Rinard et al v. POSITIVE INVESTMENTS, INC. et al

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UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
RIVERSIDE DIVISION
In re:
RICHARD JOHN RINARD,
Debtor(s),
RICHARD JOHN RINARD, Debtor and
HELEN R. FRAZER, Chapter 7 Trustee,
Plaintiff(s),
Vs.
POSITIVE INVESTMENTS, INC.,
Defendant(s).
Case No.: 6:10-bk-50349-SC
Adversary No.: 6:11-ap-01660-SC
Chapter: 7
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Hearing Date:
Date: May 9, 2011
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Location: Video Hearing Room 126,
3240 Twelfth Street, Riverside, CA 92501
and
Ronald Reagan Federal Building & Court
House, Courtroom 5C
411 West Fourth Street
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Before the Court is an Emergency Motion pursuant to Rule 65 of the Federal Rules of
Civil Procedure filed by Movants Richard John Rinard (the “Debtor”) and Helen R. Frazer, the
Chapter 7 Trustee for the Debtor’s Bankruptcy Estate (“Trustee”) (together the “Movants”)
FILED & ENTERED
MAY 09 2011
CLERK U.S. BANKRUPTCY COURT
Central District of California
BY DEPUTY CLERK	zamora
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seeking entry of a temporary restraining order and/or a preliminary injunction order enjoining
Defendant Positive Investments, Inc. (the “Defendant” or “Respondent”) and its officers,
agents, servants, employees, and attorneys and those in active concert or participation with
them, from foreclosing on commercial real property of the bankruptcy estate commonly known
as 1812 - 1816 W. Foothill, Upland, CA, 91786 (the “Foothill Parcels”).
The Court is presented with, among others, the following issues:
(1) Does the Automatic Stay remain in existence, with respect to Estate Property, at this
time?
(2) Are decisions by the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel authoritative and precedential?
(3) Are the Movants entitled to the Temporary Restraining Order or Preliminary
Injunction Order they seek under the presented circumstances?
Background
The pending Chapter 7 case is the Debtor’s second case filed within a year. The Debtor
originally filed a voluntary petition under Chapter 7 of Title 11 of the United States Code on
November 9, 2010, as case no. 6:10-bk-46358. That case was dismissed by order of the Court
on November 30, 2010, when the Debtor’s Schedules and Statements were not timely filed
with the Court.
Following the entry of the order of dismissal of the Debtor’s first case on November 30,
2010, on December 15, 2010, this case (the Debtor’s second chapter 7 case) was
commenced. Apparently cognizant of the provisions of 11 U.S.C. §362(c)(3)(A), which
instructs that "the stay under subsection (a) with respect to any action taken with respect to a
debt or property securing such debt or with respect to any lease shall terminate with respect to
the debtor on the 30th day after the filing of the later case." (emphasis added), the Debtor,
through counsel, twice sought to have a hearing on his request to extend the automatic stay.
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On January 12, 2011 (Dk. No. 16), the Debtor filed an “Emergency motion For Order
Imposing a Stay or Continuing the Automatic Stay as the Court Deems Appropriate” which
was denied by an order of the Court entered January 13, 2011 (Dk. No. 20). On January 13,
2011 (Dk. No. 21), the Debtor renewed his request and filed an “Application shortening time, in
addition to Notice of Motion and Motion in Individual Case for Order Imposing a Stay or
Continuing the Automatic Stay as the Court Deems Appropriate” which was again denied by
the Court by an order entered January 13, 2011 (Dk. No. 23).
Due to procedural error (a fee was not paid) on the first attempt, the Debtor’s motion to
extend the stay was denied. It is not clear to this Court why the second attempt was denied
without a hearing1; however, the thirty day period passed after January 14, 2011.
The Estate Property at Issue
Part of the Debtor’s Bankruptcy Estate is the previously identified Foothill Parcels, which
are the subject of this Motion. According to the Movants, “foreclosure proceedings have been
instituted by creditor Positive Investments, Inc., 222 S. Santa Anita Ave, Arcadia, CA 91006,
against certain real property commonly known as 1812 - 1816 W. Foothill, Upland, CA, 91786
(the “Foothill Parcels”). The foreclosure sale is scheduled for May 17, 2011.” Motion, page
1:3-6, and the D. Edward Hays Declaration (the “Hays Declaration”) stating that the
Respondent “published” a Notice of Sale, ¶ 8, page 11:9-12.2 There is further evidence before
the Court as to when the Respondent instituted “foreclosure proceedings” or “published” a
Notice of Sale, that date being April 11, 20113, which the Court observes is after the Petition
1 These motions were considered and rejected by the Honorable Thomas B. Donovan prior to
the transfer of the case to this Court on or about February 1, 2011.
2 Certain Evidentiary Objections have been made by the Respondent, but not to ¶ 8 of the
Hays Declaration.
3 The Movants have requested, and this Court takes judicial notice of, (1) the Declaration of D.
Edward Hays in support of Joint Emergency Motion of Debtor and Trustee for Order
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Date of this case. The Respondent has not addressed the act or timing of publication of the
Notice of Sale.
