In re Miami Metals I, Inc.

*730Before the Court is the Debtors' and Senior Lenders' Joint Motion for Summary Judgment as to Bucket 1 Customers (the "Motion") [ECF No. 938 ]. The Court is not deciding the Motion in its entirety. Rather, the Court's ruling today covers eight of the 26 Bucket One Customers (as defined herein) where the factual record is most developed and hopefully should offer some general guidance for the other Customers (as defined herein) going forward.

BACKGROUND

When the Debtors filed their motion to approve use of cash collateral [ECF No. 10 ] back in November 2018, they received more than 40 objections and responses from customers (collectively, the "Customers" and each a "Customer") claiming ownership interests in raw metals and other assets that the Debtors believe constitute property of the estate. In January, the Court entered an order establishing uniform procedures to resolve such ownership disputes in an efficient and systematic way. See ECF No. 395. Consistent with such procedures, the Debtors and Senior Lenders2 grouped the Customers into different "buckets" and filed this Motion to address the claims made by the Customers in so-called Bucket One.3 See Mar. 21, 2019 Hr'g Tr. at 32:8-10 [ECF No. 872 ] ("The debtor lenders [sic] would like to bring forward dispositive motions on certain issues-we've been talking about buckets, concurrently while discovery is going on.").

According to the Debtors, Bucket One is comprised of Customers who sold raw materials to the Debtors pursuant to the Debtors' "Standard Terms and General Operating Conditions," which are attached as Exhibit B (with respect to the Debtor formerly known as RMC) and Exhibit C (with respect to the Debtor formerly known as RMC2) to the Amended Declaration of Scott Avila in Support of the Motion (the "Avila Declaration" or "Avila Decl.") [ECF No. 1005 ]. See Motion at 1. Broadly, the Debtors and the Bucket One Customers disagree as to whether the terms signed by the Bucket One Customers (the "Executed Terms") provide for a purchase and sale or a bailment of the Bucket One Customers' metals. The Debtors argue that the Executed Terms unambiguously evidence a purchase and sale and that no extrinsic evidence need be or even can be considered. The Bucket One Customers argue that the contracts contain elements of both sale and bailment, requiring the Court to look at the parties'

*731course of dealing. The Bucket One Customers further posit that the Debtors' course of dealing with each of them evidences bailment relationships. The Bucket One Customers submitted supporting evidence in varying degrees, with some submitting no evidence at all. Compare Alex Morningstar Corp.'s Joinder in "Bucket 1" Customers' Joint Opposition to Debtors' and Senior Lenders' Joint Motion for Summary Judgment [ECF No. 1090 ] (attaching a declaration from their principal describing course of dealing with RMC and supporting documentation in the form of transaction documents from a typical sale) with Joinder of Pyropure, Inc. d/b/a Pyromet in "Bucket 1" Claimants' Response to and Brief Opposing Joint Motion for Summary Judgment [ECF No. 1083 ] (stating their intent to join in the Joint Response to Debtors' and the Senior Lenders' Joint Statement of Mutual Undisputed Facts (the "Joint Response") [ECF No. 1081 ], but offering no declaration, exhibits, or any other evidentiary support).4

Notwithstanding the Debtors' claim that all 26 Bucket One Customers signed "standard" terms, there are actually multiple iterations of such terms, with some Bucket One Customers having signed no terms at all. See Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D. Cognizant of this issue, the Court has reviewed Composite Exhibit D to identify Bucket One Customers who are similarly situated and where there is a sufficiently developed factual record for a ruling. Based on that review, the Court has separated out for a ruling today those Bucket One Customers for whom the Debtors have submitted a complete set of Executed Terms with RMC. These eight Customers-a group that the Court will refer to as the "Silo One Customers"-are:

• Alex Morningstar Corp. d/b/a Morningstar's;

• Bay Area Metals;

• Brilliant Jewelers / MJJ Inc.;

• Geib Refining Corp.;

• Mitchell Levine (Erie Management Partners, LLC) (Plat/Co.);

• Noble Metal Services, Inc.;

• Pyropure, Inc. d/b/a Pyromet; and

• Texas EZPAWN, L.P.

