Flory et al v. Sauer et al
Filing
5
ORDER granting Plaintiffs' 1 Motion for Judgment Debtor Exam. Judgment Debtor Exam set for 11/1/2013 at 02:00 PM in Courtroom 302, 401 West Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85003 before Magistrate Judge Lawrence O Anderson (see order for complete details). Signed by Magistrate Judge Lawrence O Anderson on 9/30/13.(REW)
1
WO
2
3
4
5
6
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
7
FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Rick L. Floury; Grand Teton Partners,)
LLC, an Arizona limited liability)
partnership; Jackson Hole Partners, LLC,)
an Arizona limited liability partnership;)
Sierra-Sonora Enterprises, Inc., an Arizona)
corporation,
)
)
Plaintiffs,
)
)
vs.
)
)
)
Karl Sauer; JNR Development, LLC, an)
Arizona limited liability company;)
Preventative Maintenance Contract)
Services, LLC, an Arizona limited liability)
company,
)
)
Defendants.
)
)
)
No. MC-13-0080-PHX-LOA
ORDER
20
This action arises on Plaintiffs/Judgment-Creditors’ Motion for Appearance and
21
Examination of Judgment-Debtor Karl Sauer, filed on September 20, 2013. (Doc. 1)
22
Pursuant to the Rules of Practice for the District Court of Arizona (“Local Rules” or
23
“LRCiv”) 3.8(a) and 72.2(a)(6), this civil matter has been randomly assigned to the
24
undersigned United States Magistrate Judge. Plaintiffs, as judgment creditors, request an
25
order requiring Defendant/Judgment-Debtor Karl Sauer to appear, produce documents
26
identified in attached Exhibit A, and answer questions at a certain time and place as ordered.
27
(Id. at 1)
28
1
I. Background
2
On October 30, 2007, Plaintiffs were awarded a judgment in the amount of
3
$55,000.00, entered in the United States Bankruptcy Court, District of Arizona, in an
4
adversary proceeding, Case No. 2:07-ap-00024-CGC. Relying on Federal Rule of Civil
5
Procedure (“Fed.R.Civ.P.”) 69(a)(1) and Arizona Revised Statute (“A.R.S.”) § 12-1631(A),
6
Plaintiffs seek an order from the District Court setting a judgment-debtor examination for
7
Karl Sauer, a defendant in the subject bankruptcy proceedings. (Id. at 2) Plaintiffs’ Motion,
8
however, provides no legal authority or jurisdictional basis that the District Court of Arizona
9
has subject matter jurisdiction to order a judgment-debtor examination other than the fact
10
that the subject judgment was obtained in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District
11
Court of Arizona.
12
The Court has independently reviewed the Bankruptcy Court’s docket in Case No.
13
2:07-ap-00024-CGC, which is related to Karl Sauer’s Chapter 7 proceeding in Case No. BK-
14
06-3127, and confirmed that Karl Sauer was served with process on January 18, 2007, and
15
judgment was entered against him and two limited liability companies on October 31, 2007.
16
(Docs. at 2, 19 in Case No. 2:07-ap-00024-CGC) (See doc. 1-2, Exhibit (“Exh.”) 2 at 1-2)
17
Pursuant to A.R.S. § 12-1612(B), the judgment was renewed on August 27, 2012, via an
18
Affidavit of Renewal of Judgment, indicating that the amount of the original Judgment,
19
including principal, attorneys’ fees, court costs, and accruing interest as of August 15, 2012
20
was $81,776.68. (Id. at doc. 22)
21
II. Subject Matter Jurisdiction
22
“Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction[,]” and “[i]t is presumed that a cause
23
lies outside[]” the jurisdiction of federal courts unless proven otherwise. Kokkonen v.
24
Guardian Life Ins. Co. 511 U.S. 375, 377 (1994). “A [district] court has an obligation to
25
inquire sua sponte into its subject matter jurisdiction, and to proceed no further if such
26
jurisdiction is wanting.” Feldman v. Allstate Ins. Co., 322 F.3d 660, 665 (9th Cir. 2003).
27
A. Bankruptcy Court
28
The United States Constitution authorized Congress to “establish . . . uniform Laws
-2-
1
on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States.” Railway Labor Executives’
2
Ass’n v. Gibbons, 455 U.S. 457, 465 (1982). In 1978, Congress enacted the Bankruptcy
3
Reform Act, which established the U.S. Bankruptcy Code as Title 11 of the United States
4
Code, repealing the Bankruptcy Act of 1898. Pacific Gas and Electric Company v.
5
California ex rel. California Dept. of Toxic Substances Control, 350 F.3d 932 (9th Cir.
