Caritas Health Care, Inc.

UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
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In re:
Caritas Health Care, Inc., et. al.,
Debtors.
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DECISION
APPEARANCES:
Stephen Z. Starr, Esq.
Starr & Starr, PLLC
260 Madison Ave., 17th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Counsel for Neat Heat & Cooling, Inc.
Jeffrey W. Levitan, Esq.
Adam T. Berkowitz, Esq.
Proskauer Rose LLP
1585 Broadway
New York, NY 10036
Counsel for Debtors
CARLA E. CRAIG
Chief United States Bankruptcy Judge
Case Nos.: 	09-40901 (CEC)
through 09-40909 (CEC)
Jointly Administered
Chapter 11
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This matter comes before the Court on motion of Neat Heat & Cooling, Inc. (“Neat
Heat”) pursuant to 9006(b)(1) to deem its proof of claim and a request for payment of an
administrative expense timely filed, though they were filed after the bar date in this case. Caritas
Health Care, Inc., Caritas Anesthesia Services, P.C., Caritas Cardiology Services, P.C., Caritas
Emergency Medical Services, P.C., Caritas Family Health Services, P.C., Caritas Medical
Services, P.C., Caritas OB/GYN Services, P.C., Caritas Pediatric Services, P.C. and Caritas
Radiology Services, P.C. (collectively, the “Debtors”) oppose the motion. For the following
reasons, the motion is denied.
This Court has jurisdiction of this core proceeding pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 157(b)(2)(A)
and (B) and 1334 and the Eastern District of New York standing order of reference dated
Jurisdiction
August 28, 1986. This decision constitutes the Court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law to
the extent required by Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 7052.
The following relevant facts are undisputed.
Background
During the period May through July 2008, Neat Heat and the Debtors entered into eight
separate agreements for the lease by the Debtors of temporary air conditioning equipment.
On February 6, 2009, the Debtors filed voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of
the Bankruptcy Code.
On November 24, 2009, the Court established January 15, 2010 (the “Bar Date”) as the
deadline for filing pre-petition proofs of claim against the Debtors, and requests for payment of
administrative expenses incurred between February 6, 2009 and October 31, 2009.
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On December 3, 2009, the Debtors served notice of the Bar Date and a form of proof of
claim and request for payment of an administrative expense on Gregory Pandolfo, Esq., as
attorney for Neat Heat. Aff. of Mailing, ECF No. 482. Notice of the Bar Date was not directly
served on Neat Heat.
On January 22, 2010, one week after the Bar Date, Neat Heat filed a proof of claim for a
pre-petition unsecured claim in the amount of $117,810. On January 27, 2010, Neat Heat filed
an amended proof of claim asserting a pre-petition claim of $157,610 and requesting payment of
an administrative expense in the amount of $40,000 (together, the “Claims”).
On March 13, 2010, Neat Heat filed this motion to deem the Claims timely filed.
Bankruptcy Rule 3003(c)(3) provides that a court “shall fix” a date by which proofs of
claim must be filed in a Chapter 11 case, commonly known as a bar date. Fed. R. Bankr. P.
3003(c)(3). A bar date serves “the important purpose of enabling the parties to a bankruptcy
case to identify with reasonable promptness the identity of those making claims against the
bankruptcy estate and the general amount of the claims, a necessary step in achieving the goal of
successful reorganization.”
Legal Standard
First Fidelity Bank, N.A., N.J. v. Hooker Invs., Inc. (In re Hooker
Invs., Inc.), 937 F.2d 833, 840 (2d Cir. 1991). It is “akin to a statute of limitations, and must be
strictly observed.” In re Keene Corp.
However, a party may be permitted to file a late proof of claim and have it deemed timely
filed. Bankruptcy Rule 9006(b)(1), provides, in pertinent part: “[W]hen an act is required or
allowed to be done at or within a specified period . . . by order of court, the court for cause
shown may at any time in its discretion . . . permit the act to be done where the failure to act was
the result of excusable neglect.” Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9006(b)(1). The burden to establish
, 188 B.R. 903, 907 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 1995).
