Rosen's, Inc. v. Ghere (In Re Ghere)

393 B.R. 209, 2008 Bankr. LEXIS 2240, 2008 WL 4053435
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, W.D. Missouri
DecidedAugust 29, 2008
Docket19-50130
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 393 B.R. 209 (Rosen's, Inc. v. Ghere (In Re Ghere)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, W.D. Missouri primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Rosen's, Inc. v. Ghere (In Re Ghere), 393 B.R. 209, 2008 Bankr. LEXIS 2240, 2008 WL 4053435 (Mo. 2008).

Opinion

*213 MEMORANDUM OPINION

DENNIS R. DOW, Bankruptcy Judge.

The matter is before the Court on the Complaint Objecting to Discharge (“Complaint”) filed by Rosen’s, Inc. (“Rosen’s”) against Martin Levi Ghere (“Debtor”). In the Complaint, Rosen’s asserts that Debt- or produced materially false financial statements with the intent to deceive Ro-sen’s into extending credit, that Debtor failed to offer a credible explanation for the loss/dissipation of assets and that Debtor failed to keep and maintain reasonable business records. Rosen’s argues that Debtor should be denied a discharge with respect to the amount owed to Ro-sen’s pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2) and denied a discharge pursuant to §§ 727(a)(3) and/or 727(a)(5). A trial was held on April 9, 2008 and the Court took the matter under advisement. The Court has jurisdiction over the matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1334(b) and 157(a) and (b). This is a core proceeding which the Court may hear and determine pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 167(b)(2)© and (J). This Memorandum Opinion contains my Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law pursuant to Rule 52 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure as made applicable to this matter by Rules 7052 and 9014(c) of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure. For all the reasons set forth below, the Court finds Debtor’s debt to Rosen’s non-dis-chargeable pursuant to § 523(a)(2) and that Rosen’s should be denied a discharge pursuant to § 727(a)(3). The Court specifically makes no findings regarding Rosen’s § 727(a)(5) claim as that claim is moot.

I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

Debtor is a farmer. He also ran a cattle operation and he resold agricultural chemicals, which is the product that he purchased from Rosen’s. The business relationship between Debtor and Rosen’s was initiated by a credit application submitted by Debtor on or about February 15, 2003. 1 The application was submitted under the name “Great Western Ag” and in response to the type of legal entity the applicant was, Debtor marked the corporation box. Debtor signed the application in his personal name with the title of “owner.” 2 Great Western Ag is actually a LLC. With the credit application, Debtor also submitted a financial statement dated December 31, 2002, which showed total equity of $768,555 and that his net income in 2002 was $160,389. 3 The application was processed according to Rosen’s standard procedures and Rosen’s approved the application and first extended credit to Debtor on or about April 13, 2003. 4 Debtor submitted a second financial statement dated March 11, 2003 and a third one dated April 22, 2004, each depicting a positive overall financial condition. Rosen’s agreed to two credit limit increases based, at least in part, on its review of the information, which it assumed to be correct, contained in the financial statements provided.

Debtor used a software program, which he only partially understood how to operate, to generate the financial statements that he provided Rosen’s. A vast majority, if not all, of the assets listed on the statements were actually leased items, which were not in fact owned by Debtor. He failed to list as a liability, Community First Bank, an entity to which he owed over a million dollars and which had a blanket lien on all of his assets. Cancelled *214 bank checks', tax returns, and profit and loss and financial statements, generated by Debtor, constitute Debtor’s business records, none of which provide an accurate or discernable history of his business transactions. Debtor maintained little, if any, differentiation between the assets and liabilities of each of his business ventures, which became apparent when Community First Bank foreclosed its lien on all of his assets.

Debtor filed a Chapter 7 petition under the Bankruptcy Code on December 21, 2007. Rosen’s filed a proof of claim for an unsecured debt due and owing in the amount of $420,372.31. On November 21, 2007, Rosen’s filed its Complaint objecting to discharge of this debt under § 523(a)(2) alleging that Debtor induced Rosen’s to extend credit through the use of false financial statements upon which Rosen’s reasonably relied. Rosen’s also argues that Debtor should be denied a discharge pursuant to §§ 727(a)(3) and/or (a)(5) because he failed to explain the loss or dissipation of assets and failed to keep or preserve adequate business records.

II. DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

A. 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2)(B): False Financial Statements

Section 523(a)(2)(B) provides:

(a) A discharge under 727 ... of this title does not discharge an individual debtor from any debt—
(2) for money, property, services, or an extension, renewal, or refinancing of credit, to the extent obtained by—
(B) use of a statement in writing—
(i) that is materially false;
(ii) respecting the debtor’s or an insider’s financial condition;
(iii) on which the creditor ... reasonably relied; and
(iv) that the debtor caused to be made published with intent to deceive.

Rosen’s, as the objecting creditor, has the burden of proving every element of § 523(a)(2)(B). See Valley Nat’l Bank v. Bush (In re Bush), 696 F.2d 640, 644 (8th Cir.1983); see also Dakota Bank and Trust Co. of Fargo v. Storey (In re Storey), 1986 WL 713499 (Bankr.D.N.D.1986). This burden must be met by a preponderance of the evidence. First Nat’l Bank of Olathe, Kansas v. Pontow, 111 F.3d 604, 608 (8th Cir.1997), citing Grogan v. Garner, 498 U.S. 279, 286-87, 111 S.Ct. 654, 659-60, 112 L.Ed.2d 755 (1991); Bush, 696 F.2d at 644.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
393 B.R. 209, 2008 Bankr. LEXIS 2240, 2008 WL 4053435, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/rosens-inc-v-ghere-in-re-ghere-mowb-2008.