United States Bankruptcy Court, E. D. New York.
In re Joseph R. and Zobeida M. ACEVEDO, Jr., Debtors.
Bankruptcy No. 880-05282.
March 18, 1981.
Mortgagee bank objected to confirmation of debtors' Chapter 13 plan. The
Bankruptcy Court, C. Albert Parente, J., held that plan providing that mortgage
defaults would be cured by full payment of arrears within 36 months and that
current payments would be made outside the plan did not propose to effect cure
within a reasonable time under Bankruptcy Code, in view of evidence that debtors
were in a position to cure existing defaults in a more expeditious fashion.
Confirmation denied.
West Headnotes
[1] Bankruptcy 3711(4)
51k3711(4) Most Cited Cases
(Formerly 51k3711, 51k1109(9), 51k1109)
Chapter 13 debtors were not precluded from attempting to cure preacceleration
mortgage defaults and reinstate original mortgage payments schedule, even
though, prior to filing of their Chapter 13 petition, state court had entered
final judgment of foreclosure and sale for entire accelerated mortgage balance.
Bankr.Code, 11 U.S.C.A. § § 362, 1322(b)(5).
[2] Bankruptcy 3711(5)
51k3711(5) Most Cited Cases
(Formerly 51k3708, 51k1109(6), 51k1109)
To pass muster, a Chapter 13 plan taking advantage of Bankruptcy Code's curative
provisions must propose to effect cure within a reasonable time; question of
whether proposed cure period is "reasonable" depends upon facts of a given
situation, and factors to be considered include amount in arrears, nature of
obligation, nature of property held as security, if any, and degree of debtor's
effort to effect prompt cure. Bankr.Code, 11 U.S.C.A. § 1322(b)(5).
[3] Bankruptcy 3711(5)
51k3711(5) MostCited Cases
(Formerly 51k3708, 51k1109(6), 51k1109)
Bankruptcy Code section allowing Chapter 13 debtor to propose payment plan of up
to three years' duration does not implicitly permit debtor to effect cure of
mortgage arrears over three-year period of time. Bankr.Code, 11 U.S.C.A. §
1322(b)(5), (c).
[4] Bankruptcy 3711(5)
51k3711(5) Most Cited Cases
(Formerly 51k3711, 51k1109(9), 51k1109)
Chapter 13 plan proposing that mortgage defaults would be cured by full payment
of arrears within 36 months and that current payments would be made outside the
plan did not propose to effect cure within a "reasonable time" under Bankruptcy
Code, in view of evidence that debtors had $202.02 of uncommitted income per
month and were therefore in a position to cure existing defaults in a more
expeditious fashion. Bankr.Code, 11 U.S.C.A. § 1322(b)(5).
*853 Donner, Fagelson, Hariton & Berka, P.C., Bay Shore, N. Y., for debtors.
Cullen & Dykman, Brooklyn, N. Y., for Brooklyn Sav. Bank.
Kenneth Kirschenbaum, Garden City, N. Y., Trustee.
C. ALBERT PARENTE, Bankruptcy Judge.
Brooklyn Savings Bank (hereinafter "bank") objects to the confirmation of the
debtors' Chapter 13 plan. The bank alleges that the plan is statutorily
defective under Section 1325(a)(5) of the Bankruptcy Code in that it fails to
provide for the full satisfaction over the term of the plan pursuant to a state
court foreclosure judgment.
Factual Background
The bank is the assignee of a first mortgage on the debtors' principal place of
residence, known as 54 Glenmore Avenue, Central Islip, New York. The mortgage
was taken to secure a loan in the principal sum of $26,500 together with
interest at 81/2 percent per annum. The term was to run from October 1, 1976,
to October 1, 2006. Following the initial installment of $18.77, equal monthly
installments of $203.79, inclusive of interest, were to be paid over this
period.
