Ledford v. NRM, Inc. (In re Rose)

THOMAS F. WALDRON, Bankruptcy Judge. This proceeding, which arises under 28 U.S.C. § 1334(b) in a case referred to this court by the standing Order of Reference entered in this district on July 30, 1984, is determined to be a core proceeding pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(B, C, K, M, O). The plaintiff, the Chapter 13 Trustee, seeks a determination that the agreements in these five (5) cases, all of which involve similar, but not the same, legal and factual issues, are secured sales agreements disguised as leases. This issue is before the court on the plaintiffs Motions For Summary Judgment (Doc. 13 in this Adversary No. 3-87-0173, Doc. 14 in Adversary No. 3-87-0174, Doc. 13 in Adversary No. 3-87-0175, Doc. 12 in Adversary 3-87-0169, Doc. 9 in Adversary 3-87-0203) and the defendant’s Memoranda In Response To Motion — 104 — For Summary Judgment (Doc. 21 in this Adversary 3-87-0173, Doc. 22 in Adversary 3-87-0174, Doc. 21 in Adversary 3-87-0175, Doc. 21 in Adversary 3-87-0169, Doc. 17 in Adversary 3-87-0203). The debtors in each case entered into what the defendants characterize as a rental agreement. See Appendix A, for a copy of the agreements in this Adversary 3-87-0173, and Adversaries 3-87-0174, 3-87-0203, 3-87-0169, and Appendix B for a copy of the agreement in Adversary No. 3-87-0175. All of these agreements share similar provisions in that the customer agrees to a weekly payment for the use of the property with an option to renew the agreement for pre-determined period of time (App. A at par. 1 and 8(a); App. B at par. 1.); and, if the customer continues the payments pursuant to the agreement for the pre-deter-mined period, the ownership of the property is transferred to the customer upon completion of the payments for no additional consideration from the customer and the agreement terminates. Additionally, in the Shastar agreements (App. A), the customer is given the option to purchase the property prior to completion of the pre-determined period by paying 60% of the remaining balance. App. A at 8(b). The Rent-Rite agreement (App. B) does not contain such a provision. In these five (5) cases, prior to completion of the payments required for ownership, the debtors filed Chapter 13 petitions and listed the defendant companies as unsecured creditors. The defendants all filed proofs of claim as lessors. See Doc. 1, Exhibits A, B, C.. In this adversary the Chapter 13 Trustee filed a Complaint And Counterclaim To Proof Of Claim (Doc. 1) which asks the court to “[f]ind that the claim of defendant is an installment sales contract; disallow the claim of defendant as filed; and authorize the defendant to file an amended unsecured proof of claim.” The Chapter 13 Trustee, subsequently stated that for purposes of these motions for summary judgment only, if the court found these agreements were not true leases, the trustee would not dispute that the defendants have a purchase money security interest in the property. In this adversary the defendant filed an Answer (Doc. 3). The trustee and the defendants filed similar Complaints and Answers in each of the other adversaries (3-87-0174, 3-87-0175, 3-87-169 and 3-87-0203). In addition to reviewing the trustee’s Complaints, the defendants’ Answers, the trustee’s Motions For Summary Judgment and the defendants’ Memoranda In Response To The Motions For Summary Judgment, the court also considered the oral arguments of counsel for the defendants and the Chapter 13 Trustee. The trustee argues that these agreements were actually intended by the parties to act as secured installment sales contracts. Doc. 13 at 2. He supports this conclusion by noting that none of the agreements require additional consideration before ownership is transferred at the end of the pre-determined period. Doc. 13 at 2, 3. The defendant argues that the agreements only require a one week rental period and at the end of any weekly rental period the customer may return the property without ownership and without any further obligation. Accordingly, he concludes these agreements are true leases (Doc. 21 at 7, 8). The issue presented in these five (5) adversaries is familiar in bankruptcy proceedings. See Sight and Sound of Ohio v. Wright, 36 B.R. 885 (D.S.D.Ohio 1983); Consumer Lease Network v. Puckett, In re Puckett, 60 B.R. 223, cases collected at footnotes 25 and 26 (Bankr.M.D.Tenn.1986); aff'g per curiam sub nom Consumer Lease Network, Inc. v. Nancy Sue Puckett et al., 838 F.2d 470 (6th Cir.1988); American