Illinois ex rel. Ryan v. Towers

217 B.R. 1008, 1998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1379
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Illinois
DecidedJanuary 30, 1998
DocketNo. 97 C 6005
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 217 B.R. 1008 (Illinois ex rel. Ryan v. Towers) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Illinois ex rel. Ryan v. Towers, 217 B.R. 1008, 1998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1379 (N.D. Ill. 1998).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

MORAN, Senior District Judge.

The People of the State of Illinois, ex rel. James E. Ryan, Attorney General of Illinois, (State) appeals that part of the order of the United States Bankruptcy Court entered on July 7, 1997, denying the State’s motion for summary judgment (July 7 order). In its order, the bankruptcy court found that the debt owed by James Towers (Towers) to the State for restitution of $210,082.34 for violations of the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act (ICFA), 815 ILCS 505/1 et seq., is dischargeable under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code. On appeal, the State argues that the bankruptcy court erred in so finding and that the order for restitution is nondischargeable under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(7), which excepts from discharge any debt that is “for a fine, penalty, or forfeiture payable to and for the benefit of a governmental unit, and is not for actual pecuniary loss____” This court has jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 158(a). For the reasons stated herein, we reverse the bankruptcy court’s order in relevant part and grant the State’s motion for summary judgment.

BACKGROUND

The district court accepts the bankruptcy court’s fact-findings unless clearly erroneous. Fed.R.Bankr.P. 8013; see also, In re Tolona Pizza Products Corp., 3 F.3d 1029, 1033 (7th Cir.1993). Since neither party disputes the facts in this case we accept the undisputed facts as set forth by the bankruptcy court in its July 7 order.

Towers was president of Update Financial Services Corporation (UFSC), a consumer debt financing business. A representative of UFSC contacted individuals whose homes were in danger of foreclosure, and entered into contracts with them for UFSC to find financing to save their homes from foreclosure. UFSC charged the homeowners a fee and commission for its work, and at least some of its customers were required to enter into an agreement to escrow funds for closing. All escrow funds and a portion- of the application fee were to be refunded if UFSC could not arrange a loan large enough to prevent the foreclosure.

On June 4, 1986, the State brought suit in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Chancery Division (No. 86-CH-5458), under the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, 815 ILCS 505/1 et seq., against Towers, individually, and in his official capacity as president of UFSC (state court litigation). The State also sued several of Towers’ fellow officers and several banks. The suit alleged that Towers and his colleagues were guilty of fraudulent business practices' in their operation of UFSC. The State alleged, inter alia, that Towers and the other defendants failed to refund monies due customers from their escrow accounts, and failéd to return the application fee when UFSC’s financing efforts failed. Towers’ attorney filed an unverified answer to the verified complaint, disputing the consumer fraud claims made by the State.

The case remained for a number of years in the Chancery Division of the Circuit Court. Eventually, the state court entered a default order against Towers and Percy Middleton, UFSC’s secretary. On. August 22, 1991, the state court entered a final judgment order and permanent injunction order (final judgment) against Towers and Middleton. The final judgment provided that Towers and Middleton were enjoined from engaging in the business of mortgage banking in Illinois. It also required Towers and Middleton to pay a state civil penalty of $50,000, investigative costs of $50,000, and restitution of $210,082.34.

On April 2, 1987, while the state court litigation was pending, Towers filed a petition under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code (No. 87-B-4905) (1987 bankruptcy case). On August 7,1987, the automatic stay was modified in this bankruptcy case to permit the State to proceed with the pending state court [1010]*1010litigation against Towers. Although it held a claim against Towers, the State did not file a complaint to determine the dischargeability of the debt owed by Towers to the State. See 11 U.S.C. § 523(c); Fed.R.Bankr.P. 4007. An order of discharge was entered on August 6, 1987 and the 1987 bankruptcy case was closed on October 15,1987.

On January 18, 1995, Towers filed another Chapter 7 petition (No. 95-B-102), which is the subject of the present litigation. In response to Towers’ petition, on April 7, 1995, the State filed its adversary complaint to determine dischargeability of debt, seeking to except from discharge the civil penalty, restitution payment, and investigative costs1 assessed against Towers in the final judgment of the state court Consumer Fraud Act ease. An order of discharge was entered on May 26,1995. On June 2,1995, Towers filed his response to the adversary complaint and on February 7, 1996, the State filed the instant motion for summary judgment, arguing that 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(7) excepts from discharge Towers’ obligations for restitution in the amount of $210,082.34 and civil penalty in the amount of $50,000. On April 23,1996, Towers filed a cross-motion for summary judgment, arguing that any claim of the State against him as debtor was discharged pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 4004(c).

On July 7, 1997, the bankruptcy court issued its order granting in part the State’s motion and denying Towers’ motion. Specifically, the court held that the debt owed by Towers to the State for restitution is dis-chargeable under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(13), but that the debt Towers owes the State for penalties is not dischargeable under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(7). The State now appeals that portion of the bankruptcy court’s order finding that the debt owed to the State for restitution is dischargeable under § 523(a)(13).

DISCUSSION

The district court reviews the bankruptcy court’s legal conclusions under a de novo standard. In re UNR Indus., 986 F.2d 207, 208 (7th Cir.1993). Since this matter is before the court on cross-motions for summary judgment, and since there are no material factual disputes between the parties, we review de novo whether the bankruptcy court was correct in denying in part the State’s summary judgment motion by holding that Towers’ obligation to pay the State restitution is dischargeable as a matter of law.

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Related

In Re Towers
217 B.R. 1008 (N.D. Illinois, 1998)

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Bluebook (online)
217 B.R. 1008, 1998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1379, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/illinois-ex-rel-ryan-v-towers-ilnd-1998.