Alan C. Stout, United States Bankruptcy Judge
This matter is before the Court after the conclusion of a trial on the merits of the cause of action brought by Plaintiff, Security Seed and Chemical, Inc. ("Security Seed"), against Defendants, Roger Daryl French and Dena G. French, under 11 U.S.C. § 523 and the Defendants' Motion to Avoid Lien filed in the main bankruptcy case. In its complaint seeking a determination of nondischargeability, the Plaintiff also included two separate counts to determine the validity of liens. Both the Plaintiff and the Defendants appeared at trial and were represented by counsel. At the trial, the parties presented evidence, both written and documentary. Upon consideration of the evidence presented, the Court enters the following Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law pursuant to Fed. R. Bank. P. 7052.
The Defendants are agriculture producers. The Defendants grow row crops, including corn, winter wheat, and soybeans in the vicinity of Union County, Kentucky. Mr. French has been in the farming business for his entire adult life and has immediate family members in the farming business. At various times, Mr. French has also driven tractor-trailers to haul crops and coal as a source of additional income.
In late 2012 and early 2013, the Defendants were suffering financial difficulties. By March of 2013, the Defendants were overdrawn on their two bank accounts. Specifically, the "farm account" at United Community Bank was overdrawn on seven (7) occasions between March 13 — March 21, 2013. The "joint checking account" with the same bank was overdrawn on five occasions between February 27 — March 12, 2013.
In February 2013, Mr. French approached Security Seed to purchase seed, fertilizer, and chemicals he would need for the upcoming crop year. Mr. French had been a customer of Security Seed dating as far back as 2010, and he had a line of credit with that company from that date forward through the crop season 2013. Each prior line of credit had been paid off in full from crop proceeds at the end of each crop season.
The Plaintiff advised Mr. French that he needed to obtain financing through AgQuest Financial Services, Inc. ("AgQuest") in order to purchase products on credit. A Security Seed employee furnished Daryl French with an AgQuest loan application (the "Loan Application"). Mr. French completed the handwritten figures on the Loan Application. Mr. French signed the Loan Application and then gave it to Mrs. French to sign. Mrs. French testified that she signed the application in reliance that Mr. French completed it correctly. Mrs. French did not consult any financial records to verify the accuracy of the financial representations on the Loan Application. She also testified that she had no first-hand knowledge of the financial information contained in the Loan Application.
The Defendants requested financing from AgQuest for an operating line of credit to purchase farm inputs such as seed, pest control, and fertilizer. The Defendants were familiar with the lending process in order to obtain farm loans. In that regard, the Defendants have completed a number of farming loan applications over the years with various lenders.
On February 28, 2013, the Defendants signed and delivered to the Plaintiff the Loan Application requesting a $50,000 line of credit. Under the line of credit, the Defendants could purchase seed, chemical and fertilizer from Security Seed, which would then be paid by AgQuest in the short term until the Defendants then paid the line of credit off at the end of the crop season.
The Loan Application was forwarded to AgQuest by Security Seed via facsimile on March 21, 2013. The Loan Application consisted of basic information, including financial information. The first page of the application contains three columns and, as filled in, those columns report as follows:
Gross Farm Income $504,000.00 Non-Farm Income $150,000.00 Source of Non-Farm Income Trucking Assets: Current Assets $300,000.00 Non-Current Assets $ [Blank] Long Term Assets $ 45,000.00 Total Assets $345,000.00 Liabilities: Current Liabilities $ 45,000.00 Term Liabilities $ [Blank] Long Term Liabilities $ 25,000.00 Total Liabilities $ 65,000.00 1 Net Worth $280,000.00
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Shane Mays testified that he is a business relationship manager for AgQuest in Western Kentucky. He personally received the Defendants' loan application when it was faxed on March 21, 2013. In order to process a credit request for less than $200,000, AgQuest only requires the loan application, a copy of the applicant's driver's license, and a retailer reference. The Defendants provided all of this required information.
