Doolittle v. Doolittle (In re Doolittle)

557 B.R. 528
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, W.D. Kentucky
DecidedSeptember 8, 2016
DocketCASE NO. 15-52591-CAG; ADVERSARY NO. 16-05005-CAG
StatusPublished

This text of 557 B.R. 528 (Doolittle v. Doolittle (In re Doolittle)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, W.D. Kentucky primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Doolittle v. Doolittle (In re Doolittle), 557 B.R. 528 (Ky. 2016).

Opinion

[529]*529ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT (ECF NO. 12) AND DENYING DEFENDANT’S FIRST AMENDED MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT (ECF NO. 15)

CRAIG A. GARGOTTA, UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY JUDGE

Came on for consideration the above-numbered adversary proceeding and, in particular Plaintiffs Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 121) and Defendant’s First Amended Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 15). The Court also considered Plaintiffs Response to Defendant’s First Amended Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 16) and Defendant’s Response to Plaintiffs Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 19). This Court took the matter under advisement after a hearing, held August 11, 2016. After considering the pleadings and arguments of counsel contained therein, the Court finds that Plaintiffs Motion for Summary Judgment should be granted and Defendant’s First Amended Motion, for Summary Judgment should be denied.

As an initial matter, the Court finds that it has jurisdiction over this proceeding under 28 U.S.C. §§ 157(b) and 1384 (2012). This matter is a core proceeding under 28 U.S.C. §§ 157(b)(2)(I) (determinations as to the dischargeability of particular debts), in which the Court may enter a final order. Venue is proper under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1408 and 1409. This matter is referred to the Court pursuant to the District’s Standing Order of Reference.

ProCedural Background

Debtor Andrea Hall Doolittle (“Defendant”) filed a voluntary petition under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code on October 26, 2015. On January 22, 2016, Plaintiff Paul M. Doolittle (“Plaintiff’) filed his Original Complaint Objecting to Dis-chargeability of Debt alleging that attorney’s fees assessed against Defendant in a state court judgment entered against Defendant is non-dischargeable in bankruptcy under 11 U.S.C. §§ 523(a)(5), (15)2.

The parties agree that on or about October 23, 2015, the 131st Civil District Court of Bexar County, Texas awarded a judgment regarding modification of the parent-child relationship and awarded attorney’s fees, to Plaintiff and against Defendant in the amount of $1,050,000.00, plus interest of five percent per year, compounded annually (hereinafter “State Court Judgment”). The parties agree that the State Court Judgment is based on the jury’s findings pursuant to the Texas Family Code and is a final judgment. Finally, the parties agree that prior to the State Court Judgment, the parties engaged in years of protracted litigation. During that time, the Fourth Court of Appeals denied three Writs of Mandamus, and the Supreme Court of Texas declined a petition for review.

On August 11, 2016, this Court conducted a hearing on Plaintiffs Motion for Summary Judgment and Defendant’s First Amended Motion for Summary Judgment, and took the matter under advisement.

Analysis

I. Summary Judgment Standard

Summary judgment is appropriate “if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is enti-[530]*530tied to a judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c); Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986), Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 7056 applies Rule 56(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to adversary proceedings. If summary judgment is appropriate, the Court may resolve the case as a matter of law. Celotex Corp., 477 U.S. at 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548; Blackwell v. Barton, 34 F.3d 298, 301 (5th Cir.1994). The Fifth Circuit has stated “[t]he standard of review is not merely whether there is a sufficient factual dispute to permit the ease to go forwai’d, but whether a rational trier of fact could find for the non-moving party based upon evidence before the court.” James v. Sadler, 909 F.2d 834, 837 (5th Cir.1990) (citing Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co., Ltd. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986)).

To the extent that the non-moving party asserts the existence of factual disputes, the evidence offered by the non-moving party to support those factual contentions must be of sufficient quality so that a rational fact finder might, at trial, find in favor of the non-moving party. See Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 585-87, 106 S.Ct., 1348 (non-moving party “must do more than simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to' material facts”); see also Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 249-50, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986) (“adverse party’s response ... must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial”). If the record “taken as a whole, could not lead a rational trier of fact to find for the non-moving party, then there is no genuine issue for trial.” LeMaire v. Louisiana, 480 F.3d 383, 390 (5th Cir.2007).

In determining whether a genuine issue of material fact exists, the nonmoving party must respond to a proper motion for summary judgment with specific facts demonstrating that such genuine issue exists. “A genuine issue of material fact is not raised by mere conclusory allegations or bald assertions unsupported by specific facts.” Leon Chocron Publcidad Y Editora, S.A. v. Jymm Swaggart Ministries, 990 F.2d 1253, at *2 (5th Cir.1993). The formula does not vary where the plaintiff challenges the defendant’s affirmative defense in its summary judgment. Exxon Corp. v. Oxxford Clothes, Inc., 109 F.3d 1070, 1075 (5th Cir.1997). Defendant must still “present admissible evidence legally sufficient to sustain a finding favorable to [the defendant] ... on each element of that defense.” Id. (citing Crescent Towing & Salvage Co. v. M/V Anax,

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
557 B.R. 528, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/doolittle-v-doolittle-in-re-doolittle-kywb-2016.