Hines, In re
| Decision Date | 25 October 1983 |
| Docket Number | No. 83-1167,83-1167 |
| Citation | 723 F.2d 333 |
| Parties | 9 Collier Bankr.Cas.2d 1099, 11 Bankr.Ct.Dec. 682, Bankr. L. Rep. P 69,512 In re William J. HINES and Patricia Hines, Debtors. Appeal of COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WELFARE. . Submitted Under Third Circuit Rule 12(6) |
| Court | U.S. Court of Appeals — Third Circuit |
Jason W. Manne, Asst. Counsel, Dept. of Public Welfare, Harrisburg, Pa., for appellant.
Mitchell W. Miller, Jack K. Miller, Philadelphia, Pa., for appellees.
Before GIBBONS, GARTH and HIGGINBOTHAM, Circuit Judges.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Public Welfare, appeals from an order of the district court, affirming an order of the bankruptcy court which confirmed a plan of William J. Hines and Patricia Hines pursuant to Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. Secs. 1301-1330 (1982), for payment to their creditors. The plan provides for payments of $175 a month for thirty-six months. The Commonwealth objected that it was not filed in good faith within the meaning of 11 U.S.C. Sec. 1325(a)(3) (1982) because, while it provides for payment in full to a secured creditor, it provides for only nominal payments to unsecured creditors.
The Commonwealth concedes that every court of appeals which has considered the question has ruled that Chapter 13 plans providing for nominal repayments to unsecured creditors do not, for that reason, violate the good faith standard of 11 U.S.C. Sec. 1325(a)(3) (1982). 1 We conclude that those decisions are entirely consistent with the statute.
What the Commonwealth does urge is that the order confirming the plan should be reversed because the debtor failed to carry the burden of proof of establishing good faith. That contention has dual aspects. First, the Commonwealth contends that in every instance the statute imposes on the proponent of a Chapter 13 plan the burden of showing good faith affirmatively. Second, it contends that if the burden of showing the absence of good faith is normally on the creditor objecting to confirmation, that burden should shift to the debtor in every case where the plan provides for only nominal repayments to unsecured creditors.
At the hearing on confirmation the debtor introduced in evidence the report of the standing Chapter 13 trustee finding that the debtor's proposed plan met the requirements of 11 U.S.C. Secs. 1322 and 1325 (1982). Moreover, the standing trustee appeared at the confirmation hearing and recommended confirmation. If the statute imposes any affirmative burden of showing good faith upon the debtor, it was satisfied by the report of the standing trustee. The Commonwealth objected to confirmation, but represented that it had no evidence to offer. It made no argument that the debtors had underestimated income. It did argue that they had overestimated the amount that would be needed for family recreation for their family of five. The bankruptcy judge considered and rejected that objection. The...
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In re Mu'Min
...trustee's recommendation satisfied the Debtor's burden of proof on the issue of her good faith in proposing the plan. See In re Hines, 723 F.2d 333 (3d Cir.1983); see also Fed. R. Bankr.P. 3015(f) ("If no objection is timely filed, the court may determine that the plan has been proposed in ......
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In re Saunders
...modest plan was confirmed, without creditor objection, and upon recommendation of the chapter 13 standing trustee. See In re Hines, 723 F.2d 333 (3d Cir.1983). Payments pursuant to that plan were made, yielding a dividend to PHEAA of only $42.62. In October 1987, the debtor sought a chapter......
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In re Szostek
...and, as no objection was then filed, the debtors' plan was confirmed upon recommendation of the standing chapter 13 trustee. In re Hines, 723 F.2d 333 (3d Cir.1983). The hearing on the objection to Kissell's claim was continued to January 25, 1988. By letter dated December 16, 1987, counsel......
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In re Jensen
...good faith standard of 11 U.S.C. § 1325(a)(3) merely because it provides for nominal payments to unsecured creditors. See In re Hines, 723 F.2d 333 (3d Cir.1983). However, that issue is not raised in this case. 57. In light of the enactment of 11 U.S.C. § 1325(a)(7) as part of BAPCPA, this ......