In re Clay, Bankruptcy No. 80-03068
| Decision Date | 15 June 1981 |
| Docket Number | Adv. No. 80-0269.,Bankruptcy No. 80-03068 |
| Citation | 12 BR 251 |
| Court | U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Northern District of Iowa |
| Parties | In re Price Lyle CLAY, Jr., Debtor. Price Lyle CLAY, Jr., Plaintiff, v. WESTMAR COLLEGE, Le Mars, Iowa, The Dept. of Health, Education & Welfare, Office of Education, Bureau of Student Financial Assistance, Kansas City, Missouri, Defendants. |
Maurice C. Breen, Fort Dodge, Iowa, for debtor.
Kurt L. Wilke, Fort Dodge, Iowa, for The State Bank.
Alvin J. Ford, Sioux City, Iowa, for Westmar College.
Thomas G. Schrup, Asst. U.S. Atty., Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Asher E. Schroeder Asst. U.S. Atty., Sioux City, Iowa, for Department of Health, Education and Welfare.
Findings of Fact; Conclusions of Law; and ORDERS, with Memorandum
The matter is before the Court on a Complaint to determine dischargeability of federally guaranteed student loans filed by Bankrupt/Debtor against the First Federal Savings and Loan of Fort Dodge, Iowa; the State Bank of Fort Dodge, Iowa; Westmar College of Le Mars, Iowa; and the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Office of Education, Bureau of Student Financial Assistance.
1. On March 18, 1980, Price Lyle Clay, Jr., Debtor, filed his Voluntary Petition in Bankruptcy.
2. On June 30, 1980, an Order of Discharge of all dischargeable debts was granted by this Court.
3. On August 12, 1980, the Debtor filed a Complaint seeking discharge of federally guaranteed student loans under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(8).
4. Since Plaintiff's Complaint only applies to Defendants Westmar College and Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, a Pre-Trial Order was entered on June 15, 1981, dismissing Defendants First Federal Savings and Loan, Fort Dodge, Iowa, and The State Bank, Fort Dodge, Iowa 5. Defendant Westmar College, Le Mars, Iowa, is an educational institution from whom Debtor borrowed funds for the purpose of attending school thereat.
6. Defendant Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Office of Education, Bureau of Student Financial Assistance is the guarantor of Debtor's student loans.
7. Debtor was indebted to Defendant Westmar College in the sum of $4,079.00 at the time of filing of the Petition.
8. Debtor was indebted to Defendant Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Office of Education, Bureau of Student Assistance, as guarantor of Debtor's student loans, in the sum of $3,850.00 (not including the Westmar loan) plus interest $516.97 at the time of filing of the Petition.
9. From September, 1973, to December, 1975, Debtor attended classes at Westmar College.
10. The Debtor lives with his parents, both of whom are dependent on Debtor's income.
11. The Debtor is gainfully employed and able bodied. His take-home pay is approximately $572.00 a month.
12. Excepting Debtor's debts from discharge will impose an undue hardship on the Debtor and Debtor's dependents.
1. Plaintiff's Complaint seeking discharge of debts owing to Defendants Westmar College of Le Mars, Iowa and Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Office of Education, Bureau of Student Loans should be granted.
2. The debts of Price Lyle Clay, Jr., to Westmar College of Le Mars, Iowa and Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Office of Education, Bureau of Student Loans are dischargeable debts included in the effect of the Order of Discharge.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Plaintiff's Complaint is granted.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that debts of Plaintiff to Defendants be included in the effect of the Order of Discharge.
MEMORANDUMThe Debtor is seeking to have certain federally guaranteed loans made to him by the Defendants determined nondischargeable pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(8)(B):
Congress in enacting § 523(a)(8)(B) and its predecessor (20 U.S.C. § 1087-3, P.L. 94-482, Tit. I, § 127(a), 90 Stat. 2141, repealed P.L. 94-598, Tit. III, § 317, 92 Stat. 2678) did not define "undue hardship." A review of the decisions from other courts indicates that each undue hardship case ultimately rests on its own facts. Nonetheless, this Court in making its determination must first look to the available legislative history. Second, relevant factors used by other courts will also aid this Court in its decision.
