GBR Group LTD v. Water Marble Holdings, LLC

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

JACKSONVILLE DIVISION

GBR GROUP LTD, nka, GBR Group

LLLP,

Appellant,

v. Case No. 3:23-cv-34-MMH

WATER MARBLE HOLDINGS,

LLC,

Appellee.

ORDER

THIS CAUSE is before the Court on Appellee’s Motion to Dismiss Appeal

(Doc. 20; Motion) filed by Water Marble Holding, LLC (“Water Marble”) on May

30, 2023.1 Appellant GBR Group, LTD (“GBR”) timely filed a response on June

13, 2023. See Appellant’s Response in Opposition to Motion to Dismiss Appeal

as Moot (Doc. 26; Response). Water Marble then filed a reply. See Appellee’s

Reply in Support of its Motion to Dismiss Appeal for Equitable Mootness (Doc.

29; Reply), filed June 28, 2023. Accordingly, this matter is ripe for review.

1 Citations to “Doc.” refer to the docket entries in this case, whereas citations to “Adv.

Doc.” refer to the docket entries in the adversary bankruptcy proceeding styled GBR Group,

LLLP v. Water Marble Holding, LLC, No. 3:23-ap-0018-JAB (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2023).

I. Background

Water Marble owns real property (the “Hotel Property”) in Jacksonville,

Florida on which a hotel operating under the name Marble Waters Hotel and

Suites (the “Hotel”) is located. See Affidavit of Livia Basso at 3 (Doc.

13-46; Basso Affidavit). Pursuant to an agreement with Water Marble, Marble

Waters Hotel & Suites, Inc. (the “Affiliate”), leases and manages the Hotel.2 Id.

Between 2011 and 2015, Water Marble executed a series of mortgages and

promissory notes in favor of GBR totaling $15.2 million. Id. at 3–4; Response at

2. In return, GBR received a first-priority security interest in the Hotel

Property. Basso Affidavit at 4. Water Marble eventually became delinquent on

several of its mortgage payments, and GBR initiated a foreclosure proceeding

in state court. Id. at 6. Before a judgment could be entered in the foreclosure

proceeding, on April 28, 2021, Water Marble filed a voluntary petition for

bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. See Voluntary Petition

for Non-Individuals Filing for Bankruptcy at 1 (Doc. 13-6).

During the bankruptcy proceeding, in June of 2022, the Bankruptcy

Court determined that GBR had a secured claim on the Hotel Property in the

amount of $5.6 million and an unsecured claim of $12,907,660. See Order

2 Both Water Marble and the Affiliate are wholly owned subsidiaries of Titus Harvest

Dome Spectrum Church, Inc. (the “Church”). Motion at 3.

Determining Secured Status (Doc. 13-167). Later, after significant litigation

before the Bankruptcy Court, Water Marble presented a proposed Amended

Plan of Reorganization to the Bankruptcy Court for its consideration. See

Amended Plan of Reorganization (Doc. 13-259; Proposed Plan). In the Proposed

Plan, Water Marble outlined how it intended to continue to operate while

simultaneously repaying its creditors. Id. After holding a hearing, the

Bankruptcy Court approved, with some modifications, the Proposed Plan in a

written order. See Order Confirming Debtor’s Amended Plan of Reorganization

(Doc. 13-3; Confirmation Order).3 Under the Plan, GBR retains its secured

claim on the Hotel in the amount $5.6 million and its unsecured claim of

$12,907,660. Proposed Plan at 3–4. To repay these claims, the Plan requires

Water Marble to use the funds it receives from leasing the Hotel to make 180

monthly payments in the amount of $56,798.93 to GBR. Id. at 3.4 The Plan also

requires Water Marble to make payments owed to the Small Business

Administration and the Duval County Tax Collector. Id. at 3–5.

3 The Court refers to the Proposed Plan as modified and approved by the Confirmation

Order as “the Plan,” but cites to the terms as set forth in either the Proposed Plan or the

Conformation Order, as appropriate.

4 The Proposed Plan provided for the monthly payments of $51,913. However, the

Bankruptcy Court modified Water Marble’s monthly payments to GBR to include interest,

bringing the total monthly payments to $56,798.93. See Confirmation Order Hearing

Transcript (Doc. 314 at 172); Confirmation Order at 2.

On December 27, 2022, GBR filed a Notice of Appeal challenging the

Confirmation Order approving the Plan. See Bankruptcy Notice of Appeal (Doc.

