LENA MANSORI JAMES, UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY JUDGE.
THIS MATTER came before the court for hearing on August 25, 2016, after due and proper notice, upon the verified Motion to Set Aside Entry of Default and Default Judgment ("Motion") filed by defendant Joseph Edward Zering ("Debtor"). The Plaintiff did not file an objection or response to the Motion. Samantha Brumbaugh appeared on behalf of the Debtor and John Sperati appeared on behalf of the plaintiff, Kelli Ferguson ("Plaintiff"). Having considered the Motion, the record in this case and the arguments from counsel, for the reasons stated below, the court will grant the Motion.
The Debtor filed a petition for relief under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code on November 3, 2015. On the petition, the Debtor listed his residence as 250 Sugar Gum Lane, Apt. #252, Pinehurst, North Carolina, 28374 ("250 Sugar Gum Lane Property"), and he listed his mailing address as P.O. Box 4120, Pinehurst, North Carolina, 28374 ("Post Office Box"). There
The Plaintiff filed a complaint commencing the above-captioned adversary proceeding on February 2, 2016 ("Complaint"). In the Complaint, the Plaintiff asserts claims objecting to dischargeability of debt under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2)(A) and 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(4), incorporating a complaint from a state court proceeding commenced by the Plaintiff in the Superior Court, Judicial District of Danbury, Connecticut as an exhibit. In the state court complaint, the Plaintiff asserted claims arising from a failed business relationship against multiple defendants, including the Debtor: (1) breach of contract and covenant of good faith and fair dealing, (2) promissory estoppel, (3) failure to pay wages in violation of Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-72, (4) violation of Conn. Gen. Stat. § 42-110a et seq. Connecticut Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act, (5) breach of fiduciary duty, (6) unjust enrichment, (7) breach of personal guarantees, and (8) constructive trust. Docket No. 1, Exhibit A. The Complaint also incorporates a default judgment awarding compensatory damages for amounts due on claims in the amount of $192,507.75, prejudgment interest of $33,688.86, punitive damages pursuant to Conn. Gen. Stat. § 42-110g(a) of $92,363.86, attorney fees as additional punitive damages of $31,561.25, and costs of $1,457.42 for a total judgment amount of $351,579.14.
On February 17, 2016, the Plaintiff filed a certificate of service certifying that service of the summons and Complaint was made on the Debtor by first class United States mail addressed to the Post Office Box. On April 6, 2016, the Plaintiff filed a motion for entry of default as to the Debtor due to his failure to answer or otherwise respond. The clerk did not enter default, and on April 13, 2016 the Plaintiff requested reissuance of the summons in order to serve the Debtor at the physical address for the 250 Sugar Gum Lane Property (Docket No. 7). The clerk reissued a summons, and on April 25, 2016, the Plaintiff filed a certificate of service certifying that service of the Complaint and reissued summons was made on the Debtor by first class United States mail addressed to both the 250 Sugar Gum Lane Property and the Connecticut Property. On June 3, 2016, the Plaintiff filed another request for entry of default. The clerk entered default on June 15, 2016, and the court entered a default judgment on June 21, 2016.
The Debtor now requests that the court set aside both the entry of default and default judgment, asserting that lack of proper service of the Complaint, initial summons, and reissued summons constitutes good cause.
Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 7055, incorporating Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55 by reference, provides that once a default judgment has been entered, the court may set aside the entry
To succeed under Rule 60(b), the movant must show that (1) the motion is timely, (2) the movant has a meritorious defense, and (3) the opposing party will not be unfairly prejudiced. Park Corp. v. Lexington Ins. Co., 812 F.2d 894, 896 (4th Cir. 1987); Nat'l Credit Union Admin. Bd. v. Gray, 1 F.3d 262, 264 (4th Cir. 1993). After meeting these three threshold requirements, the movant must then satisfy one of the six grounds for relief enumerated in Rule 60(b).
Turning to the first of the three threshold requirements, Rule 60(c) provides that a motion "must be made within a reasonable time — and for reasons (1), (2), and (3) no more than a year after the entry of the judgment or order or the date of the proceeding." Here, the court entered the default judgment on June 21, 2016. The Debtor filed his Motion under Rule 60(b) less than six weeks later on July 29, 2016. After a review of the record and the particular circumstances presented here, including that the Complaint, summons, and reissued summons were not mailed to an address at which the Debtor received mail, the court finds that the Motion is timely for the purposes of Rule 60(b).