For this particular loan program, AgQuest uses a three part underwriting criteria to evaluate the loan application. First, the loan request cannot be greater than 20% of the applicant's net-worth. Second,
AgQuest evaluated the Loan Application submitted by the Defendants. The Defendants' loan request met the first underwriting criteria, since the loan amount was for less than 20% of their stated net-worth. Mr. Mays testified that with regard to this first guideline, under no circumstances would AgQuest ever make a loan of any kind where the applicant had a negative net-worth. Mr. Mays explained that, in such an instance, the loan application would not even be sent for an OTS score. Mr. Mays further testified that if a debtor's net worth was $0, then no loan would be made.
As to the second guideline, the Defendants' loan request met the required owner's equity of greater than 50%. Mr. Mays stated that the Defendants' application met this requirement with an owners equity position of approximately 80%. ($275,000/$345,000: 79.7%).
AgQuest then sent the application to OTS, which produced the "OTS Score." The score on this particular application was 204 or 206. Any score above 200 resulted in a loan approval. A score below 200 would have required that the proposed debtor provide AgQuest balance sheets and a prior history.
In evaluating the Loan Application, OTS also performed a credit check.
Neither AgQuest nor Security Seed requested any additional information such as tax returns, additional financial statements, or balance sheet from the Defendants in connection with the Loan Application. Mr. Mayes testified that it was critical for his lending institution to have accurate financial information on loan applications from potential debtors.
While the Defendants listed liabilities at only $65,000 on the Loan Application, according to the Defendants' sworn interrogatories, at the time of the Loan Application, their actual liabilities totaled $498,265. By using the Defendants' actual liabilities in the amount of $498,265 and the $345,000 listed in assets on the loan application, at the time the loan was made, the Defendants had a negative net-worth of (-$153,265). Accordingly, the loan application overstated the Defendants' net-worth by $428,265 (difference between - 153,265 to + 275,000).
Mr. French tried to explain this large discrepancy, by stating that when he completed the liabilities section, he believed the section was asking for his yearly payment amounts, rather than the total liabilities owed. Mr. French assumed the information being requested was the amount of the payments due on various liabilities during the course of the coming year, rather than the total amount of those liabilities.
Evidence was introduced that Mr. French has only a high school education. Mr. French specifically testified that he did not intend to deceive the Plaintiff when he filled out the application. He also testified that he had every intention of repaying
However, evidence was also produced that he had run a farming operation since 2001 or 2002, and that he had financed his crop needs for several years prior to this particular loan.
The Loan Application was approved, and on or about April 9, 2013, the Defendants executed an instrument styled Companion Direct Promissory Note and Loan Agreement (referred to as the "2013 Direct Loan"). The 2013 Direct Loan provided the Defendants a line of credit up to $50,000, with a 7.25% interest rate. The line of credit was available for the purchase of agriculture products and inputs available through the authorized retailer, Security Seed & Chemical, Inc.
Additionally, pursuant to the terms of the 2013 Direct Loan, the Plaintiff would be entitled to recover all its costs, expenses, and fees, including reasonable attorney's fees, incurred by AgQuest as the result of the enforcement of the agreement or collection of the indebtedness.
During the course of the 2013 crop year, the Defendants purchased various agriculture products and inputs under the 2013 Direct Loan. Specifically, on or about May 8, 2013, AgQuest advanced principal in the amount of $22,524.75, and on or about May 8, 2013, AgQuest advanced principal in the amount of $21,130.25. Finally, on or about May 8, 2013, AgQuest advanced principal in the amount of $5,921.61. The sum of $49,576.62 in credit was advanced under the 2013 Direct Loan for purchases made by the Defendants over the crop season from Security Seed.
Mr. French made a second loan application ("Second Loan Application") in October, 2013 for the 2014 crop year. The Court is unsure how much Mr. French actually requested because Mr. Mays altered the document by whiting out the loan amount and inserting the figure of $60,000 in the Loan Amount Requested Box.
