United States of America v. Badgley

Filing 13

ORDER granting 12 Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by Judge James I. Cohn on 3/22/2012. (prd)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
CASE NO. 11-81371-CIV-COHN
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff,
vs.
DANIELLE BADGLEY,
Defendant.
___________________________/
ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
THIS CAUSE is before the Court upon Plaintiff United States of America’s
Motion for Summary Judgment [DE 12]. Defendant has failed to respond to the motion
by the deadline of March 19, 2011, though the Court has reviewed Defendant’s prior
response to the Complaint [DE 9]. The Court has carefully considered the motion and
is otherwise fully advised in the premises.
I. BACKGROUND
The facts of this action are not in dispute. Plaintiff signed a promissory note on
January 23, 2002 and received a Direct Consolidation loan from the United States
Department of Education. Exhibits A and B to Motion [DE’s 12-2 and 12-3]. The
Certificate of Indebtedness filed with the present motion states that the loan was
“disbursed for $6,225.05 on April 4, 2002 and $7,402.43 between April 4, 2002 and
February 4, 2003, at 6.38 percent interest per year.” Exhibit B to Motion [DE 12-3].
The loan was made by the Department under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan
Program Title IV, Part D of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, 20 U.S.C.
§ 1087a, et seq. (34 C.F.R. Part 685). Id.

Defendant defaulted on her student loan obligation on September 24, 2007. A
total of $2,477.49 in unpaid interest was capitalized and added to the principal balance
pursuant to 34 C.F.R. § 685.202(b). Id. The Department of Education credited a total
of $349.06 in payments from all sources, including Department of Treasury offsets,
leaving a total debt as of December 16, 2010, of $16,072.94 in principal plus $5,523.91
in interest. On November 11, 2011, the United States Department of Justice notified
Defendant by mail of her balance and that the action was being referred to private
counsel, David E. Newman, P.A., to initiate a legal action to collect this debt. This
action followed on December 20, 2011. Defendant filed an answer to the Complaint
admitting that she owes the Department the amount claimed and sought to arrange a
payment plan. Plaintiff has now moved for summary judgment.

II. DISCUSSION
The Court may grant summary judgment “if the movant shows that there is no
genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to a judgment as a
matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). The movant “always bears the initial
responsibility of informing the district court of the basis for its motion, and identifying
those portions of [the record] which it believes demonstrate the absence of a genuine
issue of material fact.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986). To
discharge this burden, the movant must point out to the Court that “there is an absence
of evidence to support the non-moving party’s case.” Id. at 325.
After the movant has met its burden under Rule 56(a), the burden of production
shifts and the non-moving party “must do more than simply show that there is some
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metaphysical doubt as to the material facts.” Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith
Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586 (1986). According to the plain language of Federal
Rule of Civil Procedure 56(e), “[i]f a party fails to properly support an assertion of fact or
fails to properly address another party’s assertion of fact [the Court may] grant
summary judgment if the motion and supporting materials – including the facts
considered undisputed – show that the movant is entitled to it.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e)(3).
At the summary judgment stage, the judge’s function is not to “weigh the
evidence and determine the truth of the matter but to determine whether there is a
genuine issue for trial.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 249 (1986). In
making this determination, the Court must decide which issues are material, and “[o]nly
disputes over facts that might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law will
properly preclude the entry of summary judgment. Factual disputes that are irrelevant
or unnecessary will not be counted.” Id. at 248.
Actions to enforce promissory notes are suitable classes of cases for disposition
by summary judgment. Colony Creek, Ltd. v. Resolution Trust Corp., et al., 941 F.2d
1323, 1325 (5th Cir. 1991); Lloyd v. Lawrence, 472 F.2d 313, 316 (5th Cir. 1973). In this
action, Defendant applied for a loan, received the proceeds from the loan, and has not
paid back the loan. Defendant does not attempt to state a valid defense to her liability
for the loan. With no valid defense for her liability on the note, this Court must grant
summary judgment for Plaintiff. First State Bank & Trust Company of Valdosta,
Georgia v. McIver, 893 F.2d 301, 306 (11th Cir. 1990).

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III. CONCLUSION
Accordingly, it is ORDERED AND ADJUDGED as follows:
1.

Plaintiff United States of America’s Motion for Summary Judgment [DE 12] is
hereby GRANTED;

2.

The Court will separately enter a final judgment in this case.
DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at Fort Lauderdale, Broward County,

Florida, this 22nd day of March, 2012.

Copies furnished to:
counsel of record

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