Hill v. McDermott
Filing
18
MEMORANDUM OPINION & ORDER AFFIRMING the Bankruptcy Court's July 30, 2015 Order and its October 19, 2016 Judgment. (Written Opinion) Signed by Judge Susan Richard Nelson on 10/19/2017. (SMD)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA
Chad Menter Hill,
Civil No. 16-03804 (SRN)
Appellant,
MEMORANDUM OPINION &
ORDER
v.
Daniel M. McDermott,
Appellee.
Bradley A. Kirscher, Kirscher Law Firm, PA, 2489 Rice Street, Ste. 75, Roseville,
Minnesota 55113, for Appellant.
Colin Kreuziger, Office of the United States Trustee, 300 S. 4th St., Ste, 1015, Minneapolis,
MN 55415, for Appellee.
SUSAN RICHARD NELSON, United States District Judge
Appellant Chad Menter Hill (“Hill”) appeals from: (1) an October 19, 2016
Judgment of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Minnesota
(“Bankruptcy Court”) in the matter of McDermott v. Hill (In re Hill), 14-BKY-35001, 15ADV-3098, denying Hill’s discharge under 11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(2)(A); and (2) a July 30,
2015 Order extending the deadline for the United States Trustee to file the complaint
which ultimately lead to the denial of Hill’s discharge. (Notice of Appeal [Doc. No. 1].)
For the reasons set forth herein, the Bankruptcy Court’s Order and Judgment are
affirmed.
I.
BACKGROUND
In December of 2014, Hill filed a petition for relief under Chapter 7 of the
Bankruptcy Code (the “bankruptcy petition” or “petition for discharge”). (Trustee’s App.
(“USTAPP”) at 3–59,1 Bankr. Pet. [Doc. No. 15].) Several months later, the United States
Trustee2 (“Trustee”) filed a complaint objecting to Hill’s discharge after becoming aware of
Hill’s ties to business entities that were under a Florida receivership order due to allegations
of fraud. (See Appellant’s App. (“APP”) at 121–29, Compl. [Doc. No. 11-1].) Below, the
Court recounts necessary details of the Florida action that are relevant to Hill’s appeal, and
then addresses the procedural background of this case.
A. Factual Background
Appellant Hill is a chiropractor. (USTAPP at 182, Stipulation of Facts ¶ 3.) In April
of 2013, he began work as a consultant to Diagnostic Pain Solutions, a chiropractic clinic.
(Id. ¶ 4.) The business affairs of Diagnostic Pain Solutions were managed by Tri-Med
Management, Inc. (“Tri-Med”), a company owned by Hill’s childhood friend, Jeremy
Anderson (“Anderson”). (Id.)
Starting in approximately July of 2013, Hill became associated with another business
entity formed by Anderson, Interventional Pain Center, LLC (“IPC”). (Id. ¶ 6.) That month,
Anderson had formed IPC with two doctors, Dr. Michael Mai (“Mai”)—one of Hill’s
1
Citations to the parties’ appendices here follow their internal pagination.
The Trustee is an official of the United States Department of Justice appointed by the
Attorney General to supervise the administration of bankruptcy cases. 28 U.S.C. §§ 581–89.
The Trustee has statutory standing to commence an adversary proceeding objecting to
discharge. 11 U.S.C. § 727(c)(1) (“The trustee, a creditor, or the United States trustee may
object to the granting of a discharge under subsection (a) of this section.”).
2
2
chiropractic school classmates—and Dr. Steven Kazi. (Id. ¶ 4–5.) On July 12, 2013, IPC
entered into a Business Associate Agreement with Tri-Med. (Id. ¶ 6.) In that agreement, Hill
was identified as the vice-president of IPC. (Id.) Hill became part owner of IPC in
September of 2013, when Mai resigned from IPC and relinquished his 95% interest in IPC
to Hill. (Id. ¶ 7.)
On March 4, 2014, the Office of Financial Regulation of the State of Florida filed an
enforcement action (“Florida enforcement action”) against Anderson and Tri-Med, among
others, alleging that they had defrauded hundreds of Florida investors. (See APP at 22–45,
Florida Compl.) The Florida enforcement action sought a temporary and permanent
injunction freezing the defendants’ assets as well as the appointment of a receiver over TriMed’s assets. (Id. at 44.) Neither Hill nor IPC were named as defendants in the Florida
enforcement action. (Id. at 22.)
The next day, on March 5, 2014, a Florida court entered an order (“receivership
order”) freezing the defendants’ assets and appointing Burton Wiand (“Wiand”) as receiver.
(See APP at 47–62, Order Imposing Temporary Inj.) The Florida court found that there was
evidence that strongly suggested that Anderson, Tri-Med, and the other defendants had sold
more than $13 million in unregistered securities in violation of Florida law, and had
defrauded at least 232 Florida investors in what appeared to be a Ponzi scheme. (Id. at 48.)
Concerned with further loss of investor funds, the Florida court prohibited Tri-Med and the
other entities from disposing of any funds in their possession, and also prohibited “those
persons in active concert or participating with” any of the defendants from accepting or
depositing additional funds or in any way disposing of the defendants’ assets. (Id. at 51–52.)
