Court Opinion

ID: 4514561
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-03-11 00:01:40.244089+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:44:09.376865
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                            SEP 23 2019
                           NOT FOR PUBLICATION
                                                                        SUSAN M. SPRAUL, CLERK
                                                                          U.S. BKCY. APP. PANEL
                                                                          OF THE NINTH CIRCUIT

             UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY APPELLATE PANEL
                       OF THE NINTH CIRCUIT

In re:                                               BAP No. CC-19-1003-KuFL

ELIMINATOR CUSTOM BOATS, INC.;                       Bk. No. 2:14-bk-19226-DS
ROBERT D. LEACH,

               Debtors.

ROSENSTEIN & HITZEMAN, AAPLC,

                Appellant,
v.                                                    MEMORANDUM*

ELIMINATOR CUSTOM BOATS, INC.;
OFFICIAL COMMITTEE OF
UNSECURED CREDITORS OF
ELIMINATOR CUSTOM BOATS, INC.,

                Appellees.

               Submitted Without Argument on August 26, 2019
                          at Pasadena, California

                             Filed – September 23, 2019

         *
        This disposition is not appropriate for publication. Although it may be cited for
whatever persuasive value it may have, see Fed. R. App. P. 32.1, it has no precedential
value, see 9th Cir. BAP Rule 8024-1.
               Appeal from the United States Bankruptcy Court
                    for the Central District of California

          Honorable Deborah J. Saltzman, Bankruptcy Judge, Presiding

Appearances:        Robert B. Rosenstein and J. Like Hendrix of Rosenstein &
                    Associates on brief for appellant Rosenstein & Hitzeman,
                    AAPLC; James E. Till of Bosley Till LLP on brief for
                    appellee Eliminator Custom Boats, Inc.; John P. Schafer of
                    The Schafer Law Firm, P.C. on brief for appellee Official
                    Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Eliminator Custom
                    Boats, Inc.

Before: KURTZ, FARIS, and LAFFERTY, Bankruptcy Judges.

                                INTRODUCTION

      Appellant, Rosenstein & Hitzeman AAPLC (R&H), appeals from the

bankruptcy court's order approving a post-confirmation, multi-party

settlement (Settlement) under Rule 9019.1

      On appeal, R&H, former bankruptcy counsel to chapter 11 debtor

Eliminator Custom Boats, Inc. (Eliminator) and Mr. Robert Leach

(collectively, Debtors), argues that the provisions in the Settlement which

govern the priority and payment of post-confirmation administrative

claims constituted an impermissible modification of the confirmed plan

      1
       Unless specified otherwise, all chapter and section references are to the
Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. §§ 101-1532, and “Rule” references are to the Federal Rules
of Bankruptcy Procedure.

                                          2
(Plan) in violation of § 1127(b). Appellees, Eliminator and the Official

Committee of Unsecured Creditors (Committee), contend that this appeal

is equitably moot because R&H failed to obtain a stay, the Settlement has

been fully consummated, and the fee provisions at issue cannot be severed

from the Settlement. They also argue that the bankruptcy court properly

approved the Settlement under the standards set forth in Martin v. Kane (In

re A & C Properties), 784 F.2d 1377, 1381 (9th Cir. 1986).

      For the reasons discussed below, we conclude that this appeal is not

equitably moot. We also conclude that the fee provisions in the Settlement

which provide for the priority and payment of post-confirmation

professional fees constitute an impermissible modification of the Plan.

Accordingly, we REVERSE the bankruptcy court's approval of these

provisions and REMAND for proceedings consistent with this

memorandum.

                                    FACTS

      The underlying facts are undisputed. In late 2010, over the span of a

few months, Eliminator and Mr. Leach, the manager and owner of

Eliminator, each filed chapter 11 petitions. The cases were jointly

administered.

      Almost four years later, Debtors sought confirmation of their second

amended Plan. The Plan provided for the continued operation of

Eliminator's core business of manufacturing and selling custom racing and

                                        3
recreational watercraft and related items. Payments to Eliminator's

creditors would be made from revenues of the business and, in Mr. Leach's

bankruptcy case, from the income he derived from employment with

Eliminator and other sources.

