In re Bozard

587 B.R. 656
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, D. South Carolina
DecidedMay 18, 2018
DocketC/A No. 17-03344-DD
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 587 B.R. 656 (In re Bozard) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, D. South Carolina primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Bozard, 587 B.R. 656 (S.C. 2018).

Opinion

David R. Duncan, Chief US Bankruptcy Judge

This matter is before the Court on a Motion to Dismiss filed by the United States Trustee on November 2, 2017 [Docket No. 28]. Debtor Dean Randall Bozard ("Debtor") filed a response to the Motion on November 22, 2017 [Docket No. 30]. A hearing was held on May 8, 2018. At the conclusion of the hearing the Court took the matter under advisement and now issues this Order.

BACKGROUND

1. Debtor filed a voluntary petition for relief pursuant to chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code on July 6, 2017, initiating the present bankruptcy case. Debtor is married and lists no dependents.
2. Debtor filed schedules and statements on July 6, 2017. Debtor's obligations are primarily consumer debts. The chapter 7 means test reflects that Debtor has above-median household income, but the presumption of abuse does not arise in this case. The time to file § 707(b) motions to dismiss was extended with the consent of Debtor.
3. Debtor filed a reaffirmation agreement for a debt secured by a 2015 Jeep Cherokee on July 31, 2017. Debtor filed a reaffirmation agreement for a debt secured by a 2014 Harley Davidson on July 31, 2017. Debtor filed a reaffirmation agreement for a debt secured by a 2006 Dodge Dakota on August 4, 2017.
4. On August 4, 2017, following the meeting of creditors, Debtor amended schedule J to remove two vehicle payments, the payments on the 2014 Harley Davidson and a 2006 Dodge Dakota, resulting in net monthly income of negative $37. Debtor also amended the statement of intent to surrender a 2014 Harley Davidson and filed a rescission of the reaffirmation agreement regarding the Harley Davidson. Debtor did not seek to rescind the other two reaffirmation agreements.
5. Debtor's Amended Schedule I, filed February 22, 2018, reflects that Debtor has monthly income of $4,162.06 with his non-filing wife having monthly income of $2,764.80. Thus, Amended Schedule I reflects that Debtor's annual household income is $83,122.32.
6. Schedule F reflects Debtor has unsecured creditors with claims in *660the amount of $74,322.29, of which $9,407 is owed to medical providers, $21,635 is an unsecured deficiency on a surrendered vehicle, and the remaining $43,280 arises from credit cards and unsecured loans or lines of credit.
7. Debtor drives a 2017 Chevrolet Camaro, titled in his non-filing wife's name, with payments of $489.23. Debtor's wife drives a 2015 Jeep Cherokee, titled in Debtor's name, with payments of $552.62. Original Schedule J also included payments of $294.31 for a Harley Davidson that was later surrendered, and $226.27 for the 2006 Dodge Dakota driven by Debtor's 29-year old son. Debtor testified that his son now makes the payment on the Dodge Dakota.
8. Debtor testified he has a ninth grade education, and has worked in manufacturing and maintenance since he was nineteen years old.
9. Debtor testified that his financial problems began when he took a significant pay cut as a result of a job change. Debtor testified that prior to his current job he worked at Bimbo Bakeries in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Debtor testified he made approximately $5,600 per month at Bimbo. Debtor testified he was "forced out" at Bimbo and quit. Debtor began working at Akebono Brake in Columbia, South Carolina in October 2017, making $4,065 per month. Debtor testified he made approximately $4,600 per month at the time of filing, including overtime pay.
10. Debtor testified his reduction in income from changing jobs put a strain on his financial situation, and his financial problems increased when his overtime hours at work were cut.
11. Debtor had surgery on his right hand in February 2018 and has not been able to return to work. Debtor testified that he currently receives disability income from a private insurer in the amount of approximately 60% of his income.
12. Debtor testified he has numerous health problems. Debtor has arthritis in his hands, which required surgery to implant prostheses in February 2018. Debtor has not been able to work since he had surgery. Debtor testified he has diabetes that have caused his kidneys to only work at 43%, problems with circulation to his feet, and other circulatory problems in his legs. Debtor testified he takes nine pills per day and insulin for his diabetes. Debtor testified he has torn cartilage in his knee, that surgery is needed on his knee, but that he does not have sufficient leave time from work to permit surgery.
13. Debtor's original Schedule J listed $401.96 per month for medical expenses. Debtor's amended Schedule J listed $752.61 per month for medical expenses.
14. Debtor testified that he hopes to return to work and work for three-more years.
15. Debtor testified he was current on all payments at the time of filing.
16. Mrs. Bozard testified that she handles the finances for both herself and Debtor, but uses Debtor's money to pay his debts. Mrs. Bozard and Debtor maintain separate bank accounts. Mrs. Bozard remarked that Debtor historically has not understood the impact of as yet unpaid monthly bills and not-yet *661cleared checks on the available funds balance in his account and will spend money earmarked for bills before the bills can be paid or the checks can clear. She sometimes moves money from his account to hers to avoid this.

Pre-Petition Events

17. Debtor and his wife reside in a home given to Mrs. Bozard by her mother. There is no mortgage on the home. Debtor and his wife have lived at the home for 21 years. Debtor did not list the residence in his schedules, neither an ownership interest nor an equitable interest. Debtor testified that he does not believe he has an equitable interest in the home.
18. At the time of the bankruptcy filing, Debtor and his wife had multiple vehicles: a 2015 Jeep Cherokee, a 2014 Harley Davidson, a 2017 Chevrolet Camaro, and a 1965 Ford Falcon. Debtor testified the 1965 Ford Falcon has been inoperable for approximately nine years, and was given to his wife after her father passed away. Their son, Alex Bozard, drove a 2006 Dodge Dakota titled jointly to Debtor and Mrs. Bozard and financed by a loan for which they are jointly liable.
19. Prior to the bankruptcy filing, Debtor and Mrs. Bozard made the payments on the Dodge Dakota. Alex Bozard began making the full payment of $226.27 for the Dodge Dakota starting in July 2017.
20. Debtor purchased a 2006 Harley Davidson in January 2017. Debtor sold the 2006 Harley Davidson in April 2017. The 2006 Harley Davidson was encumbered by a lien of $5,550, which was paid off with the proceeds from the sale of the motorcycle.
21. Debtor traded-in a 2016 Dodge Ram, and purchased a 2016 Dodge Charger in December 2016. Debtor testified he traded in the Dodge Ram in an attempt to lower his car payment and get a vehicle with better fuel mileage. Debtor surrendered the 2016 Dodge Charger in May 2017, resulting in an unsecured deficiency claim.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
587 B.R. 656, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-bozard-scb-2018.