In re Wolf
Decision Date | 15 September 2016 |
Docket Number | Bky. No. 15-10768 ELF |
Parties | In re: Alan Wolf, Debtor. |
Court | United States Bankruptcy Courts. Third Circuit. U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Eastern District of Pennsylvania |
Erik B. Jensen, Erik B. Jensen, Esquire, Philadelphia, PA, for Debtor.
ERIC L. FRANK
Alan Wolf (“the Debtor”) commenced this chapter 13 bankruptcy case on February 2, 2015. His third amended chapter 13 plan (“the Plan”) was confirmed on March 8, 2016. The Plan provided for a 100% distribution on all allowed claims. The Plan was funded by a number of monthly payments to the Trustee, followed by the sale of the Debtor's residential real estate.
The Debtor has performed all of his obligations under the confirmed plan. He sold his real estate and made the required payments to the chapter 13 trustee. As a result, there are sufficient funds available to pay in full all of the proofs of claim that have been filed—assuming that they are allowed. This includes the $85,186.89 proof of claim filed by Edward Jordan (“Jordan”).
Before me is the Debtor's objection to Jordan's proof of claim (“the Objection”). For the reasons explained below, I will sustain the Objection and disallow Jordan's claim.
On May 15, 2015, Jordan filed a proof of claim, Claim No. 4, asserting a general unsecured claim in the amount of $85,186.89. The Debtor filed the Objection on July 9, 2015. (Doc. # 36). Jordan filed an Answer to the Objection on July 23, 2015. (Doc. # 39).1 On August 20, 2015, the court entered a pretrial order that, inter alia, set deadlines for completion of discovery and the filing of dispositive motions. (Doc. # 47).
On December 21, 2015, Jordan filed a motion for summary judgment. See Fed. R. Bankr. 9014 ( ). The Debtor filed a response to the motion on January 27, 2016. I denied the motion on March 7, 2016.
On April 4, 2016, the court held a hearing on the Objection. The parties filed post-trial briefs, the last of which was filed on May 31, 2016.
The legal standard governing objections to proofs of claim are well established. Earlier this year I summarized them as follows:
also addresses the evidentiary burdens in claims objection litigation. Rule 3001(f) provides: A proof of claim executed and filed in accordance with these rules shall constitute prima facie evidence of the validity and amount of the claim. If a claimant complies with the rules of court, the proof of claim achieves prima facie evidentiary status through Rule 3001(f). In effect, a proof of claim that complies with the rules of court serves as both a pleading and as trial evidence, even in the face of an objection to the claim. It follows that if the claimant's proof of claim satisfies Rule 3001(f), the burden of going forward with evidence contesting the validity or amount of the claim shifts to the objector. To meet this burden, the objector's evidence if believed, [must] refute at least one of the allegations that is essential to the claim's legal sufficiency.
In a claims objection contested matter in which a proof of claim is prima facie valid and the objector meets its burden of production, the ultimate burden of proof remains with the claimant. Thus, once the objector has presented evidence, the claimant may then need to offer additional evidence to carry its burden of persuasion.
In re Henry, 546 B.R. 633, 634–35 (Bankr.E.D.Pa.2016)
(quotations and citations omitted) (italics in original).
In this matter, the Debtor indisputably met his burden of production with evidence disputing the validity of Jordan's claim. Therefore, the shifting burdens culminate simply as follows: Jordan bears the burden of proof as to the validity of his claim.
The Debtor and Jordan testified at trial. In addition, they offered into evidence a Stipulation of undisputed facts and a number of exhibits.
Set forth below are my findings of fact. To the extent the witnesses offered conflicting testimony on issues relevant to the disposition of this matter, my findings reflect a resolution of those conflicts based on my assessment of the witnesses' demeanor, motivations, credibility and related factors.
The Initial Transaction: The “Eldorado”
The Replacement Car: The “Speedster”
The Repayment Agreement in 2010
Jordan's Lawsuit in 2012 Against Modern Classics
Modern Classics' Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in 2013
To continue reading
Request your trial-
Valez v. Rent (In re Valez)
... ... Even conflicting testimonial evidence does not alter the effect of an [ FRBP 7036 ] admission." Id. (internal citation omitted). However, pursuant to FRBP 7036(b), a court may find that a party is not bound by an unanswered request for admission. See In re Wolf , 556 B.R. 676, 685 (Bankr. E.D. Pa. 2016), aff'd , 573 B.R. 179 (E.D. Pa. 2017), subsequently aff'd , 739 F. App'x 165 (3d Cir. 2018). FRBP 7036(b) provides: (b) Effect of an Admission; Withdrawing or Amending It. A matter admitted under this rule is conclusively established unless the ... ...
-
Stetson v. Granite State Student Loan (In re Stetson), Case No.: 5-20-bk-01254 RNO
... ... Unfortunately, the responses to the Requests for Admission have not been filed to the docket.F.R.B.P. 7036(b) permits a court to exercise discretion when deciding whether or not to permit a withdrawal or amendment of requests for admission. In re Wolf, 556 B.R. 676, 685Page 7 (Bankr. E.D. Pa. 2016), aff'd, 573 B.R. 179 (E.D. Pa. 2017), subsequently aff'd, 739 F. App'x 165 (3d Cir. 2018).The Court is concerned about deciding such a significant matter based upon a hurried and incomplete record. Allowing Debtor the opportunity to make an ... ...
-
Skold v. Galderma Labs., L.P.
... ... J ., Inc ., 448 F.3d 573, 587 (2d Cir. 2006) (observing that New York law does not permit recovery in unjust enrichment where a valid contract governs the same subject-matter as the unjust enrichment claim); Snyder v ... Freeman , 266 S.E.2d 593, 602-03 (N.C. 1980); but see In re Wolf , 556 B.R. 676, 689 n.15 (Bankr. E.D. Pa. 2016) (observing that no reported Pennsylvania decisions discuss this specific issue and declining "to opine on this question of Pennsylvania law."). Although no reported Pennsylvania decisions resolve this specific issue, federal courts in this District ... ...
- Jordan v. Wolf (In re Wolf), CIVIL ACTION NO. 16–5229