Schlueter v. State Farm Mutual Insurance (In Re Schlueter)

391 B.R. 112, 2008 Bankr. LEXIS 1969, 2008 WL 2721233
CourtBankruptcy Appellate Panel of the Tenth Circuit
DecidedJuly 14, 2008
DocketBAP No. CO-07-101. Bankruptcy No. 04-30280-MER. Adversary No. 07-01008-MER
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 391 B.R. 112 (Schlueter v. State Farm Mutual Insurance (In Re Schlueter)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Bankruptcy Appellate Panel of the Tenth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Schlueter v. State Farm Mutual Insurance (In Re Schlueter), 391 B.R. 112, 2008 Bankr. LEXIS 1969, 2008 WL 2721233 (bap10 2008).

Opinion

McFEELEY, Chief Judge.

Debtor/Plaintiff/Appellant Nicole Michelle Schlueter (“Debtor”) appeals an order of the bankruptcy court for the District of Colorado which granted summary judgment to Appellee/Defendant State Farm. The Debtor argues that the bankruptcy court misapplied the law when it concluded that State Farm’s claim was nondischargeable under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(3)(A) because although the claims bar date had passed, State Farm had actual knowledge of her bankruptcy in time to file a claim and receive a distribution. Alternatively, she argues that there was a disputed issue of fact concerning her knowledge of State Farm’s claim so the criteria of § 523(a)(3) were not met. While we disagree with the Debtor’s legal interpretation of § 523(a)(3)(A), we agree that the issue of her knowledge of State Farm’s claim under § 523(a)(3) was a controverted fact that should have precluded summary judgment. 2

*114 I. Background

On December 7, 2002, Debtor’s boyfriend, (“Driver”), borrowed her car. Driver had an accident, making the car inoperable. The accident caused personal injuries to other individuals and property damage. The Debtor’s insurance policy specifically excluded Driver. State Farm had insured at least one of those individuals, Wherda Utsey.

Some time later, State Farm sent a demand letter to Debtor to an address at which she no longer resided. Debtor stated that she never received the letter. State Farm also sent a letter to Driver who did receive it.

On August 25, 2003, a State Farm investigator (Investigator) called Debtor’s cell phone. He spoke with Driver and Debtor. During that call, Debtor gave him her address and agreed to send the Investigator her policy information for the vehicle involved in the accident, which she subsequently did.

In September 2004, Debtor filed a petition under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code. She did not list State Farm as a creditor. On December 22, 2004, she received a general discharge. On April 27, 2005, the Trustee issued a Notice of Possible Dividends to listed creditors based on a nonexempt tax refund. The Notice set August 1, 2005, as the claims bar date.

On December 7, 2005, State Farm, as a subrogee of Utsey, filed suit against Debt- or and Driver for negligent entrustment. On December 16, 2005, Debtor’s counsel informed State Farm of Debtor’s bankruptcy. On that same day, State Farm ran a query of the case through PACER and verified the Debtor’s bankruptcy filing and case status.

Debtor answered the State Farm state court complaint but did not assert her bankruptcy discharge as a defense. However, later, Debtor sought leave of the state court to assert the 2004 discharge a defense.

On March 24, 2006, the Trustee made distribution to creditors.

On January 5, 2007, Debtor filed an adversary proceeding against State Farm asking that the court find that State Farm’s claim had been discharged. Debt- or filed a Motion for Summary Judgment (“Motion”). State Farm filed a Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment (“Cross-Motion”). On August 30, 2007, the bankruptcy court entered its order denying Debtor’s Motion, and granting State Farm’s Cross-Motion. On September 11, 2007, the bankruptcy court entered its judgment on the Order.

Debtor filed Plaintiffs Motion for Reconsideration and/or Clarification on Order of Summary Judgment and Request for Expedited Ruling on September 8, 2007. In the Motion for Reconsideration, the Debtor asked that the court amend the order to find that there was a material issue of fact for an evidentiary hearing or alternatively, to make a finding that the Debtor knew that State Farm was a potential claimant.

On October 1, 2007, the Debtor filed a notice of appeal.

On October 9, 2007, the court entered an Order denying in part and granting in part the Motion for Reconsideration. The court concluded that the Debtor knew the name of State Farm for the purpose of listing it on her schedules. The court denied the Motion to the extent that it asked to further amend the order for the purpose of setting an evidentiary hearing.

This appeal timely followed. The parties have consented to this Court’s jurisdiction because they did not elect to have the appeal heard by the United States District Court for the District of Colorado. *115 28 U.S.C. § 158(c)(1); Fed. R. Bankr.P. 8001; 10th Cir. BAP L.R. 8001-1.

II. Discussion

The Bankruptcy Code provides for summary judgment through Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 7056, which adopts Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56. Summary judgment is appropriate when, after consideration of the record, including the moving papers and affidavits, the court determines that “there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c); Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). The movant has the burden of establishing that summary judgment is appropriate. Wolf v. Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., 50 F.3d 793, 796 (10th Cir.1995). A genuine issue of material fact will exist when a nonmovant presents facts upon which a reasonable jury could find in favor of the nonmovant. Lawmaster v. Ward, 125 F.3d 1341, 1347 (10th Cir.1997). We review a grant of summary judgment de novo and evaluate the record in the light most favorable to the opposing party. Phelps v. Hamilton, 122 F.3d 1309, 1317-18 (10th Cir.1997). If no genuine issue of material fact is in dispute, we must decide whether the bankruptcy court correctly applied the law. Id. at 1318.

At issue here is the bankruptcy court’s finding that § 523(a)(3)(A) precluded the Debtor’s discharge of State Farm’s unlisted claim. The Debtor argues that the bankruptcy court misapplied § 523(a)(3)(A) because State Farm had actual knowledge of her bankruptcy in time to file a claim and receive a distribution under § 726(a)(2)(C) because funds had not yet been distributed by the trustee although the claims bar date had passed. Alternatively, she contends that the bankruptcy court erred because there was a disputed issue of fact concerning her knowledge of State Farm’s claim.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
391 B.R. 112, 2008 Bankr. LEXIS 1969, 2008 WL 2721233, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/schlueter-v-state-farm-mutual-insurance-in-re-schlueter-bap10-2008.