Nelson v. Providian National Bank (In Re Nelson)

234 B.R. 528, 41 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 1746, 12 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. B 223, 1999 Bankr. LEXIS 593, 1999 WL 333134
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Florida
DecidedJanuary 20, 1999
DocketBankruptcy No. 97-6946-9P7, Adversary No. 98-205
StatusPublished
Cited by14 cases

This text of 234 B.R. 528 (Nelson v. Providian National Bank (In Re Nelson)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Nelson v. Providian National Bank (In Re Nelson), 234 B.R. 528, 41 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 1746, 12 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. B 223, 1999 Bankr. LEXIS 593, 1999 WL 333134 (Fla. 1999).

Opinion

ORDER ON DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO DISMISS CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT

ALEXANDER L. PASKAY, Chief Judge.

THIS CAUSE came on for hearing upon Providian National Bank’s (Bank) Motion to Dismiss Class Action Complaint filed by the Plaintiffs, Fred W. Nelson (Nelson) and Danny L. Summerlin (Summerlin), on behalf of themselves and all other similarly *532 situated plaintiffs, (Plaintiffs). Having reviewed the Motion to Dismiss and the record, and having heard argument of counsel, this Court finds as follows:

Encouraged by several successful attacks on the credit and collection practices of Sears, Roebuck & Co., see e.g. In re Latanowich, 207 B.R. 326 (Bankr.Mass.1997), the Plaintiffs filed an eight-count class action complaint on behalf of themselves and other similarly situated parties. In their Complaint, the Plaintiffs advance and seek new and unique relief based on some novel legal theory. The gravamen of the Complaint centers around the following alleged conduct of all issuers of credit cards and, in the present instance, the Defendant named in this Complaint.

The claim asserted in Count I is based on the alleged violation of Section 524 of the Bankruptcy Code for using impermissible methods to enter into post-petition reaffirmation agreements. Count II asserts an action for damages pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 362(h) for allegedly pursuing a strategy of collecting debts and extorting reaffirmation agreements against Nelson, Summerlin and putative class members. Count III asserts an action for damages for Defendant’s violation of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, Fla.Stat. § 501.201, et seq (1998). Count IV is an action for damages under the Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act, Chapter 559, Florida Statutes. Count V is an action for declaratory relief seeking a declaration that reaffirmation agreements, settlement agreements and judgments entered into between the Bank and the Plaintiffs are invalid and set aside. Count VI is an action for damages for abuse of process. Count VII is a claim for equitable relief in the form of restitution based on the contention that the Defendant acted willfully, intentionally and with malice toward the Plaintiffs. Count VIII is an action for equitable relief as a result of unjust enrichment, based on the contention that as a result of the Defendant’s wrongful acts, the Plaintiffs have suffered damages.

It is alleged by the Plaintiffs that (1) in the past and presently, the Defendant and other credit card issuers unscrupulously solicit and issue credit cards to Nelson and Summerlin and other consumer debtors; (2) the Defendant and other credit card issuers improperly solicit reaffirmation agreements in violation of Section 524 of the Bankruptcy Code from consumer debtors who have been, are now and/or who may in the future be debtors in a Chapter 7 case; (3) the Defendant and other credit card issuers are using their economically superior position to challenge the dis-chargeability of debts owed by consumer debtors on credit cards pursuant to Section 523(a)(2), suing consumer debtors and alleging fraud in order to coerce the execution of reaffirmation agreements; and (4) the Defendant and other credit card issuers, in violation of 11 U.S.C. § 524, improperly attempt to collect prepetition debts from debtors who received their discharges.

Based on these allegations, the Plaintiffs seek (a) a declaration from this Court that the described conduct violates 11 U.S.C. §§ 362 and 524 and several state statutes governing collection practices of consumer debts; (b) injunctive relief to prohibit the continuation of these practices; (c) a declaration that (i) all reaffirmation agreements signed by consumer debtors are invalid and unenforceable; (ii) all payments made pursuant to such agreements shall be refunded; and (iii) all judgments obtained not only by this Defendant, but by all credit card issuers, shall be declared to be invalid and unenforceable; and (d) the imposition of costs and attorneys fees and punitive damages.

The Bank filed its Motion to Dismiss contending that Count I, based on a violation of Section 524 should be dismissed for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted because no private right of action exists under Section 524 of the Bankruptcy Code for violation of the dis *533 charge injunction. Moreover, the Bank contends that the alleged acts of which Plaintiffs complain do not, as a matter of law, constitute a violation of Section 524 because the Complaint does not allege that either Nelson or Summerlin entered into a reaffirmation agreement with the Bank.

As to Count II based on an alleged violation of Section 362(h), the Bank contends that Count II fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted in that the Complaint merely alleges that thé Defendant filed a nondischargeability complaint, an action that can never violate the automatic stay as a matter of law.

As to Count III, based upon an alleged violation of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, and Count IV, based upon an alleged violation of the Florida Consumer Collections Practices Act the Bank contends that the Complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted in that the relief sought by Nelson and Summerlin in Counts I and II preempts the relief sought by Nelson and Summerlin and the putative class in Count III and Count IV.

CLAIMS OF NELSON AND SUM-MERLIN FOR VIOLATION OF DISCHARGE INJUNCTION

In support of its Motion to Dismiss, the Bank contends that this Court has no jurisdiction over Nelson’s claim because his claim is not ripe; and that this Court has no jurisdiction over Summerlin’s claim because Summerlin never sought relief from the Bank’s judgment which is based on a stipulation between the Bank and Sum-merlin.

With respect to Count VI, the Bank also contends that Nelson and Summerlin’s claim for abuse of process is not property of the estate in either of the cases of Nelson or Summerlin and that, therefore, the claim is not arising in, arising under or related to a bankruptcy case. Further, none of the members of the putative class have a claim for the same reasons. Lastly, the Bank contends that the claim is preempted by the relief sought in Counts I and II and that the claim fails to state a claim for which relief can be granted. The claims in Counts VII and VIII are challenged by the Bank on the same grounds.

In order to place the Motion to Dismiss in an understandable posture, it should be helpful to consider the claims of Nelson and Summerlin separate from the claims asserted by them on behalf of the putative class, since Nelson and Summerlin are the only Plaintiffs who are debtors in cases pending before this Court.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
234 B.R. 528, 41 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 1746, 12 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. B 223, 1999 Bankr. LEXIS 593, 1999 WL 333134, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/nelson-v-providian-national-bank-in-re-nelson-flmb-1999.