DALE L. SOMERS, Bankruptcy Judge.
Debtors Jonathan I. Schupbach and Amy N. Schupbach (Debtors) move to dismiss Bank of Commerce & Trust Co.'s (Commerce) Complaint to Determine Dischargeability of Debt and Request to Determine Amount of Debt (Motion). Commerce opposes dismissal. The Court has jurisdiction.
Debtors move to dismiss the claims against them under Bankruptcy Rule 7012(b), incorporating Civil Rule 12(b)(6), which provides for dismissal if the complaint
Debtors filed for relief under Chapter 13 on July 16, 2011. Commerce was listed as an unsecured creditor on Schedule F and included in the mailing matrix. Notice was given that the meeting of creditors would be held on August 18, 2011, and that the deadline to object to Debtors' discharge or to challenge the dischargeability of certain debts was October 17, 2011. One creditor filed a motion to extend time to object to discharge and/or to assert a dischargeability complaint on October 17, 2011. Commerce did not file a dischargeability compliant or move to extend the time to do so on or before October 17, 2011.
During August 2011, two creditors and the Chapter 13 Trustee filed motions to dismiss, premised at least in part upon the allegations that Debtors' unsecured claims exceeded the limits for Chapter 13 eligibility. Debtors filed a motion to convert to Chapter 11 on September 27, 2011. On October 24, 2011, Commerce filed a proof of secured claim for $748,748.72. A review of the attachments show that loans were made to Schupbach Investments, LLC, personally guaranteed by Debtors, and secured by life insurance, mortgages, rents, and other collateral.
The motion to convert to Chapter 11 was granted on November 14, 2011. On December 2, 2011 the clerk gave notice of the Chapter 11 case, of the meeting of creditors to be held on January 6, 2012, and of the March 6, 2012 deadline to file a complaint to determine dischargeability of certain debts. Commerce filed the Complaint on March 6, 2012.
Schupbach Investments, LLC has been engaged in the purchase, ownership, and sale of rental homes in low income areas of Wichita. Debtor Jonathan Schupbach has been the manager and owner of Schupbach Investments, and Debtor Amy Schupbach has been an officer and employee.
At various times, from September 2007 through April 2010, Debtors on behalf of Schupbach Investments, borrowed funds from Commerce for the purpose of renovating, modifying, and improving six particular
Commerce alleges that contrary to Debtors' representations, none of the loan proceeds were used by the Debtors or Schupbach Investments to renovate the particular properties. Count I alleges a claim under § 523(a)(2)
Debtors move to dismiss Count I as untimely filed more than 60 days after the date first set for the meeting of creditors, contending that the date of the meeting set in the Chapter 13 case controls. Commerce responds that the date first set for the meeting in the converted Chapter 11 case controls, and the Complaint was therefore timely.
The Bankruptcy Code does not address the time for filing an objection to dischargeability of a particular debt. The time is set by Bankruptcy Rule 4007(c). It provides that, except for complaints under § 523(a)(6) in Chapter 13 cases, a complaint to determine the dischargeability of a debt under § 523(c) shall be filed no later than 60 days after the first date set for the meeting of creditors under § 341(a). The court shall give all creditors no less than 30 days' notice of the time so fixed in the manner provided in Rule 2002. On motion of a party in interest, after hearing on notice, the court may for cause extend the time fixed under this subdivision. The motion shall be filed before the time has expired.
It is uncontroverted that Commerce did not file the Complaint or move to extend the time for doing so within 60 days of the first date set for the meeting of creditors in the Chapter 13 case but did file the Complaint within 60 days the first date set for the meeting on creditors in the Chapter 11 case.
The issue presented by the Motion to dismiss the § 523(a)(2) claim is whether, in a case which has been converted from a Chapter 13 to Chapter 11, a complaint to except a debt from discharge is timely if filed within 60 days after the first date set for the meeting of creditors in the converted case. There is no rule addressing this issue. There is no case law from Tenth Circuit or other courts. Perhaps this is because "[p]rior to BAPCPA, § 523(a)(2) and (a)(4) were not exceptions to discharge in a Chapter 13 case at the completion of payments under § 1328(a) and there was no reason to wonder whether the deadline for filing a complaint under Bankruptcy Rule 4007 would restart at conversion from Chapter 13 to Chapter 11."
Rule 1019, which addresses conversion of a Chapter 11, Chapter 12, or Chapter 13 proceeding to a Chapter 7 liquidation, was amended in 1987 to be consistent with the "holding and reasoning" of F & M National Bank.
Commerce argues that Rule 1019(3) should apply by analogy. The Court declines to do so. The rationale justifying for a new period to file a complaint in a converted Chapter 7 proceeding is not present when a Chapter 13 proceeding is converted to a Chapter 11 proceeding. A creditor has the same motivation to file an objection to discharge of a particular debt in the Chapter 13 proceeding as in the converted individual Chapter 11 proceeding. To hold that Rule 1019(2) applies by analogy and that the Rule 4007(c) time limit runs from both the first date set for the meeting of creditors in the Chapter 13 proceeding and in the Chapter 11 proceeding would give the creditor a "second bite at the apple" when there has been no change in the relevant discharge rights.
Under § 348, "[c]onversion of a case from a case under one chapter ... to a case under another chapter ... constitutes an order for relief under the chapter to which the case is converted, but, except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section [which do not address § 523], does not effect a change in the date of filing of the petition, the commencement of the case, or the order for relief." Hence, conversion does not create a new case, but it does require a new § 341 meeting, which
Debtors cite Citizens First National Bank
The Court agrees with this reasoning. The fortuitous conversion of Debtors' Chapter 13 case to Chapter 11 should not give Commerce a second chance to timely object to discharge under § 523(a)(2). Such debts are excepted from discharge under both Chapter 13
Finally, the Court holds that the notice date included in the Notice of Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Case,
For the foregoing reasons, the Court finds that the Complaint objecting to discharge
Debtors move to dismiss the § 523(a)(6) claim for failure to state a claim under the Iqbal and Twombly standard discussed above.
The Complaint in Count II incorporates the factual allegations stated above and alleges: that Debtors knew the loan proceeds were to be used on the specific homes; that they knowingly, intentionally, wrongfully, and without justification used the loan proceeds for their benefit and enjoyment; that they injured Commerce when doing so; and that Debtors' acts were willful, intentional, and malicious. The Court finds that Count II states a claim that is plausible on its face. "[T]he conversion of another's property without the owner's knowledge or consent, done intentionally and without justification and excuse, is a willful and malicious injury within the meaning of the [523(a)(6) ] exception."
The Motion to dismiss is denied as to Count II.
In its last Count, Commerce seeks a judicial determination of the amount which is nondischargeable. Debtors move to dismiss the count as unnecessary, arguing that Commerce has filed a proof of claim for $748,748.72 and the amount owed will be determined in the claims allowance process.
The Court will not dismiss the count. The Court reads the Complaint as seeking a determination of the amount which is nondischargeable, not the entire claim. This matter is properly determined in the adversary proceeding challenging dischargeability.
Count I, the § 523(a)(2) claim was filed after expiration of the bar date set in the Chapter 13 case, which passed before the conversion to Chapter 11. Count I is dismissed. The motion to dismiss is denied as to Count II, objection to dischargeability under 523(a)(6), and Count III, for determination of the amount excepted from discharge.
The foregoing constitute Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law under Rule 7052 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure which makes Rule 52(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure applicable to this proceeding.