B.K. Medical Systems, Inc. Pension Plan v. Roberts (In Re Roberts)

81 B.R. 354, 1987 Bankr. LEXIS 1933, 1987 WL 25586
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, W.D. Pennsylvania
DecidedDecember 9, 1987
Docket19-20871
StatusPublished
Cited by36 cases

This text of 81 B.R. 354 (B.K. Medical Systems, Inc. Pension Plan v. Roberts (In Re Roberts)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, W.D. Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
B.K. Medical Systems, Inc. Pension Plan v. Roberts (In Re Roberts), 81 B.R. 354, 1987 Bankr. LEXIS 1933, 1987 WL 25586 (Pa. 1987).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

BERNARD MARKOVITZ, Bankruptcy Judge.

PREAMBLE

Featured in this unusual bankruptcy scenario is the Debtor manipulating his various corporations over the decades so as to cheat and defraud innocent investors out of their life savings. These machinations culminated in Debtor’s conviction for bankruptcy fraud. His sentence was five (5) *358 years probation and a $5,000.00 fine, plus $25,000.00 restitution.

Concurrent with the criminal determination, Debtor manipulated his private and basically ill-gotten wealth in order to remove it from the reach of his defrauded creditors, holding a civil judgment in excess of $1.6 million.

Noted author, William Safire, in his novel Freedom, speaks of Thurlow Weed’s characterization of Francis P. Blair; specifically, it is stated that “... if Francis P. Blair had lived at the time of the Garden of Eden, the serpent’s presence would have been superfluous.” Freedom by William Safire at p. 125.

Clearly the above is an overstatement of the situation at hand. Equally clearly, the characterization has an analogical basis.

CASES STATED AND DETERMINATIONS

Before the Court are two Motions and six Adversary Complaints combined for the purposes of trial and decision, to-wit:

1) Motion to Amend Schedules and Statement of Affairs by Glenn M. Roberts (hereinafter “Debtor”);
2) Trustee’s Objections to Debtor’s Original and Amended Claimed Exemptions;
3) Trustee’s Complaint For Turnover of Property fraudulently transferred, specifically, the professional corporation known as Glenn M. Roberts Medical Associates Inc., conveyed by the Debtor to one or more of his children;
4) Trustee’s Complaint to Avoid Transfer of Property fraudulently conveyed, including many and various asset transfers from the Debtor individually to himself and his wife as tenants by the entireties;
5) Trustee’s Complaint to Avoid Fraudulent Transfers of Property, specifically certain rental payments made to a joint venture account held for the benefit of Debtor’s grandchildren;
6) Trustee’s Complaint for Turnover of Assets Claimed as Exempt, specifically contributions to the Debtor’s pen-
sion plan, maintained by his medical practice;
7) Complaint to Determine Discharge-ability of Debt filed by a certified class of judgment creditors objecting to the discharge of their $1.6 million claim under § 523(a)(2)(A), (a)(4), and (a)(6); and
8) Complaint by the certified class of judgment creditors Objecting to Debt- or’s Discharge in its entirety under § 727(a)(2)(A), (a)(3), (a)(4)(A), (a)(4)(D), (a)(5) and (a)(7).

Having completed more than three full days of testimony, carefully examining all exhibits, and thoroughly considering all briefs and proposed findings of the parties, we hold as follows:

1) Debtor’s Motion To Amend Schedules is DENIED, same having been filed in bad faith;
2) Trustee’s Objections to Debtor’s Claimed Exemptions, Original and Amended, are GRANTED;
3) Trustee’s Complaint for Turnover of Debtor’s Medical Corporation is GRANTED;
4) Trustee’s Complaint for Avoidance of Transfers made by the Debtor to Himself and His Wife is GRANTED;
5) Trustee’s Complaint for Avoidance of Transfers made to the Joint Venture is GRANTED;
6) Trustee’s Complaint for Turnover of Debtor’s Pension Plan is GRANTED;
7) Judgment creditors’ Objections to the Dischargeability of Their Claim is GRANTED; and
8) Judgment creditors’ Objection to Debtor’s Discharge is GRANTED.

Because of the very nature of this case, we reach holdings in all of the above-captioned actions. Each action will be discussed seriatum, based upon a single factual foundation.

FACTS

Debtor is an osteopathic physician, having substantial education and experience. He has accumulated significant assets over *359 the course of his life, including both real and personal property.

Debtor was a fifty percent (50%) owner, vice president and a director of several associated discount finance companies (hereinafter the “Crescent companies”). Beginning in 1980, Debtor and his partners concocted a scheme wherein they took" investments from various clients, knowing that the Crescent companies were in serious financial difficulty, and further knowing that these clients would never see their investments again. In 1981, the Crescent companies entered into bankruptcy proceedings, with no assets to repay their many large investors. Debtor and his partner each secreted away approximately $125,000.00 of funds from the Crescent companies.

The investment creditors formed a certified class and brought suit against the Debtor and his associates, both in their individual capacities and as controlling persons in relation to the Crescent companies. On October 10, 1984, a judgment was entered in the action against the individual defendants, jointly and severally, for $1.6 million, plus interest and costs.

Prior thereto, on May 14, 1984, criminal indictments for mail fraud and securities fraud were filed against Debtor and his associates. Thereafter, Defendant pled guilty to a reduced charge of bankruptcy fraud in the Crescent cases.

As required by the United States Probation Office, for the purposes of determining restitution and fines, Debtor employed his accountant to prepare a financial statement as of the period ending December 10, 1984. Based upon this financial statement, which indicated almost all assets as held by the entireties, Debtor was sentenced to (1) pay $25,000.00 in restitution for the benefit of the Bankruptcy Trustee in the Crescent cases, (2) pay a fine of $5,000.00, and (3) serve a probation of five (5) years.

On March 15, 1985, Debtor paid his restitution and fines, and immediately thereafter filed an individual bankruptcy petition. Debtor’s original Schedules and Financial Statements were due on that date; however, as is the practice of this Court, if an emergency filing occurs, Debtor is granted a 15-day extension on the filing of his supportive documentation. Debtor’s Schedules, due under the extension by March 30, 1985, were not filed until April 16, 1985.

A first meeting of creditors was held on June 4,1985. Thereafter, on June 18,1985, the judgment creditors filed objections to Debtor’s claimed exemptions. Debtor responded to same on July 3, 1985. On July 26, 1985, the judgment creditors filed their Objections to Dischargeability of Debt and Objections to Discharge.

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Bluebook (online)
81 B.R. 354, 1987 Bankr. LEXIS 1933, 1987 WL 25586, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bk-medical-systems-inc-pension-plan-v-roberts-in-re-roberts-pawb-1987.