Court Opinion

ID: 2975404
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-22 17:33:54.18112+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:36:42.355504
License: Public Domain

By order of the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel, the precedential effect
              of this decision is limited to the case and parties pursuant to 6th
              Cir. BAP LBR 8013-1(b). See also 6th Cir. BAP LBR 8010-1(c).

                                 File Name: 07b0008n.06

           BANKRUPTCY APPELLATE PANEL OF THE SIXTH CIRCUIT

In re: DEMETRIOUS YADIRF SMITH and               )
AMY KATHLEEN SMITH,                              )
            Debtors.                             )
______________________________________           )
                                                 )
DEMETRIOUS YADIRF SMITH and AMY                  )
KATHLEEN SMITH,                                  )
          Appellants,                            )             No. 06-8077
                                                 )
             v.                                  )
                                                 )
MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION                 )
SYSTEMS, INC., c/o CHASE HOME FINANCE            )
LLC, successor by merger to CHASE                )
MANHATTAN MORTGAGE CORPORATION,                  )
            Appellee.                            )
______________________________________           )

                      Appeal from the United States Bankruptcy Court
             for the Southern District of Ohio, Western Division, at Cincinnati.
                                        No. 04-10066.

                                  Submitted: May 2, 2007

                             Decided and Filed: July 10, 2007

       Before: LATTA, PARSONS, and SCOTT, Bankruptcy Appellate Panel Judges.

                                  ____________________

                                        COUNSEL

ON BRIEF: Nelson Marlin Reid, Justin W. Ristau, BRICKER & ECKLER, Columbus, Ohio, for
Appellee. Demetrious Yadirf Smith, Amy K. Smith, Cincinnati, Ohio, pro se.
                                      ____________________

                                            OPINION
                                      ____________________

       JOSEPH M. SCOTT, JR., Bankruptcy Appellate Panel Judge.                  The pro se debtors
(“Debtors”) appeal the bankruptcy court’s order denying their motion to reimpose the automatic stay.

                                    I. ISSUES ON APPEAL

       Although the Debtors assert a plethora of issues, the narrow issue on appeal is whether the
bankruptcy court erred in denying their motion to reimpose the automatic stay.

                    II. JURISDICTION AND STANDARD OF REVIEW

       The Bankruptcy Appellate Panel of the Sixth Circuit (“BAP”) has jurisdiction to hear and
decide this appeal. 28 U.S.C. § 158(b)(1). The United States District Court for the Southern District
of Ohio has authorized appeals to the BAP, and neither party has timely elected to have this appeal
heard by the district court. 28 U.S.C. §§ 158(b)(6), (c)(1). A final order of a bankruptcy court may
be appealed by right under 28 U.S.C. § 158(a)(1). An order is final if it “ends the litigation on the
merits and leaves nothing for the court to do but execute the judgment.” Midland Asphalt Corp. v.
United States, 489 U.S. 794, 798, 109 S. Ct. 1494, 1497 (1989) (citations omitted). “Grants and
denials of motions for relief from the automatic stay are final, appealable orders.” In re Schaffrath,
214 B.R. 153, 154 (B.A.P. 6th Cir. 1997). It follows that an order denying a motion for reimposition
of the automatic stay is a final, appealable order.

       Concluding that the Debtors were proceeding under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b)(6),
the bankruptcy court denied their request for reimposition of the automatic stay. See Fed. R. Bankr.
P. 9024. A denial of relief under Rule 60(b) is reviewable for abuse of discretion. Geberegeorgis
v. Gammarino (In re Geberegeorgis), 310 B.R. 61 (B.A.P. 6th Cir. 2004); Bank One, N.A. v. Bever
(In re Bever), 300 B.R. 262 (B.A.P. 6th Cir. 2003). Likewise, a decision to lift the automatic stay
is reviewed for abuse of discretion. Stephens Indus., Inc. v. McClung, 789 F.2d 386, 391 (6th Cir.
1986). “An abuse of discretion occurs only when the trial court relies upon clearly erroneous
findings of fact or when it improperly applies the law or uses an erroneous legal standard.” Volvo
Commercial Fin. LLC the Americas v. Gasel Transp. Lines, Inc. (In re Gasel Transp. Lines, Inc.),
326 B.R. 683, 685 (B.A.P. 6th Cir. 2005) (citation omitted). Findings of fact are reviewed under the
clearly erroneous standard. Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8013. “A finding of fact is clearly erroneous ‘when
although there is evidence to support it, the reviewing court on the entire evidence is left with the
definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed.’” Badalyan v. Holub (In re
Badalyan) 236 B.R. 633, 635 (B.A.P. 6th Cir. 1999) (citation omitted). Conclusions of law are
reviewed de novo. “De novo review requires the Panel to review questions of law independent of
the bankruptcy court’s determination.” Id. “The question is not how the reviewing court would have
ruled, but rather whether a reasonable person could agree with the bankruptcy court’s decision; if
reasonable persons could differ as to the issue, then there is no abuse of discretion.” Mayor and City
Counsel of Baltimore, Md. v. W. Va. (In re Eagle-Picher Indus., Inc.), 285 F.3d 522, 529 (6th Cir.
2002) (citations omitted).

