Norton v. Tennessee Department of Safety (In Re Norton)

76 B.R. 624, 16 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 287, 1987 Bankr. LEXIS 1324
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Tennessee
DecidedAugust 10, 1987
DocketBankruptcy Nos. 386-02425, 386-02032, 386-04992, 186-03851, 386-03897, 386-03950 and 386-02842, Adv. No. 387-0047
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 76 B.R. 624 (Norton v. Tennessee Department of Safety (In Re Norton)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Tennessee primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Norton v. Tennessee Department of Safety (In Re Norton), 76 B.R. 624, 16 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 287, 1987 Bankr. LEXIS 1324 (Tenn. 1987).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM

KEITH M. LUNDIN, Bankruptcy Judge.

Section 55-12-106(15) of the Tennessee Financial Responsibility Act discriminates against debtors in bankruptcy in violation of 11 U.S.C. § 525(a).

The following are findings of fact and conclusions of law. Bankr.R. 7052. This is a core proceeding. 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(A).

I.

These Chapter 13 debtors were involved in unrelated prepetition automobile accidents. Each scheduled the accident-related claims as dischargeable debts. All were without insurance. Each debtor’s driver’s license was subject to revocation under the Tennessee Financial Responsibility Act (“TFRA”). TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12-101 et seq. (1980 & Supp.1986).

Debtor Kenny Norton’s (“Norton”) accident occurred on February 4, 1986. He filed Chapter 13 on June 9, 1986. The Department of Safety (“Department”) noticed him on November 10, 1986 that his driver’s license would be revoked unless he complied with TFRA. On December 1, 1986, Norton’s attorney advised the Department of the bankruptcy filing in an effort to avoid license revocation. Norton’s license was revoked on January 22, 1987.

Debtor Deborah L. Meece’s (“Meece”) accident occurred on July 26, 1985. Meece agreed to accept responsibility for the damages under TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12- *626 106(7) 1 to avoid license revocation. Her Chapter 13 was filed on May 12, 1986. Meece failed to fulfill the conditional agreement and her license was revoked on September 23, 1986.

Debtor Helen Reynolds’ (“Reynolds”) accident occurred on June 25, 1986. Reynolds received the Department’s notice of pending license revocation dated November 3.1986. She filed Chapter 13 on November 20.1986. Reynolds’ license was revoked on January 22, 1987.

Debtor Thomas L. Hargrove’s (“Har-grove”) accident occurred on October 7, 1983. A judgment for accident-related damages was entered against him in state court. Hargrove filed Chapter 13 on September 15, 1986. His driver’s license was revoked on September 25, 1986 for failure to satisfy the judgment within 60 days pursuant to TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12-118. 2

Debtor Dale Lavinia Davidson’s (“Davidson”) accident occurred on February 2, 1985. Davidson filed Chapter 13 on September 17, 1986. The Department mailed Davidson a revocation notice on January 26, 1987 and revoked her license on February 15, 1987.

Debtor David L. Givens’ (“Givens”) accident occurred on April 24, 1986. Givens filed Chapter 13 on September 19, 1986. The Department’s revocation notice was dated January 15, 1987. Givens’ license was revoked on February 4, 1987.,

Debtor Patricia A. Lewis’ (“Lewis”) accident occurred on March 30, 1986. Lewis filed Chapter 13 on July 8, 1986. The revocation notice was dated September 1, 1986 and her license was revoked on September 21, 1986.

II.

Under TFRA, the driver’s license of an owner or operator of an automobile who is involved in an accident resulting in injury, death or property damage in excess of $200 is subject to revocation unless the offender can prove financial security to the Department. Acceptable proof of financial security includes insurance coverage, a deposit of cash, a bond, or releases by all parties. TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12-105(b) (1980 & Supp.1986).

License revocation can be avoided if the licensee falls within one of 15 exceptions to revocation in § 55-12-106. The 15 subpar-agraphs of TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12-106 are reproduced in the margin 3 to ex *627 hibit one of the problems here under attack: There are many owners and operators excepted from the license revocation process; among those entitled to avoid license revocation, only debtors in bankruptcy must pay “a restoration fee of sixty-five dollars ($65.00).” TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12-106(15) (1980 & Supp.1986).

If license revocation has occurred, driving privileges can be restored by complying with § 55-12-108. 4 All who seek reis- *628 suance of a revoked license under § 55-12-108, including" bankruptcy debtors, must pay a $65 restoration fee. TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12-108(a)(8). (1980 & Supp. 1986).

Section 55-12-118 5 imposes revocation if a final judgment entered as a result of an accident remains unpaid for 60 days. A license revoked under § 55-12-118 can be reinstated as allowed in § 55-12-108. Revocation can be avoided if the parties submit an agreement for payment of damages before revocation. The $65 restoration fee is not required to avoid revocation under § 55-12-118.

All seven debtors now maintain automobile liability insurance as proof of financial responsibility. See TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12-126(a) (1980 & Supp.1986). All debtors have passed a driver's license examination. Debtors refuse to pay the $65 “restoration fee” and claim the $65 fee under § 55-12-106(15) to avoid revocation and under § 55-12-108(a)(8) to restore driving privileges is applied discriminatorily against debtors in violation of 11 U.S.C. § 525. Debtors also assert that post-petition revocation of their drivers’ licenses violates the automatic stay.

III.

“Deciding whether a state statute is in conflict with a federal statute and hence invalid under the Supremacy Clause is essentially a two-step process of first ascertaining the construction of the two statutes and then determining the constitutional question whether they are in conflict.” Perez v. Campbell, 402 U.S. 637, 644, 91 S.Ct. 1704, 1708, 29 L.Ed.2d 233, 239 (1971). There are preliminary questions of interpretation of the Tennessee statute.

Under TFRA, a debtor “who has obtained a discharge in bankruptcy that discharged all claims against the person because of the accident listed in the petition” may avoid revocation of a driver’s license. TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12-106(15) (1980 ed. & Supp.1986) (emphasis added). A debtor whose driver’s license has already been revoked who “submits a discharge in bankruptcy which discharges all claims of persons involved in the accident with him” may have driving privileges reinstated. TENN.CODE ANN. § 55-12-108(a)(6), (8) (1980 ed. & Supp.1986) (emphasis added).

“Discharge” is a term of art in bankruptcy cases. In a Chapter 7 case the court “shall grant” the debtor a discharge if the debtor is eligible under 11 U.S.C. § 727. These debtors have filed Chapter 13 cases. Under 11 U.S.C.

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Bluebook (online)
76 B.R. 624, 16 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 287, 1987 Bankr. LEXIS 1324, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/norton-v-tennessee-department-of-safety-in-re-norton-tnmb-1987.