Sidney B. Brooks, United States Bankruptcy Judge.
This case requires the Court to examine the lines drawn by the Bankruptcy Code between the broad reach of the automatic stay and the narrow exceptions from the stay for creditors to proceed with state court litigation under certain tailored and very specific circumstances, and, specifically, in the context of ongoing litigation in family law matters. Additionally, the case examines how the timing of the filing of a bankruptcy case can affect contemporaneous, and, often, contentious, litigation in state courts. Unfortunately, the case also serves as a stark and cautionary example of how easily a creditor, through post-petition conduct, can overreach and cross the line into the prohibited and protected territory of the automatic stay.
The matter came before the Court on the following pleadings:
The Court, having reviewed the pleadings and the within case file, and being otherwise advised in the matter, makes the following findings of fact, conclusions of law and enters the following Order.
Prior to the filing of the underlying bankruptcy, the Debtor and Plaintiff herein, John Christian Gazzo, and his former spouse and Defendant herein, Ellen Beckham Ruff, were involved in contentious state court litigation following Mr. Gazzo and Ms. Ruff's divorce on September 26, 2011.
On July 1, 2013, Debtor commenced the within adversary proceeding against Ms. Ruff and Mr. Merrick by filing a Complaint under 11 U.S.C. § 362(k) (the "Complaint"). Plaintiff-Debtor seeks damages and injunctive relief against both Defendants, alleging that Defendants violated the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. § 362(a)(3) by continuing on with domestic court actions against the Debtor on November 20, 2012 and by obtaining an award against the Debtor on December 5, 2012 in spite of his bankruptcy filing.
On July 25, 2013, the Defendants filed a Motion to Dismiss the within adversary proceeding contending that the Debtor has failed to state a claim upon which relief may be granted under 11 U.S.C. § 362.
The Defendants attached the following two exhibits to the Motion to Dismiss: (1) an affidavit signed by Mr. Merrick regarding the nature of the domestic court hearing on November 20, 2012;
On August 9, 2013, the Debtor filed his Response to the Defendants' Motion to Dismiss.
In conjunction with the Response, Debtor also filed with this Court a Cross Motion for Summary Judgment asserting that there are no genuine issues of material fact in dispute and that Defendants violated the automatic stay by continuing on with the domestic court actions against the Debtor and by obtaining an order and assessment of costs against the Debtor post-bankruptcy, and therefore an entry of judgment against both Defendants in this adversary proceeding is appropriate.
For reasons stated herein, the Court will (1) treat the Defendants' Motion to Dismiss as a Motion for Summary Judgment; (2) Deny the Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment and Motion for Sanctions; and (3) Grant the Plaintiff's Cross Motion for Summary Judgment.
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(d), made applicable to these proceedings by Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure 7012, allows a court to treat a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted as a motion for summary judgment.
In support of the Motion to Dismiss, the Defendants attached for this Court's consideration an affidavit of attorney Glenn Merrick and an order of the domestic court.
The court has broad discretion in deciding whether to treat a motion to dismiss as a motion for summary judgment when supplementary materials are filed by the parties.
Here, the Plaintiff has already treated and responded to the Defendants' Motion to Dismiss filed under FED. R. CIV. P. 12(b)(6) as a Motion for Summary Judgment under FED. R. CIV. P. 56.
For these reasons and within the context of the present matter, this Court is satisfied that no concerns exist in this case regarding the adequacy of opportunity provided to the Parties to produce materials relevant to this Court's consideration of Defendants' Motion to Dismiss using the standards for summary judgment. Accordingly, the Court shall consider exhibits filed by both Parties in reviewing the Motion to Dismiss as a Motion for Summary Judgment.
Summary judgment is appropriate if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, admissions, or affidavits show that there is no genuine issue of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.
Moreover, in denying a Motion for Summary Judgment, facts that are not genuinely in dispute are to be treated as facts established in the case.
