Opinion
No. CV 13–5576 PSG. Bankruptcy No. 10–19912–BR. Adversary No. 12–1600–BR.
2014-04-25
SCREEN CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL CORP. v. LIBRARY ASSET ACQUISITION COMPANY, LTD. (In re ThinkFilm, LLC).
Daniel A. Rozansky, Frank A. Merola, Stroock and Stroock and Lavan LLP, David L. Neale, Irving M. Gross, Todd M. Arnold, Levene Neale Bender Yoo and Brill LLP, Los Angeles, CA, for Screen Capital International Corp. Frank A. Merola, Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, Los Angeles, CA, Bernard Daniel Bollinger, Jr., Jeffrey K. Garfinkle, Joseph Marshall Welch, Buchalter Nemer APC, Irvine, CA, for Library Asset Acquisition Company, Ltd. (In re ThinkFilm, LLC).
Daniel A. Rozansky, Frank A. Merola, Stroock and Stroock and Lavan LLP, David L. Neale, Irving M. Gross, Todd M. Arnold, Levene Neale Bender Yoo and Brill LLP, Los Angeles, CA, for Screen Capital International Corp. Frank A. Merola, Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, Los Angeles, CA, Bernard Daniel Bollinger, Jr., Jeffrey K. Garfinkle, Joseph Marshall Welch, Buchalter Nemer APC, Irvine, CA, for Library Asset Acquisition Company, Ltd. (In re ThinkFilm, LLC).
Proceedings: (In Chambers) Order AFFIRMING in Part and REVERSING and REMANDING in Part Bankruptcy Court's Order Granting Library Asset Acquisition Company's Motion to Dismiss the Second Amended Complaint
PHILIP S. GUTIERREZ, District Judge.
Before the Court is an appeal from bankruptcy matter In re ThinkFilm, LLC, USBC No. 2:10–bk19912–BR. Dkt. # 1.
In this appeal, Plaintiff Screen Capital International Corp. (“SCIC” or “Appellant”) challenges a July 17, 2013 Order from the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California (“Bankruptcy Court”) granting Defendant Library Asset Acquisition Company, Ltd.'s (“LAAC”) Motion to Dismiss the Second Amended Complaint (“SAC”). The Court finds the appeal appropriate for decision without oral argument. Fed.R.Civ.P. 78(b); L.R. 7–15. After considering the papers filed in support and opposition, the Court AFFIRMS in part and REVERSES and REMANDS in part the Bankruptcy Court's July 17, 2013 Order granting LAAC's Motion to Dismiss.
Related adversary proceedings were filed in connection with the involuntary bankruptcy cases against R2D2, LLC (“R2D2”); CT–1 Holdings, LLC (“CT–1”); CapCo Group, LLC (“CapCo”); Capitol Films Development, LLC (“CFD”); and ThinkFilm, LLC (“ThinkFilm”) (collectively, the “Debtors”). Appellant's Opening Brief (“AOB”) at 1 n. 1.
I. Background
SCIC brings these actions against TFC Library, LLC (“TFC”), LAAC, and Zelus, LLC (“Zelus”), pursuant to a stipulation transferring standing from the Chapter 11 Trustee of the bankruptcy estates of the Debtors (“Trustee”) to SCIC. AOB at 4; SAC ¶ 8.
SCIC's claims in this action arise from an alleged conspiracy by David Bergstein (“Bergstein”) and Ronald Tutor (“Tutor”), the Members and Managers of R2D2, to “strip R2D2 and its affiliates of any and all assets of value before the creditors notice[d] and the companies collapsed.” SAC ¶¶ 2–3. As part of this alleged conspiracy, R2D2 created a set of co-conspiring companies, including LAAC, and moved assets between these companies “without regard to creditors' rights in such assets, and at all times by keeping creditors guessing as to where their source of recovery might lie....” Id. ¶ 3. Specifically, SCIC alleges that Bergstein and Tutor executed a grand scheme designed to:
Citations to “SAC” refer to the Second Amended Complaint, which is located in the record at Volume 1, Tab 1 of the Excerpts of Record in Support of Appellant's Opening Brief (“ER”). Hereinafter, citations to all other portions of Appellant's Excerpts of Record shall appear in the form [volume] ER [tab], at [page number within record]. Citations to Appellee LAAC's Supplemental Excerpts of Record shall appear in the form [volume] SER [tab], at [page number within supplemental record].
(1) have the Debtors borrow or guarantee over $100 million in debt and utilize large amounts of loan funds to pay the personal expenses of insiders ... (2) transfer the underlying collateral (the TFC Library) [
away from the Debtors, and (3) acquire the underlying debt and foreclose on the TFC Library, all for the benefit of the other insiders and to the detriment of legitimate third-party creditors.
AOB at 5; see SAC ¶ 43–44. The Court summarizes the relevant parts of this alleged conspiracy below.
The “TFC Library” is a film library of approximately 539 films. SAC ¶ 46.