As to the second requirement, the movant must show a meritorious defense. "A meritorious defense requires a proffer of evidence which would permit a finding for the defaulting party or which would establish a valid counterclaim." Augusta, 843 F.2d at 812.
Default judgment was entered against the Debtor on two counts, 11 U.S.C. §§ 523(a)(2)(A) and 523(a)(4). Pursuant to § 523(a)(2)(A):
Thus, to establish nondischargeability pursuant to § 523(a)(2)(A), a plaintiff must prove:
In defense of these claims, the Debtor asserts that the Complaint is subject to dismissal for (1) failure to state a claim pursuant to FRCP 12(b)(6); (2) failure to plead with specificity the elements of fraud, reasonable reliance, and that the Plaintiff independently investigated and conducted due diligence as it relates to the statements made by the Debtor pursuant to FRCP 9; (3) being based on conclusory statements, subject to dismissal pursuant to Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009), and Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007); and (4) failure to meet the elements of § 523(a)(2)(A) and (a)(4) on its face, as the Complaint appears to involve a dischargeable debt owed to a disgruntled creditor.
At the hearing, counsel for the Plaintiff argued that the Debtor's potential defenses are technical, rather than on the merits, thus preventing the Debtor from satisfying this second element of Rule 60(b). However, counsel's assertions are inapposite, as meritorious defenses for the purposes of Rule 60(b) are not only limited to whether a party might defeat a case on its merits after a full trial, but also include defenses that would permit a finding for the defaulting party. Augusta, 843 F.2d at 812. The Plaintiff also argues that res judicata precludes the Debtor from litigating the claims on the merits. Thus, satisfying the second threshold factor turns on whether the Debtor may raise any defense to the Plaintiff's claims that would have altered the outcome of the litigation, on the merits or otherwise.
Taking the Debtor's alleged claim sufficiency defenses together, to say that a complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted under Rule 12(b)(6) is to say that it is subject to dismissal pursuant to Iqbal and Twombly. A Rule 12(b)(6) motion is a defense to a claim for relief and provides for dismissal where a party has failed "to state a claim upon which relief can be granted." Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6). The facts alleged must be sufficient "to raise a right to relief above the speculative level" and state a claim "that is plausible on its face." Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955. When considering a motion to dismiss, the court must take all well-pleaded factual allegations as true. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937. Plaintiffs may proceed into the litigation process only when their complaints are "justified by both law and fact." Francis v. Giacomelli, 588 F.3d 186, 192-93 (4th Cir.2009).
To determine plausibility, all facts set forth in the Complaint are taken as true. However, "legal conclusions, elements of a cause of action, and bare assertions devoid of further factual enhancement" will not constitute well-pled facts necessary to withstand a motion to dismiss. Nemet Chevrolet, Ltd. v. Consumerafffairs.com, Inc., 591 F.3d 250, 255 (4th Cir. 2009). Here, the default judgment is based on two claims brought by the Plaintiff, one pursuant to § 523(a)(2)(A) and the other pursuant to § 523(a)(4).
With regard to the sufficiency of the Plaintiff's first claim pursuant to § 523(a)(2)(A), there is a split as to whether heightened pleading is required. Rule 9(b), incorporated by reference via Bankruptcy
Further, even if Rule 9(b) were inapplicable to pleading under § 523(a)(2)(A), the Debtor's argument that the Plaintiff's first claim fails to allege facts necessary to substantiate false pretenses, false representation, or actual fraud is of sufficient merit to satisfy the threshold requirement of Rule 60(b). See Strum v. Exxon Co., 15 F.3d 327,
With regard to sufficiency under Twombly and Iqbal for the Plaintiff's second claim pursuant to § 523(a)(4), the Plaintiff's claim pleads either fraud or defalcation while acting in a fiduciary capacity, and is unclear as to the grounds on which the claim rests. As to the first element, the Plaintiff does not allege fraud pursuant to Rule 9(b), which requires "particularity" in pleading "the circumstances constituting fraud or mistake," as insofar as the Plaintiff fails to plead with sufficient particularity as to her first claim, so too here does the Plaintiff fail to allege fraud with sufficient particularity. However, even were the Plaintiff to be alleging defalcation, the Plaintiff must sufficiently allege a fiduciary duty owed to the Plaintiff by the Debtor. See NC & VA Warranty Co., Inc. v. Fidelity Bank (In re NC & VA Warranty Co., Inc.), 554 B.R. 110, 125 (Bankr. M.D.N.C. 2016) (Kahn, J.) (stating that alleging the mere existence of a contractual relationship is not satisfactory in meeting pleading requirements for fiduciary duty). After review of the Complaint, the court finds that the Debtor sufficiently raises a meritorious defense, namely, that the Plaintiff may have insufficiently pled one or more or the elements of §§ 523(a)(2)(A) and 523(a)(4), so as to satisfy the second threshold factor of Rule 60(b).