Way Rentals v. Fogelsong, (In re Fogelsong), 88 B.R. 194 (Bankr.C.D.Ill.1988). Although this court shares the view that the determination of this issue involves analyzing all relevant factors surrounding the agreement and the relationships created therein, the resolution of this issue is controlled by state law. Sight and — 105 — Sound, supra at 885; See also, In re Puckett, supra, at 234. The relevant Ohio Revised Code provision which governed these agreements at the time they were executed provided: Whether a lease is intended as security is to be determined by the facts of each case; however, (a) the inclusion of an option to purchase does not of itself make the lease one intended for security, and (b) an agreement that upon compliance with the terms of the lease the lessee shall become the owner of the property for no additional consideration or for nominal consideration does make the lease one intended for security. Ohio Rev.C. § 1301(KK) (Anderson Supp.1987) (See also U.C.C. 1-201(37)) This provision of the Ohio Revised Code (§ 1301.01(KK)) was considered in Sight and Sound, supra, by District Judge Walter H. Rice, in an appeal from a decision issued by former Bankruptcy Judge Charles A. Anderson of this court. In his decision, Judge Rice noted, This broad based inquiry [analyzing all relevant factors surrounding the agreement and the relationships created therein], however, must be cut short whenever it is determined that the purported lease provides that upon compliance with the terms of the lease, the leasee shall become, or has the option to become, the owner of the property for no additional consideration or for nominal consideration. ORC § 1301(KK) (U.C.C. § 1-201(37)). In such instances, the applicable statutory provision, compels the legal conclusion that the lease was one intended for security, (citation omitted) Sight and Sound at 890 (emphasis added). It must be recalled that this issue is before the court in all five adversary proceedings on a motion for summary judgment filed by the Chapter 13 Trustee. As this court noted in Matter of Warner, 65 B.R. 512, 516 (Bankr.S.D.Ohio 1986), The cases interpreting the various provisions of Rule 56 have produced an evolving body of law that has continued to emphasize standards which require both a moving and a nonmoving party to give careful attention to the presentation and defense of a motion for summary judgment. The two recent decisions from the United States Supreme Court reflect the careful attention required by all parties involved in a motion for summary judgment. In Anderson, the Court held that “in ruling on a motion for summary judgment, the judge must view the evidence presented through the prism of the substantive evidentiary burden,” Id., 477 U.S. at 254, 106 S.Ct. at 2513, i.e., “whether a jury [fact finder] could reasonably find either that the plaintiff proved his case by the quality and quantity of evidence required by the governing law or that he did not.” Id. (emphasis in original). In Celotex [Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986)], the Court established the standard under which a trial court should rule on a motion for summary judgment: Under Rule 56(c), summary judgment is proper “if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” In our view, the plain language of Rule 56(c) mandates the entry of summary judgment, after adequate time for discovery and upon motion, against a party who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party’s case, and on which that party will bear burden of proof at trial. In such a situation, there can be “no genuine issue as to any material fact,” since a complete failure of proof concerning an essential element of the nonmoving party’s case necessarily renders all other facts immaterial. The moving party is “entitled to judgment as a matter of law” because the nonmoving party has failed to make a sufficient showing on an essential element of her case with respect to which she has the burden of — 106 — proof. “[T]h[e] standard [for granting summary judgment] mirrors the standard for a directed verdict under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 50(a).... ” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 250, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 2511, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). Id., 477 U.S. at 322-23, 106 S.Ct. at 2552-53. This statement from the Court resolved the question of whether the party who does not bear the ultimate burden of proof at the trial of an