Tri-River Chemical Co. v. TNT Farms (In Re TNT Farms)

226 B.R. 436, 1998 Bankr. LEXIS 1501, 83 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 345, 1998 WL 757253
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, D. Idaho
DecidedOctober 27, 1998
Docket18-01545
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 226 B.R. 436 (Tri-River Chemical Co. v. TNT Farms (In Re TNT Farms)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, D. Idaho primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Tri-River Chemical Co. v. TNT Farms (In Re TNT Farms), 226 B.R. 436, 1998 Bankr. LEXIS 1501, 83 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 345, 1998 WL 757253 (Idaho 1998).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OF DECISION RE OMNIBUS MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

JIM D. PAPPAS, Chief Judge.

I. Background

In this adversary proceeding, Plaintiff TriRiver Chemical Company, Inc., d/b/a UAP *439 Northwest (“UAP”) seeks to establish its priority interest in 1997 crop proceeds as opposed to the other entities that extended credit to TNT Farms (“TNT”). Creditors Dallas Hess, Inc., d/b/a Bio Flora N.W. (“Bio Flora”), Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), John Kunz (“Kunz”), and William Field (“Field”) claim priority over UAP as to some or all of the proceeds. Resolution of these issues became the responsibility of this Court when TNT placed its farming operation in a Chapter 12 proceeding. The outcome of this action will significantly impact the terms of TNT’s proposed reorganization plan. By agreement of the parties, this matter is before the Court on an omnibus Motion for Summary Judgment in which all the parties whose claims are unresolved have joined. Following briefing, the issues were taken under advisement.

II. Facts

The history and events leading up to this complicated priority dispute date far back in time. From the record, the parties do not dispute the following material facts.

UAP extended credit to TNT for chemicals and fertilizer for the 1995 farm season. On July 15, 1995, TNT executed a promissory note for $400,000 evidencing its debt to UAP, together with a security agreement providing UAP a lien on all of TNT’s equipment, machinery, and crops. The promissory note was due and payable on January 30, 1996. TNT failed to pay this obligation when it became due.

On May 17, 1996, UAP agreed to extend a line of credit to TNT in the amount of $497,-000 for the 1996 farm season. TNT signed another security agreement with UAP covering all of TNT's equipment, machinery, and crops. UAP filed a financing statement covering potatoes, wheat, and sugar beets on May 22, 1996. TNT’s obligations under the line of credit were due on January 19, 1997. TNT failed to pay the line of credit.

On July 25, 1996, IRS recorded a notice of its tax lien for delinquent taxes in the amount of $15,656, covering assessments made in March 1995 ($11,318) and March 1996 ($10,893). The taxes are still owing.

On May 20, 22, 23 and 27, 1997, Kunz delivered loads of seed potatoes to TNT. On July 23,1997, Kunz recorded a notice of seed lien in the amount of $45,000 with respect to the seed potatoes. Kunz’s account remains unpaid.

Bio Flora agreed to give credit to TNT for the purchase of agricultural chemicals for the 1997 crops. On May 22,1997, TNT executed a security agreement with Bio Flora covering potatoes and sugar beets, and a financing statement was filed the same day. Bio Flora extended about $216,000 in credit to TNT that year, which amounts are still outstanding.

On May 23, 1997, TNT filed for bankruptcy relief under Chapter 12 of the Bankruptcy Code.

Creditor Field provided chemicals to TNT that were used in production of the 1997 crops, at least in the amount of $18,000. Field filed a financing statement on June 12, 1997, covering wheat and sugar beets.

On July 21, 1997, TNT filed a motion with this Court seeking permission to use cash collateral in the form of the 1996 crop proceeds to operate during 1997. Notice of the motion was sent to all of TNT’s creditors and after a hearing, on August 4, 1997, the Court authorized use on an interim basis by TNT of $78,000 in cash collateral. The Court ordered that as adequate protection for UAP’s interest in that cash collateral, that UAP be granted a first priority lien on TNT’s 1997 crops to the extent of the cash collateral used. Pursuant to the Court’s interim order, TNT and UAP executed another security agreement, and a financing statement was filed by UAP on September 8,1997, covering potatoes, wheat, and sugar beets. On September 12, 1997, the Court entered a final order for use of cash collateral, authorizing TNT to use an additional $19,055.17, for a total of $97,055.17. Again, in order to provide UAP with adequate protection, the Court granted UAP “[a] validly perfected first priority post-Petition lien and security interest in all of Debtor’s 1997 sugar beets, potatoes and wheat....” Order Authorizing Use of Cash Collateral, p. 3. UAP’s cash collateral was never paid back.

*440 TNT’s Chapter 12 case was dismissed on November 5, 1997, when the Court entertained motions by Deere & Company and Case Credit to dismiss the case and found that adequate cause had been shown to support dismissal under Sections 1221 and 1224 of the Bankruptcy Code. At that time, Debtors held 1997 crop proceeds amounting to $383,812. On January 7, 1998, TNT filed a second Chapter 12 petition. UAP and Debtors agreed on February 13, 1998, to pay several land rent claims from the 1997 crop proceeds, with the remainder of the crop money, roughly $278,939.22, to be held in a trust account pending the resolution of the various claims to the funds. However, TNT’s bankruptcy ease was once again dismissed on February 25, 1998, this time pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 109(g). 1

On March 2, 1998, UAP commenced an action to foreclose its various liens on TNT’s assets, including the crop proceeds, in state court. Debtor’s current (third) Chapter 12 case was filed on May 14, 1998. This filing stayed the state court action, and UAP commenced the present adversary proceeding on May 22,1998.

The rights or claims of many of the original defendants to this action have been disposed of either by stipulation between the parties, or through entry of default, as follows: (1) Agri-Service, Inc., and its assignee, Agricredit Acceptance Corporation has entered a Subordination Agreement with UAP (Exhibit “S” to Plaintiffs Verified Complaint); (2) USA Fertilizer has disclaimed any interest in the crop proceeds (Exhibit “T” to Plaintiffs Verified Complaint); (3) Larry Walters d/b/a Jerry’s Oil Company was dismissed from the action; (4) George Hansen executed a Subordination Agreement with UAP (Exhibit “X” to Plaintiffs Verified Complaint); (5) Snake River Farms II, L.L.C. entered into a Stipulation with UAP (Exhibit “V” to Plaintiffs Verified Complaint); (6) Beta Seed, Inc., entered into a Stipulation with UAP (Exhibit “W” to Plaintiffs Verified Complaint); and (7) Default was entered against TNT Farms, Russell Troy Palmer, Trent Leon Palmer, Terrell Kurtis Palmer, Lori Adair Palmer, Janilee Duffin Palmer, Ferrell W. Palmer, Craig Mansfield, and George Hansen. This Decision disposes of the claims of the remaining parties.

III. Arguments

A priority dispute remains as between UAP, IRS, Bio Flora, Kunz, and Field in the 1997 crop proceeds. UAP asserts a priority of interest in the crop money over all other creditors.

With respect to IRS, UAP argues that under the “first in time” priority provided in 26 U.S.C. § 6323(a), it should prevail since its liens were perfected prior to recordation of the tax lien.

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Bluebook (online)
226 B.R. 436, 1998 Bankr. LEXIS 1501, 83 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 345, 1998 WL 757253, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/tri-river-chemical-co-v-tnt-farms-in-re-tnt-farms-idb-1998.