The Court has carefully examined the Debtor’s Schedules, the Court Docket of this
case, and the evidence presented within this Motion. The Foothill Parcels are properly
scheduled and the Court can find no actions by the Trustee or operations of law that indicate
that the Foothill Parcels have passed from the Estate at this time. Therefore, there is no doubt,
and the Court can find no assertions from any of the parties here to the contrary, that the
Foothill Parcels remain part of the Estate. Finally, the Court has reviewed the Debtor’s sworn
Schedules and finds, for purposes of this Motion only, that the value of the Foothill Parcels is
$1,500,000.00. In reviewing the pleadings, the Court finds, for purposes of this Motion only,
that the claim secured by the lien held by the respondent on the Foothill Parcels is
approximately $889,000.00. Finally, the Court finds that, for purposes of this Motion only,
there is significant equity in the Foothill Parcels that inure to the benefit of the Estate and/or
Debtor.
The Motion For Temporary Restraining Order and/or a Preliminary Injunction Order
On April 29, 2011, the Debtor and the Trustee jointly filed an emergency motion entitled
“Joint Emergency Motion of Debtor and Trustee for Order Determining That Automatic Stay
Pursuant to 11 U.S.C. Section 362(a) Has Not Been Terminated With Respect to the Estate;
Memorandum of Points and Authorities; and Declarations of D. Edward Hays and Richard
John Rinard; with Proof of Service.” (Dk. No. 44). The Debtor and Trustee’s Motion requested
that this Court make an order stating that the automatic stay was not terminated with respect to
Determining that Automatic Stay Pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §362(a) Has Not Been Terminated
With Respect to the Estate (Dk. No. 44), and (2) and the Declaration of Richard John Rinard in
support of Joint Emergency Motion of Debtor and Trustee for Order Determining that
Automatic Stay Pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §362(a) Has Not Been Terminated With Respect to the
Estate (Dk. No. 44).
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the estate by operation of 11 U.S.C. §362(c)(3)(A). On May 3, 2011, the Court conducted a
hearing and declined to issue an order on the subject of the pending motion, because, in the
Court’s opinion, a controversy was not present at that particular time (i.e. the motion was not
ripe), and the procedure utilized would have required an impermissible advisory opinion.
On May 3, 2011, a Complaint entitled “Complaint for 1. Declaratory Relief; 2. Injunctive
Relief; and 3. Damages for Willful Violation of Automatic Stay,” was filed by the Debtor and the
Trustee against the Defendant, as well as their Motion which seeks entry of a temporary
restraining order and/or a preliminary injunction order enjoining Defendant and its officers,
agents, servants, employees, and attorneys and those in active concert or participation with
them, from foreclosing on the Foothill Parcels.
As a precursor to the requested relief, the Movants and Respondent both directly
address the presence of the decision of the Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel’s
decision in Reswick v. Reswick (In re Reswick), 2011 Bankr. LEXIS 873, 6-8 (B.A.P. 9th Cir.
Feb. 4, 2011). The Movants explain,
“[n]otwithstanding the plain meaning of 11 U.S.C. § 362(c)(1)—that the stay as to
estate property continues until such property is no longer property of the estate—the
Bankruptcy Appellate Panel recently published a case arising in a Chapter 13 which
concluded that the stay terminated as to the debtor and the estate upon expiration of
the 30 day period in the second bankruptcy case. See, In re Reswick, --- B.R. ----,
2011 WL 612728, NC-10-1154-SAHKI, (9th Cir. BAP February 4, 2011). While the
unstated assumption in Reswick is that Section 362(c)(1) does not compel a different
result, the failure of the BAP to address this issue results in the case not being
persuasive or binding authority on this issue. As such, the declaratory relief issue
presented in Movants’ Complaint is a question of first impression on an important
issue regarding whether a trustee as the estate’s representative loses the protections
of the stay as to estate property after 30 days have elapsed in a second bankruptcy
case filed within one year after dismissal of a prior case. Debtor’s counsel is aware
that the Reswick case has been appealed to the Ninth Circuit.
Motion, page 2:26-28 through page 3:1-9.
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The Respondent also addresses Reswick. “On February 14, 2011, the Ninth Circuit
BAP issued a decision in In re Reswick, which provides the most recent precedential authority
in the circuit interpreting Bankruptcy Code section 362(c)(3)(A). (Citation omitted).”
Opposition, page 3:17-19.
The Respondent further states that this Court is bound by the BAP’s Reswick decision
because “[t]he principle of stare decisis requires federal courts to adhere to the opinions of
higher courts and “’to the explications of the governing rule of law.’” (citations omitted.)
Opposition, page 4:3-4. Citing several Ninth Circuit decisions on the general premises of stare
decisis, the Respondent grounds its assertion that this Court is bound by Reswick firmly on the
Ninth Circuit BAP’s own decision of 1987, In re Windmill Farms, Inc., 70 B.R. 618, 621 (9th Cir.
1987), rev'd on other grounds, 841 F.2d 1467 (9th Cir. 1988).
