Leverage Leasing Corp. v. Reitz (In Re Reitz)

69 B.R. 192, 1986 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16507
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Illinois
DecidedDecember 12, 1986
Docket86 C 3571
StatusPublished
Cited by26 cases

This text of 69 B.R. 192 (Leverage Leasing Corp. v. Reitz (In Re Reitz)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Leverage Leasing Corp. v. Reitz (In Re Reitz), 69 B.R. 192, 1986 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16507 (N.D. Ill. 1986).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

PLUNKETT, District Judge.

Background

In or about February 1982, DuWayne Reitz (“Reitz”) answered a newspaper advertisement placed by Levy International Financial Enterprises, Inc. (“Levy”) to inquire about the purchase of video games. Reitz decided to purchase a package from Levy costing $85,000. Leverage Leasing Corp. (“Leverage”), which had experience in financing purchases by Levy customers, agreed to finance the acquisition after examining financial information provided by the Reitzes. Reitz agreed to lease 25 games and a coin changer from Leverage, which in turn agreed to pay Levy for that equipment. Reitz agreed to pay Leverage 30 equal monthly installment payments totaling $135,477.60.

In March 1982, Reitz, his wife Kathryn, and Leverage executed copies of all the pertinent lease documents. Mr. Lewis Cal-liento, vice-president of Leverage, testified that the deal would not have been made had Kathryn Reitz not supplied financial information or not signed the lease. How *194 ever, she never took an active position in Reitz’s business.

When Reitz signed the lease documents, and made the first lease payment, Leverage wired $85,000 to Levy. The transfer of money occurred, and Reitz became obligated to repay, even though no games had yet been delivered; Reitz had agreed to accept the equipment “As Is, Where Is.” On the same day that Leverage transferred the money to Levy, Levy wrote a check payable to Reitz in the amount of $28,-078.20. Reitz claimed this money was to be used to decorate and equip the game room. However, the check was deposited to the account of T & R Brokers, Inc. Reitz was one of the principals of T & R. Both Reitz and Levy admitted the $28,000 was not used to decorate or equip the game room, but was used by Reitz for other purposes.

Games were delivered slowly and Reitz complained. Reitz or Ronald Jackson, described as a “partner” of Reitz, acknowledged delivery of three shipments of games. Reitz complained that some of the games did not work and others were counterfeit. No further payments were made on the lease.

On April 28, 1982, Leverage sued the Reitzes in the Circuit Court of Cook County, seeking to replevin the video games and equipment previously delivered to Reitz. Reitz agreed to return four games, all that he claimed to have received from Levy. However, when the four games were delivered to Leverage’s warehouse, the electronic components of the games had been removed, leaving empty cabinets.

On May 10, 1982, Leverage filed a four-count complaint in the Circuit Court of Cook County against, inter alia, DuWayne and Kathryn Reitz. The suit sought damages and rescission of the lease, alleging fraud, violation of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, and breach of contract.

The next day, Reitz, through T & R Brokers, sold three of Leverage’s video games to William Chase. Leverage was never informed of this sale, nor did it give approval for the sale. The proceeds of the sale were converted to Reitz’s personal use. Leverage was never able to recover these machines.

On May 19, 1983, the Circuit Court entered judgment for Leverage against Reitz in the amount of $126,445.75. The Circuit Court did not state which count(s) of Leverage’s complaint were the basis for the award of summary judgment.

On June 19,1983, DuWayne and Kathryn Reitz filed for protection under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. § 701 et seq. (Unless otherwise noted, all statutory references in this opinion are to Title 11 of the United States Code.) Leverage, in an adversary proceeding against the Reitzes, objected to discharge pursuant to secs. 727(a)(2)(A) and (a)(3), 1 and asserted that the Circuit Court judgment obtained in its favor was non-dischargeable pursuant to secs. 523(a)(2)(A), (a)(4), and (a)(6). 2

*195 The bankruptcy court granted Kathryn Reitz a complete discharge, ruling that “Kathryn Reitz was hot directly connected with the business and transactions of her husband. She signed what documents her husband asked her to sign. While this is improper it does not establish intent to defraud and there has been insufficient evidence to establish such intent.” (Order of 4/2/86, p. 5.)

