Oparaji v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (In Re Oparaji)

454 B.R. 725
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. Texas
DecidedDecember 29, 2010
Docket19-10077
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 454 B.R. 725 (Oparaji v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (In Re Oparaji)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Oparaji v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (In Re Oparaji), 454 B.R. 725 (Tex. 2010).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

MARVIN ISGUR, Bankruptcy Judge.

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (“Wells Fargo”) filed proofs of claim in Titus Oparaji’s 2004 bankruptcy case and in his current bankruptcy case. The arrearage amounts on the proofs of claim are inconsistent. Opa-raji alleges that Wells Fargo is estopped from asserting inconsistent arrearage amounts in his current bankruptcy. Opa-raji moved for partial summary judgment on the estoppel arguments. The Court holds that Wells Fargo is judicially es-topped from asserting charges that could have been, but were not, included in its earlier proof of claim.

Jurisdiction

The Court has jurisdiction over this matter under 28 U.S.C. § 1384. Venue is proper in this District pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1409. This is a core proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(B).

Background

Titus Oparaji filed for chapter 13 bankruptcy in 2004 (“First Bankruptcy”). 1 In the First Bankruptcy, Wells Fargo filed a secured claim for Oparaji’s debt on his home. 2 Wells Fargo amended its proof of claim several times. In May 2005, Wells Fargo filed its second proof of claim. 3 It filed its third proof of claim 4 in October 2005. Wells Fargo filed its fourth proof of claim 5 (“Earlier Proof of Claim”) in December 2008. Finally, Wells Fargo filed its fifth proof of claim 6 in July 2009. Opa-raji’s bankruptcy case was dismissed in November 2009, and he never obtained a discharge.

After the filing of the Earlier Proof of Claim and before the filing of Wells Fargo’s fifth proof of claim, the Court approved a modification of Oparaji’s chapter 13 plan. This occurred in May, 2009.

Oparaji filed his second bankruptcy (“Current Bankruptcy”) on February 1, 2010. Wells Fargo reasserted its secured claim on Oparaji’s home in the Current Bankruptcy, filing a proof of claim 7 on March 2, 2010 and an amended proof of claim 8 on March 11, 2010 (“Current Proof of Claim”).

The Earlier Proof of Claim asserted $17,373.69 in arrearages. The arrearages include (i) $6,386.84 in pre-petition arrear-ages on the debt and (ii) $12,960.85 in allowable charges, including $2,599.81 in post-petition arrearages, $7,399.02 in delinquent 2006 taxes, and a $964.60 escrow shortage. The arrearage total subtracts $2,000.00 held in suspense.

*728 Wells Fargo now claims $86,003.25 in arrearages. The Current Proof of Claim includes $37,906.56 in pre-petition arrear-ages on the debt, comprised of 24 missed monthly payments from March 1, 2008 through February 1, 2010. It also includes an escrow shortage of $43,940.87 and various other fees and charges.

Many of the charges in the Current Proof of Claim arose after the Earlier Proof of Claim. No estoppel applies to such charges. However, the Current Proof of Claim also asserts arrearages and charges that could have been, but were not, included in the Earlier Proof of Claim. Oparaji argues that Wells Fargo is judicially estopped from claiming arrearages and charges that were not included in the Earlier Proof of Claim. In the alternative, Operaji alleges that Wells Fargo is equitably estopped from asserting the charges. Oparaji also asserts that he does not owe the debt Wells Fargo claims. Finally, Oparaji seeks sanctions against Wells Fargo under Fed. R. Bankr.P. 9011. 9

Wells Fargo filed a motion for partial summary judgment on October 29, 2010. (Doc. No. 24.) Oparaji filed his own motion for partial summary judgment on November 1, 2010. (Doc. No. 25.) Oparaji responded to Wells Fargo’s motion on November 15, 2010. (Doc. No. 28.) Wells Fargo also filed its response to Oparaji’s motion on November 15, 2010. (Doc. No. 27.)

Oparaji argues that Wells Fargo is judicially estopped from asserting the higher arrearage amounts. Judicial estoppel applies when a party took a clearly inconsistent position in earlier litigation, the court accepted the position, and the inconsistency was not inadvertent. Oparaji argues that all of the requirements are met here. First, he argues, Wells Fargo’s two proofs of claim are clearly inconsistent. Second, he argues, the Court approved a plan modification in the First Bankruptcy in reliance on Wells Fargo’s Earlier Proof of Claim. Finally, Oparaji argues that Wells Fargo’s omission of the additional charges was not inadvertent. Oparaji also argues that he detrimentally relied on Wells Fargo’s Earlier Proof of Claim, and therefore Wells Fargo should be equitably estopped from asserting the additional charges.

Wells Fargo asserts that the Earlier Proof of Claim and the Current Proof of Claim are not clearly inconsistent. The Current Proof of Claim contains additional charges, but according to Wells Fargo, the claim amounts differ because the Current Bankruptcy was initiated over five years after the First Bankruptcy. Wells Fargo alleges that in the intervening period, Opa-raji missed numerous mortgage payments, and Wells Fargo paid thousands of dollars in property taxes and hazard insurance premiums out of Oparaji’s escrow account. Furthermore, any errors or omissions in the Earlier Proof of Claim, they argue, were inadvertent. Additionally, Wells Fargo argues, the dismissal of Oparaji’s First Bankruptcy means that, as a matter of law, the Earlier Proof of Claim should have no effect.

The Court heard arguments on the motions for summary judgment on November 29, 2010, reserving judgment on the judicial estoppel and equitable estoppel issues. The Court now grants summary judgment in favor of Oparaji on the judicial estoppel issue. As announced at the hearing, the Court grants summary judgment in favor of Wells Fargo on the Rule 9011 sanctions issue.

*729 Analysis

Judicial estoppel is a common-law doctrine that prevents a party from assuming inconsistent positions in litigation. MV Stacey D v. Primary P & I Underwriters (In re Superior Crewboats, Inc.), 374 F.3d 330, 334 (5th Cir.2004). In the Fifth Circuit, judicial estoppel applies when (1) the party’s position is clearly inconsistent with the previous position; (2) the court accepted the previous position; and (3) the inconsistency was not inadvertent. See id. (applying three requirements for judicial estoppel when the debtor failed to schedule a claim).

Requirements for Applying Judicial Estoppel

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

Related

In Re Munoz
459 B.R. 621 (S.D. Texas, 2011)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
454 B.R. 725, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/oparaji-v-wells-fargo-bank-na-in-re-oparaji-txsb-2010.