In re Tubular Technologies, LLC
In re Tubular Technologies, LLC
Opinion of the Court
ORDER
This matter comes before the Court on the Trustee’s: (1) Application for Authority to Appoint Lewis & Babcock, LLP as Special Counsel Pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 327(e) (“Application”) and (2) Motion to Pay the Necessary Expenses of Litigation as they are Incurred (“Motion”).
The Trustee seeks to employ the law firm of Lewis & Babcock, LLP (“Special Counsel”), pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 327(e), for the purpose of filing a legal malpractice action against Debtor’s former bankruptcy counsel, Todd Boudreaux and Tucker S. Player and/or their respective law firms (the “Malpractice Action”). Section 327(e) permits the Trustee to employ an attorney for a specified special purpose, with the court’s approval, if the employment in the best interest of the estate, and if such attorney does not represent or hold any interest adverse to the debtor or to the estate with respect to the matter on which such attorney is to be employed. No party has objected to the Application. Based on the affidavits and testimony presented, it appears that Special Counsel does not represent or hold an interest adverse to Debtor and that the employment of Special Counsel would be in the best interest of the estate.
The Trustee further requests permission to advance up to $50,000 of the necessary costs of the Malpractice Action to Special Counsel. While the Trustee characterizes this as a request to incur debt under 11 U.S.C. § 364(c)(1), the Court believes this characterization is misplaced. Because the Trustee is requesting permission to use funds from the estate to pay its Special Counsel’s expenses, the Court believes the request is more appropriately analyzed under 11 U.S.C. § 363, which governs the use of estate property by the trustee other than in the ordinary course of business. See 11 U.S.C. § 363(b)(1). Section 363(b)(1) provides that “the trustee, after notice and a hearing, may use ..., other than in the ordinary course of business, property of the estate.” For the Court to approve the Motion, it must determine that a good business reason exists to use the estate’s funds to pay Special Counsel’s expenses. See In re Enron Corp., 335 B.R. 22, 28 (S.D.N.Y. 2005); In re Lionel Corp., 722 F.2d 1063, 1071 (2d Cir. 1983). In making its determination, the Court must consider all of the facts and circumstances and “act to further the diverse interests of the debtor, creditors and equity holders.” Enron, 335 B.R. at 28 (quoting Lionel, 722 F.2d at 1071).
It appears from the record in the case that the Trustee holds approximately $166,000.00 in funds as property of the estate. These funds were acquired as a result of the Trustee’s prosecution of preferential transfer adversary proceedings and the settlement of adversary proceedings against two of Debtor’s former insiders for the recovery of transfers pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §§ 549, 548, and 547. Beyond these funds, the sole remaining asset of the estate appears to be the Malpractice Action. The Trustee projects that there is approximately $350,000.00 in administrative priority claims,
T & B Tube, Inc. (“T & B”), a holder of an administrative priority claim, objects to the expenditure of such a large sum and categorizes the litigation as “highly speculative.” T & B argues that the amount of damages recoverable from the proposed defendants of the Malpractice Action will be difficult to prove and the defendants are not known to be insured. Finally, T & B claims that as a business entity, it is in serious need of the funds and will suffer harm if the distribution: of the funds of the estate is further delayed while waiting for the resolution of the Malpractice Action.
T & B’s concerns are understandable as there is a risk that the Malpractice Action will yield no recovery.
For the foregoing reasons, the Court grants the Trustee’s Application and Motion. To lessen the burden upon administrative claim holders caused by the delay of distribution as a result of the Malpractice Action, the Court would consider by separate order authorizing the Trustee to make $100,000.00 of its estate funds available for immediate distribution to allowed administrative claim holders.
AND IT IS SO ORDERED.
JUDGMENT
Based on the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law as recited in the attached Order of the Court, the Court grants the Trustee’s Application for Authority to Appoint Lewis & Babcock, LLP as Special Counsel pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 327(e) and Motion to Pay the Necessary Expenses of Litigation as they are Incurred.
. By order entered April 4, 2007, Marly P. Ouzts was appointed as the Liquidating Trustee (''Trustee”) for Debtor’s bankruptcy estate. Debtor's confirmed plan provides that Mr. Ouzts will be appointed as the Trustee for the purpose of winding up the affairs of the estate including the settlement of accounts, collection of assets, adjustment of claims, and payment of debts. Although the Motion is styled as Debtor’s Motion, the Trustee is the party who is requesting the relief set forth in the Motion.
. By Consent Order dated April 3, 2007, the Court ordered that T & B Tube, Inc. has an allowed administrative priority claim in the amount of $169,630.81. Debtor’s counsel asserts that the firm of Robinson, McCarthy, Callaway and Johnson holds an administrative claim of approximately $150,000.00, which has not yet been allowed by order of this Court.
. The Court notes that, even if there was no advancement of funds, the Trustee could employ Special Counsel and other professionals, including expert witnesses, to pursue the Malpractice Action and each would likely obtain an administrative claim for expenses that would further dilute the other administrative claimants’ share in the remaining estate funds.
. The Court notes that T & B, as an administrative claim holder, does not have an immediate right to payment of its claim. The timing of the payment of an administrative claim is within the discretion of the bankruptcy court. See In re Colortex Industries, 19 F.3d 1371, 1384 (11th Cir. 1994); In re Bookbinders’ Restaurant, Inc., No. 06-12302, 2006 WL 3858020 (Bankr.E.D.Pa. Dec.28, 2006); In re HQ Global Holdings, Inc., 282 B.R. 169, 173 (Bankr.D.Del. 2002).
. Any interim disbursement is subject to Trustee's right to recover any distribution in excess of the amount that such creditor would be entitled to receive under Debtor's chapter 11 plan following the marshaling of all assets.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- In re TUBULAR TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, Debtors
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published