In re Gary Rosenthal

[5] UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 6 WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT SEATTLE [7] In re: CASE NO. 2:25-cv-00828-JNW [8] GARY ROSENTHAL, Bankruptcy No. 25-1010-CMA [9] Debtor. ORDER GRANTING STAY 10 PENDING APPEAL GARY ROSENTHAL, [11] Plaintiff/Appellant, [12] v. [13] NEWREZ LLC; BUDA HILL LLC; 14 EASTSIDE FUNDING LLC, 15 Defendants/Appellees. [16] 17 1. INTRODUCTION 18 This matter comes before the Court on Appellant Gary Rosenthal’s Motion to 19 Stay Pending Appeal. Dkt. No. 4. Having reviewed the parties’ briefing, the record, 20 and the law, the Court GRANTS the motion for the reasons explained below. 21 2. BACKGROUND 22 The material facts of this case are undisputed. See Dkt. Nos. 4, 10. [23] 1 For over fifteen years, Appellant Gary Rosenthal has lived in his home at 2 20228 23rd Place NW, Shoreline, Washington (the “Property”). Dkt. No. 5 ¶ 1. On 3 September 20, 2024, after Rosenthal fell behind on his mortgage payments, Quality 4 Loan Service Corporation (“Quality”), the trustee for the deed of trust recorded on 5 the Property, held a non-judicial foreclosure sale. Dkt. No. 6-1 at 3. 6 Appellees Buda Hill, LLC and Eastside Funding, LLC, both real-estate 7 investment entities, won the auction with a bid of $915,100, which was 8 approximately 68% of the Property’s fair-market value of $1,350,000, as determined 9 by an independent appraiser. See Dkt. Nos. 6-2 at 4–5; 6-4 at 2–3; 6-15 at 91–98. 10 On September 24, 2024, Quality executed a trustee’s deed upon sale (the 11 “Deed”), purporting to convey title to the Property to Buda Hill and Eastside 12 Funding. Dkt. No. 6-1 at 3. The same day, at or around 1:51 p.m. (PST), Quality 13 mailed the Deed to Eastside Funding. Id. at 3–4. 14 About one hour later, at 2:56 p.m. (PST), Rosenthal filed for Chapter 13 15 bankruptcy. Dkt. Nos. 4 at 3; 6-1 at 4; see Bk. Case No. 24-12397-CMA. This 16 triggered an automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. § 362 (a), preventing creditors and 17 other entities from taking action to collect debts or to obtain possession or exercise 18 control over property of the bankruptcy estate. At that time, the Deed had not yet 19 been delivered or recorded, as Eastside Funding received it in the mail the next day. 20 Dkt. No. 6-3 at 3. 21 As of that time, Quality held the $915,100 in sale proceeds. Dkt. No. 6-1 at 4, 22 25. On October 25, 2024, Appellee NewRez, Inc. d/b/a Shellpoint Mortgage, LLC 23 (“Shellpoint”), the servicer of Rosenthal’s mortgage loan, demanded that Quality 1 release the amount owed to Shellpoint—$363,188.65—which Quality promptly did. 2 Dkt. No. 6-1 at 4. The remaining surplus of $551,911.35 remains in Quality’s 3 possession—those funds are owed to Rosenthal’s bankruptcy estate, assuming the 4 foreclosure sale goes forward. Id. 5 On December 27, 2024, Buda Hill moved in bankruptcy court for relief from 6 the automatic stay preventing the transfer of the Property. Bk. Case No. 24-123977 CMA, Dkt. No. 37; see 11 U.S.C. § 362 (d)(1)–(2) (entitling “party in interest” to relief 8 from stay “for cause” or where “the debtor does not have an equity in such property” 9 and “such property is not necessary to an effective reorganization”). Buda Hill 10 argued that the Property was not part of the bankruptcy estate because “[t]he 11 prepetition trustee’s sale was completed when the Trustee’s Deed was deposited 12 prepetition in the mail by Quality to Eastside Funding.” Bk. Case No. 24-1239713 CMA, Dkt. No. 37 at 3. On January 27, 2025, the bankruptcy court granted relief 14 from the stay, but declined to waive the automatic 14-day stay on the order 15 granting relief from the stay. Bk. Case No. 24-12397-CMA, Dkt. No. 58; see Fed. R. 16 Bankr. P. 4001(a)(4). 