      In order to confirm the Plan, Debtors negotiated with the

professionals in the jointly administered cases, including R&H, to discount

their fees subject to a $1,000,000 cap and receive installment payments on

their allowed claims. If the professionals did not agree to the treatment, the

Plan was doomed. Debtors ultimately reached an agreement with the

professionals (Stipulation). Among other things, the Stipulation provided

that Section 4.3 of the Plan would be clarified to provide that the

professional fees in the Eliminator case would be reduced first according to

a formula and then by any amounts that were paid to that professional.

The Plan was further clarified to provide that in the event Eliminator's

business was sold, any unpaid reduced allowed professional fee claims

would be paid from the sale proceeds prior to any distribution to the

holders of claims or interests. The parties to the Stipulation included:

Eliminator; the Committee; Bosley Till, LLP (Till), counsel for Eliminator;

Jay Gotfredson, counsel for Mr. Leach; The Schafer Law Firm, P.C. (SLF),

counsel for the Committee; Venturelli, Cary & Company; Armory

Consulting, Co.; and R&H. The bankruptcy court's order confirming the

Plan approved the Stipulation and the accompanying modifications to the

                                       4
Plan.

        After confirmation, Eliminator struggled financially such that the

Plan never became effective. Numerous motions were filed to extend the

effective date of the Plan, which originally was to occur not later than three

months after the confirmation date. By the end of February 2016, the Plan

had still not become effective. In addition, the Committee filed separate

motions at various times to convert Eliminator's case to chapter 7, to

modify the Plan, and to vacate the confirmation order. These motions were

either denied or taken off calendar. By late 2018, Debtors had not

implemented the Plan.

        Meanwhile, Mr. James Wong, a turn-around expert, had been

working with Eliminator as the CFO on a part-time basis as part of the

confirmed Plan. Under a shareholder resolution, Mr. Wong was appointed

as the President/CEO, Secretary, and Treasurer/CFO for Eliminator and

charged with overseeing and marketing Eliminator's business for sale as a

going concern.

        Eliminator later entered into an agreement for sale whereby the

purchaser paid $1.5 million in cash and assumed certain liabilities.

However, there were a variety of issues related to the sale, including the

payment of taxes and payment to the largest secured creditor. The fees and

costs of the post-confirmation professionals were also at issue. To facilitate

the sale, a settlement agreement was reached between various constituents.

                                        5
Among other things, the Settlement set forth the priority of payments from

the sale proceeds. As an express condition of the sale, the Settlement had to

be approved by the bankruptcy court, unless waived by the purchaser.

      After the sale was approved, Eliminator and the Committee

(collectively, Appellees) moved for an order approving the Settlement

under Rule 9019. According to the motion, resolution of the disputed

matters was necessary "for the Plan to be modified in a manner that

provided the means for the . . . Plan as modified to go effective

immediately for the Eliminator and Leach estates, and to make

distributions to creditors." The Settlement agreement stated that the

"Confirmed Plan . . . shall be modified to memorialize both this settlement

and the proposed sale of assets."

      The Settlement provided for the compromise of various claims and

other disputes not relevant to the issues in this appeal. In addition, the

Settlement reordered the priority of payments from sale proceeds which

differed from those initially set forth in the Stipulation, that had been

incorporated into the confirmed Plan. Under ¶ 8(e), as fifth priority, SLF

and Till would each receive $100,000 on account of services rendered post-

confirmation in connection with the sale and which would be applied to

reduce the amount of their allowed post-confirmation administrative

claims. Under ¶ 8(f), the Settlement provided that as sixth priority,

(i) $90,000 would be paid to holders of allowed general unsecured claims

                                       6
against Eliminator on a pro rata basis, and (ii) all remaining minimum bid

sale proceeds would be distributed among the professional administrative

claimants in the Eliminator case (both pre- and post-confirmation to the

present) on a pari passu and pro-rata basis.

      R&H was not a party to the Settlement and filed a limited opposition

to the motion. At this point, R&H was apparently owed $116,795.93 in

administrative fees. R&H objected to the provisions that earmarked

$100,000 each to SLF and Till and provided for payment of both pre-

confirmation and post-confirmation professional administrative claimants

on a pari passu and pro rata basis. R&H maintained that payments to

professionals from the sale proceeds should be done in accordance with the

Plan, with payment first to the outstanding allowed reduced pre-

confirmation professional fees. According to R&H, the purpose of the

distribution provisions under the court-approved Stipulation was to avoid

the scenario where post-confirmation professional claims were competing

with pre-confirmation professional claims.

