In Re Haning

252 B.R. 799, 13 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. B 289, 2000 Bankr. LEXIS 893, 2000 WL 1195529
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Florida
DecidedJune 20, 2000
Docket99-09319-3F3
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 252 B.R. 799 (In Re Haning) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re Haning, 252 B.R. 799, 13 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. B 289, 2000 Bankr. LEXIS 893, 2000 WL 1195529 (Fla. 2000).

Opinion

FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

JERRY A. FUNK, Bankruptcy Judge.

This Case is before the Court on an Objection to Exemptions and a Motion to Dismiss or Convert Case to Chapter 7 filed by James Jay Smith (“Creditor”) on February 22, 2000. (Docs. 16-17.) The Court held evidentiary hearings on these matters on March 22, 2000 and March 30, 2000. Upon the conclusion of the presentation of evidence, the Court asked for submissions in lieu of closing argument. Upon review of these submissions and the evidence presented, the Court makes the following Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law.

FINDINGS OF FACT

On October 9, 1998 Robert Anthony Haning and Brenda Kay Haning (“Debtors”) purchased real property for the sum of $111,947.61. 1 Debtors claim this real property as their homestead (“Home *802 stead”). Debtors gave Creditor a Promissory Note in the amount of $111,947.61 and agreed to make monthly payments to Creditor in the amount of $1,202.99. Debtors gave a mortgage to Creditor on the Homestead to secure the note. After their purchase Debtors constructed a 1600 square foot garage on the Homestead which is appurtenant to their residential home.

At some point after May 1, 1999, Creditor filed a foreclosure Complaint based on Debtors’ defaulting on the note and mortgage by failing to make payment. 2 On July 15, 1999 Debtors filed a voluntary Chapter 13 petition in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida, Jacksonville Division, Case No. 99-05352-3P3. On October 18, 1999 the Court entered an Order Granting Adequate Protection to Creditor. On December 7, 1999 the Court entered an Order of Dismissal for Debtors’ failure to make interim payments as required by 11 U.S.C. § 1326(a)(1). On December 15, 1999 Mamie L. Davis, Chapter 13 Trustee, filed a Chapter 13 Final Report indicating that Debtors made no payments to the Trustee during the course of their first Chapter 13 case.

On December 6, 1999 Debtors filed a second voluntary Chapter 13 petition listing total assets of $153,729.00 and total liabilities of $232,176.24. Debtors listed the Homestead as having a value of $116,000.00 with no equity. Debtors listed a $10,500.00 judgment lien on the Homestead that Debtors claim is unsecured in the amount of $6,500.00. Debtors listed an additional $2,409.76 secured debt for 1999 property taxes on the Homestead.

As of the date of their second Chapter 13 bankruptcy filing, Debtors owed $110,514.00 to Creditor. The Duval County Property Tax Appraiser’s Office appraisal value for the Homestead is $146,393.00. Creditor stated that he last received payment from Debtors in May 1999 but that Debtors’ check was returned for insufficient funds. Debtors’ forty-eight (48) month Chapter 13 Plan provides for monthly payments to Creditor in the amount of $1,202.00, which includes Debtors’ regular monthly mortgage payment and monthly payments of $229.49 for a $9,400.00 arrearage on the mortgage. Creditor is also secured by vehicles owned by Debtors in the amount of $5,941.00. Debtors propose to pay this amount plus interest over the life of their Chapter 13 Plan.

Debtors listed a current monthly income of $4,036.50 and current monthly expenditures of $2,043.00, with $2,060.13 to be paid into their Chapter 13 plan each month. Since September 1999 Robert Haning has been self-employed as a contractor in the construction business. Prior to that, Mr. Haning was a used ear dealer. Since October 1987 Brenda Haning has been employed as a bookkeeper by the Duval County School Board. Robert Haning listed no income between 1997 and 1999 from employment or operation of business in Debtors’ Statement of Affairs. Brenda Haning lists income of $15,467.00 for 1997, $16,318.00 for 1998, and $13,000.00 for 1999.

Debtors’ Schedule C — Property Claimed as Exempt lists the following:

Description of Property Specific Law Providing Value of Claimed Current Market Value of Prop-Each Exemption Exemption erty, Without Deducting Exemptions
1992 Nissan 300ZX 54,000 Miles FSA § 222,25(1)1,000.00_8,000.00
Bracelet Art. 10, § 4(a)(2), FSA 10.00 10.00 § 222.061
*803 Homestead Property Located at Art. 10, § 4(a)(2), FSA 116,000.00 116,000.00 3465 Thalia Road, Jacksonville § 222.01, 222.02 Beach, FL
Lady’s Jewelry Art. 10, § 4(a)(2), FSA 129.00 200.00 § 222.061
Lady’s Used Clothing Art. 10, § 4(a)(2), FSA 50.00 50.00 § 222.061
Man’s Used Clothing Art. 10, § 4(a)(2), FSA 50.00 50.00 § 222.061
Miscellaneous Household Goods Art. 10, § 4(a)(2), FSA 1,741.00 1,741.00 and Furnishings § 222.061
Watch Art. 10, § 4(a)(2), FSA 10.00 10.00 § 222.061
Wedding Band Art. 10, § 4(a)(2), FSA 10.00 10.00 § 222.061

Patricia Boney, who the Court has qualified as an expert appraiser of tangible personal property, testified that she did an appraisal of Debtors’ personal property and placed a value of $22,546.00 on that property. Debtors’ valued this personal property at $16,229.00. Excluding a Stinger Car Lift valued at $2,500.00 and a 1992 Nissan 300 ZX in which Debtors have no interest from Ms. Boney’s original appraisal, Debtors’ remaining tangible personal property has an appraised value of $14,-421.00.

Creditor’s Objection is to Debtors’ claimed homestead and personal property exemptions. Creditor states in his Objection that:

Debtors have constructed an eight (8) car garage on property they claim as their homestead, such garage is used for business purposes, and such property must be partitioned between the part being used for homestead purposes and the part being used for business purposes as the entire parcel listed as the Debtors’ homestead does not qualify for the exemption of Article 10, Section 4(a)(1) and § 222 Fla. Stat. (1999), and the Debtor’s personal property exceeds the allowable exemption amount pursuant to Article 10, Section (a)(2) and § 222 Fla. Stat. (1999).

(Doc. 16.) Creditor claims the garage is being used for business purposes and should be partitioned. Debtors earned at least $6,500.00 of income from use of the garage in an eighteen-month period prior to filing. However, the majority of this income is attributed to work performed for Creditor. 3

Creditor claims that cause exists to dismiss Debtors’ case under 11 U.S.C. § 1307. Creditor claims that Debtors’ bankruptcy Schedules and Statement of Financial Affairs are inaccurate and contain material omissions. Creditor states the following inaccuracies and omissions exist:

(a) Debtors list non-homestead real property with a value of $21,500.00 with a corresponding debt of $21,500.00.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
252 B.R. 799, 13 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. B 289, 2000 Bankr. LEXIS 893, 2000 WL 1195529, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-haning-flmb-2000.