3
The Florida court tasked Wiand with the duty and authority to “marshal and safeguard” the
defendants’ properties and assets. (Id. at 55)
Just a few hours after entry of the receivership order, Tri-Med wired $300,000 to
IPC’s bank account. (See Bankr. Tr. of Oct. 18, 2016 Proceedings (“Oct. 18 Hr’g Tr.”) at 6
[Doc. No. 8]) Then, over the next few days, IPC wrote checks to Hill totaling $175,000.
(USTAPP at 183, Stipulation of Facts ¶¶ 8–9.) Hill deposited these funds into his personal
bank account. (Id.) In addition to receiving these funds, Hill also opened and utilized new
bank accounts in the name of IPC and Tri-Med. In June 2014, he opened an account in the
name of IPC identifying himself as the owner and the only signatory on the account.
(USTAPP at 184, Stipulation of Facts ¶13.) In September of 2014, he opened an account in
the name of Tri-Med, again naming himself as the sole owner and signatory. (Id. ¶ 14.) Hill
deposited $100,000 into this new Tri-Med account, and used it to write checks totaling
$99,900 to himself or IPC. (Id.)
On December 21, 2014, Hill filed his bankruptcy petition in the Bankruptcy Court.
(USTAPP at 3–59, Bankr. Pet.)
B. Procedural Background
After Hill filed his bankruptcy petition, the Bankruptcy Court set March 16, 2015 as
the deadline for interested parties to file a complaint objecting to discharge under § 727 of
the Bankruptcy Code. (APP at 2, Bankr. Ct. Docket, Entry 6.) On March 10, 2015, Wiand—
as receiver for Tri-Med et al.—filed a motion (“March 10 motion”) asking the Bankruptcy
4
Court to extend the deadline to June 8, 2015, and to permit Wiand to conduct a “Rule
2004”3 examination of Hill. (APP at 14–69, Wiand’s Mot.)
In his motion, Wiand alleged that as receiver in the Florida enforcement action, he
might be a creditor in Hill’s bankruptcy petition. (Id. at 65.) Wiand claimed that evidence
indicated that Hill, through his involvement with IPC, “had played a significant role in the
concealment and theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars in investor funds traceable to a
fraudulent investment scheme that defrauded hundreds of Florida investors.” (Id. at 14–15.)
He also indicated that his investigation as receiver “showed that nearly $1 million of funds
raised from investors was transferred from Tri-Med to [IPC]” and used for purposes that
were undisclosed to investors. (Id. at 18–19).
Wiand also expressed concern that Hill might be committing fraud on the
Bankruptcy Court by failing to disclose truthfully his financial affairs. Wiand contended that
Hill had “grossly misrepresented” to the Bankruptcy Court the amount of funds he received
from entities associated with the fraudulent scheme in Florida. (Id. at 15.) Wiand noted that
his investigation had revealed that Hill had “received over $300,000 in payments from IPC
during 2013 and 2014,” an amount that significantly exceeded the roughly $20,000 that Hill
had reported in his bankruptcy petition as having been received from Tri-Med and IPC. (Id.
at 19.) Wiand also pointed to the $300,000 that IPC received from Tri-Med the day of the
Florida court order, the $175,000 that Hill then received from IPC, and Hill’s subsequent
“numerous transfers to individuals and entities believed to be associated with J.
3
Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 2004 provides, in pertinent part, “On motion of
any party in interest, the court may order the examination of any entity.” Fed. R. Bankr.
P. 2004(a).
5
Anderson”—all transactions that Wiand alleged Hill had not reported in his bankruptcy
petition. (Id. at 20.)
On April 2, 2015, the Bankruptcy Court granted Wiand’s March 10 motion. (APP at
70–71, Bankr. Ct. Order Granting Mot.) The Bankruptcy Court extended the deadline for
Wiand to object to discharge to June 8, 2015. (Id. at 71.) The Court also authorized Wiand
to examine Hill pursuant to Rule 2004. (Id. at 70.)
On June 5, 2015, Wiand conducted the Rule 2004 examination of Hill. (See
USTAPP at 100–140, Rule 2004 Examination.) On that morning, Hill also produced some
tax returns and bank records to Wiand. (See USTAPP at 141–175.) At the examination,
Wiand questioned Hill about the details surrounding the $175,000 in checks that IPC had
written to Hill in the days following entry of the Florida receivership order. (See USTAPP at
106–07; 115–19, Rule 2004 Examination.) Hill explained that the $100,000 personal
transfer from IPC was driven by the collective fear of Anderson, Hill, and the other IPC
doctors that, like Tri-Med’s accounts, “IPC’s accounts would get shut down, too, and we
would have to close the doors tomorrow.” (Id. at 107.) Hill gave similar testimony about a
$75,000 check from IPC that Hill had also deposited into his personal bank account. (Id. at
115–19).
