Introduction
As more companies file for bankruptcy, creditors and other interested parties of a debtor must quickly familiarize themselves with the automatic stay. Section 362(a)(1) of the Bankruptcy Code stays "the commencement or continuation … of a judicial, administrative, or other action or proceeding against the debtor that was or could have been commenced before the commencement" of a bankruptcy proceeding. Generally speaking, the automatic stay is intended to give the debtor a "breathing spell" from its creditors. To do so, the stay stops various forms of collection efforts against the debtor.
The automatic stay is not without limitations, however. In drafting the Bankruptcy Code, Congress carved out exceptions where the automatic stay does not apply. Further, the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure provide procedural safeguards for a party seeking relief from the automatic stay. Given the frequency with which automatic stay issues arise in bankruptcy proceedings, this post is intended to provide a brief summary of the scope of the automatic stay. Further, the latter part of this post looks at cases frequently cited by parties seeking relief from the automatic stay in the Delaware Bankruptcy Court.
Scope of the Automatic Stay
Section 362(a)(3) of the Bankruptcy Code defines the scope of
the automatic stay. Under this section, the automatic stay bars any
"act to obtain possession of property of the estate or of
property from the estate or to exercise control over property of
the estate." In order to have the stay "lifted,"
section 362(d) authorizes a bankruptcy court to "grant relief
from the stay provided
under subsection (a) of this section, such as by terminating,
annulling, modifying or conditioning such stay …(1.) for
cause, including the lack of adequate protection of an interest in
property of such party in interest."
In order to trigger the automatic stay, there must be an act against either the debtor or against property of the debtor or of the estate. The automatic stay does not stay actions taken against non-debtor third parties. The Third Circuit has recognized that although the automatic stay has a broad scope, the clear language under 362(a) applies only against a debtor. See McCartney v. Integra Nat’l Bank North, 106 F.3d 506, 509 (3d Cir. 1997). As a consequence “it is universally acknowledged that an automatic stay of proceedings accorded by § 362 may not be invoked by entities such as sureties, guarantors, co-obligors, or others with a similar legal or factual nexus to the … debtor." Id.
Relief from Stay
Under section 362(d)(1) of the Bankruptcy Code, the bankruptcy court “shall” lift the automatic stay for “cause.” If a creditor seeking relief from the automatic stay makes a prima facie case of “cause” for lifting the stay, the burden going forward shifts to the debtor pursuant to Bankruptcy Code § 362(g). See In re 234-6 West 22nd St. Corp., 214 B.R. 751, 756 (Bankr.S.D.N.Y. 1997).
The Bankruptcy Code does not define “cause.” Instead, whether cause exists to lift the automatic stay should be determined on a case by case basis. See Izzarelli v. Rexene Prod. Co. (In re Rexene Prod. Co.), 141 B.R. 574, 576 (Bankr.D.Del. 1992). See also, In re Texas State Optical, Inc., 188 B.R. 552, 556 (Bankr. E.D.Tex. 1995) (finding that “cause” for modification of the automatic stay is “an intentionally broad and flexible concept that permits … [a] [b]ankruptcy [c]ourt, as a court of equity, to respond to inherently fact-sensitive situations.”) Courts determine what constitutes “cause” based on the totality of the circumstances in each particular case. Baldino v. Wilson (In re Wilson), 116 F.3d 87, 90 (3d Cir. 1997).
In re Rexene provides the “balancing test”
to determine whether cause exists to lift the automatic stay. 141
B.R. at 576. Under Rexene, the balancing test looks at
three factors to decide whether to lift the automatic stay,
including: (a.) whether prejudice will be caused to the estate or
the debtor;
(b.) whether hardship to the movant from continuing the stay
outweighs any hardship to the debtor; and (c.) whether the movant
has a reasonable probability of prevailing on the merits of the
suit. Id.
In addition to the factors outlined above, a bankruptcy court may also consider the following general policies when deciding whether to grant a motion to lift the stay. These policies include: (1) whether the court has jurisdiction to hear the underlying claims arising from the underlying action; (2) whether granting movant relief from stay would provide a complete resolution of the issues presented in the underlying action; (3) whether granting the movant relief from the automatic stay would interfere with the debtors’ bankruptcy proceeding; (4) whether the interest of judicial economy and the expeditious and economical resolution of litigation weigh in favor of granting the movant relief from the automatic stay; (5) whether the parties are ready for trial in the underlying action; and, (6) whether the impact the stay has on the movant justifies the relief requested in the motion. In re: SCO Group, Inc., 395 B.R. 852, 857-58 & 859 (Bankr. D. Del. 2007).
Conclusion
Bankruptcy courts consider many factors when deciding whether to lift the automatic stay. The broad scope of issues that can be considered by the court illustrate the flexibility provided for under the Bankruptcy Code. Aside from the factors above, the timing of the request to lift the stay (i.e. requesting relief from stay days versus months after the commencement of a bankruptcy proceeding) also plays an important role in whether a court decides to lift the automatic stay. A future post on this blog will look at recent decisions addressing the automatic stay.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
