Weitzel v. MGM Mirage

Filing 28

ORDER granting 11 Motion for Summary Judgment. Ordered that this matter shall remain open to allow the intervention of the bankruptcy trustee. Signed by Judge Brian E. Sandoval. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - AXM)

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UNI ED STATES DI TR I T COURT T SC
DI TR I T O F NEVADA SC

9 SAM UE L W EI ZEL, T 1 0
11 v.

2: 8- v- 27-BES- A L 0 c6 P O R DER

Pl i ts, ani

12

TH E M I AG E CASI O HOTEL, Nevada I R N a 1 Cor or ton. 3 p ai 1 4
15 16
17

Def ndant e .

1 8 Cu r n l be or t e Cour i Def n an Th Mi ge Casn - o el (h ' i g ' re t f e h y t s ed t e r a io H t ' t e i r e ) s Ma 1 Moton f rSummar Judgment( 11)fld on Oct ber21,2008. Plitf Sam uelW ei el 9 io y # i e o a n if o 2 (plit f) fed an Oppost n t Def n an ' Mot n f r Summar Ju gm en ( 1 ) o 0 ' a n i' i d f' l io o e d t i s io o yd t#6 n
21 Nov m b r1 , 08, dt e Mi g flda Repl ( 20) Dec m ber1 20 8.Or i gu en e e 7 20 an h r e i ae y # on e ,0 a ar m t
22 was hear on t i m ateron Aprl21,2009. d hs t i 23
24

BACKGROUND
Thi c se i vo i es an em pl ym ent di crm i aton ci i based on t e A ge sa nv o sini am h

25 Dic i ia in i Emply en Ac o 1 67( DEA' Piit f ase ply d b t e Mi g as sr n t n m o o m t tf 9 A ' ani w m o e y h r e ) f a
26 a cr ps deal rf ra perod ofov rt ent year . Accor i g t Pl itf i addii n t wor i g a ec i ew y s d n o a n if n to o kn

O t e cr ps t be,t e Mi g o c sin l r q i d hi t wor a a blc j c d ai rev n 7 h a a l h r e c a o a l e u r m o k s a ka k e e e a y e 28 t oughhewasnotor al taiedf rt atposii n.( om pl it( 1)at3) Plitf sat st at h fm lrn o h y to C an # . a n if t e h
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1 du ig on o t e oc ason wh n h was r qui dt wor asa blc j c dealr he i a e rn e f h c i s e e ero k e a ka k e , ' d m
2 a miormit k ,whihwas r poded,i m edit l,o t e pisuper ior' L=. 4.The next n sa e c e m a ey t h t vs . d at ' 3 day, aitf wassuspendedfom hi emplyment t t e Miage.L- Accor igt Pl itf, Pl n if r s o wih h r du d n o a n if
4 he was f l el accused ofl ngagi g i it ntonal as y d e n n ne i behavi r whi h r sul d i t e I ss t t e o' c e t n h o o h ' e

5 Miage off urhundr d dolar .L=.Plitf wast r iat d on June 7,2006.Lr o e l s d a n if em n e d. 6 Att e tm e ofhi t r iaton,Plitg was sit year ol. L=. 5. On Augus 22, hi s em n i ani xy s d d at t
7 2006,Pl itl fl d a Char e of Dicrm i aton wih t e Unied St t s EqualEm pl ym ent an i i e g sini th t ae o

8 Op oduni Commison CEEOC'. ( ef n an ' Mot n f rSu m ar J dg en ( 11 a p t y si ' D e d ts i o m y u m t # ) t ) o 9 Exhi i 1 .Pl itf fld an Amended Char e t e f l w ig day. L=.atExhii 2. I hi bt ) a n if i e g h ol n o d bt ns
10 Am ended Char e,Pl i tf ass red t athe was dicrm i at d agai stby t e Miage based g a n if e t h sine n h r
11 on age. Pl itf assered t att e eari stdat ofdicrm i aton was M ay 26,2006,and t at a n if thh l e e sini h

1 t e I s dat ofdicrm i aton was June 7,2006. L=.Plitf as eded t atalhough he was 2 h at e sini d a n if s ht
.

1 t chnial dichar ed f rf ii g t f l w i g gam i g pol y and pr c dur s,he bel ved he 3e cl s y g o al o o l n n o n i c oe e i e

1 was t r i at d because ofhi age. L=. 4 em n e s d
15 Sev r lm ont s It r butwhi t e EEO C char e was stl pendi g,Pl itf fl d a ea h ae , lh e g i l n a n if i e 16 Chapt r7 Bankr pt y Petton w ih t e Unied St t s Bankr pt y Cour,Dititof Nevada. e uc i i th t ae uc t s rc
17 1 . Exhi i 3. As par oft e petton,Pl i tf was r quied t l tand ates t hi per onal 1 . at bt th ii a n if e r oi s t to s s
.