The parties address Reswick on the issue of whether there continues to exist the
automatic stay as to property of the Estate, under 11 U.S.C. §362(a), for if the automatic stay
continues in existence as to property of the Estate, then a decision to issue a Temporary
Restraining Order (“TRO”) or Preliminary Injunction (“PI”) by this Court may be unnecessary.
Indeed, the determination by this Court of whether the automatic stay remains in force as to
the Estate must rest heavily on the minds of the Debtor, the Trustee and the Respondent. If
the foreclosure proceeding is not enjoined by this Court, and the automatic stay has been
terminated as to the Debtor and the Estate, the Foothill Parcels are at risk of being lost to the
detriment to the Estate’s creditors and any residual estate surplus to the Debtor. If the
automatic stay was in effect on April 11, 2011, then the Respondent has violated the automatic
stay, perhaps unintentionally, perhaps not. Moreover, the Ninth Circuit has made it clear that
the Respondent has an affirmative duty to reverse its actions in the instance of a violation of
the automatic stay, once it learns of the automatic stay, or else the action is elevated to a
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willful violation of the stay. “Consistent with the plain and unambiguous meaning of the statute,
and consonant with Congressional intent, we hold that § 362(a)(1) imposes an affirmative duty
to discontinue post-petition collection actions.” Eskanos & Adler, P.C. v. Leetien, 309 F.3d
1210, 1215 (9th Cir. Cal. 2002). Clearly, the Respondent is wary of potential sanctions and
awards of attorneys’ fees against it. Therefore, in addressing the need for a TRO or PI, the
Court must first determine whether the automatic stay is in effect as to the Estate.
The Automatic Stay’s Effect Under 11 U.S.C. § 362(c)(3)(A).
11 U.S.C. § 362(c)(3)(A) reads, in pertinent part:
“(3) if a single or joint case is filed by or against debtor who is an individual in a case
under chapter 7, 11, or 13, and if a single or joint case of the debtor was pending within
the preceding 1-year period but was dismissed, other than a case refiled under a
chapter other than chapter 7 after dismissal under section 707 (b)—
(A) the stay under subsection (a) with respect to any action taken with respect to
a debt or property securing such debt or with respect to any lease shall
terminate with respect to the debtor on the 30th day after the filing of the later
case…”
11 U.S.C. § 362(c)(3)(A) (emphasis added.)
The relevant portion of the section, for our purposes today, are the words “shall
terminate with respect to the debtor.” Indeed, this discussion would most likely not be occurring
if the Congress has simply added “or the estate” to the sentence in § 362(c)(3)(A). But
Congress didn’t, and here we are.
The Ninth Circuit BAP’s Reswick decision sets out, with remarkable clarity, both the
majority and minority positions of the nation’s bankruptcy courts with respect to whether the
automatic stay remains in effect as to the bankruptcy estate, by the effect of the provisions of
11 U.S.C. § 362(c)(3)(A). As to the majority view – that the automatic stay does not terminate
as to the estate under the terms of § 362(c)(3)(A) -- Reswick teaches
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The majority interpretation finds the phrase "with respect to the debtor" to be both
critical and unambiguous, and concludes that on the 30th day after the petition date, the
automatic stay terminates only with respect to the debtor and the debtor's property, but
not as to property of the estate. See, e.g., Holcomb v. Hardeman (In re Holcomb), 380
B.R. 813 (10th Cir. BAP 2008); Jumpp v. Chase Home Finance, LLC (In re Jumpp), 356
B.R. 789 (1st Cir. BAP 2006); In re Pope, 351 B.R. 14 (Bankr. D.R.I. 2006); In re
Murray, 350 B.R. 408 (Bankr. S.D. Ohio 2006); In re Brandon, 349 B.R. 130 (Bankr.
M.D.N.C. 2006); Bankers Trust Co. of Cal. v. Gillcrese (In re Gillcrese), 346 B.R. 373
(Bankr. W.D. Pa. 2006); In re Williams, 346 B.R. 361 (Bankr. E.D. Pa. 2006); In re
Harris, 342 B.R. 274 (Bankr. N.D. Ohio 2006); In re Jones, 339 B.R. 360 (Bankr.
E.D.N.C. 2006); In re Moon, 339 B.R. 668 (Bankr. N.D. Ohio 2006); In re Johnson, 335
B.R. 805 (Bankr. W.D. Tenn. 2006). Although these decisions state that the court need
not read beyond the phrase "with respect to the debtor" to discern its meaning, see,
e.g., Jones, 399 B.R. at 363 ("Section 362(c)(3)(A) provides that the stay terminates
'with respect to the debtor.' How could that be any clearer?"), these decisions arguably
do read beyond the phrase because they find that the stay terminates with respect to
the debtor and to any property of the debtor that is not property of the estate. Id. at 362;
see also Holcomb, 380 B.R. at 816 ("[W]e conclude that the language of § 362(c)(3)(A)
terminates the stay only as to the debtor and the debtor's property."); Jumpp, 356 B.R.
at 797 ("Section 362(c)(3)(A) provides for a partial termination of the stay.").
