In Re Lyons

381 B.R. 444 | Bankr. S.D.N.Y. | 2008

381 B.R. 444 (2008)

In re James F. LYONS, III, Debtor.

No. 07-35795 (cgm).

United States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. New York.

January 30, 2008.

Arthur Winston, Winston & Winston, P.C., New York, NY, for Caraleasing Inc.

Thomas Genova, Genova & Malin, Wappingers Falls, NY, for Debtor.

MEMORANDUM DECISION ON OBJECTION TO DEBTOR'S CLAIM OF EXEMPTION

CECELIA G. MORRIS, Bankruptcy Judge.

Creditor Caraleasing Inc. ("Caraleasing") objects to this Chapter 11 Debtor's claim that eight annuity contracts with an aggregate value of approximately $6.4 million^[1] (the "Annuities") listed in Amended Schedule C to the Debtor's petition are fully exempt. The Court finds that under New York's exemption scheme, specifically New York Insurance Law § 3212(d)(1), the Annuities are at least partially exempt. Insurance Law § 3212(d)(2) provides that:

[T]he court may order the annuitant to pay to a judgment creditor or apply on the judgment in installments, a portion of such benefits that appears just and proper to the court, with due regard for the reasonable requirements of the judgment debtor and his family, if dependent upon him, as well as any payments required to be made by the annuitant to other creditors under prior court orders.

An evidentiary hearing is necessary in this case to determine whether it is "just and proper" in this case to order the Debtor to pay a portion of the Annuities to creditors through his Chapter 11 plan, taking into account the "reasonable requirements" of the Debtor and his dependents.

Jurisdiction

This Court has subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1334(a), 28 U.S.C. § 157(a) and the Standing Order of Reference signed by Acting Chief Judge Robert J. Ward dated July 10, 1984. This is a "core proceeding" under 28 "U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(B) ("allowance or disallowance of claims against the estate or exemptions from property of the estate").

Background^[2]

The Debtor commenced this case by filing a voluntary petition under Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code on May 31, 2007. Thereafter, the Debtor voluntarily sought conversion of the case to Chapter 11, which was approved by order dated September 25, 2007 (Electronic Case Filing ("ECF") Docket No. 22).

The Debtor suffered a serious workplace injury in 1993, resulting in the loss of a leg and other severe injuries. See Debtor's "Response to Objection to Exemption of Annuities" (ECF Docket No. 50; hereafter, "Debtor's Response"), ¶ 3. The Debtor commenced a personal injury suit against certain defendants, which resulted in a "Settlement Agreement and Release," dated May 5, 1999, between the Debtor and the defendants' insurer and underwriters (Exhibit B to the Debtor's Response; hereafter, the "Settlement Agreement"). The Settlement Agreement provided for payment to the Debtor of immediate cash of $2.8 million and periodic payments over a 24-year period. As contemplated in the Settlement Agreement, the insurers and underwriters made "`qualified assignments' within the meaning of Section 130(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended, of the . . . liability to make the periodic, payments." Exhibits A and B to the Settlement Agreement reflect that the insurers' and underwriters' liabilities were assumed and assigned to eight different assignees, with each to provide future payments of between $34,243 and $36,254 per year, compounding 3% annually, commencing May 5, 2000 and continuing up to May 5, 2023. In turn, as provided in the Settlement Agreement, the Assignees funded their liability to make periodic payments by purchasing annuity policies. These are the Annuities that the Debtor lists in Amended Schedule C (ECF Docket No. 32) as fully exempt pursuant to the New York Debtor & Creditor Law (hereafter, "DCL") § 283(1).

Debtor's Amended Schedules I and J, filed on October 12, 2007, reflect monthly income and expenses of $18,267.88 and $17,568.89, respectively, resulting in monthly net income of $698.90 (ECF Docket No. 32). In the "Chapter 11 Statement of Current Monthly Income" (Official Form 22B) filed on October 19, 2007, the Debtor reports as income an "Annuity Payment" of $43,276.04 (ECF Docket No. 36). In the Debtor's Statement of Financial Affairs, Item 2, the Debtor reports income of $344,855.13 for 2006, consisting of "Disability Income" of $11,544 and "Annuity Income" of $333,311.13.