As an initial matter, the Court notes that 11 U.S.C. § 362(a)(3) precludes "any act to obtain possession or property of the estate or of property from the estate or to exercise control over property of the estate[.]"
Additionally, 11 U.S.C. § 362(a)(1) precludes —
The automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. § 362(a) should be broadly construed in favor of the Debtor and exceptions thereto should be applied narrowly.
"The moving party bears the burden of proof in an action for violation of the automatic stay and must prove the violation by a preponderance of the evidence."
In this case, the Parties present different characterizations of the nature, content and conduct of the domestic court proceeding on November 20, 2012 and the resulting Order issued by the domestic court on December 5, 2012. However, a review of the pleadings and attached exhibits thereto indicate that to a large extent, the issues between the Parties in this case are primarily and essentially only legal; they are not factual. Indeed, the full and complete transcription of the November 20, 2012 hearing coupled with the December 5, 2012 domestic court Order derived from that hearing provide a clear and complete statement of the facts pertinent to this dispute. They paint an unvarnished picture of the domestic court proceedings and actions, unblemished by bias or editorial
On May 29, 2012, Ms. Ruff, by and through her counsel, Mr. Merrick, initiated proceedings in the domestic court against the Plaintiff seeking a court order requiring the Plaintiff to show cause why he should not be held in contempt for failing to satisfy his domestic support obligations.
A final hearing on the merits of the Motion for Contempt was scheduled to be heard by the domestic court on November 20, 2012 at 8:30 a.m.
A review of the Transcript of the November 20, 2012 hearing, a complete record of which was made available for this Court's review by the Plaintiff,
Furthermore, the Transcript indicates that at the hearing, Mr. Merrick proceeded in the following manner: First, Mr. Merrick opposed the Plaintiff's Motion to Vacate the hearing for "legal and equitable reasons."
Second, Mr. Merrick argued that the domestic court should appoint a receiver in the case for when the property "falls out of the property of the [bankruptcy] estate... by virtue of abandonment, relief from stay, dismissal of the case, or any other reason,"
Counsel for Plaintiff did, however, provide to the domestic court a citation for the Colorado Supreme Court case, In re Weiss,
With respect to the issue of the appointment of a receiver, the domestic court similarly expressed concern and reservation in adopting the approach that was being argued by Mr. Merrick. Specifically, the domestic court stated that it was concerned that the appointment of a receiver would somehow "usurp[] the authority
Third, even after the domestic court declined to grant the Defendants' request to assess and impose criminal sanctions against the Plaintiff and to appoint a receiver to the Plaintiff's assets, Mr. Merrick, again, pressed on with the hearing and requested that the domestic court enter an injunction against the Plaintiff, enjoining him from disposing of any property that was not property of the bankruptcy estate.
This time around, the domestic court judge granted Mr. Merrick's request. However, the Court issued the following caveat regarding its decision to impose an injunction against a debtor in bankruptcy: "If that's wrong, it's wrong. I'll embrace that. If it turns out I shouldn't have I'm sure someone will let me know."
On or around November 23, 2012, Mr. Merrick prepared and submitted to the domestic court a proposed order granting Ms. Ruff an award for costs incurred by her and other witnesses who appeared on behalf of Ms. Ruff at the November 20, 2012 hearing.
The Order grants to Ms. Ruff an award in the amount of $1,800 and qualifies the award as an exception to the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. § 362(b)(2)(B).
Defendants argue that they are entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law because the exhibits filed with the Defendants' Motion to Dismiss demonstrate that (1) the purpose of the November 20, 2012 hearing was to seek a criminal contempt citation against the Plaintiff, which action is excepted from the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. § 362(b)(1); and (2) the domestic court's Order entered on December 5, 2012 was a "modification" of Plaintiff's domestic court obligations, which is excepted from the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. § 362(b)(2)(A)(ii).