The Silo One Customers do not have identical Executed Terms, but any differences in such terms are immaterial for purposes of today's ruling. For the avoidance of doubt, today's ruling does not encompass Bucket One Customers for whom the Debtors did not attach a complete set of Executed Terms with RMC or any Executed Terms at all. Nor does it encompass Bucket One Customers whose Executed Terms pertain to RMC2.

LEGAL STANDARD

A. Summary Judgment

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 governs the granting of summary judgment. "[S]ummary judgment is proper 'if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the [movant] is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.' "

*732Celotex Corp. v. Catrett , 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986) (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 56 ). "The party seeking summary judgment bears the burden of establishing that no genuine issue of material fact exists and that the undisputed facts establish [the movant's] right to judgment as a matter of law." Rodriguez v. City of New York , 72 F.3d 1051, 1060-61 (2d Cir. 1995). "In deciding whether material factual issues exist, all ambiguities must be resolved and all reasonable inferences must be drawn in favor of the nonmoving party." In re Ampal-Am. Israel Corp. , 2015 WL 5176395, at *10 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. Sept. 2, 2015) (citing Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp. , 475 U.S. 574, 587, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986) ).

To the extent that a party asserts that a fact cannot be or is genuinely disputed, such party must provide support for its position by either:

(A) citing to particular parts of materials in the record, including depositions, documents, electronically stored information, affidavits or declarations, stipulations (including those made for purposes of the motion only), admissions, interrogatory answers, or other materials; or

(B) showing that the materials cited do not establish the absence or presence of a genuine dispute, or that an adverse party cannot produce admissible evidence to support the fact.

Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(1).

Rule 56 also contemplates situations where a non-moving party is unable to present facts that are essential to justify its opposition to a motion for summary judgment. In such instance, the Court may: (1) defer considering the motion or deny it, (2) allow time to obtain affidavits or declarations or to take discovery, or (3) issue any other appropriate order. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(d) (formerly Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(f) ). However, this requires the non-moving party to submit an affidavit showing: (1) what facts are sought to resist the motion and how they are to be obtained, (2) how those facts are reasonably expected to create a genuine issue of material fact, (3) what effort affiant has made to obtain them, and (4) why the affiant was unsuccessful in those efforts. See Gurary v. Winehouse , 190 F.3d 37, 43 (2d Cir. 1999). "The requirement of a sufficient affidavit or declaration is a strict one." Halebian v. Berv , 869 F. Supp. 2d 420, 438 (S.D.N.Y. 2012) (citing Gurary , 190 F.3d at 43-44 ("[T]he failure to file such an affidavit is fatal[.]")).

If a party fails to properly support its own assertion of fact or address another party's assertion of fact, the Court may, among other things, consider the fact undisputed for purposes of the motion or grant summary judgment if the motion and supporting materials show that the movant is entitled to it. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e) ; see, e.g. , Sanchez v. Nat'l Cleaning Co. , 11 F. Supp. 2d 453, 454 (S.D.N.Y. 1998) (" Rule 56(e) provides that if the non-movant fails to respond to a summary judgment motion by setting forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial, then summary judgment, if appropriate, shall be entered against the adverse party.") (internal quotations omitted).

B. Choice of Law

The Debtors, the Senior Lenders, and the majority of the Silo One Customers assert that Florida law governs the dispute. See Motion at 11-12; see also ECF Nos. 425, 444, 468, 478, 481. Other Customers in Bucket One, including two of the Silo One Customers, contend that New York law may govern. See ECF No. 463. Still other Silo One Customers do not take *733a position as to choice of law at all. See ECF Nos. 411, 452. As the outcome of the disputes is the same under both Florida and New York law, the Court need not perform a choice of law analysis but will cite to both Florida and New York statutes and case law. See Motion at 10; IBM v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co. , 363 F.3d 137, 143 (2d Cir. 2004) ("Choice of law does not matter, however, unless the laws of the competing jurisdictions are actually in conflict.... In the absence of substantive difference, however, a New York court will dispense with choice of law analysis[.]"); see generally Joint Memorandum of Law of Bucket 1 Customers in Opposition to the Debtors' and Senior Lenders' Motion (the "Opposition") [ECF No. 1080 ] (citing to the harmonious laws of Florida and New York throughout).

