In re Okafor
Opinion of the Court
Before this Court is the Debtor's Amended Objection to Notice of Postpetition Mortgage Fees, Expenses and Charges filed by Bank of New York Mellon (the "Bank" or "Creditor"). This is a core proceeding under
I. BACKGROUND
The facts in this case are undisputed. The Debtors' homestead was used as collateral for a loan currently held by the Bank. As of the date of the Debtors' bankruptcy *906filing, they were current on their payments.
The Bank retained Prober & Raphael (the "Attorneys"), a national law firm based in California, to review the Debtors' Plan and prepare the proof of claim. The particular attorneys were not licensed in Missouri nor admitted before this Court.
The Attorneys reviewed the Plan and subsequently filed the Proof of Claim. The Attorneys later filed their Notice of Postpetition Mortgage Fees, Expenses and Charges (the "Notice") in which they request two sets of fees: $550 for preparing the Proof of Claim, and $350 for reviewing the Plan (collectively, the "Attorneys' Fees").
The Debtors begin by pointing out that a proof of claim need not be filed by an attorney as it is often a ministerial act. They then make the following arguments: 1) that there were no triggering events pursuant to either the Promissory Note (the "Note") or the Deed of Trust to authorize payment of the Attorneys' Fees; 2) that the Attorneys failed to comply with Bankruptcy Rule 9010(b) which requires them to file a notice of appearance; 3) that under the Missouri statutes, attorney's fees are restricted to those who are licensed or otherwise admitted in this jurisdiction; 4) that if non-attorneys performed the work, then those fees cannot be collected from the Debtors; 5) that the Bank's action to incur debt to file a proof of claim for an account that was current was not reasonable; and 6) that the Bank's escrow statement lacked the specificity required under Bankruptcy Rule 3001(c)(2)(C).
The Bank counters that the filing and preparation of a proof of claim is not the unauthorized practice of law falling within the Missouri statute or under Rule 9010. It also claims that the bankruptcy filing itself was a triggering event under the Deed of Trust/Security Instrument. Essentially, it argues that the Bank complied with local and national rules and is entitled to be reimbursed for its reasonable fees.
In the Court's view, and as Debtors concede in the amended objection, three questions remain in assessing the claimed attorneys' fees: (1) are the Attorneys' Fees authorized by the Note or Deed of Trust; (2) Did the Attorneys engage in the unauthorized practice of law and therefore, are not entitled to attorneys' fees; and (3) if the Attorneys' Fees are authorized, are the requested fees reasonable? For the reasons set forth below, the Court finds that the Attorneys' Fees are authorized, but the amount requested is not reasonable.
II. DISCUSSION
A. Are the Attorneys' Fees authorized by the Note or Deed of Trust?
Pursuant to Rule 3001(b), a creditor or the creditor's agent [such as the creditor's attorney] may execute a proof of claim. Pursuant to Rule 3002.1(e), the bankruptcy court can "determine whether payment of any claimed fee, expense, or charge is required by the underlying agreement and applicable nonbankruptcy law...."
In this case, the underlying agreement consists of the Note and Deed of Trust. As the Debtors mention, attorneys' fees are authorized under Paragraph 7(E) of the Note only if the Bank accelerates the Note. Since the Debtors were current on their payments, this provision was not triggered. The Bank does not dispute this. However, Paragraph 9 of the Deed of Trust states that if "there is a legal proceeding that might significantly affect Lender's interest in the Property and/or rights under this Security Instrument (such as a proceeding in bankruptcy...), then Lender may do and pay for whatever is reasonable or appropriate to protect *907Lender's interest in the Property and rights under this Security Instrument....Lender's actions can include ...paying reasonable attorney's fees to protect its interest in the Property and/or rights under this Security Instrument, including its secured position in a bankruptcy proceeding."
The plain language of the Deed of Trust authorizes the allowance of attorneys' fees in the case of the Debtors' bankruptcy filing. Debtors argue that the mere filing of the Chapter 13 does not significantly affect Creditor's rights and interest because the account was current. Whether or not the Debtors were in default is irrelevant. The plain language of paragraph 9 states that if there is a legal proceeding that might affect Lender's interest in the property then Lender may do whatever is reasonable to protect its rights. (emphasis added). A bankruptcy filing was specified in paragraph 9 and certainly "might" affect the Lender's interest in the property.
Debtors only cited authority is to In re Rangel ,
This Court agrees that a Chapter 13 case can have a significant effect on a lender's interest in its property or rights under the security agreement. There is always uncertainty surrounding secured property upon the filing of a Chapter 13 case regardless of what the Code says should happen with the property. Debtors often try to do things with the property other than cure and maintain such as sell or pay off the debt. Reviewing the plan and filing a proof of claim are unquestionably appropriate actions to protect a lender's interest in estate property. Thus, under the plain language of the Deed of Trust, the triggering event of the Debtors' filing a Chapter 13 petition authorizes reasonable attorneys' fees.
