Neblett v. United States (In re AEH Trucking Co.)

586 B.R. 566
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Pennsylvania
DecidedJune 29, 2018
DocketCase Number: 1:16–bk–01608–RNO; Adversary Number: 1–17–ap–00042–RNO
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 586 B.R. 566 (Neblett v. United States (In re AEH Trucking Co.)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Neblett v. United States (In re AEH Trucking Co.), 586 B.R. 566 (Pa. 2018).

Opinion

Robert N. Opel, II, Chief Bankruptcy Judge (BI)

Plaintiff, John P. Neblett ("Neblett"), Chapter 7 trustee for the bankruptcy estate of the Debtor, AEH Trucking LLC ("Debtor"), filed a three count Complaint against the United States of America, acting by and through the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"). Neblett seeks the avoidance and recovery of alleged preferential transfers from the IRS. Alternatively, he seeks turnover of the funds seized and damages. Neblett filed a Motion for Summary Judgment ("Motion") as to Counts I and II and the IRS filed a Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment ("Cross-Motion"). Neblett's Motion as to Counts I and II is denied. The IRS's Cross-Motion is granted in part and denied in part as to Count I, and granted as to Count II. Neblett has withdrawn Count III, and it is therefore dismissed with prejudice.

I. Jurisdiction

The Court has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 157 and 1334. This is a core proceeding under 28 U.S.C. §§ 157(b)(2)(E) and 157(b)(2)(F).

II. Facts and Procedural History

The Debtor filed a voluntary Chapter 7 petition on April 15, 2016. The Debtor owed funds to the IRS for outstanding employment tax liabilities in excess of $731,727.50. The IRS states that the Debtor owed employment taxes for the last three quarters of 2013 and the first two quarters of 2014. United States' Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ¶ 2, ECF No. 15-1. Neblett alleges that the IRS seized the Debtor's funds pre-petition during the preference period, and seeks to avoid and recover those funds.

Neblett states that the IRS made two seizures, on January 29, 2016 and February 26, 2016. Pl.'s Concise Statement of Material Facts ¶ 13, ECF No. 13-1. The IRS first seized funds from the Debtor's bank account at Orrstown Bank. On January 21, 2016, the IRS sent a Notice of Levy for $921,696.18 to the bank. Pl.'s Concise Statement of Material Facts ¶ 9, ECF No. 13-1. On February 26, 2016, the IRS received $1,403.86 from the bank which was applied to tax obligations for the period ending December 31, 2013. Pl.'s Concise Statement of Material Facts ¶ 11, ECF No. 13-1; United States' Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ¶ 8, ECF No. 15-1.

*569The IRS also seized funds from the Debtor's accounts receivable. The Debtor performed hauling contracts for the United States Postal Service ("USPS") and was owed a balance for accounts receivable due from USPS. The IRS levied against the Debtor's USPS account and recovered $731,727.50 on January 29, 2016. This amount was applied towards the employment taxes obligations for the periods ending June 30, 2013, through June 30, 2014. Pl.'s Concise Statement of Material Facts ¶ 8, ECF No. 13-1; United States' Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ¶ 5, ECF No. 15-1.

Count I of the Complaint requests avoidance and recovery of these seizures as preferential transfers pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §§ 547 and 550,2 Count II alternatively demands turnover pursuant to § 542, and Count III demands damages pursuant to 26 U.S.C.S. § 7433. Neblett moved for summary judgment as to Counts I and II on March 14, 2018, and the IRS filed a Cross-Motion as to Counts I and II on March 15, 2018. Neblett's Motion states that he moves to dismiss Count III as discovery has failed to produce sufficient evidence. Mot. for Summ. J. ¶ 8, ECF No. 13. I will therefore dismiss Count III with prejudice and only consider the Motion and Cross-Motion as to Counts I and II. Briefs have been filed in support of, and in opposition to, the Motions. They are now ripe for decision.

III. Discussion

A. Standard to Decide a Motion for Summary Judgment Under F.R.B.P. 7056

Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 7056 makes Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 applicable in bankruptcy adversary proceedings. The movant has the initial burden of proving that there is no genuine dispute of material fact based on "depositions, documents, affidavits, stipulations, admissions, and interrogatory answers." In re Scalera , 2013 WL 5963554, at *1 (Bankr. W.D.Pa. 2013). A material fact is one which affects the outcome of the suit under substantive law. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby Inc. , 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 2510, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986) ; Doe v. Luzerne County , 660 F.3d 169, 175 (3d Cir. 2011). Summary judgment is appropriate when there is no genuine dispute of material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Beard v. Banks , 548 U.S. 521, 529, 126 S.Ct. 2572, 2578, 165 L.Ed.2d 697 (2006) ; Celotex Corp. v. Catrett , 477 U.S. 317, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 2552, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986) ; Rosen v. Bezner ,

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
586 B.R. 566, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/neblett-v-united-states-in-re-aeh-trucking-co-pamb-2018.