Even were the Plaintiff's claims well-pled, the Debtor additionally argues that, on the face of the claims, the Complaint appears to involve a dischargeable debt owed to a disgruntled creditor, impliedly suggesting that the Debtor would succeed in defending the claims at trial. At the hearing, counsel for the Plaintiff asserted that res judicata prevented the Debtor from defending against the Plaintiff's claims in the adversary proceeding as a result of the default judgment entered in the Connecticut case. Whether the Debtor is to be afforded the opportunity to defend against Plaintiff's claims rests with the preclusive effect, if any, of the default judgment that serves as the basis for Plaintiff's claims.
In this case, the default judgment in question was entered by a Connecticut court. The preclusive effect of state court judgments in subsequent federal lawsuits, such as the instant Connecticut judgment, is determined by the full faith and credit statute, providing that state court proceedings "shall have the same full faith and credit in every court within the United States ... as they have by law or usage in the courts of such State ... from which they are taken." 28 U.S.C. § 1738; Marrese v. Am. Acad. of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 470 U.S. 373, 373-74, 105 S.Ct. 1327,
Connecticut courts observe the doctrine of collateral estoppel to "protect the finality of judicial determinations, conserve the time of the court, and prevent wasteful relitigation." Gionfriddo v. Gartenhaus Cafe, 15 Conn.App. 392, 546 A.2d 284, 290 (1988), aff'd, 211 Conn. 67, 557 A.2d 540 (1989). Collateral estoppel prohibits parties from relitigating issues that have already been "actually litigated and necessarily determined in a prior action." Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co. v. Jones, 220 Conn. 285, 596 A.2d 414, 421 (1991). The Connecticut Supreme Court explained:
Dowling v. Finley Associates, Inc., 248 Conn. 364, 727 A.2d 1245, 1251 (1999) (quoting Jackson v. R.G. Whipple, Inc., 225 Conn. 705, 627 A.2d 374, 378 (1993)). For collateral estoppel to apply and preclude rehearing an issue, the issue must have been (1) fully and fairly litigated in the first action, (2) the issue must have been actually decided in the first action, and (3) the decision must have been necessary to the judgment in the first action. Id. at 378 (quoting Virgo v. Lyons, 209 Conn. 497, 551 A.2d 1243 (1988).
As to whether the Plaintiff's claims have been fully and fairly litigated prepetition, Connecticut courts have found that collateral estoppel can be applied to judgments entered on default. Slattery v. Maykut, 176 Conn. 147, 405 A.2d 76, 82 (1978) (stating that a judgment by a court with proper personal and subject matter jurisdiction operates as res judicata even if obtained by default, and is as conclusive as a determination on the merits at trial). Connecticut courts have found that since default judgments reduce entries of default — mere interlocutory rulings — into final judgments that provide affirmative relief, default judgments are on the merits. Segretario v. Stewart-Warner Corp., 9 Conn.App. 355, 519 A.2d 76, 78-79 (1986) (quoting 1 E. STEPHENSON, CONNECTICUT CIVIL PROCEDURE § 156(b), at 625-26 (2d ed. 1970 & Supp. 1982)); see also Bruno v. Geller, 136 Conn.App. 707, 46 A.3d 974, 987 (2012) ("Other final judgments, however, whether rendered by dismissal, default or otherwise, generally are considered judgments on the merits for purposes of res judicata.").
