Coleman Enterprises v. QAI, Inc. ( 2002 )

United States Bankruptcy Appellate Panel
FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
__________________________
01-6071MN
__________________________
In re: *
*
Coleman Enterprises, Inc., and *
American Cyber Corporation, *
*
Debtors. *
*
Coleman Enterprises, Inc., and * Appeal from the United States
American Cyber Corporation, * Bankruptcy Court for the
* District of Minnesota
Appellants, *
*
v. *
*
QAI, Inc. and *
Pathfinder Capital, Inc *
*
Appellees. *
_____________
Submitted: March 6, 2002
Filed: March 27, 2002
_____________
Before KOGER, Chief Judge, SCHERMER, and FEDERMAN, Bankruptcy
Judges.
_____________
FEDERMAN, Bankruptcy Judge.
Jointly-administered debtors Coleman Enterprises, Inc. and American Cyber
Corporation (the Debtors) appeal from an Order of the bankruptcy court nullifying
their small- business election and denying their motion to dismiss the bankruptcy
cases. For the following reasons, we affirm the decision of the bankruptcy court to
nullify the small-business election.1 We further find that the portion of the order
denying the motion to dismiss is not a final order, and we deny leave to appeal.
I
ISSUES PRESENTED
1. The Bankruptcy Code allows a business debtor to elect to proceed on
a small-business track, if the debtor’s aggregated, liquidated debt does not exceed
$2,000,000.00. Debtors made a small-business election even though their aggregated,
liquidated debt was in excess of $5,000,000.00. Was the election void ab initio?
2. The bankruptcy court denied Debtors’ motion to dismiss their jointly-
administered Chapter 11 cases. In the Eighth Circuit motions to dismiss can only be
final orders if: (1) the order leaves the bankruptcy court nothing to do save execute
the order; (2) a delay in obtaining review would prevent the aggrieved party from
obtaining effective relief; or (3) a later reversal on that issue would require
recommencement of the entire proceeding. Is denial of Debtors’ motion to dismiss
their bankruptcy cases a final order?
1
The Honorable Gregory F. Kishel, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the District
of Minnesota.
2
II
DECISION
1. Debtors, by definition, were not small businesses at the time they filed their
Chapter 11 petitions. They, therefore, did not satisfy the condition precedent to
making a small-business election, making the election void ab initio.
2. The denial of a motion to dismiss does not remove the bankruptcy court from
further proceedings, does not prevent the losing party from obtaining review at a later
time, and would not result in recommencement of the entire proceeding in the event
of a later reversal. Thus, such an order is interlocutory, and the appellate court has the
discretion to deny leave to appeal the interlocutory order.
III
On August 18, 2000, Coleman Enterprises, Inc. and American Cyber
Corporation filed separate Chapter 11 bankruptcy petitions, and on September 18,
2000, the bankruptcy court entered an order for joint administration of the two cases.
At the time of filing, Debtors elected to proceed as a “small business” under section
1121(e) of the Bankruptcy Code (the Code). The Code permits a debtor to proceed
as a small business if it has less than $2,000,000.00 in noncontingent and liquidated
debt.2 Debtors’ two largest unsecured creditors are QAI and Pathfinder Capital, Inc.
(Pathfinder). On December 18, 2000, QAI filed an unsecured proof of claim in the
amount of $2,629,000.00. On that same date, Pathfinder filed an unsecured proof of
claim in the amount of $321,000.00. On May 7, 2001, both creditors amended their
proofs of claim. QAI increased the amount of its claim to $3,406,252.42, and
Pathfinder increased the amount of its claim to $1,664,545.04. Debtors did not file
objections to these claims.
2
11 U.S.C. § 101(51C).
3
Section 1121(e) of the Code provides that, if a debtor is a small business, by
the definition above, and makes the election to be considered as such, only the debtor
may file a plan for the first 100 days after the case is filed. Moreover, under the small-
business election, all plans have to be filed within 160 days.3 At the end of the 160-
day period no proposed plan of reorganization was on file. In the meantime, Debtors’
financial picture had brightened. Debtors now wish to exit Chapter 11 and deal with
their creditors under applicable state law. But QAI and Pathfinder have proposed their
own plan of reorganization, which they would be free to do in a standard Chapter 11
case.4 QAI and Pathfinder, therefore, filed a motion to abrogate the small-business
election. The United States Trustee filed a motion to dismiss or convert for Debtors’
failure to file a confirmable plan within the time constraints of the small-business
election, and Debtors also filed a motion to dismiss. On May 22, 2001, the
bankruptcy court held a hearing on all three motions, and on September 5, 2001, the
court ruled on two of the three motions. The court held that Debtors were not a small
business, based upon the amount of debt, therefore, it abrogated, or annulled,5 the
small-business election. The court also denied Debtors’ motion to dismiss the case
and allowed the case to proceed as a standard Chapter 11. The court held in abeyance
the United States Trustee’s motion to dismiss or convert until it had determined
whether to confirm the plan proposed by QAI and Pathfinder. Debtors appealed both
the bankruptcy court’s denial of the motion to dismiss and its abrogation of the small
business election.