      R&H further argued that there was no reason why ensuring payment

to certain professionals should be part of a settlement that is a condition of

sale, particularly when not all professional administrative creditors were

parties to the agreement. R&H also pointed out that payment of the $90,000

to unsecured creditors prior to the professionals violated the express

provisions of the Plan, although it admitted it was not seeking to undo that

                                       7
provision. In addition, R&H asserted its reliance on the Stipulation, which

facilitated confirmation of the Plan. R&H requested the bankruptcy court to

allow the sale to proceed with all payments to professionals held pending

further order of the court.

      At the hearing on the matter, Appellees were aligned. In general,

they argued that the terms of the Plan did not control because at that time

everyone assumed and thought that the case was going to complete itself.

But that did not happen, and the Plan never became effective. They further

argued that, but for the post-confirmation efforts, pre-confirmation fees

would not be paid at all since the cases would have converted to chapter 7

long ago and fees paid to the chapter 11 professionals would have to be

disgorged. In addition, according to Appellees, the Settlement was fair

because it provided for pre- and post-confirmation claims on a pro rata

basis and each would receive forty-nine percent.

      At another point, Mr. Till further explained: "And there are lots of

provisions in that [P]lan that – which is why it likely needs to be modified

because there's lots of provisions in that [P]lan that the settlement

agreement is changing." In addition, Mr. John Schafer of SLF told the court

that the $100,000 payments to SLF and Till were ingrained as part of the

Settlement because Mr. Leach was having him and Mr. Till do a lot of work

to get the Settlement done. Finally, Mr. Schafer argued that the Settlement

should be approved "as is," with two caveats: first, the payments would be

                                       8
made from the sale proceeds but subject to disgorgement, and second, to

the extent that R&H wanted to file an action, it was free to do so.

      In the end, the bankruptcy court concluded that the $100,000

payments to SLF and Till were appropriate on account of their post-

confirmation efforts. The court further found that the provisions in the Plan

for the payment of professional fees in the event of a sale did not

contemplate that the Plan would never become effective. The bankruptcy

court also decided that the provisions in the Settlement pertaining to the

payment of post-confirmation fees were important and could not be simply

cut out. The court overruled R&H's objection and, on the whole, found that

the A & C Properties factors for approval of a compromise were met. The

bankruptcy court approved the Settlement by order entered December 19,

2018. R&H filed a timely appeal from the order.

      Post-appeal, Eliminator filed a document in the bankruptcy court

giving notice that it was withdrawing the Plan.

                              JURISDICTION

      The bankruptcy court had jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1334

and 157(b)(1) and (2). We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 158.

                                   ISSUES

      Whether this appeal is equitably moot;

      Whether the Settlement provisions for payment of post-confirmation

attorney fees constitute an impermissible modification of the Plan.

                                      9
                          STANDARDS OF REVIEW

      We review our own jurisdiction, including questions of equitable

mootness, de novo. Ellis v. Yu (In re Ellis), 523 B.R. 673, 677 (9th Cir. BAP

2014).

      We review a bankruptcy court’s conclusions of law de novo and its

findings of fact under the clearly erroneous standard. Dolven v. Bartleson (In

re Bartleson) 253 B.R. 75, 78-79 (9th Cir. BAP 2000) (citation omitted). A

court's factual determination is clearly erroneous if it is illogical,

implausible, or without support in the record. United States v. Hinkson, 585

F.3d 1247, 1261–62 & n.21 (9th Cir. 2009) (en banc) (quoting Anderson v. City

of Bessemer City, 470 U.S. 564, 577 (1985)) (explaining that the clearly

erroneous standard of review is an element of the clarified abuse of

discretion standard).

      "A chapter 11 plan should generally be interpreted as if it were a

contract." In re Bartleson, 253 B.R. at 78 (quoting C.F. Brookside, Ltd. v.

Skyview Mem'l Lawn Cemetery (In re Affordable Hous. Dev. Corp.), 175 B.R.

324, 329 (9th Cir. BAP 1994) (citing Hillis Motors, Inc. v. Haw. Auto. Dealers’

Ass’n, 997 F.2d 581, 588 (9th Cir. 1993)). State law governs interpretation of

the Plan. Hillis Motors, Inc., 997 F.2d at 588.

