Leonard v. Leonard, (N.J.Super.A.D., 2012).
Opinion 2012 New_Jersey Exclusive_Remedy 2012NewJerseyLeonardWritExecution
Related Article: None.
AI Synopsis
♦ The Superior Court addressed a novel legal issue regarding whether a custodial parent can collect significant child support and alimony arrears by levying against an ex-spouse’s minority member interest in a limited liability company (LLC). The plaintiff, Keith Leonard, owed over $110,000 in unpaid support to the defendant, Cynthia Leonard, following their 2004 divorce. Seeking an order in aid of litigant’s rights, the defendant moved for a judgment on the arrears and a writ of execution against the plaintiff’s ten percent interest in Blydan Oak Group, LLC, which owned commercial real estate generating substantial rental income. The court examined N.J.S.A. 42:2B–45, a statute governing the rights of judgment creditors against LLC members. This statute permits a court to charge a member’s interest with the unsatisfied judgment amount, though it restricts the creditor’s rights to those of an assignee, explicitly prohibiting interference with company management, forced dissolution, or foreclosure. Finding no prior published opinions on the statute, the court determined that while the defendant could not control the LLC, she could legally charge the plaintiff’s interest. Furthermore, the court invoked Rule 1:10–3 and Rule 5:3–7, which grant broad authority to enforce support obligations through equitable remedies. The court concluded that issuing a writ of execution was a justified equitable solution to ensure that any future distributions or proceeds from property sales intended for the plaintiff would instead be prioritized to satisfy the long-standing debt. This decision aligns with New Jersey’s strong public policy favoring the enforcement of parental maintenance duties. Consequently, the court granted the defendant’s motion, entering judgment for the arrears and authorizing the writ against the plaintiff’s membership interest to secure the funds necessary for his children’s support. ♦
Leonard v. Leonard, (N.J.Super.A.D., 2012).
Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, Ocean County, Family Part.
Keith LEONARD, Plaintiff,
v.
Cynthia LEONARD, Defendant.
Decided June 13, 2012.
Approved for Publication Sept. 20, 2012.
Plaintiff, pro se.
Frank A. Louis, for defendant (Louis & Judge, attorneys).
Plaintiff, pro se.Frank A. Louis, for defendant (Louis & Judge, attorneys).
L.R. JONES, J.S.C.
PAGE_1 This case presents a novel issue regarding the ability of a custodial parent to collect support arrears via levy against her ex-spouse's minority member interest in a limited liability corporation (LLC).
Plaintiff and defendant divorced in 2004, after twenty-one years of marriage. Under the terms of the parties' marital settlement agreement, plaintiff agreed to pay defendant alimony and child support. However, as of 2012 plaintiff amassed over $110,000 in unpaid support arrears which remain due and owing to defendant.
Defendant now files a motion seeking an order in aid of litigant's rights, entering judgment against plaintiff for the support arrearages. Additionally, defendant requests issuance of a writ of execution for the judgment amount against defendant's ten percent minority member interest in Blydan Oak Group, LLC. According to defendant, this company owns a valuable parcel of commercial real estate which generates annual rent of approximately $240,000. Defendant further represents, on information and belief, that the LLC may be planning to sell this real estate in the near future, which may result in a significant distribution to plaintiff based upon his minority interest in the corporation.
The question then becomes the extent to which defendant can obtain a lien via judgment and writ of execution upon plaintiff's minority interest in the LLC. The court notes that in 1993, the New Jersey Legislature enacted N.J.S.A. 42:2B–45. This statute governs the rights of a judgment creditor vis-à-vis a debtor who is a member of a limited liability company. Specifically, the Act states in pertinent part:
On application to a court of competent jurisdiction by any judgment creditor of a member, the court may charge the limited liability company interest of the member with payment of the unsatisfied amount of the judgment with interest. To the extent so charged, the judgment creditor has only the rights of an assignee of the limited liability company interest. An action by a court pursuant to this section does not deprive any member of the benefit of any exemption laws applicable to his limited liability company interest. A court order charging the limited liability company interest of a member pursuant to this section shall be the sole remedy of a judgment creditor, who shall have no right under P.L.1993, c. 210 (C.42:2B–1 et seq.) or any other State law to interfere with the management or force dissolution of a limited liability company or to seek an order of the court requiring a foreclosure sale of the limited liability company interest. Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect in any way the rights of a judgment creditor of a member under federal bankruptcy or reorganization laws.
