Kaiser Steel Corp. v. Frates (In Re Kaiser Steel Corp.)

95 B.R. 782, 20 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 1485, 6 Colo. Bankr. Ct. Rep. 76, 1989 Bankr. LEXIS 46, 18 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 1267, 1989 WL 3479
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, D. Colorado
DecidedJanuary 16, 1989
Docket14-27062
StatusPublished
Cited by22 cases

This text of 95 B.R. 782 (Kaiser Steel Corp. v. Frates (In Re Kaiser Steel Corp.)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, D. Colorado primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Kaiser Steel Corp. v. Frates (In Re Kaiser Steel Corp.), 95 B.R. 782, 20 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 1485, 6 Colo. Bankr. Ct. Rep. 76, 1989 Bankr. LEXIS 46, 18 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 1267, 1989 WL 3479 (Colo. 1989).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER ON PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO STRIKE JURY DEMANDS

CHARLES E. MATHESON, Chief Judge.

I.

INTRODUCTION

The Plaintiff has filed these two adversary proceedings seeking to recover property alleged to have been transferred in fraud of creditors and to also recover damages for alleged breaches of duty, conspiracy and on other common law claims. The two proceedings pertain to a complex, related series of transactions which have given rise to a multiplicity of adversary proceedings in this Court.

The complaints filed herein are factually and legally complex. An analysis of the complaints is made more difficult due to the fact that the claims for relief do not have common defendants throughout and pertain to different, albeit related, transactions. 1 In summary, in Case No. 87 E 135 (“135”), the first eight claims for relief are predicated on state law theories such as breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, impairment of capital, and breach of contract. These claims for relief are non-core matters within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. *785 § 157(c). The remaining four claims for relief are stated under 11 U.S.C. §§ 548, 544, 550, 541 and 542. As such, they are core proceedings within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. § 157(b). In re Harbour, 840 F.2d 1165 (4th Cir.1988); In re Mankin, 823 F.2d 1296 (9th Cir.1987); In re Meyertech Corp., 831 F.2d 410 (3rd Cir.1987).

In Case No. 87 E 437 (“437”), the fourth through ninth and the eleventh and twelfth claims for relief are predicated on state law theories such as breach of fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment, failure of consideration, conspiracy and aiding and abetting. As such, these claims for relief are non-core matters within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. § 157(c). The remaining four claims for relief are stated under 11 U.S.C. §§ 541, 542, 544, 547, 548 and 550, and are core-proceedings within the meaning of 28 U.S. C. § 157(b). In re Harbour, supra; In re Mankin, supra; In re Visidata Corp., 84 B.R. 673 (Bankr.N.D.Cal.1988).

Various defendants have made demands to have these cases tried to a jury. The Plaintiff has filed a motion to strike the jury demands or, in the alternative, to sever for trial the claims to which a jury demand should be allowed. This opinion and order is rendered on that pending motion.

II.

THE LAW

Under the jurisdictional scheme pertaining to bankruptcy courts, this Court has jurisdiction and authority to hear, decide and render final judgment in “core proceedings”. 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(1). The Court recognizes that there is a split among the courts on the issue of whether a party is entitled to a jury trial in core proceedings where the matter at issue is basically predicated on state law, or where the plaintiff seeks to recover damages as opposed to some form of equitable relief such as a recovery of specific property. This Court will not prolong this opinion by restating here the various arguments that have been asserted on one side or the other on this issue. It is sufficient for present purposes that this Court is persuaded that the bankruptcy court is a court of equity, and that Congress intended core matters concerning the debtor’s estate and the adjustment of the debtor/creditor relationships to be determined in summary proceedings. Thus, this Court concurs in those decisions which have held that there is no right to a jury trial in core matters. Katchen v. Landy, 382 U.S. 323, 86 S.Ct. 467, 476, 15 L.Ed.2d 391 (1966); In re Harbour, 840 F.2d 1165 (4th Cir.1988); In re Chase & Sanborn Corp., 835 F.2d 1341 (11th Cir.1988); Inter-State National Bank of Kansas City v. Luther, 221 F.2d 382 (10th Cir.1955); In re Kroh Bros. Development Co., 91 B.R. 889 (Bankr.W.D. Mo.1988); In re Visidata Corp., 84 B.R. 673 (Bankr.N.D.Calif.1988); In re Honeycomb, 72 B.R. 371 (Bankr.S.D.N.Y.1987); In re I.A. Durbin, Inc., 62 B.R. 139 (S.D. Fla.1986); Bedford Computer Corp. v. Ginn, Pub., Inc., 63 B.R. 79 (D.N.H.1986); Hauytin v. Grynberg, 52 B.R. 657 (Bankr.D.Colo.1985).

With respect to non-core matters, this Court has jurisdiction to hear such matters but cannot enter a final judgment thereon unless the parties consent. 28 U.S. C. § 157(c)(1). If the parties do not consent, this Court must enter findings and recommendations which are certified to the district court. That court then enters judgment after a trial de novo as specified under 28 U.S.C. § 157(c)(1). Thus, in this manner, the right of a party to have non-core type matters decided by an Article III judge is preserved. Northern Pipeline Co. v. Marathon Pipe Line, 458 U.S. 50, 102 S.Ct. 2858, 73 L.Ed.2d 598 (1982) (hereinafter “Marathon”). Because of the requirement of a de novo trial in the district court, courts have almost uniformly held that it would serve no purpose to have a jury trial in the bankruptcy court in a non-core matter.

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Related

In Re Kaiser Steel Corporation, Debtor
911 F.2d 380 (Tenth Circuit, 1990)
Haden v. Edwards (In Re Edwards)
100 B.R. 973 (E.D. Tennessee, 1989)
Clark v. Levine (In Re Levine)
100 B.R. 537 (D. Colorado, 1989)

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Bluebook (online)
95 B.R. 782, 20 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 1485, 6 Colo. Bankr. Ct. Rep. 76, 1989 Bankr. LEXIS 46, 18 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 1267, 1989 WL 3479, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kaiser-steel-corp-v-frates-in-re-kaiser-steel-corp-cob-1989.