1). Shortly afterwards, GBR initiated an adversary proceeding against Water

Marble in the Bankruptcy Court. See Complaint for Revocation of Confirmation

Order Obtained by Fraud (Adv. Doc. 1). In this adversary proceeding, GBR

sought to have the Bankruptcy Court revoke the Plan arguing that in approving

the Plan the Bankruptcy Court relied on fraudulent statements made by Water

Marble. See generally id. GBR also filed a Motion for Indicative Ruling asking

the Bankruptcy Court to enter an indicative ruling stating that it “would grant

GBR a summary judgment revoking the Confirmation Order[.]” See Motion for

Indicative Ruling at 1 (Adv. Doc. 3). GBR then moved this Court to stay this

appeal until the Bankruptcy Court resolved the Motion for Indicative Ruling.

See Motion to Stay Appeal (Doc. 9). A few weeks later, GBR filed an Amended

Complaint (Adv. Doc. 13), and an Amended Motion for Indicative Ruling with

the Bankruptcy Court (Adv. Doc. 14), prompting the Court to deny GBR’s

Motion to Stay as moot. Endorsed Order (Doc. 12). In doing so, the Court

instructed GBR to file a renewed motion. Id. GBR did not do so. Instead, on

April 5, 2023, GBR voluntarily dismissed the adversary proceeding. See Notice

of Voluntary Dismissal (Adv. Doc. 19).

On January 10, 2023, Water Marble filed a Certificate of Substantial

Consummation in the Bankruptcy Court case in which its manager, Faye

Refour, certified that Water Marble had complied with the provisions of the

Plan. See Certificate of Substantial Consummation at 1 (Doc. 10-6; Certificate).

In the Certificate, Refour attested that the Plan had “been substantially

consummated within the meaning of 11 U.S.C. §1101(2), by the Debtor making

the initial payments to its creditors as per the Plan[.]” Id. More recently, in

support of the Motion, Refour attests that as of May 25, 2023, Water Marble

had made payments to Blue Water Hospitality and the Duval County Tax

Collector totaling $171,368.01; payments to the Small Business Administration

in the amount of $80,000, with additional monthly payments of $618.39

continuing to be made; and (3) payments to GBR totaling $156,556.78, with

ongoing additional monthly payments of $56,798.93. Motion at 12; Declaration

of Faye Refour (Doc. 20-2; Refour Declaration at 2). In addition to making these

distributions, Water Marble has entered into a franchising agreement with

TMH Worldwide, LLC or its affiliates (“Wyndham”). Refour Declaration at 2.

As a condition to approving the franchising agreement, Wyndham required

Water Marble to incur $6,000 in expenses to make improvements to the Hotel

and to upgrade the Hotel Wi-Fi which Water Marble did at a cost of $5,699.25.

Id. In return, Wyndham has provided the Hotel with training for their staff and

weekly sales support, and has included the Hotel on their online reservation

system. Id. Additionally, Refour states that the Church has made payments of

approximately $600,000 to support Water Marble’s obligations under the Plan.

Id.

In the Motion, Water Marble argues that the Court should dismiss GBR’s

appeal because it is equitably moot. Motion at 9. In response, GBR contends

that Water Marble’s Motion is meritless and should be denied. Response at 1.

For the reasons discussed below, the Court finds that GBR’s appeal is equitably

moot, as such, Water Marble’s Motion is due to be granted.5

II. Governing Law

This Court has jurisdiction to hear an appeal from a final judgment

entered by the Bankruptcy Court. See 28 U.S.C. § 158(a). In functioning as an

appellate court, the Court reviews de novo the legal conclusions of a bankruptcy

court but accepts a bankruptcy court’s factual findings unless they are clearly

erroneous. See In re JLJ Inc., 988 F.2d 1112, 1116 (11th Cir. 1993). However,

even though the Court has jurisdiction to hear this appeal from a final judgment

entered by the Bankruptcy Court, the doctrine of equitable mootness allows the

Court to decline to review that final judgment. See In re Hazan, 10 F.4th 1244,

1252 (11th Cir. 2021). As the Eleventh Circuit has explained, the doctrine of

equitable mootness vests the Court with the ability, “under certain

5 GBR argues that Water Marble’s Motion is untimely. Response at 13. GBR has failed

to provide the Court with any legal authority in support of this assertion, and the Court does

not find that Water Marble’s Motion was in fact untimely. Therefore, this argument is

unavailing.

circumstances, [to] reject bankruptcy appeals if rulings have gone into effect

and would be extremely burdensome, especially to non-parties, to undo.”

