Central Bank & Trust Co. v. Mustafa (In re Mustafa)

557 B.R. 533, 2016 Bankr. LEXIS 3348
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Kentucky
DecidedSeptember 14, 2016
DocketCASE NO. 15-52410; ADV. NO. 16-5011
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 557 B.R. 533 (Central Bank & Trust Co. v. Mustafa (In re Mustafa)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Kentucky primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Central Bank & Trust Co. v. Mustafa (In re Mustafa), 557 B.R. 533, 2016 Bankr. LEXIS 3348 (Ky. 2016).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Gregory R. Schaaf, Bankruptcy Judge

This matter is before the Court for an evidentiary hearing on an Objection to Confirmation by Creditor Central Bank & Trust Co. (“Central Bank”) [Case No. 15-52410, ECF No. 15] and a trial on the Plaintiff Central Bank’s Complaint [Adversary No. 16-5011, ECF No. 1] alleging a debt of $17,862.39 as of December 11, 2015, plus interest, costs, expenses and reasonable attorneys’ fees pursuant to Central Bank’s Proof of Claim No. 2, is non-dischargeable pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2) and § 523(a)(6).

The allegations in Central Bank’s Objection and Complaint arise from the same set of facts and raise similar issues regarding: (1) the Defendant Debtor’s intent when he borrowed funds from Central Bank to purchase a vehicle and proposed to surrender the vehicle in his chapter 13 plan; and (2) the dischargeability of the underlying debt. The Court held the evi-dentiary hearing and trial concurrently on September 6, 2016. Upon consideration of the parties’ stipulation of facts, testimony and exhibits admitted into evidence, the record, and the arguments of counsel, the Court finds: (1) the debt owed to Central Bank is non-dischargeable pursuant to § 523(a)(2) and § 523(a)(6); and (2) the Debtor’s chapter 13 plan is not confirma-ble.

I. FACTS.

A. Saja, LLC, d/b/a Everyday Auto Sales.

In 2003, the Debtor Defendant Naim M. Mustafa formed Saja, LLC, d/b/a Everyday Auto Sales (“Saja”). Through Saja, Mustafa operated a used-car dealership in Lexington, Kentucky. As the sole member of Saja, Mustafa worked on the used-car lot daily and. was regularly involved in customer financing. This and other evidence shows Mustafa is very familiar with the rules and regulations governing the sale and purchase of motor vehicles.

Saja financed its inventory with floor plan financing. Each loan advance was made against a specific vehicle and repaid when the vehicle is sold. If a vehicle sat on the car lot more than 60 days, Saja would lose money. To avoid this loss, Mustafa caused Saja to “re-floor” any vehicle held in inventory over 60-days with a different company.

[536]*536In 2013, Saja began experiencing problems with the floor plan financing. Mustafa testified that the floor plan lenders continued to sweep Saja’s business checking account on a regular basis but did not timely release titles to the vehicles. These problems caused Saja to experience financial difficulties, forcing Mustafa to take out a second mortgage against his home to attempt to save his business. Mustafa invested some or most of the loan proceeds from the second mortgage into Saja, which kept Saja afloat for a period of time, but Saja eventually filed chapter 7 bankruptcy in May 2015.

B. The Purchase of the Mercedes and Loan from Central Bank.

On April 9, 2014, Mustafa attended an auction in Clarkesville, Indiana. Mustafa, acting on behalf of Saja as Everyday Auto Sales, signed an auction sale contract that provided for the purchase of a 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Sedan 4D S550-NG71 (the “Mercedes”) for $19,335.00. Mustafa testified he believed the Mercedes was a good deal because it had a NADA value of $30,000.00. Mustafa testified that he intended to purchase the Mercedes as a “company vehicle,” but he did not want to include the Mercedes as part of his floor plan financing because of the high fees and interest rate. So Mustafa decided to seek alternative financing.

On April 17, 2014, Mustafa approached Laura Owens at Central Bank and requested a loan to finance the purchase of the Mercedes. Owens was familiar with Mustafa and his used-car dealership. Central Bank held the second mortgage on Mustafa’s home and had previously loaned money to Mustafa in other capacities. Mus-tafa also kept Saja’s business checking account at Central Bank.

Mustafa brought Owens a consumer loan credit application that he filled out in his individual name prior to arriving at the Bank. Being familiar with Mustafa’s used-car business, Owens sought to clarify the nature of the loan and asked Mustafa if he wanted to purchase the Mercedes in his name and the reason for its purchase. Mustafa told her that he liked the Mercedes and did not want anyone else to purchase it.

Owens testified that she later contacted Mustafa at the request of her supervisor to confirm he would use the Mercedes for his personal, family or household use. He again told her that he liked the Mercedes and did not want anyone else to purchase it. Mustafa also told her that he would drive it for a while and then let his wife drive it. Mustafa testified that Owens knew he wanted to purchase the Mercedes as a company vehicle, but Owens credibly denied any knowledge of this fact. Relying on Mustafa’s representations to Owens and the representations made on his consumer credit application, Central Bank approved the loan.

In an attempt to explain why he sought a consumer loan for a vehicle that he planned to use as company vehicle, Musta-fa testified that he was running out of time to pay the purchase price on the Mercedes and the commercial loan process with Central Bank was too time-consuming and cumbersome. As an alternative, he sought a consumer loan in his individual name instead. Mustafa claims he sought a consumer loan at Owens’ suggestion, which she denied. One reason Owens testimony is more credible is because Mustafa presented Owens with a consumer credit application that was filled out prior to their meeting.

On April 18, 2014, Mustafa, in his individual capacity, borrowed $21,642.70 from Central Bank (the “Loan”) and executed and delivered a Note, Disclosure and Security Agreement to evidence the Loan (the “Note and Agreement”). Mustafa granted [537]*537Central Bank a lien upon and security interest in the Mercedes as security for the Loan. Central Bank properly perfected its security interest in the Mercedes by notation of same on the certificate of title.

The Note and Agreement signed by Mustafa provides, in relevant part:

Duties Toward Property. I will protect the [Mercedes] and your interest against any competing claim. Except as otherwise provided in this Loan Agreement, I will keep the [Mercedes] in my possession at the address indicated on this Loan Agreement. I will keep the [Mercedes] in good repair and use it only for personal, family, or household purposes. I will immediately inform you of any loss or damage to the [Mercedes]. You have the right of reasonable access to inspect the [Mercedes].
I will not sell, lease, or otherwise transfer or encumber the [Mercedes] without your prior written consent. You do not authorize any sale or other disposition of the [Mercedes]. Any sale or disposition you do not authorize will violate your rights. If I pledge the [Mercedes] to you (deliver the [Mercedes] into you, or your designated third party’s possession or control) I will, upon receipt, deliver any proceeds and products of the [Mercedes] to you. I will provide you with any notices, documents, financial statements, reports, and other information relating to the [Mercedes] I receive as the owner of the [Mercedes].

[See PL Ex. 1, ECF No. 7-1, at 3.] The Note and Agreement contain other similar representations and restrictions throughout.

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Related

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577 B.R. 513 (E.D. Kentucky, 2017)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
557 B.R. 533, 2016 Bankr. LEXIS 3348, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/central-bank-trust-co-v-mustafa-in-re-mustafa-kyeb-2016.