1 IN THE UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF PUERTO RICO 2 3 IN RE: : CASE NO. 09-05922 4 : AIDA LUZ CHICO PENA : CHAPTER 13 5 : Debtor : 6 ____________________________________: : 7 SUCESION GONZALEZ COLLAZO : COMPOSED OF EDA GONZALEZ : COLLAZO; BLANCA GONZALEZ : 8 COLLAZO; BRENDA GONZALEZ : RAMOS; FELIX GONZALEZ JIMENEZ; : 9 MARTA M. GONZALEZ; AND SONIA : GONZALEZ BELTRAN : ADVERSARY NO. 10-00072 10 : Plaintiff : 11 : vs. : 12 : AIDA LUZ CHICO PENA; JEANNETTE : 13 VANESSA GONZALEZ CHICO; ROSA : RAQUEL GONZALEZ CHICO; MARIA : 14 DEL CARMEN GONZALEZ CHICO; : BLANCA GONZALEZ CHICO; : 15 WESTERNBANK OF PUERTO RICO; : BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO : 16 THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE : CORPORATION; JOHN DOE & : 17 RICHARD DOE; INSURANCE : COMPANIES X, Y, AND/OR Z : 18 : Defendants : 19 ____________________________________: 20 21 OPINION AND ORDER 22 This adversary proceeding came before the court on April 30, 2012 for a trial to determine if 23 certain properties claimed by the debtor as hers are property of the estate. The trial was held after the 24 court had entered orders on two dispositive motions. The motions are incorporated herein to better 25 understand the complex legal issues of civil law involved in this case. 26 Background 27 The first time this adversary proceeding came before the court was on Plaintiff’s motion for 28 summary judgment. The court entered an Opinion and Order holding that; (i) the doctrine of acquisitive prescription secundum tabulas was inapplicable in the instant case; and (ii) the Sucesión 1 González Collazo, composed of Eda González Collazo; Blanca González Collazo; Brenda González 2 Ramos; Félix González Jiménez; Marta M. González Collazo; and Sonia González Beltrán 3 (hereinafter referred to as “Sucesión González Collazo” and “Plaintiff”) had not placed the court in 4 a position to adjudicate whether the doctrine of relative contractual simulation was applicable to the 5 facts in this case since they did not specify which modality of the alleged relative contractual 6 simulation occurred and whether the requirements of that modality were satisfied (Docket No. 81); 7 See Collazo v. Pena (In re Pena), 458 B.R. 30 (D.P.R. 2011) [Sucesión González Collazo v. Chico 8 Peña (In re Chico Peña)]. 9 On November 4, 2011, a pre-trial hearing was held. After a brief exchange of motions, the 10 Defendants stated that their position regarding the private document executed between Ms. Aida Luz 11 Chico Peña (hereinafter referred to as “Ms. Chico”) and Mr. Félix González Figueroa is that it, “...just 12 acknowledges that the properties in question were acquired by Ms. Chico with moneys given to her 13 by Mr. González [Figueroa] .” (Docket No. 90). The Defendants’ argue that the only pending issue 14 was the underlying purpose for the monies that were given to Ms. Chico. The Defendants suggest that 15 the monies could have been given to Ms. Chico for the specific purpose of purchasing the properties 16 under her name or the monies could have been a gift from Mr. Félix González Figueroa which might 17 entail ineffective donation implications, but Ms. Chico’s subsequent purchase of the properties with 18 those monies does not constitute a simulated contract. Plaintiff answered alleging that: (i) 19 “defendants now try to raise the possibility that a donation [of monies to Ms. Chico] occurred even 20 when the [p]rivate [d]ocument that has been so vastly discussed doesn’t point to that direction;” and 21 (ii) Defendants are precluded from raising this claim since they did not do it in the answer to the 22 complaint and thus, are barred by the law of the case doctrine (Docket No. 92). 23 The second time this proceeding came before the court on a dispositive motion was on January 24 4, 2012 when the Plaintiff filed a Motion for Summary Judgment and Memorandum of Law in 25 Support of its motion arguing that; (i) Mr. Félix González and Defendant were part of a relative 26 simulated contract in which Ms. Chico “first bought four properties in the name of the second [Mr. 27 Félix González] with the intention of concealing the truth and by that way those properties would 28 eventually be received by the daughters of both as inheritance;” (Docket No. 93, pg. 5); (ii) in this 2 1 case relative simulation occurred in the identity or in the subjects of the contract when the Defendant 2 (Ms. Chico) was interposed between the seller and Mr. Félix González, who was the real buyer 3 (purchaser) of the properties in controversy; thus concealing that Mr. Félix González was the real 4 purchaser of the real properties; (iii) the counterdocument or conterstatement (the private document 5 signed by both Ms. Chico and Mr. Félix González before Notary Public in Lares, Puerto Rico on June 6 18, 1981) reveals that Mr. Félix González’s intentions were that these properties would be given as 7 an inheritance to his daughters; (iv) Mr. Félix González bought the properties under the name of Ms. 8 Chico because he did not want third parties to know that he was the real buyer since the monies used 9 for these asset purchases were part of the conjugal partnership that existed at the time between Mr. 10 Félix González and his wife Mrs. Juana Collazo; (v) the private document signed by Mr. Félix 11 González does not constitute a testament or will under the Puerto Rico Civil Code; (vi) the private 12 document (counterdocument) signed by Mr. Félix González and Ms. Chico constitutes a pact over 13 future inheritance which is not amongst the exceptions allowed pursuant to Puerto Rico Civil Code; 14 thus it is null and void; and (vii) Mr. Félix González and Ms. Chico had a “queridato” relationship 15 (defined by the Plaintiff as, “...the people involved in the relationship have a limitation to get married 16 because one of the concubines is married to a third person”) which means that any property bought 17 by Mr. Félix González will bear the presumption of being owned by the conjugal partnership 18 comprised by Mr. Félix González and his then wife Mrs. Juana Collazo; thus any “property owned 19 in common with a ‘querida’ would be owned by such concubine and the conjugal relationship 20 (composed of Félix [González] and his wife Mrs. Juana [Collazo])” (Docket No. 93, pgs. 11-12). On 21 January 4, 2012, the Plaintiff also filed its Statement of Undisputed Facts in Support of its Motion 22 for Summary Judgment (Docket No. 94) which consists of the same uncontested material facts 23 included in the September 8, 2011 