In Re Tropea

MEMORANDUM OPINION

RONALD G. PEARSON, Bankruptcy Judge.

David M. Mezzenotte, an unsuccessful stalking horse bidder for the business assets of Vincent Anthony Tropea (the “Debtor”), requests that this Court award him a “finder’s fee” of $3,000 to offset his “unrecovered costs.” The Debtor and Shell Equipment Company object to the award of any finder’s fee on the grounds that no contractual basis exists for awarding the requested fee, and that no independent right to recover such a fee exists under the Bankruptcy Code.

The Court held a hearing in this matter on May 15, 2006, in Wheeling, West…