With this Second Loan Application, however, the Defendants' OTS Score had fallen from 206 to 174, thus triggering an additional review. As part of the additional review, AgQuest required a balance sheet and a copy of 2012 tax return. Upon review of this additional information by a credit officer, this second loan application was not approved and did not close.
AgQuest perfected its security interest by filing a Financing Statement with the office of the Kentucky Secretary of State on January 16, 2014.
Due to flooding, crop season 2013 was a disaster. The tax returns show that Mr. French's farming income fell dramatically. While he did receive crop insurance proceeds, 2013 was still a bad financial year for the Defendants. In addition to the lower farming income, Mr. French's trucking business also fell off drastically due to cut backs, rising gas prices, and the closing of coal mines in the Union County area.
The 2013 Direct Loan matured on November 30, 2013. The Defendants defaulted on the 2013 Direct Loan by failing to repay the total amount owed by the maturity date. Since that time, the Defendants made no voluntary payments of either principal or interest on the 2013 Direct Loan. AgQuest assigned all of its rights arising under the $50,000 line of credit to Security Seed by virtue of an instrument dated July 14, 2014, that is styled "Assignment of Promissory Note and Loan Agreement and Financing Statement."
Due to the default, Plaintiff filed suit against the Defendants and on October 21, 2014, the Plaintiff obtained a Default Judgment from the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Case No. 4:14-cv-00093-M in the principal amount of $141,054.26. Of this amount, $54,027.95 was attributed to the 2013 Direct Loan and $87,026.31 was attributed to the Open Account.
Subsequently, a Writ of Execution was issued to the Sheriff of Union County, Kentucky. The Execution Order issued March 3, 2015, was returned bearing the date of March 13, 2015, by the Sheriff of Union County, Kentucky, reflecting that it was served on the Defendant, Dena G. French, and Defendant Roger Daryl French. Dena French's Levying Officer's Return noted: "Located all items on asset list other than the 2005 Sea Ray. Dena advised it was in Illinois." Roger French's Levying Officer's Return notes: "Located all items other than 2005 Sea Ray. Dena advised it was in IL." There was no evidence presented that the sheriff took possession of any of the items that were described on the attachment to the Execution Order.
On September 9, 2015, the Defendants filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection. The Plaintiff timely commenced this adversary proceeding on December 1, 2015, seeking to except these debts from discharge, as well as a ruling on the validity and extent of its liens. On October 27, 2015, the Defendants filed a Motion to Avoid the Plaintiff's judicial lien on real property.
This Court has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1334. This adversary proceeding is a core proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(I) and (K) and venue is proper under 28 U.S.C. § 1409(a). The parties have submitted to the jurisdiction of this Court.
Plaintiff seeks to except the discharge of this debt under 11 U.S.C.
The relevant statutory provision is contained in 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2)(B), which provides as follows:
Under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2)(B), a debt may be declared non-dischargeable if four elements are met. First, the debtor must have obtained money or credit by use of a written statement that is materially false. Second, it must be respecting the debtor's or an insider's financial condition. Third, it must have been reasonably relied upon by the creditor. Fourth, it must have been caused to be made or published with intent to deceive.
The Court will first start with Mrs. French. While it is true that Mrs. French signed the Loan Application, and that it did contain materially false financial information, it is equally true that Mrs. French did not cause the information to be made or published with an intent to deceive. The uncontroverted evidence was that Mr. French was responsible for filling out the Loan Application and submitting it to the Plaintiff. Absolutely no evidence was presented suggesting that Mrs. French took part in the preparation of the document or that she intended to deceive the Plaintiff with the false information. As such, all claims against Mrs. French fail.
Turning to Mr. French, the Court believes that the claims of the Plaintiff can be separated into two separate categories: (1) the debt arising from the Loan Application and the 2013 Direct Loan; and (2) the debt arising from the Open Account. The Court will first address the 2013 Direct Loan.
With respect to the 2013 Direct Loan, the Court has no problem finding the first three elements are met. As stated above, funds were advanced based upon the February 28, 2013 Loan Application. That application was in writing and was clearly materially false. In addition to other erroneous entries, Mr. French listed liabilities of only $65,000, when in fact his liabilities were closer to $500,000. Such a discrepancy is clearly material.
