Jennings v. Bodrick (In re Bodrick)

509 B.R. 843
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. Ohio
DecidedApril 18, 2014
DocketBankruptcy No. 11-50090; Adversary No. 11-2162
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 509 B.R. 843 (Jennings v. Bodrick (In re Bodrick)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. Ohio primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Jennings v. Bodrick (In re Bodrick), 509 B.R. 843 (Ohio 2014).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION DISMISSING COMPLAINT

BETH A. BUCHANAN, Bankruptcy Judge.

This matter is before this Court on plaintiff DeWayne M. Jennings’ (“Jennings ”) Third Amended Complaint for Exception to Discharge of Dwayne A. Bodrick Under 11 U.S.C. § 523 [Docket Number 56] (the “Complaint ”), defendant Dwayne A. Bodrick’s (the “Debtor”) Answer [Docket Number 75] and the parties’ trial briefs [Docket Numbers 90, 95]. On May 20, 2013, this adversary proceeding was reassigned to this Court by the Hon[848]*848orable C. Kathryn Preston of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Eastern Division [Docket Number 69]. A trial was held on December 11 and 12, 2013.

I. Jurisdiction

At issue before this Court is the nondis-chargeability of a debt under 11 U.S.C. §§ 528(a)(2)(A), 523(a)(2)(B), 523(a)(4) and 523(a)(6).1 Also before this Court is a request for costs and attorney’s fees under 11 U.S.C. § 523(d). This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this adversary proceeding pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 157 and 1334 and the general order of reference entered in this district. This is a core proceeding pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(I).

II. Findings Of Fact

At the outset, this Court notes that the circumstances surrounding this case made it rather difficult to ferret out the actual events that resulted in the present controversy. The relevant facts in this case occurred roughly fourteen years ago, and the story involves one, if not several, Nigerian investment fraud schemes. Neither Jennings’ nor the Debtor’s version of the facts rang true, however, overall this Court found Jennings to be more credible than the Debtor. In addition, the litigation strategies employed throughout this case and continuing through the trial — including late disclosure of last minute witnesses,2 springing new legal theories at the time of trial and the peculiar use of previously undisclosed evidence for impeachment purposes — further muddied the waters. Notwithstanding, on the record presented, this Court distills the material facts to be as follows.

No testimony was offered as to the specific age or educational background of either Jennings or the Debtor, however, the testimony suggested that the Debtor is older than Jennings. The Debtor and Jennings grew up in the same neighborhood in Youngstown, Ohio. Many years later, they ran into each other at a grocery store in Columbus, Ohio and exchanged pleasantries and business cards. Jennings testified that the Debtor held himself out to be a “financial planner” who could offer “investment opportunities” to Jennings. The Debtor testified that at that time he worked in “financial services,” specifically that he was licensed to sell accident, life, and health insurance, and that he was “working with a Mr. Pressley.”3 The Debtor testified he was also a licensed mortgage broker. Jennings testified that the Debtor told him he was very successful at what he did — at some point offering a picture of his home as evidence of his success — and that he had his own business called National Liberty Corporation. After several telephone conversations and a meeting at an Applebee’s for lunch, Jennings decided to make an investment described to him by the Debtor as having a [849]*849“higher interest rate” and a “guaranteed return.”

Discussed repeatedly at the trial was a March 23, 2001 fax from a Patrick C. Nduka at Union Bank in Nigeria to Jennings [Plaintiffs Exhibit 9, Debtor’s Exhibit H] (the “$9M Nduka Fax”). The $9M Nduka Fax bears the header of “Union Bank (Nig.) PLC.” along with a logo showing a horse standing on its rear legs. Because it is not possible to paraphrase its contents, the body of the $9M Nduka Fax reads — verbatim—as follows:

Attn: Mr. Dwayne Jennings 8922 LupineDr.
Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068 Sir,
Please find the enclose letter regarding your assistance with the estate of Mr. Pressley. The total amount of the estate as at December 31st is US $24,613,-000.00.
I have spoken to Mr. Bodrick and informed him that Union Bank along with the Federal Inland Revenue has and will receive over US $368,000.00 to pay legal, administrative and Tax expenses for this transfer with only US $28,500.00 to effect transfer of US $9,000,000.00 to Bank One NA 100 E. Broad Street Columbus, Ohio, 43271.
On February 21st 2001 our Telex Department through foreign operations has sent a release order to our correspondent Bank National Westminster Bank Pic. 6 International Trade and Banking Service overseas Branch Operations King Cross House 200 Pentvill Road London England, Phone # 011-44-207-726-1000.
For your assitance this document will act as an official letter of guarantee to pay you the sum of US $42,750.00 on or before April 15th 2001. Mr Bodrick has assigned power of Attorney of the US $9,000,000.00 to ensure all investors will be paid through Bank One NA.
This letter stands as a Promissory Note to you, and if you have any question or concern, please call my office. I will be more than glad to talk with you. Again, thank you for your assistance and I look forward to meeting you soon.
Sincerely Yours,
[Signature]
Patrick C. Nduka (Mr.)
Ag. Chief Accountant Union Bank Nig. Pic.

Jennings testified that the $9M Nduka Fax was given to him by the Debtor. The Debtor denied giving it to Jennings, alleging instead that Jennings acquired it directly from Mr. Pressley. On this particular point, this Court finds Jennings’ testimony to be more credible, especially because the $9M Nduka Fax makes an express reference to the Debtor. Regardless of how Jennings came to acquire the $9M Nduka Fax, Jennings had it before he made his investment.

On March 30, 2001, Jennings and the Debtor went to a Bank One Corporation branch office where Jennings transferred $26,000 from his account to an account at “HSBC-Hong Kong Shanghai Bank Corp.” in Taiwan [Plaintiffs Exhibit 11] (the “$26,000 Wire”). The $26,000 Wire is evidenced by a Bank One Corporation wire transfer outgoing request (the “Wire Request”). The Wire Request shows the beneficiary of the $26,000 Wire to be “Chen Hsaing Ohg.” Jennings testified that the Debtor gave the specific wire instructions to the banker assisting them.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
509 B.R. 843, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/jennings-v-bodrick-in-re-bodrick-ohsb-2014.