Between January 2006 and February 2008, “one or more of the Debtors” obtained a series of loans (“Zwirn Loans”) from entities related to D.B. Zwirn, a New York hedge fund (“Zwirn”). SAC ¶ 23. These loans included approximately $45 million in loans made by Zwirn to ThinkFilm and unspecified “affiliated entities” (the “ThinkFilm Loans”). Id. Bergstein and Tutor executed various guarantees on these loans. Id. ¶¶ 23–26. Bergstein and Tutor then restricted the Zwirn Loans “so that their liens were worth acquiring with Tutor's money, then caus[ed] enough distress to Zwirn that they sold the Zwirn Loans at an attractive price....” Id. ¶ 28. Then, from March to July 2008, Zwirn entered into a series of “Global Amendments” with CT–1, ThinkFilm, and certain affiliated entities (“Borrowers”). Id. SCIC alleges that these Global Amendments were intended to ensure that all of the Borrowers would default under the Zwirn loans, and thus to lay the foundation for Bergstein and Tutor's plot to foreclose on the Borrowers' assets. Id.
SCIC alleges that as the first phase of their alleged “conspiracy,” Bergstein and Tutor drafted—and backdated—an Asset Purchase Agreement (“APA”), which transferred the rights in the films within the TFC Library from a number of “Sellers” and unnamed “Seller Affiliates” to TFC.
SAC ¶¶ 45–46, Ex. 2. In exchange for these transfers, the parties to the October 24, 2008 APA agreed on an aggregate purchase price of $46.5 million, comprised of a minimum cash amount of $500,000 and the assumption by TFC of the Sellers' liabilities, including their debt obligations under the ThinkFilm Loans. Id. ¶ 62, Ex 2 at § 2.4.
While the APA names the Buyer as “Orange Holdings, LLC,” SAC, Ex. 2 at 1, SCIC alleges that “TFC was formerly known as Orange Holdings, LLC.” SAC ¶ 9.
SCIC also alleges that LAAC entered into a Note Purchase and Sale Agreement (“NPA”) on March 12, 2009, in which LAAC agreed to purchase all of the Zwirn loans from Zwirn for $108 million. Id. ¶ 63. However, the NPA was amended so that LAAC only purchased: (1) the BWT Loans, which were defined in the NPA; and (2) the ThinkFilm Loans and all related rights and collateral, including the TFC Library. Id. ¶ 69.
Based on this alleged conspiracy, SCIC filed this adversary proceeding on behalf of ThinkFilm's bankruptcy estate, against TFC, LAAC, and Zelus. See AOB at 4. On July 17, 2013, the Bankruptcy Court granted LAAC's Motion to Dismiss the SAC. 2 ER 7. SCIC's claims for disallowance and equitable subordination were dismissed without prejudice, but the Bankruptcy Court ordered that SCIC could only pursue these two claims through a motion filed in accordance with Bankruptcy Rule 3007(a) and 9014, rather than through an adversary proceeding. 2 ER 7, at 453. The Bankruptcy Court also dismissed SCIC's claims for avoidance and recovery of fraudulent transfers and injunction as to the films within the FPLAC and Zoopraxis Libraires; these claims could only proceed as to specific film titles outside of these Libraries. 2 ER 7, at 453, 460–63.
SCIC now appeals the Bankruptcy Court's dismissal of its claims for: (1) avoidance and recovery of the fraudulent transfer of rights to the TFC Library, as to the FPLAC and Zoopraxis Libraries; (2) avoidance and recovery of the preferential transfer of rights to the TFC Library; (3) turnover of books and records; (4) an accounting; (5) declaratory judgment; (6) injunctive relief, as to the FPLAC and Zoopraxis Libraries; and (7) recharacterization of LAAC's debt (collectively, the “Dismissed Claims”). AOB at 2; see generally SAC. SCIC also challenges the Bankruptcy Court's (a) holding that the Appealing Debtors' equitable subordination claims can only be brought pursuant to a motion, (b) factual determinations in segregating the films within the TFC Library into three distinct sub-libraries, and (c) denial of leave to amend the Dismissed Claims. AOB at 27–30.
II. Jurisdiction
The Bankruptcy Court had jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1334 and 157(b)(1). This Court has jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 158(a)(1). In relevant part, 28 U.S.C. § 158(a) provides: “The district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction to hear appeals ... from final judgments, orders, and decrees.” 28 U.S.C. § 158(a). Although the Bankruptcy Court dismissed SCIC's equitable subordination claim “without prejudice,” this was a final order which foreclosed SCIC's ability to bring this claim within an adversary proceeding, as the Bankruptcy Court further held that “any such relief must be sought pursuant to a motion filed win accordance with Bankruptcy Rules 20007(a) and 9014.” 1 ER 7, at 461. See In re Davis, 177 B.R. 907, 910 (9th Cir. BAP 1995) (finding that the bankruptcy court's dismissal of a complaint without prejudice was “final,” as the bankruptcy court contemplated that the action could only be brought again by filing a new adversary proceeding). On appeal, the district court may affirm, modify, or reverse a bankruptcy court's judgment, order, or decree, or remand with instructions for further proceedings. SeeFed. R. Bankr.P. 8013.
III. Standard of Review
“A district court reviews a bankruptcy court's conclusions of law and interpretation of the Bankruptcy Code de novo.” In re Orange County Nursery, Inc., 439 B.R. 144, 148 (C.D.Cal.2010) (citations omitted); see also Greene v. Savage, 583 F.3d 614, 618 (9th Cir.2009). As such, the Court reviews de novo the Bankruptcy Court's dismissal of SCIC's claims against LAAC. See In re Daewoo Motor Am., Inc., 471 B.R. 721, 748 (C.D.Cal.2012) (holding that a grant of a motion to dismiss is reviewed de novo ); In re JMC Telecom LLC, 416 B.R. 738, 741 (C.D.Cal.2009) (holding that an appeal of an order granting a motion to dismiss raises only questions of law because a “Rule 12(b)(6) motion tests the legal sufficiency of the claims asserted in the complaint”). The Court reviews the Bankruptcy Court's findings of fact for clear error. In re Thomas, 428 F.3d 1266, 1268 (9th Cir.2005).
