Helvetia Asset Recovery, Inc. v. Kahn (In re Kahn)

533 B.R. 576
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, W.D. Texas
DecidedMarch 27, 2015
DocketCASE NO. 14-50980-CAG; ADVERSARY NO. 14-05052-CAG
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 533 B.R. 576 (Helvetia Asset Recovery, Inc. v. Kahn (In re Kahn)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, W.D. Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Helvetia Asset Recovery, Inc. v. Kahn (In re Kahn), 533 B.R. 576 (Tex. 2015).

Opinion

[580]*580 MEMORANDUM OPINION GRANTING PLAINTIFF HELVETIA ASSET RECOVERY, INC.’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT (ECF NO. 16)

CRAIG A. GARGOTTA, UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY JUDGE

Came on to be considered the above-numbered adversary proceeding and, in particular, Plaintiff Helvetia Asset Recovery, Inc., Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 16)1 (“Summary Judgment Motion”) filed October 23, 2014, the parties’ responses, and supporting evidence. For the reasons provided herein, the Court is of the opinion that Plaintiffs Summary Judgment Motion should be GRANTED.

Jurisdiction

Although neither of the parties raised the issue of whether the Court has constitutional authority enter a final judgment, federal courts have an ongoing duty to examine their subject-matter jurisdiction, whether the issue is raised by the parties or sua sponte by the court. MCG, Inc. v. Great W. Energy Corp., 896 F.2d 170, 173 (5th Cir.1990). In Stern v. Marshall, the Supreme Court held that a bankruptcy court must have both statutory and constitutional authority to enter final judgment on certain state law claims. Stern v. Marshall, — U.S. -, 131 S.Ct. 2594, 2611, 180 L.Ed.2d 475 (2011) (finding that the bankruptcy court lacked the “judicial Power of the United States” under Article III of the United States Constitution to enter final judgment on a state law counterclaim).

The Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1334(b). This is a core proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(I) relating to this Court’s determination of the discharge of certain debts. Even after Stem, bankruptcy courts have the constitutional authority to hear and finally determine dis-chargeability of debts in bankruptcy cases. Deitz v. Ford (In re Deitz), 469 B.R. 11, 23-24 (9th Cir. BAP 2012) aff'd, 760 F.3d 1038 (9th Cir.2014). Determining the scope of a debtor’s discharge is a fundamental part of the bankruptcy process. Farooqi v. Carroll (In re Carroll), 464 B.R. 293, 312 (Bankr.N.D.Tex.2011). As the Farooqi court explained:

Congress clearly envisioned that bankruptcy courts would hear and determine all core proceedings, 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(1), which include, as relevant' here, “determinations as to the dis-chargeability of particular debts.” 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(I). The Supreme Court has never held that bankruptcy courts are without constitutional authority to hear and finally determine whether a debt is dischargeable in bankruptcy. In fact, the Supreme Court’s decision in Stem clearly implied that bankruptcy courts have such authority when it concluded that bankruptcy courts had-the constitutional authority to decide even state law counterclaims to filed proofs of claim if the counterclaim would necessarily be decided through the claims allowance process. Stern, 131 S.Ct. at 2618.

Id. Because this case involves a determination as to the dischargeability of particular claims, this Court has both statutory and constitutional authority to enter a final judgment.

Legal Standard for Summary Judgment

Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 7056 applies Rule 56(c) of the Federal [581]*581Rules of Civil Procedure to adversary proceedings. 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 entitled 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). 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 case to go forward, 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 a quality sufficient so that a rational fact finder might, at trial, find in favor of the non-moving party. Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 585-87, 106 S.Ct. 1348 (1986) (non-moving party “must do more than simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to material facts”); 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 non-moving 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 eonclu-sory allegations or bald assertions unsupported by specific facts. Leon Chocron Publicidad Y Editora, S.A. v. Jimmy Swaggart Ministries, 990 F.2d 1253 (5th Cir.1993).

Factual and Procedural Background

Plaintiff Helvetia Asset'Recovery, Inc. (“Helvetia”) seeks a determination that two state court judgments against Debt- or/Defendant Burton M. Kahn (“Kahn”) may be given preclusive effect and that this Court should find on the basis of those judgments that the judgment debts are non-dischargeable under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2012).2 Helvetia alleges in its Complaint the following operative facts:

Helvetia is a Texas corporation with a sole shareholder — Puerto Verde, Ltd., a Bahamian corporation. Puerto Verde’s sole shareholder is Robert Ripley (“Ripley”). Complaint (ECF No. 1) (“Cmplt.”) at ¶ 1.

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Bluebook (online)
533 B.R. 576, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/helvetia-asset-recovery-inc-v-kahn-in-re-kahn-txwb-2015.