11 U.S.C. § 362(b)(1) provides that the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. § 362(a) does not apply to "the commencement or continuation of a criminal action or proceeding against the debtor[.]" Additionally, 11 U.S.C. § 362(b)(2)(A)(ii) provides
Two issues before the Court then are whether there are any material facts in dispute that (1) the November 20, 2012 hearing was a commencement or continuation of a criminal action or proceeding, and (2) the Order issued by the domestic court on December 5, 2012 was a modification of an order for domestic support obligation, such that the Defendants are entitled to judgment as a matter of law.
As articulated above, the burden is on the Defendants to demonstrate that no genuine issue of material fact exists. In examining the Defendants' Motion to Dismiss as a Motion for Summary Judgment, the Court shall draw inferences in light most favorable to the Plaintiff.
On the first issue, i.e., whether the November 20, 2012 hearing was exempted from the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. § 362(b)(1), the domestic court found that the Weiss case was controlling and dispositive.
In Weiss, the Supreme Court of Colorado reviewed and vacated a trial court's finding that a debtor in bankruptcy was in contempt of court for failing to pay credit card debts that she was required to pay pursuant to a divorce decree.
The Supreme Court of Colorado found however that "[a] key aspect to determining if a contempt proceeding is civil is whether the debtor may `mitigate or avoid punishment by taking action consistent with' the court's order."
In Weiss the Supreme Court of Colorado concluded that an order for contempt for failure to pay a domestic court obligation was remedial or civil in nature when a proceeding is "designed to force payment to a third party, rather than to uphold the dignity of the court[,]" and when the contemnor could purge the contempt citation by performance in accordance with a court order.
Moreover, in Weiss, the Supreme Court of Colorado also held that absent a specific finding by a trial court that non-estate funds are available to pay a domestic support obligation, an exception to the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. § 362(b)(2)(B) does not apply.
The Transcript of the November 20, 2012 hearing reflects that while Mr. Merrick fervently attempted to distinguish the instant case from the Colorado Supreme Court's ruling in Weiss, he did so without success. Notwithstanding Mr. Merrick's arguments, the domestic court held that the case was "subject to the same conclusion" as Weiss.
This Court finds that based on the Weiss decision and the domestic court's findings, the hearing conducted on November 20, 2012 was not in the nature of a criminal proceeding and therefore, not subject to an exception from the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C.§ 362(b)(1). The goal and central issue raised in the contempt proceeding and the reason for the contempt hearing was to enforce the terms of the Separation Agreement and otherwise compel the Plaintiff to perform under the Separation Agreement, pay his domestic support obligations, and benefit a Creditor, Ms. Ruff, in terms of financial recovery on claims against the Plaintiff. The contempt hearing in state court was coercive in nature — to collect on a debt-and not punitive or criminal in nature — as argued by Mr. Merrick.
And, it is not unimportant to this Court that at the November 20, 2012 hearing, Mr. Merrick also sought the appointment of a receiver to the Plaintiff's estate and later proceeded on to obtain an order and injunction against the Plaintiff. Moreover, and it warrants repeating here, when specifically asked by the domestic court whether Mr. Merrick had any authority to support his position that the prosecution of a criminal contempt of court would, under the facts of this case, be excepted from the automatic stay under bankruptcy law, Mr. Merrick had replied that he did not.
In light of these facts, this Court concludes that exception to the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. § 362(b)(1) does not apply here.
Additionally, Defendants argue that the Order obtained from the domestic court on December 5, 2012 was not in violation of the automatic stay because it was a proceeding "for the establishment or modification of an order for domestic support obligations[,]" and, thus, fell within the exception under 11 U.S.C. § 362(b)(2)(A)(ii). However, a review of the December 5, 2012 order shows that the domestic court classified an award of costs in the amount of $1,800 to Ms. Ruff under 11 U.S.C. § 362(b)(2)(B) and not under 11 U.S.C. § 362(b)(2)(A)(ii).