Bennett v. Jefferson Cnty., Alabama, 899 F.3d 1240, 1247 (11th Cir. 2018).

“Although the word ‘mootness’ is used to describe the doctrine, in fact it ‘does

not reference actual mootness at all.’” In re Hazan, 10 F.4th at 1252 (quoting

Bennett, 899 F.3d at 1247). Instead, “the doctrine turns on equitable and

prudential concerns which focus on whether it is reasonable to entertain the

contentions of the parties challenging an order of the bankruptcy court.” Id.

(quotation omitted). In Bennett, the Eleventh Circuit noted that the “facts will

weigh in favor of finding equitable mootness when allowing an appeal to go

forward will impinge upon actions taken to one’s detriment in ‘good faith

reliance on a [final and unstayed] judgment’” of the Bankruptcy Court. Bennett,

899 F.3d at 1248 (quoting In re Club Assocs., 956 F.2d 1065, 1069 (11th Cir.

1992) (alterations in original))). On the other hand, equitable mootness

generally will not apply when “the relief sought does not undermine actions that

may have been taken in reliance on the judgment, or if no such actions have

been taken[.]” Id.

In determining whether to dismiss an appeal on the grounds of equitable

mootness, the Eleventh Circuit has instructed that, among other circumstances,

a court should consider:

[1] [W]hether the appellant has obtained a stay pending appeal, [2]

whether the plan has been substantially consummated, and [3] whether

third parties’ rights or the debtor’s ability to successfully reorganize

would be adversely affected by granting the relief sought by the

appellant.

In re Hazan, 10 F.4th at 1252 (citing In re Club Assocs., 956 F.2d at 1069 n.11).

“No single factor is determinative, and [a] court must consider ‘all the

circumstances of the case to decide whether it can grant effective relief.’” In re

Nica Holdings, Inc., 810 F.3d 781, 786 (11th Cir. 2015) (quoting In re Club

Assocs., 956 F.2d at 1069)). That being said, “[w]hen a reorganization has been

substantially consummated . . . there is a strong presumption that an appeal of

an unstayed order is moot.” In re Hazan, 10 F.4th at 1253 (quotations omitted).

III. Discussion.

A. Stay Pending Appeal

Applying the principal equitable mootness factors identified in In re

Hazan, Water Marble first argues that because GBR failed to obtain a stay of

the Bankruptcy Court’s Confirmation Order this factor weighs in favor of

finding the appeal to be equitably moot. Motion at 9–10. The Eleventh Circuit

has noted that a party’s failure to obtain a stay is a critical consideration

“because it is an ‘important policy of bankruptcy law that court-approved

reorganization plans be able to go forward based on court approval unless a stay

is obtained.’” In re Hazan, 10 F.4th at 1252 (quoting Miami Ctr. Ltd. P’ship v.

Bank of New York, 838 F.2d 1547, 1555 (11th Cir. 1988)). This makes sense as

“it is often difficult for courts to afford relief to the appealing party because the

court is unable to rescind transactions taken in consummation of the

reorganization plan and confirmation order enforcing said plan.” In re

Winn-Dixie Store, Inc., 286 F. App’x 619, 623 (11th Cir. 2008) (per curiam)).6

Nevertheless, the “[f]ailure to obtain a stay of proceedings related to the

bankruptcy does not automatically render an appeal moot.” In re Seidler, 44

F.3d 945, 948 (11th Cir. 1995). Instead, in cases where a stay has not been

obtained the Court must ask whether a stay was “unjustifiably denied or was

justifiably not requested[.]” Bennett, 899 F.3d at 1249.

Here, GBR contends that it chose not to seek a stay because a stay

“potentially could have cut off the $56,798 monthly payments to GBR required

under the [P]lan.” Response at 16. GBR also explains that because it could have

sought adequate protection payments during the stay, nothing would have

changed if it had sought and obtained a stay. Id. Additionally, GBR states that

in seeking a stay it “could hardly claim prejudice from the payment of some

property taxes and a return of fraudulently procured SBA loan proceeds.” Id.

According to GBR, these circumstances combined with the fact that in its view

the “Wyndham relationship” was “extremely tenuous” caused it to conclude that

6 The Court does not rely on unpublished opinions as binding precedent, but they may

be cited in this Order when the Court finds them persuasive on a particular point. See

McNamara v. GEICO, 30 F.4th 1055, 1060–61 (11th Cir. 2022); see generally Fed. R. App. P.

