Petitioner-Debtor challenged the Bankruptcy Court’s denial of Petitioner’s application for a Temporary Restraining Order and for a stay pending appeal after the Mohawk and Hudson River Humane Society seized 23 cats from Petitioner’s prior home for failure to provide proper sustenance/cruelty to animals and subsequently obtained a bond against Petitioner for the cost of providing animal care. The United States District Court, N.D. New York denied Petitioner’s motion for leave to appeal requesting relief identical to that which was denied by the Bankruptcy Court, finding that the exhibits submitted show that Petitioner was currently charged with four misdemeanors, and that the commencement of the criminal charges against Petitioner and the posting of security pending the disposition of such criminal charges fall within the exception to the automatic stay under federal law.
*1 On April 1, 2009, Debtor Josephine Rossi (“Debtor” or “Rossi”) filed with this Court a Motion for leave to appeal the Order of the United States Bankruptcy Court dated March 24, 2009, denying her application for a Temporary Restraining Order (“TRO”) and denying a stay pending appeal. Dkt. No. 1. Rossi also seeks an ex parte TRO and a stay pending appeal in the form of an Order to Show Cause (“OSC”) avoiding, vacating, and nullifying the granting of a bond and avoiding, vacating and/or nullifying the delivery and payment of a bond. Id.
I. Background
Debtor filed the underlying Bankruptcy Case on November 28, 2008. See Bankr. Case No. 08-13998; Rossi Aff. at ¶ 1. The Motion presently before this Court follows the dismissal of Rossi's prior Bankruptcy case and this Court's denial of a stay pending appeal and a temporary restraining order in the ensuing appeal. See Case No. 1:08-MC-00081. On January 26, 2009, Debtor was evicted from her home at 10 Maplewood Avenue, Albany, New York 12205. Rossi Aff. at ¶ 12. On or about January 30, 2009, the Colonie Police Department caused a seizure which resulted in the impoundment by the Mohawk & Hudson River Humane Society (“MHRHS”) of 23 cats from Rossi's prior residence at 10 Maplewood Avenue, Albany, New York 12205. Dkt. No. 1, Attach. 1. The animals were seized and impounded pursuant to the provisions of Section 373 for violations of Section 353 of Article 26 of the Agriculture and Markets Law against Rossi for failure to provide proper sustenance/cruelty to animals. Id. MHRHS then brought a petition dated March 6, 2009 against Rossi seeking security for the cost of providing animal care under Section 373, subdivision 6, of Article 26 of the Agriculture and Markets Law. Id. The Town Court of Colonie issued an Order to Show Cause, scheduling a hearing for March 11, 2009 to determine whether security must be posted and to determine the amount of the security. Id. It appears that the Town Court of Colonie granted a bond to MHRHS in the amount of $10,350. See Bankruptcy Court Order (Dkt. No. 1, Attach.1).
On March 16, 2009, Rossi filed an application with the Bankruptcy Court for a TRO and OSC seeking to avoid, vacate, and nullify the granting of the bond and avoiding, vacating and/or nullifying the delivery and payment of the bond by Debtor. Id. The Bankruptcy Court denied the application for a TRO upon a finding that the Town Court's actions fall within 11 U.S.C. § 362(b)(1)'s exception to the automatic stay, and denied Rossi's application for a stay pending appeal. Id. On March 17, 2009, this Court denied Rossi's application for a TRO and for a stay pending appeal. 1:09-MC-0021, Dkt No. 3. Rossi is currently appealing that order to the Second Circuit. 1:09-MC-0021, Dkt No. 4.
Rossi now files this Motion for leave to appeal requesting identical relief to that which this Court previously denied on March 17, 2009. See 1:09-MC-0027, Dkt. No. 1; see also 1:09-MC-0021, Dkt. No. 3.
II. Discussion
*2 In reviewing the rulings of a bankruptcy court, a district court applies the clearly erroneous standard to a bankruptcy court's conclusions of fact, and reviews de novo conclusions of law. Yarinsky v. Saratoga Springs Plastic Surgery, 310 B.R. 493, 498 (N.D.N.Y.2004) (Hurd, J.) (citing In re Manville Forest Prods. Corp., 209 F.3d 125, 128 (2d Cir.2000)); In re Petition of Bd. of Dirs. of Hopewell Int'l Inst. Ltd., 275 B.R. 699, 703 (Bankr.S . D.N.Y.2002); FED. R. BANKR. P. 8013. Mixed questions of law and fact are reviewed de novo. Ernst & Young v. Bankr.Servs., 311 B.R. 350, 360 (S.D.N.Y.2004) (citing In re Vebeliunas, 332 F.3d 85, 90 (2d Cir.2003); In re AroChem Corp., 176 F.3d 610, 620 (2d Cir.1999)).
Debtor argues that the cats are property of the estate and therefore protected by the automatic stay pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 362. Rossi Aff. at ¶ 15-16. 11 U.S.C. § 362(a) provides for an automatic stay, applicable to all entities, of the commencement of certain judicial proceedings against the debtor. However, 11 U.S.C. § 362(b)(1) states that the filing of the stay does not apply to “the commencement or continuation of a criminal action or proceeding against the debtor.” Although Rossi contends that the proceedings against her are not criminal in nature, the exhibits she has submitted demonstrate that she is currently charged with four misdemeanor counts. Dkt. No. 1, Attach. 1. Therefore, the commencement of the criminal action against Debtor, and the related requirement, under a related section, of the posting of security pending the disposition of those criminal charges fall within the exception of 11 U.S.C. § 362(b)(1) to the automatic stay.
III. Conclusion
Accordingly, it is hereby
ORDERED, that Debtor's application for a TRO (Dkt. No. 1) is DENIED; and it is further
ORDERED, that Debtor's request for a stay pending appeal (Dkt. No. 1) is DENIED; and it is further
ORDERED, that the Clerk of the Court shall serve copies of this Order upon the parties to this action.
IT IS SO ORDERED.