B. Did the Attorneys engage in the unauthorized practice of law and therefore are not entitled to claim attorneys' fees?
Debtors contend that the Attorneys were engaged in the unauthorized practice of law in Missouri by charging for legal services to review the plan and file a proof of claim while failing to be admitted in this jurisdiction.
"The Bankruptcy Rules and Forms govern procedure in cases under title 11 of the United States Code...and shall be construed to secure the just, speedy, and inexpensive determination of every case and proceeding." Fed. R. Bankr. P. 1001. "The federal courts must be able to exercise this inherent power and make determinations as to what is or is not the practice of law free from the licensing requirements of [state law]." State Unauthorized Practice of Law Comm. v. Paul Mason & Assocs., Inc., et al. ,
Debtors contend that the Attorneys failed to comply with Rule 9010 (a) & (b). Rule 9010 governs the authority of persons or entities to act in bankruptcy proceedings and states in relevant part that a debtor, creditor or other party may appear in a case and act on the entity's own behalf or by an attorney authorized to practice in the court, and that an attorney must file a notice of appearance. This Rule is not applicable here because the Attorneys did not appear before the Court.
Debtors also assert that Western District of Missouri Local Rule 83.5(a) only allows members of the Western District's bar, attorneys admitted pro hac vice , and individuals representing themselves to appear or practice before this District. Other than these rules, Debtors have not provided any authority as to what constitutes the practice of law in Missouri and whether the mere filing of a proof of claim and reviewing a plan are considered practicing law in this district. Debtors cite to an Eastern District of North Carolina bankruptcy case in which the judge outlined a four part test for a creditor to receive attorney's fees, one of which was that the legal services be provided by an attorney admitted to the practice of law in that district and before that court. In re Barrett , 10-0584-8-RDD (Bankr. E.D.N.C. 2011). However, that comment about attorney's fees was merely dicta. The issue was not litigated in the case and no authority was cited for the proposition. Further, the court offered no reasons for its decision. Debtors claim that the factors in that case incorporate what has been outlined in In re Woods Auto Gallery, Inc. ,
The informal opinion provides the following guidance:
QUESTION: Does the preparation, supervision of execution and recording a deed by an out of state lawyer who is not licensed in Missouri constitute the unauthorized practice of law in Missouri? ANSWER: Not if all of the work is done in the other state.
However, this ethics opinion strengthens Lender's argument, not Debtors'. If the preparation and filing of the proof of claim and review of the plan was all done outside of Missouri then it was not the unauthorized practice of law in Missouri by the out of state Attorneys. Similarly, in In re Buck ,
C. Are the requested Attorneys' Fees reasonable?
Because the Court has determined that the documents provide that the Lender can seek attorneys' fees and that the Attorneys did not engage in the unauthorized practice of law and could request fees, it must now determine whether the requested fees are reasonable.
The general rule, pursuant to
Secured creditors are not entitled to be reimbursed for fees incurred in every action taken by their counsel. In re Kroh Bros. Development Co.,
Lender's Attorneys have requested $900.00 in fees for preparing and filing the proof of claim ($550) and reviewing the Chapter 13 plan ($350). These fees were likely flat fee amounts but the Court is not bound by an attorney's flat fees. Debtors contend that filing a proof of claim could be considered a ministerial act and therefore, *910Lender did not need an attorney to perform that task and should not be entitled to attorneys' fees. The Court concedes that there is a split of authority, but Debtors' own cited case finds that the filing of a proof of claim is more than a ministerial act. The Rangel court stated that preparing a proof of claim incorrectly has serious and far-reaching implications and found that retaining an attorney for preparation of a proof of claim is reasonable.
While the Court believes that it was reasonable for the Attorneys to prepare and file a proof of claim and review the plan, it does not believe that $900.00 is a reasonable fee for a large law firm that regularly performs such tasks for lenders. The time and labor involved for these tasks should have been minimal for attorneys specializing in this area and familiar with the procedure. The Attorneys would have needed to gather all account documents, review the documents, calculate claim dates and prepare the proof of claim and review the Chapter 13 plan and determine its effect on Lender's claim. However, there was nothing extraordinary or complex involved in this case and the amount of the claimed fees should be reduced. The Debtors' counsel's fee is $300.00 per hour and the Court finds that a similar rate is appropriate for the Lender's Attorneys. The Court finds that it would not be unreasonable for the legal tasks required to file a proof of claim and review the plan to take one (1) hour each. Thus, the Court finds that fees in the amount of $600.00 ($300.00/hour x 2 hours) is reasonable and will approve Attorneys' fees in such amount.
III. CONCLUSION
For the above reasons, the Court denies in part, and grants in part, Debtors' Amended Objection to Notice of Postpetition Mortgage Fees, Expenses and Charges
This element is not relevant in a Chapter 13 when a creditor is secured solely by the debtor's principal residence. See Rangel ,
Debtors' objection regarding failure to meet escrow documentation requirements, if such statement could be considered an objection, was withdrawn at the hearing.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- IN RE: Francis Umunna OKAFOR and Dorathy Chinyere Okafor, Debtors.
- Cited By
- 3 cases
- Status
- Published