Cardwell v. Gurley

187 F. App'x 183

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

*

Donald Lee Cardwell challenges the district court’s summary judgment affirming the bankruptcy court’s determination that his debt to Bill Gurley—arising out of a state-court judgment—was non-discharge-able under 11 U.S.C. §§ 528(a)(2)(A) and 523(a)(4). Cardwell contends the district court erred because: he did not waive his arguments regarding collateral estoppel; and, the state court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law (FOFCOL) did not support the non-dischargeability of the debt.

Cardwell and Gurley were business partners and co-owners of 121 Ventures, LLC, which was involved in, inter alia, real-estate development. Cardwell was the managing member and was trusted by Gurley to handle all of the LLC’s day-today business. Cardwell made misrepresentations to Gurley in order to induce him to consent to various transactions that ultimately injured Gurley to the benefit of Cardwell. Gurley filed an action in state court and received a judgment for approximately $370,830. Cardwell subsequently filed for bankruptcy and Gurley filed this action seeking to exempt the judgment debt from discharge. Giving preclusive effect to the FOFCOL of the state court, the bankruptcy court concluded the debt was non-dischargeable. The district court affirmed the bankruptcy court and this appeal followed.

Gurley contends Cardwell waived his arguments, in part, because he failed to submit the pleadings in the bankruptcy court as part of the appellate record. Cardwell maintains that this was due to a mistake in the clerk’s office. But, our court need not resolve the waiver issue because the bankruptcy court correctly concluded the state-court FOFCOL establish the debt is non-dischargeable.

The parties concede that collateral es-toppel should apply to prevent the re-litigation of the FOFCOL of the state court; they only disagree as to whether those findings support the discharge or the non-dischargeability of the debt. Our court reviews a grant of summary judgment de novo. In re National Gypsum, 208 F.3d 498, 504 (5th Cir.2000).

Under § 523(a)(2)(A), a debtor is not discharged from “any debt ... for money, property, services, or an extension, renewal, or refinancing of credit, to the extent obtained by false-pretenses, a false representation, or actual fraud, other than a statement respecting the debtor’s or an insider’s financial condition.” Though our court’s precedent has previously distinguished between “false pretenses,” “false representations,” and “actual fraud,” Cardwell contends our court in In re Acosta, 406 F.3d 367 (5th Cir.2005), set out a five-element “actual fraud” test applicable to any claims under § 523(a)(2)(A). Id. at 372. Our court has not determined whether the five-element test applies to all actions under § 523(a)(2)(A), and it need not do so here because the debt at issue is not dischargeable even under the more stringent Acosta test.

For a debt to be non-dischargeable under this standard, a creditor must show: “(1) that the debtor made a representation; (2) that the debtor knew the representation was false; (3) that the representation was made with the intent to deceive the creditor; (4) that the creditor actually and justifiably relied on the representation; and (5) that the creditor sustained a loss as a proximate result of its reliance.” Id. Cardwell contends the FOFCOL lack specific language stating the court found “fraud” and an “intent to deceive,” but these contentions are unavailing.

The state court found, inter alia, the following: Cardwell persuaded Gurley to consent to the transaction by stating he would “manage [a new] development to fruition” using the land acquired in the transaction; Cardwell “had no intention ” (emphasis added) of developing this new property; but, Gurley believed him and agreed to the proposal; Gurley had been doing business with Cardwell over ten years and had developed “the utmost trust and confidence” in him; Gurley would not have agreed to the transaction had Card-well not made “materially false and misleading” statements and promises; Card-well subsequently sold the new property far below market value without informing or receiving consent from Gurley; and, Cardwell’s behavior caused damage to Gurley in excess of $300,000.

Even ignoring the myriad of other misrepresentations and breaches by Cardwell, these findings are sufficient to meet the elements of the Acosta test for non-dis-chargeability. Specifically, the finding that Cardwell made a promise—with no intention of following through on that promise—in order to persuade Gurley to consent to the transaction satisfies elements two and three of the Acosta test, which are the primary elements in contention. As a result, the debt is not dis-chargeable under § 523(a)(2)(A).

Because we affirm under § 523(a)(2)(A), it is unnecessary to reach the contentions pertaining to other provisions of § 523 relied upon as separate grounds for non-dischargeability.

AFFIRMED.

Pursuant to 5th Cir R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.