On June 8, 2015, three days after the Rule 2004 Examination and on the last day
Wiand could file objections to Hill’s discharge, two separate parties moved the Bankruptcy
Court to again extend the deadline for submitting objections. First, Wiand sought another
extension to review the documents that Hill had produced at the Rule 2004 examination.
(USTAPP at 60–71, Wiand’s Second Mot.) At a July 29 hearing, the Bankruptcy Court
6
granted Wiand’s motion. (See Bankr. Tr. of July 29, 2015 Mot. Hr’g (“July 29 Mot. Hr’g”)
[Doc. No. 7].) Importantly here, the Court noted that the Rule 2004 examination and
document production had been necessary, because if Wiand had brought a complaint
objecting to discharge based only on the allegations contained in the March 10 motion, the
complaint “would have been perhaps subject to a successful Rule 8 motion or other motion
under the rules for insufficient pleading.” (Id. at 31.) The Bankruptcy Court granted
Wiand’s extension so that he could bring a more “fulsome complaint” and give Hill enough
information to respond appropriately. (Id. at 32.)
The second party to move for an extension to file a complaint was the Trustee. (APP
at 73–81, Trustee’s Mot.) Because Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 4004(b)(1)
generally provides that a party must move to extend the time to object to discharge before
the initial deadline expires 4—in this case, March 16, 2015—the Trustee brought his motion
under Rule 4004(b)(2), which provides an exception to that general rule. (Id. at 74.) Under
Rule 4004(b)(2), a motion to extend the deadline may be filed after the expiration of the
original deadline if three requirements are met: (1) “the objection is based on facts that, if
learned after the discharge, would provide a basis for revocation under § 727(d) of the
Code”; (2) “the movant did not have knowledge of those facts in time to permit an
objection”; and (3) the motion is “filed promptly after the movant discovers the facts on
which the objection is based.” Fed. R. Bankr. P. 4004(b)(2).
4
Rule 4004(b)(1) provides, “On motion of any party in interest, after notice and hearing,
the court may for cause extend the time to object to discharge. Except as provided in
subdivision (b)(2), the motion shall be filed before the time has expired.”
7
The Trustee argued that all three requirements were met. First, he claimed that there
was evidence that Hill had made “numerous false oaths” in his petition for discharge, which
would in turn provide a basis for revocation under § 727(d) of the Bankruptcy Code. (Id. at
78.) As to whether he knew about these false oaths “in time to permit an objection” before
March 16, the Trustee asserted that it wasn’t until “[s]hortly before the [June 5] Rule 2004
examination was scheduled to occur” that he “became aware of the debtor’s case and the
Rule 2004 examination.” (Id. at 74.) And as to the third requirement, the Trustee highlighted
that he was filing the motion just three days after the debtor’s Rule 2004 examination. (Id. at
78.)
Hill opposed the Trustee’s motion. (See APP at 82–87, Debtor’s Resp. in Opp’n to
Trustee’s Mot.) He argued that the Trustee did, in fact, have knowledge of Hill’s alleged
nondisclosures before March 16. (Id. at 82.) First, Hill argued that the word “knowledge” in
Rule 4004(b)(2) should be interpreted as constructive knowledge. (See July 29 Mot. Hr’g at
54–56.) Second, Hill claimed that by virtue of Wiand’s March 10 motion, the Trustee had
such constructive knowledge. (Id. at 55–56.) According to Hill, the “Trustee would have
received a copy of [Wiand’s March 10] motion via the ECF system,” and that motion
contained the allegations on which the Trustee was basing his motion for an extension.
(APP at 82–83, Debtor’s Resp. in Opp’n to Trustee’s Mot.) Hill also contended that an
evidentiary hearing was necessary to determine the extent of the Trustee’s pre-March 16
awareness of the March 10 motion. (July 29 Mot. Hr’g at 55.)
At the July 29 hearing, the Bankruptcy Court also granted the Trustee’s motion,
finding that the Trustee did not know of the relevant facts until after the original March 16
8
deadline had expired. (Id. at 60–63.) First, the Bankruptcy Court rejected Hill’s arguments
that constructive knowledge would suffice, finding, instead, that “knowledge” under Rule
4004(b)(2) requires actual knowledge. (Id. at 61.) The Bankruptcy Court also accepted as
true the Trustee’s testimony—buttressed by his verified motion—that no one in the
Trustee’s office had read the March 10 motion until “shortly before,” “roughly a week,
seven days” before Wiand’s June 5 examination of Hill. (Id. at 42; 63.) Because the
Bankruptcy Court “believe[d] [the Trustee] when he sa[id] he didn’t know about” Wiand’s
motion on March 10, it was not “necessary to have an evidentiary hearing on that” as
requested by Hill. (Id. at 63.)
But “[m]ore importantly,” the Bankruptcy Court found that an evidentiary hearing on
the issue would be futile. The Bankruptcy Court referenced its earlier finding that the
allegations contained in the March 10 motion would not have been sufficient to support a
complaint objecting to discharge. (Id.) Thus, even if the Trustee had read Wiand’s March 10
motion, the Bankruptcy Court found that he could not have brought a complaint objecting to
discharge based on the allegations contained therein, let alone before March 16. (Id.) In fact,
“that was the whole point” of requiring the Rule 2004 examination in June. (Id.)