Reswick v. Reswick (In re Reswick), 2011 Bankr. LEXIS 873, 6-8 (B.A.P. 9th Cir. Feb. 4,
2011).
As to the minority view – that the automatic stay terminates as to both the Debtor and
the Estate, Reswick described the view as follows:
“The minority interpretation urges that the phrase "with respect to the debtor" must be
analyzed in the context of section 362(c)(3) as a whole. See In re Jupiter, 344 B.R. 754
(Bankr. D.S.C. 2006), expanded upon in In re Daniel, 404 B.R. 318 (Bankr. N.D. Ill.
2009), and adopted in two subsequent decisions including the order on appeal here.
Using this analysis, these courts conclude that section 362(c)(3)(A) terminates the
automatic stay in its entirety (i.e., with respect to the debtor, the debtor's property and
property of the estate). Id. at 329; Jupiter, 344 B.R. at 759; In re Furlong, 426 B.R. 303,
307 (Bankr. C.D. Ill. 2010). They construe "the remaining language of 'with respect to
the debtor' to define which debtor is effected by this provision, with reference to section
362(c)(3)." Jupiter, 344 B.R. at 759. Because section 362(c)(3) begins by referencing
either a "single or joint case," the language "with respect to the debtor" in section
362(c)(3)(A) simply distinguishes between the debtor and the debtor's spouse. Id.;
Daniel, 404 B.R. at 326. The courts found further support in the legislative history of
section 362(c)(3)(A), noting its intent to address the perceived abuse of successive
filings. Id. at 327; Jupiter, 344 B.R. at 761. See also In re Curry, 362 B.R. 394 (Bankr.
N.D. Ill. 2007)(interpreting section 362(c)(3)(A) to terminate the automatic stay in its
entirety is consistent with history aimed at discouraging successive bankruptcy filings).”
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Reswick v. Reswick (In re Reswick), 2011 Bankr. LEXIS 873, 8-9 (B.A.P. 9th Cir. Feb. 4,
2011).
In one single sentence, and contra to the minority view that it chooses to adopt (see
below), the BAP in Reswick determined, or rather “designates”, that the language of
§362(c)(3)(A) is ambiguous. (“And while we recognize the desire to be cautious in designating
statutory text as "ambiguous," we believe that such a designation is appropriate here.”
Reswick at 9-10.) The BAP did not determine that the language was ambiguous because they
did not understand the sentence “the stay under subsection (a) with respect to any action
taken with respect to a debt or property securing such debt or with respect to any lease shall
terminate with respect to the debtor on the 30th day after the filing of the later case…”.
Instead, the BAP admits, in the preceding sentence of its decision, that the minority view does
not “expressly” determine the language of §362(c)(3)(A) to be “ambiguous”.
“The minority approach does not expressly determine that the language is ambiguous
but reads "with respect to the debtor" in context with section 362(c)(3) as a whole and
then looks to the provision's legislative history to support their reading. Because reading
the phrase in context, rather than in isolation, better comports with principles of statutory
construction, the minority interpretation is more persuasive.”
Reswick at 9.
The BAP designates the text of the provision as ambiguous only because it believes
that the phrase “with respect to the debtor” is not placed there by Congress to differentiate
between property of the debtor and property of the estate, but instead to give certain meaning
(the meaning assigned by the Reswick BAP) to the remaining provisions of § 362(c)(3). The
Reswick BAP thus believes that the legislative scheme within §362(c)(3) is the ideal legislative
context to place the language of §362(c)(3)(A), and so engages. Others disagree.
As the Tenth Circuit BAP stated in In re Holcomb, 380 B.R. 813, 816 (BAP 10th Cir.
2008):
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First, we see no ambiguity in the language of the statute. "Statutory construction must
begin with the language employed by Congress and the assumption that the ordinary
meaning of that language accurately expresses the legislative purpose." Park 'N Fly,
Inc. v. Dollar Park & Fly, Inc., 469 U.S. 189, 194, 105 S. Ct. 658, 83 L. Ed. 2d 582
(1985). Nowhere in § 362 does Congress use the phrase "with respect to the debtor" as
incorporating the debtor, the debtor's separate property, and property of the estate. In
fact, "[s]ection 362(a) differentiates between acts against the debtor, against property of
the debtor and against property of the estate." Jones, 339 B.R. at 363. As observed in
Jones, "a plain reading of those words ['with respect to the debtor'] makes sense and is
entirely consistent with other provisions of § 362 and other sections of the Bankruptcy
Code." Id.
Reading this statute according to its plain meaning is also consistent with the policies
behind bankruptcy law. At the core of bankruptcy law is the policy of "obtaining a
maximum and equitable distribution for creditors." BFP v. Resolution Trust Corp., 511
U.S. 531, 563, 114 S. Ct. 1757, 128 L. Ed. 2d 556 (1994); Research-Planning, Inc. v.
