In re Nelson
Citation | 100 BR 905 |
Decision Date | 02 June 1989 |
Docket Number | Bankruptcy No. 83-02028. |
Parties | In re Wallace R. NELSON and Jane A. Nelson Debtors. |
Court | United States Bankruptcy Courts. Sixth Circuit. U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Northern District of Ohio |
John J. Hunter, Toledo, Ohio, for objectors.
Steven L. Diller, Van Wert, Ohio, for debtors.
This matter is before the court upon motion of Debtors to reopen their case and creditors' memorandum in opposition thereto. Upon consideration thereof, the court finds that Debtors' motion is not well taken and should be denied.
On November 17, 1983, Debtors filed their voluntary petition under chapter 11 of title 11. On May 8, 1984, Defiance Production Credit Association and the Federal Land Bank of Louisville, creditors of Debtors' estate, were granted relief from stay to pursue a foreclosure action against certain real estate of Debtors secured by loans granted to them in favor of Debtors. See Orders (May 8, 1984) and Memorandum in Opposition at 1 (February 3, 1989). Debtors' case, on July 31, 1985, was converted to a case under chapter 7. A discharge was granted Debtors on November 18, 1986 and the case was closed in July, 1988.
On August 31, 1988, Debtors filed an action against Defiance Production Credit Association, Federal Intermediate Credit Bank of Louisville, Federal Land Bank of Louisville and Farm Credit Services in the Henry County Court of Common Pleas seeking damages arising out of the parties' loan transactions. See Motion of Debtors to Reopen Case, Exhibit A and Memorandum in Opposition at 2. During the pendancy of that case, Debtors, on January 17, 1989, filed the instant motion requesting that their case be reopened to permit them to amend their schedules to include this cause of action and to thereafter file an application to abandon this cause of action. Production Credit Association of the Fourth District, Farm Credit Bank of Louisville and Federal Land Bank Association of the Fourth District, successors in interest to Defiance Production Credit Association, Federal Intermediate Credit Bank of Louisville and Federal Land Bank of Louisville (hereinafter objectors) objected to Debtors' motion claiming that reopening Debtors' case would not benefit creditors or permit the administration of any assets. Subsequently, the Henry County Common Pleas Court dismissed Debtors' complaint with prejudice; no appeal of that judgment entry was taken. See Supplemental Memorandum in Opposition at 1 and Exhibit A (March 23, 1989).
On March 23, 1989, a pretrial order was entered directing Debtors to file a brief in support of their motion to reopen within two weeks and granting objectors one week thereafter in which to respond. To date, no brief has been filed by Debtors. Objectors contend that because the cause of action Debtors seek to add to their schedules has been adjudicated, there is now no basis upon which this case should be reopened.
Section 350(b) of Title 11 states:
a case may be reopened in the court in which such case was closed to administer assets, to accord relief to the Debtor, or for other cause.
The granting of a motion to reopen is within the court's discretion and the burden of demonstrating circumstances sufficient to justify same is on the moving party. See V.I. Bur. of Internal Rev. v. St. Croix Hotel Corp., 60 B.R. 412, 14 C.B.C.2d 1098 (D.Virgin Islands 1986) (, )aff'd 867 F.2d 169 (3d Cir.1989); In re Greer, 89 B.R. 757, 18 B.C.D. 135 (Bkrtcy.S.D.Ill.1988) ( ); In re Stanke, 41 B.R. 379, 12 B.C.D. 483, 11 C.B.C.2d 79 (Bkrtcy.W.D.Mo.1984) ( ); Matter of Serafini, 30 B.R. 606 (Bkrtcy.W.D.Penn.1983) ( ); 2 Collier on Bankruptcy ¶ 350.01 at 350-1 (15th ed. 1989) (§ 350 gives court power to reopen a case when such action is deemed necessary by the court in the interest of fairness).
As previously stated, Debtors have failed to file a brief in support of their motion. They request reopening to permit them to add a cause of action and then to abandon said action. This is not a compelling reason justifying the reopening of Debtors' case.
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