Finally, the Court reviews the Bankruptcy Court's decision to deny SCIC leave to amend under an abuse of discretion standard. Leadsinger, Inc. v. BMG Music Pub'g, 512 F.3d 522, 532 (9th Cir.2008) (“We review a denial of leave to amend for abuse of discretion.”) (citing Gompper v. VISX, Inc., 298 F.3d 893, 898 (9th Cir.2002)). An abuse of discretion occurs when a court “misapprehend[s] the law with respect to the underlying issues in the litigation,” or “rests its conclusions on clearly erroneous findings of fact.” Chalk v. United States Dist. Court, 840 F.2d 701, 704 (9th Cir.1988).
IV. Legal Standard
Under Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a defendant may move to dismiss a cause of action if the plaintiff fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6). In evaluating the sufficiency of a complaint under Rule 12(b)(6), courts should be mindful that the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure generally require only that the complaint contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(a)(2). Although detailed factual allegations are not required to survive a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss, a complaint that “offers ‘labels and conclusions' or ‘a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do.’ ” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007)). Rather, the complaint must allege sufficient facts to support a plausible claim for relief. Id.
In evaluating a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, the Court must engage in a two-step analysis. See id. at 679, 129 S.Ct. 1937. First, the Court must accept as true all non-conclusory, factual allegations made in the complaint. Leatherman v. Tarrant Cnty. Narcotics Intelligence & Coordination Unit, 507 U.S. 163, 164, 113 S.Ct. 1160, 122 L.Ed.2d 517 (1993). Based upon these allegations, the Court must draw all reasonable inferences in favor of the plaintiff. Doe v. United States, 419 F.3d 1058, 1062 (9th Cir.2005). Second, after accepting as true all non-conclusory allegations and drawing all reasonable inferences in favor of the plaintiff, the Court must determine whether the complaint alleges a plausible claim for relief. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 679, 129 S.Ct. 1937. Despite the liberal pleading standards of Rule 8, conclusory allegations will not save a complaint from dismissal. Id. at 678–79, 129 S.Ct. 1937.
Ruling on a motion to dismiss will be “a context-specific task that requires the reviewing court to draw on its judicial experience and common sense. But where the well-pleaded facts do not permit the court to infer more than the mere possibility of misconduct, the complaint has alleged—but it has not show[n]—that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Id. at 679, 129 S.Ct. 1937 (alteration in original; internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Furthermore, in ruling on a motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6), the Court may consider exhibits attached to the complaint, matters subject to judicial notice, or documents relied on by the complaint whose authenticity no party questions. See Swartz v. KPMG LLP, 476 F.3d 756, 763 (9th Cir.2007); Lee v. City of Los Angeles, 250 F.3d 668, 688–89 (9th Cir.2001); United States v. Ritchie, 342 F.3d 903, 908 (9th Cir.2003) (“A court may ... consider certain materials—documents attached to the complaint, documents incorporated by reference in the complaint, or matters of judicial notice—without converting the motion to dismiss into a motion for summary judgment.”); Fed.R.Civ.P. 10(c) (“A copy of a written instrument that is an exhibit to a pleading is a part of the pleading for all purposes.”). The Court is not required to accept as true allegations in the complaint which are contradicted by these documents, “or allegations that are merely conclusory, unwarranted deductions of fact, or unreasonable inferences.” Daniels–Hall v. Nat'l Educ. Ass'n, 629 F.3d 992, 998 (9th Cir.2010).
Allegations of fraud must be pleaded with particularity. Fed.R.Civ.P. 9(b); Vess v. Ciba–Geigy Corp. U.S.A., 317 F.3d 1097, 1103–05 (9th Cir.2003). Conclusory allegations of fraud are insufficient. Moore v. Kayport Package Express, Inc., 885 F.2d 531, 540 (9th Cir.1989). The plaintiff must plead “the who, what, when, where, and how” of the alleged fraud. Vess, 317 F.3d at 1106 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Further, if the plaintiff claims that a statement is false or misleading, “[t]he plaintiff must set forth what is false or misleading about a statement, and why it is false.” In re GlenFed, Inc. Sec. Litig., 42 F.3d 1541, 1548 (9th Cir.1994) (emphasis added). “Rule 9(b) demands that the circumstances constituting the alleged fraud be specific enough to give defendants notice of the particular misconduct so that they can defend against the charge and not just deny that they have done anything wrong.” Kearns v. Ford Motor Co., 567 F.3d 1120, 1124 (9th Cir.2009) (alterations omitted) (citation omitted) (internal quotation marks omitted). “A party alleging fraud must set forth more than the neutral facts necessary to identify the transaction.” Id. (citation omitted) (internal quotation marks omitted). Moreover, “Rule 9(b)'s particularity requirement applies to state-law causes of action.” Vess, 317 F.3d at 1103.
