Circle Management Services, Inc. v. Wright

36 B.R. 663, 1984 Bankr. LEXIS 6424
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. Ohio
DecidedJanuary 18, 1984
DocketBankruptcy No. 3-83-00046; Adv. No. 3-83-00118
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 36 B.R. 663 (Circle Management Services, Inc. v. Wright) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. Ohio primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Circle Management Services, Inc. v. Wright, 36 B.R. 663, 1984 Bankr. LEXIS 6424 (Ohio 1984).

Opinion

DECISION AND ORDER

CHARLES A. ANDERSON, Bankruptcy Judge.

PRELIMINARY PROCEDURE

This matter is before the court upon a complaint filed 18 February 1983, as amended on 29 March 1983, by Circle Management Services, Inc. (CMS) against Phillip Lawrence Wright, (the Debtor), et al.; the Answer filed by Debtor on 18 May 1983; the Case record and the evidence as stipulated and incorporated in a pretrial order entered 12 September 1983 and adduced at the trial on 17 October 1983.

FINDINGS OF FACT

The Debtor/Defendant filed a voluntary petition for relief pursuant to Chapter 13 of title 11, United States Code on 12 January 1983, proposing a Plan to pay over a period of 36 months the present value of all allowed secured claims and an amount not less than 3% to each allowed unsecured claim, to be funded by monthly payments of $250.00 each month. Seven creditors were scheduled with claims totalling $93,658.00, of which the total of $87,051.00 was unsecured. The major unsecured debts scheduled were $36,002.00 to CMS; federal income taxes of $3882.00 for 1980-1981 (payroll taxes), and $48,558.00 for 1970, 1976, 1978, 1979 (personal income taxes). Debtor lists employment as an accountant with take home pay $650.63 every two weeks. He previously was self-employed as a sales representative. He has three minor children dependents and a spouse who earns $1100.00 monthly. His submitted family budget lists monthly living expenses, not including debts to be paid under the plan, in the total amount of $2138.00.

The stipulation of uncontroverted facts by the parties reads, as follows:

“(a) That on or about September 28, 1977, Defendant, Phillip Lawrence Wright, was convicted of Grand Theft (Case No. 77-CR-931 Montgomery County, Ohio) for fraudulently obtaining over $20,000 from the Plaintiff as follows: (1) that in between February 26, 1976 and August 1, 1976, Plaintiff was requested by said Defendant to supply and payroll temporary personnel to work at H & H Broadcasters, Inc. dba WELX and WHBM radio stations. (2) that said Defendant during this time period advised Plaintiff that he would be supplying his own personnel and did in fact sign time cards and pay vouchers for eight individuals. (3) that Plaintiff did pay the salaries for these individuals based upon the representations of said Defendant. (4) that in truth there never was [sic] any individuals working for said Defendant and that he sign [sic] all the payroll checks and did use the proceeds therefrom for his own personal use with the exception of some $200 to $300 which was paid to various personnel by Defendant, (b) That on or about November 22, 1977, said Defendant received shock probation with the stipulation that he was to make restitution to the Plaintiff and that between November 22, 1977 and January 1, [665]*6651983, he made 15 monthly payments to-talling $1,875 and still owes to Plaintiff approximately $35,996.69, which sum has been included in Defendant’s Chapter 13 Plan.”

Upon a guilty plea, the order in the criminal action sentenced the Debtor to imprisonment for “not less than two years nor more than five years”, effective October 6, 1977.

Jack E. Circle was sole stockholder of CMS, which he has since sold, netting only $10,200.00 therefrom. He testified that he has retired and his only current income is social security benefits. The debt owed by the Debtor was reduced to judgment in the state court on 21 January 1977; and the Chapter 13 petition was precipitated by a wage garnishment upon the judgment. Upon sale of his corporation after the Chapter 13 filing, Jack E. Circle became assignee of the judgment and is now the real party in interest. The restitution funds are desperately needed by him for living expenses, especially mortgage payments on his residence.

DECISION

The Debtor is obviously suffering from an impossible and imponderable financial situation arising from his previous business dealings, further complicated by the shock probation order, which leave insufficient economic means for the bare subsistence of himself and family. In the same vein, the failure of Debtor to make restitution as ordered by the state court has, in effect, placed in jeopardy payments by the victim (Jack E. Circle) on his home mortgage.

As a matter of factual interpretation, this court has on numerous occasions concluded that if a debtor meets the mandatory requirement of 11 U.S.C. § 1325(a)(4) that the plan be in the “best interests” of the unsecured creditors, good faith is not determined by the size of debt- or’s Chapter 13 contribution. Instead, there must also be submitted evidence aliunde of actual “bad faith”. See decision by this court in Matter of Berry, 5 B.R. 515, 6 B.C.D. 649, 2 C.B.C.2d 663 (Bkrtcy., S.D. Ohio 1980). We have also repeatedly held there are no mathematical formulas to determine good faith. St. Luke Parish Federal Credit Union v. Wourms, 14 B.R. 169 (Bkrtcy., S.D.Ohio 1981).

The nature of the debts must be considered, nevertheless, if only nominal repayment is contemplated. See decisions by this court in Wright State University v. Novak, 25 B.R. 459 (Bkrtcy.1982); Turpin v. Maupin, 26 B.R. 987, B.L.D. (CCH) ¶ 69102 (Bkrtcy.1983); and Margraf v. Oliver, 28 B.R. 420 (Bkrtcy.1983) involving adjudicated fraud (confirmation denied unless 100% repaid to the injured class).

The facts now sub judice demonstrate a critical situation confronting the Debtor who needs financial rehabilitation desperately. The amount of his Plan contributions from his earnings do not reflect upon his good faith, in light of his meagre earnings. Rather, questions of public policy and plan feasibility must be addressed.

He obviously has not complied with the restitution terms of the shock probation granted by the state criminal court. In light of the time lapse between the date of conviction (October 6,1977) and the date of filing under Chapter 13 (February 18,1983), there may be some constitutional prohibition to revocation of the probation after the expiration of the term of the sentence of imprisonment (two to five years). This question, however, should remain within the sphere of the state court jurisdiction. See annotation in 13 A.L.R. 4th 1240.

The facts demonstrate a socio-economic situation endemic in the bankruptcy court context, illustrating that relief from an overwhelming financial crisis may affect the lives of a debtor and his or her family more than incarceration for a definite and relatively short term. In this case the difference may be between less than two years (with probation) and literally a normal life span (already more than six years) of misery.

Obviously, the threat of revocation for an obvious and admitted failure to comply with the terms of the shock probation order [666]*666reflects upon the feasibility of the plan payments of only 3% of the restitution debt. So long as the threat of revocation of probation is not resolved in the state court, the bankruptcy court should not make a finding that “the debtor will be able to make all payments under the plan and to comply with the plan”, conformably to the mandate of 11 U.S.C. § 1325(b).

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

Related

In Re Hogue
78 B.R. 867 (S.D. Ohio, 1987)
Matter of Wright
36 B.R. 663 (S.D. Ohio, 1984)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
36 B.R. 663, 1984 Bankr. LEXIS 6424, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/circle-management-services-inc-v-wright-ohsb-1984.