      Settlement agreements are also contracts, which a federal court

interprets by looking to the contract law of the state in which it sits. Jeff D.

v. Andrus, 899 F.2d 753, 759 (9th Cir. 1990); In re Oakhurst Lodge, Inc., 582

                                        10
B.R. 784, 791 (Bankr. E.D. Cal. 2018).

      Under California law, the interpretation of a contract is a question of

law. Renwick v. Bennett (In re Bennett), 298 F.3d 1059, 1064 (9th Cir. 2002)

(citation omitted).

                                    DISCUSSION

A.    This appeal is not equitably moot.

      Appellees contend that this appeal is equitably moot on the grounds

that (1) R&H failed to seek or obtain a stay; (2) there has been a

comprehensive change of circumstances since the approval of the

Settlement because numerous distributions and releases have been

accomplished; and (3) the provisions regarding the payment of

professional fees cannot be severed from the Settlement, as they were an

integral part of complex negotiations.

      In response, R&H argues that the case is not equitably moot since the

parties receiving the funds are parties to the appeal.2 According to R&H, it

is not too difficult to "unscramble the eggs," as disgorgement of

professional fees in bankruptcy cases is commonplace, and the

Committee’s counsel, Mr. Schafer, expressly stated at the hearing that

payments under the Settlement would be subject to disgorgement.

      1.     Legal standards for determining whether an appeal is

      2
        The notice of appeal did not specifically name SLF or the Till law firm as parties
to the appeal. However, Mr. Schafer and Mr. Till have appeared in this appeal.

                                            11
            equitably moot

      We may dismiss an appeal if we deem it equitably moot. Clear

Channel Outdoor, Inc. v. Knupfer (In re PW, LLC), 391 B.R. 25, 33-35 (9th Cir.

BAP 2008). Equitable mootness is "a judge-made abstention doctrine

unrelated to the constitutional prohibition against hearing moot appeals."

Rev Op Grp. v. ML Manager LLC (In re Mortgs. Ltd.), 771 F.3d 1211, 1214 (9th

Cir. 2014). The doctrine holds that even where effective relief is

theoretically possible, and the appeal is therefore not constitutionally moot,

courts may "dismiss appeals of bankruptcy matters when there has been a

'comprehensive change of circumstances . . . so as to render it inequitable

for [the] court to consider the merits of the appeal.'" Id. (quoting Motor

Vehicle Cas. Co. v. Thorpe Insulation Co. (In re Thorpe Insulation Co.), 677 F.3d,

869, 880 (9th Cir. 2012). In other words, "[e]quitable mootness concerns

whether changes to the status quo following the order being appealed

make it impractical or inequitable to unscramble the eggs." Castaic Partners

II, LLC v. Daca-Castaic, LLC (In re Castaic Partners II, LLC), 823 F.3d 966, 968

(9th Cir. 2016) (citation omitted).

      The Ninth Circuit follows a four-step process to determine whether

an appeal is equitably moot. We look first at whether a stay was sought, for

absent that a party has not fully pursued its rights. However, failure to seek

or obtain a stay does not automatically result in equitable mootness. In re

Thorpe Insulation Co., 677 F.3d at 881 ("If Appellants here have presented

                                        12
appellate claims that can be remedied by some reasonable means without

totally dislodging the § 524(g) plan, it would be inequitable to dismiss their

appeal on equitable mootness grounds merely because the reorganization

has proceeded."); Platinum Capital, Inc. v. Sylmar Plaza, L.P. (In re Sylmar

Plaza, L.P.), 314 F.3d 1070, 1074 (9th Cir. 2002) (holding appeal was not

equitably moot even though the appellant did not seek a stay); Paulman v.

Gateway Venture Partners III, L.P. (In re Filtercorp, Inc.), 163 F.3d 570, 576–78

(9th Cir. 1998) (holding that appeal of summary judgment order was not

equitably moot despite the appellant's failure to seek or obtain a stay).

      If a stay was sought and not gained, we then will look to whether

substantial consummation of the plan has occurred.3 If "many intricate and

involved transactions" called for by the plan have been "so far

implemented that it is impossible to fashion effective relief for all

concerned," an appeal may be equitably moot. Trone v. Roberts Farms, Inc.

(In re Roberts Farms, Inc.), 652 F.2d 793, 797 (9th Cir. 1981).

      Next, we will look to the effect a remedy may have on third parties

not before the court. For this factor, "the question is not whether it is

possible to alter a plan such that no third party interests are affected, but

whether it is possible to do so in a way that does not affect third party

      3
         Although Thorpe focused on plan consummation, the Ninth Circuit has held
that the same general principles apply to any equitable mootness analysis. In re Mortgs.
Ltd., 771 F.3d at 1271.