The pleading requirements of Rules 8 and 9 must be met as to each defendant. Yost v. Nationstar Mortgage, LLC, 2013 WL 4828590, at *3 (E.D.Cal. Sept. 9, 2013). “Rule 9(b) does not allow a complaint to merely lump multiple defendants together but requires plaintiffs to differentiate their allegations when suing more than one defendant and inform each defendant separately of the allegations surrounding his alleged participation in the fraud.” United States v. Corinthian Colleges, 655 F.3d 984, 997–98 (9th Cir.2011) (citation omitted) (internal quotation marks omitted).
V. Discussion
SCIC contends that the Bankruptcy Court committed reversible error in granting LAAC's motion to dismiss. AOB at 2. The Court will first consider the sufficiency of the allegations supporting the Dismissed Claims within the SAC. The Court will then evaluate whether the Bankruptcy Court properly held that the Appealing Debtors could only bring their equitable subordination claims through a motion, rather than an adversary proceeding. The Court will also briefly address SCIC's challenge to the Bankruptcy Court's division of the TFC Library into separate sub-libraries. Finally, the Court will determine whether the Bankruptcy Court properly denied leave to amend the Dismissed Claims. Because the Court finds that the allegations supporting the Dismissed Claims are insufficient to satisfy the applicable pleading standards, it need not address LAAC's additional argument that these claims are also barred by a June 8, 2009 Release. See LAAC's Opening Brief, at 8–9. A. SCIC Failed to Adequately Plead Its Claims Against LAAC
SCIC failed to meet the applicable pleading standards for each Dismissed Claim against LAAC. The Court will review the each of these claims separately below.
i. Fraudulent Transfer
SCIC alleges that Bergstein and Tutor, on behalf of the Debtors, “transferred certain of [their] assets, either title to certain of the films in the TFC Library[,] or distribution rights related to such films in the TFC Library ... to or for the benefit of the [sic] LAAC and TFC.” SAC ¶ 104. Based on these alleged transfers, SCIC brings a claim against LAAC for avoidance and recovery of fraudulent transfer under California Civil Code §§ 3439 et seq. and 11 U.S.C. §§ 544, 548, and 550.
“Under § 544(b) and § 550(a) of the Bankruptcy Code, a trustee may avoid a fraudulent transfer of property if that transfer is avoidable under applicable state law.” In re JTS Corp., 617 F.3d 1102, 1111 (9th Cir.2010). California's Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act (“CUFTA”) protects creditors against both actual fraud and constructive fraud. See Optional Capital, Inc. v. Das Corporation, 222 Cal.App.4th 1388, 1401–02, 166 Cal.Rptr.3d 705 (2014). An actual fraudulent transfer is a transfer made with “actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud any creditor of the debtor.” Id. (citing Cal. Civ.Code § 3439.04(a)(1)). There are two forms of constructive fraudulent transfer under the CUFTA. One form can be shown if a debtor made the transfer without receiving “reasonably equivalent consideration” and either “(A) [w]as engaged or about to engage in a business or a transaction for which the remaining assets of the debtor were unreasonably small in relation to the business or transaction” or “(B) [i]ntended to incur, or believed or reasonably should have believed that he or she would incur, debts beyond his or her ability to pay as they became due.” Cal. Civ.Code § 3439.04; see Mejia v. Reed, 31 Cal.4th 657, 669, 3 Cal.Rptr.3d 390, 74 P.3d 166 (2003) (citation omitted) (internal quotation marks omitted). A transfer is also constructively fraudulent as to existing creditors “if the debtor does not receive reasonably equivalent value and was insolvent at that time or ... became insolvent as a result of the transfer....” Mejia, 31 Cal.4th at 669, 3 Cal.Rptr.3d 390, 74 P.3d 166 (quoting Cal. Civ.Code § 3439.05) (internal quotation marks omitted).
Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code “provides a federal statutory basis for avoiding fraudulent transfers.” In re United Energy Corp., 944 F.2d 589, 593 (9th Cir.1991); see also In re JTS Corp., 617 F.3d at 1111. The federal fraudulent transfer provisions are “similar in form and substance” to California's fraudulent conveyance statutes, summarized above. In re United Energy Corp., 944 F.2d at 594. Compare11 U.S.C. 548andCal. Civ.Code §§ 3439.04, 3439.05. However, to bring a fraudulent transfer claim under Section 548, SCIC must also allege that the transfer it seeks to avoid was made within two years of the filing of the bankruptcy petition. 11 U.S.C. § 548(a)(1)(B); In re United Energy Corp., 944 F.2d at 594 n. 5.
Claims of avoidance and recovery of an actual fraudulent transfer are subject to the heightened pleading standards of Rule 9(b). See, e.g., In re SCI Real Estate Investments, LLC, 2013 WL 1829648, at *3 (Bankr.C.D.Cal.2013). Thus, “the circumstances constituting the alleged fraud” must be “specific enough to give defendants notice of the particular misconduct so that they can defend against the charge and not just deny that they have done anything wrong.” Kearns, 567 F.3d at 1124 (alterations omitted) (citation omitted) (internal quotation marks omitted). However, Rule 9(b)'s heightened pleading standards are not generally applied to claims of avoidance and recovery of constructively fraudulent transfers, as they do not require proof of fraud. See, e.g., In re SCI, 2013 WL 1829648, at *6 (citation omitted); In re Actrade Fin. Tech. Ltd., 337 B.R. 791, 801 (Bankr.S.D.N.Y.2005) (citing In re Sharp Int'l Corp. v. State Street Bank & Trust Co., 403 F.3d 43, 53 (2d Cir.2005)).
