Isaias Soto Perez v. Department of Treasury of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; Segarra

• Court: United States Bankruptcy Court, D. Puerto Rico
• Decided: June 18, 2010
• Docket: 09-00196
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

1 IN THE UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF PUERTO RICO 2

3 IN RE:

4 ISAIAS SOTO PEREZ CASE NO. 08-06576 BKT

5 Debtor(s) CHAPTER 7

6 ISAIAS SOTO PEREZ ADVERSARY NO. 09-0196

7 Plaintiff

8 DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY OF THE FILED & ENTERED ON 06/18/2010 9 COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO WILFREDO SEGARRA , TRUSTEE 10 Defendant(s) 11

12 DECISION AND ORDER 13 14 This proceeding is before the Court upon Debtor’s motion for partial summary judgment and 15 16 Defendant’s opposition with respect to its alleged willful violation of the automatic stay pursuant to 17 11 U.S.C. § 362 [Dkt. No. 14]. For the reasons set forth below, Debtor’s motion for partial 18 summary judgment is granted. This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter and the parties 19 20 pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1334 and 157(a) and the General Order of referral of Title 11 Proceedings 21 to the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Puerto Rico dated July 19, 1984 (Torruella, 22 C.J.). This is a core proceeding in accordance with 28 U.S.C. §157(b). 23 24 BACKGROUND 25 On September 30, 2008, Plaintiff Isaias Soto Perez (“Debtor”) filed a voluntary Chapter 13

bankruptcy petition [Dkt. No. 1 in the legal case]. Shortly thereafter, Defendant Department of Treasury of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (“Treasury”) filed a proof of claim on November 25, 2008 [Claim No. 13]. Pursuant to Debtor’s outstanding tax obligations, which are not disputed, 1 Treasury petitioned payment from the Debtor by issuing a series of notices on the following dates: 2 (1) November 28, 2008; (2) February 18, 2008; (3) March 4, 2009; (4) April 7, 2009; and, (5) April 3 22, 2009 [Dkt. No. 14]. Moreover, on July 22, 2009, Treasury sent a notice of attachment to third 4 5 persons in possession of Debtor’s personal property in further efforts to collect on Debtor’s 6 outstanding debt [Dkt. No. 14]. 7

8 The parties do not contest the fact that the Treasury notices were sent after Debtor’s bankruptcy 9 10 petition was filed. In response to the collection notices outlined above, Debtor initiated an adversary 11 proceeding against Treasury, arguing that the collection notices were issued in violation of the 12 automatic stay pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 362 [Dkt. No. 1]. Accordingly, Debtor prays for partial 13 14 summary judgment as to the finding of whether Treasury willfully violated the automatic stay and 15 asks the Court to schedule a trial on the issue of damages. 16 SUMMARY JUDGMENT STANDARD 17 18 Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, made applicable to this proceeding by Rule 7056 of 19 the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, states that summary judgment will be granted if “the 20 pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the 21 22 affidavits, if any, show there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is 23 entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c); Fed. R. Bankr. P. 7056. See also 24 Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986). Upon consideration of the facts, the Court must 25 draw all reasonable inferences in a light most favorable to the non-moving party. Piccicuto v. Dwyer, 39 F.3d 37, 40 (1st Cir. 1994); Desmond v. Varasso (In re Varasso), 37 F.3d 760, 763 (1st Cir. 1994). “The summary judgment procedure authorized by Rule 56 is a method for promptly disposing of actions in which there is no genuine issue as to any material fact or in which only a 1 question of law is involved.” 10 Wright and Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 2712 (3d ed. 2 1998). 3

4 While summary judgment allows a party to pierce the allegations in the pleading by introducing 5 outside evidence to obtain relief, it is not a substitute for a trial of disputed facts. Id. Consequently, 6 7 the “[m]ere existence of some alleged factual dispute between the parties will not defeat an 8 otherwise properly supported motion for summary judgment; the requirement is that there be no 9 10 genuine issue of material fact.” Medina-Munoz v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., 896 F.2d 5, 8 (1st 11 Cir. 1990) (emphasis added). As such, a fact is deemed material if it has the potential to affect the 12 outcome of a case under governing law. Morrissey v. Boston Five Cents Sav. Bank, 54 F.3d 27, 31 13 14 (1st Cir. 1995); U.S. Fire Ins. Co. v. Productions Padosa, Inc., 835 F.2d 950, 953 (1st Cir. 1987) 15 (stating factual issue is material only if relevant to resolution of controlling legal issue raised in 16 summary judgment). 17 18 ANALYSIS

19 I. Willful Violation of the Automatic Stay 20 With respect to the automatic stay, 11 U.S.C. § 362 provides in relevant part: 21 22 (a) . . . a petition filed under 301, 302, or 303 of this title . . . operates as a stay, applicable to all entities, of- 23 24 (1) the commencement or continuation, including the issuance or employment of process, of a judicial, administrative, or other action or proceeding against the debtor that was or 25 could have been commenced before the commencement of the case under this title, or to recover a claim against the debtor that arose before the commencement of the case under this title; ….