Accordingly, the Bankruptcy Court saw no need for an evidentiary hearing to determine if
anyone at the Trustee’s office had read Wiand’s March 10 motion, as it would not have
changed the court’s decision to grant the Trustee an extension. (Id.)
For similar reasons, the Bankruptcy Court stated that its interpretation of Rule
4004(b)(2) as requiring lack of actual knowledge was not outcome determinative. The
Bankruptcy Court noted that even if it believed that Rule 4004(b)(2) required only
9
constructive knowledge—which could be imputed from the electronic service of Wiand’s
March 10 motion—it would not “have an impact on the outcome of this decision today.”
(Id. at 62.) The Bankruptcy Court thus granted the Trustee’s motion, extending the deadline
for him to file a complaint objecting to Hill’s bankruptcy petition. (Id. at 64.) The order was
entered on July 30, 2015. (APP at 120, Bankr. Order Granting Trustee Extension.)
That same day, the Trustee filed a four-count, nine-page complaint (“Complaint”)
seeking denial of Hill’s discharge under various subsections of 11 U.S.C. § 727(a). (APP at
121–29, Compl.) Count I alleged that Hill had “transferred property with the intent to
hinder, delay, or defraud creditors within one year of the filing of his bankruptcy petition,”
justifying denial of his petition under § 727(a)(2)(A). (Id. at 125.) In support of this
allegation, the Complaint detailed the transfers of large sums of money that Hill made out of
his personal bank account after entry of the Florida receivership order. (Id. at 123–25.) For
example, it highlighted the $75,000 that Hill transferred to an attorney on March 11, 2014,
consistent with his testimony at the Rule 2004 examination. (Id. at 123; USTAPP at 112–
113, Rule 2004 Examination.) Similarly, the complaint highlighted an additional $25,000
that Hill transferred to a different attorney and the $7,215.15 transfer that Hill made on
March 18 to cover Tri-Med’s payroll. (APP at 123, Compl.)
Count II alleged that Hill “failed to keep or preserve recorded information from
which his financial condition and business transactions might be ascertained,” warranting
denial of discharge under § 727(a)(3). (Id. at 125–26.) Specifically, the Complaint
highlighted Hill’s testimony at the Rule 2004 examination that neither he nor IPC created or
maintained any records to document Hill’s use of the funds that he received by check from
10
IPC. (Id. at 126.) Count III alleged that Hill had knowingly and fraudulently made false
oaths in connection with his bankruptcy case, mandating denial of discharge under
§ 727(a)(4)(A). (Id. at 126–28.) The Complaint specifically charged that some of Hill’s
testimony at the Rule 2004 examination was false, and that he knowingly and fraudulently
had omitted key pieces of information from his bankruptcy petition. (Id.) Finally, Count V,
seeking denial of discharge under § 727(a)(5), alleged that Hill had failed to explain
satisfactorily his loss of assets. (Id. at 128.)
The Bankruptcy Court held a trial on these claims. In a bench ruling, it denied Hill’s
discharge pursuant to § 727(a)(2)(A), on Count I. (See Oct. 18 Hr’g Tr.) The Bankruptcy
Court found that Hill had made transfers before filing his bankruptcy petition “with a
specific intention of removing the funds from the awareness and reach of [Wiand],” who
was a creditor of Hill’s at the time of the transfers. (Id. at 8; 12.) The Bankruptcy Court
further found that Hill “knew about the receivership order and he knew that the transfers he
orchestrated from IPC to himself and to or for the benefit of other entities to avoid the
receivership were improper and in violation of the receiver order.” (Id. at 8.) Because the
Bankruptcy Court ruled on Count I of the Complaint and denied discharge under
§ 727(a)(2)(A), it found no “need to determine Counts 2, 3 and 4 under 727(a)(3), 727(a)(4)
and [] 727(a)(5).” (Id. at 14–15.) The Bankruptcy Court issued a written order on October
19, 2016, and judgment was entered on that date. (APP at 162, Order for J.; APP at 163, J.)
In November of 2016, Hill filed the instant appeal, challenging both the Bankruptcy
Court’s order granting the Trustee an extension for objecting to discharge (“2015 Order”)
and the Bankruptcy Court’s judgment ultimately denying discharge (“2016 Judgment”).
11
(See Notice of Appeal.) Hill does not challenge any of the Bankruptcy Court’s factual
findings or legal conclusions supporting its 2016 Judgment denying discharge. Rather, Hill
argues that the 2016 Judgment should be reversed because the Bankruptcy Court should not
have granted the Trustee an extension of time under Rule 4004(b)(2). (Appellant’s Br. at
12–15; see Statement of the Issues [Doc. No. 3].)
Before responding to Hill’s appeal, the Trustee filed a motion with the Bankruptcy
Court requesting that it certify the 2016 Judgment as final under Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 54(b).5 (See USTAPP 185–198, Mot. to Amend J.; see also Stipulation
Regarding Stay of Further Br. [Doc. No 12]; Order Regarding Stipulation [Doc. No. 13].)
