Bank of Kaukauna v. VanDynHoven (In re VanDynHoven)

460 B.R. 214
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Wisconsin
DecidedNovember 3, 2011
DocketBankruptcy No. 10-28421; Adversary No. 10-2474
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 460 B.R. 214 (Bank of Kaukauna v. VanDynHoven (In re VanDynHoven)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Wisconsin primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bank of Kaukauna v. VanDynHoven (In re VanDynHoven), 460 B.R. 214 (Wis. 2011).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM DECISION ON MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

MARGARET DEE McGARITY, Bankruptcy Judge.

The plaintiff, The Bank of Kaukauna, brought this adversary proceeding objecting to the dischargeability of certain obligations incurred by the debtor, Richard VanDynHoven. After the defendant filed an answer, the parties filed cross-motions for summary judgment. Although the plaintiff alleged in its complaint that the debtor’s obligations were nondischargeable pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2)(B), the parties subsequently agreed the adversary proceeding would instead be decided under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(14) and (a)(14A). They also agreed that the pertinent facts are not in dispute and that the Court should decide the matter on summary judgment based on stipulated facts and briefs.

This Court has jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1334 and this is a core proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(I). This decision constitutes the Court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law under Fed. R. Bankr.P. 7052. For the reasons stated herein, the plaintiffs motion for summary judgment is granted and the defendant’s motion for summary judgment is denied.

BACKGROUND

The following facts are not in dispute. At all times relevant to this proceeding, Richard VanDynHoven was the sole shareholder and the person primarily responsible for the day-to-day affairs of Action Electric, Electrical Contractors, Inc. Action Electric had a business checking account and loans at The Bank of Kaukauna, and Mr. VanDynHoven guaranteed payment of Action Electric’s obligations to the bank, pursuant to written guaranty agreements. The bank regularly covered Action [216]*216Electric’s checks and ACH1 drafts against its checking account, with Mr. VanDynHo-ven’s knowledge and consent. By October 2008, Action Electric’s checking account was overdrawn by approximately $254,000, and the overdrafts were rolled into one or more notes. Although Action Electric’s checking account had a positive balance at the end of September 2009, the account showed a negative balance beginning in October 2009 and never regained a positive balance thereafter. Nevertheless, the bank resumed honoring some checks and ACH drafts (statements show many were dishonored) in the overdrawn account until the business closed in April 2010. Mr. VanDynHoven again was aware of the status of the account and did not object to the bank covering the checks.

Between October 7, 2009, and April 30, 2010, the bank honored the following 45 ACH drafts by the IRS and the Wisconsin Department of Revenue:

Internal Revenue Service
10/07/09 $3121.98
10/14/09 $3123.86
10/21/09 $3591.38
10/28/09 $3385.84
11/04/09 $2910.86
11/12/09 $2849.94
11/18/09 $2904.86
11/25/09 $2977.28
12/02/09 $2662.34
12/09/09 $2723.58
12/16/09 $3183.30
12/28/09 $2728.80
12/30/09 $3062.58
01/06/10 $2785.10
01/13/10 $2805.04
01/20/10 $3185.34
01/27/10 $2782.94
02/03/10 $3045.86
02/11/10 $2692.80
02/17/10 $2474.76
02/24/10 $2711.92
03/03/10 $2792.78
03/10/10 $2838.18
03/17/10 $3011.34
03/24/10 $2719.62
03/31/10 $2110.18
04/08/10 $2060.44
04/14/10 $2235.40
04/21/10 $2224.02
04/28/10 $2072.48
Wisconsin Department of Revenue
10/15/09 $1266.27
10/30/09 $2097.29
11/13/09 $1333.29
11/30/09 $1240.16
12/15/09 $1216.63
12/30/09 $1265.81
01/15/10 $1847.59
02/01/10 $1277.55
02/02/10 $ 160.37
02/17/10 $1243.88
03/03/10 $1110.19
03/11/10 $ 150.00
03/16/10 $1180.64
04/01/10 $1239.43
04/16/10 $1029.08

(Stipulated Facts filed with Plaintiffs Motion for Summary Judgment, June 10, 2011). These tax payments total $101,432.98.

During the relevant period, Action Electric continued to operate and generate revenues and accounts receivable. When Mr. VanDynHoven filed a chapter 7 petition on May 19, 2010, the bank held a claim against Action Electric of approximately $885,000, $121,239.50 of which was comprised of the checking account overdraft. Of the total overdraft, $101,432.98 was paid directly to either the United States or the State of Wisconsin to pay a tax liability of Action Electric. These taxes are of a kind described in 11 U.S.C. § 507(a)(8)(C) and are not subject to discharge by a liable individual.

ARGUMENTS

The bank argues its claim of $101,432.98, arising from the IRS and Department of Revenue overdrafts, is nondischargeable [217]*217because the overdrafts are debts incurred to satisfy tax obligations that would be nondischargeable. If the bank had not honored the IRS’s and the State of Wisconsin’s ACH drafts for Action Electric’s payroll taxes, the debtor would have been personally liable for those taxes. 26 U.S.C. § 6672; Wis. Stats. § 71.83(l)(b)2. His taxes would not have been dischargea-ble because the taxes were of a kind described in 11 U.S.C. § 507(a)(8)(C). The obligations incurred to pay such tax liabilities are also nondischargeable pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(14) and (a)(14A). See In re Gavin, 248 B.R. 464 (Bankr.M.D.Fla. 2000); In re Chrusz, 196 B.R. 221 (Bankr.D.N.H.1996).

The bank notes that the debtor’s obligations under his personal guaranty are a “debt” and give rise to a “claim” under the Bankruptcy Code. 11 U.S.C.

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Related

In Re Vandynhoven
460 B.R. 214 (E.D. Wisconsin, 2011)

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Bluebook (online)
460 B.R. 214, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bank-of-kaukauna-v-vandynhoven-in-re-vandynhoven-wieb-2011.