SCIC brings a single “fraudulent transfer” claim against LAAC, although this claim parrots the statutory elements for avoidance and recovery of both actual and constructively fraudulent transfers. Compare SAC ¶¶ 122–126 andCal. Civ.Code §§ 3439.04–3439.05. Regardless, to properly plead a claim to avoid and recover a transfer based on either theory of fraud, SCIC must allege sufficient facts regarding the underlying transfer. It fails to do so, under either Rule 8 or Rule 9.
While SCIC claims that the films in the TFC Library could only have belonged to “one of ThinkFilm, FPLAC, or Zoopraxis” on the effective date of the APA, SCIC further alleges that “there exist in the books and records of the Debtors documents that appear to establish which films in the TFC Library were owned by ThinkFilm and which ‘Seller Affiliates' had interests in films in the TFC Library at the time the 10/24/08 APA purports to have become effective.” SAC ¶ 52. Because identifying the specific chain of title and “other interests” in each of the 539 films “would be onerous and would require approximately 250,000 pages of back up documentation[,]” SCIC attaches a chart “summarizing” the chain of title and other interests. Id. ¶ 54, Ex. 3. SCIC therefore relies on this summary chart as the foundation for its claims predicated on the existence of a fraudulent transfer of the Debtors' interests in the TFC Library pursuant to the APA. E.g., id. ¶¶ 102–123, 152–162. This summary chart is excerpted below:
IMAGE
Id., Ex. 3 at 5.
The chart provides for three types of “interest” in the TFC Library films, held at any time prior to the APA: (1) “those instances where a party was recorded as a transferor of rights in a particular film” (PY1); (2) “those instances where a party was recorded as a transferee of rights in a particular film” (PY2); and (3) “those instances where a party was referenced in a recorded document related to the transfer of rights in a particular film” (REF). Id. ¶ 54.
While the SAC, through this chart, asserts that each of the Debtors held an “interest” in some of the films within the TFC Library, it fails to account for, much less describe, the nature of each alleged interest, whether each “recording” is a unique interest or merely reflects repeated transfers of the same interest, what type of “references” were recorded, or when these alleged transfers occurred. Cf. id. Moreover, neither the allegations in the SAC, nor the information in the summary chart, state when these alleged interests were held by each Debtor. Importantly, SCIC fails to allege whether any interest held by each Debtor was transferred directly to TFC, which then passed this interest directly to LAAC; or whether each Debtor merely held some tangential interest in a film, which was transferred to multiple entitles, before ultimately being transferred to LAAC. Id. Lacking any and all such detail, the SAC simply groups together all of the unspecified interests allegedly reflected in the summary chart as a single “Film Transfer.” Id. ¶ 104.
The SAC also fails to provide any nonconclusory allegations regarding the interest TFC acquired in these films for the benefit of LAAC. See generally id. SCIC only ambiguously states that “TFC was the initial transferee of the Film Transfer, or the entity for whose benefit the Film Transfer was made, or is the immediate or mediate transferee of the initial transferee receiving such Film Transfer,” and that “LAAC was the entity for whose benefit the Film Transfer was made, or is the immediate or mediate transferee of the initial transferee receiving such Film Transfer.” Id. ¶¶ 129–30.
Ultimately, then, SCIC has not pointed to what, if any, rights in the TFC Library were transferred specifically by ThinkFilm to or for the benefit of LAAC. See, e.g., In re Erickson Ret. Cmties., LLC, 475 B.R. 762, 767 n. 4 (Bankr.N.D.Tex.2012) (“With fraudulent transfer claims, as in the case of a preference claim, a plaintiff bears the burden of proving that the transfer involved was ‘of an interest of the debtor in property’ before even reaching the various other elements of the claim.”) (citing 11 U.S.C. § 548(a)(1)). While SCIC's opening brief asserts that the SAC contains sufficient allegations to “state a plausible claim that this Debtor had an interest in certain films in the TFC Library, that all of the TFC Films were transferred to TFC in or about August 2009, and that any related rights in the TFC Library ... were transferred to TFC at or near the same time[,]” AOB at 15–16, it fails to include any argument germane to LAAC's role as the subsequent transferee of the fraudulent transfer, or any discussion as to how LAAC actually benefitted from that transfer, see id. at 14–17.
Even under Rule 8, the SAC fails to properly allege what—if any—rights in the TFC Library were transferred by ThinkFilm “to or for the benefit of” LAAC, SAC ¶ 121, and thus what specific rights ThinkFilm seeks to recover from LAAC. Without properly alleging an underlying transfer, SCIC cannot bring a claim for avoidance and recovery of a constructively fraudulent transfer under Rule 8, much less meet the heightened pleading requirements for avoidance and recovery of an actual fraudulent transfer under Rule 9. This claim is DISMISSED, in its entirety.
ii. Preferential Transfer
SCIC also asserts a claim for avoidance and recovery of a preferential transfer against LAAC as “an insider of R2D2.” SAC ¶ 136. In order to state a claim for a preferential transfer against LAAC as an “insider,” SCIC must adequately allege that (1) there was a transfer “of an interest of the debtor in property”; (2) the transfer was “to or for the benefit of” LAAC; (3) the transfer was “for or on account of an antecedent debt owed by the debtor before such transfer”; (4) the transfer was made while the debtor was insolvent; (5) the transfer was made within a year of the filing of the bankruptcy petition; (6) LAAC had “reasonable cause to believe the debtor was insolvent at the time of such transfer”; and (7) the transfer enabled LAAC to receive more than it would have received in a hypothetical chapter 7 bankruptcy case, if the prepetition transfer had not been made. 11 U.S.C. § 547(b); see also Begier v. IRS, 496 U.S. 53, 57, 110 S.Ct. 2258, 110 L.Ed.2d 46 (1990).
