IN RE: COMPUTREX, INC.               CASE NO. 01-53755   OPINION AND ORDER  LATE FILED CLAIMS

UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY

LEXINGTON DIVISION

 IN RE:

COMPUTREX, INC.                                                             CASE NO. 01-53755

DEBTOR                                                                                            CHAPTER 7

 OPINION AND ORDER

 

The relevant background of this matter is as follows.  On June 27, 2002 BorgWarner Diversified Transmission Products, Inc. and BorgWarner Air/Fluid Systems, Inc. (collectively "BorgWarner") filed a joint motion to allow late filed claims (Document #258) (the "Motion").   The deadline for BorgWarner to file its claims was May 28, 2002; however, its claims were filed beyond the aforementioned deadline.  On July 30, 2002 the Trustee filed a response (Document #276) that objected to the Motion.  On August 14, 2002 BorgWarner filed a reply to the Trustee's response (Document # 284).  On September 5, 2002 the court took this matter under submission for further consideration and ruling.   

Simply stated, the issue before the court presented in the Motion is whether circumstances of "excusable neglect" permit the court to allow  proofs of claim that were tardily filed.  Resolution of this issue involves navigating through a labyrinth of Bankruptcy Code (the "Code" and Bankruptcy Rules (the "Rules") provisions.  Our journey beings with 11 U.S.C. ' 502, which deals with "Allowance of claims or interests" Section 502(a) states in relevant part that "a claim . . .proof of which is filed under section 501 (of the Code), is deemed allowed, unless a party in interest . . . objects."  Under the scope of his authority set forth in  ' 704(5) of the Code the trustee in this case objected to BorgWarner's proofs of claim (Document #276).  Therefore, under ' 502(a) the proof of claim could not be initially allowed.


Because such objection was made by the trustee, the court's analysis proceeds to ' 502(b)(9) of the Code, which states in relevant part that "if such objection to claim is made, the court, after notice and a hearing . . . shall allow such claim . . . except to the extent that . . . proof of such claim is not timely filed, except to the extent tardily filed as permitted under paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of section 726(a) of this title or under the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure . . . .  " Stated more plainly, ' 502(b)(9) contains an exception to an exception to the general rule, with the general rule being that courts should allow proofs of claim, an exception being that tardily filed proofs of claims are disallowed, and the "exception to the exception" being that tardily filed proofs of claim may yet  end up being allowed depending on what ' 726(a) of the Code or the Bankruptcy Rules may say.  In the case before the court, BorgWarner, the creditor who filed the proof of claim at issue, admits that they did not file its proof of claim in a timely manner as required by FRBP 3002(c) (discussed infra).  Therefore, BorgWarner's situation falls under the "not timely filed exception" to the general rule on allowance of claims.  Consequently, the court must examine  the Bankruptcy Rules and section 726 of the Code to determine whether there is "an exception to the exception" that may save BorgWarner's claim from being disallowed.

The applicable general rule that addresses BorgWarner's request to the court for an extension of time to file its proofs of claim is FRBP 9006(b)(1), which states in relevant part that "when an act is required or allowed to be done at or within a specified period by these rules or by notice of the court given thereunder or by order of the court, the court for cause shown may at any time in its discretion . . . on motion made after the expiration of the specified period permit the act to be done where the failure to act was the result of excusable neglect.  However, the aforementioned general rule is limited by FRBP 9006(b)(3) which states that the court "may enlarge the time for taking action under . . . Rule 3002(c) only to the extent and under the conditions stated in (the) Rule."  (Emphasis added).


FRBP  3002(c) states in relevant part that in a chapter 7 case "a proof of claim is timely filed if it is filed not later than 90 days after the first date set for the meeting of creditors called under ' 341(a) of the Code . . . .  " Rule 3002(c) then proceeds to set forth five enumerated exceptions to the ninety-day general rule.  Neither the "extent" nor the "conditions" set forth in all of  Bankruptcy Rule 3002(c), including the five enumerated exceptions previous mentioned, contain language that would equip this court to enlarge the time period for the filing of proofs of claim when excusable neglect is evident.  Consequently FRBP 3002(c) ultimately functions as a statute of limitations that prohibits courts from enlarging the ninety-day time period for filing a proof of claim when a creditor is seeking such an enlargement due to his excusable neglect.

BorgWarner cites the case In re Dartmoor Homes, 175 B.R. 659 (Bankr. N.D. Ill. 1994) in opposition to the court's preceding analysis.  However, the rule set forth in Dartmoor Homes is the general rule for chapter eleven cases.  The rule for chapter seven cases such as this is consistent to the court's analysis, supra.  See, e.g.,In re Edelman, 237 B.R. 146 (9th Cir. BAP (cal.) 1999); In re Armstrong,  238 B.R. 438 (Bankr. E.D. Ark. 1999).

In light of the foregoing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that BorgWarner's Motion is OVERRULED.  As a result of the foregoing ruling, THE COURT FINDS that all claims filed by BorgWarner after May 28, 2002 are disallowed as tardily filed.

Dated:

 

By the court B

 

 

 

______________________________

JOSEPH M. SCOTT, JR.

U.S. BANKRUPTCY JUDGE

 

Copies to:

James McArdle, Esq,

James Lyon, Trustee

John O. Morgan, Jr., Esq.