Court Opinion

ID: 6685121
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-20 21:32:05.492384+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:00:56.792925
License: Public Domain

HamiltoN, Judge,
delivered tbe following opinion:
In this case it has been determined that tbe lien given by tbe local embargo or attachment law dates from tbe original process, and not from tbe final judgment in tbe local court. *184In tbe ease at‘bar this fixes a lien as prior to tbe bankruptcy proceedings. Tbe petition and rule to show cause and answer thereto now raise tbe question whether the lien is or is not prior to the bankruptcy administration expenses.
1. As observed in Collier on Bankruptcy, lltb ed. 988, tbe question whether priorities in § 64 of the Bankruptcy Act are superior to tbe valid liens which are recognized is a matter of doubt. _ In tbe case ,at bar tbe point is whether administration éxpenses aré or are not superior to a lien which itself antedates the administration proceedings.
Section 64 (b) provides that “the debts to have priority . . . and to be paid in full out of bankrupt estates and the order of payment shall be (1) the actual and necessary cost of preserving the estate subsequent to filing the position, (2) the filing fees paid by creditors in involuntary cases, (3) the cost of - -administration, including . . . one reasonable attorney’s fee for the professional services actually rendered . . . to the petitioning creditors in involuntary cases” [30 Stat. at L. 563, chap. 541, Comp. Stat. 1916, § 9648] besides other matters which need not be considered. The prior sentence of this section provides for the payment of taxes. The contention of the creditor in this casé is that he had a lien, • and' that it should not have been interfered with; and therefore the interference with it, whether by court .proceedings or otherwise, was not his concern, and should not be at his expense. As expressed1 by Ke Ilósmer, 233 Fed. 318,' the costs of administration pertain to the general assets, and have no relation to property which by reason of liens does not become part of the estate. It would seem on principle that the same point would be true of all valid liens. They must almost necessarily *185antedate the proceedings to be liens at all, and if the trustee recognized them without more, the lienee could not complain. It would seem to be too strict a rule, however, to require the trustee to judge all cases in advance of hearing, and to be penalized if he happen to make a mistake. Bankruptcies are frequently involved, and it is the duty of the trustee to save everything possible for the estate. The reasonable costs of preservation of property the best right to which will take a court proceeding to determine, should not be charged against the trustee. A bankruptcy proceeding, while in the form of an equitable proceeding, is almost, in the nature of a salvage proceeding in admiralty. The la.w would seem to permit the seizing of such property, and the actual and necessary cost of preserving the estate, filing fees, and cost of administration. If the law is to be held as recognizing and enforcing valid liens, it would seem to follow that the expense of doing so must be covered by the property. Re Cramond, 145 Fed. 966 (N. Y. Dist. Ct.); Re Yoke Vitrified Brick Co. 180 Fed. 235. This would, seem to be the better rule, despite the conflict of authority.
2. This, however, does not at all mean that all expenses in the case shall be taxed up against the lienholder. It seems that no order is necessary as to appeal costs, because execution may issue upon the order of the court above. Precisely what is covered by the preservation and the administration in this particular case there are not facts enough before the-court toJ determine. Unless the parties can agree upon what these expenses are, this particular matter will be referred to the referee. It is not necessary for the referee to pass upon the cost of appeal. This certainly is not to be considered as part of the expense of the administration to be paid by Pilar, when *186the court above bas expressly declared that it shall be paid by the trustee, and process can issue to that effect.
It is so ordered.