Spectrum Golf, Inc. v. Chiti (In re Spectrum Golf, Inc.)

350 B.R. 857, 2006 Bankr. LEXIS 2424
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, D. Arizona
DecidedSeptember 22, 2006
DocketBankruptcy No. 02-15894-PHX-SSC; Adversary No. 02-1422
StatusPublished

This text of 350 B.R. 857 (Spectrum Golf, Inc. v. Chiti (In re Spectrum Golf, Inc.)) 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
Spectrum Golf, Inc. v. Chiti (In re Spectrum Golf, Inc.), 350 B.R. 857, 2006 Bankr. LEXIS 2424 (Ark. 2006).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM DECISION

SARAH SHARER CURLEY, Bankruptcy Judge.

I. Preliminary Statement

The Court bifurcated the trial in this adversary proceeding after reviewing the statutory and case law, determining that Nevada law applied to the controversy between the parties, and concluding that Nevada law required a separate hearing to assess the amount of punitive damages once liability had been determined. The parties are referred to this Court’s Memorandum Decision, dated February 21, 2006, and this Court’s clarification of that Decision as stated on the record on May 9, 2006, for a determination of the liability of Mr. Robert Chiti and the reasons therefor. Those Decisions are incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Decision. On July 14, 2006, Mr. Chiti filed a Motion to Strike the testimony and report of Mr. Greco and a memorandum of law in support of the Defendant’s position. On July 14, 2006 and July 24, 2006, respectively, the Debtor filed a memorandum of law in support of the reorganized Debtor’s position and a response in opposition to the Motion to Strike.1 This Decision shall constitute the Court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law pursuant to Fed. R.Civ.P. 52, Bankruptcy Rule 7052. The Court has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to the consent of the parties to enter final orders in this adversary. 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(A) and (O).2

II. Factual Discussion

A. General Discussion.

Mr. Davin Dameron testified that he currently worked with Mr. Chiti at Open-Tech and had previously worked with Mr. Chiti and Mr. Greco at Spectrum Golf from 1999 to 2005. He testified that he enjoyed working with Mr. Chiti and trusted him. Fie noted that everyone working at Spectrum was very aware of Spectrum having filed a bankruptcy petition and, as a result, their jobs might be eliminated. Mr. Greco, from time to time, talked about the ongoing proceedings in the bankruptcy court. Mr. Dameron testified [860]*860that at one point, Mr. Greco became concerned that Mr. Chiti was providing information to, or advising, the Debtor’s general unsecured creditors’ committee as to what action it should take. Mr. Dameron stated that Mr. Greco had advised the Debtor’s employees that he intended to sue Mr. Chiti for tortious interference with the Debtor’s contracts or business operations. Other than testifying as to a stressful environment which probably occurs at most businesses when they file Chapter 11 proceedings, it is difficult for this Court to determine the relevance of such testimony.

Mr. Michael Connolly testified that he had first met Mr. Chiti in the late 1980’s, had kept in contact with him, and had worked with Mr. Chiti on various projects over the years. He is now in business with Mr. Chiti at OpenTech, and while Mr. Chiti is the Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board, Mr. Connolly is the Executive Vice President of Corporate Development. Mr. Connolly is also on the Board of Directors and holds about a 10 percent stockholder interest in OpenTech. He noted that Mr. Chiti was a good friend, a confidant, and he trusted in his abilities.

Mr. Chiti testified that OpenTech had a patent, but it had not been mentioned in a press release nor touted. He noted that OpenTech was a start-up operation, having opened in 2003. He stated that the salary that he drew from OpenTech was minimal, having received $50,000 in salary in the last year.3 He noted that he had a net worth of only $60,659.29, but he also placed no value on his OpenTech stock. He testified, in a self-serving manner, that he had learned from his mistakes at Spectrum. He had taken master of business administration classes, had picked “the right people” to help him start OpenTech, had carefully reviewed the accounting practices to be employed, and had regular Board Meetings at which minutes were taken. He believed that he had “run into difficulties at the Debtor,” because he had trusted people, rather than doing his own due diligence. He felt that he was being punished for doing what he thought was right at the time.

The cross examination of Mr. Chiti reflected a far different picture. Mr. Chiti conceded that he had sold product of his new company in an area where there was no sales person and had “paid himself a commission.” Moreover, Mr. Chiti maintained a spreadsheet on the commissions that he earned, and he wrote and signed the checks to pay himself. These actions were taken by him irrespective of the fact that OpenTech had a treasurer at the time of the transactions. Mr. Chiti conceded that he prepared his own expense reimbursements, that there were no internal controls for the officers, and that although at least one deposit account at OpenTech required a dual signature to disburse funds, no dual signature was required on the officers’ expense account. Quite simply Mr. Chiti could write a check for an improper reimbursement, and no one would know.4 Despite Mr. Chiti’s efforts to portray a man who had learned from his mistakes, the Court came to a very different conclusion. Mr. Chiti had not learned his lesson. He was still acting improperly although a fiduciary, with no adequate controls in place, at his new Company, Open-Tech.

As to the value of his shareholder interest, Mr. Chiti conceded that there had been 15 to 18 separate purchases of Open-[861]*861Tech stock by 15 separate individuals over the last 12 months. All of the shares sold for 35 cents a share. Such testimony indicated that there was a market, albeit for private investors, in the stock.

B. The Value of Mr. Chiti’s interest in OpenTech Alliance, Inc.

The reorganized Debtor called Mr. Damian J. Greco as its expert witness to value Mr. Chiti’s interest in OpenTech Alliance, Inc. Mr. Chiti’s counsel challenged the ability of Mr. Greco to testify as an expert witness in this matter, and subsequently filed a Motion to Strike. First, Mr. Greco has no professional credentials to appraise businesses or any interest therein. He is not a member of one of the appraisal societies, and he is not familiar with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisers. Second, Mr. Greco has not participated in any formal programs to remain current on the methodology, ethics, and the best practices in appraising a business or an interest in a business. Third, Mr. Greco has not been qualified as an expert witness in any court proceedings. Fourth, given Mr. Greco’s current duties as Chief Executive Officer of Golf Switch and the reorganized Debtor, his impartiality as an expert witness could reasonably be questioned. Fifth, Mr. Greco does not use any of the standard approaches to value in valuing Open Tech.

However, Mr. Greco did receive a Masters in Business Administration from New York University in 1971, specializing in corporate finance and securities analysis. Mr. Greco did testify that he had 35 years of experience in valuing or appraising businesses and that during that time he had “appraised 1,000 to 2,000 businesses.” He noted that he used a practical approach to valuing businesses. Although Mr.

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Bluebook (online)
350 B.R. 857, 2006 Bankr. LEXIS 2424, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/spectrum-golf-inc-v-chiti-in-re-spectrum-golf-inc-arb-2006.