11 U.S.C. § 362(b)(2)(B) provides an exception from the automatic stay for proceedings "of the collection of a domestic support obligation from property that is not property of the estate."
Defendants assert that the citation to 11 U.S.C. § 362(b)(2)(B) in the December 5, 2012 order is a typographical error.
Plaintiff disputes the accuracy of Defendants' assertions and contends that the domestic court did not definitively conclude that the award of costs to Ms. Ruff were in the nature of "establishment or modification of the court's order for domestic support obligations."
A review of the Transcript indicates that it was Mr. Merrick who requested that the domestic court qualify the award contemplated by the court for costs to Ms. Ruff pursuant to COLO. REV. STAT. § 14-10-119 under 11 U.S.C. § 362(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the bankruptcy code to except the Order from the bar of the automatic stay.
The only definitive statement made by the domestic court with respect to its order on the award of costs to the Ms. Ruff was that the court was making its determination under COLO. REV. STAT. § 14-10-119.
This Court is of the opinion that because Defendants, or more accurately, Counsel for Ms. Ruff in the domestic court and Co-Defendant herein, Mr. Merrick, was the drafter of the Order that the domestic court judge eventually signed on December 5, 2012, any ambiguities or alleged mistakes contained in the Order should be construed against the Defendants.
The December 5, 2012 domestic court order is a final, non-appealable order that assessed and imposed an award in favor of Ms. Ruff and against the Plaintiff for $1,800 under 11 U.S.C. § 362(b)(2)(B). Absent an express finding by the domestic court that the December 5, 2012 Order was an award by the court under 11 U.S.C. § 362(b)(2)(A)(ii), this Court will not arbitrarily and summarily reclassify the domestic court's order as an award under 11 U.S.C. § 362(b)(2)(A)(ii), as suggested by the Defendants. As such, an exception from the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. § 362(b)(2)(A)(ii) does not apply.
Additionally, the Court finds that the December 5, 2012 order of the domestic court was not excepted from the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. § 362(b)(2)(B). As stated above, pursuant to the Colorado Supreme Court's holding in the Weiss case, for an exception to the automatic stay to apply under 11 U.S.C. § 362(b)(2)(B), the trial court must make a specific finding that there exist non-estate funds or assets in a given case from which the debtor is to pay the award for domestic support obligation being imposed by the trial court.
The Transcript of the November 20, 2012 hearing indicates that no such finding was made by the domestic court in this case. To the contrary, the domestic court specifically stated that it could not hold that Plaintiff must pay the award "regardless of the automatic stay in bankruptcy."
Therefore, the Court finds that an exception from the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. § 362(b)(1) did not apply to the hearing conducted on November 20, 2012. Additionally, the resulting order issued by the state court judge on December 5, 2012 was not excepted from the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. §§ 362(b)(2)(A)(ii) or 362(b)(2)(B). Thus, the Court will deny the Defendants' Motion to Dismiss, which Motion, along with the attached exhibits thereto, was considered by this Court using the standard for summary judgment as provided herein.
The Court will now examine and evaluate whether there are any material facts in dispute that Defendants' actions were in violation of the bankruptcy automatic stay and determine if summary judgment in favor of the Plaintiff-Debtor is appropriate. Plaintiff alleges that Defendants violated the automatic stay by (1) continuing with the hearing on November 20, 2012; (2) seeking the appointment of a receiver to take control of and liquidate Plaintiff-Debtor's business interests and properties after the bankruptcy was filed; and (3) continuing to seek an award of damages against the Plaintiff. Plaintiff seeks actual and punitive damages under 11 U.S.C. § 362(k)(1).
In defense to the Plaintiff's Cross Motion for Summary Judgment, Defendants argue that their actions at the November 20, 2012 hearing and in relation to the
The initial burden is on the Plaintiff to demonstrate that no genuine issue of material fact exists and Plaintiff is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. In examining the Plaintiff's claims, the Court shall draw inferences in light most favorable to the Defendants.