According to the Debtor's "Affidavit Under Local Bankruptcy Rule 1007-2" (ECF Docket No. 30):

The debtor's financial difficulties have been caused by the following circumstances: a business dispute regarding a taxi service business which led to a lawsuit commenced by the debtor's former business partner and the seizure of certain assets of the debtor.

The Debtor reveals in Item 4.b of the Statement of Financial Affairs that in May 2007 a creditor, William Boyar, obtained a restraining notice and preliminary injunction in Massachusetts state court against one of the Assignees, restraining one of the Annuities. The Assignee commenced an interpleader action in this Court against the Debtor, Boyar and other defendants, and the parties recently agreed to a settlement by which Boyar agreed not to enforce the restraining notice and vacate the preliminary, injunction. See Adv. Proc. No. 07-9035, ECF Docket No. 12.

Caraleasing is listed as an unsecured creditor in Amended Schedule F to the Debtor's petition with a claim of $68,914.64 for "Deficiencies on early return leased vehicles." Caraleasing filed an unsecured, non-priority proof of claim in this case for $72,157.39, arising from monies due under six vehicle leases between Caraleasing, as the lessor, and Accessible Disability Van Rentals of New York, Inc., as lessee. The Debtor signed for the lessee as guarantor. It does not appear that Caraleasing has commenced litigation or obtained a judgment against the Debtor for the amounts asserted in its proof of claim.

Caraleasing filed an objection to the Debtor's claim of exemption (ECF Docket No. 46; "Objection"), contending among other things that: "The DCL does not allow annuities to be completely excluded from the bankruptcy estate. Only the amount the debtor reasonably needs to live on is exempt." Objection, ¶ 2. Caraleasing submitted a Reply (ECF Docket No. 51) to the Debtor's Response, as well as a Supplemental Reply. (ECF' Docket No. 52).

Discussion

As set forth in 11 U.S.C. § 541, the filing of a bankruptcy petition creates an estate. Section 541(a)(1) states that, "[e]xcept as provided in [Section 541(b) and (c)(2) 1, all legal or equitable interests of the debtor in property as of the commencement of the case" are included as property of the estate. Here, the parties appear to be in agreement that the Annuities constitute property of the estate.^[3] Section 522(b) of the Bankruptcy Code permits individuals to "exempt from property of the estate" the property exempt under applicable state or local law or under the federal exemption scheme set forth in 11 U.S.C. § 522(d). Because New York has "opted out" of the federal exemption scheme, residents of this state can only claim the bankruptcy exemptions permitted by New York law. See DCL § 284; 11 U.S.C. § 522(b)(2). Thus, the Court must decide whether the Annuities are exempt under New York law, either in whole or in part.

The hub of New York's exemption scheme is DCL § 282, captioned "Permissible exemptions in bankruptcy":

Under section five hundred twenty-two of title eleven of the United States Code, entitled "Bankruptcy", an individual debtor domiciled in this state may exempt from the property of the estate, to the extent permitted by subsection (b) thereof, only (i) personal and real property exempt from application to the satisfaction of money judgments under sections fifty-two hundred five and fifty-two hundred six of the civil practice law and rules, (ii) insurance policies and annuity contracts and the proceeds and avails thereof as provided in section three thousand two hundred twelve of the insurance law and (iii) the following property:

1. Bankruptcy exemption of a motor vehicle. One motor vehicle not exceeding twenty-four hundred dollars in value above liens and encumbrances of the debtor.

2. Bankruptcy exemption for right to receive benefits. The debtor's right to receive or the debtor's interest in: (a) a social security benefit, unemployment compensation or a local public assistance benefit; (b) a veterans' benefit; (c) a disability; illness, or unemployment benefit; (d) ;alimony, support, or separate maintenance, to the extent reasonably necessary for the support of the debtor and any dependent of the debtor; and (e) all payments under a stock bonus, pension, profit sharing, or similar plan or contract on account of illness, disability, death, age, or length of service unless (i) such plan or contract, except those qualified under section 401, 408 or 408A of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, was established by the debtor or under the auspices of an insider that employed the debtor at the time the debtor's rights under such plan or contract arose, (ii) such plan is on account of age or length of service, and (iii) such plan or contract does not qualify under section four hundred one (a), four hundred three (a), four hundred three (b), four hundred eight, four hundred eight A, four hundred nine or four hundred fifty-seven of the Internal Revenue Code of nineteen hundred eighty-six, as amended.