C. Contract Interpretation

A key question posed by today's dispute is how to interpret the Executed Terms. A written agreement that is clear and unambiguous on its face must be enforced according to its terms. See Gibney v. Pillifant , 32 So. 3d 784, 785 (Fla. 2d Dist. Ct. App. 2010) ("[T]he actual language used in the contract is the best evidence of the intent of the parties, and the plain meaning of that language controls.") (internal quotation marks omitted); see also Greenfield v. Philles Records , 98 N.Y.2d 562, 569, 750 N.Y.S.2d 565, 780 N.E.2d 166 (2002) ("[A] written agreement that is complete, clear and unambiguous on its face must be enforced according to the plain meaning of its terms[.]"). Where a contract is unambiguous, the intent of the parties must be gleaned from "the four corners of the document." Landmark Am. Ins. Co. v. Pin-Pon Corp. , 155 So. 3d 432, 437 (Fla. 4th Dist. Ct. App. 2015) (citation omitted); see also De Luca v. De Luca , 300 A.D.2d 342, 342, 751 N.Y.S.2d 766 (N.Y. App. Div. 2d Dep't 2002). A written document intended by the parties to be the final embodiment of their agreement may not be contradicted, modified, or varied by extrinsic evidence. See King v. Bray , 867 So. 2d 1224, 1226 (Fla. 5th Dist. Ct. App. 2004) ; Schron v. Troutman Sanders LLP , 20 N.Y.3d 430, 963 N.Y.S.2d 613, 986 N.E.2d 430, 436 (2013) ; W.W.W. Assocs. v. Giancontieri , 77 N.Y.2d 157, 163, 565 N.Y.S.2d 440, 566 N.E.2d 639 (1990).

As one court has observed, "[t]he issue of whether a contract represents a bailment or a sale is not an uncommon problem in industries, such as refining, where a company must make arrangements with another entity to process its raw materials." In re Handy & Harman Refining Grp. Inc. , 271 B.R. 732, 736 (Bankr. D. Conn. 2001). As such, "[c]ourts dealing with contracts having both bailment and sale characteristics look beyond the four corners of the contract and examine the various circumstances that led to the contractual arrangement." Id.

D. Purchase and Sale Agreements

Both Florida and New York state law provide that "[a] contract for sale of goods may be made in any manner sufficient to show agreement, including conduct by both parties which recognizes the existence of such a contract." Fla. Stat. Ann. § 672.204(1) ; N.Y. U.C.C. § 2-204(1). "Even though one or more terms are left open[,] a contract for sale does not fail for indefiniteness if the parties have intended to make a contract and there is a reasonably certain basis for giving an appropriate remedy." Fla. Stat. Ann. § 672.204(3) ; N.Y. U.C.C. § 2-204(3) ; see also Petroleum Traders Corp. v. Hillsborough Cnty. , 2009 WL 1456430, at *1 (M.D. Fla. May 22, 2009) ("Here, the undisputed facts reveal that shortly after the acceptance of the Plaintiff's proposal, the Defendants began *734placing orders and accepting deliveries for gas and diesel and paid in accordance with the prices offered in the bid documents. Despite the lack of an enforceable written contract, the parties clearly evidenced their agreement for the sale and purchase of fuel in each instance."); Wellington Farms of Massachusetts, Inc. v. Capital Area Food Bank , 156 A.D.3d 662, 664, 66 N.Y.S.3d 501 (N.Y. App. Div. 2d Dep't 2017) (finding an enforceable contract where plaintiff established that parties had reached an agreement for the purchase of a truckload of frozen ground turkey to be delivered on a specified date at a specified location, despite the fact that the invoices submitted contained varying prices).

"Terms with respect to which the confirmatory memoranda of the parties agree or which are otherwise set forth in a writing intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement with respect to such terms as are included therein may not be contradicted by evidence of any prior agreement or of a contemporaneous oral agreement." Fla. Stat. Ann. § 672.202 ; N.Y. U.C.C. § 2-202. Nevertheless, such terms "may be explained or supplemented (a) by course of performance, course of dealing, or usage of trade[,] and (b) by evidence of consistent additional terms unless the court finds the writing to have been intended also as a complete and exclusive statement of the terms of the agreement." Id.

