Morgan v. Goldman (In Re Morgan)

353 B.R. 599, 2006 WL 3004211
United States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Arkansas·Decided October 10, 2006·No. Bankruptcy No. 5:03-bk-12580M, Adversary No. 5:05-ap-1244·Published·Cited by 1 cases

Opinion

AMENDED ORDER

JAMES G. MIXON, Bankruptcy Judge.

On June 22, 2006, the Court issued its Order to Show Cause why the Debtors, *601 James and Linda Morgan, and Jo-Ann Goldman, the Chapter 13 Trustee, should not be required to reimburse the estate the sum of $10,000.00 refunded by the Trustee to the Debtors on May 18, 2005. The Debtors were also ordered to file an accounting showing how the funds were used.

The Debtors filed the accounting on July 6, 2006, and an amended accounting on July 26, 2006, as requested. A hearing was held in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, on July 5, 2006, and the matter was taken under advisement. The Court will consider the record made at the July 5, 2006 hearing and at a May 10, 2006 hearing on a complaint for turnover in the above-styled adversary proceeding.

BACKGROUND

James and Linda Morgan (“Debtors”) filed a voluntary petition for relief under the provisions of Chapter 13 of the United States Bankruptcy Code on March 3, 2003. The accompanying schedules contained no priority creditors; two secured creditors, including Dewitt Bank & Trust; and general unsecured creditors with claims totaling $40,456.57. The original plan of reorganization was filed with the petition and schedules. On May 29, 2003, the Debtors proposed an amended Chapter 13 plan, which was confirmed on June 26, 2003. Later they proposed a second modified plan on July 1, 2003, and it was confirmed on July 30, 2003.

The second modified plan confirmed on July 30, 2003, which incorporated provisions of the original and first modified plans, contained the following relevant provisions:

1. The plan length would remain 58 months in duration.
2. Payment to the Trustee was set at $775.00 per month.
3. The Debtors were required to submit all projected disposable income for the benefit of unsecured creditors during the first 36 months of the plan in accordance with 11 U.S.C. § 1325.
4. One secured debt not to extend beyond the length of the plan was described as follows:
Net Interest Value Payoff Rate a. DeWitt Bank & Trust $32,500 $32,500 6%
5. Non-priority, unsecured creditors were to receive a pro-rata dividend from funds remaining after payment of administrative, secured, priority, child support, and special non-profit unsecured claims.
6. Language in the plan further stated, “In order to assist the debtor in performance of the plan, the Trustee may from time to time grant refunds to the debtors as may be necessary to satisfactorily complete the plan, provided that all sums necessary to complete the plan are ultimately paid by the debtors.” (Emphasis added.)

(Pl.’s Ex. 1, May 10, 2006 Hearing.)

On March 29, 2005, the Debtors filed a motion to settle a tort claim that had been scheduled, but valued at “unknown.” (Trustee’s Ex. 1, May 10, 2006 Hearing.) The motion proposed the following settlement:

That, subject to approval by this Honorable Court, a negotiated settlement has been reached between Obligor and the Debtors (after filing suit) wherein Obli-gor would pay $50,685.00, and Debtors proposes [sic] to disburse said funds as follows: $15,741.46 as attorney’s fees; $1,024.39 as cost of prosecution; and $3,863.12 Medicare Lien; with a net recovery of $30,056.03 to Debtors to be utilized as follows: Funds to be remitted to the Chapter 13 Trustee to be distrib *602 uted pursuant to Debtors’ confirmed plan with the exception that Debtors will be allowed to request a refund in a sum sufficient to replace the roof on their home and repair Debtors’ vehicle.

(Pl.’s Ex. 2, Motion to Settle Claim, May 10, 2006 Hearing.)

The order of settlement was prepared by counsel for the Debtors, and it omitted any reference to the deduction for a medicare lien. The settlement, approved April 26, 2005, provided that

said motion appears proper, and same is hereby GRANTED, and Debtors are authorized to settle the claim with Ronald Adams for the gross sum of $50,685.00, and execute all documents necessary to bring the claim to resolution, and disburse said funds as follows: $15,741.46 as an attorney’s fee and $1,024.39 as costs of prosecution of the claim herein to Attorneys Gary Eubanks & Associates; and $30,056.03 to be utilized as follows: Said funds shall be paid to the Chapter 13 Trustee Jo-Ann Goldman and Debtors may apply for a refund from said funds.

(Pl.’s Ex. 4, Order Granting Settlement of Claim, May 10, 2006 Hearing.)

Thereafter, on May 6, 2005, the Debtors’ attorney, Jeremy Bueker, sent an e-mail to Sharon Sapp (apparently an employee of the Chapter 13 Trustee’s office). The email made the following request:

From: jeremey bueker
Sent: Friday, May 6, 2005 4:51 PM
To: Sharon Sapp
Subject: James and Linda Morgan; BR Case No.:5:03-bk-12580; Refund Request
Dear Ms. Sapp:
On behalf of the above debtors, I request a one time debtor refund in the amount of $9,094.17, which sum represents the materials for a new roof, labor for installing the roof, and repairs on the vehicle. Attached are estimates for the building materials and the repairs on the vehcile [sic].
The cost of labor for installing the roof is an estimate which Mr. Morgan obtained from a guy who does handyman work and is $2500.00. The handyman does not provide estimates as he apparently does not pay income taxes. Mr. Morgan states that although he is disabled he is capable of doing the work on the roof himself but would much prefer that it be done by the handyman.
If the refund or part of it is granted, please send the funds directly to Mr. and Mrs. Morgan.
Thanks,
Jeremy Bueker

Attached to the e-mail was a written estimate for the repairs of the Debtors’ roof for $8389.43, including labor at $2500.00, and repair of a vehicle for $704.74 1 On May 18, 2005, the Trustee issued a check to the Debtor, James Morgan, in the sum of $10,000.00 from the proceeds of the settlement of $30,056.00 received by the Trustee on May 5, 2005. (Pl.’s Ex. 5, May 10, 2006 Hearing.) The balance of the tort settlement was distributed to unsecured creditors pursuant to the plan.

THE TRUSTEE’S ARGUMENTS

The Trustee argues that $20,000.00 of the $30,000.00 proceeds from the personal injury tort claim was disposable income for the purposes of Chapter 13, citing Watters v. McRoberts, 167 B.R. 146 (S.D.Ill.1994); *603 In re Pendleton, 225 B.R. 425 (Bankr.E.D.Ark.1998).

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Morgan v. Goldman (In Re Morgan), 353 B.R. 599, 2006 WL 3004211 (Ark. 2006).

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