Brugger v. Brugger (In Re Brugger)

254 B.R. 321, 2000 Bankr. LEXIS 1298, 2000 WL 1638507
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Pennsylvania
DecidedMay 15, 2000
Docket5-98-03949
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 254 B.R. 321 (Brugger v. Brugger (In Re Brugger)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Brugger v. Brugger (In Re Brugger), 254 B.R. 321, 2000 Bankr. LEXIS 1298, 2000 WL 1638507 (Pa. 2000).

Opinion

OPINION 1

JOHN J. THOMAS, Bankruptcy Judge.

On October 15, 1998, Judge Linda Miller, Court of Common Pleas of Monroe County, Pennsylvania, issued a decree ordering the divorce of William E. Brugger (hereinafter “Debtor”) and Sherry Sue Brugger (hereinafter “Creditor Spouse”). 2 The decree also ordered equitable distribution of marital property and approved the Master’s Recommendation, as modified by the court. (Divorce Decree, Joint Exhibit E). The largest obligation incurred by the Debtor was the court ordered buy-out of Creditor Spouse’s 50% legal and equitable interest in XICIS Corporation, which is a software company formed by the Bruggers during their marriage, servicing the flavor and fragrance industry. Brugger v. Brugger, Court of Common Pleas of Monroe County, Forty-Third Judicial District, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; No. 503 D.R.1996 (October 15, 1998)(Joint Exhibit B). At the Master’s hearing, Creditor Spouse produced an expert’s valuation of XICIS, but Debtor only offered his personal opinion concerning value. (Master’s Report ¶ 39(b) at 7-8, Joint Exhibit A). After weighing the testimony and the report, the Master adopted the expert’s valuation of XICIS. Id. Based on this report, the Master found that the value of XICIS Corporation on May 15, 1996, the date of separation, was $1,170,000. Id. Because of the specialized nature of the business, Debtor was ordered to purchase Creditor Spouse’s 50% share of the business for $585,000. Id. This amount was to be paid in a lump sum within 90 days or over a period of five years with 8% interest. Id.; Brugger, No. 503 D.R.1996 at 2 (Joint Exhibit B). When all shares are purchased, Creditor Spouse was required to relinquish her 50% control over the corporation. Brugger, No. 503 D.R.1996 at 3 (Joint Exhibit B). Subsequently, Debtor filed for relief under Chapter 13 on November 17, 1998. (Docket Entries for Bankruptcy Case No. 5-98-03949, Joint Exhibit 1)

Creditor Spouse argues that the state court equitable distribution award is not considered debt under the Bankruptcy Code, rather, it is a property interest. In her brief, Creditor Spouse asserts that

*324 “Equitable distribution rights to marital property are by definition property interests of the non-debtor (as well as of the debtor) spouse under the Pennsylvania Divorce Code, 23 Pa.C.S. § 3101, et seq. Consequently, a claim for equitable distribution does not constitute a debt or a claim within the meaning of and is therefore not dischargeable under the Bankruptcy Code.” In re Ingebrethsen, 1998 WL 351730 (E.D.Pa.1998) citing In re Bennett, 175 B.R. 181 (Bankr.E.D.Pa.1994) and In re Simeone, 214 B.R. 537 (Bankr.E.D.Pa.1997).

Creditor Spouse also cites In re Scholl, 234 B.R. 636 (Bankr.E.D.Pa.1999), as “reflecting] the current trend in the 3rd Circuit.” In Scholl, the Bankruptcy Court held that “Plaintiffs vested right to equitable distribution of marital property not yet determined by an order of the state court is unaffected by her estranged spouse’s bankruptcy.” Id. at 645. Since, in Scholl, the debtor filed for bankruptcy after the commencement of the divorce but prior to the equitable distribution award, the marital property was in custodia legis. Id. at 637, 642.

Even if I were to accept this line of reasoning, Creditor Spouse is mistaken in her application of Scholl to the matter at issue. Scholl is distinguishable because the debtor filed for bankruptcy after the divorce complaint was filed, but before the equitable distribution order. The issue of timing is very important when determining property interests. Upon filing for divorce, the parties “hold[ ] a vested, inchoate right to the equitable distribution of marital property,” and a debt or claim might not arise until the property is distributed to the respective spouses. Id. at 637. The property at this point may be considered in custodia legis awaiting distribution; however, once property distribution is ordered and becomes individual property, a debt or claim can arise. In the case at bar, the debt owing to Mrs. Brug-ger was certainly in existence when the common pleas court imposed an obligation on Debtor to “buy-out” 3 Creditor Spouse’s share of XICIS Corporation. Therefore, the property was already equitably distributed to the respective parties. The resulting right to payment ordered by the court certainly creates a debt on behalf of the obligor.

In further support of her argument, Creditor Spouse relies on In re Lowenschuss, 170 F.3d 923 (9th Cir.1999). This case is also distinguishable from the matter at issue because in Lowenschuss, the wife was awarded “an outright ownership interest in 38.7% of [husband’s] pension plan assets, rather than merely a money judgment against debtor.” Id. at 923. This interest in husband’s pension plan was held not dischargeable because it was a property interest and not considered a debt. Id. at 929-930. Prior to the divorce complaint, the wife did not have an ownership interest in debtor’s pension plan. Id. The case at bar is different because Creditor Spouse was awarded a money judgment in the form of a buy-out of her 50% interest in XICIS, which was determined as a result of equitable distribution. Similarly to the case before me, in In re Custer, 208 B.R. 675 (Bkrtcy.N.D.Ohio 1997), the court had to determine “the discharge-ability of the Debtor’s obligation under the stock buyout agreement” to purchase wife’s shares in the family owned business. *325 Id. at 678. The court applied 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(5) and held that the obligation was nondischargeable. Id. at 679. To be considered under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(5), there would have to be a debt.

Similar facts to the case at bar are found in In re Patterson, 132 F.3d 33, 1997 WL 745501 (6th Cir.1997), where the Sixth Circuit affirmed the Bankruptcy Court’s application of 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(15). Id. The Bankruptcy Court held that debtor’s obligation “pursuant to a [Pennsylvania] state court’s order in the parties’ divorce action” to pay Creditor Spouse $31,606.88 “represent[ing] $25,000 for one-half of the value of their marital business and $6,606.88 for one-half of the marital credit card debt” was nondischargeable. Id. at *1. To reach this holding 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(15) 4

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Bluebook (online)
254 B.R. 321, 2000 Bankr. LEXIS 1298, 2000 WL 1638507, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/brugger-v-brugger-in-re-brugger-pamb-2000.