Segal (In re First Capital Mortgage Loan Corp.), 917 F.2d 424, 428 (10th Cir. 1990)
(noting that the preference provisions found in 11 U.S.C. § 547 further this important
policy). The minority approach circumvents this policy by allowing a single creditor, who
may be oversecured, full access to property that would otherwise be property of the
estate. Such property may be necessary to implement a debtor's Chapter 13 plan; or, in
a Chapter 7 case, equity in the property above the creditor's security interest could be
realized by the trustee to pay a dividend to creditors. This dividend could potentially be
lost if we adopt the reasoning of the bankruptcy court. Maintaining the stay with respect
to such property is an important creditor protection.
Holcomb v. Hardeman (In re Holcomb), 380 B.R. 813, 816 (B.A.P. 10th Cir. 2008).
That the facts of Reswick specifically involve a Chapter 13 debtor, where an ex spouse,
one of the creditors of the debtor, garnished the post-petition wages of the debtor to collect
monies perhaps entitled to a priority distribution, which were property of the Chapter 13 estate,
is not lost on this Court. If Reswick stands on appeal with the Ninth Circuit, the outcome of the
decision provides money for the ex-wife, and a failed Chapter 13 plan for the rest of the
creditors. Thus, other provisions of the Bankruptcy Code providing an ex-spouse creditor with
priorities for alimony and support are rendered meaningless by the decision of Reswick.
Under Reswick’s determination, a creditor race to the courthouse exists. This overturns the
primary overarching two premises of federal bankruptcy law – a fresh start for an honest
debtor and equal treatment among classes of creditors.
The facts of the Tenth Circuit BAP’s Holcomb decision fit squarely with the facts of the
instant case (where a secured creditor attempts to foreclose on estate property), and
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demonstrate that the plain meaning standard of legislative interpretation can also result in
consistent and accurate expressions of legislative intent and goals.
The plain text of §362(c)(3)(A) is crystal clear that the automatic stay is terminated with
respect to the Debtor. There is no mention of the Estate in the text. There are no fuzzy words;
there are no hanging paragraphs; there are no words requiring a dictionary. And, the context
of the language gives meaning to the Bankruptcy Code’s design to permit the Chapter 7
trustee to administer the estate unimpeded by individual creditors who may otherwise obtain
windfalls at the expense of the other creditors of the estate. (As noted above, under the facts
of Reswick, the plain meaning interpretation of the section in question would also provide for
the overarching and primary goals of the Bankruptcy Code – a Chapter 13 reorganization that
provides a fresh start for the debtor and equal treatment (and perhaps superior treatment due
to the statutory priorities provided for obligations to an ex-spouse)).
To achieve the results of the minority view and Reswick, Congress was only required to
add three more words to the section – “and the estate” – which Congress did not do. This
Court will also not step into the shoes of Congress. The “majority” views are the correct ones
in this instance.
The Binding Effect of the Ninth Circuit BAP Within this Court’s Own District.
The Respondent asserts that this Court is bound by the decision In re Reswick. In
support of its assertion, it states “[o]n February 14, 2011, the Ninth Circuit BAP issued a
decision in In re Reswick, which provides the most recent precedential authority in the circuit
interpreting Bankruptcy Code section 362(c)(3)(A). (citation omitted).” Opposition, page 3:17-
19. This Court, according to the Respondent, is bound by the BAP’s Reswick decision because
“[t]he principle of stare decisis requires federal courts to adhere to the opinions of higher courts
and “’to the explications of the governing rule of law.’” (citations omitted.) Opposition, page 4:3-
4. Citing several decisions on the general premises of stare decisis, the Respondent mainly
grounds its assertion that this Court is bound by Reswick firmly on the Ninth Circuit BAP’s own
decision of 1987, In re Windmill Farms, Inc., 70 B.R. 618, 621 (9th Cir. 1987), rev'd on other
grounds, 841 F.2d 1467 (9th Cir. 1988).
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Much has been written within the Ninth Circuit regarding the precedential value of BAP
decisions. In re Windmill Farms, Inc., a 1988 decision written by a panel consisting of three
Article I bankruptcy judges, opined that their own Ninth Circuit BAP decisions are to be treated
with precedential value. Other courts have held otherwise. “The decisions of the Bankruptcy
Appellate Panel of the Ninth Circuit ("BAP") do not carry the weight of stare decisis. In re Bank
of Maui, 904 F.2d 470, 471 (9th Cir. 1990). The decisions of the BAP are binding only on the
judges whose orders have been reversed or remanded by the BAP in that particular dispute. In
all other instances, the decisions of the BAP are effective only to the extent they are
persuasive.” CASC Corp. v. Milner (In re Locke), 180 B.R. 245, 254 (Bankr. C.D. Cal. 1995).
The citation to In re Bank of Maui by the Bankruptcy Court in In re Locke is only slightly amiss,
since the Ninth Circuit in Locke ultimately held that the determination of whether BAP
decisions were controlling would not be decided because:
“We need not and do not decide the authoritative effect of a BAP decision because, for
the purposes of Bankruptcy Rule 9011, its binding effect is so uncertain that it cannot be
the basis for sanctioning a party for seeking a contrary result in a district where the
underlying issue has never been resolved. Accordingly, the Bank's reliance on Marin
Aviation was not clearly frivolous and unreasonable.”