issue must, as the movant in a motion for summary judgment, through the presentation of specific evidence negate the nonmovant’s case in order to establish that there is no “genuine issue of material fact,” thereby entitling the movant to summary judgment. A moving party in motion for summary judgment meets its burden by affirmatively demonstrating from the record that is before the court that there is no evidence to support an essential element of the nonmoving party’s case. In this adversary proceeding, the Shastar lease, (App. A), permits the lessee to exercise an absolute option to purchase the property at any time prior to the final 90 days of the lease, (App. A, pg. 2, par. 8(b)) and permits a transfer of ownership at the end of the lease term without additional consideration. Additionally, the operation of the purchase option price formula appears to provide the lessee with equity in the property by allowing the payments made by the debtor to be credited toward the purchase of the property. Id. Although the agreement contains language and elements consistent with a true lease, when the total language and elements of the contract are considered, including the specific language in the agreement providing for an “amount paid to own item,” (App. A pg. 1 at numeral 1) and the absolute option to purchase, it follows that the parties intended the debtor to obtain ownership of the property and the agreement is one intended for security. With regard to these leases (App. A-this adversary 3-87-0173, and adversaries 3-82-0174, 3-87-0203 and 3-87-0169), upon the facts presented, the conclusion that they are not true leases, but rather disguised installment purchases, is completely consistent with, if not compelled by, the relevant provision of the Uniform Commercial Code as adopted in Ohio Revised Code Section 1301.01(KK). The Rent-Rite lease (App. B), does not provide for a purchase option during the pendency of the lease; however, it does provide for a pre-determined amount to be paid for a pre-determined period which, when completed, will result in ownership of the property for no additional consideration. The agreement also places all risk of loss or damage on the lessee, and, as noted, the transfer of ownership at the end of the agreement does not require the payment of any additional consideration. Again, upon review the facts presented, the Rent-Rite, Inc. agreement (App. B, Adversary 3-87-0175) is also determined not to be a true lease as contemplated by the provisions of Ohio Revised Code § 1301.01(KK). In these five adversaries, when the evidence that has been presented in connection with the various motions for summary judgment, (App. A, App. B, Doc. 1, Exhibits A, B, C), is “viewed through the substantive evidentiary burden”, it is clear that there has been a complete failure of proof on an essential element of the nonmoving parties’ case, specifically, any evidence that would remove these agreements from the provisions of Ohio Revised Code § 1301.01(KK) as interpreted in this district in Sight and Sound, supra. Accordingly, the Chapter 13 Trustee, the moving party, has met the burden of affirmatively demonstrating from the record before the court that there is no evidence to support an essential element of the nonmoving party’s (the defendant’s) case. The court recognizes that this decision may be without prospective effect. The Ohio General Assembly has recently enacted legislation which defines lease purchase agreements [Ohio Revised Code § 1351.01(F) effective June 29, 1988] and amends Ohio Revised Code § 1301.01(KK) to provide in part, A LEASE-PURCHASE AGREEMENT AS DEFINED IN DIVISION (F) OF SECTION 1351.01 OF THE REVISED — 107 — CODE SHALL NEVER BE INTENDED AS SECURITY. For the above reasons, the Motion Of The Trustee For Summary Judgment is HEREBY GRANTED. A copy of this decision and an order in accordance with this decision is contemporaneously entered in each of the five related adversaries. SO ORDERED. APPENDIX A [[Image here]] — 108 — KtNIAL AOKttMfcNI 1 This ogreement is mode by NRM, Inc. dbo/$HA$lAR (Owner) ond the (Renter) nomed in Exhibit A oltoched to this ogreement. Owner ogrees to rent the Items identified in the Description of Rented Items in Exhibit A to Renter on o periodic bosis. ond to mointoin the Items for Renter; ond Renter ogrees to poy Owner in odvonce the Rent Poyment shown in Exhibit A for each rentol period ond olso ogrees to comply with all the other terms contained in this Agreement. The terms of this Agreement or*: 1. Rent. The Renter will poy Owner, os a rentol ond maintenance fee for the Items, the Rent Poyment shown in Exhibit A, plus ony applicable soles tax. 2. Rent Due Date. Rent will be paid occording to the schedule shown in Exhibit A. 3. lot* Payment, if Rent is not paid on the day it is due. Renter will poy Owner an additional late Poyment Charge of S2.00 for every day thot ony of the Rent payment remains unpaid. 