Opinion and Order (Docket No. 81). On January 13, 2012, the 24 Defendants filed their Opposition to the Second Motion for Summary Judgment and their Cross 25 Motion for Summary Judgment which is devoid of legal arguments but rather presents a factual issue 26 which is whether the monies used by Ms. Chico to purchase the properties in controversy were given 27 to her by Mr. Félix González “...as a gift, donation or in consideration [of] the children which both 28 engendered” (Docket No. 99-3). Ms. Chico in her affidavit states that; “[d]uring my long-term 3 1 relationship with Mr. Félix González he sporadically gave me money to defray the costs of rearing 2 our daughters. I saved most of those disbursements and eventually used them to buy the properties 3 subject of the above captioned case” (Docket 99-2, Affidavit of Defendant Ms. Chico). On January 4 13, 2012, the Plaintiff filed its Answer to Defendants’ Cross Motion for Summary Judgment arguing 5 that Defendants are barred by the law of the case doctrine from presenting at this stage in the case 6 a new defense (argument) that was never brought before this court or before the state court and is 7 evidenced by Ms. Chico’s self-serving affidavit (Docket No. 100). 8 On January 20, 2012 a hearing was held in which the court found that there was a controversy 9 of material fact regarding the intent of the parties on the use of the funds advanced by Mr. Félix 10 González to Ms. Chico which is critical in determining the legal effect or existence of a simulated 11 contract or counterdocument. Trial was scheduled for April 30, 2012 12 The Trial 13 On April 30, 2012 a trial was held. The court sua sponte noted in open court that the finding 14 of fact number 5 included in the September 8, 2011 Opinion and Order makes reference that in the 15 private document executed on June 18, 1981 the parties acknowledged that 4 properties were 16 purchased. It is uncontested that Ms. Chico bought 4 properties. The court clarified that upon the 17 court’s reexamination of all the documents, it found a gap between the private document and finding 18 of fact number 5. The gap consists in that the private document only includes two (2) properties; 19 namely A and B. Properties C and D, the ones at Echegaray Street, are not included in the private 20 document. The court further clarified that it was not changing (altering) the legal conclusion of its 21 September 8, 2011 Opinion and Order, but rather clarifying a finding of fact, albeit uncontested by 22 the parties. 23 Two witness were presented at trial. However, their credible testimony did not provide any 24 significant evidence in support of the issue before the court. Thus, the court’s decision is substantially 25 based on the uncontested facts agreed to by the parties and detailed in the September 8, 2011 Opinion 26 and Order. 27 Defendants’ witness: Ms. Aida Luz Chico Peña 28 Ms. Chico testified that she was sixty-eight years (68) old and has lived in Lares, Puerto Rico 4 1 all her life. She stated that she was sixteen (16) years old when she first met Mr. Félix González 2 Figueroa. Ms. Chico further testified that she lived with Mr. Félix González Figueroa and that he was 3 her husband (not legally) and the father of her five (5) daughters. She stated that she had a relationship 4 with Mr. Félix González for nearly thirty eight (38) years and that the same ended when he passed 5 away. Ms. Chico testified that Mr. Félix González used to giver her $200 dollars, then $800 dollars 6 to help sustain economically their five (5) daughters. She also stated that she worked for a while after 7 becoming acquainted with Mr. González Figueroa and that she was able to save. 8 Ms. Chico stated that she was familiar with the four (4) properties in Lares located at #126 9 Comercio Street, #123 Comercio Street, #4 Echegaray Street and #5 Echegaray Street, because these 10 are her properties. Ms. Chico further stated that she acquired these four (4) properties with the funds 11 she obtained when she sold a house that she used to live in and bought the house she now lives in and 12 the house next door. She testified that Mr. González Figueroa prepared the private agreement at the 13 time because he wanted to avoid problems amongst the families in the event of his absence (death), 14 because at the time the private agreement was signed he had five (5) daughters, all minors/under age 15 at the time, with her and he also had another family. Moreover, she explained that Mr. González 16 Figueroa’s other family did not like her daughters or herself; thus, the private agreement was drafted 17 and signed by both Ms. Chico and Mr. González Figueroa to avoid problems. She testified that she 18 signed the private document dated June 18, 1981. Ms. Chico read paragraph #4 of the private 19 document which provided that; “the declarants make it known for the record that the monies 20 disbursed by Mr. Félix González Figueroa as explained in paragraphs two (2) and three (3) are on the 21 concept of an advance of the inheritance that upon his death shall correspond to his five (5) daughters 22 that have the last name of González Chico as mentioned in paragraph one (1) and thus is accepted by 23 Mrs. Aida Luz Chico Peña.” 24 Ms. Chico further testified that she knew that Mr. Félix González Figueroa was married to 25 Mrs. Juana Collazo. However, she clarified that Mr. Félix González Figueroa was her husband 26 because he was the father of her five (5) daughters and she lived with him for so many years. Ms. 27 Chico stated that she lived with Mr. Félix González from the time she became acquainted with him 28 and that he set her up in a house. 5 1 The court does not find credible that Ms. Chico was able to save money in a sufficient amount 2 to purchase the properties in question. The monthly amounts given by Mr. Félix González Figueroa 3 were barely sufficient to sustain her and her five daughters. The credible testimony does not rebut 4 the statements in the private document. 5 Plaintiff’s witness: Ms. Blanca González Collazo 6 Ms. Blanca González Collazo testified as a rebuttal witness and stated that she is the daughter 7 of Mr. Félix González Figueroa and Mrs. Juana Collazo. She has never been married and has lived 8 with her parents all her life. Ms. Blanca González Collazo testified that she lived with her father until 9 his death. She further testified that her father never abandoned the family house and that he always 10 slept at their house. Ms. Blanca González Collazo stated that her father always had breakfast at nine 11 in the morning and that he was never absent at night. He usually got home between 9:00pm -9:30pm. 12 The testimony of Ms. Blanca González Collazo does not add any material evidence to the 13 controversy before the court. 