Bala v. PWE Enters., Inc. (In re Racing Servs., Inc.)

594 B.R. 678
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, D. North Dakota
DecidedNovember 28, 2018
DocketBankruptcy No. 04-30236; Adversary No. 17-07034
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 594 B.R. 678 (Bala v. PWE Enters., Inc. (In re Racing Servs., Inc.)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, D. North Dakota primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bala v. PWE Enters., Inc. (In re Racing Servs., Inc.), 594 B.R. 678 (N.D. 2018).

Opinion

(A) in that person's absence, the court cannot accord complete relief among existing parties; or
(B) that person claims an interest relating to the subject of the action and is so situated that disposing of the action in the person's absence may:
(i) as a practical matter impair or impede the person's ability to protect the interest; or
(ii) leave an existing party subject to a substantial risk of incurring double, multiple, or otherwise inconsistent obligations because of the interest.

Fed. R. Civ. P. 19. This rule applies in adversary proceedings. Fed. R. Bankr. P. 7019. "Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 19, a nonparty is indispensable to an action if (1) the nonparty is necessary; (2) the nonparty cannot be joined; and (3) the action cannot continue in equity and good conscience without the nonparty." U.S. ex rel. Steele v. Turn Key Gaming, Inc., 135 F.3d 1249, 1251 (8th Cir. 1998). PWE has the burden to show these elements. In re Brooke Corp., 443 B.R. 847, 851 (Bankr. D. Kan. 2010).

PWE has not met its burden to show these elements. First, PWE failed to show that the United States is a necessary party. The United States has already removed itself from these matters by returning the funds it received under the Settlement Agreement. It will not be prejudiced if the *687adversary continues without it. PWE's assertion that the United States is a necessary party so that it can "comment on whether it deems the entire agreement rescinded" is unpersuasive. The United States does not need to be joined to provide its view on the ultimate issue in this adversary.

Even if the United States were a necessary party, it could be joined. Federal Rule 19(a)(2) requires a court to order that a necessary party be joined in an action. Fed. R. Civ. P. 19(a)(2). The Court could order the United States to be joined as a defendant under Bankruptcy Rule 7020 and Federal Rule 20(a)(2). Fed. R. Bankr. P. 7020 ; Fed. R. Civ. P. 20(a)(2). While PWE suggests that the United States could not be so joined because of the doctrine of sovereign immunity, this analysis misses 11 U.S.C. § 106, which provides for the abrogation and waiver of sovereign immunity under certain circumstances applicable here. 11 U.S.C. §§ 106(a)(1), (a)(3) (citing 11 U.S.C. § 363 ). The United States was a party to the Settlement Agreement, which was approved under 11 U.S.C. § 363. Thus, the sovereign immunity of the United States was waived under 11 U.S.C. § 106, and the Court could order the United States to be joined as a party in this adversary proceeding if necessary.

Finally, even if the United States was necessary and could not be joined, the adversary could still "continue in equity and good conscience without" it. U.S. ex rel. Steele, 135 F.3d at 1251. Neither the United States, nor any other party, will be prejudiced by continuing without the United States. PWE has not alleged prejudice, nor persuasively explained why the United States must be joined. The United States voluntarily removed itself from the Settlement Agreement when it returned the money and assets after the forfeiture was reversed. PWE has not met its burden to show why resolution of the current matter requires the United States to be pulled back in.

Because the Court has found that Bala has standing to prosecute this adversary and that that United States is not an indispensable party, the Court will consider the merits of the summary judgment motions.

II. Bala's Motion for Summary Judgment

As noted, Bala moves for summary judgment. Summary judgment is appropriate when "the record, when viewed in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, shows there is no genuine issue of material fact and the moving parties are entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Graning v. Sherburne Cnty., 172 F.3d 611, 614 (8th Cir. 1999) ; see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c) ; Myers v. Richland Cnty., 429 F.3d 740, 750 (8th Cir. 2005). "Only disputes over facts that might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law will properly preclude the entry of summary judgment." Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986).

Here, the parties agree on the material facts, but disagree about how the law applies to those facts. In particular, they agree on what the Settlement Agreement and Order approving it say, and what related events occurred. They disagree about the legal effect of the relevant documents and events.

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Bluebook (online)
594 B.R. 678, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bala-v-pwe-enters-inc-in-re-racing-servs-inc-ndb-2018.