"A 'sale' consists in the passing of title from the seller to the buyer for a price." Fla. Stat. Ann. § 672.106(1) ; N.Y. U.C.C. § 2-106(1). However, "[t]he parties if they so intend can conclude a contract for sale even though the price is not settled." Fla. Stat. Ann. § 672.305(1) ; N.Y. U.C.C. § 2-305(1). "Unless otherwise explicitly agreed[,] title passes to the buyer at the time and place at which the seller completes her or his performance with reference to the physical delivery of the goods[.]" Fla. Stat. Ann. § 672.401(2) ; N.Y. U.C.C. § 2-401(2).

Under Florida law, the only essential term in a contract for the sale of goods is the quantity. Fla. Stat. § 672.201(1) & cmt. 1 ("The only term which must appear [in the writing] is the quantity term[,] which need not be accurately stated but recovery is limited to the amount stated."). Citing this statutory provision, one Florida court declined to find that a party's custom formula quotes for customized nutritional supplements constituted a contract but did find that the corresponding purchase orders and electronic communications evidenced satisfaction of the remaining elements necessary for contract formation because they supplied a quantity term. See Nutrimatix Inc. v. Xymogen, Inc. , 2017 WL 385753, at *13 (M.D. Fla. Jan. 27, 2017).

E. Bailments

Both Florida and New York state law define bailment as the "delivery of personalty for some particular purpose, or on mere deposit, upon a contract, express or implied, that after the purpose has been fulfilled it shall be redelivered to the person who delivered it." Affiliated FM Ins. Co. v. Dependable Warehousing & Distrib., Inc. , 303 F. Supp. 3d 1329, 1331 (S.D. Fla. 2018) (citing Monroe Sys. for Bus., Inc. v. Intertrans Corp. , 650 So. 2d 72, 75 (Fla. 3d Dist. Ct. App. 1994) (quoting Dunham v. State , 140 Fla. 754, 192 So. 324, 326 (1939) )); see also Herrington v. Verrilli , 151 F. Supp. 2d 449, 457 (S.D.N.Y. 2001) (quoting Mays v. New York, N.H. & H.R. Co. , 197 Misc. 1062, 97 N.Y.S.2d 909, 911 (N.Y. App. Term 1st Dep't 1950) ).

A bailment " 'is generally a contractual relationship among parties in which the subject matter of the relationship is delivered temporarily to and accepted *735by one other than the owner.' " Sirpal v. Univ. of Miami , 684 F. Supp. 2d 1349, 1364 (S.D. Fla. 2010) (quoting S & W Air Vac Sys., Inc. v. Dep't of Revenue , 697 So. 2d 1313, 1315 (Fla. 5th Dist. Ct. App. 1997) ). Bailment bifurcates ownership from possession; general ownership remains with the bailor while the bailee has lawful possession. See Cornelius v. Berinstein , 183 Misc. 685, 50 N.Y.S.2d 186, 188 (Sup. Ct. 1944) ("[I]t is a generally recognized feature of bailments that possession of the thing bailed is severed from ownership; the bailor retains the general ownership, while the bailee has the lawful possession or custody for the specific purpose of the bailment.").

One type of bailment is a bailment for mutual benefit. "A bailment for the mutual benefit of the parties is one in which the parties contemplate some price or compensation in return for the benefits flowing from the fact of bailment." Armored Car Serv., Inc. v. First Nat'l Bank , 114 So. 2d 431, 434 (Fla. 3d Dist. Ct. App. 1959). Bailments for mutual benefit include bailments locatio operis faciendi where the bailee is obligated to perform work on the bailed item in exchange for consideration. See Adelman v. M & S Welding Shop, Inc. , 105 So. 2d 802, 803 (Fla. 3d Dist. Ct. App. 1958) (a transaction in which the defendant has possession of the plaintiff's car to install a trailer hitch is a bailment for mutual benefit); Aronette Mfg. Co. v. Capitol Piece Dye Works, Inc. , 6 N.Y.2d 465, 468, 190 N.Y.S.2d 361, 160 N.E.2d 842 (1959) (fabric sent to defendant to be treated with a waterproofing formula then returned is held on bailment).

