Lead Opinion
It is conceded, as it must be in the light of relevant Supreme Court decisions, that bankrupt estates cannot be directly used to pay post-bankruptcy interest on claims against the bankrupt for unpaid taxes. This was settled for ordinary bankruptcy by the leading case of City of New York v. Saper,
It is the position of the State of New York, vigorously asserted here and elsewhere, that such collection may be made by using the ordinary remedies available against solvent debtors.
The basis of the State’s claim rests upon the provisions in the Bankruptcy Act for priority and nondischargeability of tax claims and the complete assimilation of post-bankruptcy interest to the taxes themselves. Thus § 371 of the Act, 11 U.S.C. § 771, provides that the confirmation of an arrangement shall not discharge debts not dischargeable under § 17, 11 U.S.C. § 35, while § 17 excepts from discharge debts as “are due as a tax levied by the United States, or any State, county, district, or municipality.”
Before the matter was settled by the ruling in the Saper case there had been sharp differences of view among federal judges and commentators on the issue— a situation not unnatural in view of the absence of statutory mandate. Without pausing here for a full citation of opposing authorities, we may refer to the able decision in favor of allowance of interest in Davie v. Green, 1 Cir.,
The approach to the issue of Justice Jackson, speaking for the Court in this decisive case, is instructive. First is his initial statement of the problem: “The ultimate issue in these three cases is whether tax claims against a bankrupt bear interest until the date of bankruptcy, as held by the court below, or until payment, as previously held by another Court of Appeals.” (Italics here and later supplied.) He continues: “More than forty years ago Mr. Justice Holmes wrote for this Court that the rule stopping interest at bankruptcy had then been followed for more than a century and a half. He said the rule was not a matter of legislative command or statutory construction but, rather, a fundamental principle of the English bankruptcy system which we copied.” Then after finding logical implications to the same effect in § 63, sub. a(l) and (5), 11 U.S.C. § 103, sub. a(l) and (5), and § 57, sub. j, 11 U.S.C. § 93, sub. j — the latter dealing specifically with debts owed the United States or any state or subdivision thereof — he continues: “Moreover, there is no interest except that which accrues according to law — it is exactly such interest that the ‘fundamental principle’ cuts off as of bankruptcy. Section 57, sub. n, 11 U.S.C. § 93, sub. n, requires governmental claims to be proved in the same manner and within the same time as other debts and only for cause shown may a reasonable extension be granted. Tax claims are treated the same as other debts except for the fourth priority of payment, § 64, sub. a, 11 U.S.C. § 104, sub. a, and the provision making taxes nondischargeable, § 17, 11 U.S.C. § 35. But each of these sections is silent as to interest.” Then he makes an extended analysis of the case authority and later amendments of the Bankruptcy Act to state: “The Court of Appeals concluded that by the 1926 amendment and the Chandler Act, Congress assimilated taxes to other debts for all purposes, including denial of post-bankruptcy interest. We think this is a sound and logical interpretation of the Act after those amendments to §§ 64, sub. a, and 57, sub. n.”
So conclusive did this reasoning and decision seem to us that recently when the State of New York again made a like contention to us, we rejected it, citing particularly the last quotation made above. In State of New York v. Feinberg, 2 Cir.,
The argument to the contrary appears, so far as we understand it, to be based upon the assumed premise that interest is merely “suspended” during the period of bankruptcy and, not being specifically denominated as discharged, therefore revives after termination of proceedings. This is a large premise, with a generous and uncompelled, if not surprising, conclusion. Thus stated the difficulty appears to be only semantic and, if the reasons of policy and history are as strong as the Supreme Court has indicated, should yield to semantic remedies. And it is little compliment to the Supreme Court, whose skillful and persuasive rationale in the Saper case met and surmounted the major issue, to hold that it would be balked by this limited and already indicated subordinate step, so much so, indeed, as to nullify for all practical effect its prior carefully considered holding.