17 Rosenthal then filed an adversary proceeding, arguing that “[u]nder RCW 18 61.24.050(1), title to a foreclosed property does not transfer until the Trustee’s Deed 19 is physically delivered to the purchaser”—and “physical delivery” requires more 20 than mere mailing. Bk. Case No. 25-01010-CMA, Dkt. No. 1 at 5. Thus, according to 21 Rosenthal, the foreclosure sale was defective and “the Property remained part of the 22 bankruptcy estate under 11 U.S.C. § 541 .” Id. [23] 1 The bankruptcy court initially granted a temporary restraining order (TRO) 2 and preliminary injunction (PI) barring recordation of the Deed, but ultimately 3 granted summary judgment to Appellees on April 18, 2025, concluding that 4 “physical delivery” occurs upon mailing and, therefore, the Property did not belong 5 to Rosenthal’s bankruptcy estate. See Bk. Case No. 25-01010-CMA, Dkt. Nos. 26 6 (TRO), 41 (PI), 75 (first PI extension) 76 (summary-judgment order), 78 (final 7 judgment). On May 5, 2025, the bankruptcy court denied Rosenthal’s motion for a 8 stay pending appeal but extended the preliminary injunction until May 14, 2025, to 9 allow this Court to consider the stay request. Bk. Case No. 25-01010-CMA, Dkt. 10 Nos. 105 (denial of stay), 106 (second PI extension). 11 3. DISCUSSION [12] 3.1 Legal standard. [13] Rule 8007 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure governs requests to [14] stay bankruptcy court judgments pending appeal and to suspend, modify, restore, or [15] grant an injunction pending appeal. Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8007(a). Ordinarily, a party [16] seeking such relief must first move in the bankruptcy court, but then, if denied, may [17] file in the court where the appeal is pending. Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8007(b). [18] The standard for evaluating stays pending appeal parallels the standard used [19] for deciding whether to grant a preliminary injunction. Lopez v. Heckler, 713 F.2d 20 1432, 1435 (9th Cir. 1983). This standard requires the moving party to show “‘(1) [21] that he is likely to succeed on the merits, (2) that he is likely to suffer irreparable [22] harm in the absence of preliminary relief, (3) that the balance of equities tips in his [23] 1 favor, and (4) that an injunction is in the public interest.’” Stormans, Inc. v. Selecky, [2] 586 F.3d 1109, 1127 (9th Cir. 2009) (quoting Winter v. Nat. Res. Def. Council, Inc., [3] 555 U.S. 7, 20 (2008)) (numbering added); see All. for the Wild Rockies v. Cottrell, [4] 632 F.3d 1127, 1135 (9th Cir. 2011) (“a showing on all four prongs” is required). The 5 first two factors are the most critical. Nken v. Holder, 556 U.S. 418, 434 (2009). 6 The Ninth Circuit takes a “sliding scale” approach to preliminary injunctive 7 relief, under which “serious questions going to the merits and a balance of 8 hardships that tips sharply towards the plaintiffs can support issuance of a 9 preliminary injunction, so long as the plaintiffs also show that there is a likelihood 10 of irreparable injury and that the injunction is in the public interest.” Fraihat v. 11 U.S. Immigr. & Customs Enf’t, 16 F.4th 613, 635 (9th Cir. 2021) (cleaned up). In 12 other words, “serious questions going to the merits” of an appeal may be sufficient 13 to award a stay pending appeal, even if the appeal is less than likely to prevail. This 14 sliding-scale approach allows a stronger showing of one Winter factor to offset a 15 weaker showing of another. Planned Parenthood Great Nw., Hawaii, Alaska, 16 Indiana, Kentucky v. Labrador, 122 F.4th 825 , 843–44 (9th Cir. 2024). 17 Where, as here, a bankruptcy judge has denied a motion to stay pending 18 appeal, “[i]t is a subject of dispute whether the bankruptcy judge’s determination 19 will be reviewed for an abuse of discretion or de novo.” 10A Collier on Bankruptcy P 20 8007.08 (16th 2025). The Ninth Circuit has not clarified the applicable standard of 21 appellate review. But upon review of relevant precedent, the Court finds that 22 “[w]hen the bankruptcy court denies the motion [to stay pending appeal], the 23 appellate court typically reviews that denial for abuse of discretion.” In re 1 Greenberg, 622 B.R. 60 , 63 (S.D. Cal. 2020) (emphasis added) (citing In re Wymer, 5 2 B.R. 802 , 807 (B.A.P. 9th Cir. 1980)); see also, e.g., In re North Plaza, LLC, 395 B.R. 3 113, 119 (S.D. Cal. 2008) (“Where the bankruptcy court has already denied a stay ... 4 the appellate court’s review is limited to a simple determination of whether the 5 bankruptcy court abused its discretion.”). 