Johnnie's Restaurant & Hotel Service, Inc. v. Witmer (In re Witmer)

541 B.R. 769
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Pennsylvania
DecidedNovember 20, 2015
DocketCASE NO. 1:14-bk-03237-RNO; ADVERSARY NO. 1:14-ap-00241-RNO
StatusPublished
Cited by15 cases

This text of 541 B.R. 769 (Johnnie's Restaurant & Hotel Service, Inc. v. Witmer (In re Witmer)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Johnnie's Restaurant & Hotel Service, Inc. v. Witmer (In re Witmer), 541 B.R. 769 (Pa. 2015).

Opinion

OPINION1

Robert N. Opell, II, Bankruptcy Judge

Pending before the Court is a Motion for Summary Judgment. Defendants, Ricky E. and Pamela J. Witmer’s (“Debtors”), Motion for Summary Judgment was filed on August 18, 2015 (“Motion”). For the reasons stated below, the Motion is denied in part and granted in part.

I. Jurisdiction

The Court has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 157 and 1334. This is a core proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(A); (I), and (0).

[772]*772II. Facts and Procedural History

A voluntary petition under Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code was filed with Bankruptcy Schedules on July 14, 2014, by the Debtors. Chapter 13 Voluntary Petition and Schedules A through J and Summary of Schedules, July 14, 2014, ECF No. 1 (hereinafter “Schedules”). Included on Schedule F (Creditors Holding Unsecured Nonpriority Claims) is an entry for Johnnie’s Restaurant & Hotel Service, Inc. (“Johnnie’s”), listing a contingent, unliqui-dated, and disputed claim. Schedules, ECF No. 1. However, Johnnie’s has not filed a proof of claim in the underlying bankruptcy case. On July 1, 2015, the Debtors’ First Amended Chapter 13 Plan was confirmed.

The present Adversary Proceeding was commenced by a three count Complaint filed by Johnnie’s on October 24, 2014. This Court granted Johnnie’s Motion for Leave to File an Amended Pleading on January 2, 2015. The amended three count complaint was filed on December 29, 2014 (“Amended Complaint”). The Debtors filed a Motion to Dismiss the Amended Complaint on January 20, 2015. After the parties submitted briefs in support of, and in opposition to, the Motion to Dismiss the Amended Complaint, a hearing was held on March 19, 2015. At the hearing, the Motion to Dismiss the Amended Complaint was settled by agreement of the parties and Counts II and III of the Amended Complaint were dismissed. Thereafter, the Debtors filed an Answer to Count I of the Amended Complaint. Defs.’ Answer to Amended Complaint, April 16, 2015, ECF No. 25 (hereinafter “Answer”).

The parties agree that the Debtors were the principals of, and organized, GEM Pizza Partners, LLC (“GEM”), for the purpose of operating a Stevi B’s pizza restaurant. Defs.’ Short Concise Statement Pursuant to Local Rule 56.1, ¶ 6, August 18, 2015, ECF No. 28 (hereinafter “Defs.’ Short Statement of Facts”); Pl.’s Response to Defs.’ Short Concise Statement Pursuant to Local Rule 56.1, ¶ 6, September 21, 2015, ECF No. 33 (hereinafter “Pl.’s Short Statement of Facts”). Between April 2011 and November 2012, Johnnie’s prepared quotes to supply a commercial kitchen at the request of Debt- or Rick Witmer. Defs.’ Short Statement of Facts, ¶ 7; Pl.’s Short Statement of Facts, ¶ 7. The quotes from Johnnie’s were directed to the attention of “Rick or Pam.” Id. The quotes resulted in a written proposal from Johnnie’s. Id.

The gravamen of the Amended Complaint, Count I, is the allegation that the Debtors signed a contract with Johnnie’s and then obtained commercial kitchen equipment from Johnnie’s through misrepresentations, false pretenses, or actual fraud. Amended Complaint, ¶¶ 25-29, December 29, 2014, ECF No. 13 (hereinafter “Amended Complaint”). Essentially, Johnnie’s alleges that the Debtors misrepresented the .existence of $150,000.00 in escrow to pay on the contract with funds to be released in increments of $60,000.00, $60,000.00, and $30,000.00 (“Escrow Account”), or alternatively, that the Escrow Account was not intended to be used as represented by the Debtors. Amended Complaint, ¶¶ 16, 25-29. The Amended Complaint seeks an order declaring the Debtors’ obligation to Johnnie’s in the amount of $108,324.13, plus additional damages, and interest and attorney’s fees to be nondischargeable under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2)2 of the Bankruptcy Code. Amended Complaint, ¶¶ 25-29.

[773]*773On August 18, 2015, the Debtors moved for summary judgment. The Debtors filed their Statement of Undisputed Facts and Johnnie’s filed their' response thereto. Briefs have been submitted in support' of, and in opposition to, the Debtors’ Motion. The Motion is now ripe for decision.

III. Discussion

A. Standard to Decide Motions for Summary Judgment Under F.R.B.P. 7056

Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 7056 incorporates, and makes applicable to bankruptcy adversary proceedings, Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (“F.R.C.P.”). Pursuant to F.R.C.P. 56(a), the movant has the burden to prove that-no genuine dispute exists as to any material fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). “As to materiality ... [o]nly disputes over facts that might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law will properly preclude the entry of summary judgment.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). The absence of any genuine issue of material fact may be demonstrated by the pleadings, supporting affidavits, and discovery materials — such as depositions, answer to interrogatories, and admissions which are part of the record. In re Premium Motor Cars, Inc., 404 B.R. 128, 130 (Bankr.W.D.Pa.2009).

After the movant satisfies its burden, the nonmoving party “must do more than simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts.” In re LandSource Communities Dev. LLC, 485 B.R. 310, 314 (Bankr.D.Del.2013) (citing Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co., Ltd. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986)). Instead, the nonmoving party is required to “set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505. The non-moving party must go “beyond the pleadings and by her own affidavits, or by the depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, designate specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. at 324, 106 S.Ct. 2548 (internal citations omitted). Throughout this analysis, the Court may not make credibility determinations or engage in any weighing of the evidence. Montone v. City of Jersey City,

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
541 B.R. 769, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/johnnies-restaurant-hotel-service-inc-v-witmer-in-re-witmer-pamb-2015.