McNamara v. Austin (In re Austin)

73 B.R. 937, 1987 Bankr. LEXIS 759
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Louisiana
DecidedMay 27, 1987
DocketBankruptcy No. 485-01276-LC-7; Adv. No. 485-0254
StatusPublished

This text of 73 B.R. 937 (McNamara v. Austin (In re Austin)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Louisiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
McNamara v. Austin (In re Austin), 73 B.R. 937, 1987 Bankr. LEXIS 759 (W.D. La. 1987).

Opinion

OPINION

W. DONALD BOE, Jr., Bankruptcy Judge.

This matter comes before the Court on the complaint of James H. McNamara and Margaret Mclnnis McNamara against Eddie Douglas Austin, Jr. and Andrea Lynn Prejean Austin, debtors in a Chapter 7 case in this Court, seeking non-dischargeability of a debt on a $78,000.00 promissory note. Plaintiffs seek to have this debt declared non-dischargeable under Bankruptcy Code Section 523 as a debt for obtaining money by false pretenses, false representations, actual fraud, a false financial statement, or fraud or defalcation while acting as a fiduciary. Defendants contend that the debt is [938]*938dischargeable and deny that the debt was obtained by any falsity or misrepresentation. Defendants also seek attorneys fees and costs under Section 523(d).

The Court, having considered the evidence adduced at trial, the arguments of counsel, and the proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law submitted by the parties, now makes the following findings of fact and conclusions of law.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Eddie Douglas Austin, Jr. (“defendant”) was a stockbroker with various brokerage houses since 1979. James and Margaret McNamara (“plaintiffs”) were clients of the defendant for several years. Defendant and his wife, Andrea, were also social acquaintances of the plaintiffs.

In December 1984, Austin phoned the plaintiffs to request a loan, stating that he was in financial trouble. The next day defendant visited the plaintiffs, and Mrs. McNamara gave Austin a check dated December 27, 1984 for $10,000.00 (Plaintiffs’ Ex. 3). The McNamaras wrote a second check to defendant for $64,864.00 dated December 31, 1984 (Plaintiffs’ Ex. 4).

Austin gave the McNamaras his promissory note for $78,000.00 dated December 28, 1984, and as security therefor, made them beneficiaries of his life insurance policy (Plaintiffs’ Exs. 1 and 2). Further, defendant mentioned to the McNamaras that the vesting of his retirement account with his then employer, A.G. Edwards & Sons, would “protect” them.

The $78,000.00 promissory note was payable in monthly installments of interest only in the amount of $780.00 per month, the first payment being due January 10, 1985, with payments continuing until May 31, 1986, at which time a balloon payment was due. (See Plaintiffs’ Ex. 1.)

Evidence conflicted about whether or not plaintiff represented that his retirement account would be available to “pay off” the debt. The Court does not find that such a representation was made or relied on. The McNamaras were aware that defendant had been employed at A.G. Edwards only about a year and a half at the time they loaned defendant the money. In fact, Mr. Austin’s employment with A.G. Edwards was terminated in April 1985, and he received only $3,392.40 from his retirement account. (See Ex. Austin No. 2.)

Plaintiffs aver that Austin’s statement that his retirement account would “protect” them was false and induced them to lend him the money. The Court finds, however, that defendant did not mention the retirement account to plaintiffs until after plaintiffs had decided to lend the money to defendant.

The McNamaras never inquired about the source or amount of Austin’s debts, and he did not volunteer the information. Defendant did not submit any written statements to the McNamaras pertaining to his retirement account or to his finances before he borrowed the money, and no such statements were requested.

At the time of the loan, defendant’s total indebtedness was over $600,000.00, including guaranties he had signed and about $60,000.00 in account losses at A.G. Edwards. In November 1984, however, Austin managed to pay off a note to Calcasieu Marine Bank which required a larger monthly payment than the note to the McNamaras would require. Additionally, Austin qualified for a loan to purchase a house during the month before the McNamara loan was made. The Court finds from a preponderance of the evidence that Austin believed he could meet the monthly payments on the promissory note and was hopeful that he could repay the loan. Mrs. McNamara admitted at trial that she could not recall any untrue statements by Mr. Austin. Austin told the McNamaras he had financial troubles when he borrowed the money. Such evidence shows that Austin had no intent to defraud the McNamar-as. The Court finds that defendant fully intended to repay the loan, and that he simply misperceived his ability to repay and exercised poor judgment in this area.

No evidence established a case against Andrea Lynn Prejean Austin and plaintiffs consented to voluntarily dismiss her at the close of their case.

[939]*939CONCLUSIONS OP LAW

This Court has jurisdiction to determine the dischargeability of a debt under Bankruptcy Code Section 523 as a “core proceeding” arising under Title 11. 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(1) and (2)(I).

Section 523 of the Bankruptcy Code provides an avenue for a creditor to have his debt excepted from discharge on grounds of falsity in the incurring of the debt. 11 U.S.C. § 523(a) and Bankruptcy Rule 4007(a). In determining whether a particular debt is excepted from discharge, Section 523 should be construed strictly against the objecting creditor and liberally in favor of the debtor, consistent with the nature and philosophy of the bankruptcy system. Gleason v. Thaw, 236 U.S. 558, 562, 35 S.Ct. 287, 289, 59 L.Ed. 717 (1915); City Nat’l Bank of Baton Rouge v. Knight (In re Knight), 421 F.Supp. 1387, 1391 (M.D.La.1976), aff'd 551 F.2d 861-62 (5th Cir.1977); overruled on other grounds 616 F.2d 150, 151 (5th Cir.1980); see also 3 Collier on Bankruptcy ¶ 523.05A (15th ed. 1987).

The plaintiffs have the burden of establishing an exception to discharge of the debt by “clear and convincing” evidence. In re Bogstad, 779 F.2d 370, 372 (7th Cir.1985).

One nondischargeable debt under Section 523 is a debt for money obtained by “false pretenses, a false representation, or actual fraud....” 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2)(A). In order to bar discharge of a debt for a false representation or false pretense, the creditor must show the debtor’s purpose and intent was to deceive the creditor, and that the creditor relied on the representations. Schweig v. Hunter (In re Hunter), 780 F.2d 1577, 1579 (11th Cir.1986).

The word “false” means more than erroneous or untrue and imports an intention to deceive. Knight, 421 F.Supp. at 1390 (construing “false representations” under the Act); see also 3 Collier on Bankruptcy ¶ 523.08[4].

In the case at hand, there is neither intent to defraud by defendant nor reliance by plaintiffs. In fact no affirmative false representations were proved at trial; to the contrary, defendant indicated he was in financial trouble when he first requested the loan.

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73 B.R. 937, 1987 Bankr. LEXIS 759, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mcnamara-v-austin-in-re-austin-lawd-1987.