Since September 1, 1979, the debtors have failed to effect payment in
accordance with the terms of the mortgage. After exercising its right to
accelerate the entire outstanding balance, the mortgagee, on April 1, 1980,
commenced a foreclosure action in the Supreme Court of the State of New York,
County of Suffolk. The state court granted a default judgment in favor of the
bank and referred the matter to a Referee to compute the amount due and to
determine whether the premises could be partitioned. The Referee's report of
July 18, 1980, set the amount then due at $29,249.01 and determined that the
premises could not be partitioned.
On August 29, 1980, the state court granted final judgment of foreclosure and
sale in accordance with the Referee's findings.
The debtors filed for relief under Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code on
September 5, 1980. By virtue of the automatic stay imposed by Section 362, 11
U.S.C. Section 362 (Supp. III 1979), the bank is currently prevented from
enforcing the state court judgment.
The plan submitted by the debtors provides inter alia that the mortgage
defaults will be cured by full payment of arrears within 36 months and that
current payments will be made outside the plan. The bank objects to
confirmation on the ground that the plan fails to provide for payment of the
fully accelerated mortgage balance over the term of the plan.
Issues
The bank's objection to confirmation presents two issues for the Court's
determination:
(1) May the debtors attempt to cure the pre-acceleration mortgage defaults and
reinstate the original mortgage payment schedule where prior to the filing of
their Chapter 13 petition, a state court had entered a final judgment of
foreclosure and sale for the entire accelerated mortgage balance.
(2) Whether the proposed cure comports with the requirements of Section
1322(b)(5).
Curing Pre-Acceleration Defaults
(1) This Court has recently addressed the issue of post-acceleration cure in In
re Taddeo, 9 B.R. 299 (Bkrtcy.E.D.N.Y. 1981). In Taddeo, this Court held that
Chapter 13 debtors may attempt, pursuant to Section 1322(b)(5), to cure pre-
acceleration mortgage arrears and reinstate the original payment schedule of
their mortgage, notwithstanding the existence of a state court foreclosure.
Thus, the debtors herein may *854 properly put forth a plan which proposes such
cure of defaults and reinstatement of the original mortgage payment schedule.
The Adequacy of the Proposed Cure
(2) To pass muster, a plan taking advantage of the curative provisions of
Section 1322(b)(5) must propose to effect cure within a "reasonable time." 11
U.S.C. Section 1322(b)(5). Obviously, the question of whether the proposed cure
period is "reasonable" must depend upon the facts of the given situation. See,
In re Coleman, 2 B.R. 348, 1 C.B.C.2d 530 (Bkrtcy.W.D.Ky.1980), aff'd, 5 B.R.
812, 3 C.B.C.2d 736 (D.C.W.D.Ky.1980); In re King, 7 B.R. 110, 3 C.B.C.2d 109
(Bkrtcy.S.D.Cal.1980).
(3) Although Section 1322(c) allows a Chapter 13 debtor to propose a payment
plan of up to three years' duration, that section is not to be construed as
implicitly permitting a debtor to effect cure under Section 1322(b)(5) over a
three year period of time. See, Coleman, supra, 2 B.R. 348, 1 C.B.C.2d at 532;
King, supra, 7 B.R. 110, 3 C.B.C.2d at 112.
Factors to be considered in determining the reasonableness of a proposed cure
include: (1) the amount in arrears; (2) the nature of the obligation; (3) the
nature of the property held as security, if any; and (4) the degree of the
debtor's effort to effect prompt cure.
(4) In the schedules annexed to their Chapter 13 petition, the debtors list
their anticipated future income as $1,922.49 per month, and their monthly
expenses, including current mortgage payments, as $1,469.00. After allowing for
the monthly sum of $251.47 to be paid under the plan, this leaves the debtors
with $202.02 of uncommitted income per month. It therefore appears that the
debtors are in a position to cure the existing defaults in a more expeditious
fashion.
Conclusion
The Court finds that the proposed three-year curative period is not
"reasonable" under the facts of the present case. Thus, the debtors' plan in
its present form is defective under Section 1322(b)(5) and cannot be confirmed.
The Court further finds that under the present facts, a reasonable curative
period would be one not in excess of eighteen months. The debtors are hereby
granted fifteen days to file an amended plan which comports with the findings of
this Court.
Settle order.
