Geltzer v. Balgobin (In re Balgobin)

490 B.R. 13, 2013 WL 1181481, 2013 Bankr. LEXIS 1110
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. New York
DecidedMarch 22, 2013
DocketBankruptcy No. 11-40049-CEC; Adversary No. 12-1061-CEC
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 490 B.R. 13 (Geltzer v. Balgobin (In re Balgobin)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Geltzer v. Balgobin (In re Balgobin), 490 B.R. 13, 2013 WL 1181481, 2013 Bankr. LEXIS 1110 (N.Y. 2013).

Opinion

[17]*17 DECISION

CARLA CRAIG, Chief Judge.

This matter presents a frequently encountered question: when can a claimed equitable interest in property in which the debtor holds legal title, asserted by a third party, be given effect in bankruptcy? Here, the Chapter 7 trustee seeks turnover of an automobile titled in the debtor’s name, but in possession of the debtor’s son. The debtor and his son contend that the debtor holds only legal title to the automobile, subject to the son’s equitable interest, and that the vehicle therefore is not property of the estate. Because the undisputed facts do not support the existence of an express trust, or the imposition of a constructive or resulting trust, the trustee’s motion for summary judgment seeking turnover of the vehicle is granted.

JURISDICTION

This Court has jurisdiction of this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1334(b), and the Eastern District of New York standing order of reference dated August 28, 1996, as amended by order dated December 5, 2012. This matter is a core proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(A) and (E). This decision constitutes the Court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law to the extent required by Bankruptcy Rule 7052.

BACKGROUND

NFN Balgobin (the “Debtor”) filed a voluntary petition under Chapter 7 of Title 11, U.S.C. (the “Bankruptcy Code”) on January 5, 2011, and was granted a discharge by order dated September 23, 2011. On the Debtor’s Schedule B, which lists personal property, the Debtor included a 2004 Cadillac Escalade (the “Vehicle”), but described it as “In Debtor’s Son’s possession,” and valued the Debtor’s interest in the Vehicle as “$0.00.” Chapter 7 Voluntary Petition at 19, No. 11-40049-cec, ECF No. I.1

On March 6, 2012, Robert L. Geltzer, as Chapter 7 trustee (the “Trustee”) filed this adversary, proceeding against the Debtor’s son, Mark Balgobin (the “Defendant”), seeking an order requiring him to turn over the Vehicle to the Trustee pursuant to §§ 541 and 542 of the Bankruptcy Code.2 In his answer, the Defendant admitted that the Vehicle was in his possession, but denied that the Debtor is the owner of the Vehicle. Answer ¶¶ 7, 9, ECF No. 5. On August 1, 2012, the Trustee filed a motion for summary judgment, asserting that because the Debtor is the legal owner of the Vehicle, it is property of the estate under § 541, and because the Vehicle is in the Defendant’s possession, it must be turned over to the trustee pursuant to § 542. Pl.’s Motion for Summ. J., ECF No. 6.

The Defendant argues that although the Debtor holds title to the Vehicle, he owns no equitable interest in it. The Defendant asserts that at the time the Vehicle was purchased, he had not obtained permanent residence in the United States, and therefore could not purchase the Vehicle in his own name. For this reason, he and his father agreed that the Debtor would hold title to the Vehicle, but- the Defendant would retain possession of it, own all equitable interest in it, and make all payments towards its purchase, maintenance, and insurance. The Defendant [18]*18asserts that pursuant to and in reliance upon this unwritten understanding, he has been in possession of the Vehicle since it was purchased, has fully paid for the Vehicle, and made all payments towards its maintenance and insurance. For these reasons, the Defendant claims that under New York law, the Debtor holds title to the Vehicle subject to a constructive trust for the Defendant’s benefit. Def.’s Aff. in Op., ECF No. 11.

On August 13, 2012, the Trustee filed a second adversary proceeding, this time against the Debtor, seeking to revoke the Debtor’s discharge on several grounds, including the Debtor’s failure to turn over the Vehicle to the Trustee. Case No. 12-1245-eec.

On October 23, 2012, the Debtor filed a motion to consolidate the two adversary proceedings, and to impress a constructive trust or resulting trust on the Vehicle under New York law. By this motion, the Debtor seeks a determination that he is “a mere holder of bare naked legal title [to the Vehicle] in whom NO equitable interest is reposed.” Motion to Consolidate Adversary Proceedings and Impress Constructive Trust or Resulting Trust ¶ 16, ECF No. 12. In support of the motion to impose a constructive trust or resulting trust, the Debtor submitted an affidavit setting forth the circumstances of his unwritten agreement with his son, as well as affidavits of the Defendant and two other family members attesting to the existence of the agreement, and the Defendant’s payment of all expenses relating to the Vehicle.

On November 29, 2012, the Trustee filed a reply, including opposition to the Defendant’s motion to consolidate and impress a trust. The Trustee argues that a constructive trust should not be imposed because the Defendant has failed to establish the elements of a constructive trust in this case, and because the Defendant has failed to present evidence that the Debtor perpetrated an actual or constructive fraud upon the Defendant with respect to the Vehicle.3

DISCUSSION

A. Summary Judgment Standard

Summary judgment is appropriate “if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a); See Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). A fact is considered material if it “might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). No genuine issue exists “unless there is sufficient evidence favoring the nonmoving party for a jury to return a verdict for that party. If the evidence is merely colorable, or is not significantly probative, summary judgment may be granted.” Id. at 249-50, 106 S.Ct. 2505 (citations omitted). “More specifically, it must do more than simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts, and may not rely on conclu-[19]*19sory allegations or unsubstantiated speculation.” Brown v. Eli Lilly and Co., 654 F.3d 347, 358 (2d Cir.2011) (quotations omitted).

Here, the material facts are not in dispute, as the Trustee’s summary judgment motion must be granted even if Defendant’s and Debtor’s factual assertions are true.

B. Requirements for an Express Trust

In this case, the Debtor and his son seek to give effect to an alleged oral agreement creating a trust vesting legal title to the Vehicle in the Debtor, and equitable title in the Defendant. Under New York law, an express trust in real or personal property must meet certain statutory requirements, including that the trust be in writing. See N.Y. Est.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
490 B.R. 13, 2013 WL 1181481, 2013 Bankr. LEXIS 1110, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/geltzer-v-balgobin-in-re-balgobin-nyeb-2013.