32.1; 11th Cir. R. 36–2 (“Unpublished opinions are not considered binding precedent, but they

may be cited as persuasive authority.”).

“the cost-benefit of seeking a stay of the Confirmation Order simply was not

there.” Id. at 16–17.

The Court does not find this to be a justifiable reason to fail to seek a stay.

Although it may have been simpler for GBR to continue receiving monthly

payments under the Plan while this appeal was pending, it certainly

disadvantaged Water Marble to have to expend resources attempting to comply

with the requirements of the Plan. Moreover, because GBR did not obtain a

stay, Water Marble began making payments to its creditors and entered into

the franchising agreement with Wyndham in an attempt to make the Hotel

more profitable. Under these circumstances, the Court finds that GBR lacked a

justifiable basis to not seek a stay, and that this failure induced Water Marble

to act in reliance on the Plan having been approved. See Bennett, 899 F.3d at

1248 (applying equitable mootness when “allowing an appeal to go forward will

impinge upon actions taken to one’s detriment in good faith reliance on a final

and unstayed judgment”) (quotation omitted). The Court notes that GBR also

contends that the “bankruptcy court had already signaled it was disinclined to

stay the Confirmation Order.” Response at 17. But this ignores that GBR had

the ability to seek a stay from this Court regardless of the inclination of the

Bankruptcy Court. GBR’s internal assessment that it “could not justify the costs

of seeking” a stay does not constitute a justifiable reason to fail to present the

matter to this Court for its consideration. Id. This factor therefore weighs in

favor of a finding of equitable mootness.

B. Substantial Consummation

Next, Water Marble argues that the Plan has been substantially

consummated. Motion at 10. Notably, the Eleventh Circuit has held that

“[w]hen a reorganization has been substantially consummated . . . there is a

strong presumption that an appeal of an unstayed order is moot.” In re Hazan,

10 F.4th at 1253 (quotations omitted). Under 11 U.S.C. § 1101(2), “substantial

consummation” means there has been:

(A) transfer of all or substantially all of the property proposed by

the plan to be transferred;

(B) assumption by the debtor or by the successor to the debtor

under the plan of the business or of the management of all or

substantially all of the property dealt with by the plan; and

(C) commencement of distribution under the plan.

11 U.S.C. § 1101(2); see also In re Hazan, 10 F.4th at 1253. Surprisingly, given

the importance of a finding of substantial consummation, while GBR

acknowledges the requirements for such a finding, it dedicates less than a page

and a half of the Response to the discussion of whether these requirements have

been satisfied. The Court will analyze each of the requirements in turn.

1. Transfer of Property

Without citing any legal authority GBR contends that substantial

consummation has not been achieved because the Plan did not provide for the

transfer of property. Response at 19. The Court finds this contention to be

unavailing. To start, 11 U.S.C. § 1141(b) states that “[e]xcept as otherwise

provided in the plan or the order confirming the plan, the confirmation of a plan

vests all of the property of the estate in the debtor.” Id. Here, the Plan and the

Confirmation Order are silent as to the transfer of property. As such, upon

approval of the Plan the Hotel Property automatically re-vested to Water

Marble. See U.S.C. § 1141(b). This re-vestment of property constituted a

transfer under 11 U.S.C. § 1101(2)(A). In reaching this conclusion, the Court

relies upon the Eleventh Circuit’s opinion in In re Hazan. There, the appellant

argued that substantial consummation had not occurred because property had

not been transferred. Id. at 1253. The Eleventh Circuit rejected this argument,

noting that the district court had found that “the Plan called for all pre-petition

property of the estate to re-vest in the Reorganized Debtor and that has

happened.” Id. (quotation omitted). Consequently, the Eleventh Circuit found

that this re-vestment of property in the debtor qualified as a transfer for the

purposes of 11 U.S.C. § 1101(2)(A). Id. In re Hazan is, of course, different from

this case in that the plan specifically called for the re-vestment of property.

However, pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 1141(b) upon confirmation of the Plan the

Hotel Property re-vested to Water Marble by operation of law. Consistent with

In re Hazan, that re-vestment of the Hotel Property to Water Marble

constituted a transfer for purposes of 11 U.S.C. § 1101(2)(A). Thus, the Court

finds that this requirement has been satisfied.