                                           13
interests to such an extent that the change is inequitable." In re Thorpe

Insulation Co., 677 F.3d at 882.

      Finally, and most importantly, we will look at whether the

bankruptcy court can fashion effective and equitable relief without

completely knocking the props out from under the plan, thereby creating

an uncontrollable situation for the bankruptcy court. Id. at 881, 883. In

considering this factor, the court should be mindful that where the

bankruptcy court could grant some relief, even if such relief is incomplete,

the appeal is not equitably moot. Id. at 883.

      The court evaluates equitable mootness with respect to specific

claims, not the entire appeal. In re Filtercorp, Inc., 163 F.3d at 576–78

(holding that although appeal regarding sale of assets was moot, appeal of

summary judgment order that did not seek to overturn asset sale was not

equitably moot). The "party moving for dismissal on mootness grounds

bears a heavy burden." In re Thorpe Insulation Co., 677 F.3d at 880 (citation

omitted).

      2.    Application of the standards

      As to the first Thorpe factor, R&H did not seek or obtain a stay. While

this factor weighs in favor of finding R&H's appeal equitably moot, it does

not require a mootness finding. "The failure to gain a stay is one factor to be

considered in assessing equitable mootness, but is not necessarily

controlling.” Id. at 881–82.

                                        14
       As to the second factor, because there was no stay, the full execution

of the Settlement appears to have occurred. This factor weighs in favor of

equitable mootness. However, that is not the end of the story. If the appeal

succeeds, we may fashion whatever relief is practicable. After all, an

appellant "would readily accept some fractional recovery . . . rather than

suffer mootness of [its] appeal as a whole." Frito-Lay, Inc. v. LTV Steel Co.,

Inc. (In re Chateaugay Corp.), 10 F.3d 944, 954 (2d Cir. 1993) (citation

omitted).

      The third factor weighs against a finding of equitable mootness. The

issues in this appeal would not affect the rights of third parties not before

the court. R&H does not challenge the sale or other provisions of the

Settlement that do not pertain to the payment of post-confirmation

professional fees. Rather, R&H seeks revocation of the discrete provisions

which impact only the payment of professional fees from the sale proceeds

to parties who are before the court. Further, although the post-confirmation

professionals have been paid in accordance with the Settlement, an order

compelling disgorgement of attorney's fees and expenses does not require

the bankruptcy court to unravel other parts of the Settlement which would

impact third parties not before the court and will not affect the sale of

Eliminator's business. See L.A. Cty. Treasurer & Tax Collector v. Mainline

Equip., Inc. (In re Mainline Equip., Inc.), 865 F.3d 1179, 1183 (9th Cir. 2017);

Focus Media, Inc. v. Nat'l Broad. Co. (In re Focus Media, Inc.), 378 F.3d 916, 922

                                         15
(9th Cir. 2004) (requiring one party to disgorge money it has received does

not require the unraveling of a complicated bankruptcy plan). In sum, we

could fashion equitable relief without unduly or inequitably impacting

innocent third parties.

      The final and most important factor also weighs against equitable

mootness. R&H does not seek to overturn the entire Settlement. As noted,

R&H raises issues that are directed at discrete provisions which can be

modified without making an unmanageable situation for the bankruptcy

court. Altering these provisions would not completely unravel the multi-

party Settlement.

      In weighing the factors, we are mindful that federal courts "'have a

virtually unflagging obligation . . . to exercise the jurisdiction conferred on

them." Colo. River Water Conservation Dist. v. United States, 424 U.S. 800, 817

(1976). We conclude that, taken together, the factors weigh against equitable

mootness.

      Appellees contend, with little if any legal analysis, that this appeal is

equitably moot because the relevant fee provisions cannot be severed from

the Settlement. Granted, in certain circumstances, courts have found

equitable mootness when the provision at issue is a necessary part of the

settlement reached by the parties. See Upstream Energy Servs. v. Enron Corp.

(In re Enron Corp.), 326 B.R. 491, 503 (S.D.N.Y. 2005) (finding appeal of

exculpation provision moot where the bankruptcy court found the

                                       16
provision necessary for the negotiation of the reorganization plan); Trans

World Airlines, Inc. v. Texaco, Inc. (In re Texaco Inc.), 92 B.R. 38, 45-50

(S.D.N.Y. 1988) (finding appeal seeking to sever and rescind releases moot

because releases were part of an "integrated settlement" and their rescission

would "undermine the entire reorganization"). Although courts generally

will not sever releases from consummated transactions, those circumstances

are not present here.