(6) any act to collect, assess, or recover a claim against the debtor that arose before the commencement of the case under this title; …. 1 11 U.S.C. § 362 (2010). Pursuant to § 362(a), once a debtor files a bankruptcy petition, the 2 3 automatic stay takes effect and creditors are prohibited from all actions against the debtor’s assets. 4 Matter of S.I. Acquisition, Inc., 817 F.2d 1142, 1146 (5th Cir. 1987). See also 3 Collier on 5 Bankruptcy § 362-03 (15th ed. 2010). Indeed, the scope of the automatic stay is broad to the extent 6 7 that “even where there [sic] no actual notice of the existence of the stay” an action against the 8 Debtor’s assets is still void. Id. The underlying policy beneath the strict guidelines of the automatic 9 10 stay is to provide debtors with sufficient “breathing space” in order to promote a key bankruptcy goal 11 – equal distribution of the estate. Id. To recover damages, however, the violation of the automatic 12 stay has to be “willful.” 11 U.S.C. § 362(k)(1). See also In re McMullen, 386 F.3d 320, 330 (1st 13 14 Cir. 2004). It follows that a violation is “willful” when: (1) the creditor has knowledge of the 15 pending bankruptcy proceeding; and (2) the creditor’s conduct is intentional. Id. (citing Fleet 16 Mortgage Group, Inc. v. Kaneb, 196 F.3d 265, 268-69 (1st Cir. 1999)). That said, in cases where a 17 18 creditor has received actual notice of the automatic stay, a finder of fact must presume the violation 19 was intentional. Homer Nat’l Bank v. Namie, 96 B.R. 652, 654 (Bankr. W.D. La. 1989). 20 Conversely, if a creditor is found to lack knowledge of the bankruptcy case, the violation of the stay 21 22 is only “technical” and does not result in the awarding of damages. In re McMullen, 386 F.3d at 330 23 (citing In re Will, 303 B.R. 357, 364 (Bankr. N.D. Ill. 2003)). 24

25 In the case at bar, it is clear that Treasury violated the automatic stay pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §

362(a)(1) and (a)(6), which prohibits post-petition collection efforts for claims that arose prior to the commencement of the case. 11 U.S.C. § 362. Indeed, Debtor filed a bankruptcy petition on September 30, 2008, which placed an automatic stay over the estate and debtor, which pre-dated the 1 issuance of five separate collection notices and an attachment of property by Treasury [Dkt. No. 14]. 2 Furthermore, the Court finds Treasury’s violation of the automatic stay to be “willful” because 3 Treasury was provided with timely notice of Debtor’s bankruptcy filing [Dkt. No. 4 in the legal 4 5 case]. Serving as further indicia of Treasury’s knowledge to the automatic stay is the fact that 6 Treasury promptly filed its proof of claim with the Court after receiving notice of Debtor’s 7 bankruptcy filing [Claim No. 13]. Pursuant to the First Circuit’s holding in In re McMullen, 8 9 Treasury’s notice of the bankruptcy filing confirms Treasury’s knowledge of the automatic stay. 10 Because Treasury had knowledge of the automatic stay, its ensuing violation is deemed intentional. 11 12 As such, this Court finds Treasury to have committed a willful violation of the automatic stay. 13 14 In their opposition to partial summary judgment, Treasury avers that the notices and attachment letter 15 were “not a collection effort but mere “administrative procedure” [Dkt. No. 18]. The Court finds this 16 argument deficient. Some courts have found that initial notices sent to debtors by the IRS do not 17 18 violate the automatic stay. See In re Bryant, 294 B.R. 791, 798 (Bankr. S.D. Ala. 2002) (ruling IRS 19 letter that did not ask for payment and stated ‘information only - no response is necessary’ was not 20 violation of stay); In re Innovation Instruments, Inc., 228 B.R. 313, 315 (Bankr. N.D. Fla. 1998) 21 22 (maintaining IRS allowed to send first bill notifying debtor in bankruptcy of liability, but prohibited 23 from taking steps to collect tax). 24

