adv.procd.ans.&.aff.def.jas.10

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  • 8/8/2019 Adv.procd.ans.&.Aff.def.JAS.10

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    UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURTSOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

    FORT LAUDERDALE DIVISIONwww.flsb.uscourts.gov

    In Re:

    TOUSA, Inc., et. al.

    Debtor.

    /

    Case No. 08-10928-JKO

    Chapter 11(Jointly Administered)

    TOUSA HOMES, INC.

    Plaintiff,

    v.

    SURFACE CRAFTERS, INC. D/B/ADUROSTONE SURFACES,

    Defendant.

    /

    Adv. Case No. 10-01735-JKO

    DEFENDANTS, SURFACE CRAFTERS, INC., ANSWER AND AFFIRMATIVEDEFENSES TO COMPLAINT TO AVOID PREFERENTIAL TRANSFERS PURSUANTTO 11 U.S.C. 547 AND TO RECOVER PROPERTY TRANSFERRED PURSUANT

    TO 11 U.S.C. 550

    Defendants, SURFACE CRAFTERS, INC. D/B/A DUROSTONE SURFACES

    (hereinafter, Surface Craftersor Defendant), by and through undersigned attorneys,

    hereby answers the Adversary Complaint (the Complaint), filed by Plaintiff, TOUSA

    HOMES, INC., et al. (Plaintiff), and states as follows:

    NATURE OF THE CASE

    1. Defendant admits that this purports to be an action to avoid and

    recover from Defendant all preferential transfers of property, however, Defendant

    INFANTE, ZUMPANO HUDSON & MILOCH, LLC500 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 302 / Coral Gables, Florida 33146

    Telephone: (305) 503-2990 / Facsimile: (305) 774-5908

    http://www.flsb.uscourts.gov/http://www.flsb.uscourts.gov/
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    denies that it has any liability to Plaintiff or that Plaintiff is entitled to recover any

    damages from Defendant.

    JURISDICTION AND VENUE

    2. The allegations of paragraph 2 are assertions of law to which no

    response is required. To the extent that a response is required, Surface Crafters admits

    the allegations of paragraph 2.

    3. The allegations of paragraph 3 are assertions of law to which no

    response is required. To the extent that a response is required, Surface Crafters admits

    the allegations of paragraph 3.

    4. The allegations of paragraph 4 are assertions of law to which no

    response is required. To the extent that a response is required, Surface Crafters admits

    the allegations of paragraph 4.

    BACKGROUND

    5. Surface Crafters admits the allegations of paragraph 5.

    6. Surface Crafters admits the allegations of paragraph 6.

    7. Surface Crafters admits the allegations of paragraph 7.

    8. Despite reasonable inquiry, Surface Crafters lacks knowledge or

    information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations of paragraph 8,

    therefore, they are denied.

    CLAIMS FOR RELIEF

    COUNT 1(Avoidance of Preferential Transfers 11 U.S.C. 547)

    9. Surface Crafters restates its responses to paragraphs 1 through 8.

    2

    INFANTE, ZUMPANO HUDSON & MILOCH, LLC500 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 302 / Coral Gables, Florida 33146

    Telephone: (305) 503-2990 / Facsimile: (305) 774-5908

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    10. Despite reasonable inquiry, Surface Crafters lacks knowledge or

    information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations of paragraph 10,

    therefore, they are denied.

    11. Despite reasonable inquiry, Surface Crafters lacks knowledge or

    information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations of paragraph 11,

    therefore, they are denied.

    12. The allegations of paragraph 12 are statements of belief or

    intention to which no response is required. Surface Crafters objects to any relation back

    to any subsequently learned information obtained by the Plaintiff.

    13. Surface Crafters admits the allegations of paragraph 13.

    14. Surface Crafters admits the allegations of paragraph 14.

    15. Surface Crafters denies the allegations of paragraph 15.

    16. Despite reasonable inquiry, Surface Crafters lacks knowledge or

    information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations of paragraph 16,

    therefore, they are denied.

    17. Despite reasonable inquiry, Surface Crafters lacks knowledge or

    information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations of paragraph 17,

    therefore, they are denied.

    18. Despite reasonable inquiry, Surface Crafters lacks knowledge or

    information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations of paragraph 18,

    therefore, they are denied.

    19. Surface Crafters denies the allegations of paragraph 19.

    COUNT II

    3

    INFANTE, ZUMPANO HUDSON & MILOCH, LLC500 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 302 / Coral Gables, Florida 33146

    Telephone: (305) 503-2990 / Facsimile: (305) 774-5908

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    (Recovery of Avoided Transfers 11 U.S.C. 550)

    20. Surface Crafters restates its responses to paragraphs 1 through 8.

    21. Surface Crafters denies the allegations of paragraph 21

    22. Surface Crafters denies the allegations of paragraph 22.

    23. Surface Crafters denies the allegations of paragraph 23.

    GENERAL DENIAL

    To the extent an answer is required to Plaintiffs prayers for relief, Surface

    Crafters denies that Plaintiff is entitled to any of the relief sought.

    AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES

    First Affirmative Defense

    Plaintiffs Complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted.

    Second Affirmative Defense

    Any preferential transfer was in payment of a debt incurred by the debtor in the

    ordinary course of business of financial affairs of the debtor and the transferee and was

    made in the ordinary course of business or financial affairs o the debtor and the

    transferee or according to ordinary business terms.

    Third Affirmative Defense

    After any preferential transfer, the creditor gave new value to or for the benefit of

    the debtor (A) not secured by an otherwise unavoidable security interest and (B) on

    account of which new value the debtor did not make an otherwise unavoidable transfer

    to or for the benefit is such creditor.

    Fourth Affirmative Defense

    4

    INFANTE, ZUMPANO HUDSON & MILOCH, LLC500 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 302 / Coral Gables, Florida 33146

    Telephone: (305) 503-2990 / Facsimile: (305) 774-5908

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    Any preferential transfer was (A) intended by the debtor and the creditor to or for

    whose benefit such transfer was made to be a contemporaneous exchange for new

    value given to the debtor and (B) in fact a substantially contemporaneous exchange.

    Fifth Affirmative Defense

    Plaintiffs causes of action and alleged damages, if any, are barred in whole or in

    part by the doctrine of setoff and/or recoupment.

    Sixth Affirmative Defense

    Plaintiff may not recover the alleged transfers to Surface Crafters because

    Surface Crafters has, in good, given value equal to or exceeding the transfers, and

    Surface Crafters received the transfers without knowledge of the voidability of such

    transfers.

    Seventh Affirmative Defense

    Plaintiffs claims are barred under the doctrine of waiver, estoppels, including

    judicial estoppels, and/or consent.

    Additional Affirmative Defense

    Surface Crafters reserves the right to amend this Answer to assert additional

    affirmative defenses that become known to Surface Crafters through discovery or

    otherwise.

    WHEREFORE, Surface Crafters, Inc. prays that this Court enter judgment in its

    favor and against Plaintiff (i) denying Plaintiff any relief, (ii) awarding all costs and

    5

    INFANTE, ZUMPANO HUDSON & MILOCH, LLC500 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 302 / Coral Gables, Florida 33146

    Telephone: (305) 503-2990 / Facsimile: (305) 774-5908

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    attorneys fees incurred in defending this lawsuit and (iii) granting such other and further

    relief as this Court deems just, necessary and proper.

    Dated: July 1, 2010 INFANTE, ZUMPANO HUDSON & MILOCH, LLCAttorneys for Defendant, Surface Crafters, Inc.500 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 302Coral Gables, Florida 33146Telephone: (305) 503-2990Facsimile: (305) 774-5908

    By: /s/ Luis Salazar Luis SalazarFlorida Bar No. [email protected]

    6

    INFANTE, ZUMPANO HUDSON & MILOCH, LLC500 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 302 / Coral Gables, Florida 33146

    Telephone: (305) 503-2990 / Facsimile: (305) 774-5908

    mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]
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    CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

    The undersigned, an attorney at the law firm of Infante, Zumpano Hudson &

    Miloch, LLC and duly admitted as an attorney to the United States District Court for

    the Southern District of Florida hereby certifies that copies of the foregoing Notice ofAppearance and Request for Notices and Service of Papers, were served this day

    on all counsel of record or pro se parties identified on the attached Service List in the

    manner specified, either via transmission of Notices of Electronic Filing generated by

    CM/ECF or by first class U.S. Mail, postage prepaid, on those counsel or parties

    who are not authorized to receive electronically Notices of Electronic Filing.

    Dated: July 1, 2010

    /s/ Luis SalazarLUIS SALAZAR

    7

    INFANTE, ZUMPANO HUDSON & MILOCH, LLC500 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 302 / Coral Gables, Florida 33146

    Telephone: (305) 503-2990 / Facsimile: (305) 774-5908

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    Electronic Mail Notice List

    The following is the list of parties who are currently on the list to receive e-mail

    notice/service for this case:

    Kristopher Aungst, Esq.: [email protected]

    [email protected];

    [email protected]

    Manual Notice List

    The following is the list of parties who are not on the list to receive e-mail notice/service

    for this case, and are therefore being served by first class U.S. Mail, postage prepaid:

    (No manual recipients)

    8

    INFANTE, ZUMPANO HUDSON & MILOCH, LLC500 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 302 / Coral Gables, Florida 33146

    Telephone: (305) 503-2990 / Facsimile: (305) 774-5908

    mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]