FTE Automotive USA, Inc. v. Old Carco LLC (In re Old Carco LLC)
FTE Automotive USA, Inc. v. Old Carco LLC (In re Old Carco LLC)
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM DECISION GRANTING MOTION TO DISMISS
FTE Automotive US, Inc. (“FTE”) is a defendant in a class action currently pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas (the “Texas Action”). The class representative in the Texas Action has asserted the rights of Old Careo LLC (f/k/a Chrysler LLC) (“Old Chrysler”) and/or the Old Careo Liquidation Trust (the “Liquidation Trust”) to indemnity from of insurance procured by FTE pursuant to a' supplier agreement between FTE and Old Chrysler (the “Supplier Agreement”). FTE initiated this adversary proceeding seeking a declaration that it no longer owes any obligations to
BACKGROUND
The underlying facts are not in dispute. Prior to the commencement of the bankruptcy case, Old Chrysler was engaged in the manufacture of automobiles. (Complaint at ¶ 9.) FTE supplied hydraulic clutch actuation systems that were incorporated into Old Chrysler’s vehicles pursuant to the Supplier Agreement. (Id. at ¶ 8.)
Old Chrysler and affiliated entities
The Court confirmed Old Chrysler’s Second Amended Joint Plan of Liquidation (“Plan ”) on April 23, 2010.
A. The Texas Action
On March 26, 2014, Fernando Verde commenced the Texas Action against Old Chrysler, the Liquidation Trust, FTE and others. Verde alleged that clutch safety devices manufactured and sold by FTE to Old Chrysler and incorporated into certain manual transmission vehicles sold by Old Chrysler between 1994 and 2008 were defective. (First -Amended Complaint and Petition for Class Certification (“Verde Complaint ”), filed May 28, 2014, at ¶¶ Ills.)
In response to the Verde Complaint, the Liquidation Trust filed a notice of the Plan Injunction and the Court’s Confirmation Order. (Complaint at ¶ 27.) By order dated August 13, 2014, the magistrate judge stayed the Texas Action pending a further order of this Court modifying or lifting the Plan Injunction. (Id.)
B. This Adversary Proceeding
On September 8, 2014, FTE initiated this adversary proceeding against Old Chrysler and the Liquidation Trust. The Complaint sought a declaratory judgment that FTE did not owe any obligations to either defendant under the Supplier Agreement, neither defendant had enforceable rights under the Supplier Agreement, FTE was not required to provide liability insurance to or indemnify Old Chrysler or the Liquidation Trust, and the insurance provision in the Supplier Agreement was not “applicable insurance” under the Confirmation Order. (Complaint at 10.)
The Liquidation Trust moved to dismiss the adversary proceeding for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and for failure to state a claim. In the alternative, it asked the Court to abstain or refuse to exercise its discretionary authority to grant declaratory relief. (See Motion of Old Careo Liquidation Trust for the Entry of an Order (I) Dismissing This Adversary Proceeding For (A) Lack of Subject Matter
FTE responded that an actual controversy existed between the parties because the Texas Action raised a question regarding their respective rights and obligations under the Supplier Agreement. (Plaintiff’s Opposition to Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss or Abstain and Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment (“FTE Response”), dated Jan. 12, 2015, at ¶ 13 (ECF Doc. # 14).)
DISCUSSION
The Declaratory Judgment Act of 1934, 28 U.S.C. § 2201, provides in pertinent part:
(a) In a case of actual controversy within its jurisdiction ... any court of the United States, upon the filing of an appropriate pleading, may declare the rights and other legal relations of any interested party seeking such declaration, whether or not further relief is or could be sought. Any such declaration shall have the force and effect of a final judgment or decree and shall be reviewable as such.
