Georgia Department of Human Services v. Ngwangu (In re Ngwangu)

529 B.R. 358
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Georgia
DecidedApril 7, 2015
DocketCASE NUMBER: 14-51029-PWB; ADVERSARY PROCEEDING NO. 14-5122
StatusPublished
Cited by15 cases

This text of 529 B.R. 358 (Georgia Department of Human Services v. Ngwangu (In re Ngwangu)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Georgia Department of Human Services v. Ngwangu (In re Ngwangu), 529 B.R. 358 (Ga. 2015).

Opinion

ORDER

Paul W. Bonapfel, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge

Georgia Department of Human Services (“GDHS”) contends that the Debtor received an overissuance of benefits under the Food Stamp Program due to misrepresentations about her household income and size and that the debt arising from her “intentional violation” of the Food Stamp Program is excepted from discharge under 11 U.S.C. '§§ 523(a)(2)(A), 523(a)(2)(B), 523(a)(4), and 1328(a)(2). GDHS seeks summary judgment on the § 523(a)(2)(B) count.

The Debtor contends that her conduct was not deceptive or wrong and seeks summary judgment and dismissal of the §§ 523(a)(2) and (a)(4) counts. For the reasons set forth below, the Court denies GDHS’s motion and grants the Debtor’s motion in part and denies it in part.

Factual Background

The Debtor, Belinda Ngwangu, is an immigrant and mother of four children. She received food stamp benefits between December 2009 through May 2011. A food stamp application requires an applicant to disclose detailed information about household composition and income. At the time she applied for benefits and while receiving them, the Debtor contends she was separated from her husband, Guillaume Ngwangu, and that he did not reside with her.

GDHS contends that the Debtor’s husband did indeed reside with her while she was receiving benefits as reflected by his wage forms, a Georgia Registration and Title information System vehicle search, and various other official records. The Debtor asserts that she merely permitted him to use her address for mailing and registration purposes because he did not maintain a stable residence. The Debtor also asserts that she informed her caseworker that her estranged husband was using her address, but was not living with her.

GDHS conducted an investigation and concluded that the Debtor’s husband was a member of the household. The inclusion of his wages in the Debtor’s household budget results in an overpayment of $9,165.00 in food stamp benefits.

On May 22, 2012, GDHS- sent the Debt- or a letter notifying her that it was scheduling an “Administrative Disqualification Hearing,” the purpose of which was to determine “if there is clear and convincing evidence to show that you committed an intentional program violation.” [Doc. 26-16, Exh. A-6]. An Administrative Disqualification Hearing is conducted before an administrative law judge and Georgia’s Office of State Administrative Hearings.

At the September 14, 2012, hearing, the Debtor appeared, but the hearing was not held and the matter was reset by agreement of the parties. On September 24, 2012, a notice continuing the matter to October 12, 2014, was issued. [Doc. 26-18,-Exh. C]. The parties differ as to the next procedural step.

The Debtor contends she received a letter in the mail dated October 2, 2012, from GDHS. This letter notified her, “We have [362]*362scheduled or are planning to schedule your case for an Administrative Disqualification Hearing_ In the event that a Disqualification Hearing is scheduled, you will be provided with written notice by mail at least 30 days in advance of the date of the hearing.” [Doc. 27-4, Exh. B]. This letter further provided the Debtor with an opportunity to waive her right to a hearing. The letter explained, “If you choose to sign the waiver, you must do so no later than 11-1-2012 .... We will proceed with the Administrative Disqualification Hearing after that date.” Id. The Debtor did not sign it and waited for a court hearing. The Debtor has a copy of this letter, but GDHS does not.1

Instead, on October 12, 2012, the administrative disqualification hearing went forward without the Debtor present. GDHS contends that the Debtor had notice of the October 12 hearing and did not appear. The Debtor, as set forth above, contends that she was led to believe by the October 2 letter that a hearing would be scheduled after November 1, 2012.

At the October 12 hearing, a representative of GDHS offered a recitation of its investigation including its documentary evidence that the Debtor’s estranged husband resided with her during the time she was receiving benefits and that she omitted him from the household resulting in an overpayment of benefits.

On October 17, 2012, a “Final Decision” was issued by the State Administrative Hearing Judge disqualifying the Debtor from the Food Stamp Program and affirming GDHS’ decision to recoup the overpayment of benefits. The Final Decision contained three findings of fact: (1) the Debtor failed to report correct household income and failed to report correct household composition in a timely manner as required; (2) she received an overissuance of benefits in the amount of $9,165.00; and (3) this was her first “Intentional Program Violation.” Based on these findings, the Judge concluded that the Debtor “received an overissuance of Food Stamp Benefits for intentionally violating the Food Stamp Program Regulations. 7 C.F.R. § 273.16(c).” [Doc. 26-19, Exh. D],

GDHS has received payment for a portion of the alleged overpayment of benefits and the remaining balance owed is approximately $8,525.00.

The positions of the parties

GDHS seeks summary judgment on the theory that the findings and conclusions in the Final Decision are entitled to preclu-sive effect and, therefore, that its debt is nondischargeable pursuant to § 523(a)(2)(B).

The Debtor contends that summary judgment is inappropriate because the Final Decision does not satisfy the elements necessary for the application of issue preclusion. Moreover, the Debtor contends that she is entitled to summary judgment on the § 523(a)(2) claim because she did not have the intent to deceive GDHS when she applied and received food stamp benefits. The Debtor also seems summary judgment and dismissal of the § 523(a)(4) count on the theory that her conduct is not defalcation, embezzlement, or larceny, as a matter of fact and law. GDHS has not responded to the Debtor’s motion with respect to the § 523(a)(4) claim.

The Court will examine each argument in turn.

[363]*363 Section 523(a)(2)

GDHS contends that the doctrine of issue preclusion prevents the relitigation of its claim and, based upon the findings and conclusions in the state administrative proceeding, the debt owed by the Debtor is nondischargeable pursuant to § 523(a)(2)(B).2

Issue preclusion prevents the re-litigation of issues already litigated and determined by a valid and final judgment in another court. The doctrine of issue preclusion applies in a discharge exception proceeding in bankruptcy court. See Grogan v. Garner, 498 U.S. 279, 284 n. 11, 111 S.Ct. 654, 658 n. 11, 112 L.Ed.2d 755 (1991); Hoskins v. Yanks (In re Yanks), 931 F.2d 42, 43 n. 1 (11th Cir.1991).When determining the preclusive effect of a state court judgment in dischargeability litigation, it is unsettled whether a bankruptcy court must apply state or. federal issue preclusion law. See Colorado West Trans. Co., Inc. v. McMahon (In re McMahon), 356 B.R. 286 (Bankr.N.D.Ga.2006), rev’d and remanded, 380 B.R. 911 (N.D.Ga.2007).

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Bluebook (online)
529 B.R. 358, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/georgia-department-of-human-services-v-ngwangu-in-re-ngwangu-ganb-2015.