3. Bankruptcy exemption for right to receive certain property. The debtor's right to receive, or property that is traceable to: (i) an award under a crime victim's reparation law; (ii) a payment on account of the wrongful death of an individual of whom the debtor was a dependent to the extent reasonably necessary for the support of the debtor and any dependent of the debtor; (iii) a payment, not to exceed seventy-five hundred dollars on account of personal bodily injury, not including pain and suffering or compensation for actual pecuniary loss, of the debtor or an individual of whom the debtor is a dependent; and (iv) a payment in compensation of loss of future earnings of the debtor or an individual of whom the debtor is or was a dependent, to the extent reasonably necessary for the support of the debtor and any dependent of the debtor.

(emphasis added).

Caraleasing first argues that DCL § 283(1), the section immediately following DCL § 282, applies here and limits exemption of the Annuities to $5,000. Caraleasing's citation to this section is understandable as this is the legal basis for the exemption cited by the Debtor in Amended Schedule C. A careful reading of DCL § 283(1) shows that it is inapplicable to the Annuities in this case:

§ 283. Aggregate individual bankruptcy exemption for certain annuities and personal property

1. General application. The aggregate amount the debtor may exempt from the property of the estate for personal property exempt from application to the satisfaction of a money judgment under subdivision (a) of section fifty-two hundred five of the civil practice law and rules and for benefits, rights, privileges, and options of annuity contracts described in the following sentence shall not exceed five thousand dollars. Annuity contracts subject to the foregoing limitation are those that are: (a) initially purchased by the debtor within six months of the debtor's filing a petition in bankruptcy, (b) not described in any paragraph of section eight hundred five (d) of the Internal Revenue Code of nineteen hundred fifty-four, and (c) not purchased by application of proceeds under settlement options of annuity contracts purchased more than six months before the debtor's filing a petition in bankruptcy or under settlement options of life insurance policies.

(emphasis added). The Annuities at issue in this case were not purchased by the Debtor within six months of the petition, and originated from the Settlement Agreement executed eight years ago. Accordingly, the $5,000 limitation in DCL § 283(1) does not apply to the Annuities in this case.

DCL § 282 directs the reader to other New York statutes, including Sections 5205 and 5206 of the New York Civil Practice Law and Rules ("CPLR"), and New York Insurance Law § 3212. CPLR 5206 deals with real property and is not applicable here. CPLR. 5205 is captioned "Personal property exempt from application to the satisfaction of money judgments," and addresses certain types of trusts, including annuity contracts, in subsection (c), which provides in relevant part:

(c) Trust exemption. 1. Except as provided in paragraphs four and five of this subdivision, all property while held in trust for a judgment debtor, where the trust has been created by, or the fund so held in trust has proceeded from, a person other than the judgment debtor, is exempt from application to the satisfaction of a money judgment.

* * *

4. This subdivision shall not impair any rights an individual has under a qualified domestic relations order as that term is defined in section 414(p) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended or under any order of support, alimony or maintenance of any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce arrears/past due support whether or not such arrears/past due support have been reduced to a money judgment.

5. Additions to an asset described in paragraph two of this subdivision shall not be exempt from application to the satisfaction of a money judgment if (i) made after the date that is ninety days before the interposition of the claim on which such judgment was entered, or (ii) deemed to be fraudulent conveyances under article ten of the debtor and creditor law.

The parties agree that under New York law, release from personal injury claims is "valuable consideration" and any resulting settlement, such as the Settlement Agreement in this Case, is deemed to derive from consideration paid by the injured party. In re Tappan, 277 B.R. 491 (Bankr.W.D.N.Y.2002); see also In re Lynch, 321 B.R. 114, 118 (Bankr.S.D.N.Y. 2005). Thus, CPLR 5205(c) is inapplicable to the Annuities in this case because it focuses on a trust that "proceeded from, a person other than the judgment debtor."

In In re Tappan, Judge Carl L. Bucki held that the Debtor "paid the consideration for" an annuity such as the one in this case (where the debtor received the annuity by releasing her personal injury claims), bringing it within the language of Insurance Law § 3212(d)(1) and deeming the annuity "exempt from administration by the [bankruptcy] trustee." 277 B.R. at 492.