                                           III.   FACTS

       The Debtors obtained confirmation of their chapter 13 plan providing for surrender of “real
estate at 5555 Ehrling [Road, Cincinnati, Ohio] . . . to Chase Mortgage . . . .” (Trustee’s App. at 6.)
Consistent with the plan, the bankruptcy court granted to Chase Manhattan Mortgage Corporation,
the predecessor to the Appellee herein, relief from the automatic stay by order entered October 4,
2004. Almost two years later, after obtaining new counsel, the Debtors filed a motion to reimpose
the automatic stay concerning the Ehrling Road property. The Debtors contended that the stay
should be reimposed because “there was no determination at the time of lifting the stay whether this
property was critical to the purposes of the Debtors’ Chapter 13 Plan as confirmed.” According to
the Debtors, “recent discovery on the Debtors’ part indicates that Chase Manhattan Mortgage
Corporation’s claim was based on a highly inflated appraisal value on ‘flipped’ property and Debtors
were victims of a predatory lending scheme.” The Debtors additionally argued that the bankruptcy
court should have held a hearing prior to granting stay relief, in order to determine whether the
matter would constitute a core proceeding and to determine the validity of the Appellee’s lien.
         On September 20, 2006, the bankruptcy court entered an order denying the Debtors’ motion
to reimpose the automatic stay.1 The bankruptcy court concluded that the Debtors were proceeding
under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b)(6), the “catch-all” provision; that because the automatic
stay had been lifted almost two years prior, the Debtors’ motion was untimely and reinstating the stay
would be prejudicial to the creditor; that although the Debtors had suggested but had not provided
the court with newly discovered evidence which might allow for relief under Rule 60(b)(2) from the
order lifting the automatic stay, a motion for relief under subsection (b)(2) of the rule must be filed
within one year of the judgment; that although the Debtors had a right to a hearing on the motion for
relief from stay provided they had filed a responsive pleading, they did not respond to the motion
and a default judgment was entered; that while the Debtors had never filed a motion requesting
determination that the foreclosure action was a core proceeding, motions to terminate the automatic
stay are expressly core proceedings pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(G); and that the Debtors did
not serve their motion to reimpose the automatic stay on the correct counsel for the creditor.

         The Debtors, pro se, timely appealed the bankruptcy court’s order on September 29, 2006.

                                              IV.     DISCUSSION

Relief from Judgment or Order

         Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60 provides that a court may relieve a party from a final
judgment or order under certain circumstances. See Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9024 (generally applying Rule
60 to cases under the Bankruptcy Code). Appropriate here are the provisions under subsections
(b)(2), “newly discovered evidence which by due diligence could not have been discovered in time
to move for a new trial under Rule 59(b),” and (b)(6), “any other reason justifying relief from the
operation of the judgment,” commonly known as the “catch-all” provision. The rule states that such
a motion must be made “within a reasonable time” and that if the motion is brought under subsection
(b)(2), it must be made not more than one year after the judgment or order was entered. Whether

         1
           Although only an incomplete copy of the order is offered by the Debtors as Exhibit 2 of their Appendix,
the record on appeal, and therefore the record reviewed by this Panel, includes the order in its entirety. See Fed. R.
Bankr. P. 8006 (stating that the record on appeal includes the order appealed from).
a Rule 60 motion is filed “within a reasonable time” is “dependent upon the facts in a case, including
length and circumstances of delay in filing, prejudice to opposing party by reason of the delay, and
circumstances warranting equitable relief.” Ruehle v. Educ. Credit Mgmt. Corp. (In re Ruehle), 307
B.R. 28, 33 (B.A.P. 6th Cir. 2004), aff’d 412 F.3d 679 (6th Cir. 2005).

        The Debtors’ motion was filed nearly two years after entry of the order granting the Appellee
relief from the automatic stay and the Debtors have offered no explanation for the delay. As the
bankruptcy court observed, the Debtors’ motion to reimpose the automatic stay was untimely and
reimposition of the automatic stay would have been prejudicial to the Appellee.

        The Debtors assert that they have only recently discovered that the Appellee’s claim was
based on a highly inflated appraisal value and that they were the victims of a predatory lending
scheme. The Debtors fail to articulate, however, why such evidence would have provided a basis
in the first instance for denying stay relief or why it is a basis for reimposing the stay at this juncture.
Moreover, as noted by the bankruptcy court, the Debtors do not indicate in the motion when they
obtained the new evidence and why they were unable to comply with Rule 60's requirement that
motions based on newly discovered evidence be filed within one year of the order.