18 pr pedy. L- atExhii3, 1 .Speciial , o du bt p. 4 fc l Schedul B oft e Bankr pty Petton iclded y e h uc ii n u
1 a l toft e t pe ofpr pery t i cl de and i diat d t atit e debt rhad no pr pery i one 9 i s hy o t on u n c e h fh o o tn

20 ormor oft ecat gorest plcean ' 'i t ecol m n Ibeld' one. L= Pl itf plcedan eh e ioa ' nh x u a e' n ' d. a n if a '
21 ' 'i t e none col m nf rt e cat gor w hi h I t d:i t ercontngentand unl ui at d cl i s i 'n h x u oh e y c ie o h s i i d e am q

22 ofevel nat r ,i cl di g t x r f nds,c unt r l i soft e debt r and rght t set f ci i s. - ue n u n a e u y o e ca m h o, i s o o am ' '

23 L= Thr e mont s It r on Jui 18,2007,he Bankr pt yCour gr nt d Plitf a dichar e d e h ae , y t uc t a e an if s g 24 ofhi debt .L=. Exhii4.A fnal ee wasent r d i t e bankr pt ycase on Jul 24, s s d at bt i decr ee n h uc y 25 2008.L=. d
26 On Febr al 15, uy 2008, he EEOC sentPi i tf a Dim i sal t a n if s s and Notce ofRi h s i ter i g t et .

27 L=. Exhii7.Accor ig t t atIter t e EEOC st t d t atiwas' nabl t concldet at d at bt dn o h et . h ae h t u eo uh
28 t e if r aton obt i ed es abl hes a vi l ton oft e st t t s. 1 However t e Iter e ! h no m i an ti s oa i h aue ' t ' h e t gav
.-

1 Pl i tf t e rghtt fl a I w sui based on t e char e i eiherf der l s at cour. Pl itf a n if h i o i a e t h g n t e a or t e t a n if 2 fl d t e i st ntIw sui on M ay 14,2008. I hi Com pl i t Pl i tf asseded t atas a r sul i h na a e t ns a n , a n if h et 3 oft e M iage' dicrm i aton,Pl i tf ' xperenced fnanci lr i ,i cl di g butnotI ied t h r s sini ani ' e i i a un n u n it o m

4 f r cls r ont e f m i h m e g nd t e fl g o bank u t y' ( om plit( 1 a 8 . o e o u e h a l o a ) h in f y i rpc . C ' an # ) t ) 5 On Ocob r21, 8, h Mi gefld a Mo i nf rSu m ar Ju gmen ( 1 )ont e te 200 t e r i a e t o m yd o t# 1 h
6 cl i s asseded agai sti i Pl i tf s com pl i t Accor i g t t e M iage,i i ent l d t am n t n a n ir an. dn o h r ts ie o t

7 s m m a yj dgm en be au e Plit ff i d t dicls hs cai s agans t e Mia e i hi u ru t c s a n i al o s o e i l m fe i t h rg n s 8 Ban r p c Pe ion. ( ot n f rSu m ar Ju gm en ( 11 a 10 .As a r sut t e Mia e ku ty ti t Mio m yd o t# ) t ) e l, h r g
9 st t st atPlitf i j dii l esopped fom pur uig hi cl i s agaistt e Miage i t i a e h an if s u ca l t y r s n s am n h r n hs
10 case.

11

DI C USS I N S O

1 2

Summar j d m en ' h lber n er d f dh i it e pla ig , oston , wer y u g tY a l e d e o w t f h e d n s dep ii s ans s h

1 t i t rogat res,and adm isi ns on fl , oget erwih t e afi avis,i any,show t att er 3 o ne r o i so it e h th f tf d h he

1 i no g n ie isu ast an maer lac an t a t e mo ig pary i en ie t j dgmen 4s e un s e o y t i f t d h t h a vn t s t ld o u t t
1 as a materofIw . Fed. . i. .56( ) A mat ralisue off cti one t atafect t e 5 t a' ' R C VP c. ei s as h f sh
1 out om e oft e I i aton and r quiesa ti lo r sole t e dif rng ver i ns oft e tut . Lvnn 6 c h ig i t er ra t e v h fe i so h rh

