Novak v. Univ. of Miami (In re Demitrus)

586 B.R. 88
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, D. Connecticut
DecidedFebruary 27, 2018
DocketCASE No. 15–22081 (JJT); ADV. PRO. No. 17–02036 (JJT)
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 586 B.R. 88 (Novak v. Univ. of Miami (In re Demitrus)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, D. Connecticut primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Novak v. Univ. of Miami (In re Demitrus), 586 B.R. 88 (Conn. 2018).

Opinion

James J. Tancredi, United States Bankruptcy Judge

I. INTRODUCTION

Pending before this Court is a Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 19) filed by the Defendant, University of Miami ("Defendant" or "University"), the Memorandum of Law in Opposition to the Motion to Dismiss ("Opposition", ECF No. 24), filed by the Plaintiff, the Chapter 7 Trustee ("Trustee"), and the related Reply Brief (ECF No. 25). For the reasons stated herein, the Court grants the Motion to Dismiss.

II. JURISDICTION

This Court has jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. §§ 157 and 1334(b) and may hear and determine this matter on reference from the District Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 157(a) and (b)(1). This is a core *90proceeding pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 157(b)(2)(A), (B), (E), (H) and (O). The parties herein have consented to this Court's jurisdiction to enter final orders in this Adversary Proceeding. See ECF Nos. 30 and 31.

III. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

On December 1, 2015, the Debtor, Katalin Demitrus, filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code. On July 19, 2017, the Trustee initiated this Adversary Proceeding against the University and asserted the following causes of action: (1) Constructive Fraudulent Transfer, pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §§ 548(a)(1)(B), 550 and 551 ; and (2) UFTA Constructive Fraudulent Transfer, pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 544(b)(1) and Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 52-552e(a)(2) and 52-552f(a) ("CUFTA"). On November 28, 2017, the Trustee filed the instant Amended Complaint which, with the exception of one paragraph, is a mirror image of the original Complaint.

On December 7, 2017, the University filed the Motion to Dismiss and accompanying Memorandum of Law. On January 12, 2018, the Trustee filed the Opposition. On January 19, 2018, the University filed a reply. On February 12, 2018, both parties appeared and presented oral arguments before the Court. Following the hearing, the matter was taken under advisement.

In his Complaint, the Trustee alleges that the Debtor is the parent of Alexander N. Demitrus who, at all relevant times, was over the age of 18 years.1 He alleges that between September of 2013 to October of 2014, when Alexander was a student at the University, the Debtor made a number of transfers to the University by means of a Federal Direct Parent PLUS loan ("Parent PLUS Loan") to pay for Alexander's tuition. The Trustee claims that these payments constitute constructive fraudulent transfers, pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code and CUFTA. He seeks that the total of $66,616.00 be avoided and/or set aside and recovered for the benefit of the Debtor's estate.

IV. LEGAL STANDARD

Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, made applicable herein by Rule 7012(b) of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, permits a party to move to dismiss a case for "failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted." The Supreme Court has stated, "[t]o survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to state a claim for relief that is plausible on its face." Ashcroft v. Iqbal , 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009) (quoting Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly , 550 U.S. 544, 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007) ). A claim is facially plausible "when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged." Iqbal , 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937 (citing Twombly , 550 U.S. at 556, 127 S.Ct. 1955 ). A pleading that offers, "labels and conclusions or a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do." Iqbal , 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937 (quoting Twombly , 550 U.S. at 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955 ). "Nor does a complaint suffice if it tenders naked assertion[s] devoid of further factual enhancement." Iqbal , 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937 (quoting Twombly

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Bluebook (online)
586 B.R. 88, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/novak-v-univ-of-miami-in-re-demitrus-ctb-2018.