25 The steps taken by Treasury, however, are unlike the initial notification procedures raised in In re

Bryant and In re Innovation Instruments. Not only did Treasury file a proof of claim after Debtor’s bankruptcy filing, but Treasury issued five letters and an attachment of Debtor’s property, all of which evince an unmistakable effort to collect from Debtor. As demonstrated by their April 7, 2009 1 letter, Treasury threatened to take the following action(s) if Debtor did not communicate with 2 Treasury on the repayment of its debt by April 30, 2009: (1) monthly deduction of salary; (2) seizure 3 of bank accounts; (3) seizure and/or auction of furniture and real estate; (4) retention of payment if 4 5 Debtor is a deputy of goods and services for the Government of Puerto Rico; (5) reporting of debt to 6 the Credit Bureau; and (6) encumbrance of automobile [Dkt. No. 14]. In its review of the complete 7 record, this Court finds that Treasury – who it is undisputed had notice of the automatic stay – has 8 9 not presented any material fact or admissible evidence that it was not attempting to collect from 10 Debtor. 11 12 II. Waiver of Sovereign Immunity 13 Further analysis is required when the party that violates an automatic stay is the government because 14 the doctrine of sovereign immunity prevents the United States from being sued except in cases where 15 16 the government has provided consent. In re Price, 42 F.3d 1068, 1071 (7th Cir. 1994) (citing FDIC 17 v. Meyer, 510 U.S. 471, 475 (1994)). The filing of a proof of claim by a governmental unit is an 18 action widely recognized as consent, thereby waiving any sovereign immunity. Gardner v. New 19 20 Jersey, 329 U.S. 565, 567 (1947) (holding a party that invokes aid of bankruptcy court by proof of 21 claim waives any immunity in adjudication of claim); Arecibo Cmty. Health Care, Inc. v. 22 Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 270 F.3d 17, 27 (1st Cir. 2001) (noting that a state waives immunity 23 24 by availing itself of federal courts through proof of claim). Accordingly, 11 U.S.C. § 106(b) states: 25 A governmental unit1 that has filed a proof of claim in the case is deemed to have waived sovereign immunity with respect to a claim against such governmental unit that is property of the estate and that arose out of the same transaction or occurrence out of which the claim of such governmental unit arose.

1 A “governmental unit” is defined in part as the “United States; State; Commonwealth; District; Territory; municipality; foreign state; department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States . . . , a State, a Commonwealth, a District . . . .” 11 U.S.C. § 101 (27) (2010) (emphasis added). 1 11 U.S.C. § 106(b) (2010) (emphasis added). As such, the following three factors must be present 2 for a government to be deemed to have waived sovereign immunity: (1) the governmental unit filed a 3 proof of claim; (2) the claim against the governmental unit must involve property of the estate; and 4 5 (3) the claims made by both the governmental unit and debtor must arise from the same transaction 6 or occurrence. In re Price, 42 F.3d at 1072-73. “Property of the estate” is comprised of “[a]ll legal 7 or equitable interests of the debtor in property as of the commencement of the case.” 11 U.S.C. § 8 9 541(a)(1) (2010). See also United States v. McPeck, 910 F.2d 509, 513 (8th Cir. 1990) (asserting 10 claim for attorney’s fees are property of the estate). The third prong – which has no formal test – has 11 12 been interpreted broadly in an effort to promote “judicial economy.” In re Price, 42 F.3d at 1072 13 (noting logical relationship of claims test applies). See also United Artists Corp. v. Masterpiece 14 Productions, 221 F.2d 213, 216 (2d Cir 1955) (holding mere logical relationship between claims is 15 16 sufficient, not absolute identity of factual backgrounds). 17 18 In the present dispute, the Court finds Treasury to have waived its sovereign immunity. Because 19 Treasury is an instrumentality of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, it plainly qualifies as a 20 “governmental unit” under the definition provided by 11 U.S.C. § 101(27). Furthermore, Treasury 21 22 satisfies all three requirements for the waiver of sovereign immunity pursuant to § 106(b). First, 23 Treasury entered a proof of claim in the bankruptcy case regarding Debtor’s outstanding tax liability 24 [Claim No. 13]. Second, like In re Price, where the debtor’s claim against the IRS for attorney’s fees 25 and costs were deemed property of the estate, Debtor’s claims against Treasury for attorney’s fees and costs – in addition to actual damages, punitive damages, and interest – are also property of the estate. In re Price, 42 F.3d at 1072. Finally, under the third prong, the claims made by Treasury and Debtor arise from the same transaction or occurrence – Debtor’s tax liability. Essentially, Treasury’s 1 collection efforts, which violated the automatic stay, resulted in the commencement of the present 2 adversary proceeding by Debtor. It follows that Debtor would not have had to incur attorney’s fees 3 and costs had Treasury not asserted its claim over part of the bankruptcy estate at issue. As such, the 4 5 above circumstances display a logical relationship between the claims set forth by both litigants. 6 Because all three prongs of the waiver of sovereign immunity test have been met and no material fact 7 to the contrary has been raised by Treasury, this Court finds that Treasury has waived its sovereign 8 9 immunity pursuant to § 106(b) of the Bankruptcy Code. 10 III. Anti-Ferreting Consideration 11 12 In opposition to Debtor’s motion for partial summary judgment and in support of its motion to 13 dismiss, Treasury avers that Debtor has not fully complied with Local Civil Rule 56 (“Rule 56”) by 14 not supplementing its motion with a statement of uncontested facts [Dkt. No. 18]. Rule 56 – also 15 16 known as an “anti-ferret” rule – is one of the district court, which calls for litigants seeking summary 17 judgment to submit “[a] list of the allegedly uncontested facts on which it relies . . . .” Alsina-Ortiz v. 18 Laboy, 400 F.3d 77, 80 (1st Cir. 2005). Indeed, Rule 56 seeks to force parties to organize evidence 19 20 themselves and not place the burden of sorting through a disorderly record on the district court. Id. 21 at 81. See also Caban Hernandez v. Phillip Morris USA, Inc., 486 F.3d 1, 7-8 (1st Cir. 2007) (stating 22 Rule 56 is meant to avoid shifting burdens of litigation to the court). Compliance with Rule 56 23 24 allows a district court to appropriately focus on “what is – and what is not – genuinely controverted.” 25 Caban Hernandez, 486 F.3d at 7 (citing Calvi v. Knox, 470 F.3d 422, 427 (1st Cir. 2006)). There is