14 The Issue 15 The issue before the court is whether the properties presently under Ms. Chico’s name are 16 property of the estate which in turn hinges on whether the Plaintiff has established that there was a 17 relative simulated contract in the modality of the identity or in the subjects of the contract in which 18 Ms. Chico interposed as a straw person between the seller and Mr. Félix González. The Plaintiff 19 argues that the counterdocument or counterstatement in the instant case is the dissimulated 20 (underlying transaction) contract which reveals the real reason Mr. Félix González bought the 21 properties under the name of Ms. Chico; namely, because Mr. Félix González did not want third 22 parties to know that he was the real buyer because the monies used for these asset purchases were part 23 of the conjugal partnership that existed at the time between Mr. Félix González and his wife Mrs. 24 Juana Collazo. The underlying simulated transaction in the courterdocument is that the decedent, Mr. 25 Félix González Figueroa, wanted certain real properties to constitute an advancement of the 26 inheritance (“anticipo de herencia”) to the five daughters he had in common with Ms. Chico. 27 Jurisdiction 28 This court has jurisdiction over this core proceeding pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§157(b)(1), 6 1 ||(b)(2)(A,E,O) and 1334. Section 541(a)(1) includes, “all legal or equitable interests of the debtor in 2 property.” 11 U.S.C. §541(a)(1). Section 541(a)(1) includes the debtor’s interests in real property. 3 Allan N. Resnick & Henry J. Sommer, 5 Collier on Bankruptcy 9541.04 (16" ed. 2012). The 4 and existence of the property interest must be determined pursuant to state law “unless some 5 |\federal interest requires a different result, there is no reason why such interests should be analyzed 6 |differently simply because an interested party is involved in a bankruptcy proceeding.” Butner v. 7 |United States, 440 U.S. 48, 55, 59 L. Ed. 2d 136, 99 S. Ct. 914 (1979): Beatrice v. Braunstein (In re 8 Beatrice), 296 B.R. 576, 580 (1* Cir. B.A.P. 2003) citing In re Eastmare Dev. Corp., 150 B.R. 495 9 (Bankr. D. Mass. 1993), and McNeilly v. Geremia (In re McNeilly), 249 B.R. 576 (B.A.P. 1* Cir. 10 12000). 11 Uncontested Material Facts 12 1. Defendant Aida Luz Chico Pefia and the decedent, Mr. Félix Gonzalez Figueroa, were in 13 relationship in which they procreated the following five (5) daughters out of wedlock; Jannette 14 Vanessa Gonzalez Chico; Raquel Gonzalez Chico; Maria Del Carmen Gonzalez Chico; Rosa 15 Milagros Gonzalez Chico; and Blanca Luz Gonzalez Chico. Mr. Félix Gonzalez Figueroa was legally 16 |married to Mrs. Juana Collazo Gonzalez. 17 2. Mr. Félix Gonzalez Figueroa passed away on April 3, 2002 intestate. He was married to 18 Juana M. Collazo. 19 3. Ms. Aida Luz Chico Pefia appears as the owner in the Property Registry, of the properties 20 included in state court case number L AC2002-0054 and in the bankruptcy petition in case number 21 }09-05922(ESL). 22 4. A private document was executed on June 18, 1981 between Ms. Aida Luz Chico Pefia and 23 Félix Gonzalez Figueroa in which they both recognized that Ms. Aida Luz Chico Pefia bought 24 |Icertain properties with monies received from Mr. Félix Gonzalez Figueroa and registered the same 25 her name in the Property Registry. Ms. Aida Luz Chico Pefia bought the following real estate 26 |\properties: 27 (A) “Property located at #126 Comercio Street, Lares, 2 story small building with 4 apartments. 1- 3 bedrooms and 1 bathroom; 2- 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom; 3- 3 28 bedrooms and | bathroom; 4- 3 bedrooms and | bathroom.”
1 (B) “Residential property located at #125 Comercio Street, Lares, PR, consisting of a 2 story concrete house with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, land of approximately 2 2 ‘cuerdas’” 3 (C) “Residential property located at #4 Echegaray Street, Lares, PR, consisting of a concrete house with 3 bedrooms and 1 bathroom.” 4 (D) “Residential Property located at #5 Echegaray Street, Lares, PR, consisting of a 5 concrete house with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and car port.” 6 5. The properties listed in the preceding paragraph are the subject of the instant action. 7 6. In the above referenced private document, Mr. Félix González Figueroa and Ms. Aida Luz 8 Chico Peña acknowledged that the properties that are registered under the name of Ms. Aida Luz 9 Chico Peña were acquired with monies from Mr. Félix González Figueroa. 10 7. In the FIFTH paragraph of the private document signed by Mr. Félix González Figueroa 11 and Ms. Aida Luz Chico Peña, the former expressed his intention that the properties bought under 12 Ms. Aida Luz Chico Peña’s name be given to the daughters they have in common in concept of their 13 inheritance. 14 8. At the time the aforementioned private document was executed, Mr. Félix González 15 Figueroa was married to Mrs. Juana Collazo. Mrs. Juana Collazo never appeared in this document 16 to consent the transfer of property. 17 9. The private document was signed by Mr. Félix González Figueroa and Ms. Aida Luz Chico 18 Peña before a Notary Public, in Lares, Puerto Rico. The court notes and highlights the admonition 19 which turned into a presage of the outcome of this case: 20 SEVENTH: I, The Notary Public, having admonished the deponents of the convenience and desirability of what is herein expressed and accepted by them be done by Public Writ and Last Will 21 and Testament, which they decide not to do at present, since Mr. Félix Gonzalez Figueroa wishes to reach an agreement with his wife and other heirs as to the properties that shall be adjudicated to each 22 one of them at his death. 23 10. Mrs. Juana Collazo passed away on September 9, 1996. 24 11. Ms. Aida Luz Chico Peña is in the physical (natural) possession of the properties. 25 12. Ms. Aida Luz Chico Peña has been uninterruptedly in possession of the properties subject 26 of this action since they were acquired under her name through public deeds in 1980 and 1981. 27 13. Ms. Aida Luz Chico Peña has been a resident of Lares, Puerto Rico all her life. 28 8 1 14. Ms. Aida Luz Chico knows from first hand knowledge that both Mr. Félix Gonzalez 2 ||Figueroa and Mrs. Juana Collazo, lived uninterruptedly in Lares, Puerto Rico, until their respective 3 |Ideaths. 