| S.D.N.Y. | Jan 7, 1932
The petitioner, a New York corporation, shows that it is the holder of mortgages on Florida real estate owned by the bankrupt, also a New York corporation, and that the mortgage liens exceed the value of the real estate. It asks leave to commence foreclosure proceedings in the Florida courts against the trustee in bankruptcy. The trustee, opposing the petition, claims that the mortgages are invalid because not consented to by the stockholders of the bankrupt corporation as required by the New York Stock Corporation Law; also, that the petitioner has waived its security through filing its claim as an unsecured one in the bankruptcy proceedings; finally, that the trustee has no funds wherewith to litigate in the Florida courts.
Without permission of the bankruptcy court, the Florida courts have no jurisdiction to entertain a foreclosure suit; the bankruptcy of the owner having occurred prior to any proceedings to enforce the lien. The jurisdiction of the bankruptcy court over the property is exclusive, notwithstanding it is located in another state. Isaacs v. Hobbs Tie & Timber Co., 282 U.S. 734" court="SCOTUS" date_filed="1931-02-24" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/isaacs-v-hobbs-tie--timber-co-101685?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="101685">282 U. S. 734, 51 S. Ct. 270, 75 L. Ed. 645; see also Straton v. New, 283 U.S. 318" court="SCOTUS" date_filed="1931-04-20" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/straton-v-new-101736?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="101736">283 U. S. 318, 321, 51 S. Ct. 465, 75 L. Ed. 1060. But leave may be given by the bankruptcy court to the mortgagee to institute foreclosure proceeding's in the state court. In re Schulte United, Inc., (C. C. A.) 49 F.2d 264" court="2d Cir." date_filed="1931-04-22" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/in-re-schulte-united-inc-1482506?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="1482506">49 F.(2d) 264. Whether such leave should be given in a particular ease is matter of discretion. Of course-, the rights o-f the mortgagee are entitled to consideration as well as those of the mortgagor’s creditors. It often . is made to appear that a sale under foreclosure proceedings in the state courts will be more advantageous to all concerned than a sale by the bankruptcy court. And where the bankrupt’s interest in the mortgaged property has no value, permission to commence foreclosure proceedings is given almost as matter of course. In re Schulte-United, Inc., (D. C.) 50 F.2d 243" court="S.D.N.Y." date_filed="1931-03-24" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/in-re-schulte-united-inc-1549052?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="1549052">50 F.(2d) 243; see also In re Zehner (D. C.) 193 F. 787" court="E.D. La." date_filed="1912-02-27" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/in-re-zehner-8781909?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="8781909">193 F. 787.
In the instant ease the trustee has shown enough to make the position of the
Under the circumstances of the ease, justice will be done by denying the petition on condition that within ton days the trustee in-stituto a summary proceeding to test the validity of the mortgages and the present right of tho mortgagee to enforce them; in default of the commencement of such proceeding tho petition will he granted. Settle order on notice.