The language of Insurance Law § 3212(d)(1) speaks not simply to the payment of an annuity premium, but broadly to the payment of consideration.

Id. By releasing her personal injury claims, the debtor in Tappan was held to have paid consideration for the annuity contract of which she was a beneficiary.^[4] "Others may be said to have paid consideration, but such characterization will not negate the debtor's entitlement to exempt rights under an annuity contract for which she also paid consideration." Id.

Because the parties agree that the Debtor provided the consideration for the Annuities, the applicable exemption statute is New York Insurance Law § 3212, captioned "Exemption of proceeds and avails of certain insurance and annuity contracts," which provides in relevant part:

(a) In this section:

* * *

(2) An annuity contract includes any obligation to pay certain sums at stated times, during life or lives, or for a specified term or terms, issued for a valuable consideration, regardless of whether such ,sums are payable to one or more persons, jointly or otherwise, but does not include payments under a life insurance policy at stated times during life or lives, or for a specified term or terms.

* * *

(d)(1) The benefits, rights, privileges and options which, under any annuity contract are due or prospectively due the annuitant, who paid the consideration for the annuity contract, shall not be subject to execution.

(2) The annuitant shall not be compelled to exercise any such rights, powers or options contained in the annuity contract, nor shall creditors be allowed to interfere with or terminate the contract, except as provided in subsection (e)^[5] hereof and except that the court may order the annuitant to pay to a judgment creditor or apply on the judgment, in installments, a portion of such benefits that appears just and proper to the court, with due regard for the reasonable requirements of the judgment debtor and his family, if dependent upon him, as well as any payments required to be made by the annuitant to other creditors under prior court orders.

Insurance Law § 3212(d)(1) applies where, as here, the annuitant is deemed to have "paid the consideration for the annuity contract." Insurance Law § 3212(d)(2) permits a court to order a debtor who receives a structured settlement annuity "to pay to a judgment creditor or apply on the judgment in installments, a portion of such benefits that appears just and proper to the court," after taking into consideration the "reasonable requirements" of the judgment debtor, including the debtor's dependents and "any payments required to be made by the annuitant to other creditors under prior court orders."

The language in Insurance Law § 3212(d)(2) differs in several important ways from provisions in DCL § 282(3) and Bankruptcy Code § 522(d). DCL § 282(3) allows debtors to exempt property traceable to wrongful death payments and payments in compensation of loss or future earnings of the debtor, but only "to the extent reasonably necessary for the support of the debtor and any dependent of the debtor." Bankruptcy Code § 522(d)(10)(D) and (E) and 522(d)(11)(B), (C) and (E) have the same limitation, allowing exemption of certain payments only "to the extent reasonably necessary for the support of the debtor and any dependent of the debtor." By contrast, Insurance Law § 3212(d)(1) begins by stating that the benefits, rights, privileges and options due to an annuitant who paid the consideration for the annuity contract "shall not be subject to execution," which is to say, in bankruptcy parlance, that they are "exempt." Section 3212(d)(2) further provides that the annuitant shall not be compelled to exercise any such rights, and creditors will not be permitted to terminate the contract, except that the court may order otherwise with regard to a "judgment creditor."

Unlike DCL § 282 and Bankruptcy Code § 522(d), which limit the exemption of payments to the extent "reasonably necessary," payments under annuity contracts may be fully exempt under Insurance Law § 3212(d)(2) unless a court, in its discretion, decides that it would be "just and proper" to order the payment of "a portion of such benefits" to judgment creditors. Though it may make little difference in practical application, DCL § 282(3) and Bankruptcy Code § 522(d)(10) and (11) require analysis of annuity payments that will be "reasonably necessary for the support of the debtor and any dependent of the debtor" in determining the amount he or she may exempt, whereas the Insurance Law requires that consideration when determining what portion, if any, would be just and proper to pay to a "judgment creditor."