      The Settlement is a contract interpreted according to California law.

Jeff D., 899 F.2d at 759. Under California law, the intent of the parties

determines the meaning of the contract. Cal. Civil Code §§ 1636, 1638. "Such

intent is to be inferred, if possible, solely from the written provisions of the

contract." Santisas v. Goodin, 17 Cal. 4th 599, 608 (Cal. Ct. App. 1998). Here,

the plain language of the Settlement does not show that the bargain might

have been different without the fee provisions at issue, or that there might

have been no settlement at all. Indeed, there is no language in the

Settlement that says all the provisions are essential, non-severable terms,

nor is there mention that it is an integrated document.

      Moreover, as further discussed below, the provision for payments to

post-confirmation professionals modify the confirmed Plan. In sum, the

entire Settlement does not need to be undone, and as long as we can give

effective relief, there is no basis for finding this appeal equitably moot.

                                          17
B.    The terms of the Plan do not provide for the payment of post-
      confirmation fees.

      "Confirmation of a chapter 11 plan binds the debtor, creditors, and

equity security holders." In re Oakhurst Lodge, Inc., 582 B.R. at 791 (citing 11

U.S.C. § 1141(a) ("the provisions of a confirmed plan bind") and Trulis v.

Barton, 107 F.3d 685, 691 (9th Cir. 1995) (once plan is confirmed it is binding

on all parties)); see also Caviata Attached Homes, LLC v. U.S. Bank, Nat'l Ass'n

(In re Caviata Attached Homes, LLC), 481 B.R. 34, 46 (9th Cir. BAP 2012)

(“Taken together, §§ 1127(b) and 1141(a) impose an important element of

finality in chapter 11 proceedings, allowing parties to rely on the provisions

of a confirmed reorganization plan.”) (citation and internal quotation marks

omitted).

      "Moreover, the confirmation order has res judicata effect on issues

that were raised in conjunction with the plan confirmation or could have

been raised at that time." In re Oakhurst Lodge, Inc., 582 B.R. at 791. Res

judicata promotes fairness to parties who have negotiated and relied upon

Chapter 11 plans and supports the strong policy of finality in the

reorganization process. Absent relief from the confirmation order or a court-

approved modification, the plan continues to bind the parties and restricts a

reorganized debtor from settling disputes in a way that impacts the

distribution provisions of the plan. Id. at 792.

      A confirmed bankruptcy plan is construed as a contract between the

                                        18
debtor and creditors. Hillis Motors, Inc., 997 F.2d at 588; Miller v. United

States, 363 F.3d 999, 1003–04 (9th Cir. 2004). A stipulation is also akin to a

contract. Jeff D., 899 F.2d at 759. California law governs the interpretation of

the Plan and the Stipulation. Hillis Motors, Inc., 997 F.2d at 588. Under

California law, the basic goal in contract interpretation is to give effect to the

parties’ mutual intent at the time of contracting. Cal. Civil Code §§ 1636,

1639. Moreover, "[t]he relevant intent is 'objective'—that is, the intent

manifested in the agreement and by surrounding conduct—rather than the

subjective beliefs of the parties." United Comm. Ins. Serv., Inc. v. Paymaster

Corp., 962 F.2d 853, 856 (9th Cir. 1992) (internal quotations and citations

omitted). "Such intent is to be inferred, if possible, solely from the written

provisions of the contract." 17 Cal. 4th at 608.

      Applying these contract interpretation principles, we conclude that

the Plan contains no language that would allow the payment of post-

confirmation fees to SLF and Till from the sale proceeds. Indeed, even if the

post-confirmation fees could be categorized as an administrative claim or

professional fee claim as defined in the Plan, the Plan set a bar date for such

claims as thirty (30) days after the confirmation date.

      "Administrative Claims" are defined as:

      Costs or expenses of administering a Case, that are allowable
      under section 507(a)(1) of the Bankruptcy Code or 28 U.S.C.
      § 1930, and if applicable, section 503(b) of the Bankruptcy Code.
      Includes Claims incurred post-petition in the ordinary course of

                                        19
      a Debtor's business, fees and expenses of Professionals, and fees
      due to the U.S. Trustee's Office.