As each of these elements show, SCIC must sufficiently state a “prepetition ‘transfer’ of an interest of the debtor in property” in order to state a claim for preferential transfer under Section 547 of the Bankruptcy Code. See Begier, 496 U.S. at 58, 110 S.Ct. 2258 (“The reach of § 547(b )'s avoidance power is therefore limited to transfers of ‘property of the debtor.’ ”) (emphasis in original); see also In re Am. Remfrs., Inc., No. 05–20022(PJW), 2008 WL 2909871, at *2, 2008 Bankr.LEXIS 2045, at *6 (Bankr.D.Del. July 25, 2008) (citing 5 COLLIER ON BANKRUPTCY 553.09[1][a] (Alan N. Resnick & Henry J. Sommers eds. 15th ed. rev. 2008) (footnotes omitted)) (“At a minimum, a preference under section 547(b) requires a prepetition ‘transfer’ of an interest of the debtor in property.”); see also In re Erickson Ret. Cmties., LLC, 475 B.R. at 767 (“With fraudulent transfer claims, as in the case of a preference claim, a plaintiff bears the burden of proving that the transfer involved was ‘of an interest of the debtor in property’ before even reaching the various other elements of the claim.”) (emphasis added).
Yet, because SCIC has not adequately explained what, if any, rights in the TFC Library were actually transferred by ThinkFilm to TFC pursuant to the APA, and what portion of these unspecified rights were subsequently transferred to or for the benefit of LAAC, SCIC has not properly pled a predicate transfer, as required by Section 547(b) of the Bankruptcy Code. See Claybrook v. Metro Auto Xpress, LLC, 2008 WL 2909871, at *2, 2008 Bankr.LEXIS 2045, at *6; cf. In re Erickson Ret. Cmties., LLC, 475 B.R. at 767 (finding that payments relating to prepetition invoices were not avoidable as preferences under section 547(b), or fraudulent transfers under section 548(a), because defendant did not receive a transfer of property interest from the debtor).
Additionally, SCIC's summary chart shows the entire chain of title and other interests for the films within the TFC Library, without any details on when each alleged interest was transferred. Thus, it is impossible to discern which—if any—of the transfers allegedly made by ThinkFilm were made within one year of the filing of its bankruptcy petition, as required under 11 U.S.C. § 547(b).
SCIC has failed to properly state a claim against LAAC for avoidance and recovery of a preferential transfer. Therefore, the Bankruptcy Court properly dismissed this claim in the SAC.
iii. Turnover
SCIC also claims that it is entitled to a turnover of certain items pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 542(a), which requires entities to deliver to the trustee and account for items that are the “property of the estate.” 11 U.S.C. §§ 363, 542(a). Specifically, SCIC alleges that “LAAC has possession, custody, or control over books and records computers, electronically stored information, and/or other documents, including, but not limited to the Binders (collectively, the “Books and Records” ), that are the property of the Debtors' bankruptcy estates and which the Trustee may use, sell, or lease under 11 U.S.C. § 363.” SAC ¶ 133.
However, SCIC fails to allege that any of the Books and Records are the property of the estate of ThinkFilm—the only Debtor at issue in this adversary proceeding. Even SCIC's definition of “the Binders” later in the SAC fails to indicate that any property of ThinkFilm's estate is at issue, as the Binders merely “relate[ ] to film rights allegedly held by certain of the Debtors and TFC.” SAC ¶ 247 (emphasis added).
Because SCIC has failed to plead that any of the items it alleges should be turned over by LAAC are actually property of ThinkFilm's estate, this claim fails. Therefore, the Bankruptcy Court properly dismissed this claim in the SAC.
iv. Accounting
“A cause of action for an accounting requires a showing that a relationship exists between the plaintiff and defendant that requires an accounting, and that some balance is due the plaintiff that can only be ascertained by an accounting.” Teselle v. McLoughlin, 173 Cal.App.4th 156, 179, 92 Cal.Rptr.3d 696, 715 (2009). In its sixth claim for relief against LAAC, SCIC asserts that it is “entitled to an accounting of ... the amounts paid to LAAC by TFC from the sale, distribution, or other exploitation of the TFC Library.” SAC ¶ 136.
This claim also relies on the proper pleading of a transfer of ThinkFilm's specific rights in the TFC Library, and how these rights were ultimately transferred to or for the benefit of LAAC. Because SCIC fails to properly allege these underlying elements, the Bankruptcy Court properly dismissed SCIC's accounting claim against LAAC.
v. Declaratory Judgment
SCIC also seeks declaratory judgments that: (1) LAAC is not a successor to the lenders' interests in the ThinkFilm Loans, and therefore “lacks the right and authority to foreclose upon the TFC Library and related rights”; and (2) the TFC Library and related rights were not transferred to TFC pursuant to the 10/24/08 APA. Id. ¶¶ 137–143.
These claims for declaratory judgment on behalf of ThinkFilm's estate rely on the proper pleading of what rights or interests ThinkFilm held in the TFC Library when this alleged conspiracy began. As explained above in Section V.A.i, SCIC has failed to properly allege this essential component.
