Univ. of Wis. Oshkosh Found., Inc. v. Bd. of Regents of the Univ. of Wis. Sys. (In re Univ. of Wis. Oshkosh Found., Inc.)

592 B.R. 216
Procedural entryThis page is a short order in Univ. of Wis. Oshkosh Found., Inc. v. Bd. of Regents of the Univ. of Wis. Sys. (In re Univ. of Wis. Oshkosh Found., Inc.). Read the opinion of the Court — 586 B.R. 458
United States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Wisconsin·Decided August 29, 2018·No. Case No. 17-28077-svk; Adversary No. 17-02302·Published

Opinion

Susan V. Kelley, Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge

This motion for partial summary judgment filed by the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Foundation, Inc. presents the central question in the Foundation's bankruptcy case: whether the State of Wisconsin is liable to the Foundation based on assurances the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh1 gave to the Foundation. As both parties recognize, this is a breach of contract case, and the outcome turns on whether the contracts at issue violate the Wisconsin Constitution and are thus void and unenforceable.

I. FACTUAL AND LEGAL BACKGROUND

The University's former Chancellor, Richard Wells, wanted to pursue several projects, including the construction of two biodigesters and a welcome and conference center. (Docket No. 37-2 ¶ 2; the "Mulloy Affidavit.") Because of significant University budget cuts, "the Board of Regents encouraged UW campuses to become more entrepreneurial to make do with less." (Id. ¶ 4.d.) Part of this effort involved enlisting the Foundation's financial support to fund the desired projects. (Id. )

The parties structured the transactions so that the Foundation would incur the debt to fund the projects. The Chancellor and Thomas Sonnleitner, the University's former Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services, signed several memoranda of understanding in favor of the Foundation (the "MOU"). In the MOU, the University agreed to cover any deficit incurred by the Foundation on the construction projects, as well as any deficit incurred in the payment of debt service and operational expenses of the biodigesters. Both the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor stated at a Foundation board meeting that they had authority to guarantee debts the Foundation would incur. (Mulloy Affidavit ¶ 8.) Deborah Durcan, the Vice President of Financial Affairs for the University of Wisconsin System, was present when the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor made their promises to the Foundation, and she did *220not dissent or raise any concern about the guaranties. (Id. ¶ 8.c.) The University also provided guaranties to lenders. The Vice Chancellor signed several letters agreeing that the University would make debt service payments in the event the Foundation was unable to do so. According to bank officers, the banks relied on these promises in extending credit to the Foundation. (Docket Nos. 37-4 and 37-5.)

The University and UW-Oshkosh Foundation Rosendale Biodigester, LLC, an LLC the Foundation created to own one of the biodigesters, also entered into a use agreement allowing the University to use the biodigester as a student laboratory. Under the terms of the agreement, the University agreed to pay rent to the LLC, which would assist it in meeting its financial obligations. (Docket No. 37-2 at 13-15.) The University Vice Chancellor signed the use agreement.

When the Foundation was unable to pay its debts, in part because the revenues from the biodigesters did not meet expectations, the Foundation requested that the University honor its commitments. (Mulloy Affidavit ¶¶ 20-21.) The University refused, and the Foundation ultimately filed this Chapter 11 case. As summarized in the Court's prior decision denying the State's motion for summary judgment,2 the Foundation filed this adversary proceeding against the State to enforce the commitments as property of the bankruptcy estate. The State responded with a motion to dismiss, claiming that any obligations allegedly due from the State are void under the Wisconsin Constitution. The Court denied the motion to dismiss, finding an applicable exception in the constitution for "public debt." (Docket No. 18.) The State then filed a motion for summary judgment, which the Court also denied.

The Foundation has now filed the instant motion for partial summary judgment. It seeks judgment on its breach of contract claim, arguing that the University breached enforceable obligations established in (1) the MOU between the University and the Foundation; (2) guaranties made by the University to banks; and (3) the use agreement between the University and the LLC that owned the Rosendale biodigester. According to the Foundation, the Court should use its equitable powers to include attorneys' fees and professional fees in any award. The Foundation also requests that the Court enter final judgment on the breach of contract claim pursuant to Rule 54(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, incorporated in adversary proceedings by Bankruptcy Rule 7054. (Docket No. 39 at 1.) The State does not take issue with the operative facts stated by the Foundation, but vigorously denies that the Foundation is entitled to a judgment based on applicable law.

II. JURISDICTION

The Court has jurisdiction over this proceeding pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1334(b) and the order of reference from the district court entered pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 157(a). The State does not dispute that this is a core proceeding that the Court may hear and determine under 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(E) and (O) as a proceeding for turnover of property of the bankruptcy estate and a proceeding affecting the adjustment of the debtor-creditor relationship. Although the claims in the Complaint are statutorily core proceedings, the bankruptcy court is constitutionally prohibited from finally determining some of them without the parties' consent. See *221Wellness Int'l Network, Ltd. v. Sharif , --- U.S. ----, 135 S.Ct. 1932, 191 L.Ed.2d 911 (2015) ; Stern v. Marshall , 564 U.S. 462, 131 S.Ct. 2594, 180 L.Ed.2d 475 (2011). However, the State consented to entry of final judgment by this Court. (Docket No. 4 at 1.)

III. DISCUSSION

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Univ. of Wis. Oshkosh Found., Inc. v. Bd. of Regents of the Univ. of Wis. Sys. (In re Univ. of Wis. Oshkosh Found., Inc.), 592 B.R. 216 (Wis. 2018).

592 B.R. 216 (Univ. of Wis. Oshkosh Found., Inc. v. Bd. of Regents of the Univ. of Wis. Sys. (In re Univ. of Wis. Oshkosh Found., Inc.)) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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