Parkway Bank & Trust v. Casali (In re Casali)

517 B.R. 835
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Illinois
DecidedAugust 29, 2014
DocketBankruptcy No. 13-bk-30521; Adversary No. 14-ap-124
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 517 B.R. 835 (Parkway Bank & Trust v. Casali (In re Casali)) 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
Parkway Bank & Trust v. Casali (In re Casali), 517 B.R. 835 (Ill. 2014).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION ON MOTION OF RENATO CASALI TO DISMISS PARKWAY BANK & TRUST’S ADVERSARY COMPLAINT TO DETERMINE DIS-CHARGEABILITY OF DEBT

JACK B. SCHMETTERER, Bankruptcy Judge.

This Adversary Proceeding relates to the bankruptcy petition filed by debtor-defendant Renato Casali (“Casali”) under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code. Creditor-plaintiff Parkway Bank & Trust (“Parkway”) filed its complaint (Dkt. 1) on February 25, 2014 seeking a judgment that the debt due Parkway from Casali be held nondischargeable under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2)(A).

The matter concerns a loan Parkway extended to Casali. In 2003, Casali obtained a personal line of credit from Parkway agreeing, among other conditions, to give Parkway a first mortgage on his personal residence located at 4547 Potawato-mie, Chicago, Illinois (“the Property”). At the time, Household Finance Company (“Household”) held the first mortgage on the Property. Allegedly, Casali promised to use the money advanced by Parkway to pay Household in full to obtain a release of Household’s first mortgage, thus giving Parkway the first mortgage. However, [839]*839after Parkway advanced its loan, Casali continued to draw on his line of credit with Household leaving a balance still due, and the original first mortgage was not released by Household. Parkway alleges that Casali’s conduct amounted to false pretenses and false representations, and the entire debt is therefore nondischargeable under § 523(a)(2)(A).

Casali moved to dismiss Parkway’s complaint under Rule 12(b)(6) F.R.C.P. [Rule 7012 Fed. R. Bankr.P.] for failure to state a cause of action, for failure to allege fraud with particularity as required by Rule 9(b) F.R.C.P. [Rule 7009 Fed. R. Bankr.P.], and because judicial estoppel assertedly precludes Parkway from asserting its position in the Complaint.

Because Parkway has thus far failed to allege that Casali made false representations or had actual intent to defraud and deceive, the motion to dismiss will be allowed, but with leave to amend.

FACTS AS ALLEGED IN COMPLAINT

On a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6), all well-pleaded allegations in the complaint are taken as true and all reasonable inferences are drawn in favor of the non-moving party. Geinosky v. City of Chicago, 675 F.3d 743, 746 (7th Cir.2012). Documents attached to a complaint are considered part of the complaint. F.R.C.P. 10(c) [Rule 7010 Fed. R. Bankr. P.]; Bogie v. Rosenberg, 705 F.3d 603, 609 (7th Cir.2013) (citations omitted). Parkway’s complaint and exhibits allege the following facts:

In 2003, Casali obtained a line of credit from Parkway. (Complaint ¶ 8). Casali informed Parkway about an existing line of credit having a debt with Household then amounting to $80,000 secured by first mortgage on the Property. (¶ 6). Parkway informed Casali that any loan extended to him would be conditioned on: (1) closing Casali’s line of credit with Household, (2) using the proceeds of Parkway’s loan to pay off the line of credit with Household, (3) release of Household’s first mortgage on the Property, (4) and Parkway securing a first mortgage on the Property. (¶ 7).

Based on Casali’s agreement to those conditions, Parkway and Casali entered into a Credit Agreement and Disclosure on May 5 stating in part, “[y]ou acknowledge this Agreement is secured by 1st Mortgage on [the Property].” (¶ 7); (Exh. A). The mortgage signed by Casali and his wife on that same day and recorded shortly after states “[g]rantor shall maintain the Property free of any liens having priority over or equal to the interest of Lender under this Mortgage.... ” (Id. ¶ 9); (Exh. B). Casali also executed a Disbursement Request and Authorization form, acknowledging and agreeing that the purpose of receiving the loan was to pay off the “1st mortgage with Household ... of $80,000.00....” (¶ 10); (Exh. C).

On or about May 7, 2003, Household provided a payoff letter to Casali indicating $154,731.46 as the payoff amount due at that time, subject to a final audit, and with no waiver of Household’s rights to receive payment of any debt resulting from any recent advances and returned items. (¶¶ 10-13); (Exh. D).

On May 8, 2003, Casali and his wife signed the payoff letter authorizing cancellation of their account at Household. (¶ 15); (Exh. D). Parkway sent a check for $154,731.46, pursuant to the payoff letter, and a request for release of Household’s first mortgage. (¶ 16). Two days later, Household cashed that check. (¶ 17).

Without disclosing to Parkway, Casali continued to make new draws from his line of credit with Household even after signing the payoff letter. (¶¶ 18-19). As a result, Casali continued to owe Household for the new draws, and Household did not [840]*840release its mortgage, leaving Parkway without a first mortgage on the Property. (¶¶ 20, 28).

On January 29, 2013, Casali defaulted on the new loan by failing to pay real estate taxes on the Property. (¶ 23). On February 11, 2013, Parkway discovered that Household had never released its mortgage. (¶¶ 24-25).

Parkway alleges that Casali made false representations and omissions of fact because he never intended to close his line of credit with Household but only represented that he would do so for the purpose of inducing Parkway to extend a loan to him. (¶ 29). Parkway asserts that it would not have extended credit to Casali had it known Casali’s line of credit with Household would remain open and not be completely paid off, leaving it without a first mortgage on the Property. (¶ 31).

Parkway’s complaint seeks a declaration that the entire debt Casali owes Parkway is nondischargeable under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2)(A) because it is a debt “for money, property, services, or an extension, renewal, or refinancing of credit” obtained by “false pretenses, false representation, or actual fraud....” (¶¶26, 32). Casali moved to dismiss Parkway’s complaint under Rule 12(b)(6) [F.R.C.P. Rule 7012 Fed. R. Bankr.P.] for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted.

DISCUSSION

Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction lies to entertain this matter under 28 U.S.C. § 1334. This matter is an objection to dischargeability, and is therefore a core proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(I). It is referred here by Internal Procedure 15(a) of the District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. An adversary proceeding seeking to determine dischargeability of a debt “stems from the bankruptcy itself.” Stern v. Marshall, — U.S. -, 131 S.Ct. 2594, 2618, 180 L.Ed.2d 475 (2011). This case only concerns the dischargeability of a debt. As such, a bankruptcy judge has constitutional authority to enter final judgment in this matter. Venue is proper under 28 U.S.C. § 1409(a).

Sufficiency of the Pleadings

A motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6) [F.R.C.P., Rule 7012 F.R.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
517 B.R. 835, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/parkway-bank-trust-v-casali-in-re-casali-ilnb-2014.