6
2003). Congress established the present framework of bankruptcy jurisdiction applicable to
7
the federal courts by its enactment in 1984 of 28 U.S.C. §§ 157 and 1334.1 Stern v. Marshall,
8
131 S.Ct. 2594, 2603 (2011). “Section 28 U.S.C. § 157(b) provides that bankruptcy judges
9
may ‘hear and determine’ all cases under Title 11 and all core proceedings ‘arising under
10
Title 11,’ or ‘arising in’ a case under Title 11. These judgments are subject to appeal as final
11
judgments to the district court or to a bankruptcy appellate panel, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §
12
158.” In re Bays, 2010 WL 3190578, at *1 (Bkrtcy. E.D.Wash. Aug. 11, 2010).
13
“A bankruptcy court’s jurisdiction is established by statute. 28 U.S.C. § 1334(b) gives
14
federal district courts subject matter jurisdiction over ‘all civil proceedings arising under title
15
11, or arising in or related to cases under title 11.” In re Harris, 590 F.3d 730, 736-37 (9th
16
Cir. 2009). Title “28 U.S.C. § 157(a) allows district courts to refer any of these proceedings
17
to bankruptcy courts.” Id. at 737. The District Court of Arizona has a standing general order
18
which “refers to the bankruptcy judges for this district all cases under title 11 and all
19
proceedings under title 11 or arising in or related to a case under title 11 as of the effective
20
date of the present Bankruptcy Act.” General Order 01–15.
21
B. District Courts
22
“Federal district courts have exclusive jurisdiction over all cases under Title 11 of the
23
United States Code, and concurrent jurisdiction over all civil proceedings arising under Title
24
11, or arising in or related to cases under Title 11. 28 U.S.C. § 1334(a), (b).” In re Harris
25
Pine Mills, 44 F.3d 1431, 1434-35 (9th Cir. 1995).
26
27
28
1
Congress updated the bankruptcy laws for the first time since 1978 with the
Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (“BAPCPA”). In re
Flores,
F.3d
, 2013 WL 4566428, at *7 (9th Cir. 2013).
-3-
1
In Peacock v. Thomas, 516 U.S. 349, 356-57 (1996), the Supreme Court held that,
2
while district courts do not have ancillary jurisdiction to entertain a second suit “to impose
3
an obligation to pay an existing federal judgment on a person not already liable for that
4
judgment,” it endorsed the view that federal courts are empowered to enforce their own
5
judgments in supplementary proceedings. Id. at 356. “We have reserved the use of ancillary
6
jurisdiction in subsequent proceedings for the exercise of a federal court’s inherent power
7
to enforce its judgments. Without jurisdiction to enforce a judgment entered by a federal
8
court, ‘the judicial power would be incomplete and entirely inadequate to the purposes for
9
which it was conferred by the Constitution.’” Id. (citation omitted) “[W]e have approved the
10
exercise of ancillary jurisdiction over a broad range of supplementary proceedings involving
11
third parties to assist in the protection and enforcement of federal judgments - including
12
attachment, mandamus, garnishment, and the prejudgment avoidance of fraudulent
13
conveyances.” Id. at 356-57.
14
Based on the foregoing, it presumptively appears that the District Court of Arizona
15
has jurisdiction to enforce a judgment entered in its Bankruptcy Court.
16
III. Supplemental Proceedings
17
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 69 governs enforcement of judgment proceedings in
18
federal courts. Hilao v. Estate of Marcos, 95 F.3d 848, 851 (9th Cir. 1996). In significant
19
part, Rule 69(a)(1) provides that “[i]n aid of the judgment or execution, the judgment
20
creditor . . . may obtain discovery from any person--including the judgment debtor--as
21
provided in these rules or by the procedure of the state where the court is located.” Rule
22
5(a)(1)(A)-(D), Fed.R.Civ.P., requires every order stating that service is required, every
23
pleading after the original complaint, every discovery paper required to be served upon a
24
party, and every non-ex-parte motion shall be served upon each of the parties. According to
25
Rule 5(b)(1), “[i]f a party is represented by an attorney, service . . . must be made on the
26
attorney unless the court orders service on the party.” Rule 5(b)(1), Fed.R.Civ.P. “To
27
paraphrase, Rule 69 provides that state law applies generally, but a federal statute governs
28
to the extent it applies.” Office Depot Inc. v. Zuccarini, 596 F.3d 696, 701 (9th Cir. 2010).
-4-
1
Arizona Revised Statute § 12-1631 “speaks to the judgment creditor’s ability to have
2
an order from the court ordering a judgment debtor to appear [to] answer questions about his
3
assets.” In re Dearborn Const., Inc., 2006 WL 3040761, at *2 (Bkrtcy. D.Ariz. Oct. 24,
4
2006). As a supplemental proceeding, a judgment-debtor examination “seeks only to
5
ascertain what tangible and intangible property the judgment debtor has to satisfy his debts.”