The Court also finds that the Plaintiff reasonably relied upon the information contained in the loan application. Testimony was presented that had the true financial information been disclosed, this
The Defendants contest the reliance element of the statute. They first argue that the credit application was made not to Security Seed but rather to AgQuest. The Defendants appear to be disregarding the fact that the note was validly assigned to Security Seed from AgQuest. As such, the Court may test AgQuest's reliance, rather than Security Seed's reliance.
Second, Mr. French argues that the Loan Application was not relied upon to decide if a loan would be made, but rather was used solely to determine how much a loan would be approved. The Defendants argue that this reliance does not meet the requirements of § 523(a)(2)(B)(iii). This argument, however, overlooks the fact that testimony was provided that had Mr. French listed his true financial situation, with a negative net worth, no loan would have been approved.
"Generally, courts have held that `reasonable reliance' is a question of fact to be determined in light of the totality of the circumstances."
In this case, the Plaintiff did have a close personal relationship with the Defendants. Mr. Thomas testified that the Plaintiff had a relationship with Mr. French and his family. Plaintiff had provided the Defendants financing for several years prior to the 2013 Direct Loan, with no problems. The debt was incurred by Defendants for business reasons. While the credit report indicating slightly higher liabilities than listed may have raised a red flag, it was not so substantial to taint the whole analysis of the Loan Application. Finally, and most significantly, AgQuest did perform an investigation, minimal as it was, and it did not uncover the massive amount of liabilities the Defendants failed to list on the Loan Application. In light of the totality of the circumstances in this case, the Plaintiff has demonstrated that it reasonably relied upon the Defendants' statements in the Loan Application.
The Defendants take great issue with the fact that the Plaintiff never required tax returns, a balance sheet, or other financial documents when making its decision to loan money. However, when a loan is relatively small, especially when compared
This leaves the final element to be determined: whether Mr. French submitted materially false financial information with the intent to deceive. Mr. French contends that he did not make or publish the financial statement with intent to deceive the Plaintiff. To succeed on its complaint, the Plaintiff must prove that Mr. French's false written statement was either knowingly false or made so recklessly as to warrant a finding that the he acted fraudulently.
Here, the Court finds that Mr. French's written financial statement was knowingly made false with intent to deceive. The Loan Application requested information as to the total liabilities. Rather than listing his total liabilities of close to $500,000.00, Mr. French instead listed the much smaller figure of $65,000.00. Mr. French's explanation that he believed that the application was asking for only his yearly payments is simply not credible or plausible.
The Court supports this finding by again noting that, as to financing farming operations, Mr. French was quite adept, having financed his farming operations for several years. Mr. French had filled out several loan applications in the past, and was quite familiar with the terminology of the application. The Court simply cannot believe that Mr. French saw this question asking for current liabilities and legitimately thought it was asking for a payment figure as opposed to total liabilities. There was no language in the Loan Application suggesting a request for debt payment information. Instead, the Loan Application clearly requested income, assets, liabilities. This information, per the Loan Application, was to be used to determine "Net Worth." How would providing loan payment information assist in calculating net worth?
Additionally, Mr. French clearly needed financing to continue his farming operations, and knew that if his true liabilities were listed, it would be likely that his loan request would be denied. Mr. French knew he could not farm the 2013 season without financial assistance, and he had every incentive to fabricate the numbers to show a better financial condition than he was actually in.
Because the Plaintiff proved by a preponderance of the evidence all the elements required to except a debt from discharge under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2)(B), the debt associated with the 2013 Direct Loan is excepted from discharge. Said debt includes post judgment interest as well as the Plaintiff's costs, expenses, and fees, including reasonable attorney's fees, incurred as the result of the enforcement of the agreement or collection of the indebtedness.
The Court now turns to the debt associated with the Open Account. According to the Default Judgment entered by the United States District Court, this debt totals some $87,026.31 as of October 123, 2014. This debt was incurred on an Open Account for various chemicals, fertilizer, and/or seed.
