Cadle Co. v. Zofko (In Re Zofko)

344 B.R. 68, 2006 Bankr. LEXIS 1149, 2006 WL 1743461
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, W.D. Pennsylvania
DecidedJune 27, 2006
Docket19-20823
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 344 B.R. 68 (Cadle Co. v. Zofko (In Re Zofko)) 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
Cadle Co. v. Zofko (In Re Zofko), 344 B.R. 68, 2006 Bankr. LEXIS 1149, 2006 WL 1743461 (Pa. 2006).

Opinion

OPINION 1

WARREN W. BENTZ, Bankruptcy Judge.

Introduction

David E. Zofko (“Debtor” or “Mr. Zof-ko”) filed a voluntary Petition under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code on July 7, 2004. The Cadle Company (“Cadle”) holds a judgment against the Debtor which was originally entered by Cadle as assignee of National City Bank, Northeast, in Trum-bell County, Ohio. Cadle’s judgment is the basis for its proof of claim which appears as Claim No. 3 on the Court Claims Register in the amount of $569,229.71. On July 29, 2004, Cadle filed its Complaint to Determine Dischargeability of Debt and to Object to Discharge (“Complaint”) 2 . Following several status conferences and extensions of time to conduct discovery and after the refusal of Cadle’s Motion for Summary Judgment, a trial/evidentiary hearing was held on January 26, 2006. In opening argument, counsel for Cadle stated that there are two prongs to the Complaint, 11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(4)(A) and § 727(a)(5). Cadle asserts that the Debtor is not entitled to a discharge because “the debtor knowingly and fraudulently, in or in connection with the case — made a false oath or account,” 11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(4)(A) and because “the debtor has failed to explain satisfactorily, before determination of denial of discharge under this paragraph, any loss of assets or deficiency of assets to meet the debtor’s liabilities.” 11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(5). Following the conclusion of the evidentiary hearing/trial, an Order which dismissed the Complaint was entered on February 3, 2006.

Presently before the Court is Cadle’s Motion for Additional Findings and Conclusions. We now amplify the basis for our decision.

Facts

Mr. Zofko is a professional engineer. He enjoyed success and, by 1992, he and his then wife, Marian Zofko, had accumulated a net worth of $4,000,000. Their assets included a residence in Warren, Ohio which then had a value of $360,000 and was subject to a $250,000 mortgage (the “Residence”) and a hunting camp, which had been purchased together with its furnishings in 1977 located in Tidioute, Pennsylvania (the “Tidioute Property”) which then had a value of $35,000 and was not subject to any mortgages.

Upon the advice of tax advisors, the Debtor and Marian Zofko created The David E. Zofko and Marian L. Zofko Children’s Trust (“Children’s Trust”) on December 7, 1992 for the benefit of their two children. The Debtor’s brother-in-law was named as Trustee. In 1992, Mr. Zofko and Marian Zofko gifted the Residence and the Tidioute Property to the Children’s Trust.

*71 After 1992, Debtor’s financial condition deteriorated. Debtor was involved in a construction project known as Surrey Point Condominiums which was financed by National City Bank (“NCB”) under a certain Note in the original amount of $500,000 (the “Note”). NCB called the Note in 1994 and Cadle acquired the Note from NCB. The Surrey Point property, which the Debtor had valued at $1,000,000 was sold by Cadle for $235,000.

In 1996, Marian Zofko initiated a divorce action to obtain a divorce from Mr. Zofko. The divorce case involved protracted litigation over the Children’s Trust, property distribution, and support issues. As a result of the divorce, the Children’s Trust retained ownership of the Residence and the Tidioute Property. Personal property was split between the parties and Marian Zofko obtained a Qualified Domestic Relations Order against the Debtor’s IRA accounts. Debtor obtained the right to occupy the Tidioute Property for up to 23 years at a rental rate equivalent to the real estate taxes, the real estate insurance premiums, and the cost of maintenance, and the right to purchase the Tidioute Property from the Children’s Trust during the term of his tenancy for the fair market value. Following the divorce, Mr. Zofko did not work for a period of time and occupied the Tidioute Property. The right to occupy the Tidioute Property was further memorialized in a Lease dated June 1, 2000 which gave the Debtor the right to occupy the property at a rental of $500 per month until June 1, 2020.

In 1998, Cadle sued Mr. Zofko and the Trustee of the Children’s Trust alleging that Mr. Zofko fraudulently transferred assets to the Trustee. This lawsuit culminated in a Settlement Agreement in July, 1999. The Children’s Trust paid Cadle $40,000 and Mr. Zofko turned over to Ca-dle his interest in certain IRA accounts, gas and oil well partnership interests, certain stocks, and a Russian Meat Processing Plant venture.

Mr. Zofko and the Children’s Trust had an insurance policy on the Tidioute Property. The insurance application form reflects an actual value for the Tidioute Property of $167,000 and contents of $83,000. The Tidioute Property was insured for $100,000 for the structure and $25,000 for contents from April 9, 2002 through April 15, 2005. The policy was extended for the period April 15, 2005 through April 15, 2006 during which time the personal property coverage amount increased to $50,000. Those coverage amounts are estimates of replacement cost based on the square footage of the building and then a percentage of the replacement building cost for the value of the contents.

In April, 2001, the Tidioute Property was burglarized. The incident caused damage to the dwelling and the loss of personal property located inside. In July, 2001, Mr. Zofko received $25,686 from a renter’s policy and the Children’s Trust received additional monies from a homeowner’s policy. Debtor utilized a portion of the insurance proceeds that he received to replace his daughter’s items and to repair damage to the Property.

Mary Jeanine Pipino (“Mrs.Pipino”) is Mr. Zofko’s sister. James D. Pipino (“Mr.Pipino”) is Mrs. Pipino’s husband. Mrs. Pipino has been the owner of record of a single family dwelling located at 443 North Rhodes Avenue, Niles, Ohio (the “Rhodes Property”) since November 17, 1992. Mr. And Mrs. Pipino lived at the Rhodes Property until October, 2000 when they purchased a new home.

Mr. Zofko and Mr. Pipino signed a Rental Agreement relating to the Rhodes Property. Under the Rental Agreement, Mrs. Pipino is the landlord and Mr. Zofko is the tenant. The Rental Agreement is *72 for a term of 20 years commencing on January 1, 2001 and terminating December 31, 2021. The rent is $2,000 per month and the tenant pays all utilities. The Rental Agreement provides for a security deposit of $5,000.

Mr. Zofko’s girlfriend, Rebecca, was the primary resident of the Rhodes Property. Most of the personal property at the Rhodes Property belonged to Rebecca. Mrs. Pipino had left a few pieces of furniture and window treatments in the property which she never expected to get back. An insurance policy which covered losses for personal property at the Rhodes Property in the amount of $75,000 plus additional coverage for certain scheduled items was designed to insure Rebecca’s personalty. Mr.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Stapelton v. Yanni (In Re Yanni)
354 B.R. 708 (E.D. Pennsylvania, 2006)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
344 B.R. 68, 2006 Bankr. LEXIS 1149, 2006 WL 1743461, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cadle-co-v-zofko-in-re-zofko-pawb-2006.