Bank of Maui v. Estate Analysis, 904 F.2d 470, 472 (9th Cir.1990) (emphasis added).
However, Windmill was decided in 1988, and Bank of Maui was decided in 1990. This
Court finds that Congress determined, in 2005, that BAP decisions have no authoritative or
precedential effect. On April 20, 2005, the President signed into law the Bankruptcy Abuse
Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, Pub. L. No. 109-8, 119 Stat. 23
(“BAPCPA”). Among other things, BAPCPA authorizes the direct appeal of a bankruptcy court
order to the court of appeals on certification from the appropriate court and acceptance by the
court of appeals. 28 U.S.C.S. §158(d)(2).
Specifically, appellate jurisdiction was altered in BAPCPA by addition of the provision
that the Circuit Courts of Appeal have jurisdiction for all final orders of a bankruptcy court and
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may take an appeal directly if the bankruptcy court, district court, or Bankruptcy Appellate
Panel, on the lower court's own motion or on the motion of a party to the judgment, certifies
that the bankruptcy court's final order involves a question of law on which there is no
controlling decision in that circuit or that the issue involves one of public importance, or that an
immediate appeal is otherwise necessary. If Congress believed that decisions of BAPs across
the nation were authoritative and precedential (which would then grant BAPs more
authoritative/precedential value than Article III district courts surely possess), there would have
been no need to include BAPs with the power to certify direct appeals from bankruptcy courts
to Circuit Courts of Appeals. The BAP could simply take the appeal, forget certification, and
provide authoritative pronouncements, tout de suite. Implicit in the inclusion of the BAP as a
“certifier” is the Congressional determination that BAPs could not make authoritative or
precedential determinations, and instead confirm that Circuit Courts of Appeals are to exercise
this role.
BAP decisions are not binding on bankruptcy courts, as district court decisions are not.
The arguments set forth in the multitude of cases determining that panels composed of Article I
judges to hear bankruptcy court appeals do not have the inherent power to make authoritative
or precedential decisions, especially if Article III district courts hearing the same appeals have
no such control, were convincing enough. Congress, in 2005, finished the argument.
For all of the reasons stated above, this Court finds that (1) the Respondent has not
obtained relief from stay to proceed with any foreclosure activities respecting the Foothill
Parcels; (2) the automatic stay as provided by 11 U.S.C. §362(a) remains in force as to
property of the Estate; (3) the Foothill Parcels are property of the Estate in this case; (4) the
Foothill Parcels hold equity that inure to the benefit of the Estate and/or the Debtor; (5) the
Respondent has violated the automatic stay by noticing the Trustee Sale and will further
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willfully violation the stay if it causes a foreclosure sale; and (6) Respondent already has
transmuted the violation of the automatic stay into a willful violation of the automatic stay by
not affirmatively reversing its actions.
The Requirement for a Temporary Restraining Order or Preliminary Injunction Order
The next step is to determine whether the Movants are entitled to a Temporary
Restraining Order (“TRO”) or Preliminary Injunction (“PI”) Order.
Injunctive relief is available in bankruptcy court in two ways: pursuant to the court's
discretionary and inherent equitable power under §105(a) "to issue any order, process, or
judgment that is necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions of this title," or under the
auspices of Bankruptcy Rule 7065, which makes Federal Rule 65 applicable in adversary
proceedings.
The Movants have requested this Court to consider their Motion and request under Rule
7065 and Federal Rule 65. The Court is not bound by the Motion to restrict its basis for issuing
a TRO or PI under Federal Rule 65. Section 105(a) of the Bankruptcy Code serves the same
purpose, as described below. Nevertheless, the same standards for issuing such injunctions
are applicable. The Court will examine whether grounds exist for a TRO and/or PI to issue.
“The standards for granting a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction
are identical." Haw. County Green Party v. Clinton, 980 F. Supp. 1160, 1164 (D. Haw. 1997);
cf. Stuhlbarg Int'l Sales Co. v. John D. Brush & Co., 240 F.3d 832, 839 n. 7 (9th Cir. 2001)
(observing that an analysis of a preliminary injunction is "substantially identical" to an analysis
of a temporary restraining order). The Ninth Circuit recently modified its standard for
preliminary injunctive relief to conform to the Supreme Court's admonition in Winter v. Natural
Resources Defense Council, Inc., 555 U.S. 7, 129 S. Ct. 365, 375-76, 172 L. Ed. 2d 249
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(2008), that the moving party must demonstrate that, absent an injunction, irreparable injury is
not only possible, but likely.
Under Federal Rule 65, the traditional criteria for issuing a preliminary injunction are: "1)
a strong likelihood of success on the merits, 2) the possibility of (now likely, not just possible)
irreparable injury to plaintiff if the preliminary relief is not granted, 3) a balance of hardships
favoring the plaintiff, and 4) advancement of the public interest (in certain cases)." Morgan-
Busby v. Gladstone (In re Morgan-Busby), 272 B.R. 257, 261 (9th Cir. B.A.P. 2002).
