in the united states district court for the ...selectassetreceiver.com/docs/204 - motion to...
TRANSCRIPT
RECEIVER’S UNOPPOSED MOTION TO APPROVE MODIFICATION AND EXTENSION OF SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH RICHARD C. GASAWAY AND HIS RELATED ENTITIES - PAGE 1 OF 7
MHDocs 5957314_1 4856.15
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
HOUSTON DIVISION
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, PLAINTIFF, vs. BRIAN A. BJORK, THE ESTATE OF JOEL DAVID SALINAS, J. DAVID GROUP OF COMPANIES, INC., J. DAVID FINANCIAL GROUP, LP, SELECT ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC, SELECT ASSET CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC, SELECT ASSET FUND I, LLC, AND SELECT ASSET PRIME INDEX FUND, LLC, DEFENDANTS.
§ § § § § § § § § § § § § § § § §
CIVIL ACTION NO. 4:11 CV - 02830
RECEIVER’S UNOPPOSED MOTION TO APPROVE MODIFICATION AND EXTENSION
OF SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH RICHARD C. GASAWAY AND HIS RELATED ENTITIES
TO THE HONORABLE KEITH P. ELLISON, UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT:
Receiver, Steven A. Harr (“Receiver”), files this Unopposed Motion to Approve Modification
and Extension of Settlement Agreement with Richard C. Gasaway and His Related Entities (the
“Motion”). In support for approval of the Motion, the Receiver respectfully provides the
following:
I. BACKGROUND FACTS
1. On August 1, 2011, the Securities and Exchange Commission commenced this
action in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas against the
Case 4:11-cv-02830 Document 204 Filed in TXSD on 02/27/15 Page 1 of 6
RECEIVER’S UNOPPOSED MOTION TO APPROVE MODIFICATION AND EXTENSION OF SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH RICHARD C. GASAWAY AND HIS RELATED ENTITIES - PAGE 2 OF 7
MHDocs 5957314_1 4856.15
Receivership Entities1 alleging, among other things, that Defendants violated several securities
laws.
2. Gasaway Properties, L.P. (“Properties”), is a borrower from Select Asset Prime
Fund LLC (“Prime Fund”) and Select Asset Management LLC (“SAM”). Richard C. Gasaway
a/k/a Dick Gasaway a/k/a RC Gasaway a/k/a Richard Charles Gasaway, individually is a
guarantor of Properties indebtedness to Prime Fund and SAM. Properties, R. Gasaway,
Gasaway Properties, Inc., Gasaway Venture Corp., and Gulfvalve Corp. are or have been
investors in one or more of the Defendants. Collectively, all Gasaway-related entities referred
to in this Motion are referred to as “Gasaway.”
3. On September 11, 2013, the Receiver and Gasaway executed a Settlement and
Release Agreement (the “Settlement”) resolving an ongoing dispute relating to two outstanding
loans issued by the Receivership Entities to Gasaway. A true and correct copy of the Settlement
is attached hereto as Exhibit “A”. While Gasaway lacked the liquid funds to pay the $215,000.00
owed under the Settlement, it granted the Receiver a lien in certain real estate that it promised
to sell no later than December 31, 2014 to fund the Settlement.
4. On September 16, 2013, the Receiver filed his Motion for Approval of Compromise
and Settlement Agreement with Richard C. Gasaway and his Related Entities (the “Original Motion”)
[Dkt. No. 153]. On September 27, 2013, this Court granted the Original Motion in its entirety
[Dkt. No. 159].
5. As of the date of this Motion, the subject real estate has not been sold and the
Settlement has not been funded. Under the terms of the settlement, the Receiver was to take
1 Brian A. Bjork, The Estate of Joel David Salinas, J. David Group of Companies, Inc., J. David Financial Group, LP, Select Asset Management, LLC, Select Capital Management, LLC, Select Asset Fund I, LLC, and Select Asset Prime Index Fund, LLC (collectively, the “Receivership Entities”)
Case 4:11-cv-02830 Document 204 Filed in TXSD on 02/27/15 Page 2 of 6
RECEIVER’S UNOPPOSED MOTION TO APPROVE MODIFICATION AND EXTENSION OF SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH RICHARD C. GASAWAY AND HIS RELATED ENTITIES - PAGE 3 OF 7
MHDocs 5957314_1 4856.15
control of the sale process for the real estate from January 1, 2015 through June 30, 2015 and if
the real estate was not sold at that point, the Receiver would then have the right to foreclose on
the property and take possession. After the Settlement, the Receiver and Gasaway learned that
the finalized plans of the Texas Department of Transportation for construction of what is known
as the Grand Parkway will include the subject real estate, and thus at some point the real estate
will be condemned. As such, it is a certainty that the land will be purchased by the State of
Texas, but the process for the purchase is slow. As well, with the land being subject to the
state’s condemnation process, the ability to sell it is essentially non-existent.