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excusable neglect lies with the party seeking to file the late claim. Midland Cogeneration
Venture Ltd. P’ship v. Enron Corp. (In re Enron Corp.)
The Supreme Court set out the parameters of excusable neglect in
, 419 F.3d 115, 121 (2d Cir. 2005).
Pioneer Investment
Services Co. v. Brunswick Associates L.P., 507 U.S. 380 (1993). In that case, the Court held
that excusable neglect is an “elastic concept,” and is not limited to situations where the failure to
timely file was due to circumstances beyond the filer’s control. Pioneer, 507 U.S. at 392.
Rather, “excusable neglect” may encompass situations involving inadvertence, mistake or
carelessness. Id. at 388. However, ignorance of the rules does not usually constitute excusable
neglect. Id.
The determination of whether neglect is “excusable” is an equitable one.
at 392.
Id. at 395. In
reaching its decision, a court will consider all relevant circumstances surrounding the party’s
omission, including “the danger of prejudice to the debtor, the length of the delay and its
potential impact on judicial proceedings, the reason for the delay, including whether it was
within the reasonable control of the movant, and whether the movant acted in good faith.” Id.
In this Circuit, the excuse given for the late filing is given the more weight than the other
at
395.
Pioneer factors. Enron, 419 F.3d at 122 (citing Silivanch v. Celebrity Cruises, Inc., 333 F.3d
355, 366 (2d Cir. 2003)); Mich. Self-Insurers’ Sec. Fund v. DPH Holdings Corp. (In re DPH
Holdings Corp.), No. 05-44481, Adv. Pro. No. 10 Civ. 646 (SAS), 2010 WL 2633698, at *3
(S.D.N.Y. June 30, 2010). Indeed, the other factors are relevant “only in close cases.” Williams
v. KFC Nat’l Mgmt. Co., 391 F.3d 411, 416 (2d Cir. 2004) (discussing excusable neglect in the
context of Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)). The Second Circuit has taken a “hard line” approach in
applying the Pioneer standard. Enron, 419 F.3d at 122; Silivanch, 333 F.3d at 368. “[T]he
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equities will rarely if ever favor a party who ‘fail[s] to follow the clear dictates of a court rule’
and . . . where ‘the rule is entirely clear, . . . a party claiming excusable neglect will, in the
ordinary course, lose under the Pioneer test.”’ Silivanch, 333 F.3d at 366-367 (quoting Canfield
v. Van Atta Buick/GMC Truck, Inc., 127 F.3d 248, 250-251 (2d Cir. 1997)) (alteration in
original).
Neat Heat argues that it did not receive proper notice of the Bar Date because notice was
sent only to Mr. Pandolfo, its litigation counsel. The Debtors argue that Neat Heat received
actual notice of the Bar Date by virtue of the notice given to Mr. Pandolfo.
Discussion
“The Due Process Clause in the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution
requires that creditors receive notice of the filing of the bankruptcy case and the bar date in order
to afford creditors the opportunity to file a proof of claim.” In re Enron Corp., No. 01-16034
(AJG), 2006 WL 898031, at *4 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. Mar. 29, 2006.) A chapter 11 debtor must give
creditors reasonable notice of the bar date. Id.; In re XO Commc’ns, Inc.
Although Mr. Pandolfo did not file a notice of appearance in this case on Neat Heat’s
behalf, he contacted the Debtors in writing, informed them that he represented Neat Heat, and
requested that the equipment be returned to Neat Heat. Debtors’ Opp’n Ex. A. Mr. Pandolfo
also informed the Debtors that Neat Heat was owed for the use of the equipment, and that the
debt was continuing to accrue. Debtors’ Opp’n Ex. A. He further requested that the Debtors
“contact [him] with respect to the foregoing matters.” Debtors’ Opp’n Ex. A. Additionally, it is
undisputed that Neat Heat “engaged the services of Greg Pandolfo, Esq.[,] to assist it in
connection with this matter.” Mot. ¶ 14.
, 301 B.R. 782, 792
(Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2003).
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Although Neat Heat was not directly served with notice of the Bar Date, Neat Heat
received actual notice of the Bar Date because notice was served on Mr. Pandolfo on its behalf.