6 This Court need not resolve the open legal question about the appropriate 7 standard of review because even assuming the more deferential abuse-of-discretion 8 standard applies, the Court finds that Rosenthal prevails. As such, the Court 9 follows customary practice among district courts in the Ninth Circuit and reviews 10 the bankruptcy court’s decision denying Rosenthal’s motion to stay pending appeal 11 for abuse of discretion. This standard “encompasses a de novo review of the law and 12 a clearly erroneous review of the facts with respect to the underlying issues.” See In 13 re Gens, No. 17-CV-01001-BLF, 2017 WL 2775042 , at *2 (N.D. Cal. June 27, 2017) 14 (quoting In re North Plaza, LLC, 395 B.R. at 119 ). [15] 3.2 Rosenthal satisfies the procedural requirements of Rule 8007. [16] Rosenthal has met the threshold procedural requirements of Rule 8007. He [17] first moved for a stay in the bankruptcy court. See Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8007(a). His [18] motion here adequately explains the reasons given for the bankruptcy court’s [19] ruling. See Dkt. No. 4. It also adequately includes “the reasons for granting the [20] relief requested and the facts relied on” (see id.); “affidavits or other sworn [21] statements supporting facts subject to dispute” (see Dkt. No. 5); and “relevant parts [23] 1 of the record” (see Dkt. No. 6). See Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8007(b). Likewise, all parties 2 have notice of the motion. See Dkt. As such, Rule 8007’s requirements are met. [3] 3.3 The Bankruptcy Court abused its discretion by denying a stay pending appeal. [4] 3.3.1 The Bankruptcy Court committed legal error in finding that [5] Rosenthal did not raise serious questions as to the merits of his appeal. [6] Rosenthal argues that the bankruptcy court abused its discretion by [7] erroneously “conclud[ing] that a stay cannot be granted absent a near-certain [8] likelihood of appellate success.” Dkt. No. 4 at 6. Upon review of the bankruptcy [9] court’s ruling and reasoning, the Court disagrees. As Appellees rightly argue, the [10] bankruptcy court correctly articulated the Nken factors as construed by the Ninth [11] Circuit and did not misstate the applicable standard. See Dkt. No. 10 at 6. [12] This does not mean, however, that the bankruptcy court did not abuse its [13] discretion when applying the standard. In denying Rosenthal’s stay request, the [14] bankruptcy court committed legal error by concluding that Rosenthal’s appeal does [15] not present serious questions on the merits. The central issue here—whether [16] mailing alone constitutes “physical delivery” under Washington’s Deed of Trust Act [17] (DTA), RCW 61.24.050(1)—is a matter of first impression that presents a “serious [18] legal question.” [19] The Washington legislature added the word “physical” to the statute in 2012, [20] and no Washington appellate court has interpreted this provision. This statutory21 construction question is substantial, particularly given that the Washington [22] legislature has used the term “physical delivery” in other contexts to “refer[ ] to [23] 1 tangible transfer, not symbolic mailing.” Dkt. No. 4 at 10 (citing statutes). Further, 2 while RCW 61.24.050(1) requires “physical delivery… to the purchaser” to convey 3 title, another subsection of the same statute—also enacted in 2012—uses the term 4 “mailing” instead. See RCW 61.24.050(3). “Where Congress includes particular 5 language in one section of a statute but omits it in another section of the same Act, 6 it is generally presumed that Congress acts intentionally and purposely in the 7 disparate inclusion or exclusion.” INS v. Cardoza–Fonseca, 480 U.S. 421, 432 (1987) 8 (cleaned up); see Dkt. No. 4 at 10 (“Equating ‘physical delivery’ with mailing would 9 erase this deliberate distinction and nullify the 2012 amendment.”). 10 Appellees’ arguments to the contrary are unavailing. Their contention that 11 the Washington State Legislature would have used “receipt” instead of “physical 12 delivery” if it meant actual possession is plausible, but equally supports the 13 conclusion that an unresolved question exists. See Dkt. No. 10 at 9. Similarly, their 14 argument that purchase rights arise when the trustee accepts a bid does not 15 address the specific timing of title transfer under the statute. See id. at 9–10. 16 The bankruptcy court’s conclusion that the meaning of “physical delivery” no 17 longer presents a serious question was incorrect. This Court need not resolve 18 ancillary issues pertaining to the voidability of the Property’s sale to make a finding 19 of legal error. 