Trell v. Dunlevy (In re Dunlevy)

75 B.R. 914, 1987 Bankr. LEXIS 1135
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. Ohio
DecidedJuly 14, 1987
DocketBankruptcy No. 3-86-03335; Adv. No. 3-87-0071
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 75 B.R. 914 (Trell v. Dunlevy (In re Dunlevy)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. Ohio primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Trell v. Dunlevy (In re Dunlevy), 75 B.R. 914, 1987 Bankr. LEXIS 1135 (Ohio 1987).

Opinion

DECISION DENYING IN PART AND GRANTING IN PART DEFENDANT, TIMOTHY H. DUNLEVY’S MOTION TO DISMISS AND/OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE FOR MORE DEFINITE STATEMENT AND GRANTING TIME TO FILE AN AMENDED COMPLAINT

THOMAS F. WALDRON, Bankruptcy Judge.

This is a case that arises under 28 U.S.C. § 1334(a) and having been referred to this court, the within action is determined to be a core proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(A) and (I), in which the plaintiffs filed a complaint (Doc. 1) to determine the dischargeability of a debt under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2), (4) or (6). Defendant timely filed an answer (Doc. 4), and thereafter filed a Motion To Dismiss And/Or In The Alternative For More Definite Statement (Doc. 5). The plaintiffs filed a Memorandum In Opposition To Motion To Dismiss (Doc. 7).

The defendant’s motion (Doc. 5) seeks to dismiss the complaint because the “[Plaintiffs’ Complaint alleges fraud in several of said counts, however lacks the specificity in pleading said acts as required by The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 9(b) and Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure Rule 7009,...”.

The defendant is correct in his assertions concerning Count One and a portion of Count Two. Accordingly, the defendant’s Motion To Dismiss will be GRANTED in part unless the plaintiffs amend their complaint as to Count One and a portion of Count Two consistent with this decision. The pleading issues raised by the parties’ motions continue to appear in adversary proceedings in this court and prompt the court to issue this written decision.

1. COUNT ONE

Plaintiffs’ first count is based upon 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2)(A) which excepts from discharge any debts of an individual “[F]or money, property, services, or an extension, renewal, or refinancing of credit, to the extent obtained by — (A) false pretenses, a false representation, or actual fraud, other [916]*916than a statement respecting the debtor’s or an insider’s financial condition; In support of this claim, plaintiffs’ plead the following:

15. Debtor participated with Fries and others in a scheme to obtain money from plaintiffs Trell, Rieck and Brannon, and property and an extension of credit from Brokers Leasing by false pretenses, false representations, and actual fraud as hereinafter set forth in this Count One and subsequent Counts of this Complaint.
16. Debtor participated in forming the Corporation and Partnerships and gaining investment from plaintiffs and others through the sale of equity securities in the Corporation and Partnerships.
17. Debtor further participated in obtaining the leased restaurant equipment on a credit arrangement from Brokers Leasing.
18. In order to induce plaintiffs to invest money and equipment and to extend credit to the Corporation and Partnerships, debtor fraudulently misrepresented to plaintiffs that the funds and equipment would be used to conduct the business of the Corporation and Partnerships and to provide profits from said business for eventual return to plaintiffs.
19. Debtor’s representations were made falsely and fraudulently and with the intent to deceive plaintiffs.
20. In fact, debtor, Fries and others were involved in other entities and enterprises, the existence of which was withheld from plaintiffs, to which other entities and enterprises plaintiffs’ funds were fraudulently diverted.
21. The equipment provided by Brokers Leasing was also used in the production of income for these other entities and enterprises.
22. Plaintiffs reasonably relied on the representations of debtor to their detriment. (Doc. 1 at 3-4)

This court has previously outlined the requirements for pleading a cause of action under 523(a)(2)(A):

Where, however, fraud is alleged, the concept of notice pleading is refined by a requirement of specificity. Fed.R.Civ.P. 9(b) (Bankr.R. 7009) provides: “In all averments of fraud or mistake, the circumstances constituting fraud or mistake shall be stated with particularity. Malice, intent, knowledge, and other condition of mind of a plerson may be averred generally.” “To satisfy Fed.R. Civ.P. 9(b), a plaintiff must at a minimum allege the time, place and contents of the misrepresentation(s) upon which he relied.” Bender v. Southland Corporation, 749 F.2d 1205, 1216 (6th Cir.1984). The plaintiff must state with particularity the specific circumstances giving rise to the complaint. Dayco Corporation v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, 523 F.2d 389, 394 (6th Cir.1975). Matter of Schwartzman, 63 B.R. 348, 355 (Bankr.S.D.Ohio 1986). (emphasis supplied)

A review of plaintiffs’ complaint discloses Count One does not contain the information required to state a cause of action under § 523(a)(2)(A) — misrepresentation(s), identity of the party who made the misrepresentation(s), the time and place of the misrepresentation(s), and the consequences of the misrepresentation(s). This is particularly significant in light of the fact that the plaintiffs do not occupy a position similar to that of a recently appointed Trustee in Bankruptcy who was not present during the period the alleged misrepresentation or fraud occurred, nor does the complaint state that the misrepresentation or fraud is demonstrated by the use of a statement in writing — § 523(a)(2)(B). See Schwartzman at 355.

Count One, therefore, will be dismissed, unless it is amended consistent with this decision.

2. COUNT TWO

Plaintiffs’ second count is based on 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(4) which excepts from discharge any debts of an individual “[F]or fraud or defalcation while acting in a fiduciary capacity, embezzlement, or larceny; ... ”, In alleging causes of action under this Section, plaintiffs’ plead the following:

[917]*91725. In his role as director of operations of the Corporation and Partnerships, debtor acted in a fiduciary capacity to the plaintiffs.
26. While acting in such fiduciary capacity, debtor committed fraud and defalcation as hereinabove and hereinafter set forth.
27. Debtor failed to cause appropriate accounting procedures to be instituted and failed to render proper accountings to plaintiffs.
28.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
75 B.R. 914, 1987 Bankr. LEXIS 1135, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/trell-v-dunlevy-in-re-dunlevy-ohsb-1987.