6. The Receiver and Gassaway have discussed the matter and determined that an
extension to December 31, 2015 of Gassaway’s right to sell the real estate under the terms of the
Settlement is in the best interest of the estate. Gassaway is a victim of the Salinas fraud and the
land being used to fund the settlement likely has equity value above the amount due under the
Settlement. In considering his options between foreclosure and the extension discussed herein,
the Receiver believes it is in the best interest of the Receivership Estate and in fairness to
Gassaway as a victim to give him additional time to sell the real estate, pay the Settlement and
obtain any equity value over the amount needed to fund the Settlement.
7. Subject to court approval and based on the foregoing, on February 13, 2015, the
Receiver and Gasaway entered into the First Modification and Extension Agreement
(“Extension Agreement”) which is attached hereto as Exhibit “B”. Pursuant to the Extension
Agreement, Gasaway will be given until December 31, 2015 to sell the subject real estate.
Should it not sell, the Receiver will then have the right to foreclose on the subject real estate as
authorized by the Settlement or present other alternatives to this Court for approval.
Case 4:11-cv-02830 Document 204 Filed in TXSD on 02/27/15 Page 3 of 6
RECEIVER’S UNOPPOSED MOTION TO APPROVE MODIFICATION AND EXTENSION OF SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH RICHARD C. GASAWAY AND HIS RELATED ENTITIES - PAGE 4 OF 7
MHDocs 5957314_1 4856.15
8. This Court previously approved the Settlement. With this Motion, the Receiver
respectfully requests that the Court approve the Extension Agreement.
III. REQUEST FOR
APPROVAL OF THE EXTENSION AGREEMENT
9. In receiverships, federal courts have broad equitable powers enabling them to
fashion appropriate ancillary remedies necessary to grant full relief.2 With this Motion, the
Receiver respectfully requests that this Court apply its broad equitable authority to modify the
previously accepted Settlement with the Extension Agreement.
10. Gasaway’s performance under the Settlement will add $215,000.00 to the
Receivership Estate. While Gasaway has thus far failed to perform, there are reasons beyond
his control and the Receiver believes this matter will be resolved by December 31, 2015.
Moreover, if Gasaway is unable to sell the real estate or otherwise pay the amount due under
the Settlement, the Receiver will still have the right to foreclose on the subject property. As
described in the Receiver’s Tenth Interim Report, it is believed that other matters in the estate
that will take at least until December 31, 2015 to resolve and thus the Receiver believes waiting
for such funds until December 31, 2015 is both reasonable and will not incur any additional
expense to the estate.
11. The Receiver believes the approval of the Extension Agreement is in the best
interests of the Receivership Estate. The Receiver requests the Court grant this Motion by
signing the appropriate Order accompanying this motion.
2 See SEC v. Safety Fin. Serv., Inc., 674 F.2d 369, 372 (5th Cir. 1982); SEC v. Manor Nursing Ctrs., 458 F.2d 1082, 1103-04 (2d. Cir. 1972).
Case 4:11-cv-02830 Document 204 Filed in TXSD on 02/27/15 Page 4 of 6
RECEIVER’S UNOPPOSED MOTION TO APPROVE MODIFICATION AND EXTENSION OF SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH RICHARD C. GASAWAY AND HIS RELATED ENTITIES - PAGE 5 OF 7
MHDocs 5957314_1 4856.15
12. The Securities and Exchange Commission, as Plaintiff in this matter, has no
objection to the relief sough in this Motion. Gasaway joins the Receiver in the request for the
relief stated herein.
IV. CONCLUSION
WHEREFORE, the Receiver prays that the Court enter an Order in the form submitted
with this Motion, or for substantially the same relief in such form as the Court may find just and
proper.
DATED: February 27, 2015 Respectfully submitted,
By: /s/ Steven A. Harr Steven A. Harr Texas Bar No. 09035600 MUNSCH HARDT KOPF & HARR, PC 700 Milam, Suite 2700 Houston, Texas 77002 (713) 222-1470 (telephone) (713) 222-4047 (telecopy) E-Mail: [email protected]
ATTORNEY IN CHARGE FOR RECEIVER
OF COUNSEL: MUNSCH HARDT KOPF & HARR, PC 700 Milam, Suite 2700 Houston, Texas 77002-2732 Sameer S. Karim SDTX Bar No. 24076476 700 Milam, Suite 2700 Houston, Texas 77002-2732 Tel: (713) 222-4050 Fax: (713) 222-5850
Case 4:11-cv-02830 Document 204 Filed in TXSD on 02/27/15 Page 5 of 6
RECEIVER’S UNOPPOSED MOTION TO APPROVE MODIFICATION AND EXTENSION OF SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH RICHARD C. GASAWAY AND HIS RELATED ENTITIES - PAGE 6 OF 7
MHDocs 5957314_1 4856.15
CERTIFICATE OF CONFERENCE
On February __, 2015, I conferred with Tim McCole and he stated that the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commission is not opposed to the relief sought in this motion.
/s/ Sameer S. Karim x Sameer S. Karim
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I certify that a copy of the foregoing was filed electronically with the Clerk via the CM/ECF system. Notice of this filing will be sent to all parties by operation of the Court’s electronic filing system.
Houston, Texas, this 27th Day of February 2015.
/s/ Sameer S. Karim x Sameer S. Karim
Case 4:11-cv-02830 Document 204 Filed in TXSD on 02/27/15 Page 6 of 6