Sunshine Heifers, LLC v. Citizens First Bank (In re Purdy)

(6th Cir. Aug. 14, 2014)

The Sixth Circuit reverses the bankruptcy court’s decision holding that the livestock business’s leases of livestock to the debtor dairy farmer were per se security agreements such that the bank’s purchase money security interest trumped the livestock business’s interest in the livestock. The court applies Arizona state law (per the choice of law provision in the leases) and determines that the agreements are true leases—not security agreements—because they lacked an option for the dairy farmer to purchase the livestock. Judge Drain dissents, stating the “leases” should be considered security agreements because the economic life of the individual heads of cattle would not last the term of their lease. Opinion below.

2014-08-14 – in re purdy