There is no evidence before the Court that Caraleasing is a "judgment creditor." It should be noted that in addition to its application to bankruptcy exemptions, Insurance Law § 3212 determines the property subject to execution by creditors who have obtained state court judgments. For bankruptcy purposes, state exemption statutes must be interpreted in the framework of bankruptcy law. See In re Orso, 283 F.3d 686, 690 (5th Cir.2002) (interpreting Louisiana's statute for exemption of annuity contracts). The individual rights that unsecured creditors may have outside of bankruptcy to execute on specific property must give way to the Bankruptcy Code's policy of an orderly, fair and equitable distribution. For example, the Court could not interpret Insurance Law § 3212(d) to order payment from the estate's interest in the Annuity to an unsecured "judgment creditor," to the exclusion of other similarly situated unsecured creditors. Whether or not it is a judgment creditor, Caraleasing is an unsecured creditor and entitled to the same treatment as any other general unsecured creditor of the bankruptcy estate. Fed. R. Bankr.P. 4003(b) permits any party in interest to object to the list of property claimed exempt by a debtor. Caraleasing's objection to exemption of the Annuities, if successful, would inure to all creditors of the estate. For the foregoing reasons, the Court interprets the reference to a "judgment creditor" in Insurance Law § 3212(d)(2) to extend to any party in interest in a bankruptcy case.

Aside from the open-ended "just and proper" standard, determination under Insurance Law § 3212(d) of the amounts that should be paid to creditors include the considerations present in DCL § 282(3) and Bankruptcy Code § 522(d), i.e., the amount "reasonably necessary for the support of the debtor and any dependent of the debtor." This determination will require an evidentiary hearing. See In re Corbi, 149 B.R. 325, 331 (Bankr. E.D.N.Y.1993) (evidentiary hearing necessary to determine actual amount reasonably needed by the debtor to support himself and dependents under future earnings exemption in DCL § 282(3)). In In re Fill, 84 B.R. 332, 339 (Bankr.S.D.N.Y. 1988), Judge Tina, L. Brozman conducted a trial to determine the funds reasonably necessary for the debtor's support under DCL § 282(3) and interpreted the standards by reference to UNIFORM EXEMPTIONS ACT § 6(b) (1976):

The phrase "property to the extent reasonably necessary for the support of him and his dependents" means property required to meet the present and anticipated needs of the individual and his dependents, as determined by the court after consideration of the individual's responsibilities and all the present and anticipated property and income of the individual, including that which is exempt.

A recent case interpreting the phrase "reasonably necessary support" in Bankruptcy Code § 522(d)(11)(E) noted that the determination is "necessarily fact sensitive" and set forth a non-exclusive list of criteria:

(1) debtor's present and anticipated living expenses;

(2) debtor's present and anticipated income from all sources;

(3) the age of the debtor and his or her dependents;

(4) the health of debtor and his or her dependents;

(5) debtor's ability to earn a living;

(6) debtor's job skills, training and education;

(7) debtor's other assets, including exempt assets;

(8) the liquidity of these other assets;

(9) debtor's ability to save for retirement;

(10) the special needs of the debtor and his or her dependents; and

(11) debtor's continuing financial obligations, e.g., alimony or support payments.

In re Jackson, 376 B.R. 75, 79-80 (Bankr. D.Conn.2007) (citing In re Williams, 197 B.R. 398, 404 (Bankr.M.D.Ga.1996)).

The record before the Court at this time lacks most of the basic information required for such an analysis. To date, Caraleasing has only made general assertions the Debtor could "easily afford to pay a[sic] 100% of his debts over time," and that "[a] six-figure yearly income is more than enough to meet any `reasonable requirements' the debtor may have." Objection, ¶ 11. Caraleasing opines that the Debtor "will not suffer destitution and hardship if he is forced to make due with $8 million instead of $9 million; to make due with a yearly [sic] with an income of $330,000 instead of $400,000," and that the Debtor's "alleged expenses of $17,568.98 each month appears to be exorbitant and totals over $210,000 a year." Objection, ¶¶ 15, 19. These arguments focus only on the magnitude of the income and the expenses and Caraleasing's belief that this is "more than enough" for the Debtor. Caraleasing has not provided the Court with the sort of thorough and meaningful analysis prescribed in In re Jackson, supra. Other than suggesting that In re Lynch and In re Orso, supra, "clearly support a finding" that the Annuities are "fully exempt," the Debtor makes no attempt to argue why those cases would compel such a conclusion under the facts of this case. In re Orso interpreted a Louisiana statute and would not be dispositive in this case. The annuities at issue in Orso arose from a 1989 consent judgment providing for two monthly payments of $1,180 and 50 to Orso for the longer of 30 years or his lifetime. 283 F.3d at 689-690. In re Lynch denied a Chapter 7 trustee's objection to a debtor's exemption of an annuity in the amount of $117,571. The debtor argued that if his annuity was invaded to pay creditors, he would not have enough income to pay necessary living expenses. 321 B.R. at 116. The Chapter 7 trustee's counsel indicated that he did not question the fact that the debtor needed the annuity to cover necessary living expenses, prompting Judge Lifland to observe that it was "unclear why the Trustee lodged this objection at all." Id. at 117 n. 1.