The Trustee believed that the Bankruptcy Court’s 2016 Judgment denying Hill’s discharge
was interlocutory because it “disposed of only one of the four counts alleged” in the
Trustee’s Complaint. (USTAPP at 193, Mot. to Amend J.)
On March 2, 2017, the Bankruptcy Court denied the Trustee’s motion. (See USTAPP
at 201–06, Bankr. Ct. Mem. and Order.) The Bankruptcy Court stated that its 2016
Judgment
fully and finally adjudicated the Trustee’s only claim in the adversary proceeding:
that 11 U.S.C. § 727(a) precluded Hill from receiving a discharge. To support this
claim, the Trustee brought several counts, each representing a different theory and
subsection of § 727(a), but all seeking the same result: the denial of Hill’s discharge.
In determining the first of these counts against Hill, the Judgment fully and finally
adjudicated the sole claim. In doing so, the Judgment rendered the remaining counts
redundant and unnecessary for entry of a final judgment.
5
The parties stipulated that the Trustee would file the motion seeking certification and
this Court granted a motion staying further briefing on the appeal.
12
(Id. at 203 (internal citations omitted).) The Bankruptcy Court unequivocally stated that the
2016 “Judgment is a final order,” rendering certification under Rule 54(b) not only
unnecessary, but amendment of the Judgment beyond the Bankruptcy Court’s jurisdiction.
(Id. at 203; 205–06.)
In response to Hill’s appeal here, the Trustee first argues that this Court does not
have appellate jurisdiction because the 2016 Judgment is not final. (Trustee’s Br. at 35–
37 [Doc. No. 14].) Alternatively, the Trustee argues that the Bankruptcy Court properly
granted the Trustee’s motion for a deadline extension under Rule 4004(b)(2) and that the
2016 Judgment should thus be affirmed. (Id. at 37–45.)
II.
DISCUSSION
A. Jurisdiction
In an appeal from a bankruptcy court proceeding, this Court acts as an appellate
court. See 28 U.S.C. § 158(a). Section 158(a)(1) grants the Court appellate jurisdiction
“from final judgments, orders, and decrees,” whereas §§ 158(a)(2)–(3) confer appellate
jurisdiction from certain interlocutory orders. See In re M & S Grading, Inc., 526 F.3d
363, 368 (8th Cir. 2008).
Before reaching the merits of Hill’s appeal, then, the Court must address whether
it has jurisdiction to do so, which in this case turns on whether the decisions Hill appeals
are final, appealable orders. See id. (“Our jurisdiction therefore depends on whether the
bankruptcy court order . . . was a final appealable order.”). “[I]t is familiar law that a
federal court always has jurisdiction to determine its own jurisdiction.” United States v.
Ruiz, 536 U.S. 622, 628 (2002).
13
In the Eighth Circuit, finality is evaluated “more flexibly in bankruptcy cases than
in other contexts.” In re Farmland Indus., Inc., 397 F.3d 647, 649–50 (8th Cir. 2005).
When considering whether a decision by a bankruptcy court is final, this Court must
consider three factors:
(1) the extent to which the order leaves the Bankruptcy Court nothing to do but to
execute the order; (2) the extent to which delay in obtaining review would prevent
the aggrieved party from obtaining effective relief; and (3) the extent to which a
later reversal on that issue would require recommencement of the entire
proceedings.
Lewis v. U.S., Farmers Home Admin., 992 F.2d 767, 772 (8th Cir. 1993) (quoting Currell
v. Taylor, 963 F.2d 166, 167 (8th Cir. 1992)).
At the outset, the Court notes that the 2015 Order granting the Trustee an
extension to file a complaint, standing alone, is not a final order reviewable by this Court.
See In re Gaines, 932 F.2d 729, 732 (8th Cir. 1991) (“[T]he bankruptcy court’s order
extending the time in which to file objections was not a final, appealable order.”).
However, Hill may appeal that Order as part of his appeal of the 2016 Judgment provided
that that Judgment itself is final. See id. (“The debtors retain the right to seek review of
the initial order extending the time to file objections after the bankruptcy court has finally
disposed of their petition. If the extension were improvidently granted . . . a reviewing
court could reverse the order and vacate any subsequent actions taken pursuant to it.”).
Turning to the 2016 Judgment, however, the Court concludes that it is a final
judgment under the Eighth Circuit’s three-factor finality framework. The first factor
strongly supports this conclusion. The Bankruptcy Court’s bench ruling denying Hill’s
discharge left it with “nothing to do but to execute the order.” Lewis, 992 F.2d at 772.
14
Indeed, that is what the Bankruptcy Court did when it entered judgment the next day.
And “[w]hen only mechanical or ministerial action is required of the bankruptcy court,
then the order will be considered final.” Id.
The Trustee argues that more was required of the Bankruptcy Court because its
2016 Judgment left “three of four claims for relief undecided.” (Trustee’s Br. at 36.)
According to the Trustee, in addition to denying Hill’s discharge under § 727(a)(2)(A),
the Bankruptcy Court was required to determine whether to deny discharge under
additional subsections of the Bankruptcy Code. (See id. at 40–43.)
