Filed: Feb. 02, 2017
Latest Update: Feb. 02, 2017
Summary: FURTHER FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW JAMES M. CARR , Bankruptcy Judge . THIS MATTER comes before the Court on remand for further findings of fact from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana pursuant to the Appeal from the United States Bankruptcy Court entered on November 21, 2016 in Case No. 1:16-cv-00706-RLY-DML. The District Court directed this Court to make five further findings of fact and, after making such findings, to make a conclusion of
Summary: FURTHER FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW JAMES M. CARR , Bankruptcy Judge . THIS MATTER comes before the Court on remand for further findings of fact from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana pursuant to the Appeal from the United States Bankruptcy Court entered on November 21, 2016 in Case No. 1:16-cv-00706-RLY-DML. The District Court directed this Court to make five further findings of fact and, after making such findings, to make a conclusion of ..
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FURTHER FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
JAMES M. CARR, Bankruptcy Judge.
THIS MATTER comes before the Court on remand for further findings of fact from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana pursuant to the Appeal from the United States Bankruptcy Court entered on November 21, 2016 in Case No. 1:16-cv-00706-RLY-DML. The District Court directed this Court to make five further findings of fact and, after making such findings, to make a conclusion of law assessing whether Burge1 should have known of Alvarado's fraud or was recklessly indifferent to her acts. With respect to each of the factual issues identified by the District Court, DWD bore the burden of proof at trial.2 Therefore, in the absence of evidence regarding any such factual issue, the Court is compelled to make a finding adverse to the claim of DWD.3
The District Court did not vacate this Court's judgment, did not order a new trial,4 and did not remand for further proceedings. Therefore, following a status conference on January 9, 2017 at which the parties appeared by counsel, were advised by the Court that the Court intends to rule on the matters remanded based upon the evidence produced at the Trial and concurred in this approach, the Court makes the following additional findings of fact and conclusion of law with respect to the following issues identified by the District Court:
(1) Whether Alvarado was (a) making purchases with the debit card directly, (b) withdrawing the funds at an ATM, and/or (c) transferring the funds into Burge's bank account.
PREVIOUS FINDING (¶ 24): ". . . Acting upon the advice of DWD's investigator, Burge cancelled the DWD debit card issued to him because it was still in use. Burge never possessed the DWD debit card."
FURTHER FINDING: There is no further or specific testimonial or documentary evidence in the record with regard to the use of the debit card, including whether Alvarado was making purchases with the debit card directly, withdrawing the funds at an ATM or transferring the funds into Burge's bank account. Therefore, the Court cannot find that Alvarado was or was not making purchases with the debit card directly, withdrawing funds at an ATM or transferring funds into Burge's bank account.
(2) If Alvarado was transferring the funds into Burge's account, how the deposit was described on Burge's bank statement (i.e., was it described in a way that would make clear it came from DWD and not from the state of Washington).
FURTHER FINDING: There is no testimonial or documentary evidence in the record that Alvarado transferred funds into Burge's account. There is no testimonial or documentary evidence in the record regarding the content of Burge's bank statement(s). Therefore, the Court cannot find that Alvarado transferred funds into Burge's account or that Burge's bank statements would have disclosed any such transfer.
(3) If Alvarado was transferring the funds into Burge's account, whether Burge would have discovered the fraud if he had conducted a reasonable review of his bank statements.
FURTHER FINDING: There is no testimonial or documentary evidence in the record that Alvarado transferred funds into Burge's account or regarding the content of Burge's bank statement(s). Therefore, the Court cannot find that Alvarado transferred funds into Burge's account or that Burge would have discovered Alvarado's fraud if he had conducted a reasonable review of his bank statements.
(4) Whether DWD sent a Form 1099-G to Burge in 2010 and 2011.
FURTHER FINDING: There is no testimonial or documentary evidence in the record regarding Form 1099-G and whether it was sent by DWD to Burge in 2010 or 2011. Therefore, the Court cannot find that DWD sent a Form 1099-G to Burge in 2010 or 2011 or that Burge had access to any such tax forms.
(5) If DWD did send the tax forms, whether Burge would have discovered the fraud if he had conducted a reasonable review of his own mail.
FURTHER FINDING: There is no testimonial or documentary evidence in the record regarding Form 1099-G and whether it was sent by DWD to Burge in 2010 or 2011. Therefore, the Court cannot find that DWD sent a Form 1099-G to Burge in 2010 or 2011, that Burge had access to any such tax forms or that Burge would have discovered Alvarado's fraud if he had conducted a reasonable review of his mail.
Based on the Court's previous findings of fact and the further findings of fact made above, the Court concludes that DWD did not sustain its burden to prove that Burge should have known of Alvarado's fraud or that Burge was recklessly indifferent to Alvarado's acts. Therefore, the Court's earlier judgment in favor of Burge and against DWD as to DWD's 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2)(A) claim remains in effect.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
