Wilcox v. Juerakhan (In re Juerakhan)

544 B.R. 711
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Florida
DecidedFebruary 4, 2016
DocketCase No. 8:14-bk-15119-MGW; Adv. No. 8:15-ap-00702-MGW
StatusPublished

This text of 544 B.R. 711 (Wilcox v. Juerakhan (In re Juerakhan)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Wilcox v. Juerakhan (In re Juerakhan), 544 B.R. 711 (Fla. 2016).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER ON SUMMARY JUDGMENT

Michael G. Williamson, Chief United States Bankruptcy Judge

To prevail on a claim under Bankruptcy Code § 523(a)(4), a creditor must prove that the debtor committed (1) fraud or defalcation while acting in a fiduciary capacity: (2) embezzlement; or (3) larceny. Here, Robert Wilcox, who had a $159,100 claim against Jefferson Juerakhan, the Debtor in this case, asserts Juerakhan mishandled and ultimately refused to account for or pay back a total of $159,100 of Wilcox’s money held by Juerakhan in a fiduciary capacity as a licensed bail bond agent. Because the undisputed facts demonstrate Juerakhan was entrusted with Wilcox’s money as a statutory fiduciary but intentionally failed to return it to him, Wilcox is entitled to judgment as a matter of law on his § 523(a)(4) claim.

Undisputed Facts

Juerakhan is a bail bond agent licensed under chapter 648, Florida Statutes, and the sole shareholder of Wesh Bail Bonds, Inc. (‘Wesh”). In 2013, Wilcox’s son was arrested on a number of criminal charges in Manatee and Pinellas Counties requiring the posting of various bail bonds as a condition of release. Wilcox engaged Juerakhan to arrange for his son’s bail bonds. To that end, Wilcox delivered five cashier’s checks to Juerakhan payable to Wesh -as follows:1 $12,350 on June 5, 2013;2 $100,000 on June 7, 2013; $52,000 on July 17, 2013; $10,000 on July 18, 2013; and $600 on July 18,2013.

[713]*713The $100,000 check was intended as collateral for a bond in the amount of $100,013. Through his insurer, Sun Surety Insurance Company (“Sun Surety”), Juerakhan delivered a surety bond in the amount of $100,013 to the State of Florida for the release of Wilcox’s son. Juerakhan then deposited Wilcox’s $100,000 cashier’s check into Wesh’s operating account.

Wilcox’s son initially failed to appear as required under the bond, threatening the forfeiture of the $100,013 bond. Wilcox’s son, however, did appear before any actual forfeiture occurred, and the bond was returned to Sun Surety. At that time, Juerakhan was statutorily required to return the $100,000 to Wilcox, but Juerakhan instead kept the $100,000 collateral and used it over several months to pay Wesh’s bills.

The checks in the amount of $52,000,3 $10,000, and $600 were also paid by Wilcox to Juerakhan to be used for his son’s bail bonds. The funds from these checks, however, were never used as collateral for any bail bond or in relation to any bail bond. Rather, Juerakhan used these monies for his personal use and to pay Wesh’s bills.

Wilcox demanded return of the sums paid for his son’s bail bonds. Juerakhan refused. So Wilcox sued him in state court seeking recovery under theories of replevin and conversion. Before entry of a default judgment, Juerakhan filed for bankruptcy relief. To date, Juerakhan has not returned any of the $159,100 owed to Wilcox.

Wilcox filed this complaint seeking to have the amounts Juerakhan owes him determined to be nondischargeable under Bankruptcy Code § 523(a)(4).4 According to Wilcox, Juerakhan misappropriated and refused to return Wilcox’s money while acting in his official capacity as a bail bond agent. Wilcox now seeks summary judgment on his § 523(a)(4) claim.5

Conclusions of Law6

Bankruptcy Code § 523(a)(4) excepts from discharge any debt “for fraud or defalcation while acting in a fiduciary capacity, embezzlement, or larceny.”7 This section is divided into two disjunctive sections — the first deals with fraud or defalcation while acting in a fiduciary capacity, and the second deals with embezzlement or larceny even when not acting in a fiduciary capacity.8

With respect to the nondischargeability of a debt based upon defalcation by a fiduciary, Wilcox must first establish Juerakhan’s duty as a fiduciary. Although the existence of fiduciary capacity under § 523(a)(4) is determined by federal law, state law is relevant to the inquiry.9 So the Court turns to the applicable Florida Statutes to determine Juerakhan’s duties as a state licensed bail bond agent.

A bond for which fees or premiums are charged for the release of a criminal defendant must be executed by a bail bond agent licensed pursuant to chapter 648, [714]*714Florida Statutes.10 Only an individual may be issued such a license. “A firm, partnership, association, or corporation, as such, may not be licensed.”11 All funds received by a licensed bail bond agent in transactions under his or her license are “trust funds received by the licensee in a fiduciary capacity, and the licensee must account for and pay the same to the insurer, insured, or other person entitled to such funds.”12

There is no question under Florida that only an individual may be a bail bond agent and that a bail bond agent is a statutory fiduciary. There is likewise no question that Juerakhan was a bail bond agent. Accordingly, Juerakhan is a fiduciary under § 523(a)(4) as a matter of law. The only remaining question is whether he committed a fraud or defalcation while acting in his fiduciary capacity.

The Supreme Court recently explored the meaning of “defalcation” in Bullock v. BankChampaign.13 There, the Court explained that the statutory term “defalcation” should be treated similar to Justice Harlan’s 1878 interpretation of “fraud” under the Bankruptcy Code, which required moral turpitude or an intentional wrong:

[D]ebts created by ‘fraud’ are associated directly with debts created by ‘embezzlement.’ Such association justifies, if it does not imperatively require, the conclusion that the ‘fraud’ referred to in that section means positive fraud, or fraud in fact, involving moral turpitude or intentional wrong, as does embezzlement; and not implied fraud, or fraud in law, which may exist without the imputation of bad faith or immorality.14

An intentional wrong, within the statutory meaning of “defalcation,” includes conduct that the fiduciary knows is improper, as well as reckless conduct of the kind that criminal law treats as the equivalent.15

Juerakhan’s conduct in this case constituted a crime under Florida law. Florida law requires a bail bond agent to return collateral to the indemnitor within 21 days after the discharge is provided.16 Any bail bond agent who unlawfully diverts or appropriates funds for his or her own use commits larceny by embezzlement, punishable as provided by law.17 Further, a bail bond agent who accepts anything of value from a principal for providing a bail bond other than an authorized premium or transfer fee or who deducts any fees, expenses, or charges of any kind from the collateral held or any return premium due commits a third degree felony.18

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Related

Neal v. Clark
95 U.S. 704 (Supreme Court, 1878)
Bullock v. BankChampaign, N. A.
133 S. Ct. 1754 (Supreme Court, 2013)
McDowell v. Stein
415 B.R. 584 (S.D. Florida, 2009)
Hosey v. Hosey (In Re Hosey)
355 B.R. 311 (N.D. Alabama, 2006)
Quaif v. Johnson
4 F.3d 950 (Eleventh Circuit, 1993)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
544 B.R. 711, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wilcox-v-juerakhan-in-re-juerakhan-flmb-2016.