In Re Elmont Elec. Co., Inc.
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER
(Motion to Extend Time to File Proof of Claim)
By Notice of Presentment, dated February 12, 1997, European American Bank (“EAB”) seeks an order extending the time within which it may file a proof of claim. The Presentment was served upon all creditors and parties in interest, including the Chapter
The salient facts are not in disputе. The Debtor filed a voluntary petition seeking relief under Chapter 7 on April 6, 1995. Schedule D listed EAB as a secured creditor having a lien on all of the Debtor’s assets and a claim in the sum of $71,500. Even though the petition indicated that funds would be available for unsecured creditors, the Clerk issued a “no-asset” notice to all creditors and parties in interest. 1 EAB was among those receiving this notice.
The Chapter 7 Trustee thereafter gave notice of his intention to sell at a public auction certain property of the Debtor, including its inventory, fixtures, machinery, equipment, furniture and supplies. A hearing was held on June 7, 1995 with respect to the Trustee’s motion, which was granted. An Order, dated June 14, 1995, was entered authorizing the proposed sаle of the Debtor’s assets at a public auction. The sale realized the gross sum of $35,878.
By application, dated August 25, 1995, the Trustee sought, and was granted (see Order, dated September 6, 1995), permission to distribute to EAB the net proceeds from the sale of the Debtor’s assets. In his application, the Trustee affirmed that
Substantially all of the physical assets of the debtor corporation were subject to a valid and duly perfected lien by European American Bank____ While not all of the assets were subject to the security interest of EAB, most of them were and by this application the trustee seeks Court approval to make an interim distribution to EAB for their secured claim.
By letter, dated June 25, 1996 (almost one year after the distribution to EAB), the Trustee advised the Clerk of the discovery of assets and requested that notice issue to the “creditors pursuant to Bankruptcy Rules 3002(c)(5) and 2002(f)(3) advising them of the need to file a proof of claim in order for them to participate in any eventual distribution.” Consequently, on June 30, 1996, the Clerk caused a notice titled “Notice of Discovery of Assets” (the “Asset Notice”) to be served upon all creditors and parties in interest, including EAB. The Asset Notice states, in pertinent part:
It now appears that the payment of a dividend may be possible. Creditors must now file claims in order to share in any distribution from the estate. Claims must be filed with the Clerk’s office at the location given below----
Claims must be filed on or before September 26,1996.
Creditors who have previously filed a claim in this case need not file again.
Claims which are not filed on or before September 26, 1996 will not be allowed.
See Asset Notice, dated June 28,1996.
Despite this notice, EAB did not file a proof of claim. In its pending motion, EAB seeks permission to file its claim after the bar date, contending that:
• its failure to file a proof of claim was inadvertent;
• a secured creditor is not required to file a proof of claim, relying upon 11 U.S.C. §§ 502 and 506(d);
• the existence and validity of EAB’s claim аnd lien have been known by all parties in interest and not challenged by anyone;
• the Court authorized the Trustee to make an interim distribution to EAB because of its secured interest in the property that was liquidated;
• Bankruptcy Rule 9006(b)(1) pеrmits the Court to enlarge the time for cause shown and, relying upon
Pioneer Inv. Services Co. v. Brunswick Associates,
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• the relief requested by EAB is “essentially a formality which is ministerial in nature.”
See Motion of EAB, dated February 12,1997.
Despite EAB’s citation to Pioneer (a Chapter 11 case), it appears to have overlooked the Supreme Court’s statement therein that
The “excusable neglect” standard of rule 9006(b)(1) governs late filings of proof of claim in Chapter 11 cases but not in Chapter 7 cases.
One of the time requirements listed as excepted in Rule 9006(b)(3) is that governing the filing of proofs of claim in Chapter 7 cases. Such filings are governed exclusively by Rule 3002(c). See Rule 9006(b)(3); In re Coastal Alaska Lines, Inc.,920 F.2d 1428 , 1432 (CA9 1990). By contrast, Rule 9006(b) does not make a similar exception for Rule 3003(e), which, аs noted earlier, established the time requirements for proofs of claim in Chapter 11 cases.
