Phillips v. Phillips (In Re Phillips)

187 B.R. 363, 9 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. B 155, 35 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 200, 1995 Bankr. LEXIS 1492, 1995 WL 613416
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Florida
DecidedOctober 16, 1995
DocketBankruptcy No. 94-4643-BKC-3P7. Adv. No. 95-37, 95-39
StatusPublished
Cited by55 cases

This text of 187 B.R. 363 (Phillips v. Phillips (In Re Phillips)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Phillips v. Phillips (In Re Phillips), 187 B.R. 363, 9 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. B 155, 35 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 200, 1995 Bankr. LEXIS 1492, 1995 WL 613416 (Fla. 1995).

Opinion

FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

GEORGE L. PROCTOR, Bankruptcy Judge.

These proceedings are before the Court upon the complaint objecting to discharge pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §§ 727(a)(2)(A) and 727(a)(4)(A) filed by Trustee Gordon P. Jones (Trustee), and the complaint objecting to discharge and seeking exception from discharge pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §§ 727(a)(4)(A), 523(a)(5), and 523(a)(15) filed by Theresa Phillips (Former wife). The Court consolidated the proceedings for trial on May 3, 1995, continued to May 16,1995, and concluded on July 26, 1995. Upon the evidence *366 presented at trial, the Court enters the following findings of fact and conclusions of law:

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. Michael Duane Phillips (Former husband) and former wife were married on March 29, 1974, and lived as husband and wife until their separation in May, 1991. The parties were divorced on November 20, 1992. (Joint Ex. 9).

2. The Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage entered by the Circuit Court for St. Johns County, Florida ordered former husband to pay former wife $350 per month in child support and $1,500 per month in permanent periodic alimony. (Joint Ex. 9).

3. In addition to other items of property, the court also awarded former wife $120,000 in what it termed “lump sum alimony.” The court included the lump sum alimony in the “Equitable Distribution” portion of the judgment. (Joint Ex. 9).

4. Former husband is employed by Phillips Brokerage, Inc., (Phillips Brokerage or Phillips Group) in which he owns a minority interest equal to forty-nine percent of the issued stock. Former husband’s father, Charles Phillips, also owns forty-nine percent, and the remaining two percent is owned by other family members. (Joint Ex. 1).

5. The divorce court valued former husband’s stock at $450,000. (Joint Ex. 9). At trial in this proceeding, former wife produced an expert witness who concluded that at the time of his petition, former husband’s stock was worth $257,000. (Plaintiff Expert Ex. 127). In his schedules, former husband valued the stock at $25,490. (Joint Ex. 1). At trial, former husband produced an expert witness who testified that the value of former husband’s stock on the date of his petition was $19,000. (Defendant Ex. 2). This expert originally valued the stock at $16,000. (Defendant Ex. 4).

6. Former husband filed his voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code on October 25, 1994. With his petition, former husband filed his statement of financial affairs and his schedules.- Former husband signed these documents under penalty of perjury. (Joint Ex. 1).

7. On January 23, 1995, former wife filed a complaint objecting to former husband’s discharge pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(4)(A), and seeking exception to discharge pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(5) and § 523(a)(15). On January 25, 1995, the Trustee filed a complaint objecting to former husband’s discharge pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(4)(A) and § 727(a)(2)(A).

8. Former wife alleged that former husband’s discharge should be denied because he made a false oath in connection with his case by omitting information from his schedules and statement of financial of affairs. Alternatively, former wife alleged that should former husband receive a discharge, the $120,000 lump sum alimony awarded to former wife pursuant to the Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage should be excepted from former husband’s discharge because the award is a nondischargeable support award. Finally, former wife alleged that if the Court found the award to be in the nature of a property settlement, the lump sum alimony would still be nondischargeable because former husband has the ability to pay the debt and the detriment to former wife outweighs the benefit of a discharge to former husband. The trustee also alleged that former husband’s discharge should be denied because he knowingly and fraudulently made a false oath in completing his petition papers.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

I. Exception to Discharge Pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(5)

Former wife seeks to have the $120,-000 lump sum alimony award excepted from former husband’s discharge. To make this determination, the Court must first determine whether the debt is in the nature of support or part of a property settlement. This Court has held that “[t]he determination of whether an award is support or a property settlement is controlled by federal bankruptcy law, rather than state law.” In re Garrard, 151 B.R. 598, 601 (Bankr.M.D.Fla. 1993). The Court has also held that “[t]he labels used in a settlement agreement are not controlling on the issue of dischargeability.” Id. See In re Cassata, 119 B.R. 280 *367 (Bankr.M.D.Fla.1990). The plaintiff bears the burden of proving that the debt is in the nature of support. Id. See In re Long, 794 F.2d. 928 (4th Cir.1986). If the debt is a true alimony award, it is nondischargeable pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(5), which states:

(a) A discharge under section 727 ... of this title does not discharge an individual debtor from any debt—
(5) to a spouse, former spouse, or child of the debtor, for alimony to, maintenance for, or support of such spouses or child, in connection with or separation agreement, divorce decree or other order of a court of record, determination made in accordance with state or territorial law by a governmental unit, or property settlement agreement. ...

11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(5).

This Court has previously considered six factors in evaluating the nature of a debt:

1. Whether the obligation under consideration is subject to contingencies, such as death or remarriage;
2. Whether the payment was fashioned in order to balance disparate incomes of the parties;
3. Whether the obligation is payable in installments or in lump sum;
4. Whether there are minor children involved in a marriage requiring support;
5.

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187 B.R. 363, 9 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. B 155, 35 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 200, 1995 Bankr. LEXIS 1492, 1995 WL 613416, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/phillips-v-phillips-in-re-phillips-flmb-1995.