There are no published opinions in New Jersey interpreting this statute.
The court finds that pursuant to the language of N.J.S.A. 42:2B–45, the court may charge plaintiff's ten percent interest in the LLC with payment of the unsatisfied amount of the judgment, with interest. However, defendant as the judgment creditor, only has the rights of an assignee of the limited liability company interest. The entry of judgment in this manner does not deprive any other member of the LLC the benefit of any exemption laws applicable to his or her limited liability interest. Further, the entry of judgment does not provide defendant with the right to interfere with the management of the LLC or force dissolution of the company or foreclosure upon company interests.
PAGE_2 Defendant further requests that the court permit issuance of a writ of execution upon plaintiff's minority interest in the LLC. Defendant argues that N.J.S.A. 42:2B–45 does not prohibit issuance of a writ upon judgment. Further, Rule 1:10–3 and Rule 5:3–7 implicitly permits issuance of a writ, in furtherance of public policy supporting enforcement of support obligations and collection of arrears. Defendant argues that a writ will help guarantee that any LLC distributions due to plaintiff in the normal course of business operations, or upon sale of the commercial real estate, will go directly towards payment of plaintiff's support arrears, as the writ will place a priority on payment of this debt ahead of other potential creditors of plaintiff.
The court finds merit in defendant's position. Plaintiff owes substantial support arrears and has no identified assets of substantial value beyond his minority interest in the LLC. Rule 1:10–3 permits defendant to seek enforcement of the judgment of divorce establishing plaintiff's obligation to pay support, and further permits the court to grant additional remedies under Rule 5:3–7. Under Rule 5:3–7, upon a finding that a party has violated an alimony or child support order, the court may grant remedies in addition to those set forth in Rule 1:10–3, including, but not limited to, fixing the amount of arrearages and entering a judgment upon which interest accrues, requiring payment of arrearages on a periodic basis, and "any other appropriate equitable remedy."
In this case, the court finds the issuance of a writ of execution upon plaintiff's minority interest in the LLC to be an appropriate equitable remedy. The writ is not against the LLC as a whole, but only against plaintiff's minority interest.
The writ will help assure that plaintiff's support obligation is not subsequently subordinated to a claim of a subsequent creditor. Further, the writ will help assure that if the LLC issues financial distributions to plaintiff or sells its major real estate asset, the funds which otherwise would go to plaintiff instead go first towards pay down and liquidation of the support arrearages.
Absent entry of a judgment and writ of execution, defendant and the children might be left with no other effective remedy for collection of support arrears. The expansive nature of Rule 1:10–2 (formerly Rule 1:10–5) was made apparent by the Appellate Division in Roselin v. Roselin, 206 N.J.Super. 612, 618 (App.Div.1986), which involved disputes concerning delays in the sale of a home. In affirming the trial judge, the Appellate Division emphasized it was within the trial court's discretion to go as far as to appoint a receiver in order to enforce a court order. The goal of Rule 1:10–3 is enforcement and there are few limits in its scope.
The relief sought by defendant is consistent not only with the purpose of the rule, but with public policy supporting enforcement of unpaid support. The duty of parents to provide for the maintenance of their children is a well-established principle under New Jersey law. See Daly v. Daly, 21 N.J. 599, 123 A.2d 3 (1956).
PAGE_3 Accordingly, the court grants defendant's application for relief. Judgment is entered on the arrears, and the court authorizes the issuance of a writ of execution against any distributions to plaintiff resulting from his minority membership interest in Blydan Oak Group, LLC.