This Court disagrees. First, the Trustee’s position defies the long-established
principle of judicial restraint that a court need not reach other issues when it has resolved
a dispositive one. See, e.g., Fed. Trade Comm’n v. Freeman Hosp., 69 F.3d 260, 272 (8th
Cir. 1995) (“Because our resolution of this issue is dispositive, we need not reach the
other issues presented on appeal.”) A court need not reach issues that would be redundant
or unnecessary to its ultimate determination. See, e.g., Gen. Mills, Inc. v. Pillsbury Co.,
378 F.2d 666, 671 (8th Cir. 1967) (“Our decision on the § 103 issue is dispositive of this
appeal. No purpose will be served by considering the other attacks made on [a patent’s]
validity.”). Here, the Bankruptcy Court denied Hill’s discharge under § 727(a)(2)(A), and
no purpose would have been served by considering the other bases for relief. See In re
Moss, 266 B.R. 408, 414 (B.A.P. 8th Cir. 2001), aff’d, 289 F.3d 540 (8th Cir. 2002) (“To
prevail on a claim for denial of discharge under section 727, the objector need only prove
that one, not all, of the section 727(a) exceptions to discharge exists.”)
15
Second, and more importantly, the Trustee’s argument contradicts Eighth Circuit
precedent interpreting the first factor to mean that “when the decision effectively resolves
the merits of the controversy, it is final.” Lewis, 992 F.2d at 772. Here, the “merits of the
controversy” were whether Hill’s discharge should be denied. In its 2016 Judgment, the
Bankruptcy Court clearly resolved the issue by denying discharge. No further action by
the Bankruptcy Court was needed to resolve the merits of the case. The first factor thus
strongly points toward finality.
The second factor in the finality test—the extent to which the parties would be
materially prejudiced by delay in obtaining appellate review—does not apply in this case.
The Trustee argues that delay in obtaining review of the 2015 Order will not prejudice
Hill because the “bankruptcy court has already tried the case, and it can decide the . . .
Trustee’s remaining claims without further litigation,” at which point Hill can appeal.
(Trustee’s Br. at 28). But the Bankruptcy Court has nothing before it to adjudicate, as it
has already disposed of Hill’s case by denying discharge. In fact, the Bankruptcy Court
indicated, in no uncertain terms, that its 2016 Judgment was final when it denied the
Trustee’s motion for certification under Rule 54(b). (See USTAPP at 201–04, Bankr. Ct.
Mem. and Order.) Because the Bankruptcy Court will not take any additional action in
this case, any consideration of delay here is inapplicable.
Finally, the third factor—whether later reversal would require recommencement of
the entire proceedings—is likewise inapplicable. Again, there is no proceeding pending
that could later trigger a reversal of the 2015 Order. This case may now only proceed
through appeal before this Court. In fact, because Hill did not raise any substantive
16
challenge to the Bankruptcy Court’s decision denying discharge, he has waived any
review beyond the procedural challenge he raises here. See Jenkins v. Winter, 540 F.3d
742, 751 (8th Cir. 2008) (“Claims not raised in an opening brief are deemed waived.”) In
sum, the Court concludes that application of the Eighth Circuit’s three finality factors
demonstrates that the 2016 Judgment is a final judgment. 6
As an additional attempt to bolster his arguments that the 2016 Judgment was not
final, the Trustee argues that “[p]iecemeal appeals would result if a debtor had the right to
immediately appeal a bankruptcy court’s ruling on only one of several claims to deny
discharge.” (Trustee’s Br. at 37.) But as applied to Hill’s case, this argument rests on a
faulty premise. Hill is not appealing the Bankruptcy Court’s substantive decision to deny
his discharge under § 727(a)(2)(A). Rather, he is challenging the Bankruptcy Court’s
procedural ruling that allowed the Trustee to file a complaint in the first instance. No
piecemeal litigation can result under these circumstances.
Having found that the 2016 Judgment is final, the Court has jurisdiction under 28
U.S.C. § 158(a)(1) and now turns to the merits of Hill’s appeal. 7
B. The Merits
1. The Grant of an Extension
On appeal, the Bankruptcy Court’s legal conclusions are reviewed de novo and its
findings of fact are reviewed for clear error. Tri–State Fin., LLC v. First Dakota Nat’l
6
Because the 2016 Judgment is final, the Court need not address the Trustee’s arguments
regarding the Bankruptcy Court’s decision not to certify that judgment under Rule 54(b).
7
Having found jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 158(a)(1), the Court need not address the
Trustee’s additional argument that the Court also lacks jurisdiction under § 158(a)(3).
