Grzybowski v. Aquaslide 'N' Dive Corp. (In Re Aquaslide 'N' Dive Corp.)

85 B.R. 545, 1987 Bankr. LEXIS 2254
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Ninth Circuit
DecidedDecember 18, 1987
DocketBAP No. CC-86-2089 VJMo, Bankruptcy No. LA 84-23505 CA
StatusPublished
Cited by36 cases

This text of 85 B.R. 545 (Grzybowski v. Aquaslide 'N' Dive Corp. (In Re Aquaslide 'N' Dive Corp.)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Ninth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Grzybowski v. Aquaslide 'N' Dive Corp. (In Re Aquaslide 'N' Dive Corp.), 85 B.R. 545, 1987 Bankr. LEXIS 2254 (bap9 1987).

Opinion

OPINION

VOLINN, Bankruptcy Judge:

David M. and Marjorie Grzybowski appeal from an order disallowing their claim against Aquaslide “N” Dive Corporation (Aquaslide). We affirm.

FACTS

On or about July 14, 1984, David Grzy-bowski, appellant, was severely injured as a result of sliding down a slide into his swimming pool. It is alleged that the slide in question was manufactured by the debt- or, Aquaslide. Neither the briefs nor excerpts of record describe the accident, except to say that he hit his head on the bottom of the pool and was rendered quadriplegic. On or about October 7, 1985, David M. and Marjorie Grzybowski filed a personal injury and products liability claim in Milwaukee County in the state of Wisconsin against numerous parties, one of whom was Aquaslide. It was asserted that Aquaslide was negligent and designed, manufactured and sold an unreasonably dangerous product. Prior to that date, Aquaslide had filed a Chapter 11 petition in the United States Bankruptcy Court.

Mr. Grzybowski bought his slide in the spring of 1977 at the residential home of a man who had advertised his wares in the classified advertisements of Mr. Grzybow-ski’s local newspaper. The slide was in a box which Mr. Grzybowski had not saved. In his deposition, he testified that he thought the box said “Slide ‘N’ Dive.” He also testified that he can no longer find the home of the man from whom he purchased the slide.

The slide in question contained no identification, no serial number, no manufacturer’s name or other identifying marks which would designate a specific manufacturer. The Grzybowski’s filed a proof of claim against Aquaslide in the amount of $27,-000,000. Carl Meyer, President of Aqua-slide and designer of the Aquaslide Duke Curve Slide, inspected the slide in question and compared it in minute detail to the slide manufactured by Aquaslide. In his declaration he states unequivoeably that Aquaslide did not design, manufacture, sell, or distribute the slide in question.

Aquaslide filed an objection to the allowance of the claim of the Grzybowskis contending that there was no basis in law or fact for the claim. After reading the affidavits submitted by the parties and deposition of Mr. Grzybowski, the court disallowed the claim. The Grzybowskis appealed.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

This case involves a core proceeding. 1 The trial court was not liquidating or estimating contingent or unliquidated personal injury tort claims for purposes of distribution, but rather it was only estimating those claims for purposes of confirming a plan under Chapter 11. See Poole v. Greenwood Cemetery, Inc. (In re Poole Funeral Chapel, Inc.), 63 B.R. 527, 532 (Bankr.N.D.Ala.1986). The litigation to resolve an objection to a proof of claim is a contested matter and therefore Bankruptcy Rule 9014 is applicable to such litigation. Bankr. Rule 9014, Advisory Committee Note.

In the present case, the trial court decided to disallow the Grzybowski’s claim against Aquaslide after reviewing the affidavits submitted by the parties. Bankrupt *547 cy Rule 9014 provides that Rule 7056 applies to contested matters. Under Bankruptcy Rule 7056 and Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure a summary judgment can be granted when there are no issues of material fact and the moving party is entitled to prevail as a matter of law. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). Here, the trial court decided that there was no issue of fact regarding whether Aquaslide manufactured the slide in question, and disallowed the claim. Although no party requested a grant of summary judgment, in essence that is exactly what the trial court did. Core proceedings are generally reviewed under the clearly erroneous standard. See In re Emergency Beacon Corp., 52 B.R. 979 (S.D.N.Y.1985), aff'd 790 F.2d 285 (2nd Cir.1986). However, since a summary judgment was given by the trial court we will follow the standard of review applicable to such decisions. Grants of summary judgment are reviewed de novo. Jackson Waterworks, Inc. v. Public Utils. Comm’n., 793 F.2d 1090, 1092 (9th Cir.1986).

DISCUSSION

I.

The proponent of a summary judgment motion bears a heavy burden to show that there are no disputed facts warranting disposition of the case on the law without trial. The standard for review was stated in In re Zupancic, 38 B.R. 754, 757 (9th Cir.BAP 1984) as follows:

In reviewing the grant or denial of a summary judgment motion, this Panel applies the same test which the trial court applies under Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). Rule 56(c) provides in pertinent part that the court shall grant the motion for summary judgment if the affidavits and other materials demonstrate that "there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.”
Applying that test, “[sjummary judgment is ‘proper only where there is no genuine issue of any material fact or where viewing the evidence and the inferences which may be drawn therefrom in the light most favorable to the adverse party, the movant is clearly entitled to prevail as a matter of law.’ ” Radobenko v. Automated Equipment Corporation, 520 F.2d 540, 543 (9th Cir.1975), quoting Caplan v. Roberts, 506 F.2d 1039, 1042 (9th Cir.1974).

However, for summary judgment to be denied, the nonmoving party cannot demonstrate that an issue of material fact exists by mere allegation or denial. The nonmov-ing party must present competent affidavits. Both supporting and opposing affidavits must be based on personal knowledge and the facts set forth therein must be admissible in evidence. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 provides in pertinent part:

(b) For Defending Party.
A party against whom a claim, counterclaim, or cross-claim is asserted or a declaratory judgment is sought may, at any time, move with or without supporting affidavits for a summary judgment in his favor as to all or any part thereof.
(e) Form of Affidavits; Further Testimony; Defense Required.
Supporting and opposing affidavits shall be made on personal knowledge, shall set forth such facts as would be admissible in evidence, and shall show affirmatively that the affiant is competent to testify to the matters stated therein....

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

Related

MARTIN v. JURGENS
D. Montana, 2020
United States Trustee v. Franz (In re Franz)
532 B.R. 792 (D. Montana, 2015)
Bucher v. Hughes (In re Hughes)
488 B.R. 169 (D. Montana, 2013)
United States v. Stokes (In Re Stokes)
451 B.R. 44 (D. Montana, 2011)
United States Trustee v. Lopano (In Re Bagley)
433 B.R. 325 (D. Montana, 2010)
Crum v. Tomlinson (In Re Hettick)
413 B.R. 733 (D. Montana, 2009)
Abbey v. Retz (In Re Retz)
364 B.R. 742 (D. Montana, 2007)
Boland v. Crum (In Re Brown)
363 B.R. 591 (D. Montana, 2007)
Decker v. Washington Mutual Bank
357 B.R. 825 (D. Montana, 2007)
In Re Decker
357 B.R. 825 (D. Montana, 2007)
Campbell v. Verizon Wireless S-CA (In Re Campbell)
336 B.R. 430 (Ninth Circuit, 2005)
Danfer v. Birdsell
156 F. App'x 988 (Ninth Circuit, 2005)
Roos v. Red
30 Cal. Rptr. 3d 446 (California Court of Appeal, 2005)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
85 B.R. 545, 1987 Bankr. LEXIS 2254, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/grzybowski-v-aquaslide-n-dive-corp-in-re-aquaslide-n-dive-corp-bap9-1987.