Over a century ago, the Supreme Court addressed the question of how to differentiate a sale from a bailment. It observed:

The recognized distinction between bailment and sale is that, when the identical article is to be returned in the same or in some altered form, the contract is one of bailment, and the title to the property is not changed. On the other hand, when there is no obligation to return the specific article, and the receiver is at liberty to return another thing of value, he becomes a debtor to make the return, and the title to the property is changed. The transaction is a sale.

Sturm v. Boker , 150 U.S. 312, 329, 14 S.Ct. 99, 37 L.Ed. 1093 (1893). In another case, the Supreme Court explained that this rule applies even where the thing delivered is changed or transformed in some manner:

[W]here logs are delivered to be sawed into boards, or leather to be made into shoes, rags into paper, olives into oil, grapes into wine, wheat into flour, if the product of the identical articles delivered is to be returned to the original owner in a new form, it is said to be a bailment, and the title never vests in the manufacturer. If, on the other hand, the manufacturer is not bound to return the same wheat or flour or paper, but may deliver any other of equal value , it is said to be sale or a loan, and the title to the thing delivered vests in the manufacturer. We understand this to be a correct exposition of the law.

Laflin & Rand Powder Co. v. Burkhardt , 97 U.S. 110, 116, 24 L.Ed. 973 (1878) (emphasis added).

Accordingly, in distinguishing bailments from sales, the test of a bailment is that the identical thing is to be returned in the same or some altered form; if another thing of equal value is to be returned, the transaction is a sale.

DISCUSSION

A. The Silo One Customers' Executed Terms Unambiguously Do Not Establish a Bailment, But Instead Are Consistent With a Sale

As explained above, the hallmark of a bailment relationship is that the bailor *736be required to return the identical bailed goods to the bailee in the same or altered form.

The eight Silo One Customers each executed terms with RMC that specifically address this issue. Such terms state:

Precious metals are fungible; therefore any unit of material is equivalent to another of like kind i.e. similar quality and/or value, and is deemed adequate payment for purposes of outstanding Pool Accounts. Returnable metal represented in a Customer Pool Account does not pertain to specific, segregated, or identifiable metal; rather, it represents a future obligation of RMC to return common inventory of gold, silver, platinum, palladium, or metals owed to Customer. RMC reserves the right to return precious metals to Customer of like kind representing the ounces of precious metals owed to Customer .

Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 2 at 14 (Alex Morningstar Corp. d/b/a Morningstar's) (emphasis added); Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 4 at 19 (Bay Area Metals) (emphasis added); Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 5 at 11 (Brilliant Jewelers / MJJ Inc.) (emphasis added); Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 11 at 17 (Geib Refining Corp.) (emphasis added); Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 14 (Mitchell Levine (Plat/Co.)) (emphasis added); Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 16 at 19 (Noble Metal Services, Inc.) (emphasis added); Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 18 at 19 (Pyropure, Inc. d/b/a Pyromet) (emphasis added); Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 19 at 12 (Texas EZPAWN, L.P) (emphasis added).

This provision makes clear that, even to the extent metal is returned to a Silo One Customer rather than sold, it is not the identical metal that that Silo One Customer originally shipped to the Debtors, nor is it the same metal in altered form. It is simply metal of "like kind." While industries like refining often involve contracts contemplating elements of both bailment and sale, the Court finds that the specific language quoted above precludes the existence of a bailment with the Silo One Customers because it makes clear that the Debtors have no obligation to return the same metals that the Silo One Customers gave them.5 See Sturm , 150 U.S. at 329, 14 S.Ct. 99 ; Burkhardt , 97 U.S. at 116.