        The essence of the Debtors’ motion is that because they have said from the beginning of their
bankruptcy case that they were victims of a flipping scheme, the bankruptcy court should have
conducted a hearing to determine the validity of the Appellee’s claim before lifting the stay. If the
Debtors have asserted from the beginning of their bankruptcy case that they were victims of a
flipping scheme, this allegation is not new and cannot provide grounds for relief from the prior order.
In addition, the Debtors do not deny that they did not respond to the motion to lift the automatic stay
on the Ehrling Road property, and they do not contest the appropriateness or validity of the default
judgment that granted relief to the Appellee.

        In their motion, the Debtors additionally argued that the bankruptcy court should have
determined whether foreclosure on the property was a core or non-core proceeding. There is no
indication that the Debtors at any time asked the bankruptcy court for such a determination, and
motions for relief from the automatic stay are expressly core proceedings. 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(G).

       As for the Debtors’ argument to this Panel that the bankruptcy court should have scheduled
a hearing on their motion to reimpose the stay, the Debtors did not notice their motion for hearing,
see 11 U.S.C. § 102(1)(B)(i); the Appellee did not request a hearing on the motion, see Fed. R.
Bankr. P. 9014(a); and the phrases “the court shall hold a hearing” and “after notice and a hearing”
are distinguishable, see 11 U.S.C. § 102(1).

       Lastly, the bankruptcy court observed that the Debtors had failed to serve their motion to
reinstate the automatic stay on the correct counsel for the creditor. Indeed, the record before the
Panel reflects that the Debtors’ motion was served on Bricker & Eckler, of Columbus, Ohio, but the
default order granting relief from the automatic stay on the Ehrling Road property was served on
Shapiro & Felty, LLP, of Cleveland, Ohio. In summary, clearly the bankruptcy court did not abuse
its discretion in denying the Debtors’ motion to reimpose the automatic stay.

Relief from the Automatic Stay

       The October, 2004 order granting the Appellee’s request for relief from the automatic stay
on the Ehrling Road property was not appealed and, therefore, is final on the issue of whether that
grant of relief was proper. Even so, the following observations are made.

       The Debtors argue that they had no equity in the Ehrling Road property because the sale price
was inflated, which was caused by their being “victims of a predatory lending scheme.” Regardless,
they never responded to the Appellee’s motion for relief from the automatic stay. The order granting
the requested relief was entered by default, and pursuant to local bankruptcy rules. Furthermore, the
order granting the relief requested by the Appellee was not appealed. The Debtors had legal counsel
of record at the time and were served with the default order as well as, according to the order, the
originating motion. As previously mentioned, nearly two years passed after the default order was
entered before the motion to reinstate the automatic stay was filed by other counsel for the Debtors.
       In addition, a proceeding to determine the validity, priority, or extent of a lien in real property
must be brought by adversary proceeding. Fed. R. Bankr. P. 7001(2). The Debtors never filed an
adversary proceeding to determine the validity of the Appellee’s lien in the Ehrling Road property.
A motion for relief from the automatic stay can be ruled upon by a bankruptcy court without a
hearing if “opportunity” for a hearing is given the party against whom the relief is sought. See Fed.
R. Bankr. P. 4001(a) and Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9014(a). The default order states that the Debtors did not
file a responsive pleading. Furthermore, the local rules of the bankruptcy court provide that a motion
for relief can be ruled upon without a hearing and a default judgment entered if the motion is
unopposed. See LBR 4001-1(d), LBR 9013-1(d), and LBR 9021-1(1)(a). See also Fed. R. Bankr.
P. 9029 (recognizing the authority of bankruptcy courts to make rules regarding the practice of cases
in their courts) and Fed. R. Civ. P. 55 (stating that judgment by default can be entered where the
relief sought is unopposed.) The Debtors do not deny that they failed to respond to the motion for
relief from the automatic stay. They do not contest the appropriateness or validity of the default
order, now, and they did not pursue an appeal of that order when it was entered.

Other Issues

       The Debtors have asserted a multitude of issues, including a real estate tax dispute, attorney
malpractice, mortgage fraud, racial prejudice, RICO conspiracy, and conflict of interest by the
chapter 13 trustee and the bankruptcy court. Nevertheless, the order appealed from is denial of their
motion to reimpose the automatic stay on the Ehrling Road property. Therefore, the only issue which
the Panel can consider is whether the bankruptcy court abused its discretion in denying their motion.
See Pearson v. Int’l Union, United Auto., Aerospace and Agric. Implement Workers of Am., 99
F.App’x 46, 51 (6th Cir. 2004) (holding that appellate court does not have jurisdiction to consider
issues other than what is specified in the order appealed from). Additionally, this is not the proper
forum for examination of the other issues raised. Although the Debtors state in their Amended
Appellant Reply Brief that this appeal is their “Message in a Bottle” concerning other issues, it is
neither proper nor appropriate for the Panel to address any issue other than that of whether the
bankruptcy court abused its discretion in denying the Debtors’ motion to reimpose the automatic stay
on the Ehrling Road property.
                                      V. CONCLUSION

    For the foregoing reasons, the order of the bankruptcy court refusing to reimpose the automatic
stay is AFFIRMED.