In re Green
In re Green
Opinion of the Court
REASONS FOR DECISION
This matter came before the Court on the Motion for New Trial filed by River-bend Condominium Association, Inc.
I. Findings of Fact
On July 6, 2012, Torrance T. Green (“Debtor”) purchased a condominium in The Riverbend Condominiums located at 248 Cherokee Street, No. 35C, New Orleans, LA (“the Condo”) for $155,000.00. The Condo is subject to a Declaration Creating and Establishing Condominium Property and Regime (“Condo Declaration”).
Debtor failed to pay certain assessments and was sued in the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans by Riverbend.
On January 4, 2012, the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans rendered a Default Judgment in favor of Riverbend and against Debtor in the amount of $23,303.72 plus the amount of the monthly assessments, late fees, and $1,500.00 attorney’s fees (“the Judgment”). The Judgment also recognized Riverbend’s lien against the Condo.
On June 6, 2012, Debtor filed a voluntary petition for bankruptcy relief under chapter 13 of the United States Bankruptcy Code.
Debtor filed a Motion to Avoid River-bend’s Lien,
After hearing testimony and admitting evidence, the Court valued the Condo at $85,000.00. The Court also found that Debtor did not affirmatively waive the homestead exemption as required by Louisiana law,
Prior to entry of a written order, River-bend filed a Motion of New Trial alleging
II. Law and Analysis
Riverbend filed its Motion for New Trial within five (5) days of the February 7, 2013, hearing. Therefore, even though no written order was entered on the Motion to Avoid Lien, the Court will apply FRBP 9023, which makes applicable FRCP 59 and applies to Motions for New Trial filed within fourteen (14) days of a court order. Therefore, the Motion for New Trial was timely filed.
FRCP 59 provides that the court may grant a new trial “for any reason for which a rehearing has heretofore been granted in a suit in equity in federal court.” Because failure to discuss River-bend’s argument against bifurcation was an oversight, the Court will grant the Motion for New Trial to consider that argument.
The Bankruptcy Code defines three (3) types of liens: 1) “statutory lien,” 2) “judicial lien,” and 3) “security interest.”
The term “statutory lien” means lien arising solely by force of a statute on specified circumstances or conditions, or lien of distress for rent, whether or not statutory, but does not include security interest or judicial lien, whether or not such interest or lien is provided by or is dependent on a statute and whether or not such interest or lien is made fully effective by statute.10 The term “judicial lien” means charge against or interest in property to secure payment of a debt or performance of an obligation.11
The term “security interest” means lien created by an agreement.
Section 1322(b)(2) provides that a plan may:
[Mjodify the rights of holders of secured claims, other than a claim secured only by a security interest in real property that is the debtor’s principal residence, or of holders of unsecured claims, or leave unaffected the rights of holders of any class of claims.
This anti-modification provision applies to security interests on a principal residence that were “bargained for” or consensual.
The association shall have a privilege on a condominium parcel for all unpaid or accelerated sums assessed by the association and interest thereon at the rate provided in the condominium declaration or, in the absence thereof, at the legal interest rate. This privilege shall also secure reasonable attorney fees incurred by the association incident to the collection of the assessment or enforcement of the privilege.15
The Condo Declaration includes a provision similar provision.
The few cases which label condominium liens as either statutory or consensual security interests differ. In re Robinson held that “the Associations lien is a security interest agreed to by the parties and provided for by statute.”
In re Stern
In In re Phillippy,
In re Bland
In re Young
“Because of their very nature and function, security devices should be strictly construed.”
The Condo Declaration is not a “bargained for” agreement such as was contemplated in Nobelman. A condominium association’s privilege is a statutory lien as it takes place by operation of law and is automatic for properties subject to
III. Conclusion
The value of the Condo is $85,000.00. Debtor did not affirmatively waive the homestead exemption as required by Louisiana law,
. Docket no. 71.
. Exhibit 2/7/13, Riverbend 1.
. La. R.S. 9:1121.101 etseq.
. Docket no. 36.
. Exhibit 2/7/13, Riverbend 1, section X.7.
. La. R.S. 47:1711 provides that waiver of the homestead exemption must be in writing and recorded.
. Docket no. 68.
. Automated Clearing House.
. See, FRBP 8002(a).
. 11U.S.C. § 101(53).
. Id. at § 101(36).
. Id. at § 101(50).
. Nobelman v. American Sav. Bank, 508 U.S. 324, 329-330, 113 S.Ct. 2106, 2110, 124 L.Ed.2d 228 (1993).
. La. R.S. 9:1121.101.
. La. R.S. 9:1123.115 (emphasis added).
. Exhibit 2/7/13, Riverbend 1, section X.7.
. In re Robinson, 231 B.R. 30, n. 1 (Bankr.D.N.J. 1997).
. Stern v. Munroe, et al. (In re Stern), 44 B.R. 15 (Bankr.Mass. 1984).
. Phillippy v. Corkscrew Woodlands Assoc. (In re Phillippy), 178 B.R. 67, 70 (Bankr.M.D.Pa. 1994).
. In re Bland, 91 B.R. 421 (Bankr.N.D.Ohio 1988).
. Young v. 1200 Buena Vista Condominiums, et al. (In re Young), 477 B.R. 594 (W.D.Penn. 2012).
. Durham v. First Guaranty Bank of Hammond, 331 So.2d 563, 565 (La.App. 1 Cir. 1976), writ denied, 334 So.2d 431 (La. 1976).
.La. C.C. art. 3288.
.The Court notes that "judicial action taken to enforce a lien does not transform a statutory lien into a judicial lien.” In re Wiltcher, 204 B.R. 488, 491 (Bankr.S.D.Miss. 1996) (citations omitted). Also, "[t]he requirement of a judicial action to enforce the lien and establish its particular priority does not transform its essential character to a judicial lien.” In re Stern, 44 B.R. 15, 18 (Bankr.Mass. 1984). Therefore, the entry of the Default Judgment does not change the nature of the lien.
. La. R.S. 47:1711 provides that waiver of the homestead exemption must be in writing and recorded.
. Automated Clearing House.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- In re Torrance Tremayne GREEN, Debtor
- Cited By
- 4 cases
- Status
- Published