McAfee III, in his capacity as Trustee of Marital v. Harman

CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Georgia
DecidedSeptember 30, 2020
Docket11-05534
StatusUnknown

This text of McAfee III, in his capacity as Trustee of Marital v. Harman (McAfee III, in his capacity as Trustee of Marital v. Harman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
McAfee III, in his capacity as Trustee of Marital v. Harman, (Ga. 2020).

Opinion

a □□ Oa SP * Ps IT IS ORDERED as set forth below: 2% om He Oe PL Vorsreact oe Date: September 30, 2020 Wiledfry } j uv Lisa Ritchey Craig U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge

UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA ATLANTA DIVISION IN THE MATTER OF: : CASE NUMBERS JOSEPH H. HARMAN, BANKRUPTCY CASE : 11-67522-LRC Debtor. :

J. THOMAS MCAFEE III, in his capacity: ADVERSARY PROCEEDING as Trustee of Marital Trust #2, : NO. 11-05534-LRC Plaintiff, : V. : JOSEPH H. HARMAN, : IN PROCEEDINGS UNDER : CHAPTER 7 OF THE Defendant. : BANKRUPTCY CODE ORDER Before the Court is the Partial Motion for Summary Judgment on Counts 3, 4, and 5 of Plaintiff's First Amended Complaint (Doc. 179) (the “Motion’”’), filed by Joseph H.

Harman (“Defendant”). The Motion raises in connection with an amended complaint filed by Carolyn T. McAfee, Executor of the Estate of James T. McAfee (“Former Plaintiff”),1 seeking to determine a debt nondischargeable under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)2 and objecting to

the Defendant’s discharge under § 727(a)(2). This matter constitutes a core proceeding, over which this Court has subject matter jurisdiction. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 157(b)(2)(I); 1334. I. BACKGROUND James T. McAfee (“McAfee”) agreed to lend money to Carter Oak Crossing, Ltd. (“Carter Oak”), to refinance a shopping center in Gwinnett County, Georgia. (Harman

Declaration, Doc. 179-1, at 59). On September 1, 1998, Defendant, as president of Carter Oak, signed a promissory note for $400,000.00 with an annual interest rate of 25% (the “Note”). (Note, Doc. 113-2, at 5). Defendant also signed a conditional guaranty that would make him liable under the Note if he engaged in “conversion, misappropriation, theft or embezzlement with respect to any money or other property of Maker by the undersigned

in his capacity as an employee, officer, director, agent or employees of Maker” (the “Guaranty”). (Guaranty, Doc. 113-2, at 10). A. The State Court Action In 2002, Carter Oak defaulted on the Note. (Harman Declaration, Doc. 179-1, at 60). On April 12, 2004, McAfee initiated an action against Defendant individually in the State

Court of Fulton County, Georgia (the “State Court Action”). (Id. at 60-61). McAfee alleged that Defendant violated the terms of the Guaranty and sought to recover damages for breach

1 All further references to § are to the Bankruptcy Code, title 11 of the United States Code, unless otherwise noted. 2 Thomas McAfee III has been substituted as plaintiff in this adversary proceeding by an order of the Court entered on September 29, 2020. (Doc. 223). of contract, fraud, and attorney’s fees. (Id. at 61). On November 3, 2004, months after initiating the State Court Action, McAfee passed away. (Id.). Former Plaintiff, McAfee’s

wife and executrix of his estate, was subsequently substituted as plaintiff in the State Court Action. (Id.). On April 13, 2009, the State Court granted Former Plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment “as to the issues of the Conditional Guaranty, attorney's fees and expenses of litigation” (the “State Court Judgment”). (State Court Judgment, Doc. 113-2, at 34). Former Plaintiff’s claim for compensatory and punitive damages based on Defendant’s

alleged fraud remained pending. (Id.). On February 4, 2011, after Defendant’s unsuccessful appeal, (Court of Appeals Decision, Doc. 113-2, at 39), the parties entered a “Joint Stipulation of Fact and Dismissal with Prejudice of Count II (Fraud) of Plaintiff’s Amended Complaint” (the “Stipulation”). (Stipulation, Doc. 114, at 8-10). Pursuant to the Stipulation, the parties agreed that

