Brannon v. Reynolds (In re Reynolds)

543 B.R. 236
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. West Virginia
DecidedDecember 9, 2015
DocketCASE NO. 5:14-bk-50061; ADVERSARY PROCEEDING NO. 5:14-ap-5013
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 543 B.R. 236 (Brannon v. Reynolds (In re Reynolds)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. West Virginia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Brannon v. Reynolds (In re Reynolds), 543 B.R. 236 (W. Va. 2015).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

Frank W. Volk, United States Bankruptcy Judge '

Pending is Plaintiff Donna L. Brannon’s motion for summary judgment. Ms, Bran-non prosecutes this adversary proceeding seeking a determination that a debt owed by Defendants Thomas Philip Reynolds and Angela Faye Reynolds is nondischargeable, pursuant .to sections 523(a)(2)(A), (a)(4), and (a)(6) of the Bankruptcy Code,

This is a core proceeding pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(I).’ The Court has jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C, § 157 and 28 U.S.C. § 1334.

I.

■ WOCO Oil, Inc. (“WOCO”) sold diesel fuel tó J.L. Brannon, Inc. (“J.L. Brannon”) beginning in 2008. Exh. 2 to the Motion, Stole Court Complaint, p. 1. As part of the 'transa’ctions, M!s. Brannon, the Treasurer for J;L; Brannon, completed a “credit application” on'behalf of J.L. Brannon, Id. Reynolds Oil Inc. (“Reynolds Oil”) was employed by J.L. Brannon to transport the fuel from WOCO to J.L. Brannon’s West Virginia customers. Id. The original procedure was for WOCO to provide the location of the fuel to, and invoice, J.L. Bran-non. J-.L. Brannon would then provide the fuel location to Reynolds Oil. Id.. As the relationship progressed, J.L Brannon began: simply notifying Reynolds Oil that it needed fuel from WOCO, and Reynolds Oil [240]*240would then contact WOCO for the fuel location. Id.

At some point, Reynolds Oil began acquiring fuel from WOCO for its own business and customers. Id. at 1-2. While J.L. Brannon allowed Reynolds Oil to acquire agreed-upon amounts on J.L. Bran-non’s account with WOCO, Reynolds Oil began ordering fuel for its own use on J.L. Brannon’s account without first obtaining consent from J.L. Brannon. Id. When Reynolds Oil failed to pay for this fuel, WOCO invoiced J.L. Brannon, in the amount of $200,000. Id. This unexpected invoicing forced Ms. Brannon to loan J.L. Brannon $200,000 from her personal retirement fund. Id. '

J.L. Brannon demanded payment of these monies from Reynolds Oil, but reimbursement was not received. Id. Consequently, in January of 2012, WOCO instituted an action in the Circuit Court of Kanawha County against Ms. Brannon and J.L. Brannon (the “State Court Action”). Ms. Brannon in turn filed a Third-Party Complaint (the “Third-Party Complaint”) against the Reynolds and Reynolds Oil, with whom they are associated. The Third-Party Complaint alleged that the Reynolds, through Reynolds Oil, defrauded Ms. Brannon out of.. approximately $200,000. Ms. Brannon alleged that misconduct led to the State Court Action. Ms. Brannon additionally alleged in the Third-Party Complaint that Reynolds Oil caused her financial and severe emotional distress due to the threats of insolvency she faced and the disruption of her retirement planning and “ability to .enjoy life.” Id.

The Reynolds and Reynolds Oh;did not answer the Third-Party Complaint! The Motion, p. 2. Ms. Brannon thus, moved for default judgment in the State Court Action. Id. Prior to entry of default judgment, the parties settled the claims alleged in the 'Third-Party Complaint (“Agreed Order”), Exh. 3 to the Motion. The Agreed Order awarded Ms. Brannon judgment in the amount of $200,000, plus the amount of any recovery obtained against her by WOCO. Id. In the Agreed Order, the Reynolds and Reynolds Oil admitted the allegations in the Third-Party Complaint. Id.

' The Defendants filed their chapter 11 petition on March 24, 2014 (case no. 5:14-bk-50061). A Chapter 11 Plan has yet to be filed in the case. On August 10, 2015, the U.S. Trustee moved to convert. In lieu of conversion, the Defendants agreed to file all delinquent monthly operating reports, bring current the quarterly fees owed to the U.S. Trustee, and liquidate their remaining real estate for the benefit of creditors by March 2016.

On' June 24, 2014, Ms. Brannon commenced this adversary proceeding (docket no. 1). Defendants answered on July 24, 2014 (docket no. 4). Following discovery, Ms. Brannon moved for summary judgmfent. " The matter is ripe for disposition.

-II.

. A. Governing Standard

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56, made applicable to these proceedings by Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 7056, authorizes summary judgment only if “there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and .. .■ the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c), Fed. R. Bankr.P. 7056. The moving party bears the burden. Emmett v. Johnson, 532 F.3d 291, 297 (4th Cir.2008) (“When a party has submitted sufficient evidence to support its request for summary judgment, the burden shifts to the non moving party____”) (emphasis added); Mitchell v. Data Gen. Corp., 12 F.3d 1310, 1315 (4th Cir.1993). Once the [241]*241moving party has made a prima facie showing of its right to judgment as a matter of law, the nonmoving party must go beyond the pleadings and demonstrate that there is a genuine issue of material fact which precludes - summary judgment. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 324, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986).

B. Analysis ,

Plaintiff seeks a nondischargeability determination under 11 U.S.C. § 523. A presumption exists that all debts owed by the debtor are dischargeable unless the party contending otherwise proves nondischargeability. 11 U.S.C. § 727(b). The purpose of this “fresh start” is to protect “honest but unfortunate” debtors. Bosiger v. U.S. Airways, Inc., 510 F.3d 442, 448 (4th Cir.2007). Courts should narrowly construe exceptions to discharge against the creditor and in favor of the debtor. Kubota Tractor Corp. v. Strack (In re Strack), 524 F.3d 493, 497 (4th Cir.2008) (quoting Foley & Lardner v. Biondo (In re Biondo), 180 F.3d 126, 130 (4th Cir.1999)). The burden is on the creditor to prove the exception to discharge by a preponderance of the evidence. Grogan v. Garner, 498 U.S. 279, 287-88, 111 S.Ct. 654, 112 L.Ed.2d 755 (1991); Kubota, 524 F.3d at 497.

I.

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