4 15. The state court case was filed in the year 2002. 5 16. In the state court case, Marta Miriam Gonzalez Collazo v. Félix Gonzalez Collazo et als., 6 LAC 2002-00054, Ms. Aida Luz Chico Pefia in a deposition (pg. 43 of the deposition 7 ||transcript) regarding such case, testified on February 8, 2006, that she did not give Mr. Félix Gonzalez 8 |Imoney and what she would do to help him (Mr. Félix Gonzalez) with the business was to “[t]hen pray 9 God so that everything will go well.” She further admitted that Mr. Félix Gonzalez Figueroa paid 10 everything, including utilities. 11 17. Ms. Aida Luz Chico Pefia mortgaged one of the properties in #126 Comercio Street, Lares 12 |}with Westernbank. Westernbank was closed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation on April 13 30, 2010. 14 Discussion 15 “Simulation suggests the idea of concealment or trickery (ingannare = to trick, conceal). F. De Castro y Bravo, El Negocio Juridico 338, sec. 116, Madrid, Ed, Inst. Nac. Est. Jur. (1967). 16 That is, ‘in ordinary language, simular (to simulate) means to make believe what is not, and disimular (to dissimulate) means to conceal what is. Likewise, in legal language simular (to 17 simulate) means to feign a reality, and disimular (to dissimulate) means the contrary; both concepts imply the idea of a purposeful fiction or concealment. In legal affairs, simulation in 18 particular occurs when the parties in agreement deliberately make statements different from the internal will, in order to deceive third persons.’ L. Cariota Ferrara, El Negocio Juridico 19 440-441(M. Albaladejo trans.) Madrid, Ed. Aguilar (1956). This implies that, in simulated contracts, the contracting parties fully agree to produce an appearance before third persons. 20 There is an agreement or common purpose to simulate. II-1 J. Puig Brutau, Fundamentos de Derecho Civil 486, Barcelona, Ed. Bosch (2"'. Ed. 1978).” Reyes v. Jusino, 116 D.P.R. 275, 21 (1985), 16 P.R. Offic. Trans. 338, 347, April 3, 1985. 22 Plaintiff argues that the execution of the sale and purchase deeds for the above referenced real 23 |\properties are not valid because the same are relative simulated contracts which have a corresponding 24 |\dissimulated (underlying) contract that is materialized in a private agreement. The private agreement 25 as a counterdocument or counterstatement which evinces the real transaction and intention of 26 |\the parties concealed behind the simulated contract. The purpose behind the counterdocument or 27 ||counterstatement is evidentiary in nature since the same is used by the contracting parties to protect 28 interests against the simulated contract. See Reyes v. Jusino , 116 D.P.R. 275, (1985), 16 P.R.
1 Offic. Trans. 338, 349, April 3, 1985 citing A. Rodríguez Adrados, Escrituras, Contraescrituras y 2 Terceros, XXII Anales de la Academia Matritense del Notariado 229 et seq. (1978)(“In order to 3 overcome this result, a device imported from France was introduced into the social and economic life. 4 It was used by the contracting parties to protect their interests via-a-vis the simulated contract. The 5 contre-lettres, counterdocument or counterstatement was introduced as a means of due and effective 6 evidence”). The underlying simulated transaction (or false consideration) in this case was that the 7 decedent, Mr. Félix González Figueroa, wanted certain real properties to constitute an advancement 8 of the inheritance (“anticipo de herencia”) to the five daughters he had in common with Ms. Chico. 9 Mr. González Figueroa’s intentions were expressed in a private document1 which was signed by Ms. 10 11 1The text of the translated private document states the following: “In Lares, Puerto Rico, on the 18th of June of 1981. 12 APPEAR 13 Mr. Felix Gonzalez Figueroa, who states that he is of legal age, married, farmer and resident of Lares, Puerto Rico. 14 AND Mrs. Aida Luz Chico Peña, who states that she is a female, of legal age, single, a homemaker and 15 resident of Lares, Puerto Rico; and freely 16 STATE AND AGREE FIRST: That they are the father and the mother of the following female children: Rosa Milagros, 17 Jannette Vannessa, Maria del Carmen, Blanca Luz and Raquel, all bearing the last name Gonzalez- Chico. 18 SECOND: That with monies received from Mr. Félix Gonzalez Figueroa, Mrs. Aida Luz Chico 19 Peña purchased in her name, the following real property (A) From Mr. Juan Rosado, farm number 5,480, recorded on folio 207, Lares tome 114 and located 20 on 125 Comercio Street in Lares, Puerto Rico. 21 (B) From Mr. Juan Bautista Gonzalez Silva, farm number 3,787, recorded on Folio 99, Lares Tome 92 and farm number 3,752, recorded on folio 9 [illegible], Lares tome 74. These two farms are 22 comprised of two parcelas each, which share a border and are located on #126 Comercio Street in Lares, Puerto Rico. 23 The Public Deed by means of which property “B” described above was purchased, were granted in 24 January 1980 but the Deeds of Sale were done in 1979. THIRD: That with his own funds Mr. Félix González Figueroa built between 1979 and 1980 a 25 dwelling place on the aforementioned property. FOURTH: That the deponents state that the money paid out by Mr. Felix Gonzalez Figueroa, as 26 explained in paragraphs Second and Third, was an advance on the inheritance that at his passing 27 shall go to his five daughters who bear the GONZALEZ-CHICO last name, mentioned in the First paragraph and MRS. AIDA LUZ CHICO PENA so accepts. 28 FIFTH: Mr. Felix Gonzalez Figueroa states that he owns enough assets that these disbursements do 10 1 Chico and Mr. Félix González Figueroa on June 18, 1981. The private document declares that the real 2 properties in controversy and which are registered under the name of Ms. Chico were acquired with 3 monies from Mr. González Figueroa. In the FIFTH paragraph of the private document signed by Mr. 4 Félix González Figueroa and Ms. Chico, the former expressed his intention that the properties bought 5 under Ms. Chico’s name be given to the daughters they have in common in concept of their 6 inheritance. 