This debt is somewhat more problematic. Unlike the 2013 Direct Loan, the evidence is not at all clear that this debt was obtained by the use of a false written statement, that there was any reliance, much less reasonable reliance, or that the statement, if there was one, was published with an intent to deceive.
To begin, no evidence was presented as to how or why this credit was extended. Much of the evidence presented at trial concerned only the 2013 Direct Loan. Mr. Cory Thomas, the representative of the Plaintiff, was asked the following question: "So now when Security Seed got past $50,000, it knew it was lending money for which it had no right to expect payment from AgQuest, didn't it?" He responded, "I think we had an application going to the grower to extend his amount of credit there at that time." Based upon this testimony, it appears to the Court the Open Account credit was extended upon the Second Loan Application that, in the end, was never approved.
Later in his testimony, Mr. Thomas admitted that the Open Account credit was issued without being approved by AgQuest. He indicated that the credit was based upon a "new application," and that the credit was extended prior to the "new application" going through the AgQuest and OTS screening process. When questioned on this, Mr. Thomas testified they "were probably relying on his first application," even though the first application (the Loan Application) only requested a line of credit of $50,000.
Plaintiff appears to be arguing that the Open Account credit was also based upon the Loan Application, but this would clearly conflict with the terms of the amount borrowed under that document. That document called for a line of credit up to $50,000, while this Open Account clearly exceeded that figure.
Assuming arguendo that the Loan Application was the basis for the Open Account credit extension, the Plaintiff's reliance on the Loan Application for this additional credit would be seriously questioned. Plaintiff would not have been following its own procedure for extending credit. Moreover, relying upon the Loan Application that, at best, should be considered stale, would not be reasonable. "Where a bank relies on stale financial statements, and never inquires as to whether the statements actually reflect the debtor's
The Court believes rather that the Plaintiff extended the Open Account credit on the belief that the Second Loan Application would be eventually approved. Mr. Thomas' testimony that "we had an application going" supports this conclusion. Additionally, Mr. Thomas confirmed that the amount to be borrowed on the second application was changed to reflect an amount ($60,000) that is surprisingly close to an amount ($60,783.36) that had been lent over the original $50,000. Because that Second Loan Application was eventually denied, the Plaintiff is now trying to bootstrap
Finally, even if the Plaintiff had proved that the Open Account credit was based upon the Loan Application, and that it had reasonably relied upon that document for additional financing, no evidence was presented as to the Defendants' intent with respect to this additional financing. Because the Court does not believe the Open Account debt is tied into the original Loan Application, the Court will not impute the fraudulent intent of the original Loan Application to the subsequent Open Account credit. No evidence was presented that Mr. French intended the original Loan Application to be used for subsequent credit, and there is no evidence that he intentionally gave this false statement with the intent to deceive to obtain additional credit.
Absent showing a materially false written document, any reasonable reliance, and any fraudulent intent with respect to the Open Account, the Court cannot except this debt from discharge under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2)(B).
The Court now turns to the second count of the Plaintiff's complaint. Count II asked the Court to determine the validity and of the Plaintiff's lien on several pieces of personal property.
As found above, the Plaintiff obtained a default judgment against the Defendants on October 30, 2014. According to Rule 69(a)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a "money judgment is enforced by a writ of execution, unless the court directs otherwise. The procedure on execution — and in proceedings supplementary to and in aid of judgment or execution — must accord with the procedure of the state where the court is located, but a federal statute governs to the extent it applies." Fed.R. Civ. P. 69.
