Opinion ID: 695624
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Appellate Jurisdiction in Bankruptcy

Text: 14 The first issue presented for decision is whether we may take jurisdiction of this appeal. In the case sub judice, the district court accepted Orix's appeal of right as well as in its discretion granting Orix leave to appeal the bankruptcy court's order denying Orix's motion for relief from the automatic stay and awarding Orix only a portion of the adequate protection it sought. At that time, the bankruptcy court had made no finding whether the creditor was entitled to postpetition interest, ostensibly because the issue of postpetition interest might be dealt with in confirmation of the debtor's Chapter 11 plan. And, since the adversary proceeding between AmSouth Bank, N.A. and Orix was pending, it was not then possible to determine precisely what collateral Orix held and, thus, a formal valuation of Orix's secured interest was not possible. 15 Whether the bankruptcy court's order was a final order, vel non, we need say no more than the district court properly exercised jurisdiction. For, even assuming that the bankruptcy court order was not a final order, the district court did not abuse its discretion in exercising interlocutory jurisdiction over the bankruptcy court order. 16 Had we concluded that the bankruptcy court order at issue was an interlocutory order, the critical question nevertheless would be whether the district court issued a final order which could be appealed to the court of appeals under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 158(d). To begin, in order for a court of appeals to have jurisdiction over a bankruptcy appeal from the district court, the order being appealed from the district court must have been a final order itself, or alternatively, some exception to the finality rule must be applicable. Martin Bros. Toolmakers, Inc. v. Industrial Dev. Bd. (In re Martin Bros. Toolmakers, Inc.), 796 F.2d 1435, 1437 (11th Cir.1986). See Growth Realty Cos. v. Regency Woods Apartments (In re Regency Woods Apartments, Ltd.), 686 F.2d 899 (11th Cir.1982). Cf. 1 Collier on Bankruptcy, p 3.03 at 3-194 (Lawrence P. King ed., 15th ed. 1994) ([i]f the district court has granted leave to appeal an interlocutory order, its decision cannot be final for section 158(d) purposes, and no appeal to the court of appeals will lie). 17 Here, the district court's order did not disturb the bankruptcy court's decision not to lift the automatic stay. Instead, relying on Timbers, 484 U.S. 365, 108 S.Ct. 626, 98 L.Ed.2d 740, the district court held that as a matter of law an oversecured creditor is entitled to postpetition interest as part of adequate protection. The district court then determined the amount of adequate protection which Delta was required to pay as postpetition interest. 18 In this Circuit, district court orders affirming or reversing the bankruptcy judge's grant or denial of relief from an automatic stay consistently have been held by the courts to be a final decision reviewable on appeal. Barclays-American/Business Credit, Inc. v. Radio WBHP, Inc. (In re Dixie Broadcasting, Inc.), 871 F.2d 1023, 1026 (11th Cir.) (citations omitted) (emphasis added), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 853, 110 S.Ct. 154, 107 L.Ed.2d 112 (1989). Furthermore,a district court ruling which includes a remand may be a 'final decision' if all that remains to be done is the performance of a ministerial duty. Gulf Refining Co. v. United States, 269 U.S. 125, 136, 46 S.Ct. 52, 53, 70 L.Ed. 195 (1925) (rendering judgment for the exact sums set forth in stipulations was a ministerial duty).... 19 Miscott Corp. v. Zaremba Walden Co. (In re Miscott), 848 F.2d 1190, 1192 (11th Cir.1988) (other citations omitted). In this case, the district court reversed the decision of the bankruptcy court and determined that Orix was entitled to adequate protection payments which should include monthly postpetition interest, in addition to the monthly depreciation previously determined by the bankruptcy court. The district court also determined the amount of postpetition interest, thus, increasing the amount of adequate protection payments Delta must make to Orix. 20 The district court did not require the bankruptcy court to determine anything, factual or legal, in its remand. The bankruptcy court need not have determined the amount of adequate protection payments or exercise any discretion in complying with the district court's order. And although the district court did not pass title to any property, the district court did direct the delivery of property, here, money. Further, although the district court did not reverse the bankruptcy court's decision to maintain the automatic stay, it directed the bankruptcy court to make direct payments of sums certain by Delta to Orix. Such a remand does not require significant judicial activity, In re Regency Woods Apartments, Ltd., 686 F.2d at 901, which could change the character of this otherwise final order of the district court to an interlocutory order. Thus, we take jurisdiction over this two-level bankruptcy appeal under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 158(d) on a very narrow legal question. 4