The bankruptcy court denied a secured creditor's motion for leave to pursue a surcharge under § 506(c) against the collateral of another secured creditor. Generally, only a trustee may seek a § 506(c) surcharge. However, creditors may pursue such a cause of action if they can establish derivative standing. To do so, the creditor must show (1) it petitioned the trustee to bring the claims and the trustee refused; (2) its claims are colorable; (3) it sought permission from the bankruptcy court to initiate an adversary proceeding; and (4) the trustee unjustifiably refused to pursue the claims. The bankruptcy court is charged with evaluating whether a trustee's reasons for not bringing a surcharge claim are unjustified.
Here, the court found the creditor lacked standing because it provided no evidence that its claims are colorable or that the trustee's refusal to pursue the surcharge was unjustified. In addition, the creditor had voluntarily agreed during the debtor's Chapter 11 case to provide fuel on an unsecured basis in exchange for a super-priority claim. The debtor's failed reorganization does not allow the creditor to "now come back and secure its obligation through the back door with a surcharge request."