In the instant case, the Debtor appeared and answered the Connecticut complaint, and default was only subsequently entered when the Debtor failed to continue to defend against the Plaintiff's claims. The Connecticut Supreme Court considered a case where default was entered under similar circumstances:
Meinket v. Levinson, 193 Conn. 110, 474 A.2d 454, 456 n. 5 (1984) (quoting RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF JUDGMENTS 5 INTRO. NOTE (AM. LAW. INST. 1982)). Here, the Debtor had opportunity to assert any defenses in the Connecticut lawsuit, but did not avail himself of the opportunity, as was the case in Meinket. Thus, under Connecticut law, the default judgment may have preclusive effect.
In determining whether the judgment in fact precludes the current adversary proceeding, a court must next determine whether the issues were actually decided in the Connecticut lawsuit. In the Plaintiff's Connecticut lawsuit, multiple counts were alleged, and default was entered, but the court's order is ambiguous as to what grounds default was entered. The Connecticut Supreme Court has held, "Where there is more than one possible reason for... [a judgment], and the court ... cannot say that any one is necessarily inherent in the [judgment], the doctrine of collateral estoppel is inapplicable." Dowling v. Finley Assocs., Inc., 248 Conn. 364, 727 A.2d 1245, 1252 (1999) (quoting United States v. Irvin, 787 F.2d 1506, 1515-16 (11th Cir. 1986)); see also Automated Salvage Transport Co. v. Swirsky (In re Swirsky), 372 B.R. 551, 565 (Bankr. D. Conn. 2006). Here, there is more than one possible reason for the judgment. Docket No. 1, Exhibit B. The only claim on which judgment was affirmatively entered was the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act ("CUTPA"). Conn. Gen. Stat. § 42-110b. Thus, CUTPA is the only ground that might prove preclusive.
Section 42-110b provides, "[n]o person shall engage in unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of any trade or commerce." Conn. Gen. Stat. § 42-110b. A violation of CUTPA may be established either by showing an actual unfair or deceptive practice, or by showing a practice to violate public policy. Web Press Servs. Corp. v. New London Motors, Inc., 203 Conn. 342, 525 A.2d 57, 64 (1987). A practice is unfair if it meets one of three criteria:
However, even were the Connecticut court's default judgment under CUTPA more clear, the Plaintiff's instant claims under §§ 523(a)(2)(A) and 523(a)(4) both require intent and reliance. Wrongful intent is required for § 523(a)(2)(A), even if the claim does not allege actual fraud. See Auton v. Smith (In re Smith), Case No. 14-17306, Adv. No. 14-00461, 2016 WL 3943710, *5 (Bankr. D. Md. July 14, 2016). See also Husky Int'l Elecs., Inc. v. Ritz, ___ U.S. ___, 136 S.Ct. 1581, 1586, 194 L.Ed.2d 655 (2016). Neither reliance nor intent are requirements under CUTPA. See Associated Investment Co. Ltd. Partnership v. Williams Associates IV, 230 Conn. 148, 645 A.2d 505 (1994). CUTPA does not require proof of intent to deceive, defraud, or to mislead. Id. at 510; see, e.g., Web Press Services Corp. v. New London Motors, Inc., 203 Conn. 342, 525 A.2d 57 (1987); Sportsmen's Boating Corp. v. Hensley, 192 Conn. 747, 474 A.2d 780 (1984); Hinchliffe v. American Motors Corp., 184 Conn. 607, 440 A.2d 810 (1981). As key elements of § 523(a)(2)(A) are irrelevant to a determination under CUTPA, the default judgment cannot be preclusive as to the Plaintiff's first claim in this proceeding.
As for pleading under § 523(a)(4), a fiduciary capacity is required. Here, the default judgment pursuant to CUTPA is not specific enough to conclude that a fiduciary duty was found. Thus, the Debtor is also not precluded from defending against the Plaintiff's § 523(a)(4) claim.