The bankruptcy court held that the Circuit Court judgment entered against Du-Wayne Reitz was non-dischargeable under secs. 523(a)(2)(A) and (a)(6). The bankruptcy court stated;

DuWayne’s testimony was confusing, contradictory at points, and generally unconvincing in scope. No accounting was made by debtor as to funds he received from Levy or the sale of the games. It is clear from the evidence that games were cannibalized while in his control, some were furtively dealt with so as to deter Leverage from locating them, some were wrongfully sold and the funds converted to personal use and he received an unauthorized and undisclosed kickback of funds from Levy, in effect out of Leverage funds, which were misdirected to personal use unassociated with his obligation to Leverage. The court finds that DuWayne Reitz’s behavior was actually fraudulent and exhibits the requisite malefic intent to find the debt compa-lined [sic] of non-dischargeable.

(Order of 4/2/86, p. 4.)

And lastly, the bankruptcy court refused to deny DuWayne Reitz a discharge under sec. 727.

Under the circumstances of the instant matter, the court does not find sufficient ground to totally deny discharge. While the acts of fraud complained of herein provide a basis of non-dischargeability the defendant did testify and reasonably comply with orders of the court. His actions do not invoke the provisions of 727(a)(2)(A). Further, there is no requirement under law that books and records be made but they must be produced if kept. Defendant testified that no records were initially kept, except a check book. Consequently, 727(a)(3) does not come into play. The court finds there is insufficient grounds to deny discharge to debtors.

(Order of 4/2/86, pp. 3-4.)

Reitz appeals from that portion of the order denying him discharge under sec. 523. Leverage appeals from that portion refusing to deny Kathryn Reitz a discharge under sec. 523, and that portion discharging the debtors under sec. 727.

Discussion

I. Kathryn Reitz

The bankruptcy court’s determinations that Kathryn Reitz was not directly connected with the business and did not possess an intent to defraud are factual determinations we are bound to accept unless clearly erroneous. Bankr. Rule 8013. We do not believe the bankruptcy court’s determination was clearly erroneous. Determinations of intent are particularly for the trier of fact to make and should not be reversed except in the most extreme cases. See, e.g., In re Neis, 723 F.2d 584, 588-89 (7th Cir.1983).

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Elrod v. Bowden (In Re Bowden)
326 B.R. 62 (E.D. Virginia, 2005)
Cadle Co. v. Jacobowitz (In Re Jacobowitz)
296 B.R. 666 (S.D. New York, 2003)
KMK Factoring, L.L.C. v. McKnew (In Re McKnew)
270 B.R. 593 (E.D. Virginia, 2001)
Michener v. Brady (In Re Brady)
234 B.R. 652 (E.D. Pennsylvania, 1999)
Gore v. Kressner (In Re Kressner)
206 B.R. 303 (S.D. New York, 1997)
Ehlers v. Howell (In Re Ehlers)
189 B.R. 835 (N.D. Alabama, 1995)
Porterfield v. Cornner (In Re Cornner)
191 B.R. 214 (N.D. Alabama, 1995)
Dorian v. Cornner (In Re Cornner)
191 B.R. 199 (N.D. Alabama, 1995)
Nof v. Gannon (In Re Gannon)
173 B.R. 313 (S.D. New York, 1994)
Miller v. Pulos (In Re Pulos)
168 B.R. 682 (D. Minnesota, 1994)
Bay View Laundry, Inc. v. Artura (In Re Artura)
165 B.R. 12 (E.D. New York, 1994)
Bay State Milling Co. v. Martin (In Re Martin)
141 B.R. 986 (N.D. Illinois, 1992)
In re Pettigrew
955 F.2d 49 (Tenth Circuit, 1992)
Fensick v. Segala (In Re Segala)
133 B.R. 261 (D. Massachusetts, 1991)
Anderson v. Wiess (In Re Wiess)
132 B.R. 588 (E.D. Arkansas, 1991)
Dignam v. McMahon (In Re McMahon)
116 B.R. 857 (M.D. Florida, 1990)
James v. McCoy (In Re McCoy)
114 B.R. 489 (S.D. Ohio, 1990)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
69 B.R. 192, 1986 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16507, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/leverage-leasing-corp-v-reitz-in-re-reitz-ilnd-1986.