In Re: v. Hill

[NOT FOR PUBLICATION] UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIRST CIRCUIT No. 97-9006 IN RE: Moorhead Corporation, MLX Corporation & First Heidie's Inc. Debtors. MARIA HILL, Appellant. v. JOHN A. BURDICK, JR., Chapter 7 Trustee, and Friends of Russells Mills, Inc., Appellees. APPEAL FROM THE BANKRUPTCY APPELLATE PANEL OF THE FIRST CIRCUIT Before Torruella, Chief Judge, Selya and Stahl, Circuit Judges. Maria K. Hill on brief pro se. Burdick & DiLeo, P.C. on brief for appellee John A. Burdick, Jr., Chapter 7 Trustee. Robert A. Fasanella, Peter A. Wilson and Fasanella, Johnson & Wood, P.C. on brief for appellees, Friends of Russells Mills, Inc. FEBRUARY 4, 1998 Per Curiam. We have carefully reviewed the record and briefs on appeal and affirm the judgment of the bankruptcy court. The only issue raised below, thus the only issue properly before us, is whether the bankruptcy court abused its discretion in approving the compromise, given appellant's offer to purchase the state action for a larger gross sum. In re LaRoche, 969 F.2d 1299, 1305 (1st Cir. 1992). At the time the compromise was approved, the record showed that conveying the cause of action to appellant, rather than compromising the action, would subject the bankruptcy estate to risk of indeterminate magnitude. Under the circumstances, the bankruptcy court did not abuse its discretion in determining that it would not be in the best interests of the estate to accept such risk. Jeffrey v. Desmond, 70 F.3d 183, 185 (1st Cir. 1995); Depoister v. Holloway Foundation, 36 F.3d 582 (7th Cir. 1994). Affirmed. Loc. R. 27.1. -2-