Res Ga Two, LLC v. Hiett (In re Hiett)

519 B.R. 341
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Alabama
DecidedSeptember 30, 2014
DocketBankruptcy No. 12-80560-DHW; Adversary No. 12-08029-DHW
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 519 B.R. 341 (Res Ga Two, LLC v. Hiett (In re Hiett)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Res Ga Two, LLC v. Hiett (In re Hiett), 519 B.R. 341 (Ala. 2014).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

DWIGHT H. WILLIAMS, JR., Bankruptcy Judge.

Before the court is Res Ga Two, LLC’s (hereinafter “Plaintiff’) complaint to deter[344]*344mine the dischargeability of the debt owed to it by Tony L. Hiett (hereinafter “Hiett” or “Defendant”) pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § j523(a)(2)(B)(false financial statement) and to deny Hiett a discharge in general pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(2)(A)(trans-fer or concealment of the debtor’s property prior to bankruptcy). Trial was held on April 10, 2014. At trial, the plaintiff was represented by its counsel Joel Connally and the defendant was represented by his attorney, Charles M. Ingram, Jr.

Upon consideration of the facts, the law, and the respective briefs of counsel, the court, for the reasons set out herein, finds for the defendant on the count under § 523(a)(2)(B) and for the plaintiff on the count under § 727(a)(2)(A).

Jurisdiction

The court’s jurisdiction in this dispute is derived from 28 U.S.C. § 1334 and from an order of The United States District Court for this district wherein that court’s jurisdiction in title 11 matters was referred to the Bankruptcy Court. See General Order of Reference [of] Bankruptcy Matters (M.D. Ala. April 25, 1985). Further, because this dispute requires a determination of the dischargeability of a particular debt and of discharge in general, this is a core proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(I) and (J) thereby extending this court’s jurisdiction to entry of a final order or judgment.

Preliminary Matter-Statute of Limitations

Plaintiff began this adversary proceeding by filing an original complaint on December 15, 2012, and thereafter amending the complaint on July 26, 2013. Hiett filed an answer to the amended complaint on January 15, 2014, and there, for the first time, raised generally the defense that the complaint was time barred.1 Then, on the day of trial, Hiett moved for dismissal of both counts of the complaint contending that they were time barred. A brief history of this proceeding will be of help in understanding this issue.

Hiett filed his chapter 7 bankruptcy petition for relief in this court on April 17, 2012. The date first set for the § 341 meeting of creditors was June 7, 2012. Pursuant to F.R.B.P. 4004(a) and 4007(c), the last date for filing objections to discharge or to challenge dischargeability of a particular debt was 60 days after the first date set for the meeting of creditors, or August 6, 2012.

The creditors’ meeting was not completed on June 7, 2012. Instead, the meeting was continued from time to time, until it was finally concluded on October 25, 2012.2 On that same day, October 25, a stipulated order entered extending the deadline for filing complaints objecting to discharge to sixty days following the completion of the creditors’ meeting (Case No. 12-80560-DHW, Doc. # 25).

With regard to the § 523 count of the complaint, Hiett correctly notes that extensions of complaint deadlines are controlled by F.R.B.P. 4007(c). The rale provides:

(c) Time for Filing Complaint Under § 523(c) in a Chapter 7 Liquidation,
[345]*345Chapter 11 Reorganization, Chapter 12 Family Farmer’s Debt Adjustment Case, or Chapter 13 Individual’s Debt Adjustment Case; Notice of Time Fixed.
Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (d), a complaint to determine the dischargeability of a debt under § 523(c) shall be filed no later than 60 days after the first date set for the meeting of creditors under § 341(a). The court shall give all creditors no less than 30 days’ notice of the time so fixed in the manner provided in Rule 2002. On motion of a party in interest, after hearing on notice, the court may for cause extend the time fixed under this subdivision. The motion shall be filed before the time has expired.

F.R.B.P. 4007(c) (Emphasis added).

Concerning objections to discharge under § 727, Hiett, again, correctly observes that extensions of complaint deadlines are controlled by F.R.B.P. 4004. The rule in relevant part provides:

(a) Time for Objecting to Discharge; Notice of Time Fixed. In a chapter 7 case, a complaint, or motion under § 727(a)(8) or (a)(9) of the Code, objecting to the debtor’s discharge shall be filed no later than 60 days after the first date set for the meeting of creditors under § 341(a).
(b) Extension of Time.
(1) On motion of any party in interest, after notice and hearing, the court may for cause extend the time to object to discharge. Except as provided in subdivision (b)(2), the motion shall be filed before the time has expired.
(2) A motion to extend the time to object to discharge may be filed after the time for objection has expired and before discharge is granted if (A) the objection is based on facts that, if learned after the discharge, would provide a basis for revocation under § 727(d) of the Code, and (B) the movant did not have knowledge of those facts in time to permit an objection. The motion shall be filed promptly after the movant discovers the facts on which the. objection is based.

F.R.B.P. 4004(a) and (b) (Emphasis added).

Hiett argues that the plaintiff did not file a motion prior to the August 6, 2012 complaint deadline seeking an extension of time to file either a § 523 or a § 727 complaint. Further, Hiett contends that there are no facts to show that such motion was timely under F.R.B.P. 4004(b)(2); that is, facts learned after the deadline passed but before entry of discharge which would form the basis of revocation of discharge. Hence, Hiett moves to dismiss both counts on these statute of limitations grounds.

The law in this circuit is clear. The deadlines for filing § 523 and § 727 complaints have been held to be mandatory with the court lacking discretion to extend the deadlines by granting a late filed motion. In re Alton, 837 F.2d 457 (11th Cir.1988); Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs v. Lett, 368 Fed.Appx. 975 (11th Cir.2010)(both cases addressing F.R.B.P. 4007(c)); F.R.B.P. 9006

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

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
519 B.R. 341, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/res-ga-two-llc-v-hiett-in-re-hiett-almb-2014.