9 B.R. 852, 4 Collier Bankr.Cas.2d 178, Bankr. L. Rep. P 67,967
END OF DOCUMENT
United States Bankruptcy Court, E. D. New York.In re Joseph R. and Zobeida M. ACEVEDO, Jr., Debtors.
Bankruptcy No. 880-05282.
March 18, 1981.
Mortgagee bank objected to confirmation of debtors' Chapter 13 plan. The Bankruptcy Court, C. Albert Parente, J., held that plan providing that mortgage defaults would be cured by full payment of arrears within 36 months and that current payments would be made outside the plan did not propose to effect cure within a reasonable time under Bankruptcy Code, in view of evidence that debtors were in a position to cure existing defaults in a more expeditious fashion.
Confirmation denied.
West Headnotes
[1] Bankruptcy 3711(4)51k3711(4) Most Cited Cases (Formerly 51k3711, 51k1109(9), 51k1109)
Chapter 13 debtors were not precluded from attempting to cure preacceleration mortgage defaults and reinstate original mortgage payments schedule, even though, prior to filing of their Chapter 13 petition, state court had entered final judgment of foreclosure and sale for entire accelerated mortgage balance. Bankr.Code, 11 U.S.C.A. § § 362, 1322(b)(5).
[2] Bankruptcy 3711(5)51k3711(5) Most Cited Cases (Formerly 51k3708, 51k1109(6), 51k1109)
To pass muster, a Chapter 13 plan taking advantage of Bankruptcy Code's curative provisions must propose to effect cure within a reasonable time; question of whether proposed cure period is "reasonable" depends upon facts of a given situation, and factors to be considered include amount in arrears, nature of obligation, nature of property held as security, if any, and degree of debtor's effort to effect prompt cure. Bankr.Code, 11 U.S.C.A. § 1322(b)(5).
[3] Bankruptcy 3711(5)51k3711(5) MostCited Cases (Formerly 51k3708, 51k1109(6), 51k1109)
Bankruptcy Code section allowing Chapter 13 debtor to propose payment plan of up to three years' duration does not implicitly permit debtor to effect cure of mortgage arrears over three-year period of time. Bankr.Code, 11 U.S.C.A. § 1322(b)(5), (c).
[4] Bankruptcy 3711(5)51k3711(5) Most Cited Cases (Formerly 51k3711, 51k1109(9), 51k1109)
Chapter 13 plan proposing that mortgage defaults would be cured by full payment of arrears within 36 months and that current payments would be made outside the plan did not propose to effect cure within a "reasonable time" under Bankruptcy Code, in view of evidence that debtors had $202.02 of uncommitted income per month and were therefore in a position to cure existing defaults in a more expeditious fashion. Bankr.Code, 11 U.S.C.A. § 1322(b)(5). *853 Donner, Fagelson, Hariton & Berka, P.C., Bay Shore, N. Y., for debtors.
Cullen & Dykman, Brooklyn, N. Y., for Brooklyn Sav. Bank.
Kenneth Kirschenbaum, Garden City, N. Y., Trustee.
C. ALBERT PARENTE, Bankruptcy Judge.
Brooklyn Savings Bank (hereinafter "bank") objects to the confirmation of the debtors' Chapter 13 plan. The bank alleges that the plan is statutorily defective under Section 1325(a)(5) of the Bankruptcy Code in that it fails to provide for the full satisfaction over the term of the plan pursuant to a state court foreclosure judgment.
Factual Background
The bank is the assignee of a first mortgage on the debtors' principal place of residence, known as 54 Glenmore Avenue, Central Islip, New York. The mortgage was taken to secure a loan in the principal sum of $26,500 together with interest at 81/2 percent per annum. The term was to run from October 1, 1976, to October 1, 2006. Following the initial installment of $18.77, equal monthly installments of $203.79, inclusive of interest, were to be paid over this period.
