In Re: v. Hill ( 1998 )

USCA1 Opinion

                                [NOT FOR PUBLICATION]



                            UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                                FOR THE FIRST CIRCUIT

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        No. 97-9006



                                        IN RE:



                    Moorhead Corporation, MLX Corporation & First

                                    Heidie's Inc.



                                       Debtors.

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                                     MARIA HILL,



                                      Appellant.



                                          v.



                                JOHN A. BURDICK, JR.,



                                  Chapter 7 Trustee,

                         and Friends of Russells Mills, Inc.,



                                      Appellees.

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                      APPEAL FROM THE BANKRUPTCY APPELLATE PANEL



                                 OF THE FIRST CIRCUIT

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                                        Before



                                Torruella, Chief Judge,
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                           Selya and Stahl, Circuit Judges.
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            Maria K. Hill on brief pro se.
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            Burdick & DiLeo, P.C. on brief for appellee John  A. Burdick, Jr.,
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        Chapter 7 Trustee.

            Robert  A. Fasanella,  Peter  A. Wilson  and Fasanella,  Johnson &
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        Wood, P.C. on brief for appellees, Friends of Russells Mills, Inc.
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                                   FEBRUARY 4, 1998

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                 Per Curiam.   We have carefully reviewed the  record and
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            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
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            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,
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            185 (1st  Cir. 1995);  Depoister v.  Holloway Foundation,  36
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            F.3d 582 (7th Cir. 1994).



                 Affirmed.  Loc. R. 27.1.
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