A “party . . . is considered to have ‘notice of all facts, notice of which can be charged upon the
attorney.’” Pioneer, 507 U.S. at 397 (quoting Link v. Wabash R.R. Co.
Neat Heat argues that the
, 370 U.S. 626, 633-634
(1962)). Therefore, Neat Heat’s argument that it did not receive notice of the Bar Date must be
rejected.
Pioneer
To determine whether a delay is substantial, a court will consider whether the delay will
‘“disrupt the judicial administration of the case.’”
factors weigh in favor of deeming the Claims timely
filed. First, Neat Heat argues that there was a very short delay in filing the Claims.
Enron, 419 F.3d at 128 (quoting In re
Infiltrator Sys., Inc., 241 B.R. 278, 281 (Bankr. D. Conn. 1999)). Courts will also consider
whether the plan of reorganization has already been filed or confirmed. Id. (citing Infiltrator
Sys., 241 B.R. at 281)). Ultimately, however, a court must consider the delay “in the context of
the proceeding as a whole.” Id. “[T]he evaluation of lateness should, at least to some extent, also
take into account the creditor’s explanation for the delay.” Id.
In this case, the length of delay between the Bar Date and the filing of the Claims is not
substantial. The original pre-petition claim was filed approximately one week after the Bar Date,
and the amended claim was filed five days thereafter. This is a brief delay, given that the
Debtors have not yet filed a chapter 11 plan or disclosure statement. Indeed, the Debtors do not
argue otherwise. This factor therefore weighs in favor of granting relief under Bankruptcy Rule
9006(b)(1).
at 129.
However, the most important factor, the reason for the delay, does not weigh in Neat
Heat’s favor. Neat Heat asserts that the delay in filing the Claims was caused by a
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misunderstanding with Mr. Pandolfo regarding who was going to file the Claims. Neat Heat
asserts that it understood that Mr. Pandolfo was going to file the Claims on its behalf, and that
Mr. Pandolfo thought that Neat Heat was going to file the Claims. Mot.¶ 18-19.
Neat Heat asserts that a second error by its counsel contributed to the delay in timely
filing the Claims. In early January 2010, prior to the Bar Date, Mr. Pandolfo instructed his staff
to fax the proof of claim to Neat Heat when he learned that Neat Heat was not served with notice
of the Bar Date directly. Pandolfo Decl. ¶ 11. However, the fax was never sent. Pandolfo Decl.
¶ 11. After expiration of the Bar Date, and upon learning that that the Claims were not filed,
Neat Heat filed the Claims.
Neat Heat’s reason for failing to file the Claims prior to the Bar Date is insufficient to
warrant relief under Bankruptcy Rule 9006(b)(1). The underlying reason for the untimely filing
is law office failure. Counsel undertook representation of Neat Heat in connection with its
claims against the Debtor, and received notice of the Bar Date on his client’s behalf. At that
point, it was incumbent on him either to file the Claims or to make sure that his client was
intending to, and had the necessary form and information to do so. Neat Heat’s mistaken belief
that Mr. Pandolfo was going to file the Claims resulted from counsel’s failure to effectively
communicate with his client. This problem was compounded when Mr. Pandolfo’s office failed
to provide the claim form and Bar Date notice to Neat Heat, evidently leading Neat Heat to
assume that Mr. Pandolfo’s office had taken responsibility for filing the Claims on its behalf.
It is well established that “if a clear deadline is missed due to a law office failure,
including inattention or lack of oversight, an extension is not justified.” In re Musicland Holding
Corp., 356 B.R. 603, 608 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2006). See also Pioneer, 507 U.S. at 398 (giving
“little weight to the fact that counsel was experiencing upheaval in his law practice at the time of
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the bar date”); Enron, 419 F.3d at 126 (noting movant’s weak argument based upon counsel’s
inadvertence); Canfield, 127 F.3d at 251 (“Counsel’s failure to read and obey an unambiguous
court rule-especially when the opposing party told him what the rule said-was not excusable.
