Anderson v. Avila (In re Propps)

118 B.R. 376, 1989 Bankr. LEXIS 2684
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. South Carolina
DecidedJanuary 31, 1989
DocketBankruptcy No. 87-02982; CA No. 88-0092
StatusPublished

This text of 118 B.R. 376 (Anderson v. Avila (In re Propps)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. South Carolina primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Anderson v. Avila (In re Propps), 118 B.R. 376, 1989 Bankr. LEXIS 2684 (southcarolinaed 1989).

Opinion

ORDER AND MEMORANDUM

WILLIAM THURMOND BISHOP, Bankruptcy Judge.

Robert F. Anderson, as trustee in bankruptcy for Rodney L. Propps, instituted this adversary proceeding against the defendant, Eduardo Avila, pursuant to 11 U.S.C. Section 548 for the recovery of property of the estate alleged to have been fraudulently transferred, and 11 U.S.C. Section 549 for the recovery of property alleged to have been transferred after the debtor filed his petition for relief under Chapter 7 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. A trial on the merits was held on November 28, 1988. After considering the testimony and evidence introduced at trial, as well as the applicable authority on the issues involved in this adversary proceeding, this court makes the following findings of facts and conclusions of law.

FINDINGS OF FACT

The debtor filed a petition for relief under Chapter 7 of the United States Bankruptcy Code on September 17, 1987.

On September 18, 1987, Robert F. Anderson was appointed as trustee.

The defendant Eduardo Avila is a resident of Miami, Florida.

The debtor and Eduardo Avila are former business associates.

On July 3, 1986, a 1986 Mercedes 560 automobile, Serial No. WDBCA39D4GA263063 was purchased from L.P. Evans Motors, WPB, Inc. The retail order lists Group Capital Corporation as the buyer, and the purchaser as Eduardo Avila.

On July 22, 1986, Eduardo Avila issued a check drawn on his personal account to L.P. Evans, in the amount of '$58,484.25.

On August 13, 1986, a State of Florida certificate of title was issued for the automobile, showing the registered owner as Rodney L. Propps, and Group Capital as the first lien holder on the vehicle.

On January 15, 1987, a transfer of title by seller was completed on the back of the certificate of title showing Eduardo Avila as the purchaser of the vehicle, at a selling price of $38,000.00. This transfer was notarized on January 15, 1987.

On November 11, 1987, the lien of Group Capital Corporation was marked satisfied.

[378]*378On November 20, 1987, an application was made to the State of Florida for a change in vehicle title and registration of the Mercedes, to show Eduardo Avila as the true owner of the vehicle. The new certificate of title was issued on December 8, 1987.

ISSUES

The issues to be decided are whether Eduardo Avila paid adequate consideration for the motor vehicle, and whether a post petition transfer occurred.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

For the reasons stated below, this court concludes that a fraudulent transfer, as contemplated by 11 U.S.C. Section 548 did not occur, and that a post petition transfer pursuant to 11 U.S.C: Section 549 did not occur due to Eduardo Avila being the actual owner of the vehicle from the date of the purchase of the vehicle.

The court notes from the outset that the burden of proof on these issues fell upon the trustee. The only evidence produced at the hearing by the trustee was the testimony of the trustee, and the trustee’s expert witness who testified as to the value of the motor vehicle in question.

The trustee’s testimony was vague, and the testimony of the trustee’s expert witness is irrelevant on the issues involved, unless the trustee meets his burden of proof and prevails. The trustee has failed to meet his burden of proof.

A. CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON 11 U.S.C. SECTION 548

The trustee is proceeding under 11 U.S.C. Section 548, which states in relevant part that:

“(a) The trustee may avoid any transfer of an interest of the debtor in property, or any obligation incurred by the debtor, that was made or incurred on or within one year before the date of the filing of the petition, if the debtor voluntarily or involuntarily—
(1) made such transfer or incurred such obligation with actgual intent to hinder, delay, or defraud any entity to which the debtor was or became, on or after the date that such transfer was made or such obligation was incurred, indebted; or
(2)(A) received less than a reasonably equivalent value in exchange for such transfer or obligation; and
(B)(i) was insolvent on the date that such transfer was made or such obligation was incurred, or became insolvent as a result of such transfer or obligation;
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The first element to be addressed is whether a transfer of the motor vehicle in question occurred, and if so, on what date did the transfer occur. The trustee contends that a transfer occurred on December 8, 1987, the date the certificate of title was amended to reflect the registered owner as Eduardo Avila.

The trustee’s position is based upon his interpretation of Florida laws governing certificates of titles to motor vehicles. See Florida Statute Ann. Sections 319.21 and 319.23.

A State of Florida certificate of title for a motor vehicle is not conclusory proof of ownership of that motor vehicle, but is only an indicia of ownership which can be rebutted by competent evidence. See Nash Miami Motors v. Bandel, 47 So.2d 701 (1950) and Family v. Heuacker, 118 Fla. 340, 159 So. 24 (1935), and In Re: Collins, 5 B.R. 56 (Bankr.N.D.Fla.1980).

The defendant has presented ample evidence, both through testimony and documentation', that he has been the actual owner of the vehicle since the date of purchase, notwithstanding that the certificate of title was in the name of the debtor. Specifically, the debtor introduced into evidence a check made payable to the automobile dealer which represented the purchase price of the motor vehicle. This check, in the amount of $58,484.25, was drawn on the defendant’s personal bank account and was given to the dealer on the date that the automobile was acquired from the dealer.

Additionally, the defendant testified that the vehicle has been in his possession since the date of its acquisition, that he main[379]*379tained the vehicle, that the debtor never possessed or drove the vehicle, and that the reason the vehicle was placed in the debt- or’s name was due to the expense of insuring the vehicle. According to the defendant’s testimony, the debtor held a master vehicle insurance policy which would allow this vehicle to be insured through that policy at no additional cost only if the vehicle was registered in the name of the debtor.

Additional evidence that the debtor and the defendant intended this vehicle to be owned by the defendant can be found in the fact that two identical automobiles were purchased from the dealer at the same time. One vehicle was used exclusively by the debtor, and the other by the defendant.

For this reason, this court concludes that actual ownership of the vehicle was in the defendant and that a transfer of the vehicle did not occur on December 8, 1987.

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Related

Nash Miami Motors v. Bandel
47 So. 2d 701 (Supreme Court of Florida, 1950)
Farrelly v. Heuacker
159 So. 24 (Supreme Court of Florida, 1935)
In re Collins
5 B.R. 56 (N.D. Florida, 1980)

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Bluebook (online)
118 B.R. 376, 1989 Bankr. LEXIS 2684, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/anderson-v-avila-in-re-propps-southcarolinaed-1989.