Under state law, Kentucky Revised Statute § 426.383 provides as follows: "A lien shall be created on the property of the defendant by the levy of the attachment; or by service of the summons, with the object of the action indorsed thereon, on the person holding or controlling his property." Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 426.383 (Baldwin 1991). Additionally, Kentucky courts have held that
Upon examining the record in the case at hand, the Court cannot find that there was ever an actual levy on any property. An Execution Order was issued to the Sheriff of Union County, Kentucky. The Execution Order issued March 3, 2015, was returned bearing the date of March 13, 2015, by the Sheriff of Union County, Kentucky, reflecting that it was served on the Defendant, Dena G. French, and Defendant Roger Daryl French. Dena French's Levying Officer's Return noted that "Located all items on asset list other
The Plaintiff argues that physical possession is not required, and that when the levying officer serves the execution with "particularity and distinctness," the debtors may continue to hold property as the bailee for the levying officer. Plaintiff cites
Plaintiff also cites
The Plaintiff also argues that so long as the levying officer exercises dominion and control over property, he may leave it in the possession of another. In the case of
The Court is not faced with the situation where an actual seizure took place, and then the property is left in another's possession. The
This Court finds a Levying Officer's Return which simply states that he located property is sufficient to indicate that he brought the property within his immediate control, or that he did something which is the equivalent as exercising dominion over the property.
The Court now turns to Count III of the complaint, the request to determine the validity of the judgment lien. In its complaint, the Plaintiff states "[following] the entry of judgment in Case No. 4:14-cv-00093-M, the Plaintiff filed a judgment lien in the office of Union County Clerk on November 6, 2014, Encumbrance Book 33, Page 46."
Judgment liens are created by KRS 426.720, which provides in pertinent part:
Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 426.720(1).
Upon review of the record in this case, the Court can find no evidence that the judgment was recorded with the county clerk. Nevertheless, the Defendants' answer admitted that the Plaintiff filed a judgment lien in the office of Union County Clerk on November 6, 2014, Encumbrance Book 33, Page 46. In light of this admission, the Court finds that the Plaintiff has a valid and enforceable judgment lien on the Defendants' real property located in union County, Kentucky.
Finally, this takes the Court to the Motion to Avoid Lien filed by the Defendants in the main bankruptcy case. In the motion, the Defendants seek to avoid the Plaintiff's judgment lien as it pertains to specific real property. Pursuant to § 522(f), the Defendants claim that this judicial lien impairs their exemption in the property described in the motion.
Section 522 of the Bankruptcy Code exempts certain property from the bankruptcy estate. 11 U.S.C. § 522. Section 522(f) addresses the avoidance of certain liens and provides, in relevant part:
Upon review of the record in this case, no evidence was presented at trial by the Defendants as to the value of the property, the other liens on the property, the exemptions claimed on the property, or any of the other elements necessary to support a motion of this type. Consequently, the Defendants did not carry their burden of proof and the Court must deny the Motion to Avoid Lien.
The Court would first like to compliment counsel on the way this case was tried. Both counsel were prepared and did an excellent job of presenting their clients' cases. As stated above, the Court finds the entire debt dischargeable as to the Defendant, Dena French. With respect to the Defendant, Roger French, the Court finds that the Plaintiff proved by a preponderance of the evidence all the elements required to except a debt from discharge under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2)(B), and the $54,027.95 debt associated with the 2013 Direct Loan is excepted from discharge. Said debt includes post judgment interest as well as the Plaintiff's costs, expenses, and fees, including reasonable attorney's fees, incurred as the result of the enforcement of the agreement or collection of the indebtedness. The Court does not find, however, that Plaintiff carried its burden of proof with respect to the debt created by the Open Account. Absent showing a materially false written statement, any reasonable reliance, and any fraudulent intent with respect to the Open Account, the Court cannot except this debt from discharge under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2)(B).
With respect to Count II of the complaint, without proof of an actual levy, the Court cannot find that the Plaintiff has a valid lien created by the sheriff's levy. The Court can find, however, that with respect to Count III, the Plaintiff has a valid judgment lien by its recording of the judgment with the Union County Clerk.
Finally, without any evidence presented to support the motion, the Court must deny the Defendant's Motion to Avoid Lien. A separate Judgment and Order consistent with the foregoing will be entered in accordance with Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 9021.
Pursuant to the Court's Memorandum entered this same date and incorporated herein by reference, and the Court being otherwise sufficiently advised,
