DOMINGO JOSE TROCHE OLIVIERI

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IN THE UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF PUERTO RICO
IN THE MATTER OF
DOMINGO J. TROCHE OLIVIERI, : CASE NO. 05-11635 (SEK)

DEBTOR : CHAPTER 11

POPULAR AUTO,

MOVANT FILED & ENTERED
“ 1 g JUN 2006
DOMINGO J. TROCHE OLIVIERI, : CLERK
U.S. BANKRUPTCY COURT
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO

RESPONDENT

OPINION AND ORDER
Before the Court is Movant’s motion for relief from the automatic
stay for “cause” pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 362(d) (1). In his reply
Debtor admits owing six post-petition installments, and states he will
require 30 days to cure or include the arrears in a reorganization
plan to be filed under Chapter 11 of the Code. He also states that

any pre-petition arrears will be paid thru the mentioned plan and/or

through negotiations with the creditor. Twenty days later, on the eve
of the hearing scheduled to consider the motion, Debtor amended his
reply stating it “should be considered a request for payment of
adequate protection payments pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 363, since
Debtor’s plan of reorganization has neither been proposed or
confirmed, as the reorganization is still in its initial stages.”

The issue at bar is whether Movant has met its burden of showing
there is “cause” for terminating the stay. We rule in favor of the

Movant for reasons that follow.

AUTHEN]|CATED
U.S. GOVERNMENT
INFORMHTION

GPO

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BACKGROUND
The record shows Debtor filed for bankruptcy protection on
October 14, 2005, under Chapter 13 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code,
without proffering schedules, a statement of financial affairs ora

proposed plan. He failed to attend four meeting of creditors.

Schedules were filed on January 25, 2006. Therein, he lists a 1998
Chevrolet Corvette valued at $14,900 and a 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
valued at $18,925. This motion concerns the loan with a lien held by
Movant encumbering the Chevrolet Avalanche. This loan calis for
payments of equal monthly installment of 8808.61. Debtor owse
$1,738.51 of pre-petition arrears, and $5,094.24 of post-petition
arrears as of April 10, 2006.

On May 3, 2006, Debtor filed a Notice converting this case to
Chapter 11. Yesterday, he amended his reply to the motion for relief,
claiming the loan’s per diem has not been provided, and questions the
payoff balance offered by Movant’s Counsel, as it is slightly higher
than the one stated in Movant's proof of claim.

During today’s hearing’, Debtor indicated he was offering
adequate protection payments of $117.00 per month, commencing on the
date the motion for relief wags filed, and continuing up to the
confirmation of a Chapter 11 plan. Movant rejects this offer.

Movant argues Debtor has the use of the vehicle since the filing
of the petition without paying a single post petition monthly loan

installment. During this time, its collateral has depreciated. It

* We consider today’s hearing a consolidated preliminary and

final hearing. 11 U.S.C. § 362(e) (1).

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claims the automobile which is a luxury SUV convertible to a pick up
truck, is not needed for Debtor's reorganization, and points to the
other vehicle owned by the Debtor (the Corvette) as a source of
possible payment. Furthermore, Movant argues, Debtor has been abusing
the bankruptcy process by failing to submit to creditor examination,
late filing of schedules and converting the case to Chapter 11 so as
to begin the reorganization process anew. In sum, Debtor has
benefitted from the automatic stay for six months without taking any
steps to further his reorganization, to the detriment of creditors.
Movant concludes, the entire situation of this case is “cause” for
granting the relief.

Debtor claims Movant has not met its burden of proving there is
no equity in the collateral and that it is not needed for the
reorganization. Furthermore, Debtor counters the request for relief
for “cause” by offering the adequate protection payments, albeit as of
the date this request for relief was filed.

DISCUSSION

We begin by reviewing the pertinent reasons why relief from the
automatic stay may be granted pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 362 (d).

On request of a party in interest and after notice and a

hearing, a court shall grant relief provided in section (a)

of this section, such as terminating ... such stay-

(1) for cause, including lack of adequate protection of
an interest in property of such party in interest;
(2)with respect to a stay against act against property
under section (a) of this section, if-

(A) the debtor does not have an equity in such

property; and

(B) such property ig not necessary to an effective

reorganization. (Our emphasis)

Hence, Movant may invoke any or both of the two reasons why the

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Court should terminate the automatic stay. Here, Movant invokes the
first reason claiming the entire circumstances of this cause are
sufficient “cause” for lifting the stay, and the payments of $117.00
are not adequate protection. We agree.

The circumstances of this case show Debtor has engaged in
unnecessary delay in reorganizing his finance that is detrimental to
this Creditor for no legitimate reason. Furthermore, we find that
$117.00, a fraction of the contractual monthly installment, does not
adequately compensate this Creditor for the use of its collateral,
which we all know depreciates constantly.

WHEREFORE, we find Movant met its burden of proof under the Code
section invoked, and terminate the automatic stay as requested.

SO ORDERED, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on May 10, 2006.

SA DE JEZOUS *
U.S. /Bankrupgcy Judge