The Declaratory Judgment Act “creates a means by which rights and obligations may be adjudicated in cases involving an actual controversy that has not reached the stage at which either party may seek a coercive remedy, or in which the party entitled to such a remedy fails to sue for it.” United States v. Doherty, 786 F.2d 491, 498 (2d Cir. 1986) (internal quotations omitted). Subject matter jurisdiction under the Declaratory Judgment Act is limited to an actual controversy and is coextensive with the case or controversy standard embodied in Article III of the Constitution. See Aetna Life Ins. of Hartford v. Haworth, 300 U.S. 227, 239-40, 57 S.Ct. 461, 81 L.Ed. 617 (1937)). An actual controversy “must be a real and substantial controversy admitting of specific relief through a decree of conclusive character, as distinguished from an opinion advising what the law would be upon a hypothetical state of facts.” Id., 300 U.S. at 241, 57 S.Ct. 461. Often, the difference between an abstract question and an actual controversy is “necessarily one of degree, and it would be difficult, if it would be possible, to fashion a precise test for determining in every
FTE has not met its burden of proving the existence of an actual contro-versy between it and Old Chrysler or the Liquidation Trust regarding their respective rights under the Supplier Agreement. Old Chrysler has gone out of business, and the remaining property in its estate vested in the Liquidation Trust under the Plan. Hence, Old Chrysler has no> further rights against FTE, and whatever it had now belongs to the Liquidation Trust.
Although the Liquidation Trust might have rights against FTE if Old Chrysler retained any rights against FTE relating to insurance or indemnity that vested in the Liquidation Trust under the Plan, the dispute between the Liquidation Trust and FTE is neither immediate nor real. The Liquidation Trust has not asserted or threatened to assert a claim for indemnity or insurance and is not likely ever to do so. It has repeatedly stated on the record that it is not participating in the Texas Action and does not intend to take any action against FTE. (Motion to Dismiss or Abstain at ¶ 10; Jan. 22 Hearing Tr. at 6:15-16 (“[W]e have no position. We’re not asserting any rights.”).) In fact, the whole point of the Insurance Exception was to allow injured parties to name the Liquidation Trust as a nominal party, obtain a judgment and access insurance that the Liquidation Trust did not need.
FTE’s efforts to manufacture adversity fail. It posits that the Liquidation Trust’s refusal to stipulate or agree that Old Chrysler’s rights against FTE were transferred to New Chrysler coupled with its motion to dismiss is proof that the Liquidation Trust is siding with Verde and agrees that FTE has an obligation to insure and/or indemnify with respect to any judgment obtained by- Verde against Old Chrysler. {FTE Response at ¶ 13.) The Liquidation Trust is under no obligation to stipulate to a judgment to resolve an action pending in a court that lacks jurisdiction to enter the judgment in the first place. Moreover, the mere suggestion that such a stipulation would or should be an appropriate resolution of this declaratory judgment action demonstrates the absence of any true controversy or adversity. Accordingly,, the Court concludes that it lacks subject matter jurisdiction over FTE’s declaratory judgment action.
Even where subject matter jurisdiction exists, the Court ha's discretion to decide whether to entertain a declaratory judgment action. Wilton v. Seven Falls Co., 515 U.S. 277, 282, 115 S.Ct. 2137, 132 L.Ed.2d 214 (1995). The factors that guide the exercise of the Court’s discretion include
(1) whether the judgment will serve a useful purpose in clarifying or settling the legal issues involved” and “(2) whether a judgment would finalize the controversy and' offer relief from uncertainty.” ... Other circuits have added additional factors: (3) “whether the proposed remedy is being used merely for ‘procedural fencing’ or a ‘race to res judicata,’ ” (4) “whether the use of a declaratory judgment would increase friction between sovereign legal systems or improperly encroach on the domain of a state or foreign court,” and (5) “whether there is a better or more effective remedy.”
Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. v. Hudson River-Black Water Regulating District, 673 F.3d 84, 105 (2d Cir. 2012) (quoting Dow Jones & Co. v. Harrods Ltd., 346 F.3d 357, 359-60 (2d Cir. 2003)); accord Chevron Corp. v. Naranjo, 667 F.3d 232, 246 (2d Cir. 2012).
All of the factors other than factor no. 4 weigh in favor of exercising the Court’s discretion not to grant declaratory relief. For the reasons stated, a declaratory judgment will not serve a useful purpose because the Liquidation Trust is not and will not assert an indemnity claim against FTE. In addition, a declaratory judgment may not completely resolve the issue or eliminate any uncertainty because Verde is not a party and may not be bound by the declaratory judgment. In fact, it appears that the only reason that FTE brought this proceeding was to obtain a ruling that it could use as precedent against Verde or preclude his claims in the Texas Action and in a similar class action subsequently
The Complaint is, therefore, dismissed. The Court has considered the parties’ other arguments and concludes that they have been rendered moot or lack merit. The parties are directed to settle an' appropriate order on notice.