If the Plaintiff establishes sufficient factual evidence in support of summary judgment, the burden will then shift to the Defendants to offer more than a mere scintilla of evidence to show that a reasonable jury could find in favor of the Defendants.
As articulated above, upon the commencement of bankruptcy, the continuation of a judicial action or proceeding to recover on a pre-petition claim against the debtor is automatically stayed, by operation of law, pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 362(a)(1).
The factual record shows that even after being sufficiently advised of the Plaintiff's bankruptcy filing, Defendants, through Mr. Merrick, pressed on with the hearing on November 20, 2012. As noted in this Court's findings above, the central goal of Ms. Ruff's Motion for Contempt was to enforce the terms of the Separation Agreement and otherwise compel the Plaintiff to perform under the Separation Agreement and to seek the appointment of a receiver with respect to some of Plaintiff's business interests.
Initially, Mr. Merrick sought to argue that the November 20, 2012 hearing should continue on as a criminal contempt of court proceeding. The domestic court rejected this argument and found that the Weiss case was controlling and dispositive on the issue.
Second, Mr. Merrick sought to have a receiver appointed to the Debtor's assets for when the assets "fall out of bankruptcy." Although Mr. Merrick attempted to clarify that such a receiver would only exercise control over Plaintiff's assets once the assets "fell out" of the bankruptcy estate, this Court is unaware and Defendants
Third, after the domestic court disagreed with Mr. Merrick regarding the nature of the contempt proceedings and declined to appoint a receiver, Mr. Merrick attempted to have the domestic court qualify any award of fees and costs pursuant to COLO. REV. STAT. § 14-10-119 under 11 U.S.C. § 362(b)(2)(A)(ii) so as to except the award from the automatic stay under bankruptcy. Additionally, Mr. Merrick sought from the domestic court an injunction against the Plaintiff-Debtor, enjoining him from disposing or otherwise selling, encumbering, gifting or concealing any assets after the bankruptcy was converted or dismissed.
Finally, on or around November 23, 2012, Mr. Merrick prepared and submitted to the domestic court a proposed order seeking an award of costs and an injunction against the Debtor. On December 5, 2012, the domestic court entered the prepared order against the Debtor.
Defendants engaged in all these actions without first seeking relief from the automatic stay from this Court.
The undisputed facts show that in complete disregard of the Plaintiff's bankruptcy filing, Defendants unsuccessfully sought to continue on with the November 20, 2012 hearing to prosecute a citation for a criminal contempt of court against the Plaintiff and sought the appointment of a receiver for the Plaintiff's assets. Additionally, Defendants successfully obtained an award of fees and an injunction against the Plaintiff. Therefore, the burden now shifts to the Defendants to make a showing that there exist disputes as to material facts in this matter whereby a reasonable jury could find in favor of the Defendants.
Defendants disagree with and deny certain allegations made by the Plaintiff regarding the nature of the proceedings on November 20, 2012 and Mr. Merrick's conduct at the hearing and assert that their actions fell within exemptions of the automatic stay. However, this Court finds that Defendants' denials and disagreements are unsupported by the factual record before the Court.
As articulated above, the continuation of the November 20, 2012 hearing for purposes of pursuing criminal contempt sanctions against the Plaintiff did not fit within the ambit of 11 U.S.C. § 362(b)(1). Moreover, the Order issued by the domestic court on December 5, 2012 was not one excepted from the bar of the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. § 362(b)(2)(B).
The record reflects that Defendants were aware of Plaintiff's bankruptcy filing on November 19, 2012, notwithstanding which, they pressed on with the hearing on November 20, 2012 and went on to obtain an award and an injunction against the Plaintiff-Debtor on December 5, 2012. Under the facts of the case, as established by the various pleadings filed by the Parties — of which the Court finds the complete Transcript of the November 20, 2012 hearing provided by the Plaintiff to be particularly important and relevant — this Court concludes that there are no issues of material facts in dispute here that Defendants violated the automatic stay by (1) continuing on with the November 20, 2012 hearing; (2) seeking the appointment of a receiver against the Plaintiff-Debtor's property; (3) seeking an injunction against the Plaintiff-Debtor; and (4) submitting to the domestic court a proposed order on or around November 23, 2012.