4. Renter's Use of Items. (a) The Renter will keep the Items in good condition, will use the Items in a normol way, ond will be coreful to ovoid domoging or losing the Items. (b) The Renter will olwoys keep the llems ot the Renter's oddress slated in Exhibit A, and will not allow the Items to be moved or used by other people without the Owner’s permission. (c) The Renter won't tomper with the Items, try to repair them himself or osk onyone other than the Owner to repair them. (d) Renter will call Owner immediately if the Items are lost, stolen, domoged or need repoir. 5. Maintenance by Owner. The Owner wilt keep the Items in good working order ot no odditionol cost to Renter except when the Renter has domoged the hem by improper use or obuse or when the hem is domoged by couses beyond the control of the Owner such os floods or electrical storms. Owner moy repoir the hems or reptoce them either temporarily or permanently with onother similor one which will be covered by the Agreement under the some terms. If the Items ore not restored to good working order within 24 hours after the customer hos notified the Owner of o non-working Item, the Owner will poy one week's rent on the Item for the Renter. 6. Return of Items by Renter. Renter moy end this Agreement ot any time by returning the hems to Owner in some condition they were in when Renter received them, except for normol ond reosonoble weor ond tear, ond by poying Owner oil Rent due through the dote of the 7. Owner Moy End Agreement. If Renter does not poy the Rent when due or does not obide by every other term of this Agreement, then the Owner con end the Agreement and require the Renter to return the hem immediately. If the Agreement is conceited by Owner ond Renter does not immediately return the hems, then Owner moy enter the RenterTproperty and take them back, and Renter will have to poy Owner for the costs of repossession. S. Renter's Option to Purchose Items. Renter may purchose the Items listed on Exhibit A by doing either of the following: '(o) Making the total number of consecutive Rent Poyments shown in Exhibit A. (b)Poying Owner on omount equol to the total omount paid for ownership for ony hem, minus the tolol Rent Poyments already paid to Owner for such Item, multiplied by 60%, provided oil Rent Poyments due ore pold in full ond the option is taken ot leost 90 days prior to the last rent poyment due date. 9. Domoges ond Insuronce. The Renter will pay Owner for its toss ¡f the Items are domoged, lost, stolen or returned in bod condition. The Renter, ot his own expense, moy corry Tire, cosuolty ond theft insuronce covering the Items (Renter should check with his insuronce ogent to moke sure the Items are covered by his homeowner's or renter's insuronce policy). Renter will immediately notify both his insuronce company ond Owner if the Items ore lost, stolen or domoged. 10. Signing This Agreement. By signing this Agreement below. Renter promises ond stotes the following: (o) When received, Renter will examine the hems corefully ond will notify Owner immediately if the hems ore not in good operating condition or if Renter is not satisfied with them for ony reoson. (b) Renter soys he or she hos carefully exomined any products listed in Exhibit A os previously rented, ond is satisfied with their condition. (c) Renter will pay the Rent on time ond obey oil the other terms of this Agreement. (d) Renter hos reod this Agreement ond understands it. (e) Renter soys thot the Owner hos not mode ony promises to him or ogreements with him other thon those which are contained in this written Rental Agreement and the Description of Rented Items (Exhibit A). (f) Renter hos been given an exact copy of this Agreement. (g) Renter will ollow Owner to add product identification numbers (Owner ID ond serio!) to the Agreement if they are not known ot time of signing Agreement. If onyone in addition to the nomed Renter signs this Agreement below under the title "Renter", he or she ogrees to be responsible for everything the nomed Renter must do under this Agreement. [[Image here]] — 109 — APPENDIX B [[Image here]] — 110 — [[Image here]]