. Old Chrysler and related debtor entities are referred to collectively as "Old Chrysler.”
. See Motion of Debtors and Debtors in Possession, Pursuant to Sections 105, 363 and 365 of the Bankruptcy Code and Bankruptcy Rules 2002, 6004 and 6006, for (I) an Order (A) Approving Bidding Procedures and Bidder Pro- . tections for the Sale of Substantially All of the Debtors’ Assets and (B) Scheduling a Final Sale Hearing and Approving the Form and Manner of Notice Thereof; and (II) and Order (A) Authorizing the Sale of Substantially AU of the Debtors’ Assets, Free and Clear of Liens, Claims, Interests and Encumbrances, (B) Authorizing the Assumption and Assignment of Certain Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases in Connection Therewith and Related Procedures, and (C) Granting Certain Related Relief, dated May 3, 2009 (“Sale Motion”), at ¶ 41 (ECF/Main Case Doc. # 190.) “ECF Doc. #-” refers to the docket in this adversary proceeding, and "ECF/Main Case Doc. #-” refers to the docket in the bankruptcy case.
. A more detailed discussion of the entire sale process may be found in TRW v. Old Carco Liquidation Trust (In re Old Careo LLC), 529 B.R. 42 (Bankr.S.D.N.Y. 2015) (“TRW”).
. Order Confirming Second Amended Joint Plan of Liquidation of Debtors and Debtors in Possession, as Modified, dated Apr. 23, 2010 (“Confirmation Order”) (ECF/Main Case Doc. # 6875).) A copy of the Plan is attached as Annex I to the Confirmation Order.
. A copy of the Form of Liquidation Trust Agreement is attached as Annex B-l to the Notice of Filing of Plan Exhibit X.A.93C and Revised Plan Exhibits X.A.142, X.A.143 and X.A.189. (ECF/Main Case Doc. # 6787).
. A copy of the Verde Complaint is attached as Exhibit A to the Complaint.
. A copy of Verde’s lift stay motion filed in the Texas, District Court is annexed to the Complaint as Exhibit C.
.A copy of the magistrate judge’s order is attached as Exhibit B to the Complaint. Verde thereafter moved to lift the magistrate judge's stay order. (Complaint at ¶ 28.) On March 13, 2015, the Texas District Court lifted the stay with the Liquidation Trust’s consent. (Order, No. 6:14-cv-225 (E.D.Tex. Mar. 13, 2015) (KNM) (ECF Doc. # 135).).
. The Court stayed briefing on FTE’s cross-motion for summary judgment until resolution of the Motion to Dismiss or Abstain. (Transcript of Hearing Held on Jan. 22, 2015 ("Jan. 22 Hearing Tr.”), at 23:20-22 (ECF Doc. # 19).)
. Unsecured creditors like Verde and the putative class will not receive any distribution under the Plan, see TRW, 529 B.R. 42, 56-57 n. 26, and the Liquidation Trust will not require indemnification or insurance on account of those claims.
. The situation presented to the Court in this proceeding is far different from the actual controversy presented in TRW. There, Mas-quat brought a class action contending that the Chrysler component manufactured by TRW was defective. The Liquidation Trust assigned whatever rights to indemnity it had under Old Chrysler’s Supply Agreements with TRW to Masquat, TRW filed an action solely against the Liquidation Trust to declare that the Liquidation Trust had no right to indemnity, Masquat intervened in the adversary proceeding and moved to dismiss the complaint. Here, the Liquidation Trust has not taken any actions suggesting that it has rights against FTE, and Verde is not before the Court.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- IN RE: OLD CARCO LLC, (f/k/a Chrysler LLC), Debtors. FTE Automotive USA, Inc. v. Old Carco LLC (f/k/a Chrysler LLC) and Old Carco Liquidation Trust
- Status
- Published