17
Bank, 538 F.3d 920, 923–24 (8th Cir. 2008). Orders denying or granting extensions of
time to file an objection to discharge are reviewed for abuse of discretion. See Chorosevic
v. MetLife Choices, 600 F.3d 934, 946 (8th Cir. 2010) (“We review a district court’s
decision to allow a party to submit a late filing for an abuse of discretion.”); In re
Sheppard, 532 B.R. 672, 674 (B.A.P. 6th Cir. 2015) (“An order denying a motion to
extend is reviewed under an abuse of discretion standard.”). “The bankruptcy court
abuses its discretion when it fails to apply the proper legal standard or bases its order on
findings of fact that are clearly erroneous.” In re Farmland Indus., Inc., 397 F.3d at 651.
“Under the clearly erroneous standard, we will overturn a factual finding only if it is not
supported by substantial evidence in the record, if it is based on an erroneous view of the
law, or if we are left with the definite and firm conviction that an error was made.”
Roemmich v. Eagle Eye Dev., LLC, 526 F.3d 343, 353 (8th Cir. 2008) (citation and
internal quotation marks omitted).
Hill argues that the Bankruptcy Court should not have granted the Trustee an
extension under Rule 4004(b)(2). However, the parties disagree as to the standard of review
that this Court should apply to the Bankruptcy Court’s decision to grant the extension. Hill
urges this Court to review the Bankruptcy Court’s interpretation of Rule 4004(b)(2) de novo
and reverse. (Appellant’s Br. at 6.) He primarily argues that the Bankruptcy Court
committed legal error by interpreting the word “knowledge” in Rule 4004(b)(2) to mean
actual knowledge and not constructive knowledge. (Appellant’s Br. at 15–20.) The Trustee,
on the other hand, argues that because the Bankruptcy Court’s legal interpretation of Rule
4004(b)(2) was not outcome determinative, the Court need not reach this legal question.
18
(Trustee’s Br. at 51–52.) Instead, he urges the Court to uphold as not clearly erroneous the
Bankruptcy Court’s factual finding that the Trustee did not have knowledge—whether
actual or constructive—“in time to permit an objection” before the original March 16
deadline. (Id. at 46–51.)
The Court finds that a de novo interpretation of Rule 4004(b)(2) is unnecessary in
this case, as the Bankruptcy Court’s 2015 Order granting the Trustee an extension clearly
rested on that court’s factual finding that the Trustee had neither actual nor constructive
knowledge of sufficient facts to bring an objection before the deadline. In relevant part,
Rule 4004(b)(2) requires that “(B) the movant . . . not have knowledge of [relevant facts] in
time to permit an objection” (emphasis added).8 It is true, of course, that the Bankruptcy
Court interpreted the word “knowledge” in that clause to mean actual knowledge, a
conclusion Hill challenges here. But, critically, the Bankruptcy Court stated that even if the
standard under the Rule were constructive knowledge, it would “[not] have an impact on the
outcome of this decision today.” (July 29 Mot. Hr’g at 62.) The Bankruptcy Court reasoned
that even under a constructive knowledge standard, it would nevertheless grant the Trustee’s
motion. The Court found that Wiand’s March 10 motion, which Hill argued served as the
basis for the Trustee’s “knowledge,” did not contain “sufficient information . . . for a
8
Hill argues that this Court should require a party to bring a motion to extend under Rule
4004(b)(1), instead of Rule 4004(b)(2), if, at any time before the initial deadline, the
party discovers any potential basis for possibly bringing a complaint. (Appellant’s Br. at
18.) But Hill’s argument controverts the plain text of Rule 4004(b)(2). That Rule
conditions the propriety of a Rule 4004(b)(2) motion on the party’s lack of knowledge “in
time to permit an objection.” It says nothing of barring parties from bringing a Rule
4004(b)(2) motion if, for instance, they theoretically could have brought a Rule
4004(b)(1) motion to extend upon discovering, just a few days before the deadline, a
possible basis for denial of a debtor’s discharge.
19
complaint to be filed” by the March 16 deadline. (Id. at 63.) In fact, the Court noted, the
scarcity of facts in the March 10 motion was “the whole point” of conducting the June 5
Rule 2004 examination of Hill. (Id.) This factual finding drove the Bankruptcy Court’s
ruling, and not its interpretation of the word “knowledge” contained in Rule 4004(b)(2).
This Court concludes that the Bankruptcy Court’s factual finding was not clearly
erroneous, as it is supported by sufficient evidence in the record. This Court need only look
at the contents of the Complaint that the Trustee ultimately filed to know that six days were
not sufficient to: (1) review the March 10 motion; (2) confirm the validity of the allegations
contained therein and develop the factual record; (3) conduct legal analysis; and (4)
compose a complaint that complied with the heightened pleading standards of Federal Rule
of Civil Procedure 9(b).9 Under such circumstances, the Bankruptcy Court’s factual
findings were not clearly erroneous. Cf. In re Arnold, 162 B.R. 775, 778 (Bankr. E.D. Mich.
1993) (“Because denial of a discharge is so serious a matter, a trustee ought not lightly bring
an action under § 727(a).”).
In fact, the counts in the Trustee’s Complaint specifically relied on facts either
unveiled for the first time at the June 5 examination, or explained then in more detail. For
instance, at the examination, Hill explained the reasons and motivations behind the large
transfer of funds into and out of his personal bank account after entry of the Florida
receivership order. The Trustee would not have had this level of detail even if he had read
the March 10 motion. And, critically, the Bankruptcy Court denied Hill’s discharge under a
9
Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 7009 makes Rule 9 of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure applicable to adversary proceedings.
