims against the debtor, Waddell Jenmar Securities, Inc. The trial was held on April 18, 19, 22 and 23, 1991, in Raleigh, North Carolina.

JURISDICTION

On April 10, 1989, the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina entered an order adjudicating that the customers of Waddell Jenmar Securities, Inc. (“Jenmar”) were in need of the protections afforded by the Securities Investor Protection Act. 15 U.S.C. § 78aaa, et seq. The Securities Investor Protection Corporation was appointed trustee for the liquidation of Jenmar and the liquidation proceeding was removed to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. This adversary proceeding to consider the objections to the trustee’s determination of various claims was transferred to this court by an order dated December 4, 1990. This is a “core proceeding” which the court may hear and determine. 28 U.S.C. §§ 157(b)(2)(B) and (O).

*937 BACKGROUND FACTS 1

Waddell Benefit Plans, Inc. (“WBP”) was incorporated in the 1970’s for the purpose of offering pension and profit sharing plan design, implementation and administration. In 1982, WBP became a registered investment advisor with the Securities and Exchange Commission and maintained that registration until 1986.

On March 24, 1988, Waddell Jenmar Securities, Inc., 2 the debtor, was incorporated for the purpose of engaging in the business of buying, selling, brokering, and dealing in stocks, bonds, securities and other investments. On September 19, 1983, the debtor became a registered broker-dealer with the SEC and maintained that registration at all times relevant to this matter. Upon registering with the SEC as a broker-dealer, the debtor was required to be, and was, a member of SIPC.

Jenmar’s powers as a registered broker-dealer were limited by virtue of its small net capital. Pursuant to 17 C.F.R. § 240.15c3-l, the debtor was not permitted to hold funds or securities for customers, was not allowed to owe money or securities to customers, and was not authorized to carry customer accounts. Because the debtor could not hold customer funds or customer securities, the debtor was required to clear all securities purchases and sales for its clients through a clearing broker. At the time the debtor sought registration as a broker-dealer, it was clearing transactions through Pershing & Co. On July 1, 1985, the debtor began clearing transactions through Prudential-Bache-Se-curities, Inc. On July 5, 1985, the debtor was granted authority by the SEC to engage in business as a registered investment advisor and maintained that registration at all times relevant to this matter. WBP terminated its registration as investment advisor effective May 31, 1986.

The president of both Jenmar and WBP was Guilford T. Waddell, III. From 1979 until September 19, 1983, Mr. Waddell was a registered securities principal and sales representative for Integrated Resources Equity Corporation, a registered broker-dealer firm. After September 19, 1983, for all times relevant to this proceeding, Mr. Waddell was a registered securities principal and sales representative for the debtor.

ISSUES PRESENTED

All of the claimants contend that Mr. Waddell, acting through the debtor, Jen-mar, stole their funds or securities and that their losses are insured by SIPC. SIPC readily acknowledges that the claimants were defrauded by Mr. Waddell, but maintains that the claimants were not Jenmar’s “customers” as that term is defined in 15 U.S.C. § mil (2).

Congress passed SIPA in 1970 to protect the assets of investors held by broker-dealers who later become insolvent. See In re Brentwood Securities, Inc., 925 F.2d 325, 326-27 (9th Cir.1991). SIPC, a nonprofit corporation made up of registered brokers and dealers, insures investors who deposit cash or securities with a broker. To be protected, however, an investor must come within the SIPA definition of “customer.” 15 U.S.C. § 78iii(2) provides in pertinent part that:

[t]he term “customer” of a debtor means any person (including any person with whom the debtor deals as principal or agent) who has a claim on account of securities received, acquired, or held by the debtor in the ordinary course of its business as a broker or dealer from or for the securities accounts of such person for safekeeping, with a view to sale, to cover consummated sales, pursuant to purchases, as collateral security, or for purposes of effecting transfer. The term “customer” includes any person who has a claim against the debtor arising out of sales or conversions of such securities, and any person who has deposited cash with the debtor for the purpose of purchasing securities....

*938 SIPC contends that the claimants were not “customers” because the claimants did not entrust either cash or securities to Jen-mar for the purpose of trading, investing or safekeeping.

The claimants contend that they entrusted both cash and securities to Jenmar, either directly, through its agent Mr. Wad-dell, or through its alter ego, WBP.

Although the essential issue is whether the claimants were “customers” of the debtor, other subsidiary issues include whether amendments to claims should be barred as being untimely, whether some of the claimed investments are “securities” as defined in SIPA § 78ZZZ(14), whether the claimed securities are adequately described, whether the Salisbury Animal Hospital Pension and Profit Sharing Plan claim constituted a single claim or multiple claims for each employee, and whether WBP is the alter ego of the debtor.

NUCKOLLS AND EASTERLING CLAIMS

At the conclusion of the trial, the court announced its decision with respect to the claims of Katherine B. Nuckolls and the joint claim of William E. and Ellyn R. East-erling. The court found that Dr. Nuckolls and Dr. and Mrs. Easterling were customers of the debtor and concluded that Dr. Nuckolls had a $50,000 claim for cash and that Dr. and Mrs. Easterling had a cash claim of $50,000 as well. The court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law expressed in this memorandum opinion shall supplement those stated in open court, and, to the extent the findings and conclusions are inconsistent, those stated in this Memorandum Opinion shall control.

Nuckolls and Easterling Facts

Dr. Nuckolls dealt with Mr. Waddell in his capacity as agent for the broker-dealer, Jenmar. She was interested in purchasing U.S. Treasury Notes which are securities as defined in 15 U.S.C.

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126 B.R. 935, 1991 Bankr. LEXIS 666, 1991 WL 79393, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/securities-investor-protection-corp-v-waddell-jenmar-securities-inc-in-nceb-1991.