6
Id. (citation omitted). This statute provides as follows:
7
A. When a judgment has been entered and docketed, the judgment creditor,
at any time may:
8
9
1. Have an order from the court requiring the judgment debtor to appear and
answer concerning his property before the court or a referee, at a time and
place specified in the order.
10
11
2. Have a subpoena issued compelling the judgment debtor to appear for
deposition upon oral examination and answer concerning his property at a
time and place specified in the subpoena.
12
13
B. No judgment debtor shall be required to attend out of the county in which
he resides.
14
15
A.R.S. § 12-1631.
16
“There is no federal statute specifically governing renewal of judgments.” Fidelity
17
Nat. Financial, Inc. v. Friedman, 855 F.Supp.2d 948, 962 (D. Ariz. 2012). Thus, Arizona
18
law governs the renewal of the subject bankruptcy judgment herein. Id. at 962-63 (citing,
19
inter alia, In re Davis, 323 B.R. 745, 748 (Bankr. D.Ariz. 2005) (citing Fed. Bankr.R. 7069,
20
incorporating Rule 69(a)(1), Arizona law governs renewal of bankruptcy court judgment
21
registered in Arizona); In re Fifarek, 370 B.R. 754, 759 (Bankr. W.D.Mich. 2007) (“Rule
22
69(a) mandates the practice and procedure of the State of Michigan be utilized to enforce or
23
renew the prior bankruptcy court judgment.”)
24
III. Discussion
25
The Court finds that Rule 69(a), Fed.R.Civ.P., and A.R.S. § 12-1631 authorize
26
Plaintiffs to compel and obtain discovery from Karl Sauer, a judgment debtor, by a
27
judgment-debtor examination. According to Plaintiffs’ filings, Karl Sauer’s last known
28
address was on West Bethany Home Road, Glendale, Maricopa County, AZ. (Doc. 1-2, Exh.
-5-
1
2 at 6) This Court will grant the Motion and will order Karl Sauer to appear before the
2
undersigned Magistrate Judge for Karl Sauer’s judgment-debtor examination as set forth in
3
this Order, answer questions concerning his property, and bring with him all documents
4
listed on Exhibit A to the Motion. Because the Court was not provided any information that
5
Karl Sauer is currently represented by counsel in this action, the Court will order, as
6
Fed.R.Civ.P. 5(a)(1)(A)-(D) directs, that Plaintiffs personally serve Karl Sauer with copies
7
this Order and Plaintiffs’ Motion for Appearance and Examination of Judgment Debtor Karl
8
Sauer, attachments, and the Declaration of Andrew M. Fowler in Support of Motion for
9
Judgment Debtors Exam.
10
Accordingly,
11
IT IS ORDERED that Plaintiffs’ Motion for Appearance and Examination of
12
Judgment Debtor Karl Sauer, doc.1, is GRANTED. Judgment-Debtor Karl Sauer shall
13
appear before Magistrate Judge Lawrence O. Anderson, Sandra Day O’Connor U.S.
14
Courthouse, 401 West Washington, Courtroom 302, Phoenix, Arizona 85003, on Friday,
15
November 1, 2013 at 2:00 p.m., or on a date and time mutually agreed upon by the parties
16
and the Court, to be examined under oath by Plaintiffs’ counsel concerning Judgment-Debtor
17
Karl Sauer’s property, whether real, personal or mixed and whether separate or community.
18
Absent good cause shown and upon a showing of valid service of process as required by this
19
Order, Judgment-Debtor Karl Sauer’s failure to physically appear for his judgment-debtor
20
examination in full compliance with this Order will result in the issuance of a civil arrest
21
warrant for his arrest by the U.S. Marshals Service. Plaintiffs must provide their own court
22
reporter.
23
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Judgment-Debtor Karl Sauer shall bring with him
24
and produce for Plaintiffs’ inspection and copying, on the date and time indicated above, all
25
items listed in Exhibit A to Plaintiffs’ Motion for Appearance and Examination of Judgment-
26
Debtor Karl Sauer, filed on September 20, 2013.
27
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiffs must personally serve Karl Sauer with
28
this Order and Plaintiffs’ Motion for Appearance and Examination of Judgment-Debtor Karl
-6-
1
Sauer, attachments, and Declaration of Andrew M. Fowler in Support of Motion for
2
Judgment Debtors Exam no less than ten (10) days in advance of the aforementioned date
3
of appearance and must file a certificate of such service with the Clerk of Court.
4
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiffs’ counsel must comply with all aspects
5
of the District Court’s Local Rules, including, but not limited to, using proper capitalization
6
in all future captions as mandated by LRCiv 7.1(a)(3), and all filings must be properly filed
7
electronically in text-searchable .pdf format mandated by LRCiv 7.1(c).2
8
Dated this 30th day of September, 2013.
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
2
28
The Declaration of Andrew M. Fowler in Support of Motion for Judgment Debtors
Exam was not properly filed electronically in text-searchable .pdf format
-7-
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?