IV
We first turn to the portion of the order nullifying Debtors’ small-business
election. A bankruptcy appellate panel shall not set aside findings of fact unless
3
11 U.S.C. § 1121(e).
4
11 U.S.C. § 1121(c).
5
Black’s Law Dictionary 2 (Bryan A. Garner, ed. 1996)
4
clearly erroneous, giving due regard to the opportunity of the bankruptcy court to
judge the credibility of the witnesses.6 We review the legal conclusions of the
bankruptcy court de novo.7
In 1994, in order to streamline the reorganization process for smaller
businesses, Congress amended the Code and added sections 101(51C) and 1121(e).8
Section 101(51C) defines a small business as a person engaged in commercial or
business activities, other than real estate, whose debts do not exceed $2,000,000.00.
There are, thus, two eligibility requirements that must be satisfied before a debtor can
elect to proceed under section 1121(e). A small-business debtor’s primary activity
cannot be “the business of owning or operating real property,”9 and the small-
business debtor’s “aggregate noncontingent liquidated secured and unsecured debts”
cannot exceed $2,000,000.00 on the petition date.10
The bankruptcy court found that Debtors’ two largest unsecured creditors, QAI and
Pathfinder Capital, Inc., asserted unsecured claims in these cases in the total amount
of $5,070,797.46.11 That finding is amply supported by the record, and, therefore, we
find it is not clearly erroneous.
Gourley v. Usery (In re Usery), 123 F.3d 1089, 1093 (8th Cir. 1997); O'Neal v.
6
Southwest Mo. Bank (In re Broadview Lumber Co., Inc.), 118 F.3d 1246, 1250 (8th Cir.
1997) (citing First Nat'l Bank of Olathe, Kansas v. Pontow, 111 F.3d 604, 609 (8th
Cir.1997)). Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8013.
First Nat’l Bank of Olathe, Kansas v. Pontow (In re Pontow), 111 F.3d 604, 609
7
(8 Cir. 1997); Sholdan v. Dietz (In re Sholdan), 108 F.3d 886, 888 (8th Cir. 1997).
th
HR Rep. 103-834, 103rd Cong., 2nd Sess. 30; 140 Cong. Rec. H10768 (Oct. 4,
8
1994); Pub. L. 103-394 § 217(d) (effective for all cases commenced after October 22,
1994).
9
11 U.S.C. 101(51C).
10
Id.
11
In re Coleman Enterprises, Inc., 266 B.R. 423, 425 (Bankr. D. Minn. 2001).
5
An election made by a party who does not satisfy the eligibility requirements
for that election is a nullity.12 Section 101(51C) of the Code specifically states that
a business is not considered a small business unless its aggregated and liquidated debt
does not exceed $2,000,000.00.13 Debtors argue that the debt to QAI and Pathfinder
is disputed and subject to a lawsuit in state court. The definition of aggregated and
liquidated debt, however, includes disputed debt.14
The most basic rule of statutory construction is that a statute must be
interpreted to
mean what it says.15 And section 1121(e) of the Code specifically limits the election
to debtors who are, in fact, small businesses:
(e) In a case in which the debtor is a small business and elects to be
considered a small business--16
We find that the election was void ab initio because debtors were not small
businesses as that term is defined by the Code. That finding does not nullify the
Chapter 11 filing itself, just the small-business election. The cases continue as
12
See e.g. Frentz v. Commissioner, 44 T.C. 485, 489 (1965) (holding that the filing
of articles of incorporation is a statutory prerequisite to making an election for sub-
chapter S status, therefore, an election made before the articles of incorporation are filed
is void).
13
11 U.S.C. § 101(51C).
In re Coleman Enterprises, Inc., 266 B.R. at 436 (discussing the inclusion of
14
disputed debt in making an eligibility determination for Chapter 13 and citing Barcal v.
Laughlin (In re Barcal), 213 B.R. 1008, 1012 (8th Cir. B.A.P. 1997) and In re Sitarz, 150
B.R. 710, 725-26 (Bankr. D. Minn. 1993) for that premise).
15
In re Western Steel & Metals, Inc., 200 B.R. 873, 875 (Bankr. S.D. Cal. 1996).
16
11 U.S.C. § 1121(a) (emphasis added).
6
Chapter 11 cases until the bankruptcy court makes a determination to confirm a plan
of reorganization, to convert the cases to Chapter 7, or to dismiss.
Based on the above, we affirm the bankruptcy court, and hold that the small-
business election was void, and of no force and effect.
V
Debtors also appeal the portion of the order denying their motion to dismiss.