After consideration of the allegations made in the Complaint and the defenses raised by the Debtor in his verified Motion, including that the Complaint is not sufficiently well pled and that even if it were, the allegations as presently stated suggest that the Debtor could succeed in defending the claims on the merits at trial, the court concludes that the defenses set
Finally, to proceed under Rule 60(b), the Debtor must show that the Plaintiff would not be unfairly prejudiced if the default judgment is set aside. The Plaintiff has neither argued nor provided evidence of unfair prejudice. The Plaintiff's additional time and cost of adjudicating the matter on its merits, standing alone, do not constitute unfair prejudice. See Werner v. Carbo, 731 F.2d 204, 207 (4th Cir. 1984). Thus, the court finds that the Debtor has satisfied the threshold requirements of Rule 60(b), and will grant the Debtor's motion if it satisfies one or more substantive grounds for relief.
Having satisfied the threshold factors, the Debtor is entitled to relief under Rule 60(b) if one of the six grounds for relief is met:
In his Motion, the Debtor relies on Rule 60(b)(4), that the judgment is void by reason of improper service, as well as Rule 60(b)(6). Rule 60(b)(4) is concerned with proper service in instances where personal jurisdiction has not yet been established, as the Fourth Circuit has noted "[a judgment] is void only if the court that rendered it lacked jurisdiction of the subject matter, or of the parties, or if it acted in a manner inconsistent with due process of law." Schwartz v. U.S., 976 F.2d 213,217 (4th Cir. 1992) (quoting 11 CHARLES ALAN WRIGHT & ARTHUR R. MILLER, FEDERAL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE § 2862 (1973)). The Plaintiff argues that subsection (b)(4) is not applicable in the instant case because the court clearly has both subject matter and personal jurisdiction over the Debtor. The court need not reach a determination on the applicability of Rule 60(b)(4) to the instant case as the court finds it appropriate to grant the Debtor relief under subsection (b)(6).
Rule 7004(b)(1) provides that service may be made within the United States by first class mail postage prepaid "[u]pon an individual other than an infant or incompetent, by mailing a copy of the summons and complaint to the individual's dwelling house or usual place of abode or to the place where the individual regularly conducts a business or profession." Not one of the three addresses at which the Plaintiff attempted to serve the Complaint, the summons, and reissued summons on the Debtor by first class mail satisfies the requirement of Rule 7004. The record clearly establishes that the Connecticut Property was not the Debtor's usual place of dwelling or abode, as he last lived there in November 2014. Clearly, a post office box does not qualify as a dwelling or abode, and the 250 Sugar Gum Lane Property does not receive United States mail service.
In addition, there is no evidence that Debtor was attempting to avoid service. In fact, the parties do not dispute that the Debtor provided his previous attorney with updated contact information in Massachusetts.
Having vacated the default judgment pursuant to Rule 60(b), good cause exists under Rule 55 to set aside entry of default. The Fourth Circuit determines "good cause" under Rule 55 using the following factors, "(1) whether the moving party has a meritorious defense, (2) whether it acts with reasonable promptness, (3) the personal responsibility of the defaulting party, (4) the prejudice to the party, (5) whether there is a history of dilatory action, and (6) the availability of sanctions less drastic." Baker v. Durham Cty. S.W.A.T. Team, No. 1:14CV878, 2016 WL 2621972, *2 (M.D.N.C. May 5, 2016) (quoting Payne ex rel. Estate of Calzada v. Brake, 439 F.3d 198, 205 (4th Cir. 2006)). In the instant case, there is a meritorious defense, the Motion to Vacate was filed within weeks of judgment being entered, and the defaulting party was not served pursuant to Rule 7004; moreover, the Complaint, summons, and reissued summons were mailed only to undeliverable or stale addresses. Further, the Debtor has no history of dilatory action in this adversary proceeding and there is no prejudice to the Plaintiff for having to litigate on the merits. Finally, there are no sanctions less drastic, as either the default judgment stands and the Plaintiff's claim is adjudicated nondischargeable, or default is vacated and the parties are left to try the claims.
Thus, consistent with constitutional principles of due process, as well as the Fourth Circuit's more liberal application of Rule 60(b) when a default judgment is at issue, with any doubts resolved in favor of setting aside the default so that the case may be heard on the merits, and in this court's discretion, the court shall vacate the default judgment and set aside the entry of default. A separate order shall be entered consistent with this memorandum opinion.
