Thomson McKinnon Inc. v. Automatic Data Processing Financial Information Services, Inc. (In re Thomson McKinnon Securities Inc.)

152 B.R. 843, 1993 Bankr. LEXIS 498
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedMarch 11, 1993
DocketBankruptcy Nos. 90 B 10914, 90 B 11805 and 91 B 13820; Adv. No. 92 5155A
StatusPublished

This text of 152 B.R. 843 (Thomson McKinnon Inc. v. Automatic Data Processing Financial Information Services, Inc. (In re Thomson McKinnon Securities Inc.)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Thomson McKinnon Inc. v. Automatic Data Processing Financial Information Services, Inc. (In re Thomson McKinnon Securities Inc.), 152 B.R. 843, 1993 Bankr. LEXIS 498 (S.D.N.Y. 1993).

Opinion

DECISION ON MOTION FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT

HOWARD SCHWARTZBERG, Bankruptcy Judge.

Automatic Data Processing Financial Information Services, Inc. (“ADP”) has moved under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 and Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 7056 for partial summary judgment as to Thomson McKinnon Securities, Inc. (“TMSI”) and Thomson McKinnon, Inc.’s (“TMI”) objection to its three proofs of claim and their amended complaint for turnover of funds allegedly owed by ADP.1 In support of its motion, ADP asserts that there are no material facts in issue. ADP argues that, as a matter of law, the debtors’ objections to its claims must be dismissed. ADP alleges that the claims arise from a series of contracts that it entered into with the debtors. Accordingly, ADP argues this court can resolve the debtors’ objections to ADP’s claims on summary judgment by examining the documents and affidavits submitted with the motion. Similarly, ADP contends that the court should dismiss on summary judgment, the debtors’ turnover proceeding, which is based upon ADP’s breach of a purchase agreement and a data processing agreement that ADP entered into with the debtors. ADP alleges that it is clear from the documents submitted that the debtors have released it from any contractual obligations under the pur[845]*845chase agreement and that ADP has satisfied all of its obligations under the data processing agreement.

The debtors resist ADP’s motion and argue that summary judgment is inappropriate in this case because there are material facts in issue. With respect to their action against ADP, the debtors assert that it did not release ADP from claims arising from certain alleged breaches of the purchase agreement. The debtors also contend that they are entitled to recover funds from ADP because ADP overcharged them under the data processing agreement. The debtors assert that there are facts and circumstances outside of the written agreements which support their turnover action. Similarly, with regard to the objections to ADP’s claims, the debtors assert that there are facts, outside of the written agreements between the parties, which support its position.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

TMI and TMSI have filed voluntary petitions in this court for reorganizational relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in 1990. TMSI was a securities broker that was in the business of trading securities on its own account and on behalf of customers. TMI is TMSI’s parent corporation. The debtors are Delaware corporations with their principal places of business in New York City. Both entities have continued in the management and operation of their businesses and properties as debtors-in-possession pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §§ 1107 and 1108.

ADP is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in East Rutherford, New Jersey. ADP is in the business of providing data processing and related services. ADP filed three proofs of claim against both TMSI and TMI totalling $27,-978,191.02. TMSI and TMI object to these claims pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 502(b)(1). ADP’s claims arise from a series of agreements that it entered into with the debtors. The debtors have also commenced an adversary proceeding against ADP seeking turnover of funds based upon ADP’s alleged breach of these agreements.

Purchase Agreement

On December 1, 1988, the parties executed two separate contracts, a purchase agreement (“Purchase Agreement”) and a services agreement (“Services Agreement”) with a related letter agreement (“Letter Agreement”). Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, TMSI and TMI sold their internal data processing and communication services to ADP. The assets sold by the debtors included various contracts, leases and licenses. The purchase price was $20.5 million. In accordance with the Purchase Agreement, ADP paid $12 million in cash and gave an $8.5 million note (“Note”) for the balance. The Note provided that ADP could set off any amounts due to ADP from TMSI or TMI. The parties agreed that New York law would govern disputes relating to the Purchase Agreement.

As additional consideration for the assets, ADP assumed certain obligations of the debtors. These obligations are listed in a schedule annexed to the Purchase Agreement. The Purchase Agreement limited ADP’s assumption to those obligations which were properly assignable and to those obligations which the debtors could assign without breaching any representation, warranty, or covenant made by the debtors. With respect to those contracts and obligations which were not assignable without the consent of other interested parties, the Purchase Agreement required the debtors to request the necessary consents. The debtors were obligated by the agreement to deliver to ADP a letter from an officer of TMSI detailing the manner and date that each request was made and reporting the status of each request. ADP agreed to indemnify the debtors from “any and all debts, obligations, liabilities or expenses incurred or arising out of any actions or omissions of ADP subsequent to the Closing Date with respect to the Business, or with respect to the Assumed Liabilities ” Purchase Agreement, ¶ 10.-l(b)(ii). The indemnity provision did not cover the initial $50,000.00 of obligations and had certain time limits not relevant to this proceeding.

[846]*846The debtors were required to perform the conditions of the Purchase Agreement in all material respects. The Purchase Agreement gave ADP the right to waive, in writing, the performance of any condition, including the procurement of the requisite consents, without releasing the debtors from liability. Upon such waiver, ADP could proceed with the transaction.

At the closing, the debtors were required to present to ADP any assignments and consents and other instruments necessary to consummate the sale of its data processing assets to ADP. The Purchase Agreement provided that a failure or delay by any party to enforce any right or covenant of the agreement shall not constitute a waiver of the breach of any such covenant or condition.

The parties closed the transaction. However, the debtors had not procured several consents necessary for the assignment of certain leases. The debtors also failed to deliver to ADP the letter apprising ADP of the requests for consent made and the status of those requests. ADP did not waive these conditions in writing.

The debtors commenced this adversary proceeding against ADP seeking turnover of funds allegedly owed by ADP to TMSI from ADP’s alleged breach of contract. The debtors assert that ADP breached the Purchase Agreement because it did not fulfill its obligations under the leases it assumed and it failed to indemnify the debtors in connection with the assumed liabilities as required by the agreement.

The debtors argue that on account of ADP’s failure to meet various obligations under the assumed leases and its failure to indemnify the debtors with respect to certain liabilities, in derogation of the Purchase Agreement, claims aggregating $2,184,374.50 were filed against TMSI.

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Bluebook (online)
152 B.R. 843, 1993 Bankr. LEXIS 498, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/thomson-mckinnon-inc-v-automatic-data-processing-financial-information-nysd-1993.