The parties clash over whether or not In re Constantino, 274 B.R. 580 (Bankr. N.D.N.Y.2002) and In re Hill, 95 B.R. 293 (Bankr.N.D.N.Y.1988) are relevant to the present case. Neither case considers the exemption of annuity contracts in the context of New York Insurance Law § 3212(d)(2). In re Constantino rejected the debtors' claim that certain wrongful death payments ($2,000 per month for life, referred to as "Monthly Payments," and $570,000 payable in several lump-sums over 15 years, referred to as the "Singular Payments") were fully exempt pursuant to DCL §§ 282(3) and 283(1). The Constantinos included the Monthly Payments as income during the 36-month period of their proposed Chapter 13 plan. Judge Gerling sustained the Chapter 13 Trustee's objection to the exemption, ruling:

Arguably, any monies in excess of that $72,000, including the Singular Payments, are not reasonably necessary for [the debtors'] support and should be available for payment to the Debtors' creditors.

274 B.R. at 583. In In re Hill, Judge Gerling barred all of the exemptions claimed by the debtor because there was "simply not sufficient information in the petition or the record for the Court to determine the applicability of the New York State exemptions for," among other things "annuity contract entitlements" or "the right to receive benefits to the extent reasonably necessary for his support." 95 B.R. at 298.

Caraleasing's remaining arguments are not relevant to the issue of whether and to what extent Debtor may exempt the Annuities. Caraleasing claims it "relied on the debtor's receiving income from the annuities when the creditor made the decision to loan money to the creditor [sic], and the annuities were listed on the credit application." Objection, ¶ 3. Thus, Caraleasing argues that the Bankruptcy Code "does not allow debtors to exempt debts incurred by misrepresenting their financial condition to their creditors." (emphasis added). Caraleasing appears to be confusing the separate considerations of estate property exempt from distribution to creditors, and debts that may be excepted from discharge pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 523(a). To the extent that Caraleasing contends its claim should not be discharged because it arose from fraud or some other wrongful act of the Debtor, that claim must be asserted in an adversary proceeding pursuant to 11 U.S.C. 523(a). See Fed. R. Bankr.P. 7001(6). Caraleasing states that debtors may not "use the Bankruptcy Code to maintain an extravagant lifestyle at the expense of his creditors," and that the Court "may find bad faith when there has been `abuse of the provisions, purpose or spirit of the Bankruptcy Code'." Objection, ¶ 13 (citing In re Adler, 329 B.R. 406, 410 (Bankr.S.D.N.Y.2005)). Caraleasing does not specifically accuse the Debtor of badfaith in connection with this bankruptcy filing and does not provide any evidence of bad-faith conduct other than the grounds cited for objecting to exemption of the Annuities, except to point out "significant discrepancies" between the Debtor's Chapter 13 and Chapter 11 schedules that Caraleasing believes "need substantial clarification as to debtor's income and expenses, to determine the reasonable amount to support the defendant and his dependants." Objection, ¶¶ 17-20. The Court agrees with Caraleasing that the record in this case is incomplete and, at times, unclear; Caraleasing will have the opportunity to obtain discovery and examine the Debtor in connection with the evidentiary hearing. In its Supplemental Reply, Caraleasing makes the following argument:

The court should take note that the creditor relied on the annuity to enable the disabled debtor to obtain credit to commence a new business. This annuity is payable over 24 years and upon information and belief contains significant compensation for future earnings, which is passive income to the debtor. To rule the entire annuity exempt (after providing for reasonable living expenses) raises equal protection concerns since the disabled with annuities will be penalized when seeking credit compared to others with passive income. The increased cost of credit to start a new business will have a chilling effect on the disabled.