Additionally, while the Court questions whether SCIC's second request for declaratory relief regarding TFC's rights in the TFC Library is at issue in ThinkFilm's case against LAAC, this is nonetheless an improper basis for declaratory relief, as it merely seeks a declaration regarding past wrongs. “Declaratory relief is designed to resolve uncertainties or disputes that may result in future litigation. It operates prospectively and is not intended to redress past wrongs.” StreamCast Networks, Inc. v. IBIS LLC, No. CV 05–4239 MMM (EX), 2006 WL 5720345, at *3 (C.D.Cal.2006); see also Societe de Conditionnement en Aluminium v. Hunter Eng'g Co., 655 F.2d 938, 943 (9th Cir.1981) (The Declaratory Judgment Act “brings to the present a litigable controversy, which otherwise might only be tried in the future.”); Olenicoff v. UBS AG, No. SACV 08–1029 AG (RNBx), 2010 WL 8530286, at *34 (C.D.Cal.2010) (“Declaratory relief is not available to merely adjudicate past conduct or to establish liability.”) (citations omitted); Canova v. Trustees of Imperial Irr. Dist. Emp. Pension Plan, 150 Cal.App.4th 1487, 1497, 59 Cal.Rptr.3d 587, 594 (2007) (“Declaratory relief operates prospectively to declare future rights, rather than to redress past wrongs.”); Babb v. Super. Ct., 3 Cal.3d 841, 848, 92 Cal.Rptr. 179, 479 P.2d 379, 383 (1971) ( “[Declaratory relief] serves to set controversies at rest before they lead to repudiation of obligations, invasion of rights or commission of wrongs; in short, the remedy is to be used in the interests of preventive justice, to declare rights rather than execute them.”) (citation omitted) (internal quotation marks omitted).
For the foregoing reasons, the Bankruptcy court properly dismissed SCIC's request for declaratory relief.
vi. Injunctive Relief
SCIC also asserts a claim against LAAC for Injunctive Relief, in which it seeks to “enjoin LAAC from foreclosing upon the TFC Library and other collateral, some of which are assets of ThinkFilm[,]” pending resolution of its claims for fraudulent and preferential transfer. SAC ¶¶ 152–162; see AOB at 25. A party seeking a preliminary injunction must make a “clear showing” that: (1) it is likely to succeed on the merits; (2) that it is likely to suffer irreparable harm if an injunction is not granted; (3) that the balance of equities tips in its favor; and (4) that an injunction is in the public interest. Winter v. N.R.D.C., 555 U.S. 7, 20, 129 S.Ct. 365, 172 L.Ed.2d 249 (2008).
SCIC cannot even satisfy the first Winter factor, as SCIC failed to properly plead its underlying claims for fraudulent or preferential transfer. This derivative claim for injunctive relief is DISMISSED in its entirety.
vii. Recharacterization of LAAC Debt
SCIC also asserts that LAAC's purchase of the ThinkFilm and BWT Loans from Zwirn should be recharacterized as an equity contribution in CT–1 and its affiliates, including ThinkFilm. SAC ¶ 177; see also SAC ¶ 69 (noting that under the 3/12/09 NPA, LAAC only purchased the ThinkFilm and BWT Loans).
In bankruptcy proceedings, a court may recharacterize a purported “debt” as an equity contribution. In re Fitness Holdings Int'l, Inc., 714 F.3d 1141, 1146–49 (9th Cir.2013). While circuit courts largely agree that such recharacterization is authorized under the Bankruptcy Code, the circuits have taken various approaches to determining when such recharacterization is appropriate. In re Fitness Holdings, 714 F.3d at 1148 (summarizing the various approaches). However, the Ninth Circuit recently held that it agreed with the approach adopted by the Fifth Circuit, in which “purported ‘debt’ is recharacterized as equity where state law would treat the asserted interest as an equity interest.” Id. (citation omitted). Thus, “in order to determine whether a particular obligation owed by the debtor is a ‘claim’ for purposes of bankruptcy law, it is first necessary to determine whether that obligation gives the holder of that obligation a ‘right to payment’ under state law.” Id. at 1149 (emphasis added).
However, SCIC's own allegations reveal that the “debt” it seeks to recharacterize was not an obligation owed by ThinkFilm. First, while LAAC purchased two sets of loans from Zwirn under the NPA, SCIC only alleges that ThinkFilm was a borrower under one of these, the ThinkFilm Loans. SAC ¶ 26(a); see id ¶ 68 (noting only that the BWT Loans are “defined in the 3/12/09 NPA,” which is not attached to the SAC). Second, any and all of ThinkFilm's debt obligations under the ThinkFilm Loans would have been assumed by TFC prior to LAAC's purchase, as SCIC has alleged that under the APA, TFC agreed to assume certain liabilities of the sellers, “including the ThinkFilm Loans.” SAC ¶ 62. Although SCIC claims that TFC did not “honor” its debt assumption obligation, id., it later clarifies that this refers to the alleged failure by TFC to “pay revenue from the TFC Library to LAAC to satisfy TFC's debt assumption obligations[,]” id. ¶ 129. TFC's assumption of all debt obligations under the ThinkFilm Loans is also implied by SCIC's allegation that the TFC Library served as “collateral related to the ThinkFilm Loans.” Id. ¶ 68.