(1) Strong Likelihood of Success on the Merits
The Movant’s Complaint asserts that the Respondent’s actions in proceeding with the
foreclosure activities violate 11 U.S.C. §362(a) in that estate property is being foreclosed upon.
The Court is not required to determine whether the Movants will succeed on the merits of their
cause of action, but is only required to determine whether there is a strong likelihood of
success on this cause of action. For all of the reasons set forth in this Memorandum Opinion
as to why the automatic stay is still effective as to estate property, it is clear to this Court that
there is a strong likelihood of success on the merits.
With respect to the Complaint’s asserting that the Notice of Default filed with respect to
the Foothill Parcels is defective, there is evidence presented as to this matter within the Hays
Declaration that accompanies the Motion that corresponds to the allegations contained in ¶¶
14, 15 and 16. Limited legal analysis is presented to the Court on these allegations by any
party appearing on this Motion, and the Court cannot determine the merits of these allegations
at this stage. Therefore, the Court cannot assert that there is, or is not, a strong likelihood of
success on the merits with respect to the NOD arguments. However, as the Violation of the
Stay cause of action stands alone for these purposes, the Court can await further briefing and
fact-finding at the PI stage of the process.
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(2) The Likelihood of Irreparable Injury to Plaintiff
According to the Movant, the foreclosure sale has been noticed for May 17, 2011. If the
Respondent continues to go forward with its foreclosure sale, and whether or not a bona fide
purchaser were to obtain the property through a trustee sale, the bankruptcy estate could be
irreparably harmed by not having the opportunity to maximize recovery to the creditors of the
estate, by utilizing the equity in the Foothill Parcels. That equity has already been established,
for purposes of this Order only.
The Movants’ reliance with respect to the required showing of irreparable harm on
FSLIC v. Sahni, 868 F.2d 1096 (9th Cir. 1999), in light of the Supreme Court’s decision in
Winter, supra, is misplaced. The correct standard is “likely irreparable harm,” not possible
irreparable harm.
If more than nominal equity exists in the Foothill Parcels that would inure to the benefit
of the Estate and/or the Debtor, than the likelihood of irreparable harm to the Plaintiffs exists.
The Respondent is protected by an equity cushion in the Foothill Parcels, and suffers little or
no harm by a delay in the foreclosure process at this time.
(3) Balance of Hardships Favoring the Plaintiff
The Movants assert that there is no requirement to balance hardships in circumstances
of intentional conduct by defendants, citing United States v. Marine Shale Processors, 81 F.3d
1329, 1359 (5th Cir. 1996). Within that case, the Fifth Circuit identified certain cases involving
“willful acts” that might not require a balancing of the hardships, including Louis W. Epstein
Family P’Ship v. KMart Corp., 13 F.3d 762, 769-70 (1994) (Pennsylvania law, encroachment
on land); Kratze v. Indep.Order of Oddfellows, 442 Mich. 136, 500 N.W.2d 115, 121 & n.10
(Mich. 1993) (land encroachment); Amabile v. Winkles, 276 Md. 234, 347 A.2d 212, 216-17
(Md. 1975) (land); Normandy B. Condominium Ass'n, Inc. v. Normandy C. Ass'n, Inc., 541 So.
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2d 1263 (Ct. App. Fla. 1989) (interference with an easement); Barrett v. Lawrence, 110 Ill.
App. 3d 587, 442 N.E.2d 599, 603, 66 Ill. Dec. 173 (Ill. App. 1982) (failure to deposit money in
an escrow); Christensen v. Tucker, 114 Cal. App. 2d 554, 250 P.2d 660, 665-66 (Cal. App.
1952) (land encroachment);. Helene Curtis Indus., Inc. v. Church & Dwight Co., 560 F.2d
1325, 1333-34 (7th Cir. 1977) (trademark infringement), cert. denied, 434 U.S. 1070, 55 L. Ed.
2d 772, 98 S. Ct. 1252 (1978); and E.F. Johnson Co. v. Uniden Corp. of America, 623 F. Supp.
1485, 1504 (D. Minn. 1985) (patent infringement). See United States v. Marine Shale
Processors, 81 F.3d 1329, 1359 (5th Cir. 1996).
This Court sees no reason in this case to divert from the traditional standards for issuing
a TRO or PI, and based on the instant facts is not required to do so. The Defendant’s hardship
is slight (i.e. a delay receiving payment without risk because of the equity cushion in the
Foothill Parcels) compared to the Movants’ risk of permanent loss of the real property or its
equity value over a relatively short period of time. The Court finds that the hardships balance
in favor of the Plaintiffs.
(4) Advancement of the Public Interest
Unless the Court considers that there is a public interest for (or against) the issuance of
a TRO or PI within the circumstances of this case (and there might be an argument to be made
that it is in the public interest to curtail violations of the automatic stay), the case is not one
where advancement of the public interest is relevant. Therefore, the Court finds that a
determination of this component of the standard is unnecessary.