7 The Plaintiff argues that in the instant case the doctrine of relative contractual simulation is 8 applicable under the modality of the identity of the subjects as evinced by the private agreement or 9 counterdocument or counterstatement. Plaintiff’s argues that; “...there’s [sic] two ways in which 10 simulation in the subjects of the contract can occur: [u]nder the first one, the interposed third party 11 is placed in such place to create an appearance and conceal the real purchaser or seller; under the 12 second modality, there is no intermediary because the person that appears as a beneficiary of the 13 contract is included as a party in such contract, thus concealing the real party in the contract. Martínez 14 v. Colón Franco, [125 D.P.R. 15, 27-28 (1989)]. In this case the relative simulation happened as a 15 simulation in the subjects of the contract specifically in the first modality; Aida Luz Chico Peña was 16 interposed between the seller and Félix González, who was the real buyer of the properties, thus 17 concealing the real purchaser of the properties (Félix González)” (Docket No. 89-1, pg. 5). 18 19 not affect his other children’s inheritance rights nor his wife’s common property and that, upon his death, he wishes that these properties, farms #3787, #3752 and 5,480 and the homes [that] were 20 enclaved in them be adjudicated as an inheritance to his five daughters bearing the last name 21 Gonzalez-Chico. SIXTH: The deponents accept that if any part of this document is legally declared null and void, the 22 rest of is shall remain valid. SEVENTH: I, The Notary Public, having admonished the deponents of the convenience and 23 desirability of what is herein expressed and accepted by them be done by Public Writ and Last Will 24 and Testament, which they decide not to do at present, since Mr. Félix Gonzalez Figueroa wishes to reach an agreement with his wife and other heirs as to the properties that shall be adjudicated to 25 each one of them at his death. IN WITNESS WHEREOF they set their hand and seal and acknowledge this present document. 26 Affidavit number 4677. Signed and acknowledged before me by Mr. Félix González Figueroa and 27 by Mrs. Aida Luz Chico Peña, of the aforementioned personal information and all of whom I attest and affirm are personally known by me. In Lares, Puerto Rico, on the 18th day of June of 1981.” 28 (Docket No. 38, pgs, 32-33). 11 1 The doctrine of contractual simulation in the modality pertaining to the identity of the subjects 2 a contract is intricate in nature. See Martinez v. Colon Franco, 125 D.P.R. at 27-28; Francisco 3 |/Ferrara, La Simulacion de los Negocios Juridicos 253, Madrid, Ed. Revista de Derecho Privado 4 (1960). The commentator Ferrara explains that the purpose of the interposed person which serves as 5 |jan intermediary that participates in a contract (negocio juridico-juridical transaction) is to conceal the 6 from those who are really interested or affected in the transaction. The interposed person serves 7 \jas an intermediary or link between those that want to obtain certain legal/juridical effects from a 8 |\juridical transaction (acto juridico). The characteristics of an interposed person consist of the 9 |following; (i) the interposed person does not have a personal interest in the transaction; thus the same 10 interposed (between) the persons that should be directly involved in the transaction or in between 11 in which the patrimonial assets should be allocated; and (2) his or her function is to hide the real 12 (dominus) that is behind the transaction that wants to be concealed. Francisco Ferrara, La 13 |/Simulacion de los Negocios Juridicos 272, Madrid, Ed. Revista de Derecho Privado (1960)’; See also 14 ||Hernandez Usera v. Secr. de Hacienda Puerto Rico, 86 D.P.R. 13, 19-20 (1962). 15 The juridical figure of the interposed person who serves as an intermediary in contractual 16 |Itransactions is divided in two (2) broad categories; namely (i) the interposition by a real person; and 17 the interposition by a simulated person, which is referred to as interposition by a fictitious person 18 commentator Francisco De Castro y Bravo. See Quetglass v. Carazo, 134 D.P.R. 644, 655 (1993); 19 also; Francisco De Castro y Bravo, El Negocio Juridico 343, Madrid, Ed. Civitas, S.A., (1985). 20 the interposition is by a real person, then there is no room for contractual simulation by a fictitious 21 to take place, because the real person appears and acts as the real contracting party in the 22 23 * The Spanish text is included in support of the court’s statements and conclusions as there 24 is no official translation. “Al celebrarse un negocio juridico, cabe que se interponga una persona extrafia con el fin de ocultar al verdadero interesado. Esta persona sirve de intermediario, de eslabon 25 || entre los que quieren conseguir los efectos de un acto juridico. Los caracteres que la distinguen, en general, son: (1) Ponerse entre dos que deben ligarse directamente en el negocio, 0 entre los cuales 26 || debe descansar en definitiva el contenido patrimonial del mismo, sin que el intermediario tenga en 27 |) el negocio un interés personal. 2. Su funcidn de ocultar al verdadero duefio del negocio, que quiere permanecer entre bastidores. Esta figura genérica se llama persona interpuesta.” Francisco Ferrara, 28 || La Simulacion de los Negocios Juridicos 272, Madrid, Ed. Revista de Derecho Privado (1960) 12
1 juridical transaction (contract). See Francisco Ferrara, La Simulación de los Negocios Jurídicos 2 273–274, Madrid, Ed. Revista de Derecho Privado (1960)3. There is another form of contractual 3 simulation in the modality of the identity of the subjects when there is no intermediary, is that in 4 which the beneficiary appears as the contracting party who appears to be the dominus or title holder 5 (“titular originario o inmediato”) in the juridical transaction, but the person that is the dominus or title 6 holder remains concealed (hidden). See Martínez v. Colón Franco, 125 D.P.R. at 27-28. 4 7 At the outset, the court concludes that there is no contractual simulation in which there is no 8 3 The Spanish text is included in support of the court’s statements and conclusions as there 9 is no official translation.“Trataremos primeramente de la interposición real, advirtiendo de 10 antemano que esta figura es totalmente extraña a la simulación, y que, si nos ocupamos de ella en este lugar, es para afirmar la separación indicada y acentuar sus diferencias con la persona 11 interpuesta fingida, que es la única que tiene derecho a ocupar un puesto en la teoría de los contratos simulados. 