Verco Industries v. Spartan Plastics (In Re Verco Industries)

10 B.R. 347, 7 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 639, 31 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 653, 1981 Bankr. LEXIS 4706
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Ninth Circuit
DecidedMarch 13, 1981
DocketBAP 80-1042-KDH
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 10 B.R. 347 (Verco Industries v. Spartan Plastics (In Re Verco Industries)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Ninth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Verco Industries v. Spartan Plastics (In Re Verco Industries), 10 B.R. 347, 7 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 639, 31 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 653, 1981 Bankr. LEXIS 4706 (bap9 1981).

Opinions

MEMORANDUM OP OPINION

KATZ, Bankruptcy Judge:

On September 24, 1979 Verco Industries, debtor-appellant, entered into an escrow contract with Spartan Plastics for the sale of certain machinery, tools and a building lease, all which were used in conjunction with the manufacture of 25 pound practice bombs. The consideration for the sale consisted of $125,595 cash, $85,000 worth of castings, $36,860 in a prepaid sublease, the assumption by Spartan of approximately $20,000 in outstanding obligations and a promissory note back to Verco in the amount of $37,110. The sale was completed on December 21, 1979 when Spartan received a bill of sale, an assignment of the building lease, and a covenant not to compete.

On July 23, 1980 Verco filed a petition under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. As debtor in possession, pursuant to § 544 of the Bankruptcy Code (11 U.S.C. § 544), Verco sought to invalidate the transfer under California Commercial Code §§ 6101-6111 dealing with bulk transfers and California Civil Code § 3440 relevant to fraudulent conveyances. Verco also sought to enforce the payment of the $37,110 promissory note, pursuant to § 541 of the Code (11 U.S.C. § 541).

After trial the lower court found that the transfers were invalid as against creditors of Verco partly for failure of Spartan to take possession of the property within a commercially reasonable time, as required by California Civil Code § 3440 and partly because of Spartan’s failure to comply with the California bulk transfer laws. California Commercial Code §§ 6107, 6105. Having found that the transfers were conclusively presumed fraudulent under California law the court invalidated the transfer and ordered that the debtor-in-possession shall recover the property for the benefit of the estate under 11 U.S.C. §§ 550, 544(b). The court also concluded that because the transfer of property to Spartan was invalidated, Spartan is relieved of its obligation to pay the outstanding $37,100 promissory note to Verco. Verco has appealed the decision of the trial court assigning as error the order relieving Spartan of its obligation under the promissory note.

The sole issue on appeal is whether a transferor may recover the purchase price under a sale agreement when the transfer has been invalidated by the debtor as debt- or-in-possession in a bankruptcy proceeding. At oral argument appellee conceded that the violation of bulk transfer law was so broad that the entire transfer could have been invalidated on that ground alone. Therefore the issue will be decided solely in accordance with the operation of the bulk transfer law.

It is the appellant’s position that two unrelated causes of action have arisen out of the transaction with Spartan. The first cause of action is that of the debtor to sue for the balance of the purchase price due on the sale agreement under 11 U.S.C. § 541(a). The second cause of action is that of the debtor-in-possession to avoid a fraudulent transfer on behalf of creditors under 11 U.S.C. § 544(b). The appellee contends that where a transfer is invalidated for failure to comply with the bulk transfer laws there is a failure of consideration and the promissory note is rendered unenforcea[350]*350ble. The appellee also argues that the contract is unenforceable because it is a contract made in fraud of creditors. The latter contention of the appellee is without merit and will be dismissed summarily.1 We therefore turn to the first contentions of the parties.

California Commercial Code §§ 6101-6111 provides comprehensive regulation of bulk transfers. Section 6105 places a duty upon the transferee to record and publish a notice containing specified information about the intended bulk transfer. When the transferee fails to give notice any bulk transfer is deemed fraudulent and void against any creditor of the trans-feror. Cal.Com.Code § 6105.

Case law and commentators uniformly agree that as between the original transferor and transferee, failure on the part of the transferee to comply with the bulk transfer law does not render the contract void, nor does it provide a basis upon which to rescind the contract. See Jeffery v. Volberg, 159 Cal.App.2d 815, 324 P.2d 964 (1958); Martinez v. Clemente, 19 U.C.C. Rep. 652 (N.Y.1976); Peter Escalle v. Frank Mark, 183 P. 387 (Nev.1919); 5 A.L.R. 1517, 24 A.L.R.2d 1030; Note, Creditor’s Remedies Under Article 6 of the Uniform Commercial Code — A Fifth Circuit Analysis, 10 Cum.L.Rev. 739 (1980). The reason for this rule is that the bulk transfer laws were enacted for the protection of creditors of the transferor and not for the benefit of the transacting parties. Jeffery v. Volberg, supra, 159 Cal.App.2d at 818, 324 P.2d 964; Cooley v. Brennan, 102 Cal.App.2d Supp. 952, 228 P.2d 104 (1951).

The issue before the court is one of first impression. Case law and commentary however support the view that the transfer- or is still entitled to maintain an action for the price even though the transaction was set aside for violation of the bulk transfer laws. In Jeffery v. Volberg, supra, the court held that a party could not refuse to perform under a contract of sale merely because the transferee had not complied with the bulk transfer laws. In so holding the court stated that the bulk transfer statute does not “preclude the seller from recovering the purchase price of a sale made in violation thereof.” Id. 159 Cal.App.2d at 818, 324 P.2d 964.

In Clifton v. Dunn, 208 Ga. 326, 66 S.E.2d 735 (1951) the court refused to allow rescission of a contract of sale where claims were being made on the transferee by creditors and the bulk transfer laws were not complied with. The court further recognized that even though the contract of sale would not be rescinded the creditors of the trans-feror could reach the transferred goods by garnishment. Apparently the rule we announce today would not be as harsh on non-complying transferees as could be reached in other jurisdictions.2 To hold that a non-complying transferee could refuse to pay the purchase price or be allowed a set-off would seem to defeat the purpose of the bulk transfer laws. There would be no risk in noncompliance because a transferee could always claim a reduction in the purchase price or set-off against creditors for any amounts the transferee had already paid.3 The protection for the transferee is that he is entitled to any pro[351]*351ceeds in excess of all creditors’ claims against the property and a credit against such claims paid to the creditors in the transferor’s bankruptcy. Cornelius v. J. & R.

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10 B.R. 347, 7 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 639, 31 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 653, 1981 Bankr. LEXIS 4706, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/verco-industries-v-spartan-plastics-in-re-verco-industries-bap9-1981.