Shurn v. Gilbert (In re Gulf Coast Glass & Erection Co.)

484 B.R. 685, 2013 WL 125761, 2013 Bankr. LEXIS 135, 57 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 130
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. Texas
DecidedJanuary 10, 2013
DocketBankruptcy No. 10-33933-H2-11; Adversary No. 12-03145
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 484 B.R. 685 (Shurn v. Gilbert (In re Gulf Coast Glass & Erection Co.)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Shurn v. Gilbert (In re Gulf Coast Glass & Erection Co.), 484 B.R. 685, 2013 WL 125761, 2013 Bankr. LEXIS 135, 57 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 130 (Tex. 2013).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION ON THE PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND THE DEFENDANT’S RESPONSE TO TRUSTEE’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

[Adv. Doc. Nos. 33 & 34]

JEFF BOHM, Chief Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION

Steve Shurn (the Liquidating Trustee) of the Gulf Coast Glass & Erection Co., Inc. d/b/a Vision Products & Design Creditors Liquidating Trust (the Liquidating Trust) brings this Motion for Summary Judgment. The Liquidating Trustee alleges that under 11 U.S.C. § 547, $26,700 transferred to Bobby G. Gilbert, Sr. (Gilbert) before Gulf Coast Glass & Erection Co., Inc. (the Debtor) filed for bankruptcy is an avoidable preferential transfer.

The Court issues this Memorandum Opinion to address Gilbert’s argument in response. Gilbert contends that by granting him an allowed claim of $225,000 (Allowed Claim) in the confirmed Second Liquidating Chapter 11 Plan (the Plan), 11 U.S.C. § 502(d) operates to destroy the Liquidating Trustee’s right to pursue any voidable transfer actions. Section 502(d)1 states that “the court shall disallow any claim of any entity ... [that is] a transferee of a transfer avoidable under section ... 547 ... of this title, unless such entity or transferee has paid the amount, or turned over any such property....” The interpretation of this section is a novel issue in the Fifth Circuit. Gilbert argues that this Court should adopt the minority interpretation, and hold that § 502(d) extinguishes any preferential actions against a creditor once that creditor’s claim is [687]*687allowed. This interpretation, however, has been highly criticized, and this Court finds that arguments in favor of the majority rule are more practical and reasoned. The Court therefore declines to adopt the minority approach to § 502(d).

Finally, because the Liquidating Trustee has established each element under 11 U.S.C. § 547(b), there are no genuine issues of material fact remaining. Accordingly, the Court concludes that the Liquidating Trustee’s Motion for Summary Judgment should be granted. Based upon the entire record, the Court now makes the following written Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law pursuant to Fed. R.Civ.P. 52, as incorporated into adversary proceedings by Fed. R. Bankr.P. 7052.2

II. Findings of Fact

1.From May 18, 2009 to April 30, 2010, Gilbert received the following payments from the Debtor’s bank account held at Amegy Bank (the Preferential Transfers):

Amount Check No. Transfer No. Date

$2,225.00 27513 5/18/09

2,225.00 9075 07/27/09

$2,225.00 9120 07/27/09

$2,225.00 9452 08/24/09

$2,225.00 9690 09/18/09

$2,225.00 9928 10/22/09

$2,225.00 10231 12/04/09

$2,225.00 10463 01/14/10

$2,225.00 10395 01/19/10

$2,225.00 10710 10 02/17/10

$2,225.00 10884 11 03/30/10

$2,225.00 11052 12 04/30/10

[Adv. Doc. No. 33 at p. 3-4, ¶ 6].

2.Gilbert is the father of Bobby Gilbert, Jr. who is married to Lori Ellis. Both Lori Ellis and Bobby Gilbert Jr. were officers of the Debtor at the time the Preferential Transfers were made. [Id. at p. 4, ¶ 7]; [Adv. Doc. No. 11]; [Adv. Doc. No. 15 at p. 2-3, ¶ 5].

3.The Preferential Transfers were in payment for a debt to Gilbert, which was an antecedent debt owed before the Preferential Transfers were made. [Adv. Doc. No. 11]; [Adv. Doc. No. 15 at p. 2-3, ¶ 5], The Preferential Transfers were also made while the Debtor was insolvent.3 [Adv. Doc. No. 33, Ex. D].

[688]*6884. On May 7, 2010, the Debtor filed a voluntary petition under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. [Main Case Doc. No. 1]. Thus, all of the Preferential Transfers were made within one year before the Debtor filed its bankruptcy petition.

5. On October 12, 2010, Gilbert filed an unsecured proof of claim in the amount of $447,225.00, to which the Debtor did not object. [Main Case Claim No. 57].

6. On June 28, 2011, the Liquidating Trustee filed the Plan. [Main Case Doc. No. 359].

7. On July 15, 2011, Gilbert filed an objection to the confirmation of the Plan. Gilbert asserted that the Plan proposed treatment of his claim which favored the other unsecured creditors, and that the Liquidating Trustee had given Gilbert different treatment “to gerrymander affirmative votes.” [Main Case Doc. No. 377],

8. The parties entered negotiations and came to an agreement (the Settlement Agreement). On August 8, 2011, the Court entered a confirmation order (the Order), which resolved the objections made by Gilbert and other parties, and also confirmed the Plan. [Main Case Doc. No. 399-1]. Gilbert’s attorney, among others, expressly signed the Order.

9. In Paragraph 19 of the Order, the Court found that:

Class 7 consists of the Allowed Claim of Bobby Gilbert, Sr. The Plan provides that the Class 7 Claim shall receive no distribution under the Plan. The Class 7 Claim is impaired and filed an objection to the plan and rejected the Plan. Prior to the confirmation hearing, an agreement was reached between the parties resolving the objection and which provides for the following treatment of the Class 7 Claims of Bobby Gilbert, Sr.:
i) Bobby Gilbert Sr. shall be allowed a claim in the amount of $225,000 [i.e., the Allowed Claim], which shall not limit or affect any non-debtor, also liable on the debt due Bobby Gilbert, Sr.;
ii) The Class 7 Allowed Claim shall be paid a total of 75% (the same treatment as the Class 4 Allowed Claims), without interest in the manner provided below;
iii) The Class 7 Allowed Claim shall remain subordinated to the SB A Note with Amegy Bank in accordance with the Subordination Agreement executed by Bobby Gilbert, Sr.;
iv) The holder of the Class 7 Allowed Claim shall receive no distribution of any kind on the Class 7 Allowed Claim until such time as Amegy Bank has confirmed in writing that the SBA Note has been paid in full;
v) The holder of the Class 7 Allowed Claim shall not be entitled to take any action to enforce the Class 7 Allowed Claim until such time that [689]*689it is confirmed in writing that the SBA Note is paid in full;
vi) Sixty (60) days after written confirmation from Amegy Bank that the SBA Note has been paid in full, which is expected to be 60 months after the Effective Date, Purchaser shall commence making equal monthly payments to Gilbert, Sr. with respect to his Class 7 Allowed Claim, in an amount sufficient to pay 75% of the Class 7 Allowed Claim by no later than the maturity date of Creditor Trust Promissory Note which is January 12, 2020;

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Bluebook (online)
484 B.R. 685, 2013 WL 125761, 2013 Bankr. LEXIS 135, 57 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 130, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/shurn-v-gilbert-in-re-gulf-coast-glass-erection-co-txsb-2013.