Defendant owed $5,256,929.06 on the Note and Guaranty and $143,371.28 for attorney’s fees. (Id. at 8). The Stipulation also provided that: [Former] Plaintiff hereby dismisses Count II of the Amended Complaint (for fraud) with prejudice, provided that the parties stipulate and agree that the dismissal of Count II . . . shall not be admissible (on the grounds of res judicata, estoppel, or otherwise) in any proceeding regarding the validity or dischargeability of Count I (Guaranty) and Count III (Attorneys' Fees) in the [Former] Plaintiff's Amended Complaint.

(Id. at 9). At the same time, the State Court entered a “Final Judgment” in favor of Former Plaintiff, awarding damages pursuant to the Stipulation. (Final Judgment, Doc. 114, at 7). B. Defendant’s Bankruptcy On June 11, 2011, Defendant filed a voluntary petition under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code (the “Petition Date”). (Case No. 11-67522-LRC, Doc. 1). Former

Plaintiff filed a proof of claim in Defendant’s bankruptcy case on October 11, 2011, claiming a debt of $5,369,083.73 based on the Guaranty (the “Debt”). (Case No. 11067522, POC 1-1). On September 19, 2011, Former Plaintiff filed this adversary proceeding objecting to Defendant’s discharge and seeking a determination that the Debt is nondischargeable. (Initial Complaint, Doc. 1). The Initial Complaint was then amended on February 14, 2014 (the “Amended Complaint”). (Amended Complaint, Doc. 113).

Counts 1 and 2 of the Amended Complaint objects to Defendant’s discharge under § 727(a)(2) based on Defendant’s alleged attempts to conceal assets from his creditors by transferring money to his wife and entities under Defendant’s control within a year before filing bankruptcy. (Amended Complaint, Doc. 113, at 34-39). Counts 3, 4, and 5 involve the same facts that formed the basis of the State Court Judgment and seek a determination

that the Debt is nondischargeable pursuant to §§ 523(a)(2), (a)(4), and (a)(6). (Amended Complaint, Doc. 113, at 39-46; State Court Judgment, Doc. 113, at 28-32). Specifically, Count 3 seeks a determination that the Debt is nondischargeable pursuant to § 523(a)(2) and alleges that Defendant represented to McAfee that: a. The Loan would be used only for certain expenses and costs related to the Refinancing; b. That all Net Cash Flow from the Shopping Center would be paid to McAfee before other creditors; and c. That no additional funds were needed to close the Refinancing. (Id. at 39). The Amended Complaint further asserts that Defendant made these statements knowing that he intended to use the loan proceeds and the money generated from Carter Oak for himself and entities under his control and that McAfee would not have lent the money to Carter Oak had he known Defendant’s actual intentions. (Id. at 40-41).

Count 4 seeks a determination of nondischargeability under § 523(a)(4), alleging that between 1998 and 2004, Defendant transferred the money generated by Carter Oak, which was promised to McAfee, to Defendant and entities under his control, thereby triggering the Guaranty. (Id. at 41-44). The Amended Complaint further alleges that Defendant held $31,276 in trust on behalf of McAfee and has failed to account for that money. (Id. at 44).

Finally, Count 5 seeks a determination that the Debt is nondischargeable pursuant to § 523(a)(6) because Defendant converted money that he knew was owed to McAfee and that such conversion amounts to a willful and malicious injury. (Id. at 44-46). In particular, the Amended Complaint claims that Defendant converted the money generated from Carter Oak to himself and that Defendant used the loan proceeds to pay himself and Randy

Seckman, a Carter Oak partner, $42,500 and $50,000, respectively. (Id. at 44-45). C. Mrs. McAfee’s Transfer and Substitution On March 24, 2018, Former Plaintiff filed a Motion to Substitute Party (Doc. 173) (the “Substitution Motion”), which stated that on January 11, 2017, Plaintiff transferred her interest in this case to her son, Thomas McAfee III, in his capacity as Trustee of Marital

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