Christen v. Smith (In re Smith)

86 B.R. 701, 1988 Bankr. LEXIS 759
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Florida
DecidedMay 17, 1988
DocketBankruptcy No. 86-3275-8B7; Adv. No. 86-536
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 86 B.R. 701 (Christen v. Smith (In re Smith)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Christen v. Smith (In re Smith), 86 B.R. 701, 1988 Bankr. LEXIS 759 (Fla. 1988).

Opinion

FINDINGS OF FACT, CONCLUSIONS OF LAW AND MEMORANDUM OPINION

ALEXANDER L. PASKAY, Chief Judge.

THIS IS a Chapter 7 liquidation case and the matters under consideration are two claims of non-dischargeability asserted by John R. Christen (Christen), the Plaintiff who instituted this adversary proceeding. The claim of non-dischargeability set forth in Count I of the amended Complaint is based on the factual allegation that the Defendant, Thomas A. Smith (Debtor), represented to the Plaintiff that he would obtain a release of a guaranty previously given by Christen to Manna Provisions, Inc. (Manna) who was a creditor of a corporation known as Brewmasters Steak House, Inc. (Brewmasters); that he never intended to obtain the release or, in the alternative, he knew that he would be incapable to obtain a release. It is further alleged in this count that the representations made by the Debtor were false and were made with the intent to deceive the [702]*702Plaintiff. In the conclusionary portion, it is alleged that as a result of the conduct of the Debtor, the Debtor “obtained money, property and/or extension of credit” by false pretenses, false representations or actual fraud.

In support of the claims set forth in Count II, it is alleged that when Manna filed a lawsuit against Christen, Brewmas-ters and the Debtor, the Debtor informed Christen that he had been released on his personal guaranty; that he was only a witness and not a party to the litigation and assured him that he did not have to worry about the litigation. It is further alleged by Christen that during the litigation the Debtor filed numerous pleadings on behalf of Christen, all without the knowledge or informed consent of Christen; that Christen had valid defenses to the lawsuit filed by Manna and also a potential cross-claim against the Debtor, all of which he was unable to raise because of the Debtor’s action who acted as his attorney even though he had a conflict of interest. Based on the foregoing, it is contended by Christen that the amount paid to Manna by Christen in the amount of $225,000 by way of settlement of an adverse judgment entered against all the Defendants, including Christen, was a result of the Debtor’s fraud or, in the alternative, result of defalcation by the Debtor while acting in a fiduciary capacity. The amended Complaint also contained a claim set forth in Count III in which the Plaintiff sought a declaration of non-dischargeability based on § 523(a)(6) but counsel for Christen announced at the commencement of the trial that Christen no longer intended to pursue this claim.

The facts established at the final eviden-tiary hearing in support of and in opposition to these claims can be summarized as follows:

At the time relevant to this transaction, Christen was the president and majority stockholder of Brewmasters, the owner and operator of a steakhouse initially located only in Tampa, Florida, which later branched out in other cities not only in Florida, but also outside of Florida, i.e. Georgia. Manna was, almost from the inception, the exclusive supplier of meat and frozen products to all the restaurants which were operated either directly by Brewmasters, or by its several subsidiaries. The Debtor is a practising attorney. In addition, he also became the attorney for Brewmasters and its affiliates and was compensated on a monthly retainer basis and in early 1970 became a close personal friend of Christen and handled his personal affairs as an attorney. The fact of the matter is, he was the best man at Christen’s wedding.

Brewmasters was initially founded in 1971 by Christen and sometime later, the date of which is unclear from this record, the Debtor acquired 42V2% of the outstanding shares of stock in Brewmasters. Christen retained 42*/2% and H. Freed, an individual not involved in this litigation, the balance of 15%.

It appears that in the spring of 1982, the financial condition of Brewmasters and its affiliates deteriorated to such an extent that it became evident that it would be necessary to take some radical action to stabilize the financial affairs of the several corporations. Christen was about to depart for Switzerland and was anxious to resolve an apparent stalemate with the Debtor due to a disagreement as to the proper approach to be undertaken in order to solve the financial crisis of the corporations. Christen first offered to buy the Debtor’s interest in the corporations, an offer the Debtor refused. Christen then proposed to sell his interest to the Debtor. This proposal was accepted by the Debtor. At the request of Christen, the Debtor prepared an agreement memorializing same by a document entitled “Memorandum of Agreement”. The Agreement provided, inter alia, that the Debtor will acquire Christen’s interest in “Brewmaster Restaurants” (sic) represented by corporate stock in the Brewmaster’s Steakhouse, Inc., Countryside Restaurant, Inc. (parent and it’s affiliate), Ormond Steakhouse, Inc., Prime Time, Inc. (parent including Food Service Dynamics, Inc.) and Maitland Steakhouse, Inc. (and it’s affiliate), for an agreed purchase price of $250,000 cash or, [703]*703in the alternative, for $500,000 payable on time over a ten (10) year period which obligation to bear interest at the rate of twelve (12%) percent per annum, with interest payable monthly. The crucial part of the Agreement is set forth in the next to the last paragraph which, because of its importance, is set forth verbatim and reads as follows:

“Smith will release and hold harmless Christen from any obligation from Federal withholding taxes as well as any personal liability to Manna Provision.”

It is without dispute that at the time of the execution of this document, Brewmas-ters were indebted to Manna on an open account in excess of $160,000, which obligation has been personally guaranteed by Christen. The record further reveals that after the execution of the “Memorandum of Agreement”, Christen was no longer involved in the affairs of Brewmasters or its affiliates and the Debtor became the chief executive and in sole charge of the operation of the several restaurants. However, it is without dispute that upon having been served with the Complaint filed by Manna against the Debtor, Brewmasters, its affiliates and Christen, Christen immediately contacted the Debtor who assured him that he will represent him in the lawsuit filed in Duval County, Florida. Smith did in fact file an answer on behalf of all of the Defendants, including Christen, participated in discovery and when his request for jury trial was denied, elected not to put forth any evidence in support of the defenses of estoppel and novation set forth in the answer he filed on behalf of the Defendants. The trial was concluded and judgment was entered by the trial court in the amount of $419,108.29 in favor of Manna against all Defendants. Christen was aware of the entry of the judgment even though he did not appear at the trial and discussed this matter with the Debtor who informed him that he would appeal the judgment. Christen told him that he will settle this matter and urged the Debtor to join in the settlement and pay a portion of it. The Debtor declined. Christen did in fact settle the claim of Manna for $225,000 by a cash payment of $150,000 and the balance represented by a note to be paid in to Manna in two years.

It appears that the personal guaranty of Christen to Manna was discussed at the time of the execution of the Agreement and reference to same was included in the Agreement at the suggestion of the Debt- or.

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Related

Christen v. Smith (In re Smith)
91 B.R. 612 (M.D. Florida, 1988)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
86 B.R. 701, 1988 Bankr. LEXIS 759, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/christen-v-smith-in-re-smith-flmb-1988.