Pantazelos v. Benjamin (In re Pantazelos)

543 B.R. 864
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Illinois
DecidedJanuary 7, 2016
DocketBankruptcy No. 15-bk-8916; Adversary No. 15-AP-00314
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 543 B.R. 864 (Pantazelos v. Benjamin (In re Pantazelos)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Pantazelos v. Benjamin (In re Pantazelos), 543 B.R. 864 (Ill. 2016).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION ON DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO DISMISS PURSUANT TO FED. R. CIV. 12(B)(6)

Jack B. Schmetterer, United States Bankruptcy Judge.

This adversary proceeding arises out of and relates to the chapter 13 case of Faye T. Pantazelos (The ‘Debtor* or-the ‘Plaintiff). Debtor’s Amended Complaint seeks recovery of compensation paid to Defendant on account of legal services rendered prior to the filing of the instant bankruptcy proceeding pursuant to sections 547, 550, 542 and 329 of the Bankruptcy Code. Before the Court for ruling is the motion of J. Kevin Benjamin, Theresa Benjamin, and Benjamin Brand LLP (collectively, the ‘Defendants*) to dismiss Debtor’s Amended Complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1) and for failure to state a claim for relief pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6). Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(1) and (b)(6) (made applicable by Fed. R. Bankr. P. 7012).

For the reasons states below, Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss will be denied by separate order.

I. BACKGROUND

A. Procedural History

On April 12, 2015, the Debtor filed the instant adversary proceeding against the Defendant (Dkt. # 1). The Amended Complaint was filed on May 21, 2015 (Dkt. # 5). Defendant filed a Motion to Extend .time to Answer on June 11, 2015 (Dkt. # 7) which was granted on June 29, 2015 (Dkt. # 13). The Defendant filed its Motion to Dismiss on July 28, 2015 (Dkt. # Í4). A scheduling order was entered by this Court on July 28, 2015, setting a response date of August 18, 2015 and a reply date of September 15, 2015 (Dkt. # 17). The Defendant filed a late reply on September 16, 2015 (Dkt. # 20). On September 21, -2015, this Court entered an order striking the September 16th Reply Brief (Dkt. # 20). Defendant filed- a Motion to Extend time to file its reply on November 10, 2015 (Dkt. # 32) which was granted on November 13, 2015. Defendant’s Reply was' filed on November 13, 2015 (Dkt. #36).

[869]*869B. Facts Alleged in the Complaint

The Prior Bankruptcy Cases:

The Plaintiff alleges as follows; Debtor employed the Defendant as her bankruptcy counsel for a prior case filed under chapter 13, No. 13-BK-29200, filed before this Court on July 22, 2013 (“Case 1”). Case 1 was dismissed on November 5,' 2014. Before dismissal, on July 22, 2013, Defendant filed a Disclosure of Compensation with this Court indicating that he had been paid $423.00 in fees for services to be rendered in the case. After dismissal of Case 1 for failure to make plan payments, the Defendant filed a Notice of Motion on Application for Attorney Fees and an Amended Application for Compensation for Representation Chapter 13 Debtor(s) before this Court on November 13, 2015 seeking compensation of $14,870.20. The November 13, 2015 Application was not granted, as Case 1 was already dismissed and no funds were held by the Trustee to be the source of the requested payment.

Debtor again employed the, Defendant as her bankruptcy counsel in a chapter 11 proceeding, No. 13-BK-01419, filed before this Court on January 15, 2013 (“Case 2”).1 Also on January 15th in Case 2, Defendant filed a Disclosure of Compensation with the Court indicating that he had been paid $6,000.00 in fees for services, to be rendered in that case. .

The Debtor/Plaintiff filed the instant chapter 13 bankruptcy petition on March 13, 2015 with new counsel. Debtor’s former bankruptcy counsel and his law firm are the Defendants in this adversary proceeding. Debtor’s Amended Complaint seeks from the Defendants recovery pursuant to sections 547, 550, 542 and 329 of the Bankruptcy Code for funds paid to the Defendants relating to Case 1 and Case 2.

Count 1: Avoidance and Recovery of Preference: 11 U.S.C. § 547(b), § 550(a):

Count 1 pleads that; on December 16, 2014, the Debtor/Plaintiff paid the Defendant $14,000,00. December 16, 2014 is within 90 days of the instant bankruptcy filing. The $14,000.00 check was on account of legal services rendered or to be rendered in Case 1, and thus was payment on an antecedent debt. The Debtor/Plaintiff made’ the payment while insolvent and it enabled the Defendánt to receive more than it would have received under the Bankruptcy Code.

Count 2: Recovery of Money Owed to the Estate, 11. U.S.C. § 542(b):

After the dismissal of Case 1, Defendant told the Debtor to’ pay him $4,000.00 in order to- cure the default cited by the Trustee in his motion to dismiss that case. Debtor obtained a cashier’s check for $4,000.00 on November 24, 2014 made out to Defendant. The payment was made on account of a false representation -constituting fraud by the Defendant. Defendant falsely represented to Defendant that payment of the $4,000.00 would cure the default in Case 1. Defendant knew the case had already been dismissed but made the statement knowing that the Debtor would rely on the statement and issue the payment, which the Debtor did. Thus, the Defendant obtained the payment from the Debtor without legal justification and therefore converted the funds for-his own benefit.

Count 3: Debtor’s Transactions with At-, torneys:

Defendant received $6,000.00 in advance of Case 2. No motion to employ was en[870]*870tered or fee application granted'in’Case 2. Defendant retained the funds which allegedly exceed-the value of the services provided by the Defendant to the Debtor.

II. APPLICABLE STANDARDS

The Defendant asserts two bases for dismissal with prejudice. First, that this Court lack subject matter jurisdiction under FRCP 12(b)(1) because the Plaintiff lacks standing to bring the suit and that the ruling in Stern v. Marshall divests this Court of jurisdiction. Second, the Defendant argues that the- Plaintiff has failed to state a claim for relief pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6).

Specifically, the Motion to Dismiss seeks dismissal for .the following reasons:

1. Dismissal of all Counts pursuant to FRCP 12(b)(1) for lack of standing: Count I: ¶ 4-11; Count II: ¶27~ 28;2
2. -Dismissal of Count I pursuant to-the . holding- in Stern v. Marshall ¶ 12-17; and
3. Dismissal- pursuant to FRCP 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim for relief: Count I: ¶ 18-26; Count ' IR ¶ 29-30; Count III: ¶ 33-34. ■

A. Standards on Rule 12(b)(1) ■ Motion to Dismiss

A motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(1) challenges the court’s subject matter jurisdiction. Settlers’ Hous. Serv. v. Schaumburg Bank & Trust Co. (In re Settlers’ Hous. Serv.), 540 B.R. 624, 630 (Bankr.N.D.Ill.2015) (Schmetterer, J.). Whether or not a plaintiff has standing to bring a lawsuit is a jurisdictional requirement which may be challenged through a motion made pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1).

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
543 B.R. 864, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/pantazelos-v-benjamin-in-re-pantazelos-ilnb-2016.