20
section of the Bankruptcy Code that requires proof of a mental state. See 11 U.S.C.
§ 727(a)(2) (“[T]he debtor, with intent to hinder, delay, or defraud a creditor . . . has
transferred, removed, destroyed, mutilated, or concealed, or has permitted to be transferred,
removed, destroyed, mutilated, or concealed— (A) property of the debtor, within one year
before the date of the filing of the petition.”) The specifics of Hill’s mental state were not
revealed until his June 5 examination.
Because the Bankruptcy Court did not make a clearly erroneous factual finding, and
this finding formed the basis for the Bankruptcy Court to grant the Trustee an extension for
objecting to discharge, this Court finds that there was no abuse of discretion.
2. The Denial of Hill’s Request for an Evidentiary Hearing
In the alternative, Hill argues that even if the Bankruptcy Court’s legal interpretation
of the word “knowledge” contained in Rule 4004(b)(2) was correct, the Bankruptcy Court
nonetheless abused its discretion by denying Hill’s request for an evidentiary hearing and
granting the Trustee an extension based only on the Trustee’s testimony and verified
motion claiming that he had no actual knowledge before the relevant time period.
(Appellant’s Br. at 20–21.) The Court “review[s] evidentiary rulings for an abuse of
discretion that is both clear and prejudicial, affecting a substantial right of the objecting
party.” In re Hernandez, 860 F.3d 591, 601 (8th Cir. 2017). However, “an allegedly
erroneous evidentiary ruling does not warrant a new trial unless the evidence was so
prejudicial that a new trial would likely produce a different result.” Diesel Mach., Inc. v.
B.R. Lee Indus., Inc., 418 F.3d 820, 833 (8th Cir. 2005) (internal quotations and
alterations omitted).
21
Here, Hill specifically argues that the Bankruptcy Court misapplied Federal Rule
of Evidence 602 when it accepted as true, over Hill’s objection, the Trustee’s testimony
that “nobody in my office read” Wiand’s March 10 motion. (Appellant’s Br. at 20.) Hill
points out that Rule 602 allows a witness to testify “to a matter only if evidence is
introduced sufficient to support a finding that the witness has personal knowledge of the
matter.” (Id. at 20–21.) Hill argues that no such evidence was proffered either at the
motions hearing or at a separate evidentiary hearing, affecting Hill’s “right to crossexamine the U.S. Trustee and his other employees regarding their knowledge.” (Id. at
21.) According to Hill, the Bankruptcy Court’s error should be corrected “by reversal of
the judgment of denial of discharge.” (Id.)
The Court need not evaluate the Bankruptcy Court’s evidentiary ruling because,
even if it was erroneous, Hill suffered no prejudice by it. See In Re Hernandez, 860 F.3d
at 601 (declining to review the merits of the evidentiary challenge where no prejudice
occurred). The Bankruptcy Court found that an evidentiary hearing to determine if
anyone at the Trustee’s office had read the March 10 motion was unnecessary because it
would make no difference to its decision to grant the Trustee’s motion. The Bankruptcy
Court concluded that an evidentiary hearing would not do “[Hill] much good” because
even if someone from the Trustee’s office had read the motion on March 10, it did not
contain enough information for the Trustee to file a complaint before March 16. (July 29
22
Mot. Hr’g at 63.) Thus, Hill suffered no prejudice as a result of the Bankruptcy Court’s
evidentiary ruling. 10
Because the Bankruptcy Court did not abuse its discretion in granting the Trustee
an extension to file a complaint, and Hill raises no other challenge to the Bankruptcy
Court’s denial of discharge, his appeal is dismissed.
III.
ORDER
Based on the foregoing, and all the files, records, and proceedings herein, IT IS
HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
1. The Bankruptcy Court’s July 30, 2015 Order and its October 19, 2016
Judgment are AFFIRMED.
Dated: October 19, 2017
s/Susan Richard Nelson
SUSAN RICHARD NELSON
United States District Judge
10
At oral argument before this Court, Hill argued—for the first time—that the
Bankruptcy Court should have conducted a hearing to determine if the Trustee had any
knowledge before March 10. First, “issues raised for the first time on appeal are
ordinarily not considered by an appellate court as a basis for reversal.” In re Hervey, 252
B.R. 763, 767 (B.A.P. 8th Cir. 2000) (citing Von Kerssenbrock–Praschma v. Saunders,
121 F.3d 373, 375–76 (8th Cir. 1997). But even if considered by this Court, Hill’s
argument lacks merit. To request an evidentiary hearing on this ground, Hill needed to
produce some evidence before the Bankruptcy Court, other than mere allegations, that the
Trustee might have had knowledge of Hill’s case even before March 10—evidence he did
not proffer. See In re Hansmeier, 558 B.R. 299, 301–02, 302 n.7 (B.A.P. 8th Cir. 2016.)
23
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?