SCIC has failed to allege that LAAC's purchase of the ThinkFilm and BWT Loans involved debt obligations owed by ThinkFilm. Therefore, SCIC cannot plead that the debt LAAC acquired through this purchase should be recharacterized as an equity contribution to ThinkFilm. The Bankruptcy Court also properly dismissed this claim. B. The Bankruptcy Court Improperly Held That ThinkFilm Could Only Brings Its Equitable Subordination Claim Through a Motion
SCIC also challenges the Bankruptcy Court's holding that ThinkFilm's equitable subordination claim cannot be brought through an adversary proceeding. Specifically, the Bankruptcy Court ordered that “any such relief much be sought pursuant to a motion filed in accordance with Bankruptcy Rules 3007(a) and 9014.” 2 ER 7. Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (“Bankruptcy Rule”) 3007 governs objections to claims, while Bankruptcy Rule 9014 instructs parties to request relief by motion in contested matters “not otherwise governed by these rules.” Thus, although the Bankruptcy Court expressly declined to rule on the merits of LAAC's motion to dismiss as to SCIC's equitable subordination claim, id. at 392:21, it effectively foreclosed the opportunity for SCIC to bring or amend this claim within this adversary proceeding.
However, Rule 7001 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, which provides a list of all items to be brought as adversary proceedings, expressly includes “a proceeding to subordinate any allowed claim or interest....” Fed. R. Bank. Proc. 7001(8). In fact, Judge Russell acknowledged that a claim for subordination is an enumerated adversary proceeding during the hearing on LAAC's motion. 1 ER 6, at 392:7–8. Rule 3007(b) further commands that “[a] party in interest shall not include a demand for relief of a kind specified in Rule 7001 in an objection to the allowance of a claim, but may include the objection in an adversary proceeding.” Fed. R. Bank. Proc. 3007(b). Still, Judge Russell stated that the equitable subordination claim “should have been filed as a—an objection to the claim ...[,]” 1 ER 6, at 392:21–23, simply because “I don't like the idea of filing the complaints [,]” id. at 393:22–23.
The Bankruptcy Court erred in its ruling on this claim. The Court REVERSES this part of the Bankruptcy Court's Order and REMANDS, with instructions to the Bankruptcy Court to decide the merits of LAAC's challenge to SCIC's equitable subordination claim. C. The Court Need Not Review Alleged Factual Determinations by the Bankruptcy Court in Dismissing Specific Claims on Other Grounds
SCIC also challenges the Bankruptcy Court's “factual findings as to which of the purported sub-libraries each film in the TFC Library belonged,” which guided the Bankruptcy Court's decision to dismiss in part SCIC's claims for fraudulent transfer and injunctive relief. AOB at 28–29. However, as discussed above, the Court dismisses these two claims in their entirety, as SCIC failed to properly plead an underlying transfer by ThinkFilm. Supra Sections V.A.i and V.A.vi. Therefore, the Court need not review the alleged factual determinations made by the Bankruptcy Court in deciding to only dismiss these claims in part, and on another ground. D. The Bankruptcy Court Properly Denied Leave to Amend the Dismissed Claims
SCIC further contends that the Bankruptcy Court committed reversible error in denying SCIC leave to amend the Dismissed Claims. AOB at 29–30. The Court evaluates the Bankruptcy Court's decision denying leave to amend for abuse of discretion. Leadsinger, Inc., 512 F.3d at 532.
Leave to amend should be granted even if the plaintiff did not request leave, unless it is clear that the complaint cannot be cured by the allegation of different or additional facts. Doe v. United States, 58 F.3d 494, 497 (9th Cir.1995). In determining whether to grant leave to amend a complaint, courts are guided by Rule 15(a), which states that “leave shall be freely given when justice so requires.” Allen v. City of Beverly Hills, 911 F.2d 367, 373 (9th Cir.1990) (internal quotation marks omitted).
However, a court must consider several factors in determining whether leave to amend is proper, such as “(1) bad faith, (2) undue delay, (3) prejudice to the opposing party, (4) futility of amendment, and (5) whether the plaintiff has previously amended his complaint.” Id. (citation omitted); see also Cafasso v. Gen. Dynamics C4 Sys., Inc., 637 F.3d 1047, 1058 (9th Cir.2011). A court's discretion to deny leave to amend is “particularly broad where plaintiff has previously amended the complaint.” Allen, 911 F.2d at 373 (citation omitted) (internal quotation marks omitted); see also Cafasso, 637 F.3d at 1058.
The Bankruptcy Court did not apply law to facts in an illogical or implausible manner in denying leave to amend the Dismissed Claims. See United States v. Hinkson, 585 F.3d 1247, 1262 (9th Cir.2009) (a court abuses its discretion when its application of law to facts is “illogical, implausible, or without support in inferences that may be drawn from the record”). This was SCIC's third attempt to properly plead claims against LAAC, and any further amendment would be futile. See LAAC's Opening Brief at 6. In reaching this determination, the Court notes that SCIC's “fraudulent transfer” claim failed to satisfy even the requirements of Rule 8, although it contained allegations of actual fraud, which are subject to Rule 9's heightened pleading standard.
Accordingly, the Bankruptcy Court did not abuse its discretion in denying SCIC leave to amend the Dismissed Claims.
VI. Conclusion
Based on the foregoing, the Bankruptcy Court's July 17, 2013 Order granting LAAC's motion to dismiss is AFFIRMED in part, and REVERSED and REMANDED in part.
IT IS SO ORDERED.