Belfance v. Shelton (In re Shelton)

593 B.R. 755
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Ohio
DecidedOctober 17, 2018
DocketCase No. 14-51588; Adversary Proceeding No. 16-05068
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 593 B.R. 755 (Belfance v. Shelton (In re Shelton)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Ohio primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Belfance v. Shelton (In re Shelton), 593 B.R. 755 (Ohio 2018).

Opinion

ALAN M. KOSCHIK, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge

On November 22, 2016, Kathryn A. Belfance (the "Trustee"), the duly-appointed chapter 7 trustee in the bankruptcy case of debtor Angela D. Shelton (the "Debtor"), filed her Complaint in the above-captioned adversary proceeding (the "Complaint"). The Complaint seeks, inter alia (a) authorization to sell the estate's interest in the real property known for mailing purposes as 101 Tolbert Circle, Montevallo, Alabama 35115, and described in Exhibit A to the Complaint (Docket No. 1 Ex. A) (the "Real Estate"); and (b) a determination of the rights, title, and interest of all parties to this proceeding in the Real Estate. Complaint ¶ 20. In particular, the Trustee asserts that, pursuant to her strong-arm powers under 11 U.S.C. § 544, her interest in the Real Estate is superior to any interest claimed by defendant Annie Bell Tolbert Shelton (the "Defendant").

On February 9, 2017, the Defendant filed her answer to the Complaint in this adversary proceeding (Docket No. 11) (the "Answer").

On August 25, 2017, the Defendant moved for summary judgment (Docket No. 25) (the "Defendant's Motion"). On August 25, 2017, Trustee filed her own motion for summary judgment (Docket No. 26) (the "Trustee's Motion," and with the Defendant's Motion, the "Motions"). Both Motions have been fully briefed with responses by the opposing party and replies in support by the respective movant.

For the reasons set forth below, the Trustee's Motion will be denied and the Defendant's Motion granted.

JURISDICTION AND VENUE

This Court has jurisdiction over this adversary proceeding pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1334 and General Order No. 2012-7 entered by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio on April 4, 2012. Venue is proper pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1409(a). This adversary proceeding is a core proceeding pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(A), (K), (N), and (O).

SUMMARY JUDGMENT STANDARD

In bankruptcy cases, including adversary proceedings, a party may move for summary judgment at any time before 30 days before the initial date set for an evidentiary hearing on any issue for which summary judgment is sought, unless a different *758time is set by local rule or the court orders otherwise. Fed. R. Bankr. P. 7056 (otherwise incorporating Fed. R. Civ. P. 56 ); see also Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9014(c). When a party so moves, the court "shall grant summary judgment if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a) ; see also Celotex Corporation v. Catrett , 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). A Plaintiff movant must establish all essential elements supporting its claim in this fashion; a defendant must establish that any one (or more) essential elements of Plaintiff's claim fails, or establish all elements of one or more of defendant's affirmative defenses, in order to obtain a defense judgment by summary judgment. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc. , 477 U.S. 242, 252, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986).

Evidence presented in support of summary judgment is viewed in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, "drawing all reasonable inferences in its favor." Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. v. Zenith Radio Corporation , 475 U.S. 574, 587, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986). However, if a moving party meets its burden to establish a lack of genuine dispute as to a material fact, the burden then shifts to the non-moving party to "come forward with evidence which would support a judgment in its favor." Celotex , 477 U.S. at 324, 106 S.Ct. 2548 ; Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e). In responding in this way to a motion for summary judgment, the non-moving party may not rely on a "mere scintilla of evidence" in support of its opposition to the motion. There must be enough evidence presented in which a fact-finder could reasonably find for the non-moving party. Zenith , 475 U.S. at 586, 106 S.Ct. 1348.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

The parties submitted a stipulated record for the Court to take under advisement, including exhibits. (Docket No. 23.) The following facts are recounted from those stipulations, stipulated exhibits, and the Court's own docket. The parties stipulate, and the Court agrees, that there are no genuine disputes regarding the material facts relevant to the Motions.

The Debtor is the daughter of the Defendant.

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Bluebook (online)
593 B.R. 755, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/belfance-v-shelton-in-re-shelton-ohnb-2018.