The Senate report accompanying 11 U.S.C. § 523(a) indicates that "Paragraph (8) follows generally current law. . . ." Senate Report No. 95-989, 95th Cong., 2d Sess. 79, reprinted in 1978 U.S.Code Cong. & Ad.News 5787, 5865. The law to which the Senate report refers is 20 U.S.C. § 1087-3. The House report accompanying § 1087-3 expressed concern "that the bankruptcy rate involving student loans has increased significantly . . . and that in some areas of the country students are being counselled on filing for bankruptcy to discharge their obligations to repay guaranteed student loans." H.R. Report No. 94-1232, 94th Cong. 2d Sess. 13 (1976). Before enacting § 1087-3, the House was also informed that the rate and amount of the debtor's future resources and the reliability and periodicity of the debtor's total income are relevant factors in undue hardship cases. H.R.Doc. No. 93-137, 93d Cong., 1st Sess., pt. II, 140 (1973).
Against this brief legislative history, the court in In re Johnson, 5 B.C.D. 532 (E.D. Pa.1979), a § 1087-3 case, found three tests applicable in undue hardship cases: (i) The mechanical "undue hardship" test (focussing on debtor's expenses and future financial resources); (ii) the good faith test (factors include debtor's efforts to obtain employment, minimize expenditures, and maximize resources); and (iii) the underlying policy test (amount of student loan debt, percentage of indebtedness, and benefit from education). Id. at 536-44. This Court considers the Johnson criteria as instructive, but other reported cases will also be referred to.
In the instant case, testimony at trial revealed that the Debtor is employed by the City of Fort Dodge as a water meter reader. His net income per month is $572. The Debtor lives with his parents and provides them with grocery and other necessities for $210 per month. The Debtor's mother is retired and his father is unemployed. Insurance, gas, and automobile payments total $140 per month. Union dues of $12 per month must also be paid. Finally, the Debtor is also "morally obligated"1 to his mother for $66 per month for a loan she co-signed. The Debtor is thus left with a mere $144 from which he pays his other expenses, such as food, medical bills, clothes, recreation, and other unexpected incidentals.
One of the more important considerations in an undue hardship case is the debtor's financial future. In re Bell, 5 B.R. 461, 463 (Bkrtcy., N.D.Ga.1980). In Bell, the court found nondischargeability when it determined that debtor's financial picture was on the upswing. Id. The Debtor in the instant case has been working for the City for over two years. His latest raise was nine percent. While his job does not appear to be in jeopardy, there is little hope of advancement. While it is true that the Debtor's parents could possibly have contributed, it seems unlikely that the family's financial picture will better itself substantially. See In re Ewell, 1 B.R. 311, 313 (Bkrtcy., D.Vt.1979) ().
Another relevant factor is the debtor's good faith. In re Archie, 7 B.R. 715, 719 (E.D.Va.1980). In In re Littell, 6 B.R. 85, 87 (Bkrtcy., D.Or.1980), a discharge was granted to a couple who had applied for jobs and enrolled in C.E.T.A. programs. The Debtor in the instant case has also enrolled in C.E.T.A. and demonstrated good faith and willingness in his endeavors for better jobs. Compare In re Moore, 4 B.C.D. 791, 792 (W.D.N.Y.1978) () with In re Kirch, 4 B.C.D. 680, 681 (W.D.N.Y.1978) ().
Third, the Debtor's parents depend upon him for their livelihood. Discharges have been granted on the basis, inter alia, that the petitioner supports dependents. In re Hemmen, 7 B.R. 63, 66 (Bkrtcy., N.D.Ala. 1980) (parents); In re Sousek, 5 B.C.D. 967, 968 (E.D.Wis.1979) (). Similarly, Congress intended that the debtor's "total income should be adequate to maintain the debtor and his dependents at a minimal standard of living . . . as well as to pay the educational debt." H.R.Doc. No. 93-137, supra, at 140-41.2 It appears from the record that the debtor can barely support himself and his parents, not to mention repayment of loans.
Fourth, it is quite clear from the record that the Debtor and his parents are living within their means. Cf. In re Price, 1 B.R. 768, 769 (Bkrtcy., D.Hawaii 1980) (); In re Brock, 4 B.R. 491, 494 (Bkrtcy., S.D.N.Y.1980) (...
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