no mechanical rule, however, to determine when a party has not complied with Rule 56. Alsina- Ortiz, 400 F.3d at 81. As such, it is within the discretion of the district court judge to determine if a party has complied with the spirit of Rule 56. Id. at 80-81. That said, non-compliance with Rule 56 1 is not determinative of the outcome of a motion for summary judgment. Id. at 81 (citing Guzman- 2 Rosario v. United Parcel Serv., Inc., 397 F.3d 6 (1st Cir. 2005)). In sum, Rule 56 merely frames the 3 factual configuration of the case going forward. Id. 4 5 The First Circuit has invoked the anti-ferret rule in several instances where a party has unduly 6 7 burdened the Court with a disorganized record. In Alsina-Ortiz, the First Circuit found the plaintiff 8 to not “even arguably comply with the spirit or letter of the rule” after he had filed statements that 9 10 spanned 60 pages and 130 facts – many of which were “irrelevant, repetitive or unsupported by 11 record citation.” 400 F.3d at 81. Similarly, in Caban Hernandez, the First Circuit found non- 12 compliance with Rule 56 when the appellant did not properly cite to the record, supported facts only 13 14 by general references to exhibits, and entered exhibits that comprised of hundreds of pages, 15 effectively leaving “the district court to grope unaided for factual needles in a documentary 16 haystack.” 483 F.3d at 7-8. 17 18 In this case, the Court finds that Debtor has sufficiently complied with Rule 56. Although the 19 20 Debtor’s motion for partial summary judgment has not been supplemented by a list of its alleged 21 uncontested facts, contains multiple citation errors, and includes duplicative filing of exhibits, they 22 do not overly burden the Court in as severe a fashion as the First Circuit witnessed in Alsina-Ortiz 23 24 and Caban Hernandez. Additionally, while the record entered by the Debtor could have been 25 organized in a more careful fashion, it does not strike the Court as being irrelevant like much of the

record that was submitted by the plaintiff in Alsina-Ortiz. 1 || CONCLUSION 2 The motion for partial summary judgment, filed by Plaintiff, Isaias Soto Perez on March 22, 2010 3 4 || (Dkt. No. 14] is GRANTED. The Court rules that a finding on whether Defendant, Department o > || Treasury of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico’s willful violation of the automatic stay caused □ 6 to the Plaintiff is an issue to be left for a trial on damages. 7 8 WHEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that PLAINTIFF’s motion for partial summary judgmen 9 10 || shall be, and it hereby is, GRANTED. 11 San Juan, Puerto Rico, this 18 day of June, 2010. 12

14 Brian K. Tester 15 U.S. Bankruptcy Judge 16 Ne: DEBTOR(S) 17 FREDERIC CHARDON DUBOS WILFREDO SEGARRA MIRANDA 18 DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY OF THE COMMONWEAL 19 WILFREDO SEGARRA MIRANDA ,TRUSTEE 20 21 22 23 24 25