The holding that interest is only suspended is a deduction from two stated “exceptions” to the English rule cited approvingly in the Saper case,
To denominate uncollectible interest as merely suspended seems of itself a solecism. It reminds of Dean Ames’ classic statement: “An immortal right to bring an eternally prohibited action is a metaphysical subtlety that the pres
The decision below denying this effect to the arrangement proceedings is therefore error. While injunction against state proceedings is undesirable, it is nevertheless recognized as necessary where preservation of federal dispositions in bankruptcy and protection and enforcement of federal decrees in legal rehabilitation of corporations are necessary. Ciavarella v. Salituri, 2 Cir.,
' Reversed and remanded for proceedings in accordance with this opinion.
Notes
. This is made most clear not only by respondent’s specific contentions herein, but also by his citation to us, as correct and authoritative, of a decision by a referee in the Unemployment Insurance Referee Section of the State Department of Labor-Case No. E2340-53R, Starrett Television Corp. — holding an employer liable for interest on unpaid taxes during the pendency of arrangement proceedings in reliance on Judge Ryan’s decision in this case.
. In view of this and of the fact that respondent has not appealed from the order expunging the warrant from the state judgment docket, it may be suggested that injunctive relief now is premature. But the expunging of the direct holding by the referee in bankruptcy which would have settled the question, the absence now of any adequate protection for the plan of arrangement, and the direct threat of steps to collect, see note 1 supra, convince us that action is now necessary. -
. The provisions of § 226, 11 U.S.C.A. § 626, applying to reorganization proceedings, are somewhat differently framed, being to the effect that the property dealt with by the plan is free and clear of creditors’ claims, and there is no specific exception for claims allowable under § 17, 11 U.S.C.A. § 35. But there is nowhere any suggestion that reorganization proceedings should be treated differently from those in ordinary bankruptcy or of arrangement; and, as we have seen, the Sapor rule actually developed in a case of ordinary bankruptcy. Of course a differentiation between these proceedings would be most unfair and inequitable, and the rationale developed later in this opinion avoids necessity for any attempt to make it.
. The corresponding section of Chapter X, S 238, sub. 3, 11 U.S.C.A. § 638, suh. 3, as amended, is identical in the language quoted.
. This is discussed as one interpretation of the Court’s Saper opinion in a Note, 58 Yale L.J. 982, 992, before the later re-enforcing decisions — although the writer appears to presume in favor of the alternative accepted below.
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting).
1. The cases cited by my colleagues (which I shall discuss later) have decided only that post-petition interest on a tax claim is not allowable unless the debtor become solvent during the bankruptcy proceeding. A different question is before us here, viz. whether confirmation of a Chapter XI arrangement discharges such interest if it has not been .allowed (i e., when the debtor has not thus become solvent). No court has heretofore considered this question.
My colleagues say, in effect, that (1) it having been held such interest is not allowable, it would be absurd (2) to hold nevertheless that it is not discharged. I think it not at all absurd. For a discharge in ordinary bankruptcy or a confirmation of a Chapter XI arrangement leaves undischarged many un-allowed claims which may be immense in magnitude.
In ordinary bankruptcy, the other creditors usually have no concern with undischarged claims.
For Chapter X provides, in § 226 and § 228, 11 U.S.C.A. § 626 and § 628, that a confirmation order wipes out all claims not excepted in the plan, or the order, as against the debtor’s property dealt with by the plan.
In 8 Collier, Bankruptcy (14th ed.) p. 1259, it is said that “the discharge provisions of Chapter X are radically different from those of Chapter XI in that debts which are not discharged under § 17 of the Act are not excluded from the operation of a discharge under Chapter X.” At pp. 1267-1270, Collier says: “Section 371 specifically excludes from the operation of the discharge ‘such debts as, under section 17 of this Act, are not dischargeable.’ Chapter X does not make the same exception; while some consideration was given to excluding from the discharge under Chapter XI only some of the debts specified in § 17, all of those debts have been excluded by § 371.” And at pp. 1270-71, Collier says: “An arrangement and its provisions, upon confirmation of the arrangement, are binding upon all creditors, including the holders of debts which are not discharged. That, however, does not affect the liability of the debtor upon the debts not discharged. If a creditor’s debt was not discharged because he was not provided for in the arrangement, it is clear that he may immediately proceed against the debtor to enforce collection. But where a creditor is provided for in the arrangement, and his claim is nevertheless not discharged under § 371, the problem is suggested as to the exact extent of that creditor’s rights. Thus, if the arrangement provides that creditors are to receive 20% in full settlement of their claims one month after confirmation, the right of the creditor whose debt is not discharged to enforce collection of the remaining 80% is clear. But the problem is whether he can immediately sue the debtor for the full amount
The courts can do nothing to overcome this serious defect in Chapter XI. Congress alone, by future legislation, can remove it. Accordingly, we must answer the question here, recognizing this great gap in Chapter XI. (I note in passing that, if post-petition interest on taxes is not discharged, the assenting creditors, as to such interest, take a known risk, because the amount of such interest is precisely ascertainable.)
