CoVantage Credit Union v. Stangel (In re Stangel)

593 B.R. 607
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Wisconsin
DecidedOctober 10, 2018
DocketCase No. 17-20394-beh; Adv. Case No. 17-02132
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 593 B.R. 607 (CoVantage Credit Union v. Stangel (In re Stangel)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Wisconsin primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
CoVantage Credit Union v. Stangel (In re Stangel), 593 B.R. 607 (Wis. 2018).

Opinion

Beth E. Hanan, United States Bankruptcy Judge

Plaintiff CoVantage Credit Union filed a complaint seeking to except from discharge a debt resulting from the debtor's presentation of bad checks, relying on both 11 U.S.C §§ 523(a)(2)(A) and (a)(2)(B). The debtor did not respond to the complaint, so CoVantage moved for default judgment. Realizing that its two legal theories were inconsistent and mutually exclusive, CoVantage pursued judgment on only the claim under section 523(a)(2)(A). The Court held two prove-up hearings on the motion, at which counsel for CoVantage submitted supporting evidence.

After considering counsel's submissions and arguments, and the record in this case, the Court will grant the motion. Because the Court lacks sufficient evidence to determine the appropriate amount of the nondischargeable debt in one aspect, the Court will defer entering an order for judgment until CoVantage supplements the record with additional information.

JURISDICTION

The Court has jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1334 and the Eastern District of Wisconsin's July 16, 1984, order of reference. CoVantage's request for a determination of the nondischargeability of its debt is a core proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(I). CoVantage's request for the entry of a money judgment under Wisconsin state law is non-core, but the debtor's failure to appear and defend against the claim, despite proper service of the summons and complaint, constitutes knowing and voluntary consent to the Court's final adjudication of that request. See Wellness Int'l Network, Ltd. v. Sharif , --- U.S. ----, 135 S.Ct. 1932, 191 L.Ed.2d 911 (2015) ; Kravitz v. Deacons (In re Advance Watch Co., Ltd.) , 587 B.R. 598, 602 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2018) ; Campbell v. Carruthers (In re Campbell) , 553 B.R. 448, 452-53 (Bankr. M.D. Ala. 2016).

FACTS

CoVantage alleges that, between November 14 and November 15, 2016, the debtor-defendant Danielle Stangel made out four checks to herself, totaling $2,450, drawn on an Associated Bank account in her name. See CM-ECF Doc. No. 1, ¶¶ 5-8 and Exs. A-D. The debtor deposited these checks with CoVantage and then withdrew (most of) the funds shortly thereafter. Id. ¶ 9. The checks later were returned for *610insufficient funds. Id. ¶¶ 5-9. In late November 2016, CoVantage sent the debtor a demand letter for repayment of the overdrawn funds, in the amount of $2,405.25. Id. ¶ 10. The debtor never repaid, and the debt remains outstanding. Id.

At the prove-up hearings on CoVantage's motion for default judgment, CoVantage presented the affidavit of Kami Price, an agent of CoVantage. CM-ECF Doc. No. 18. The affidavit attaches four copies of returned checks from an Associated Bank account in Ms. Stangel's name, made out to Ms. Stangel, in amounts ranging from $250 to $850, issued between November 14 and November 15, 2016 (also attached as exhibits to the complaint).

Ms. Price avers that the debtor presented the checks to CoVantage on the following dates and times:

Date/Time Presented Amount Disposition of funds November 14, 2016 at 10:12 AM $850 $200 deposited $650 cash given to debtor November 14, 2016 at 11:13 AM $250 All $250 given to debtor November 15, 2016 at 8:22 AM $850 All $850 given to debtor Debtor also withdrew $150 November 15, 2016 at 2:06 PM $500 All $500 given to debtor1

[Editor's Note: The preceding image contains the reference for footnote1 ].

CoVantage also presented the affidavit of Donna M. Woida, an employee of Associated Bank. CM-ECF Doc. No. 24. The affidavit attaches copies of financial records from Associated Bank, which show the following:

• An Associated Bank checking account was opened in Ms. Stangel's name around March 16, 2016, with a $3,000 deposit. Id. at 3.
• While open, the account had the following monthly ending balances (see id. at 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12):
Date Account Balance April 10, 2016 $94.75 May 8, 2016 $19.83 June 8, 2016 -$501.61 July 10, 2016 -$363.94 August 8, 2016 $0
• The reason for the August 8 ending balance of $0 was that Associated Bank charged off $377.94 in principal and fees on August 5, essentially balancing out the account. Id. at 12. There has been no further activity in the account to date.
• The highest ending balance on any given date during the period the account was open was $2,380.13 on March 17, 2016. The balance fell below *611$1,000 on March 21, and, aside from an April 12 balance of $1,012.99 due to a $1,000 deposit that day, it remained below $1,000 until the account was closed. See id. at 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13. The last date the account had a positive balance was June 16, 2016. Id. at 11.
• During the statement period of May 9 through June 8, 2016, the account incurred $217 in overdraft fees, and $35 in returned item fees. Id. at 9. During the statement period of June 9 through July 10, 2016, the account incurred $210 in overdraft fees, and $175 in returned item fees. Id. at 11. Two checks (for $325.92 and $35) also were returned during that period. During the statement period of July 11 through August 8, 2016, the account incurred $14 in overdraft fees, and $35 in returned item fees. Id. at 12.
• The debtor received what appear to be bi-weekly payroll deposits ("HEARTLAND EMPLOY DIR DEP") into her Associated Bank checking account in the following amounts on the following dates (see id. at 8 and 10):
Date Deposit Amount May 18, 2016 $401.09 June 1, 2016 $727.61 June 15, 2016 $777.81 June 29, 2016 $597.68
• An Associated Bank savings account was opened in Ms. Stangel's name around March 16, 2016, with a $1,000 deposit. Id. at 17.
• While open, the account had the following monthly ending balances (see id. at 19, 20, 22, and 24):
Date Account Balance

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
593 B.R. 607, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/covantage-credit-union-v-stangel-in-re-stangel-wieb-2018.