Shovlin v. Klaas

539 B.R. 465, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 114896, 2015 WL 5093320
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Pennsylvania
DecidedAugust 28, 2015
DocketNo. 15cv0802
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 539 B.R. 465 (Shovlin v. Klaas) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Shovlin v. Klaas, 539 B.R. 465, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 114896, 2015 WL 5093320 (W.D. Pa. 2015).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM ORDER

ARTHUR J. SCHWAB, District Judge.

Before the Court is an appeal from the United States Bankruptcy Court of the Western District of Pennsylvania. The appeal has been filed by a Creditor in the bankruptcy case who disagrees with a June 4, 2015 Bankruptcy Court Order denying a Motion to Dismiss, which the Creditor joined in the underlying matter. For the reasons that follow, this Court will affirm the June 4, 2015 Order of the Bankruptcy Court.

I. Jurisdiction and Standard of Review

This Court has jurisdiction over this appeal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 158(a). A district court sits as an appellate court in bankruptcy proceedings. In re Michael, 699 F.3d 305, 308 n. 2 (3d Cir.2012); see also In re Professional Insurance Man[467]*467agement, 285 F.3d 268 (3d Cir.2002) (a district court’s jurisdiction is proper as an appeal of the final order of the bankruptcy court under 28 U.S.C. § 158(a)).

When reviewing a final order entered by a Bankruptcy Court the District Court follows these standards of review:

First, the Court reviews the Bankruptcy Court’s findings of fact under a “clearly erroneous” standard, and reviews its legal conclusions de novo. See Am. Flint Glass Workers Union v. Anchor Resolution Corp., 197 F.3d 76, 80 (3d Cir. 1999). This Court cannot disturb the factual findings of a bankruptcy court unless they are clearly erroneous. Accardi v. IT Litig. Trust (In re IT Group, Inc.), 448 F.3d 661, 667 (3d Cir.2006). A factual finding is “clearly erroneous” if the reviewing court is “left with a definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed.” In re W.R. Grace & Co., 729 F.3d 311, 319, n. 14 (3d Cir.2011); see also Gordon v. Lewistown Hosp., 423 F.3d 184, 201 (3d Cir.2005). Under the clearly erroneous standard, “it is the responsibility of an appellate court to accept the ultimate factual determinations of the fact-finder unless that determination is either (1) completely devoid of minimum evidentiary support displaying some hue of credibility or (2) bears no rational relationship to the supportive evidentiary data.” DiFederico v. Rolm Co., 201 F.3d 200, 208 (3d Cir. 2000) (citations omitted).

Second, this Court exercises plenary, or de novo, review over any legal conclusions reached by the bankruptcy court. In re Ruitenberg, 745 F.3d 647, 650 (3d Cir. 2014); see also Am. Flint Glass Workers, 197 F.3d at 80.

Third, if the Bankruptcy Court’s decision is a mixed question of law and fact, this Court must break down the determination and apply the appropriate standard of review to each. In re Montgomery Ward Holding Corp., 326 F.3d 383, 387 (3d Cir.2003). The Court should “apply a clearly erroneous standard to integral facts, but exercise plenary review of the court’s interpretation and application of those facts to legal precepts.” In re Nortel Networks, Inc., 669 F.3d 128, 137 (3d Cir.2011) (citation omitted).

Finally, this Court reviews a bankruptcy court’s exercise of discretion for abuse. In re Friedman’s Inc., 738 F.3d 547, 552 (3d Cir.2013). A bankruptcy court abuses its discretion when its ruling rests upon an error of law or a misapplication of law to the facts. In re O’Brien Environmental Energy, Inc., 188 F.3d 116, 122 (3d Cir. 1999).

II. Factual and Procedural Background

Paul and Beth Klaas (“Debtors”) incurred substantial business and personal debt, including three mortgage liens against their home. On December 31, 2009, Debtors filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 13 of Title 11 of the United States Code, 11 U.S.C. § 101 et seq. (“Bankruptcy Code”). Case. no. 09-29574-GLT (hereinafter, “Bkrptcy. Dkt.”) at doc. no. 1. On January 23, 2011, Debtors filed their amended Chapter 13 Plan (“the Plan”). Bkrptcy. Dkt. at doc. no. 102. The Bankruptcy Court confirmed the ■ Plan by way of an Order dated March 14, 2011. Bkrptcy. Dkt. at doc. no. 106. This same Order allowed Creditors or other parties in interest to file objections to the Order within 28 days, noting that a failure to file a timely objection would be “deemed a waiver of all objections and an acceptance of the provisions of this confirmed Plan.” Id., p. 2.

The Plan required Debtors to make sixty (60) monthly payments in the amount of $3,017 per month. Bkrptcy. Dkt. at doc. [468]*468no. 102. The Plan also provided for payment of Debtor’s secured claims, including the cure and reinstatement of their mortgage loans, and the creation of an estimated pool of $8,887 for distribution to unsecured creditors. Id.

The largest unsecured creditor was Guy Petrone. See doc. no. 10, p. 15-16; and claim no. 31-1. His claim consisted of a joint debt owed by the Debtors and an additional amount for which only Mr. Klaas was liable. See claim no. 31-1. On March 21, 2014, upon Mr. Petrone’s death, the claim passed to his daughter, Appellant, Elizabeth Shovlin. Bkrptcy. Dkt. at doc. no. 132.

On February 22, 2010, Mr. Petrone appeared at the Meeting of Creditors held in relation to this bankruptcy matter. Bkrptcy. Dkt. at doc. no. 23. The Trustee has indicated that Mr. Petrone did not question Debtors during this meeting, nor did he file any objections to the Plan. Doc. no. 9, p. 5. At no time during the pendency of this bankruptcy proceeding, did Mr. Petrone or Appellant file an objection to the Plan. See id., and Bkrptcy. Dkt., generally.

Following the Plan’s confirmation, the bankruptcy proceeded as the bankruptcy judge noted, “uneventfully.” Doc. no. 1-1, p. 3. However, the Trustee noted in her Brief that during the sixty-month bankruptcy period, “Debtors paid consistently and substantially complied with the requirements ... [but t]hey did miss a payment during the plan term which caused ... their plan base to run short at the end of their plan term (month 60). Doc. no. 9, p. 5.

This shortage — identified as a material default — caused the Trustee to file a Motion to Dismiss the bankruptcy case. Bkrptcy. Dkt. at doc. no. 137. The Motion to Dismiss noted that sixty-one months had elapsed since the case was filed, and an additional $1,123 was needed to complete the Plan funding. Id., p. 1.

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

Related

In re Fishel
583 B.R. 474 (W.D. Wisconsin, 2018)
In re Brian T.
575 B.R. 207 (E.D. New York, 2017)
Paul Klaas v.
858 F.3d 820 (Third Circuit, 2017)
In re Diggins
561 B.R. 782 (D. Colorado, 2016)
In re Handy
557 B.R. 625 (N.D. Illinois, 2016)
Shovlin v. Klaas
555 B.R. 500 (W.D. Pennsylvania, 2016)
Shovlin v. Klaas (In re Klaas)
548 B.R. 414 (W.D. Pennsylvania, 2016)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
539 B.R. 465, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 114896, 2015 WL 5093320, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/shovlin-v-klaas-pawd-2015.