And the fact that counsel was preoccupied with his bid for public office does not alter this
conclusion.”); In re Dana Corp., No. 06-10354(BRL), 2008 WL 2885901, at *5 (Bankr.
S.D.N.Y. July 23, 2008) (“[O]ffice mix-ups, clerical mistakes, and failure to follow office
procedures do not generally constitute excusable neglect.”). This is so because “clients must be
held accountable for the acts and omissions of their attorneys.” Pioneer
[The movant] voluntarily chose this attorney as [its] representative
in the action, and [it] cannot now avoid the consequences of the
acts or omissions of this freely selected agent. 	Any other notion
would be wholly inconsistent with our system of representative
litigation, in which each party is deemed bound by the acts of [its]
lawyer-agent and is considered to have “notice of all facts, notice
of which can be charged upon the attorney.”
, 507 U.S. at 396. As
explained by the Supreme Court:
Id. at 397 (quoting Link
Neat Heat argues that the Debtors will not be prejudiced by deeming the Claims timely
filed because the Debtors have not yet confirmed a plan of reorganization, and because this
motion was filed promptly. The Debtors argue that allowing the Claims may open the floodgates
to other parties seeking to file late claims. The Debtors also argue that if the request for payment
of an administrative expense claim is deemed timely filed, the Debtors would object to the
amount sought, thereby incurring costs to the estate.
, 370 U.S. at 633-634).
Courts have considered various factors in determining whether prejudice exists, including
“the size of the late claim in relation to the estate, whether a disclosure statement or plan has
been filed or confirmed with knowledge of the existence of the claim, the disruptive effect that
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the late filing would have on a plan close to completion or upon the economic model upon which
the plan was formulated and negotiated.” Keene, 188 B.R. at 910. Another consideration is
“whether allowing a claim would be likely to precipitate a flood of similar claims.” Enron, 419
F.3d at 130. See also Keene, 188 B.R. at 913. This determination necessarily “involves a certain
amount of crystal ball gazing.” Keene
Here, the Debtors have not proposed a plan, and therefore would be able to take Neat
Heat’s claims into consideration at such time as a plan formulated. To this extent, the Debtors
will not be prejudiced by deeming the Claims timely filed. Additionally, the Debtors’ argument
that it will be forced to litigate the request for payment of the administrative expense on the
merits does not constitute prejudice.
, 188 B.R. at 912.
See Artificial Intelligence Corp. v. Casey (In re Casey)
On the other hand, the Debtors could be prejudiced by “opening the floodgates” to other
claimants. It is certainly possible that there are other claimants who failed to file claims by the
Bar Date, including, potentially, other lessors of equipment to which the Debtors owe debts.
The burden of establishing lack of prejudice lies with the party seeking relief under Bankruptcy
Rule 9006, and Neat Heat “introduced no evidence concerning the number of potential claimants
who might have been prompted to file late claims in the wake of a ruling” in its favor.
, 198
B.R. 918, 923 (Bankr. S.D. Cal. 1996) (“Requiring a debtor to answer and defend an action, by
itself, cannot be seen as prejudice to the debtor sufficient to preclude relief based on excusable
neglect.”).
Enron
However, even in the absence of prejudice, Neat Heat’s motion would fail because, as
discussed above, it received actual notice of the Bar Date and its excuse of law office failure is
not a sufficient basis for finding excusable neglect.
,
419 F.3d at 132.
See Kanoff v. Better Life Renting Corp., No.
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07-2363 (FLW), 2008 WL 4755343, at *3 (D.N.J. Oct. 27, 2008) (no excusable neglect under
Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(5)(A)(ii), because reason for delay was insufficient, notwithstanding “little
prejudice” to adversary), aff’d, 350 F. App’x 655 (3d Cir. 2009). As noted in Keene, “Pioneer
does not stand for the proposition ‘no harm, no foul.’” Keene, 188 B.R. at 909.
For the foregoing reasons, Neat Heat’s motion is denied. A separate order will issue.
Conclusion
____________________________
Carla E. Craig
United States Bankruptcy Judge
Dated: Brooklyn, New York
August 30, 2010
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