Cattlemen's Livestock Market v. Cox (In re Cox)

161 B.R. 667, 1993 Bankr. LEXIS 1813
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, W.D. Arkansas
DecidedNovember 23, 1993
DocketBankruptcy No. 92-16474S; Adv. No. 93-6505
StatusPublished

This text of 161 B.R. 667 (Cattlemen's Livestock Market v. Cox (In re Cox)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, W.D. Arkansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Cattlemen's Livestock Market v. Cox (In re Cox), 161 B.R. 667, 1993 Bankr. LEXIS 1813 (Ark. 1993).

Opinion

FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

MARY D. SCOTT, Bankruptcy Judge.

THIS CAUSE came before the Court upon the trial of the complaint objecting to discharge. A document entitled Petition to Object to Discharge was filed with the clerk’s office on February 18, 1993, in which the plaintiff asserted that the debtors’ discharge should be denied, stating grounds under sections 727(a)(2), (3) of the Bankruptcy Code. An answer was filed denying these charges. In contrast to its pleading, the plaintiffs preliminary pretrial statement asserted that the debtors engaged in fraud, citing Bankruptcy Code sections 547 and 548.1 In the pretrial submissions and at trial, the plaintiff asserted that the debt was nondischargeable for fraud, pursuant to section 523(a)(2)(A). At trial, the debtor Paul Franklin2 objected to any proceeding under section 523 inasmuch as that action had never been pleaded. Accordingly, the debtor argues, the action is time barred under Rule 4007, Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, and Bankruptcy Code section 523(c).

The Court has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 157(a), 1334. Moreover, this Court concludes that this is a “core proceeding” within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. § 157(b) as exemplified by 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(I), (J).

The debtor is correct that trial of any issue under section 523(a) is inappropriate. First, plaintiff never filed an action under section 523(a). This is not merely a formalistic requirement. Under bankruptcy law, there is a distinction between discharge and dischargeability. Objections to discharge under section 727 are filed on the basis of the debtor’s conduct in the bankruptcy case or conduct with regard to his assets. Objections may be grounded upon such acts as a failure of the debtor regarding his duties of record-keeping, 11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(3), truthfulness to the trustee and the court, 11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(4), or concealing assets, 11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(2). See generally Irving Federal Savings and Loan Association v. Billings (In re Billings), 146 B.R. 431, 433-35 (Bankr.N.D.Ill.1992).

Dischargeability, in contrast, refers to discharge of a particular debt in a bankruptcy proceeding. Objections to dischargeability of a debt are based upon a debtor’s actions with regard to the particular debt. A complaint to determine dischargeability may be grounded upon such acts as procuring money by fraud, 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2), embezzlement or larceny, 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(4), or wilful and malicious injury, 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(6). See generally Irving Federal [669]*669Savings and Loan Association v. Billings (In re Billings), 146 B.R. at 433-34.

The distinction between the two concepts, and the pleading requirements for each, discharge and dischargeability, is one which the Bankruptcy Courts enforce. The assertion of an objection to discharge in no manner preserves any rights with regard to an objection to dischargeability of a debt. See Irving Federal Savings and Loan Association v. Billings (In re Billings), 146 B.R. at 435 (“Irving Federal erred when it assumed that the court granted it an extension to proceed under § 727 on April 29, 1992 merely because the court extended the time to proceed under § 523. Discharge and dis-chargeability are based on separate policies and are governed by distinct procedural rules.”). The strong policy in favor of the “fresh start” require that the bankruptcy courts construe strictly these sections and rules. See generally In re Kirsch, 65 B.R. 297, 300 (Bankr.N.D.Ill.1986). Thus, a complaint objecting to discharge will not serve as notice of an action objecting to dischargeability.

In the instant ease, the complaint asserts causes of action under section 727(a). Not until the filing of the pretrial stipulations, on October 21,1993, four days prior to trial, did plaintiff indicate he had an objection to the dischargeability of a debt. Inasmuch as the time for filing such an action is long past,3 the defendant’s objection to trial on a dis-chargeability action under section 523(a) has merit.

Since plaintiff presented its case addressing only the elements for a fraud nondis-chargeability action under section 523(a)(2)(A), the record is devoid of any evidence supporting a denial discharge pursuant to section 727(a). Accordingly, the complaint must be dismissed on the merits.

Even were an action under section 523(a)(2) properly before the Court, plaintiffs action fails. In order to demonstrate that a debt is nondischargeable, plaintiff was required to plead and prove that

(1) the debtor made the representation;
(2) that at the time the debtor made the representation, he knew them to be false;
(3) that the debtor made the representations with the intention and purpose of deceiving the creditor;
(4) that the plaintiff relied on such representation;
(5) that the plaintiff sustained the alleged loss and damage as the proximate result of the representations having been made.

See Thul v. Ophaug, 827 F.2d 340, 342 & n. 1 (8th Cir.1987).

Plaintiff presented proof that the debtor Paul Franklin Cox was in the cattle business. Operating like many other cattlemen, Cox would purchase livestock at one market, sell it at another, and use the proceeds from the sale to pay for the cattle. Generally, Cox paid the seller within the week of purchase with the proceeds. In this manner, Cox would purchase cattle from the plaintiff Cattlemen’s Livestock on Thursday, sell the cattle within a few days, and, the next Thursday, again appear at Cattlemen’s Livestock sale. Paying for the last week’s cattle, he purchased cattle to sell during the following week. Cattlemen’s Livestock would not extend credit beyond the first sale. That is, Cox could not purchase additional cattle until the prior purchase was paid in full.

In or around October 1993, Danny McGrew and his mother, Betty McGrew, the operators of Cattlemen’s Livestock, became concerned about Cox’s operation. They noticed that he was purchasing increasing amounts of cattle. Accordingly, on October 22, 1993, they held a conversation with Cox at which time he assured them that he intended to pay for all cattle that he purchased at Cattlemen’s Livestock. Cox paid for the cattle he bought on the subsequent two [670]

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161 B.R. 667, 1993 Bankr. LEXIS 1813, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cattlemens-livestock-market-v-cox-in-re-cox-arwb-1993.