Mutual Savings & Loan Ass'n of Wisconsin v. Coulthard (In Re Coulthard)

98 B.R. 940, 21 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 176, 1989 Bankr. LEXIS 562, 1989 WL 38310
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Wisconsin
DecidedApril 18, 1989
Docket19-20770
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 98 B.R. 940 (Mutual Savings & Loan Ass'n of Wisconsin v. Coulthard (In Re Coulthard)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Wisconsin primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Mutual Savings & Loan Ass'n of Wisconsin v. Coulthard (In Re Coulthard), 98 B.R. 940, 21 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 176, 1989 Bankr. LEXIS 562, 1989 WL 38310 (Wis. 1989).

Opinion

DECISION

M. DEE McGARITY, Bankruptcy Judge.

The creditor in this case, Mutual Savings & Loan Association of Wisconsin (“Mutual”), filed a complaint against the debtor, Bruce Coulthard, requesting that the debt- or’s obligation to Mutual be declared non-dischargeable for alleged false representations and false financial statement in connection with obtaining financing for the purchase of property.

The creditor later amended its complaint to add as a defendant Mark C. Michel (“Michel”), from whom the debtor purchased the property. Michel objected to the jurisdiction of the bankruptcy court. The parties agreed that the bankruptcy court has jurisdiction over the dischargeability action against the debtor as a core proceeding, but Michel challenges the bankruptcy court’s jurisdiction to hear a dispute between Mutual, a creditor, and himself, a nondebtor, where the result will not affect the administration of the estate. For the reasons indicated below, the court finds that it does not have jurisdiction over Mutual’s claim against Michel. The complaint as against Michel will, therefore, be dismissed.

FACTS

The debtor submitted a loan application to Mutual requesting a loan for the purchase of real estate owned by Michel. Mutual claims the debtor indicated in his loan application that the downpayment would come from his savings and the sale of a coin collection. It came instead, according to Mutual, from money the debtor borrowed from Michel in return for a second mortgage on the property. Mutual claims that Michel knew the debtor would never get financing from Mutual if the second *942 mortgage were disclosed, and Michel conspired to hide that fact from Mutual. The complaint asks that the debtor’s obligation to Mutual be declared nondischargeable. In addition, it requests damages and punitive damages from Michel.

The property purchased by the debtor from Michel has been abandoned by the trustee. There are no other assets in the case.

DISCUSSION

The jurisdictional authority of the bankruptcy court is conferred by 28 U.S.C. § 1384. It reads in pertinent part as follows:

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the district court shall have original and exclusive jurisdiction of all cases under title 11.
(b) Notwithstanding any Act of Congress that confers exclusive jurisdiction on a court or courts other than the district courts, the district courts shall have original but not exclusive jurisdiction of all civil proceedings arising under Title 11, or arising in or related to cases under title 11.

28 U.S.C. § 1334 (emphasis added).

The jurisdiction conferred on the district court by 28 U.S.C. § 1334 may be exercised by the bankruptcy court as specified by 28 U.S.C. § 157. The district court may refer to the bankruptcy court “cases under” Title 11, proceedings “arising under” Title 11, proceedings “arising in” cases under Title 11, and proceedings “related to” cases under Title 11. 28 U.S.C. § 157(a). Such referral has been made in this district. Under 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(1), the bankruptcy court may hear all “cases under” Title 11, i.e., the bankruptcy itself commenced by the filing of a petition. The bankruptcy court may also hear “core proceedings;” that is, proceedings that either arise under Title 11 or arise in a case under Title 11. 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(1). Proceedings “arising under” Title 11 involve rights which are specifically conferred by Title 11, such as contested dischargeability proceedings, proceedings to recover preferences and similar rights that would not exist had there been no bankruptcy. Matter of Wood, 825 F.2d 90, 96 (5th Cir.1987). Proceedings “arising in” a bankruptcy case are usually claims that would have no existence absent the bankruptcy, such as administration expenses, but are not expressly created by Title 11. Id. at 97. A nonexhaustive list of “core proceedings” is in 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2). Core proceedings would not exist but for the bankruptcy; therefore, they constitute the core or heart of the bankruptcy process. Finally, the bankruptcy court may hear noncore proceedings that are “related to” a bankruptcy case and may make recommended findings to the district court for a final order. 28 U.S.C. § 157(c)(1). Unless a proceeding fits under one of the specified categories, it cannot be heard by the bankruptcy court.

There is no question that Mutual’s objection to Coulthard’s discharge of his debt to it is a core proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(I). Although no one claims that Mutual’s cause of action against Michel is a core proceeding, Mutual argues that its cause is “related to” the bankruptcy and as such the bankruptcy court may hear its case along with the dischargeability action.

The Third Circuit developed a test, subsequently adopted in this circuit, to determine whether a proceeding is “related to” a bankruptcy case and as such can be heard by the bankruptcy court. In re Pacor, Inc., 743 F.2d 984 (3rd Cir.1984). A proceeding is related to a bankruptcy case if the outcome of that proceeding could conceivably have any effect on the estate being administered in bankruptcy. In re Par cor, Inc., supra at 994. In Pacor, a Mr. and Mrs. Higgins filed a products liability suit against a distributor of asbestos, Pa-cor. Pacor filed a third party complaint against the manufacturer, Johns-Manville, which then filed bankruptcy. Pacor sought to remove the entire controversy to the bankruptcy court. The Third Circuit said the Pacor-Manville action was related to the bankruptcy, but the original Higgins-Pacor suit was not. The bankruptcy court, therefore, had no jurisdiction to hear it. The court said the Higgins-Pacor dispute *943 would have no effect on the bankruptcy estate. It would not alter the rights, liabilities, options or freedom of action of the debtor in a way which could impact on the handling and administration of the bankruptcy estate. It was, at best, a mere precursor to the potential third party claim for indemnification by Pacor against Man-ville.

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Bluebook (online)
98 B.R. 940, 21 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 176, 1989 Bankr. LEXIS 562, 1989 WL 38310, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mutual-savings-loan-assn-of-wisconsin-v-coulthard-in-re-coulthard-wieb-1989.