2. Assumption of the Business and Management of

the Property

Next, Water Marble argues that substantial consummation has occurred

because it has retained the Hotel Property and the Affiliate has assumed its

management. Reply at 4. To satisfy 11 U.S.C. § 1101(2)(B), all that is required

is an “assumption by the debtor or by the successor of the debtor under the plan

of the business or of the management of all or substantially all of the

property. . . .” Id. Here, Water Marble has retained the Hotel Property and the

business operations of the Hotel. Proposed Plan at 1. This alone is enough to

satisfy 11 U.S.C. § 1101(2)(B). Despite this, GBR contends that because the

Hotel is not under professional management, the requirement of 11

U.S.C. § 1101(2)(B) has not been met. Response at 19–20. The Court is not

persuaded by this contention. The Plan provided that the “Hotel will be

managed by Blue Water Hospitality.” Proposed Plan at 6. The Bankruptcy

Court approved Blue Water Hospitality to manage the Hotel, but it appears

Water Marble terminated the services of Blue Water Hospitality after a brief

period of time. See Order Approving Application to Employ Management

Company (Doc. 13-309); Amended Complaint at Ex. 1. In Blue Water

Hospitality’s place, the Affiliate has since taken over management of the Hotel.

Amended Complaint at Ex. 1.

GBR contends that because the Affiliate is managing the Hotel, and not

Blue Water Hospitality, 11 U.S.C. § 1101(2)(B) cannot be satisfied. The Court

finds that the plain language of 11 U.S.C. § 1101(2)(B) does not require property

to be managed by a professional management group—and GBR has provided no

legal authority for such a proposition. Notably, the Eleventh Circuit has found

that 11 U.S.C. § 1101(2)(B) is satisfied when “the [debtor] has[s] assumed the

management of all of the property.” In re Hazan, 10 F.4th at 1253. This appears

to be what happened here. For these reasons, the Court finds that because

Water Marble retained the Hotel Property and the Affiliate has assumed

management of the Hotel on Water Marble’s behalf, 11 U.S.C. § 1101(2)(B) has

been satisfied.

3. Commencement of Distributions

As to the third requirement, GBR contends that the “few payments out of

the 180 [Water Marble] owes GBR does not qualify as a commencement of

distribution.” Response at 19 (citation omitted). In support of this contention,

GBR relies on In re Nica Holdings, Inc., 810 F.3d 781 (11th Cir. 2015). There,

the Eleventh Circuit found that distributions had not commenced because no

creditor had received any distribution and only “a relatively small sum of

$260,000 ha[d] been paid by two interested—possibly blameworthy—parties

into the estate, where the money remains.” Id. at 788. The circumstances are

materially different in this case. Here, Water Marble has paid $171,368.01 to

Blue Water Hospitality and the Duval County Tax Collector, $80,000 to the

Small Business Administration, $156,556.78 to GBR with continuing monthly

payments of $56,798.93, and the Church has made payments of over $600,000

on Water Marble’s behalf. Motion at 12, 14. Water Marble has certified that

these distributions, which were required by the Plan and approved by the

Bankruptcy Court, have been made. Certificate at 1. And GBR does not dispute

these facts. In light of these payments, the Court finds In re Nica Holdings to

be wholly distinguishable from this case. While no creditors had received any

distributions in In re Nica Holdings, here Water Marble has made payments to

three different creditors. See In re Hazan, 10 F.4th at 1253 n.7 (“‘[s]substantial

consummation’ just requires ‘commencement of distribution[.]’”). For this

reason, the Court finds that Water Marble has commenced distributions under

the Plan for the purposes of 11 U.S.C. § 1101(2)(C).

In sum, the Court finds that Water Marble has substantially

consummated the Plan because: (1) the Hotel Property re-vested to Water

Marble; (2) Water Marble retained the Hotel Property; and (3) Water Marble

commenced distributions owed to GBR, the Duval Tax Collector, and the Small

Business Administration. The Court therefore finds that the requirements of 11

U.S.C. § 1101(2) have been satisfied. As previously noted, the Eleventh Circuit

has recognized the existence of a strong presumption that the appeal of an

unstayed order confirming a reorganization plan is moot when the plan has

been substantially consummated. See id. at 1253. The Court has already found

that GBR lacked a justifiable reason for its decision not to seek a stay, and

because Water Marble has substantially consummated the Plan, the Court

finds that this “strong presumption” of equitable mootness applies here. Id.

Nonetheless, the Court will analyze the final equitable mootness factor.

