In Re Hardy

209 B.R. 371, 1997 Bankr. LEXIS 194, 30 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 375, 1997 WL 192273
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Virginia
DecidedJanuary 28, 1997
Docket19-70765
StatusPublished
Cited by19 cases

This text of 209 B.R. 371 (In Re Hardy) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Virginia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re Hardy, 209 B.R. 371, 1997 Bankr. LEXIS 194, 30 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 375, 1997 WL 192273 (Va. 1997).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

STEPHEN C. ST. JOHN, Bankruptcy Judge.

This matter came before the Court on December 3, 1996 on a Motion To Reopen by *373 the debtor, Lois C. Hardy, to have the Court reopen her Chapter 7 case pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 350. After consideration of the evidence introduced at trial and the arguments of counsel, the Court makes the following findings of fact and conclusions of law.

FINDINGS OF FACT

The debtor, a self-employed attorney on the Eastern Shore, filed for Chapter 13 protection in 1991. The debtor’s case was subsequently converted to a Chapter 7 liquidation, and her debts were discharged on July 1, 1992. The debtor recites two legal bases to support her Motion To Reopen. First, the debtor alleges that, after her bankruptcy filing, some of her clients were told by the Marine Bank (“the Bank”) not to utilize her legal services when closing real estate transactions between the Bank and its customers. This conduct is alleged by the debt- or to be unlawful discrimination pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 525(b). The debtor’s second reason for her Motion To Reopen is that, one year after her debts were discharged, a prepetition judgment creditor recorded a judgment lien against certain real property belonging to the debtor. The debtor alleges that the recording of this lien was a malicious act done in violation of 11 U.S.C. § 727 because it “cast[s] a shadow” on the debtor’s real estate title by suggesting that there is a post-petition judgment against the debtor. As the parties appear to have reached a resolution with respect to the § 727 title claim, the Court limits its holding on the Motion to Reopen to the claim of alleged discrimination by the Bank under § 525(b).

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

Notwithstanding the fact that Hardy’s bankruptcy case is closed and all scheduled debts have been discharged, the Court retains jurisdiction over the debtor’s case for certain purposes. In re Winebrenner, 170 B.R. 878, 881 (Bankr.E.D.Va.1994). One of the specific purposes enumerated is if a party claims a right or remedy created by one of the specific Bankruptcy Code sections. In re Banks-Davis, 148 B..R. 810, 812-13 (Bankr. E.D.Va.1992). As § 525(b) is a specific Bankruptcy Code section, the motion to reopen the bankruptcy case under § 350(b) falls unequivocally within the Court’s jurisdiction. The Court’s next step, therefore, is to determine if the closed bankruptcy case should be reopened.

Under § 350(b) of the Bankruptcy Code, there are three conditions in which the Court can grant the reopening of a bankruptcy case: to administer assets, to accord relief to the debtor, and for other cause. In re Dove, 199 B.R. 342, 345 (Bankr.E.D.Va.1996). Notwithstanding the three prongs of § 350(b), it is axiomatic that the Court has final discretion in deciding whether to reopen a case. In re Walker, 198 B.R. 476, 478 (Bankr.E.D.Va.1996)(citing Thompson v. Virginia, 16 F.3d 576, 581-82 (4th Cir.1994), cert. denied 512 U.S. 1221, 114 S.Ct. 2709, 129 L.Ed.2d 836 (1994); Hawkins v. Landmark Finance Co., 727 F.2d 324, 326 (4th Cir.1984)). As there are no assets to administer in this ease, the Court must base its decision to reopen upon whether the Court determines that either relief can be accorded to the debtor or that other “cause” exists for reopening.

I. Reopen The Bankruptcy Case To Accord Relief To The Debtor

Before the Court will reopen the bankruptcy ease to accord relief to the debt- or under § 350(b), the Court must determine if the underlying cause of action to the Motion To Reopen is “likely to be sustained when considered on its merits.” In re Carter, 156 B.R. 768, 770-71 (Bankr.E.D.Va. 1993). 1 This a two step process requiring the Court to answer two questions. First, are there enough facts on the record that were pleaded with sufficient specificity and presented at the motion hearing to enable the Court to make a determination without prejudicing any party’s rights? Second, after it is determined that there is sufficient *374 information before the Court, is the underlying cause of action likely to be meritorious?

1. Is the matter sufficiently pleaded to enable the Court to determine the merits of the underlying cause of action?

The moving party, the debtor in this case, has the burden to demonstrate that there is a sufficient legal basis to reopen the ease* In re Winburn, 196 B.R. 894, 897 (Bankr.N.D.Fla.1996)(citing In re Pagan, 59 B.R. 394, 396 (Bankr.D.P.R.1986)). In filing its Motion to Reopen, the debtor filed a motion along with accompanying exhibits, an affidavit which laid out the relevant facts, and a memorandum with supporting case law. The debtor further pleaded her case on December 3, 1996 at a hearing before this Court. In its defense, the Bank filed an Objection To Motion To Reopen Case and a memorandum highlighting relevant case law favorable to the Bank’s objection. The Court believes that both sides were given the opportunity to argue their case and that any Due Process concerns with respect to opportunity to be heard have been satisfied. Therefore, in light of the pleadings filed, arguments heard during the oral hearing, and the legal memoranda submitted, the Court concludes that the record is sufficient to permit the Court to adjudicate the merits of the underlying cause of action to the Motion to Reopen.

2. Is the underlying cause of action likely to be sustained on its merits?

Having concluded that there is a sufficient amount of facts on the record, the Court must determine the merits of the underlying cause of action. Section 525(b) of the Bankruptcy Code states:

No private employer may terminate the employment of, or discriminate with respect to employment against, an individual who is or has been a debtor under this title, a debtor or bankrupt under the Bankruptcy Act, or an individual associated with such debtor or bankrupt, solely because such debtor or bankrupt—
(1)is or has been a debtor under this title or a debtor or bankrupt under the Bankruptcy Act;
(2) has been insolvent before the commencement of a case under this title or during the case but before the grant or denial of a discharge; or
(3) has not paid a debt that is discharge-able in a case under this title or that was discharged under the Bankruptcy Act.

11 U.S.C.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
209 B.R. 371, 1997 Bankr. LEXIS 194, 30 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 375, 1997 WL 192273, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-hardy-vaeb-1997.