12 13 El intermediario real actúa como verdadero contratante en el negocio jurídico: la relación, en lugar de desenvolverse entre las dos partes se desenvuelve entre tres personas, quedando el 14 intermediario colocado en medio de ellas para recibir y volver a transferir, o para obligar y ser exonerado de su obligación. El último efecto del negocio jurídico se producirá entre los verdaderos 15 interesados; pero antes es preciso que pase por la persona interpuesta, la cual, transitoria, pero 16 necesariamente, debe adquirir para su patrimonio la propiedad o los créditos resultantes del contrato y las responsabilidades o deudas correlativas. Durante esta etapa transitoria se convierte en 17 propietario como se convierte en deudor; pero lo uno y lo otro realmente, aun cuando desde el punto de vista económico no pueda decirse que su patrimonio se aumente o disminuya, que es lo 18 que en parte ha hecho creer que se trataba de un titular aparente. Para desvanecer por completo esta 19 ilusión juzgamos oportuno proscribir de esta figura el término equívoco de testaferro, que no aparece en nuestras leyes y que histórica y etimológicamente se reserva a la person interpuesta de 20 carácter fingido.” Francisco Ferrara, La Simulación de los Negocios Jurídicos 273-274, Madrid, 21 Ed. Revista de Derecho Privado (1960). 22 4 The Spanish text is included in support of the court’s statements and conclusions as there is no official translation. “En cuanto a la simulación en los sujetos del contrato, la misma resulta ser 23 un poco más compleja que las demás formas de simulación. Federico De Castro y Bravo señala dos 24 (2) formas distintas en que se puede dar esta simulación: mediante la interposición de persona ficticia o mediante la puesta a nombre de otro. De Castro y Bravo, op. cit., págs.. 342-344. Bajo la 25 primera figura la persona interpuesta aparece para crear una mera apariencia y ocultar al verdadero adquiriente o vendedor. Bajo la segunda figura no existe intermediario, sino que se hace figurar 26 como parte a la persona a la que se quiere beneficiar con el negocio permaneciendo oculta la 27 persona que verdaderamente realiza el mismo: [e]n esta última figura se suprime el intermediario, y se oculta el negocio de transmisión, haciendo que aparezca el beneficiario como titular originario o 28 inmediato.” Martínez v. Colón Franco, 125 D.P.R. at 27-28. 13 1 intermediary and in which beneficiary appears as the contracting party that is the titleholder or 2 dominus because the counterdocument discloses that the beneficiaries of such real estate properties, 3 in concept of an advancement of the inheritance (inter-vivos donation), are the five daughters that Mr. 4 Félix González Figueroa and Ms. Chico have in common. 5 Plaintiff further argues that in the instant case, contractual simulation in the modality of the 6 identity of the subjects occurred through the interposition by a fictitious or simulated person 7 (intermediary), that being Ms. Chico. Commentator Ferrara explains in detail the requirements that 8 must be satisfied in a contractual simulation by interposition of a simulated person. Ferrara states that 9 for this type of simulation to occur, not only must there be an agreement between the person that 10 promotes the interposition of the interposed person (or the straw person/intermediary) that will appear 11 in the contract, but that the third (other) contractual party must be aware (have knowledge/be 12 knowledgeable) of the simulated agreement in which the interposed person is appearing in the place 13 of (in lieu) the real contracting party (the dominus or titleholder). According to Ferrara, if the 14 simulated agreement is unbeknownst to the third party, then there is no contractual simulation, but 15 rather a type of unilateral simulation. See Francisco Ferrara, La Simulación de los Negocios Jurídicos 16 281, Madrid, Ed. Revista de Derecho Privado (1960).5 17 The court finds that contractual simulation in the modality of the identity of the subjects 18 through the interposition by a fictitious or simulated person did not occur in the instant case because 19 it was unbeknownst to the sellers, or the third party in the asset purchase agreements, that Ms. Chico 20 21 5 The Spanish text is included in support of the court’s statements and conclusions as there 22 is no official translation. “En cambio, para que se produzca la interposición simulada no basta el acuerdo entre el interponente y el testaferro, sino que se requiere asimismo la inteligencia con el 23 tercer contratante. En efecto, consistiendo el acuerdo simulatorio en que comparezca otra persona 24 en el lugar del verdadero contratante, se necesita que tome parte en el mismo acuerdo el tercero, que debe entablar la relación con persona distinta de la que figura en el contrato. Sin su consentimiento 25 tendríamos un próposito unilateral de simulación, no una simulación. Si al quitar la apariencia ha de resultar visible el negocio celebrado primitivamente con el contratante oculto, que debe 26 sustituirse a la figura postiza del testaferro, es preciso que el tercero haya consentido 27 originariamente en tratar con aquél y conozca el disfraz que adopta.” Francisco Ferrara, La Simulación de los Negocios Jurídicos 281, Madrid, Ed. Revista de Derecho Privado (1960). 28 14 1 appearing as an interposed person (intermediary) in these particular simulated contracts. ° 2 In order for a contractual simulation through the interposition by a real person that serves as 3 |jan intermediary to take place the following requirements must be met: (1) there must be three (3) 4 |persons, one that acts in his or her own name to form the contractual relationship, which is of actual 5 |linterest to the person that maintains himself or herself hidden (concealed) from the contract; and (2) 6 ||the existence of an agreement between the person that promotes the interposition and the person 7 |jinterposed which determines the manner in which the intermediary will employ the juridical (legal) 8 |lduties/obligations that he or she has obtained under his or her own name. It is not necessary for the 9 party to know that there is an interposed person contracting before him in order for the 10 |linterposition by a real person to occur. In fact, most of the times the third party does not know that 11 or she is contracting with a real person that is serving as an intermediary. See Francisco Ferrara, 12 Simulacion de los Negocios Juridicos 277, Madrid, Ed. Revista de Derecho Privado (1960).’ 13 Ju 14 * The example Ferrara provides is the following: if A wants to purchase from B by 15 means of P, the person interposed, then the seller must know of the simulation and partake (participate) in the same. Otherwise the purchase would be for the person interposed, P (the straw 16 || person = “testaferro”) and not for A. See Francisco Ferrara, La Simulacion de los Negocios Juridicos 281-282, Madrid, Ed. Revista de Derecho Privado (1960). 