(ECF Docket No. 52, ¶ 5). Caraleasing suggests that if this Court rules that the Debtor may fully exempt several million dollars of annuity payments, this might result in denial of equal protection to the Debtor (or similarly situated debtors) if he applies for credit to start a new business. The Court's ruling that the Annuities are not fully exempt per se obviates the need to consider this intriguing argument. Moreover, the equal protection claim hinted at by Caraleasing (without citing any legal authority) would belong to the Debtor who, not surprisingly, has declined to assert it.

CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, Caraleasing's Objection to the exemption of the Annuities is overruled in part. An evidentiary hearing will be required to determine the extent to which the Annuities may be exempted pursuant to New York Insurance Law § 3212(d)(2). Caraleasing's Objection shall be treated, as a contested matter pursuant to Fed. R. Bankr.P. 9014. The parties shall appear before the Court for a status conference on February 19, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. At that time, the Court will set deadlines for the exchange of discovery and the submission of a joint pretrial stipulation, identifying the disputed factual issues to be tried. As this is a Chapter 11 case, this objection will need to be resolved expediently because the decision will determine the amount available for distribution to creditors and directly impact any proposed plan of reorganization.

NOTES

[1] Six annuities are valued at $850,000 each, two are valued at $650,000 each.

[2] The information contained in this section is taken from the Debtor's bankruptcy filings and the statements of Debtor's counsel at a Chapter 11 status conference. The facts cited in this section do not constitute findings of fact by the Court.

[3] Neither party has seriously contended that the Annuities should not be included as property of the estate. Caraleasing argues that annuities may not be "completely excluded" from the estate but probably intended the word "exempted" (which it used in the next sentence and elsewhere in the Objection), rather than "excluded," because its legal arguments are based upon the New York exemption statutes discussed below. It also appears that the parties have not fully considered the extent of the Debtor's ownership rights under the Annuities. According to the Debtor: "It is not contested by the objectant that the debtor is the owner of the annuity contracts or that the debtor paid valuable consideration for the annuity contracts." Debtor's Response, ¶ 4. Yet Paragraph 6 of the Settlement Agreement provides: "Each Assignee shall be the owner of its annuity policy, and shall have all rights of ownership. The Assignees may have the annuity carriers mail payments directly to the Plaintiff [i.e., the Debtor]." As discussed below, the relevant statute is New York Insurance Law § 3212(d), which focuses on the "benefits, rights, privileges and options which, under any annuity contract are due or prospectively due the annuitant." Possibly, the parties have taken the fact that the Debtor is deemed to have provided the consideration for the Annuities and concluded that, he is also the owner. Though the Debtor may not be the "owner of the annuity contracts" in all respects, there appears to be no dispute regarding the "benefits, rights, privileges and options" to which he is entitled under the Annuities.

[4] Judge Bucki observed that if he had accepted the trustee's view in that case, that the debtor did not pay the consideration for the annuity contract, "then the debtor would undoubtedly contend that the annuity was a trust created by a person other than the debtor" and "might well be exempt as a spendthrift trust under Debtor and Creditor Law § 282 and CPLR § 5205(c)." 277 B.R. at 492.

[5] Insurance Law § 3212(e) addresses, among other things, assignment of beneficiaries or payment of premiums or consideration "with actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud creditors." In the Opposition, Caraleasing claims:

The debtor listed his structured settlement annuity as income on his loan application for this creditor: In other words, he represented to the creditor that income from the structured settlement annuity would be available as income to pay his debts. Had the debtor not listed his structured settlement annuity as income, the creditor would not have lent the debtor . . . money. The debtor should not be allowed to represent to the creditor that income from the structured settlement annuity would be available to pay his debts, and then yank the rug out from under the creditor.

Objection, ¶ 12. Assuming for the sake of argument that these facts, if true, would state a claim for fraud regarding the Debtor's business transactions with Caraleasing, Caraleasing does not contend that the Debtor engaged in fraud in connection with the Settlement Agreement or in obtaining the Annuities. Thus, Insurance Law § 3212(e) is inapplicable to the case at bar.