Zink v. Vanmiddlesworth

300 B.R. 394, 2003 WL 22255828
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. New York
DecidedSeptember 30, 2003
DocketNos. 5:02-CV-1101, 5:02-CV-1102
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 300 B.R. 394 (Zink v. Vanmiddlesworth) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Zink v. Vanmiddlesworth, 300 B.R. 394, 2003 WL 22255828 (N.D.N.Y. 2003).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM-DECISION AND ORDER

MORDUE, District Judge.

BACKGROUND

Presently before this Court are appeals by Robert and Ruth Zink from a Memorandum-Decision and Order signed by Hon. Robert E. Littlefield, Jr., United States Bankruptcy Judge, on August 1, 2002, in two bankruptcy cases, In re William G. Vanmiddlesworth, Jr. (Bankr. No. 02-12746), and In re Frank F. Vanmiddlesworth, Jr., (Bankr. No. 02-12747). The Vanmiddlesworths, cotenants of a dairy farm, are proceeding under Chapter 12 of the Bankruptcy Code, which provides for reorganization of family farms and permits debtors to operate their farms during the proceedings.

The Zinks moved in both cases for adequate protection and lifting of the stay under 28 U.S.C. §§ 157(a), (b)(1), (b)(2)(G) and 1334(b), relative to the Zinks’ purchase-money security interest in 54 head of cattle sold by the Zinks to the Vanmid-dlesworths pursuant to a promissory note and security agreement. Prior to the transaction with the Zinks, Frank Vanmid-dlesworth had signed a security agreement [396]*396covering after-acquired livestock in favor of Marine Midland Bank, the predecessor of HSBC Bank USA (“HSBC”). In the August 1, 2002 order which is now before this Court, Judge Littlefield addressed the interests of both William and Frank Van-middlesworth and held that although the Zinks have a purchase-money security interest in the 54 cows, they did not achieve “livestock purchase-money security interest priority” over HSBC, at least not with regard to Frank Vanmiddlesworth’s interest. He further held that with respect to both Vanmiddlesworths, the Zinks had not demonstrated their entitlement to an order conditioning the use of the collateral on adequate protection payments or terminating the automatic stay. Accordingly, he denied the motions.

Subsequent to the issuance of Judge Littlefield’s August 1, 2002 decision, the Vanmiddlesworths brought an adversary proceeding against the Zinks seeking to avoid their security interest on the ground that it constitutes a preference under 11 U.S.C. § 547(b)(4)(A). The trustee moved to dismiss the Vanmiddlesworths’ bankruptcy cases for failure timely to file proposed plans under 11 U.S.C. § 1221. The trustee’s dismissal motion was settled, giving the Vanmiddlesworths additional time to file an appeal after the determination of the appeal herein and the adversary proceeding.

District Court has jurisdiction over the appeals pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 158(a)(1). In this circuit, an order denying a motion to lift a stay is final and appealable, see In re Megaro-Racine Assocs., Inc., 102 F.3d 671, 675 (2d Cir.1996), as is an order denying a motion for adequate protection. See, e.g., In re O’Connor, 808 F.2d 1393 (10th Cir.1987).

Upon review, a district court may set aside findings of fact made in a bankruptcy case only if they are “clearly erroneous.” Fed. R. Bankr.Pro. 8013. Bankruptcy court’s conclusions of law are subject to de novo review. See In re McLean Indus., Inc., 30 F.3d 385, 387 (2d Cir.1994). And matters vested in bankruptcy court’s discretion — such as whether to grant adequate protection or to lift the automatic stay — are reviewed for abuse of discretion. See Capital Communications Fed. Credit Union v. Boodrow, 126 F.3d 43, 47 (2d Cir.1997); In re Sonnax Indus., Inc., 907 F.2d 1280, 1286 (2d Cir.1990).

THE ORDER ON APPEAL

In addressing the motions for adequate protection or termination of the automatic stay, Judge Littlefield first found that the Zinks have a purchase-money security interest in the 54 cows. Applying N.Y.U.C.C. § 9-324(d) and (e), he held, however, that the Zinks did not achieve “livestock purchase-money security interest priority” over HSBC with regard to the interest of Frank Vanmiddlesworth. In reaching these conclusions, Judge Lit-tlefield made the following factual findings, based largely on the stipulation of facts filed by the parties and the bankruptcy petitions and schedules filed by the Van-middlesworths:

On or about April 7, 1998, Debtor Frank F. Vanmiddlesworth, Jr. signed a security agreement in favor of Marine Midland Bank (“MMB”). The security agreement states that it includes dairy cattle “now owned or hereafter owned or acquired by Debtor.” That same day he also signed a second security agreement in favor of MMB, assigning to it all his accounts, general intangibles and chattel paper. On or about April 13, 1998, MMB filed a UCC-1 financing statement in the St. Lawrence County Clerk’s Office. The financing statement states that it covers all cattle, equipment, supplies, accounts, general intan[397]*397gibles and chattel paper “now owned or hereinafter acquired, wherever located.” On or about May 7, 2001, Debtor Frank F. Vanmiddlesworth, Jr. and Debtor William G. Vanmiddlesworth, Jr., his brother, signed a document entitled “Optional Advance Time or Demand Grid Note” (“grid note 1”) in favor of HSBC Bank USA (“HSBC”)1 in the amount of $10,000. They signed another grid note on or about August 7, 2001 (“grid note 2”). Grid note 2 was in the amount of $431,000.
On or about November 26, 2001, the Debtors executed a contract to purchase 54 cows from the Zinks. On that same day, they also signed a promissory, note and a security agreement in favor of the Zinks. The sales contract places a unit value price of $1,700 on 52 of the cows, $800 for cow with identification #492 and $600 for cow with identification # 471. The security agreement granted the Zinks a security interest in “54 head of cattle (livestock) including any additions, substitutions or replacements.”
The Debtors also signed a financing statement, using the form adopted by the Secretary of State prior to the revision of Article, 9 of the New York Uniform Commercial Code (“N.Y.U.C.C.”). They did not use the new form created in connection with Article 9’s revisions which became effective in New York on July 1, 2001.
The language of the Zinks’ UCC-1 form mimics the language of their security agreement. Like the security agreement, the Zinks’ UCC-1 form does not cover “products of the collateral.” The Zinks’ UCC-1 form does not list the Debtors’ last names first as that form required; it lists them as “William Van Middlesworth, Jr.” and “Frank F. Van Middlesworth, Jr.” It does not state whether the Debtors are individuals.
The Zinks did not send a notice to HSBC indicating that they intended to acquire a purchase-money security interest in the Debtors’ livestock. On December 4, 2001, the Debtors received the 54 cows. Those cows are among the total of 96 head owned by the Debtors according to the parties’ stipulation of facts.
On or about December 5, 2001, William F.

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300 B.R. 394, 2003 WL 22255828, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/zink-v-vanmiddlesworth-nynd-2003.