Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Landlord's Claim Puts Letter of Credit Proceeds at Risk

By John B. Spitzer
August 01, 2016

A recent bankruptcy decision makes clear that it is risky for a landlord to file a proof of claim in a bankruptcy proceeding when the landlord has substantial security in the form of both a security deposit and letter of credit. If a landlord has drawn down the letter of credit proceeds and withdrawn the security deposit in full after the tenant's default, filing a proof of claim in the tenant's subsequent bankruptcy proceeding may invite a bankruptcy court's consideration of whether those funds are or should be assets of the bankruptcy estate.

In 40 CPS Associates, LLC v. Villano Family Limited Partnership, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 158033 (E.D.N.Y. Nov. 23, 2015), a New York district court dismissed CPS Associates' appeal of an order of the bankruptcy court authorizing a family limited partnership to object to claims it asserted against the estate of the debtor, including its claim for payment of an administrative expense for the debtor's post-petition rent or postpetition use and occupancy of real estate. In this case, CPS Associates, the landlord, drew down a letter of credit issued to ensure payment of rent and also filed a proof of claim in the tenant's bankruptcy.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
Why So Many Great Lawyers Stink at Business Development and What Law Firms Are Doing About It Image

Why is it that those who are best skilled at advocating for others are ill-equipped at advocating for their own skills and what to do about it?

Bankruptcy Sales: Finding a Diamond In the Rough Image

There is no efficient market for the sale of bankruptcy assets. Inefficient markets yield a transactional drag, potentially dampening the ability of debtors and trustees to maximize value for creditors. This article identifies ways in which investors may more easily discover bankruptcy asset sales.

The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year Later Image

The DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.

A Lawyer's System for Active Reading Image

Active reading comprises many daily tasks lawyers engage in, including highlighting, annotating, note taking, comparing and searching texts. It demands more than flipping or turning pages.

Protecting Innovation in the Cyber World from Patent Trolls Image

With trillions of dollars to keep watch over, the last thing we need is the distraction of costly litigation brought on by patent assertion entities (PAEs or "patent trolls"), companies that don't make any products but instead seek royalties by asserting their patents against those who do make products.