C. Water Marble’s Ability to Reorganize and Third-Party

Rights

Water Marble argues that if the Bankruptcy Court’s Confirmation Order

is reversed not only will its ability to reorganize be adversely affected, but

parties such as Wyndham and the Church will be harmed. Motion at 11–12. In

analyzing this factor, the Court must look at whether the “relief

granted . . . could implicate or have an adverse effect on non-party creditors and

will affect the re-emergence of the debtor as a revitalized entity.” Bank of New

York, 838 F.2d at 1555 (citation omitted).

First, Water Marble explains that the Hotel Property is its only

meaningful asset, and that reversal of the Confirmation Order will impact its

ability to pay back its creditors. Motion at 11. The purpose of the Plan was to

allow Water Marble to maintain the Hotel Property and to use the income from

leasing the Hotel to make distributions. Since the Hotel Property is Water

Marble’s only meaningful asset, reversal of the Bankruptcy Court’s

Confirmation Order would impact Water Marble’s ability to continue making

payments to GBR and the Small Business Administration. Despite this, GBR

contends that if the Confirmation Order is reversed Water Marble will still have

its full rights of redemption under Florida law and will be able to prevent the

Hotel Property from being sold. Response at 21. Not only is this argument

speculative, but as the Eleventh Circuit has noted, “[t]here is no merit to the

claim that granting [the creditor] relief would not affect creditors, because [the

debtor’s] retention of equity in the Property was integral to executing the Plan.”

In re Hazan, 10 F.4th at 1254. Similarly, Water Marble’s retention of the Hotel

Property is essential to the effectuation of the Plan as it is the very asset that

will allow Water Marble to pay off its creditors. Reversing the Bankruptcy

Court’s Confirmation Order would therefore impact Water Marble’s ability to

effectively reorganize.

Second, Water Marble argues that Wyndham and the Church have relied

on the Plan being implemented by investing in the Hotel, and that they may be

harmed if the Confirmation Order is reversed. Motion at 13. In this regard, the

Court notes that Water Marble has entered into a franchising agreement with

Wyndham and made improvements to the Hotel to ensure approval of the

franchising agreement. In return, Wyndham has provided the Hotel with staff

training, weekly revenue management training and weekly sales support

meetings, and has placed the Hotel on their online reservation system to help

with their marketing. Id. at 13–14. Additionally, the Church has paid over

$600,000 on Water Marble’s behalf to ensure its compliance with the Plan. Id.

at 14. Overturning the Bankruptcy Court’s Confirmation Order may result in

both Wyndham and the Church not seeing a return on these investments. See

In re Club Assocs., 956 F.2d at 1070 (finding support for equitable mootness

where third-parties had made investments that could not “be protected in the

event of a reversal of the Confirmation Order”). Consequently, the Court finds

that reversing the Bankruptcy Court’s Confirmation Order will negatively

impact Wyndham and the Church.

In sum, reversal of the Confirmation Order will negatively impact Water

Marble’s ability to reorganize, and Wyndham and the Church may fail to see a

return on their investments. For these reasons, the Court finds that this factor

also weighs in favor of applying the doctrine of equitable mootness.

IV. Conclusion

Upon consideration of the record and the arguments of the parties, the

Court finds that GBR unjustifiably declined to seek a stay of the Bankruptcy

Court’s Confirmation Order. Water Marble relied upon the absence of a stay

and substantially consummated the Plan. Additionally, reversal of the

Bankruptcy Court’s Confirmation Order would adversely affect Water Marble’s

ability to reorganize and could impair the rights of Wyndham and the Church.

Considering these factors, and the circumstances of the case, the Court finds

that GBR’s appeal of the Bankruptcy Court’s Confirmation Order is equitably

moot. See Bennett, 899 F.3d at 1248 (“The facts will weigh in favor of finding

equitable mootness when allowing an appeal to go forward will impinge upon

actions taken to one’s detriment in good faith reliance on a final and unstayed

judgment.”) (quotation omitted). As GBR’s appeal is equitably moot, the Court

will grant the Motion and does not reach the merits of this appeal.

Accordingly, it is

ORDERED:

1. Appellee Water Marble Holding, LLC’s Motion to Dismiss Appeal

(Doc. 20) is GRANTED.

2. This appeal is DISMISSED.

3. The Clerk of Court is directed to enter judgment, CLOSE the case,

and terminate any pending motions.

DONE AND ORDERED in Jacksonville, Florida this 15th day of

November, 2023.

United States District Judge

Lc32

Copies to:

The Honorable Jacob A. Brown, United States Bankruptcy Judge

Counsel of Record