This Court’s Powers under 11 U.S.C. §105
Under 11 U.S.C. § 105(a), a bankruptcy court "may issue any order, process, or
judgment that is necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions of this title." Section
105(a) gives the bankruptcy courts the power to stay actions that are not subject to the 11
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U.S.C. § 362(a) automatic stay (footnote omitted) but "threaten the integrity of a bankrupt's
estate." Canter v. Canter (In re Canter), 299 F.3d 1150, 1155 (9th Cir. 2002) (citation and
quotation marks omitted); Ingersoll-Rand Fin. Corp. v. Miller Mining Co., 817 F.2d 1424, 1427
(9th Cir. 1987).” Solidus Networks, Inc. v. Excel Innovations, Inc. (In re Excel Innovations,
Inc.), 502 F.3d 1086, 1093 (9th Cir. 2007). The Ninth Circuit, in Solidus Network further found
that the usual preliminary injunction standard applies to stays of proceedings against non-
debtors under § 105(a). Solidus at 1094.
For the same factual reasons, and applying the same standards that this Court
determined that a TRO should issue under Federal Rule 65, as made applicable by
Bankruptcy Rule 7065, the Court finds that the ruling may be jointly based on 11 U.S.C.
§105(a).
Conclusion and Order
In accordance with my Memorandum of Opinion this date,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Defendant Positive Investments Inc. and its officers,
agents, servants, employees, and attorneys and those in active concert or participation with
them, are hereby temporarily restrained from foreclosing on commercial real property of the
bankruptcy estate commonly known as 1812 - 1816 W. Foothill, Upland, CA, 91786 (the
“Foothill Parcels”).
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Positive Investments, Inc. is ordered to appear in
Courtroom 5C of this court, located at 411 West Fourth Street, Santa Ana, California, on May
25, 2011 at 11:00 a.m., and show cause, if any, why a Preliminary Injunction should not issue
enjoining Positive Investments Inc. and its officers, agents, servants, employees, and attorneys
and those in active concert or participation with them from foreclosing on commercial real
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property of the bankruptcy estate commonly known as 1812 - 1816 W. Foothill, Upland, CA,
91786 (the “Foothill Parcels”).
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that further pleadings from Positive Investments, Inc. as to
this matter, must be electronically filed and physically served on counsels for the Debtor and
Trustee by 12:00 p.m. pacific time, at least two days before the aforesaid hearing, with copies
physically delivered to chambers by 12:00 p.m. pacific time on that day. Any Reply filed by the
Debtor or Trustee must be electronically filed and physically served on counsels for the Debtor
and Trustee by 12:00 p.m. pacific time, at least one day before the aforesaid hearing, with
copies physically delivered to chambers by 12:00 p.m. pacific time on that day.
###
United States Bankruptcy Judge
DATED: May 9, 2011
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NOTE TO USERS OF THIS FORM:
1) Attach this form to the last page of a proposed Order or Judgment. Do not file as a separate document.
2) The title of the judgment or order and all service information must be filled in by the party lodging the order.
3) Category I. below: The United States trustee and case trustee (if any) will always be in this category.
4) Category II. below: List ONLY addresses for debtor (and attorney), movant (or attorney) and person/entity (or
attorney) who filed an opposition to the requested relief. DO NOT list an address if person/entity is listed in category I.
NOTICE OF ENTERED ORDER AND SERVICE LIST
Notice is given by the court that a judgment or order entitled (specify) MEMORANDUM OPINION was entered on
the date indicated as AEntered@ on the first page of this judgment or order and will be served in the manner
indicated below:
I. SERVED BY THE COURT VIA NOTICE OF ELECTRONIC FILING (ANEF@) B Pursuant to controlling
General Order(s) and Local Bankruptcy Rule(s), the foregoing document was served on the following
person(s) by the court via NEF and hyperlink to the judgment or order. As of May 9, 2011, the following
person(s) are currently on the Electronic Mail Notice List for this bankruptcy case or adversary proceeding to
receive NEF transmission at the email address(es) indicated below.
• Lori E Eropkin leropkin@laklawyers.com
• Helen R. Frazer (TR) hfrazer@aalrr.com,
mbuenaventura@aalrr.com;hfrazer@ecf.epiqsystems.com,C112@ecfcbis.com
• D Edward Hays ehays@marshackhays.com
• United States Trustee (RS) ustpregion16.rs.ecf@usdoj.gov
• Darlene C Vigil cdcaecf@bdfgroup.com
Service information continued on attached page
II. SERVED BY THE COURT VIA U.S. MAIL: A copy of this notice and a true copy of this judgment or order
was sent by U.S. Mail to the following person(s) and/or entity(ies) at the address(es) indicated below:
Service information continued on attached page
III. TO BE SERVED BY THE LODGING PARTY: Within 72 hours after receipt of a copy of this judgment
or order which bears an AEntered@ stamp, the party lodging the judgment or order will serve a
complete copy bearing an AEntered@ stamp by U.S. Mail, overnight mail, facsimile transmission or
email and file a proof of service of the entered order on the following person(s) and/or entity(ies) at
the address(es), facsimile transmission number(s) and/or email address(es) indicated below:
Service information continued on attached page
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