1 v.She tMe alW or er Itl sn,80 F.d 1 72,1 8 ( t Ci.1 86) The bur en of 7 e t k s n 'As ' 4 2 4 4 3 9h r 9 . d
18 dem onstatng t e absence ofa genui e isue ofmat ral ac l s wih t e m ovi g pary, ri h ns e i f ti e th n t and
1 f rt i pur ose,t e m at ralj dged by t e movi g pary m ustbe vi w ed i t e l htm ost 9 o hs p h ei o h n t e nh i g

2 f v r bl t t e n nm o ig p ry Adik s v.S. .Kr s & Co. 398 U. .1 4,15 ( 9 0 . 0 a o a e o h o vn a t. c e H es , S4 7 17) , 21 Ma ie v Ci o L sAn els,1 1 F.d 1 73,1 78 ( t Ci 1 98) dn z . t f o n e 4 3 3 v 3 9h r 9 . .
22 Any di put r gar i g a m at ralssue off ctm ustbe genui e- t e evi ence m ustbe s e e dn ei i a n h d

23 s ch t a ' r as nabl j r c ul r t r a v r itf rt e non o ig pary' 1. Th s u h t ' e o e u y o d e u n e dc o h a m vn t. j. u , ' 24 iwl er t e r c r t k n as a wh l c ul n tlad a rtonai r roff c t fn f rt e i h e h e od a e g oe o d o e a i ti e a t o id o h 25 non ovn p ry,t er i n g nuie is e f rtil and s m m ar j dg en i pr p r m ig a t h e s o e n s u o ra' ' u y u m t s o e.
26 Mat ushiaElc.I dus. v. t Radi Cor .475U. . 587( 986) ' mer scitl s ten Co. Zenih o n, S 574, 1 .' A e n il a

2 o e ien e wi no do,f ra j r i p r ied t dr w onl t os if r n es o whih t e 7 f vd c l t l o uy s e m d o a y h e ne e c f c h
28 evi ence i r asonabi susc ptbl ti m ay notr sor t specul ton . B r i h A iw avs Bd.v. d se y e ie t e to a i ' is 't r

i
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l Bo in Co.5 5 F.d 9 6, 2 ( t Ci.1 78) Theevdenc mu tb sgnic n l pr ba ie, en , 8 2 4 95 9 h r 9 . i e s e i fat o t iy v 2 andcan o be mer l c lr be.Ander onv. ber Lo bv Ic.477 U. . 42, O ( 98 ) nt e y oo a l s Li t b , n , v S 2 25 1 6 .
3 Concl sow al gatons t at ar unsuppoded by f ct aldat cannot def at a moton f r u li e h e au a e io

4 summar j dgment Tavlrv.Lit 88O F.d 1 40,1045 ( t Ci.1989) yu . o s, 20 9h r .

5

l i mo i n f rs m m ar j dg e t t e Mia e as ers t a t e d c r e o j dii l n t to o u s y u m n h r g s t h t h o ti f u ca n

6 est ppelappl s t Pl itf' cl i s i t i case because he f i d t dicl se t em t t e o i o a n ifs a m n h s e al o s o h e oh

7 bankr pt y coud durng hi bankr pt y pr ceedi gs.The M iage not s t atPl i tf fl d t e uc is uc o n r eh a n if i h e 8 char e ofdi crm i aton wih t e EEO C s ver lm ont s bef r fl g hi bankr pt y petton. g sini th ea h o e ii s n uc ii
9 Ther f r ,accor i g t t e M iage,Pl i tf had sufi i ntknowl dge oft e pot ntal ai s eo e dn o h r a n if fce e h e i cl m

1 t r quie dicl sur t t e bankr pt y coud.Thus, 0 oe r s o eoh uc because hef i d t dicl set e pot ntal al o s o h e ei

11 cam s t e Mi ge as eds t a j diiles o pel oul b iv k d i or ert pr t c t e li , h r a s h t u ca t p sh d e n o e n d o o e t h
1 i t grt oft e bankr pt y pr c ss. 2 n e iy h u c oe 1 3 I r sponse, ai tf c ncedest athef i dt dicl se hi pot ntal ai sagai s t e ne Pl n i o h al o s o e s e i cl m n th

1 M iage t t e bankr pt y coud. Howev r Pl itf assers t at t i was an i adverent 4 r oh uc e , ani f t h hs n t
1 om isi n based ont e f c t athe di nothav an ator eywhen he fl d hi em pl ym entl w 5 so h a th d e tn i es o a

