Knaub v. Golba (In re Golba)

473 B.R. 366
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, D. Colorado
DecidedMay 15, 2012
DocketBankruptcy Nos. 09-17649 MER, 09-27801 HRT; Adversary Nos. 09-1551 MER, 10-1476 MER
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 473 B.R. 366 (Knaub v. Golba (In re Golba)) 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
Knaub v. Golba (In re Golba), 473 B.R. 366 (Colo. 2012).

Opinion

[369]*369ORDER

MICHAEL E. ROMERO, Bankruptcy Judge.

The above adversary proceedings concern the Plaintiffs’ problems with a home they purchased from an entity alleged to have been represented or controlled by the Defendants. The Plaintiffs obtained an agreement for the construction of a new home or the purchase of a replacement home, but the construction or replacement did not take place. The Plaintiffs now seek findings the debts owed to them by the Defendants are nondischargeable.

BACKGROUND FACTS

Debtors Robert and Annelle Golba (the “Golbas”) filed their voluntary Chapter 7 petition on April 28, 2009. Debtor Greg Rollison (“Rollison”) filed his voluntary Chapter 7 petition on August 27, 2009. Plaintiffs Kelvin and Holly Knaub (the “Knaubs”) filed Adversary No. 09-1551 against the Golbas and several related entities on September 11, 2009, and filed Adversary No. 10-1476 against Rollison on July 1, 2010. Annelle Golba was dismissed as a party defendant from Adversary No. 09-1551 on October 20, 2010.

The two adversary proceedings were consolidated for purposes of trial on November 24, 2010. On December 26, 2010, the Court issued an amended order regarding consolidation, indicating the adversary cases would proceed in parallel, but not be substantively consolidated. On June 28, 2011, the Court ordered the dis-chargeability claims of the two adversary cases would be heard first, with the damages portion, if necessary, to be heard at a later time.1 The dischargeability claims proceeded to trial, and the Court permitted post-trial briefing.

A. Procedural Background of Adversary Cases

1. Adversary No. 09-1551 MER (Golba)

The Knaubs’ Complaint against Golba alleges they purchased a home from an entity known as Gemm Homes (“Gemm”) on May 1, 2003. Thereafter, the home evidenced drywall cracking and other problems. The Knaubs had testing done in 2006 which revealed the foundation had been laid improperly, causing the structure to settle. According to the Complaint, Robert Golba (“Golba”) worked in sales and - marketing for Gemm beginning in 2005. After the testing in 2006, Golba and other defendants negotiated with the Plaintiffs on behalf of Gemm, and offered to construct a new home if the property was reconveyed to Gemm.

The Knaubs further allege that in February 2007, Golba formed Avalon Homes (“Avalon”), of which he owned 90%. The name at the office of Gemm was changed to Avalon Homes, and Avalon assumed the contract between the Knaubs and Gemm. The Knaubs and Avalon entered into a verbal agreement under which Avalon would construct a new home for the Plaintiffs on a different lot in the same subdivision, following which the Knaubs would convey the defective property to Avalon. However, Avalon did not complete the purchase of the new lot.

According to the Complaint, Gemm transferred all its assets and liabilities to Avalon for no consideration, and Golba and others represented that Gemm’s principal, [370]*370Rollison, and Gemm had no connection to or interest in Avalon. However, the Knaubs allege Avalon was partly owned by Rollison’s son, and Avalon made payments to Rollison, rather than using its revenue for business purposes such as completing the Knaubs’ new home. They further allege Avalon Homes was just a continuation of Gemm, and Avalon Homes and any related entities were set up to hinder and delay creditors and use the assets of Gemm for Golba’s and Rollison’s personal benefit.

The Complaint contains the following claims for relief: 1) for damages caused by fraudulent representations and false pretenses under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2)(A),2 based on Golba’s misrepresentation that Gemm and Rollison were not involved in Avalon; 2) for damages caused by actual fraud under § 523(a)(2)(A), based on Gol-ba’s and Rollison’s alleged conspiracy fraudulently to convey the assets of Gemm to the Avalon entities; and 3) for damages caused by breach of fiduciary duty under § 523(a)(4), alleging Gemm was an insolvent company which owed a fiduciary duty to its creditors, and alleging Golba participated in transferring Gemm’s assets to Avalon for no consideration.

On October 20, 2010, the Court entered an Order granting in part and denying in part the Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss. The Court granted the motion to dismiss Annelle Golba as a party defendant, granted the motion to dismiss the third claim for relief under § 523(a)(4), but denied the motion to dismiss the first and second claims for relief under § 523(a)(2)(A).

Golba’s Answer denies he committed fraud, and raises the following affirmative defenses: 1) waiver, laches, estoppel, unclean hands, release, statute of frauds, and statute of limitations; 2) failure to mitigate; 3) collateral estoppel; and 4) failure to state a claim.

2. Adversary No. 10-1476 MER (Rollison)

The Knaubs’ Complaint against Rollison states Rollison was a principal of Gemm, and was personally involved in the construction of the Knaubs’ defective home. CDS Engineering allegedly designed the foundation of the home, but the foundation was not built according to the engineering specifications, and Rollison and Gemm did not arrange for a proper inspection. After the Knaubs discovered cracks in the drywall, they were assured by representatives of Gemm such cracks were not a concern. The Knaubs continued to have problems, but Gemm and Rollison did not address them. Gemm and Rollison eventually had CDS Engineering perform an analysis, and CDS discovered the foundation had not been laid on stable ground. Thereafter Gemm, Golba, and Rollison negotiated with the Knaubs and offered to construct a new home for them.

According to the Complaint, during these negotiations, Avalon was formed by Golba in Wyoming on February 14, 2007, at a time when Gemm was insolvent. Rol-lison’s son Miles owned a portion of Avalon until July 25, 2007. In addition to allegations concerning the verbal agreement that Avalon would complete a new home for the Knaubs, the Complaint states after the creation of Avalon, all employees of Gemm became employees of Avalon, all assets of Gemm became assets of Avalon, and the transfers of Gemm’s assets were for no consideration. Rollison was involved in establishing Avalon, and encouraged vendors [371]*371of supplies and subcontractors to conduct business with Avalon. Gemm ceased operating in the spring of 2007.

The Complaint alleges Rollison was involved in the daily affairs of Avalon even though he and Golba represented to creditors that Rollison and Gemm had no connection to Avalon, including making such statements in sworn affidavits. However, shortly after Avalon was formed, Gemm transferred over $100,000 in assets to Avalon, and Avalon used the money to open an account at Bank of Choice in Ft. Collins. This Bank of Choice account was used to pay personal expenses of Rollison, including expenses of Miles Rollison in Europe. The Avalon funds were also paid to an entity known as Golba Real Estate. The Complaint alleges instead of paying Rollison for services to Avalon, Avalon paid funds to Rollison’s wife, Marcie, to conceal the money from creditors. In addition, payments were made to Golba, who transferred funds to Rollison to conceal funds from creditors.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
473 B.R. 366, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/knaub-v-golba-in-re-golba-cob-2012.