2. Outside bankruptcy, interest on a claim for a fixed sum is ordinarily an integral part of the principal. The Bankruptcy Act so treats pre-petition interest. Does it treat differently post-petition interest? I think not. The cases, cited by the Supreme Court in New York v. Saper,
In Johnson v. Norris, a bankruptcy proceeding where it turned out that the assets in the hands of the bankruptcy trustees exceeded the amount of the debts plus pre-petition interest, the court held that post-petition interest must be paid, ruling as follows (
In 3 Collier (14th ed.) 1838-1839, it is said: “The principle that interest stops running from the date of the filing of
Now turn to Section 17, 11 U.S.C.A. § 35.
The very cases cited by my colleagues —Redfield v. Ystalyfera Iron Co.,
3. The cases my colleagues cite decide nothing contrary to my position. In Saper v. New York, 2 Cir.,
In apposite is United States v. Edens, 4 Cir.,
State of New York v. Feinberg, 2 Cir.,
. Nor usually is the debtor if it is a corporation. Cf. Saper v. City of New York, 2 Cir.,
. See § 17, 11 U.S.C.A. § 35.
. Section 226 reads: “The property dealt with by the plan, when transferred by the trustee to the debtor or other corporation or corporations provided for by the plan, or when tansferred by the debt- or in possession to such other corporation or corporations, or when retained by the debtor in possession, as the case may be, shall be free and clear of all claims and interests of the debtor, creditor's, and stockholders, except such claims and interests as may otherwise be provided for in the plan or in the order confirming the plan or in the order directing or authorizing the transfer or retention of such property.”
Section 228 reads in part as follows:
“Upon the consummation of the plan, the judge shall enter a final decree — (1) discharging the debtor from all its debts and liabilities and terminating all rights and interests of stockholders of the debtor, except as provided in the plan or in the order confirming the plan or in the order directing or authorizing the transfer or retention of property * *
. Section 371 reads: “The confirmation of an arrangement shall discharge a debtor from all his unsecured debts and liabilities provided for by the arrangement, except as px-ovided in the arrangement or tho order confirming the arrangement, including the claims specified in section 355 of this title, but excluding such debts as, under section 17 of this title, are not dis-chargeable.”
. Cf. Ryerson & Son v. Peden,
. Brown v. Leo, 2 Cir.,
. Section 17 reads in part as follows: “A discharge in bankruptcy shall release a bankrupt from all his provable debts, whether allowable in full or in part except such as (1) are due as a tax levied by the United States, or any State $ * % If
. Section 755, added by amendment in 1952, provides that, upon the entry of an order in a Chapter XI proceeding directing “that bankruptcy be proceeded with, only claims for taxes legally due and owing * * * at the time of the filing of the original petition * * * and such claims as are provable under section 03 * * * shall be allowed * *
This provision does not at all affect Section 17 as to the discharge of any “part” of a provable tax claim which is not “allowable” in an insolvent estate. Just as before the 1952 amendment, the post-petition interest is included in the provable tax claim; but is a part not “allowable” unless solvency occurs during bankruptcy.
. Footnote 35, p. 989, refers to the legislative history showing that Congress has refused to amend Section 17 so as to discharge tax claims.
. The debtor retained no property not covered by the plan,