Other language in the Executed Terms confirms this result. The Court agrees with the Debtors and the Senior Lenders that multiple provisions of the Executed Terms suggest a purchase and sale agreement and are inconsistent with a bailment. These include a provision that specifically contemplates a purchase and sale agreement, albeit one to be memorialized in a confirmation email. This provision states in relevant part:

• Fixing of Metal : ... Customer warrants that any purchase or sale contract has been effectuated by Customer for the sole purpose of securing pricing for the ultimate sale or purchase of precious metals and has not been made for any speculative reason whatsoever. Customer hereby has an obligation to deliver or purchase said metal to or from RMC .... Customer agrees that he has entered into a written, legally binding contract for the sale/purchase of precious metals contained *737within the confirmation email. Customer further warrants that said contract is in compliance with the Florida Uniform Commercial Code[.]

Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 2 at 15 (Alex Morningstar Corp. d/b/a Morningstar's); Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 4 at 20 (Bay Area Metals); Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 5 at 12 (Brilliant Jewelers / MJJ Inc.); Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 11 at 18 (Geib Refining Corp.); Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 16 at 20 (Noble Metal Services, Inc.); Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 18 at 20 (Pyropure, Inc. d/b/a Pyromet); Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 19 at 13 (Texas EZPAWN, L.P).

Another provision expressly contemplates a transfer of title in connection with such a sale. It states in relevant part:

• Warranty of Title : Customer warrants to RMC that it has good and marketable title to said property, full authority to sell and transfer said property.... Customer further warrants to RMC that it will fully defend, protect, indemnify, and hold harmless RMC from any adverse claim thereto.

Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 2 at 11 (Alex Morningstar Corp. d/b/a Morningstar's); Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 4 at 16 (Bay Area Metals); Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 5 at 9 (Brilliant Jewelers / MJJ Inc.); Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 11 at 14 (Geib Refining Corp.); Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 14 (Mitchell Levine (Plat/Co.)); Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 16 at 16 (Noble Metal Services, Inc.); Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 18 at 16 (Pyropure, Inc. d/b/a Pyromet); Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 19 at 10 (Texas EZPAWN, L.P).

Furthermore, the Executed Terms state that the parties agree that they are "merchants" as defined in Article 2, Section 104(1) of the Uniform Commercial Code. See Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 2 at 16 (Alex Morningstar Corp. d/b/a Morningstar's); Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 4 at 21 (Bay Area Metals); Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 5 at 13 (Brilliant Jewelers / MJJ Inc.); Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 11 at 19 (Geib Refining Corp.); Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 16 at 21 (Noble Metal Services, Inc.); Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 18 at 21 (Pyropure, Inc. d/b/a Pyromet); Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 19 at 14 (Texas EZPAWN, L.P).6 This provision supports the notion of a sale-rather than a bailment-because Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code specifically governs sales, not bailments. See Fla. Stat. Ann. § 672.106 ("In this chapter unless the context otherwise requires 'contract' and 'agreement' are limited to those relating to the present or future sale of goods."); N.Y. U.C.C. § 2-106(1) ("In this Article unless the context otherwise requires 'contract' and 'agreement' are limited to those relating to the present or future sale of goods.").

Indeed, the Court notes that the parties knew how to use the term "bailment" when appropriate-they simply chose not to use the term to establish a bailment on behalf of the Silo One Customers. More specifically, the Executed Terms include the following language:

• Consignment : It is expressly agreed upon by both parties that any and all material shipped to Customer, and/or delivered to Customer, and/or released to Customer on a consignment/bailment *738basis remains the property of RMC, with a security interest in RMC, until the material is returned to RMC[.]

Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 2 at 14 (Alex Morningstar Corp. d/b/a Morningstar's); Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 4 at 19 (Bay Area Metals); Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 5 at 11 (Brilliant Jewelers / MJJ Inc.); Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 11 at 17 (Geib Refining Corp.); Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 14 (Mitchell Levine (Plat/Co.)); Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 16 at 19 (Noble Metal Services, Inc.); Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 18 at 19 (Pyropure, Inc. d/b/a Pyromet); Avila Decl., Composite Ex. D, Tab 19 at 12 (Texas EZPAWN, L.P). This provision contemplates a future situation where RMC obtains title of metals through a sale and then assumes the role of bailor and bails certain goods to a Silo One Customer. The fact that other portions of the Executed Terms do not include similar title reservations and bailment language support the idea that the transactions at issue here were not bailments. See, e.g. , Quadrant Structured Prods. Co., Ltd. v. Vertin ,