Filed: Mar. 20, 2003
Latest Update: Feb. 21, 2020
Summary: UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 02-51027 In the Matter of: JOSE H. GARCIA, JR. Debtor. LOIS W. BREMNER, Appellant, versus JOSE H. GARCIA, JR. Appellee. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas (SA-02-CV-506) March 20, 2003 Before BARKSDALE, DeMOSS, and BENAVIDES, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Lois Bremner appeals, pro se, the district court's affirmance of the bankruptcy court’s ruling a debt under a construction contract between Garc
Summary: UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 02-51027 In the Matter of: JOSE H. GARCIA, JR. Debtor. LOIS W. BREMNER, Appellant, versus JOSE H. GARCIA, JR. Appellee. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas (SA-02-CV-506) March 20, 2003 Before BARKSDALE, DeMOSS, and BENAVIDES, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Lois Bremner appeals, pro se, the district court's affirmance of the bankruptcy court’s ruling a debt under a construction contract between Garci..
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UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
No. 02-51027
In the Matter of: JOSE H. GARCIA, JR.
Debtor.
LOIS W. BREMNER,
Appellant,
versus
JOSE H. GARCIA, JR.
Appellee.
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Western District of Texas
(SA-02-CV-506)
March 20, 2003
Before BARKSDALE, DeMOSS, and BENAVIDES, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Lois Bremner appeals, pro se, the district court's affirmance
of the bankruptcy court’s ruling a debt under a construction
contract between Garcia and Bremner is not nondischargeable under
11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2)(A) (debt nondischargeable if obtained through
false pretenses, false representation, or actual fraud).
*
Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that
this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except
under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4.
Bremner contends the bankruptcy court erred in finding there
was a single contract for laying a gravel pad and foundation, and
in concluding the debt was not obtained by false pretense, false
representation, or actual fraud. The bankruptcy court’s factual
findings are reviewed for clear error; mixed questions of law and
fact, de novo. E.g., In re Mercer,
246 F.3d 391, 402 (5th Cir.
2001) (en banc); FED. R. BANKR. P. 8013.
Section 523(a)(2)(A) contemplates fraud or misrepresentation
involving moral turpitude. RecoverEdge L.P. v. Pentecost,
44 F.3d
1284, 1292 & 193 n.16 (5th Cir. 1995). False pretenses or
representations require showing: (1) knowing or fraudulent
falsehoods; (2) that describe past or current facts; (3) which were
relied upon by the other party.
Id. at 1293. Actual fraud
requires: (1) debtor made representations; (2) when made, debtor
knew they were false; (3) representations made with intent to
deceive; (4) creditor relied on such representations; and (5)
creditor sustained losses as a proximate result.
Id. at 1293. Of
course, the creditor has the burden of proof. E.g., Matter of
Hudson,
107 F.3d 355, 365 (5th Cir. 1997).
The bankruptcy court: (1) did not clearly err in determining
that the construction agreement was a single contract, not two,
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separate ones; and (2) did not err in concluding that, although
Garcia breached the contract, he did not make false representations
or commit actual fraud.
AFFIRMED
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