William B. Schnach Retirement Trust (Trust) appeals
The debtor, BoNo Development, Inc., filed a Chapter 11 petition for relief to stay foreclosure of the Pioneer Village, its sole asset. Pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 364(d),
The case was converted to a Chapter 7 proceeding, and the Pioneer Village was sold. All but $30,548.20 of the proceeds were distributed. The Trust was repaid $87,500.00 plus interest. Both the Trust and Unified claimed entitlement to the remainder of the proceеds. The Trust claimed it expended funds in excess of $87,500.00 for insurance, security, and clean-up and weed control for the Pioneer Village, as authorized under the trust deed, when the debtor was unable to meet its obligations. It also claimed attorney’s fees. The bankruptcy court concluded the expenditures were beyond the limit set by the superpriority order, and ordered the remaining proceeds distributed to Unified.
On appeal, the Trust contends that because the provisions of the trust deed were incorporated by referenсe as if fully set forth into the superpriority order, the sums expended pursuant to the trust deed were approved by court order and are therefore entitled to superpriority status, i.e., are also secured by a lien senior to Unified’s. The extent of the priority or liеn granted under 11 U.S.C. § 364(c) is limited “to the amount of the credit obtained or debt incurred after court approval.” In re Monach Circuit Indus., Inc.,
The bankruptcy court surely knows more about the meaning of its own order than we do, and its interpretation of its order
The superpriority order specifically authorizes the debtоr to borrow the sum of $87,500.00. While the order goes on to state that the money is to be borrowed on the terms and conditions set forth in the trust deed and trust deed note, we do not read this provision as approving credit obtained or debt incurred in unspecified amounts determinеd solely at the Trust’s discretion. Such a construction would raise serious questions concerning the adequacy of the notice given to other creditors, as well as whether they were afforded adequate protection. The su-perpriority order provides that Unified has adequate protection because disbursements are limited to the bids set forth in the debt- or’s § 364(d) motion and because Unified wаs required to certify that the work had been completed in accordance with the bids.
The Trust contends that In re Carley Capital Group,
Nor do we see relevance in Carley Capital’s reliance on Butner v. United States,
The Trust also contends it should have the same authority as Unified to make expenditures under its security agreement without court apрroval. However, Unified has no authority to act under § 364(d) without court approval.
Finally, the Trust argues that notice and a hearing should not have been required prior to its expenditure of additional funds, such as for insurance coverage, due to the exigencies оf the, situation. We disagree. While the Bankruptcy Code allows a court to dispense with a hearing under some circumstances, it doеs not allow a court to dispense with the requirement of notice. Monach Circuit Indus.,
The judgment of the United States District Court for the District of Utah is AFFIRMED.
Notes
. After examining thе briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of this appeal. See Fed.R.App.P. 34(a); 10th Cir.R. 34.1.9. The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.
. Section 364(d)(1) provides,
The court, after notice and a hearing, may authorize the obtaining of credit or the incurring of debt secured by a senior lien or equal lien on property of the estate that is subject to a lien only if—
A) the trustee is unable to obtain such credit otherwise; and
B) there is adequate protectiоn of the interest of the holder of the lien on the property of the estate on which such senior or equal lien is proposed to be granted.
. No issue is raised as to whether Unified was given adequate protection for the $87,500.00 loan.