20 Because Rosenthal has raised a serious, unresolved question of statutory 21 interpretation that could affect his property rights, the first Winter factor weighs in 22 favor of granting a stay. [23] 1 3.3.2 Rosenthal satisfies the remaining Winter factors, showing that a stay pending appeal is warranted. [2] As to the second Winter factor—likelihood of irreparable harm absent a [3] stay—the bankruptcy court acknowledged, as did Appellees, that Rosenthal will [4] likely lose his home once the PI expires, the summary-judgment ruling goes into [5] effect, and Appellees are free to record the Deed to the Property. But the [6] bankruptcy court nonetheless expressed doubts as to whether the second Winter [7] factor was satisfied because Rosenthal, despite losing his home, stands to receive [8] the surplus funds from the foreclosure sale—over a half-million dollars. [9] As a factual matter, this is correct. But as a legal matter, it is well10 established that “the loss of housing constitutes irreparable injury.” Park Village [11] Apartment Tenants Ass’n v. Mortimer Howard Tr., 636 F.3d 1150, 1159 (9th Cir. [12] 2011). As Rosenthal argues, irreparable harm generally exists “where foreclosure [13] would result in displacement or the permanent divestment of property rights.” Dkt. [14] No. 4 at 11 (citing multiple Ninth Circuit district-court cases granting TROs to [15] enjoin foreclosure sales). Thus, the bankruptcy court committed legal error in [16] minimizing Rosenthal’s loss of his long-time home as irreparable harm. The [17] potential availability of surplus funds from the sale does not shift this conclusion, [18] especially given the discrepancy between the sale price and the fair-market value of [19] the home as appraised. [20] As to the third Winter factor—the balance of equities— the bankruptcy court [21] improperly weighed the equities by focusing on Rosenthal’s history of missing [22] mortgage payments and speculating about property deterioration rather than [23] 1 comparing the relative hardships each party would face. The proper inquiry is 2 “whether the party seeking relief will suffer a greater hardship from the denial of a 3 stay than the non-movant will suffer from its issuance.” Dkt. No. 4 at 12 (citing All. 4 for the Wild Rockies, 632 F.3d at 1137–38). Rosenthal faces the loss of his home. By 5 contrast, Appellees, real-estate investment entities, face only economic harms. The 6 balance of equities thus favors a stay. 7 Finally, as to the fourth Winter factor, the bankruptcy court concluded that 8 the public interest weighs against a stay based on the statutory purposes of the 9 DTA, including the efficiency and affordability of the non-judicial foreclosure 10 process. See Larson v. Snohomish Cty., 499 P.3d 957 , 969 (2021). But the public 11 interest also strongly favors resolving novel statutory questions on their merits, 12 especially when they involve property rights. C.P. v. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Ill., 13 No. 3:20-CV-06145-RJB, 2024 WL 532400 , at *2 (W.D. Wash. Jan. 22, 2024). If the 14 stay is denied, the PI is dissolved, and the Deed is recorded, Rosenthal’s appeal is 15 mooted, preventing judicial interpretation of the “physical delivery” requirement. 16 This would undermine the public’s interest in clearly defined property rights under 17 Washington law. The need to resolve this novel legal issue outweighs the interest in 18 immediately finalizing this particular foreclosure. The fourth Winter factor thus 19 supports granting a stay. 20 In sum, the Court finds that all four Winter factors are satisfied, and that the 21 bankruptcy court’s legal conclusions to the contrary constitute reversible legal error. 22 A stay pending appeal is warranted. [23] 1 3.4 The existing bond is adequate. Rosenthal already posted a $43,000 preliminary-injunction bond with the [2] bankruptcy court in favor of Buda Hill and Eastside Funding. See Bk. Case No. 253 01010-CMA, Dkt. Nos. 41 (PI), 75 (first PI extension), 106 (second PI extension). [4] The Court must now address whether to condition the stay pending appeal upon the [5] posting of an additional bond or other security, as authorized by Fed. R. Bankr. P. [6] 8007(c). [7] The 2018 amendments to Rule 8007 eliminated the requirement of a full [8] supersedeas bond in favor of a flexible approach. See Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8007 [9] (Committee Notes on Rules—2018 Amendment). “The Court has discretion in [10] determining the sufficiency of the supersedeas bond and the adequacy of the [11] surety.” See In re Roussos, No. 2:15-BK-21624-ER, 2017 WL 571473 , at *7 (Bankr. [12] C.D. Cal. Feb. 10, 2017) (citing Farmer v. Crocker Nat’l Bank (In re Swift Aire Lines, [13] Inc.), 21 B.R. 12, 14 (B.A.P. 9th Cir. 1982)). [14] Rosenthal argues that “the $43,000 bond posted in support of the preliminary [15] injunction is Rosenthal’s best efforts and should be converted into a stay bond under [16] Rule 8007.” Dkt. No. 4 at 16–17. He states that he has “maintained taxes and [17] insurance on the [P]roperty” and that the Property’s valuation at “more than [18] $400,000 above the bid price” represents a “substantial equity cushion” that “fully [19] protects any residual financial interest the purchasers may claim[.]” Id. at 17 . [20] Appellees argue that if the Court grants a stay pending appeal, Rosenthal [21] “should be required to post a bond in favor of Buda Hill for the damages incurred in [22] retiring its obligation to Eastside[.]” Dkt. No. 10 at 13. And they argue that if the [23] 1 appeal is unsuccessful, “[t]he Purchasers [not Rosenthal] would… be entitled” to the 2 equity in the Property—therefore, they “would have no recourse” to obtain their 3 damages. Id. at 14 . On this basis, they request that the Court condition any stay 4 pending appeal on a bond payment of $309,375—and further, that “any stay should 5 be conditioned upon Debtor maintaining the property insurance and paying the 6 property taxes (or that amount should be added to the bond amount and Buda Hill 7 will pay those).” Id. at 15 . 8 The Court finds that the existing bond amount is adequate as an appeal 9 bond. Rosenthal, who is subject to active bankruptcy proceedings, attests that the 10 existing bond represents his best effort. Further, he attests that he is maintaining 11 the property, including the payment of taxes and insurance, mitigating the risk that 12 the value of the property will badly deteriorate under Rosenthal’s care. And most 13 importantly, the Court is guided by its public-interest and balance-of-equities 14 analysis laid out above. This case should be decided on the merits, and predicating 15 this appeal on the payment of a potentially unaffordable bond amount will risk 16 creating a procedural obstacle that undermines the very purpose of this stay. Thus, 17 the Court will condition the stay pending appeal on Rosenthal’s conversion of the 18 $43,000 bond in support of the existing preliminary injunction into a Rule 8007 stay 19 bond of equal amount. [23] 1 4. CONCLUSION 2 For the reasons stated above, the Court FINDS that the bankruptcy court 3 abused its discretion and committed legal error in concluding that Rosenthal is not 4 entitled to a stay pending appeal under Rule 8007. Accordingly, the Court ORDERS 5 as follows: 6 (a) The bankruptcy court’s summary-judgment order and final judgment are 7 STAYED pending appeal under Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8007. See Bk. Case No. 258 01010-CMA, Dkt. Nos. 76, 78. 9 (b) This stay is conditioned on the conversion of Rosenthal’s preliminary10 injunction bond into a Rule 8007 appeal bond in favor of Buda Hill and 11 Eastside Funding. The bond amount will remain fixed at $43,000. In 12 accordance with Rule 8007(c), the stay shall take effect once Rosenthal has 13 filed the appeal bond with the bankruptcy court. 14 (c) Pursuant to this stay pending appeal, Appellees and all persons acting in 15 concert or participation with them are RESTRAINED and ENJOINED from 16 recording the Deed to the Property or otherwise transferring, encumbering, 17 or taking any action that affects title to the Property. 18 (d) The bankruptcy court’s preliminary injunction, which is currently set to 19 expire on May 14, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. is hereby EXTENDED to May 19, 2025, 20 at 5:00 p.m. (PST). See Bk. Case No. 25-01010-CMA, Dkt. Nos. 41, 75, 106. 21 This extension will ensure that Appellees remain enjoined from recording, 22 transferring, or encumbering the Property while Rosenthal converts the 23 preliminary-injunction bond into an appeal bond. 1 It is so ORDERED. 2 Dated this 14th day of May, 2025. 3 a Jamal N. Whitehead [4] United States District Judge