U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, 2002

Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors v. Hechinger Property Co.

Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors v. Hechinger Property Co.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit · Decided January 18, 2002 · Niemeyer, King, Gregory
25 F. App'x 181

Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors v. Hechinger Property Co.

Opinion

OPINION

PER CURIAM.

The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Valu Food, Inc., and So-Lo Foods, Inc., appeals from the district court’s order affirming the bankruptcy *182 court’s order granting summary judgment in favor of Hechinger Property Company on its motion for payment of rent as a priority, administrative expense of the estate. This court reviews the judgment of a district court sitting in review of a bankruptcy court de novo, applying the same standards of review that were applied in the district court. Three Sisters Partners, L.L.C. v. Harden (In re Shangra-La, Inc.), 167 F.3d 843, 847 (4th Cir. 1999). Specifically, the bankruptcy court’s factual findings are reviewed for clear error, and legal determinations are reviewed de novo. Loudoun Leasing Dev. Co. v. Ford Motor Credit Co. (In re K & L Lakeland, Inc.), 128 F.3d 203, 206 (4th Cir. 1997). The facts in this case are undisputed; accordingly, review is de novo.

We find that the record supports the bankruptcy court’s conclusion that Hechinger’s rent claim represented an actual and necessary cost of preserving the estate pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 503(b)(1)(A) (1994). Devan v. Simon DeBartolo Group, L.P. (In re Merry-Go-Round Enters., Inc.), 180 F.3d 149 (4th Cir. 1999). Accordingly, we affirm.

AFFIRMED.

Affirmed by unpublished PER CURIAM opinion.

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