This matter came before the Court on one issue of the Defendants’ motions to dismiss. The Defendants argued that these cases should be dismissed under Bankruptcy Rules of Procedure Rule 7012 incorporating Federal Rule Civil Procedure Rule 12(b)(3). The Defendants argue that venue is improper under 28 U.S.C. § 1409(b). The Court found that 28 U.S.C. § 1409(b) does not restrict the venue for cases “arising under” title 11 and venue is proper.
Opinions
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Please note: These opinions are not a complete inventory of all judges' decisions and are not documents of record. Official court records are available at the clerk's office.
Judge John T. Laney, III
This matter came before the Court on objections filed by Creditor Mr. David Field and the Sub V Trustee Ms. Jenny Walker to the confirmation of the small-business reorganization plan of Trimax Medical Management, Inc. The Creditor objected to the plan under 11 U.S.C. §§ 1129(a)(3), (7), and 1191(b). The Court found that the Debtor met its burden under those sections and overruled the Creditor’s objection. The Trustee announced a resolution to one of her objections during the hearing, which the Court approved, and otherwise overruled her outstanding objection. The Court, therefore, approved confirmation of the Debtor’s plan.
This matter was tried before the Court beginning on January 31, 2024. The Plaintiffs requested their debts be excepted from the Defendant’s discharge under § 523(a)(2)(A). The Court found that the Plaintiffs did not meet their burden of proof and found in favor of the Defendant.
This matter came before the Court on the Debtor’s motion to sell real property. The Debtor moved the Court for permission to sell 15 of the 43 acres on which the Debtor currently lives. The 15 acres included in the proposed sale does not include the Debtor’s home. U.S. Bank National Association, not in its individual capacity but solely as trustee for the RMAC Trust, Series 2016-CTT, the sole lien holder on the property, objected to the sale claiming the sale was not authorized under § 363(f) and claimed its right to credit bid under § 363(k). The Court orally granted the Debtor’s motion from the bench but reserved the right to publish its finding of facts and conclusions of law. Thus, this opinion memorializes the Court’s decision.
This matter came before the Court on the Defendant’s motion to dismiss the Plaintiff’s adversary proceeding. The Defendant argued that the Plaintiff did not meet the heightened pleading requirements for fraud as required by Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure Rule 7009 and that the statute of frauds prohibited the enforcement of the Defendant’s supplemental oral promise. The parties also disagreed as to whether the prohibition against parol evidence barred the Plaintiff’s introduction of the oral promise to prove fraudulent inducement. The Court found that the Plaintiff did not meet the requirements of Rule 7009, granting the Defendant’s motion in part. The Court allowed the Plaintiff fourteen days to amend his complaint or the adversary proceeding will otherwise be dismissed. The Court also found that both the statute of frauds and parol evidence did not apply in this case because the Plaintiff has elected to pursue a fraud claim, not a breach of contract claim, and, therefore, denied the Defendant’s motion on her other grounds.
This matter was tried before the Court on November 8, 2023. The Trustee objected to the Debtors’ discharge under Bankruptcy Code §§ 727(a)(2) through (5). The Court found that that the Trustee did not meet her burden as to §§ 727(a)(2) and (4) but did through §§ 727(a)(3) and (5). Therefore, the Court denied the Debtors’ discharge.
The Movants, Rodney and Greda Tyson, asked the Court to reopen the Debtor's bankruptcy case and annul the stay as to their personal injury case. The Movants were not listed as creditors in the Debtor's bankruptcy case and the statute of limitations has expired barring them from refiling their personal injury suit against the Debtor now that the Debtor's case has been dismissed. The Court found cause to reopen the case and annul the stay and granted the Movants' motion.
The Movant, Roger Munn, moved the Court to reconsider its April 4, 2023 order and opinion denying his objection to discharge and to the confirmation of the Debtor’s, Esther Collins, plan. The Court found that the Movant did not meet his burden under Rule 9023 to demonstrate “newly discovered evidence or manifest errors of law or fact.” In re Kellogg, 197 F.3d 1116, 1119 (11th Cir. 1999).
The Chapter 7 Trustee, Walter Kelley, filed a motion for the Court to reconsider its previous memorandum opinion and order in this case. The Court considered the Trustee’s arguments and denied the motion. The parties stipulated that at least one institution should have been served in accordance with 7004(h), but the Court found that the Trustee did not prove the error justified the use of Rule 59. The Court reconsidered its previous finding that the Trustee was bound by res judicata and did not find it had made a manifest error of law. The Court also found the Trustee’s arguments about the Debtors’ motivation for converting their case untimely. Finally, the Court was unpersuaded by the Trustee’s oral motion under Rule 60(b)(6).
The Movant, Mr. Roger Munn, filed this motion to object to discharge and objection to confirmation of the Debtor’s plan. The Court found the motion to object procedurally deficient and otherwise lacking in merit. The Court overruled the Movant’s objection under § 1325(a)(3) because it found the Debtor filed her case in good faith in accordance with the factors in In re Kitchens, 702 F.2d 885. The Court also overruled the Movant’s objection under § 1325(b)(3) and § 1325(a)(4) because it found the Debtor’s income and estate do not include child support arrearages.