Similarly, EAB quotes from Bankruptcy Rule 9006(b)(1) as follows: “the court for cause shown may at any time in its discretion ... on motion made after the еxpiration of the specified period permit the act to be done where the failure to act was the result of excusable neglect.” However, EAB omits from its quotation the language which immediately precedes the passage: “Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subdivision ...” (emphasis added). Paragraph (3) of Rule 9006(b) states that the “court may enlarge the time for taking action under Rules ... 3002(c) ... only to the extent and under the cоnditions stated in those rules.”
Bankruptcy Rule 3002(c)(5) provides:
In a chapter 7 liquidation ..., a proof of claim shall be filed within 90 days after the first date set for the meeting of creditors called pursuant to sect. 341(a) of the Code, except as follows:
(5) if notice of insufficient assets to pay a dividend was given to creditors pursuant to rule 2002(e), and subsequently the trustee notifies the court that payment of a dividend appears possible, the clerk shall notify the creditors of that fact and that they may file proofs of claim within 90 days after the mailing of the notice.
In other words, where, as here, the Clerk first issues a “no-asset” notice and thereafter, at the request of the trustee, issues an “asset notice,” together with a bar date, a creditor is obliged to file a proof of claim in order to participate in the distribution of the assets of an estate. By the express words of Bankruptcy Rule 9006(b)(3), the Court may not enlarge that time periоd. The concept of excusable neglect “cannot be imported into the chapter 7 claims context.”
In re Cole,
EAB correctly points out that a secured creditor need not file a proof of claim at all and may simply elect to look to its security, instead of to the estate, for payment of its debt, since “[o]rdinarily, liens and other secured interests survive bankruptcy.”
Farrey v. Sanderfoot,
For these reasons, the Cоurt concludes that where a secured creditor elects to file a proof of claim in order to share in a distribution from the estate, it must do so within the time limits set forth in the Rules.
Cf. In re Macias,
EAB furthеr argues that the Trustee and the Court recognized the legitimacy of its secured claim by the prior order that authorized the interim distribution. While it may appear anomalous, the fact remains that the existence of a lien is nоt tantamount to an allowed claim within the meaning of 11 U.S.C. § 502 and a secured creditor may choose to forego participation in a bankruptcy proceeding, electing to enforce its lien rights in state court. See 11 U.S.C. § 726.
According to EAB’s motion, the Trustee is prepared to make a further distribution of $25,000. 4 The Court recognizes that, as a result of its decision, EAB’s claim may not be allowed (except as a late filed unsecured claim, see sect. 502(b)(9)) and that it may thеrefore not participate in this distribution because of the limited funds available for distribution. Nonetheless, mindful of the teachings of Pioneer and the strictures of Bankruptcy Rule 9006(b)(3), the Court is unaware of any basis upon which it can grant the relief rеquested. The mere fact that no one objected to EAB’s motion is not sufficient. 5
Accordingly, the motion by EAB is hereby denied in its entirety. The Clerk is directed to serve a copy of this Memorandum Decision and Order upon counsel for EAB аnd the Chapter 7 Trustee.
So Ordered.
Notes
. When a debtor indicates on the Summaiy of Schedules that its liabilities exceed its assets, the Clerk will issue a "no-asset” notice regardless of the debtor's statement that there are assets available for distribution. In this instance, the Debt- or’s Summary of Schedules shows that its total liabilities ($539,493) exceeds its total assets ($234,500).
. In its motion, EAB does not specify the nature of its claim and, as a consequence, it is unknown whether EAB is seeking a claim for an unsecured deficiency balance or a claim as to which it has a secured interest. If it is the former, EAB may file a claim that would entitle it to distribution pursuant to section 726(a)(3).
. Nor does the Court believe its holding is inconsistent with
In re Vecchio,
. EAB’s papers do not, significantly, allege that the additional distribution is made of funds which constitute EAB's collateral. The prior distribution, which the Court allowed, was of funds representing the proceeds of EAB's collateral, and not of funds that would have been available for the benefit of unsecured creditors.
. Although not raised by EAB, the Court has considered whether EAB has, in any manner, filed what could be considered an informal proof of claim.
See In re The Float, Inc.,