Since September 1, 1979, the debtors have failed to effect payment in accordance with the terms of the mortgage. After exercising its right to accelerate the entire outstanding balance, the mortgagee, on April 1, 1980, commenced a foreclosure action in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of Suffolk. The state court granted a default judgment in favor of the bank and referred the matter to a Referee to compute the amount due and to determine whether the premises could be partitioned. The Referee's report of July 18, 1980, set the amount then due at $29,249.01 and determined that the premises could not be partitioned.
On August 29, 1980, the state court granted final judgment of foreclosure and sale in accordance with the Referee's findings.
The debtors filed for relief under Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code on September 5, 1980. By virtue of the automatic stay imposed by Section 362, 11 U.S.C. Section 362 (Supp. III 1979), the bank is currently prevented from enforcing the state court judgment.
The plan submitted by the debtors provides inter alia that the mortgage defaults will be cured by full payment of arrears within 36 months and that current payments will be made outside the plan. The bank objects to confirmation on the ground that the plan fails to provide for payment of the fully accelerated mortgage balance over the term of the plan.
Issues
The bank's objection to confirmation presents two issues for the Court's determination:
(1) May the debtors attempt to cure the pre-acceleration mortgage defaults and reinstate the original mortgage payment schedule where prior to the filing of their Chapter 13 petition, a state court had entered a final judgment of foreclosure and sale for the entire accelerated mortgage balance.
(2) Whether the proposed cure comports with the requirements of Section 1322(b)(5).
Curing Pre-Acceleration Defaults
(1) This Court has recently addressed the issue of post-acceleration cure in In re Taddeo, 9 B.R. 299 (Bkrtcy.E.D.N.Y. 1981). In Taddeo, this Court held that Chapter 13 debtors may attempt, pursuant to Section 1322(b)(5), to cure pre-acceleration mortgage arrears and reinstate the original payment schedule of their mortgage, notwithstanding the existence of a state court foreclosure. Thus, the debtors herein may *854 properly put forth a plan which proposes such cure of defaults and reinstatement of the original mortgage payment schedule.
The Adequacy of the Proposed Cure
(2) To pass muster, a plan taking advantage of the curative provisions of Section 1322(b)(5) must propose to effect cure within a "reasonable time." 11 U.S.C. Section 1322(b)(5). Obviously, the question of whether the proposed cure period is "reasonable" must depend upon the facts of the given situation. See, In re Coleman, 2 B.R. 348, 1 C.B.C.2d 530 (Bkrtcy.W.D.Ky.1980), aff'd, 5 B.R. 812, 3 C.B.C.2d 736 (D.C.W.D.Ky.1980); In re King, 7 B.R. 110, 3 C.B.C.2d 109 (Bkrtcy.S.D.Cal.1980).
(3) Although Section 1322(c) allows a Chapter 13 debtor to propose a payment plan of up to three years' duration, that section is not to be construed as implicitly permitting a debtor to effect cure under Section 1322(b)(5) over a three year period of time. See, Coleman, supra, 2 B.R. 348, 1 C.B.C.2d at 532; King, supra, 7 B.R. 110, 3 C.B.C.2d at 112.
Factors to be considered in determining the reasonableness of a proposed cure include: (1) the amount in arrears; (2) the nature of the obligation; (3) the nature of the property held as security, if any; and (4) the degree of the debtor's effort to effect prompt cure.
(4) In the schedules annexed to their Chapter 13 petition, the debtors list their anticipated future income as $1,922.49 per month, and their monthly expenses, including current mortgage payments, as $1,469.00. After allowing for the monthly sum of $251.47 to be paid under the plan, this leaves the debtors with $202.02 of uncommitted income per month. It therefore appears that the debtors are in a position to cure the existing defaults in a more expeditious fashion.
Conclusion
The Court finds that the proposed three-year curative period is not "reasonable" under the facts of the present case. Thus, the debtors' plan in its present form is defective under Section 1322(b)(5) and cannot be confirmed.
The Court further finds that under the present facts, a reasonable curative period would be one not in excess of eighteen months. The debtors are hereby granted fifteen days to file an amended plan which comports with the findings of this Court.
Settle order.
9 B.R. 852, 4 Collier Bankr.Cas.2d 178, Bankr. L. Rep. P 67,967
END OF DOCUMENT