      "Administrative Claims Bar Date" is defined as the "Deadline for

submitting requests for payment of an Administrative Claim, established in

the Plan as thirty (30) days after the Confirmation Date."

      "Professionals" is defined as:

      Any Person employed by a Debtor and/or the Committee
      pursuant to a Final Order in accordance with sections 327, 328 or
      1103 of the Bankruptcy Code. This definition excludes
      professionals that may be selected and employed by a
      Reorganized Debtor on and after the Effective Date with respect
      to services rendered by such professionals on and after the
      Effective Date.

      "Professional Fee Claims" are defined as "All fees and expenses

claimed by Professionals retained by a Debtor and the Committee that have

been approved on a final basis by a Final Order."

      Paragraph 4.3 of the Plan entitled "Professional Fee Claims" provides:

      Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, a Professional
      Fee Claim will be Allowed only if: (i) on or before thirty (30)
      days after the Confirmation Date, the entity holding such
      Professional Fee Claim both files with the Bankruptcy Court a
      final fee application or a motion requesting Allowance of the
      fees and serves the application or motion on the Reorganized
      Debtors, their respective counsel, the Committee and the U.S.
      Trustee; and (ii) the Court allows the Professional Fee Claim by
      Final Order.

                                       20
      Furthermore, the fact that the parties did not anticipate a four-year

delay or that post-confirmation attorney fees would accrue does not change

the Plan's plain language. In interpreting the Plan and Stipulation, we give

effect to the parties’ mutual intent at the time of contracting. Cal. Civil Code

§§ 1636, 1639.

      Section 1129(a)(9)(A) requires that, unless agreed otherwise, each

holder of an administrative claim will receive cash equal to the allowed

amount of such claim on the effective date of the plan. Through the

Stipulation, which was incorporated into the confirmed Plan, the pre-

confirmation professionals agreed to a different treatment by reducing their

fees according to the formula and by agreeing to installment payments.

However, their treatment changed in the event of sale. Paragraph 5 of the

Stipulation makes clear that in the event of a sale, the pre-confirmation

professional fees would be paid from the sale proceeds with first priority as

required under § 1129(a)(9)(A).

      Although there is no Plan language authorizing the payment of post-

confirmation professional fees, and despite the plain language in the

Stipulation and Plan that gives pre-confirmation professionals first priority

payment from the sale proceeds, the Settlement authorized $100,000

payments to the post-confirmation professionals with priority over the pre-

                                       21
confirmation professionals.4 The payment and priority for the payment of

post-confirmation professional fees materially altered the rights of R&H

with respect to the payment of its fees. See Findley v. Blinken (In re Joint

Eastern & Southern Dist. Asbestos Litig.), 982 F.2d 721, 747–48 (2d Cir. 1992)

(finding that a "modification" occurred under § 1127(b) when the change to

the plan "effectively alter[ed]" a creditor's payment right). Pre-confirmation

professionals such as R&H previously stood on an equal footing in the

event Eliminator's business was sold, but they emerged from the Settlement

with differing rights as to amounts recoverable due to priority $100,000

payments to SLF and Till (as well as payments to unsecured creditors).

      Further, the record shows that the Settlement was intended to modify

the confirmed Plan. The motion seeking approval of the Settlement states:

"The Settlement Agreement provides a clear and certain path to

(a) resolving the most significant unresolved disputes in the Cases, and as a

result, (b) providing agreed upon terms to modify the Confirmed Plan in a

manner that will allow the . . . Confirmed Plan to promptly go effective

. . . ." Mr. Wong's declaration in support of the motion states that the

       4
          Bankruptcy courts have allowed claims for post-confirmation attorney's fees for
work benefitting the estate or effectuating the plan when the terms of the plan
contemplated such fees. See Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. v. Sultan Corp. (In re Sultan
Corp.), 81 B.R. 599 (9th Cir. BAP 1987) (Since post-confirmation attorney's fees were
contemplated by the plan, the fees must be administrative expenses.); In re Canton
Jubilee, Inc., 253 B.R. 770 (Bankr. E.D. Tex. 2000) (confirmed plan established no deadline
for the presentation of administrative claims arising in the chapter 11 case and the plan
contemplated the marketing of the Debtor's primary asset for a period of one year).

                                            22
Settlement "[p]rovides a basis for the Confirmed Plan to be modified and go

effective without objection by the Settling Parties." He further declares that

the Settlement "is fully consistent with the intent of the Confirmed Plan."