Wherefore, for the aforementioned reasons, Plaintiff's Cross Motion for Summary Judgment against the Defendants' is granted. For the same reasons, Defendants'
Plaintiff further contends that Defendants' actions related to the November 20, 2012 hearing and December 5, 2012 Order constitute willful violations of the automatic stay. Accordingly, Plaintiff seeks a hearing to determine an award for actual and punitive damages pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 362(k)(1).
Pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 362(k)(1) "an individual injured by any willful violation of a stay provided by [section 362] shall recover actual damages, including costs and attorneys' fees, and, in appropriate circumstances, may recover punitive damages."
As elaborated by the Honorable Elizabeth E. Brown:
Plaintiff must prove harm or actual damages with reasonable certainty.
Additionally, the Court must consider the amount of actual damages awarded before ascertaining the amount of punitive damages, if any.
Here, this Court finds that the Defendants had knowledge of the automatic stay that was in effect during the November 20, 2012 hearing and at all times thereafter. Furthermore, this Court finds that the Defendants intended their conduct in relation to the November 20, 2012 hearing December 5 Order. Therefore, the Court concludes that the Defendants conduct constituted willful violations of the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. § 362(k)(1) and the Plaintiff is entitled to actual damages as a matter of law.
Moreover, punitive damages may also be appropriate in the instant case. Important to this Court's consideration is the fact that the record in this case reflects that during the November 20, 2012 hearing, the domestic court repeatedly expressed reluctance and reservations with respect to the proceeding, and to some degree, deferred upon the experience and expertise of counsel present at the November 20, 2012 in the area of bankruptcy law, and, particularly, the experience and expertise of Mr. Merrick.
Indeed, this Court itself has observed Mr. Merrick display an impressive knowledge, level of skill and expertise in the area of bankruptcy law on numerous previous occasions. Despite Mr. Merrick's extensive familiarity with bankruptcy law however, he failed to exercise basic prudence and caution in proceeding in this case after being advised of the Plaintiff's bankruptcy filing.
Specifically, notwithstanding notice of the Plaintiff's bankruptcy, Mr. Merrick aggressively pressed on with the November 20, 2012 hearing. At no point during the November 20, 2012 hearing or any time thereafter did Mr. Merrick take steps to remedy the actions on his part and on behalf of the Defendants. Rather, much to this Court's dismay, following the November 20, 2012 hearing, Defendants went on to obtain from the domestic court an order against the Plaintiff without ever having sought relief from this Court. In light of Mr. Merrick's knowledge, skill and long experience in bankruptcy law, this Court finds Counsel's actions and conduct in this matter to be particularly troubling and unfortunate.
However, without more concrete and substantiated evidence regarding the injuries and costs suffered by the Plaintiff-Debtor in this case, the Court is not able to ascertain the extent of the actual damages suffered by the Plaintiff at this time. Moreover, absent a determination of actual damages and specific evidence regarding each Defendant's individual ability to pay, the Court cannot at this time make a determination as to whether and to what extent punitive damages are appropriate in this case.
Wherefore, the Court shall direct the Plaintiff to file appropriate pleadings with the Court to further prosecute his request for an award of damages pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 362(k)(1) and in accordance with the findings of this Order. Said pleading should specifically allege and try to allocate the responsibility of misconduct, between Ms. Ruff and Mr. Merrick.
Consequently, for the aforementioned reasons,
IT IS ORDERED that the Defendants' Motion to Dismiss, Treated as a Motion for Summary Judgment Federal Rule of Civil
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff's Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment is hereby
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff may, on or before