17 18 The Spanish text is included in support of the court’s statements and conclusions as there is no official translation. “O, de otro modo, si A quiere comprar de B por medio de P, persona 19 || interpuesta, es preciso que el vendedor conozca la simulaci6n y tome parte de ella, pues en otro caso la adquisicion seria para el testaferro P y no para A. El acuerdo de simular que solo existe entre 20 interponente y la persona interpuesta es, respecto al tercero, una mera reserva mental y, por tanto 91 || ineficaz.” Francisco Ferrara, La Simulacion de los Negocios Juridicos 281-282, Madrid, Ed. Revista de Derecho Privado (1960). 22 ’ The Spanish text is included in support of the court’s statements and conclusions as there 23 Il is no official translation. “Examinemos ahora las condiciones de que resulta la interposici6n real. Se 24 necesita: 1. La existencia de tres personas, una de las cuales se presta a formar, en su propio nombre, el vinculo que interesa en realidad a otra que permanece ajena al contrato.” “2. El acuerdo 25 |! entre el que promueve la interposicion y la persona interpuesta, acuerdo que determina como el intermediario ha de usar del efecto juridico que obtiene en nombre propio. En cambio no hace falta 26 que el tercero conozca la cualidad de persona interpuesta de quien se encuentra frente a él. Es mas: 27 || la mayor parte de las veces no debe conocerla, porque el engafio va contra tercero. De todos modos, ese conocimiento carece de importancia desde el punto de vista de la eficacia del acto.” Francisco 28 || Ferrara, La Simulacion de los Negocios Juridicos 277, Madrid, Ed. Revista de Derecho Privado 15
1 This court concludes that in the instant case, the requirements of interposition by a real person 2 (or intermediary) are satisfied. The sellers of the real estate property were unaware that Ms. Chico was 3 acting as an intermediary (interposition by a real person) in these transactions (asset-purchase 4 agreements). However, such scienter is not required. The counterdocument or counterstatement evinces 5 that the monies to buy the real estate properties detailed in the same, were provided by Mr. Félix 6 González Figueroa because he wanted these properties to constitute an advancement of the inheritance 7 for his five (5) daughters. The counterdocument clearly shows that the intention of Mr. Félix González 8 Figueroa was to make an inter-vivos donation of certain real estate properties to his five (5) daughters 9 who at the time were minors. The testimony of Ms. Chico so confirms. This court finds that Ms. Chico 10 served as the real person that was interposed between the seller of the real estate properties and the real 11 party in interest; Mr. Félix González Figueroa, who remained hidden from the asset-purchase agreements 12 regarding the real estate properties. The counterdocument which was signed by both Ms. Chico and Mr. 13 Félix González Figueroa is the agreement in which Ms. Chico and Mr. Félix González Figueroa 14 establishes and reveals that the real estate properties which were purchased by Ms. Chico with monies 15 from Mr. Félix González Figueroa in reality constitute an advancement of the inheritance of their five 16 daughters, not an inter-vivos donation of these real estate properties to Ms. Chico. The counterdocument 17 is the agreement by which the role of Ms. Chico as an intermediary is clearly established and defined, 18 and establishes that she had the obligation to transfer these real estate properties to her five (5) 19 daughters. 20 Commentator Ferrara explains that the legal repercussions (effects) of an interposition by a real 21 person (or intermediary) are simple and defined, since the interposed person is juridically granted 22 (invested) with all of the rights and obligations that are derived from the contract (juridical transaction) 23 and the interposed person becomes the dominus (or titleholder) as long as the cause of the interposition 24 is legal (lawful). See Francisco Ferrara, La Simulación de los Negocios Jurídicos 277, Madrid, Ed. 25 26 27 28 (1960). 16 1 |/[Revista de Derecho Privado (1960)*; Pérez Fleites v Garrido Pérez and the Conjugal Partnership 2 ||composed of Garrido Pérez and Corujo Ramsey, 2010 PR App. Lexis 2965, *37 (P.R. Ct. App. 2010) 3 |The rights that are derived from the contractual transaction enter the patrimony (assets/estate) of the 4 llinterposed person and in the case of bankruptcy form part of the interposed person’s bankruptcy estate. 5 at 277-278.” 6 Although not specifically addressed by the parties, the facts of this case compel the court to 7 ||consider whether the interposition in a contract (transaction) by a real person (intermediary) for an 8 purpose or for a cause which is contrary to certain dispositions of the Puerto Rico Civil Code. 9 Francisco Ferrara, La Simulacién de los Negocios Juridicos 277-278, Madrid, Ed. Revista de 10 ||!Derecho Privado (1960). Article 1227 of the Puerto Rico Civil Code provides that; “[c]ontracts 11 |fwithout consideration or with an illicit one have no effect whatsoever. A consideration is illicit when 12 is contrary to law and good morals.” 31 L.P.R.A. §3432. Contractual simulation has a direct effect 13 the concept of false consideration in contracts and is proscribed in Article 1228 of the Puerto Rico 14 Civil Code which establishes that; “[t]he statement of false consideration in contracts shall render 15 void, unless it be proven that they were based on another and real and licit one.” 31 L.P.R.A. 16 ]§3433. Parties may not employ contractual simulation and interposition by a real person 17 ||(Gntermediary) to circumvent the requirement that the dissimulated (underlying) contract must have 18 licit (awful/legal) cause. If the contract is for an illegal cause, the same is null and void and devoid 19 20 * The Spanish text is included in support of the court’s statements and conclusions as there 21 || is no official translation. “Los efectos de la interposicion son tan sencillos como definidos. La persona interpuesta queda investida juridicamente de la relacion que establece en su propio nombre 22 || y, por tanto, se convierte en propietario y acreedor y tiene el pleno ejercicio de tales derechos, 54 siendo validas e inatacables las enajenaciones hechas a terceros, aunque éstos conozcan su cualidad, porque, de todos modos, emanan del titular legitimo.” Francisco Ferrara, La Simulacion de los 24 || Negocios Juridicos 277, Madrid, Ed. Revista de Derecho Privado (1960) 25 The Spanish text is included in support of the court’s statements and conclusions as there is no official translation. “Y al entrar en su patrimonio estos derechos constituyen una garantia para 26 . . sus acreedores personales, y en caso de quiebra forman parte de la masa de bienes, quedando el 27 || mandante o dator fiduciae reducido a la categoria de un simple quirografario no privilegiado, excepto en aquello en que le sean aplicables las normas de los articulos 802 y subsiguientes del 28 || Codigo de Comercio.” Id at 277-278. 17
