Moriarty v. Klvac (In re Postrock Energy Corp.)

595 B.R. 858
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, W.D. Oklahoma
DecidedJanuary 8, 2019
DocketCase No. 16-11230-SAH (Jointly Administered); Adv. Pro. 18-01029-SAH
StatusPublished

This text of 595 B.R. 858 (Moriarty v. Klvac (In re Postrock Energy Corp.)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, W.D. Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Moriarty v. Klvac (In re Postrock Energy Corp.), 595 B.R. 858 (Okla. 2019).

Opinion

Sarah A. Hall, United States Bankruptcy Judge

Before the Court are the:

1. Complaint to Avoid and Recover Transfers Pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §§ 548 and 550 and to Disallow Claims Pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 502 [Doc. 1], filed on March 30, 2018 (the "Original Complaint"), by Stephen J. Moriarty as chapter 11 trustee ("Trustee") for PostRock Energy Corporation, et al.1 (collectively, "the PostRock Debtors");

2. Amended Complaint to Avoid and Recover Transfers Pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §§ 548 and 550 and to Disallow Claims Pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 502 [Doc. 24], filed on October 3, 2018 (the "Amended Complaint"), by Trustee;

3. David J. Klvac's Motion to Dismiss Amended Complaint with Prejudice, Brief in Support and Notice of Opportunity for Hearing [Doc. 28], filed on October 31, 2018 (the "Motion"), by defendant David J. Klvac ("Defendant"); and

4. Plaintiff's Response to David J. Klvac's Motion to Dismiss Amended Complaint, Brief in Support [Doc. 32], filed on November 28, 2018 (the "Response"), by Trustee.

OVERVIEW

On April 1, 2016 (the "Petition Date"), the PostRock Debtors each commenced a *861bankruptcy case by filing a voluntary petition for relief under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. On the same day, the Court entered an order authorizing joint administration of the PostRock Debtors' chapter 11 cases for procedural purposes pursuant to Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 1015(b) ; however, the bankruptcy estates were not, and are not, consolidated. On April 7, 2016, the Court entered an order granting an agreed motion to appoint a trustee, and, on April 8, 2016, Trustee was appointed the chapter 11 trustee in these jointly administered cases [Doc. 75].

In this adversary proceeding, Trustee originally sought to avoid and recover certain transfers as either preferential or fraudulent under 11 U.S.C. §§ 548 and 550, and to disallow claims under 11 U.S.C. § 502(d) & (j).2 The Court previously dismissed the Original Complaint as not meeting the " Twombly / Iqbal plausibility standard" of pleading, finding the Original Complaint "omit[ted] critical information and ma[d]e numerous legal conclusions without facts to support them," but granted Trustee leave to amend.

The substantially altered and fleshed out Amended Complaint has now been filed addressing the deficiencies previously identified by the Court. Nevertheless, Defendant again seeks to dismiss, with prejudice, the Amended Complaint for failing to meet the " Twombly / Iqbal plausibility standard." Defendant's attacks on the Amended Complaint are generally unwarranted. The Amended Complaint fairly apprises Defendant of the nature of the claims against him, raises allegations which, if proven at trial, would establish Trustee's right to recover, and moves the claims from merely conceivable to plausible. Trustee is not required, nor expected, to state specific facts proving each element of his claim so long as fair notice of the claims and the grounds upon which they rest are set forth. Higginbottom v. Mid-Del School District, 2016 WL 951691 (W.D. Okla. 2016) ; Harris v. Chevron U.S.A., Inc., 2015 WL 3746989 (W.D. Okla. 2015).

JURISDICTION

The Court has jurisdiction to hear this Amended Complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1334(b), and venue is proper pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1409. Reference to the Court of this matter is proper pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 157(a), and this is a core proceeding as contemplated by 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(B) and (H).

STANDARDS GOVERNING RULE 12(b)(6) MOTIONS TO DISMISS

A plaintiff bears the burden of framing a complaint with enough factual matter to suggest that he or she is entitled to relief, Fed. R. Civ. P. 8.; Fed. R. Bankr. P. 7008 ; Robbins v. Oklahoma, 519 F.3d 1242, 1247 (10th Cir. 2008). But Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8 does not impose an onerous pleading standard. In fact, Rule 8(a)(2) requires only "a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief." Further, the philosophy of Rule 8(a)(2) is reinforced by Rule 8(d), which permits alternative statements and inconsistent claims and defenses, and Rule 8(e), which requires pleadings to be construed so as to do justice. Therefore, federal courts have repeatedly emphasized that pleadings are to be construed liberally in accordance with the justice mandate in Rule 8(e) and the general spirit of the Federal Rules.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
595 B.R. 858, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/moriarty-v-klvac-in-re-postrock-energy-corp-okwb-2019.