The Settlement agreement attached to Mr. Wong's declaration states at ¶ 1:

"The 'Confirmed Plan', set forth as Docket No. 756 shall be modified to

memorialize both this settlement and proposed sale of assets (the 'Modified

Plan')."5

      In sum, the fee provisions in the Settlement that pertained to the

payment of post-confirmation attorney fees constituted a modification of

the Plan in violation of § 1127(b),6 the exclusive means by which to modify a

       5
         The Committee is not authorized or empowered to bind its constituencies.
"They . . . are not agents of and cannot bind the groups they represent." In re Daewoo
Motor Am., Inc., 488 B.R. 418, 429-30 (C.D. Cal. 2011) (citing 7 Collier on Bankruptcy
¶ 1103.05[1][d][i] (2011)). "The plan will be submitted to creditors . . . for voting and
those holders may or may not follow the committee's recommendations." Id.
       6
           Section 1127 provides in relevant part:

       (b) The proponent of a plan or the reorganized debtor may modify such
       plan at any time after confirmation of such plan and before substantial
       consummation of such plan, but may not modify such plan so that such
       plan as modified fails to meet the requirements of sections 1122 and 1123
       of this title. Such plan as modified under this subsection becomes the plan
       only if circumstances warrant such modification and the court, after notice
       and a hearing, confirms such plan as modified, under section 1129 of this
       title.

       (c) The proponent of a modification shall comply with section 1125 of this
       title with respect to the plan as modified.
                                                                           (continued...)

                                              23
plan. Alberta Energy Partners v. Blast Energy Servs., Inc. (In re Blast Energy

Servs., Inc.), 593 F.3d 418, 427 (5th Cir. 2010) (§ 1127(b) is the sole means for

modification of the plan of reorganization after it has been confirmed); see

also In re Reserve Capital Corp., Bankr. No. 03-60071, 2007 WL 1989285, at *7

(Bankr. N.D.N.Y. July 6, 2007) (if a compromise constitutes a modification, it

is still permissible unless it comes after the confirmed plan has been

substantially consummated, or if it is proposed by a person other than the

plan proponent or the reorganized debtor.).

      Moreover, the last-minute withdrawal of the Plan (after the Settlement

was approved and the appeal was taken) did not affect the binding nature

of the confirmed Plan. Section 1144 is the exclusive means by which a plan

can be revoked. Dale C. Eckert Corp. v. Orange Tree Assocs., Ltd. (In re Orange

Tree Assocs., Ltd), 961 F.2d 1445, 1447 (9th Cir. 1992). At this late date, a

motion for revocation is barred under § 1144.7 In short, "confirmed chapter

      6
          (...continued)
          (d) Any holder of a claim or interest that has accepted or rejected a plan is
          deemed to have accepted or rejected, as the case may be, such plan as
          modified, unless, within the time fixed by the court, such holder changes
          such holder's previous acceptance or rejection.
          7
              Section 1144 provides:

          On request of a party in interest at any time before 180 days after the date
          of the entry of the order of confirmation, and after notice and a hearing,
          the court may revoke such order if and only if such order was procured by
          fraud . . . .

                                               24
11 plans have a binding effect that is durable." In re Oakhurst Lodge, Inc., 582

B.R. at 794.

      In sum, if the modification of the Plan was allowed, a new plan would

be created as far as the treatment of the pre-confirmation professional fee

claims. Of further note is the fact that their treatment in the event of a sale

was based on a court-approved Stipulation and agreement with Debtors so

that their Plan could get confirmed. To allow Eliminator and the Committee

to unilaterally rescind the Stipulation through the consummation of the

Settlement would violate the principle of finality expected in chapter 11

confirmed plans. Under these circumstances, the confirmed Plan must be

given res judicata effect.

      The remainder of Appellees' arguments regarding waiver and a

potential structured dismissal of the case are without merit. There is no

basis for allowing Appellees to short-cut the procedures for plan

modification under § 1127(b). Finally, in light of the narrow issues on

appeal, it is unnecessary for us to consider whether the bankruptcy court

erred in approving other provisions in the Settlement under the standards

set forth in A & C Properties.

                                 CONCLUSION

      For the reasons stated above, we REVERSE the bankruptcy court's

approval of the provisions in the Settlement pertaining to the payment of

post-confirmation attorney fees to SLF and Till and REMAND for

                                       25
proceedings consistent with this memorandum.

                                  26