1 any juridical effects (consequences/ramifications). 2 In the instant case, the court concludes that Ms. Chico served as the real person that was 3 ||interposed between the seller of the real estate properties and the real party in interest; namely Mr. 4 |Félix Gonzalez Figueroa, to circumvent various legal dispositions regarding the disposition of 5 ||conjugal assets by a spouse and illicit (ineffective) inter-vivos donations to (forced/ “legitimarios”’) 6 by Mr. Félix Gonzalez Figueroa that are contrary to the Puerto Rico Civil Code. It is an 7 |juncontested fact that at the time Ms. Chico bought the real estate properties, Mr. Félix Gonzalez 8 ||Figueroa was legally married with Mrs. Juana Collazo under the economic regime of a conjugal 9 |lpartnership. Article 1307 of the Puerto Rico Civil Code provides; “[a]ll the property of the marriage 10 be considered as partnership property until it is proven that it belongs exclusively to the husband 11 to the wife.” 31 L.P.R.A. §3647. 12 Article 91 of the Puerto Rico Civil Code provides that; 13 “Tb]oth spouses shall be administrators of the community property, except when otherwise stipulated, in which case one of the spouses shall grant a mandate to the 14 other to act as administrator of the community property. 15 Purchases made by either of the spouses out of said property shall be valid when they comprise things or articles for personal or family use in accordance with the social and 16 economic standing of the family. Provided, that either of the spouses may make said purchases in cash or credit. 17 The real property of the conjugal community may not be alienated or encumbered, 18 under penalty of nullity, except with the written consent of both spouses. Nothing above provided shall be construed as to limit the liberty of the future spouses to 19 execute articles of marriage.” 31 L.P.R.A. §284. 20 Article 1313 of the Puerto Rico Civil Code establishes that; 21 “Tnjotwithstanding the provisions of section 284 of this title, neither of the two 22 spouses may donate, alienate or bind for a consideration the personal or real property of the community property without the written consent of the other spouse, excepting 23 things for personal or family use in accordance with the social or economic standing of both spouses. 24 Any disposal or administration act made with respect to said property by either of the 25 spouses in violation and any other section of this title shall not affect the other spouse or his heirs. 26 The spouse engaged in commerce, industry or a profession may, for good cause, 27 acquire or dispose of the personal property used for such purposes without the consent of the other spouse. Said spouse shall, however, be liable for the damages he or she 28 may cause by said acts to the community property. This action shall be exercised 18
1 exclusively at the time of the dissolution of the community property.” 31 L.P.R.A. $3672. ° In the instant case, Mr. Félix Gonzalez Figueroa provided Ms. Chico with monies (funds) to purchase certain real estate properties that are described in the private document. Pursuant to Article 1307 of the Puerto Rico Civil Code the monies given by Mr. Félix Figueroa to Ms. Chico were part ° of the conjugal assets (community assets) he had with Mrs. Juana Collazo. The Debtor has not ° presented evidence which would indicate otherwise (exclusive nature/ “privativo”). Moreover, ' Article 1313 of the Puerto Rico Civil Code, further establishes that neither of the two spouses may donate personal or real property of the community property without the consent of the other spouse. ° Consequently, the asset purchases of the real estate properties described in the private document were ° transactions in which the real party that purchased these properties was the conjugal partnership composed of Mr. Félix Gonzalez Figueroa and Mrs. Juana Collazo, which was represented by Ms. Chico as the interposed real person (intermediary/straw person). See Quetglass v. Carazo, 134 D.P.R. 644, 654-658 (1993) in which the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico analyzes the effect of various simulated asset purchase agreements of real estate properties executed by a straw person, with monies ° belonging to the conjugal partnership (community property). The Debtor did not argue or offer evidence that a community of assets was created at the time between the conjugal partnership (comprised of Mrs. Juana Collazo and Mr. Félix Gonzalez Figueroa) and Ms. Chico. See Caraballo Ramirez v. Acosta, 104 P.R. 474 (1975), 4 P.R. Offic. Trans. 658 (1975). The private document sets forth the reason Mr. Félix Gonzalez Figueroa wanted Ms. Chico to act as an intermediary in the °° purchase of the real estate properties. He wanted these real estate properties to constitute an advancement of the inheritance (“anticipo de herencia”) to the five daughters he had in common with Ms. Chico, who at the time of the asset purchases and of the private document were minors. Conclusion 24 In view of the foregoing, the court finds that Ms. Chico served as the real person °° (intermediary) which was interposed for an unlawful purpose between the sellers of the real estate °° properties and the real party that purchased these properties which was the conjugal partnership composed of Mr. Félix Gonzalez Figueroa and Mrs. Juana Collazo. The court concludes that Mr.
1 Gonzalez Figueroa disposed of monies which belonged to the conjugal partnership to pursue 2 |lineffective (illicit) inter-vivos donations of real estate properties to the daughters he had in common 3 Ms. Chico. As a result, the real estate properties included in the private document are not 4 |property of the Debtor’s estate under 11 U.S.C. §541 but belong to the conjugal partnership which 5 composed of Mrs. Juana Collazo and Mr. Félix Gonzalez Figueroa. 6 Judgment shall be entered accordingly. 7 SO ORDERED. 8 In San Juan, Puerto Rico, this 14th day of November 2012. 9
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