Debtors claim that the bankruptcy court erred, as a matter of law, in denying that
motion. As a general rule, an order denying a motion to dismiss is interlocutory.17
Appellate courts have jurisdiction to hear appeals from final orders,18 and from
interlocutory orders with leave of the court.19 A party may only appeal an
interlocutory order by filing both a notice of appeal and a motion for leave to appeal
with the clerk of the bankruptcy court:
(b) APPEAL BY LEAVE; HOW TAKEN. An appeal from an
interlocutory judgment, order, or decree of a bankruptcy judge as
permitted by 28 U.S.C. § 158(a) shall be taken by filing a notice of
appeal . . . accompanied by a motion for leave to appeal prepared in
accordance with Rule 8003.20
17
Dunkley v. Rega Properties, LTD. (In re Rega Properties, LTD.), 894 F.2d 1136,
1138 n. 4 (9th Cir. 1990), citing 1 Collier on Bankruptcy ¶ 507[5], 5-29-30 (Lawrence P.
King, ed., 15th ed. rev. 2001).
18
28 U.S.C. § 158(a)(1).
19
Id. at § 158(a)(3).
20
Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8001(b).
7
(a) TEN-DAY PERIOD. The notice of appeal shall be filed with the
clerk within 10 days of the date of the entry of the judgment, order, or
decree appealed from.21
Debtors in this case filed a notice of appeal, but they did not file a motion for leave
to appeal. Nonetheless, we may consider a timely-filed notice of appeal as a motion
for leave to appeal.22A decision to deny leave to appeal an interlocutory order is
purely discretionary.23 In determining whether a bankruptcy court order is final, the
Eighth Circuit considers three questions. (1) Does the order leave the bankruptcy
court anything to do save execute the order? Here, the bankruptcy court does have
work remaining, namely, to determine whether any plan of reorganization can be
confirmed and, if not, whether the case should then be converted to Chapter 7 or
dismissed. (2) Would a delay in obtaining review prevent the aggrieved party from
obtaining effective relief? Again, the answer is no. Two unsecured creditors have
filed a plan of reorganization, and all of the parties-in-interest have the opportunity
to participate in the confirmation process. If no confirmable plan is possible, the court
can still decide to dismiss the case. But in the meantime, all issues involving the
Debtors and their creditors might be capable of being resolved in a single forum. (3)
Would a later reversal on that issue require recommencement of the entire
proceeding?24 Once more, the answer is no. Other courts that have found that denial
of a motion to dismiss is not a final order, have done so because such an order does
not end the litigation.25 As the court stated in In re Giguere, “denial of a motion to
dismiss, ordinarily, is the ‘antithesis’ of a final order because, instead of terminating
21
Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8002(a).
22
Id. at Rule 8003(c).
Dwyer v. Cohn (In re Dwyer), 244 B.R. 426, 431 (8th Cir. B.A.P. 2000); Moix-
23
McNutt v. Coop (In re Moix-McNutt), 215 B.R. 405, 408-09 (8th Cir. B.A.P. 1997).
24
Stuart v. Koch (In re Koch), 109 F.3d 1285, 1287 (8th Cir. 1997).
25
Kelly, Howe & Scott v. Giguere (In re Giguere), 188 B.R. 486, 488 (D.R.I.
1995).
8
the case or any aspect of it, it allows the matter to proceed.”26 We find that the portion
of the order denying Debtors’ motion to dismiss is an interlocutory order.
We have previously stated that when deciding whether to grant leave to appeal
an interlocutory order it is helpful to apply the standards that govern certification of
interlocutory appeals to the circuit courts.27 According to section 1292(b) of Title 28
of the United States Code, appellate courts have jurisdiction over interlocutory
appeals when the order “‘involves a controlling question of law as to which there is
substantial ground for difference of opinion and . . . an immediate appeal from the
order may materially advance the ultimate determination of the litigation.’”28 Debtors
argue that section 1121(e) requires the court to dismiss a small-business case, as a
matter of law, if no plan of reorganization is on file within 160 days, therefore, as a
matter of law, this case must be dismissed. But as shown above, Debtors’ were not
small businesses, and their small-business election was void ab initio.29 Moreover,
an immediate appeal will not materially advance the ultimate determination of the
litigation. The bankruptcy court continues to process these cases. At some point, that
court will either confirm a plan, convert the cases to Chapter 7, or dismiss them. It is
those determinations that will ultimately resolve the dispute between these parties.
We, therefore, find no basis to allow an appeal of this interlocutory order.
VI
ACCORDINGLY, based on our holding that the small-business election was
void ab initio, we affirm the bankruptcy court’s abrogation of that election. And we
26
Id. (citations omitted).
Ramona Moix-McNutt v. Coop (In re Ramona Moix-McNutt), 215 B.R. 405, 408
27
th
(8 Cir. B.A.P. 1997) (citing 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b)).
28
Id. at 409 n. 6 (quoting 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b)).
29
11 U.S.C. § 1112(b)(4).
9
deny Debtors’ motion for leave to appeal the bankruptcy court’s interlocutory order
denying Debtors’ motion to dismiss their cases.
A true copy.
Attest:
CLERK, U.S. BANKRUPTCY APPELLATE PANEL,
EIGHTH CIRCUIT
10