1 cai .na dion, ait f r u st a j diil t pp l houdno beap l dbec u ePl it f 6 l m I d t Pl n i a g e h tu ca eso e s l t i f pi e a s a ni f
17 hasfl d a m oton t r open hi bankr pt y pr ceedi g so t athe m ay am end hi schedul d i e i oe s uc o n h s e 1 I tofpr pery t i cl de t e M iage cl i s. 8i s o t on u h r am 1 9 Pendi g and pot ntalcauses ofacton ar am ong t e degaland equiabl i t r st ' n ei i e hd l t e n e e s'

20 t atbecom e t e pr pedy ofa bankr pt y est t upon flng a bankr pt y petton. See 11 h h o uc ae i i uc ii

21 U. . . ( )1 (he ban r p c es a e i cu e ' IIgal equt bl it r s so t e deb or S C 541 a ( )t k u ty t t n ld s ' Ie or ia e n e e t f h a t
22 i pr pery as oft e c m m enc mentoft e casen'see alo Si ra Swi hboar Co.v. not ho e h l , s er t c d

2 W es inh us Elc Cor .789F.d 705, (t Ci. 98 )ev nper on ln ur cai sar 3 t o e e . n, n 2 707 9 h r 1 6 ( e s a ij y i m e
24 par oft e bankr pt yesat whet erornottansf r bl orassinabl underst t lw) As th u c te h r ea e ge ae a .
25 a r sul, he ' ankr pt y Code and R ul s 'm pose upon t e bankr pt y debt r an expr ss, e tt ' B uc ei h uc os e

26 afim atv dut t di cl se a1as et ,ncl di gcontngentand unl ui at d cl i s,' fr ie y o s o I s si u n i i d e a m ' Ham ion q ' l t

2 v.St t Far fr & Ca u l Co. 27O F.d 778,7 5 ( t Ci.20 1 t u tng l r Co sal 7 ae m i e s at v, 3 8 9 h r 0 lq o i n e a t
28 Plis.I c. 179 F 3d 197,207- 8 ( t Ci.1999).' he debt rsdut t diclse pot ntal an n , 0 5h r )' T c' y o s o ei

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1 cl i s asasset does notend when t e debt rfl s schedul s,bu i s ead contnues f rt e am s h oi e e tn t i oh

2 dur ton oft e bankr pty pr ceedig. Lai h uc o n ' du '
3 Becaus pendig and pot ntalcauses ofacton ar r quied t be di cl sed i a e n ei i ee r o so n

4 b nk u t ype ion, our h v i dii l esopp d a p dyfom a s rig ac u e o ac in a r p c t i c t a e j ca l t e t s u y a r set n a s f to
5 not r i ed i a r or ani aton pl n or ot er ie m entoned i t e debt rs schedul s or as n eg zi a h ws i nh o' e
6 di cl sur st t m ent . .$.a 7 3.' hedocrn o j dii l t ppelsanequt bl docrn s o e ae s' . t 8 ' ' T tie f u ca eso i i e tie a

7 a cour may ivok t pr t ctt e it grt oft e j dii lpr cess. Unied Nat Is.Co.v. t n e o o e h ne iy h u ca o 't ' ,n

8 SD c r m W or wie,Ic.55 F.d 772, ( t Ci. 009) Ac or igt t e Nit Ci ui e tu l d n, 5 3 d 778 9 h r 2 . c d n o h n h r t c,
9 t e doc rne S as devel ped t pr ventIi ant fom ' l yi g f s and I ose' ih t e couds h ti ' w o oe ig s r pa n a t t o wt h

10 by t ki g one posii n,gai i g an advant ge fom t at posii n,t en s eki g a second an to nn a r h to h en

1 ad anage by It rt kn an ic m pa il po iin. L . I addion,j diilesoppeli 1 vt a e a ig n o tbe sto ' d n = t u ca t i s
1 ivok d i or ert mait i t e' r ery admi itaton ofj stce and r gar f rt e diniyof 2 n e n d o nan h i d l o ns r i ui e do h gt 1 j dii l oceedigs. Hamion, F. dat782.Uudiil oppel onl bar i consit nt 3 u ca pr n' ' l 27O 3 t ca est not y s n se

1 p ston t k ni t es me Iia in, tb r )igan sfom makngic m pa i l sa em en s 4 o i s a e n h a ig to bu 'a l Ii t r i t st i n o tbe t t t 1 i t o dier n c s s' Uni d, 5 F. d a 778 ( uo ig Hamion, F.d a 783 . 5 n w f e t a e .' t 55 3 t f ' e qt n l 270 3 t ) t
1 6 The Unied St t s Supr m e Cour has I t d t r e f ct r a cour m ay consi er i t ae e t i e he a os s t dn

1 d t r iig wh t ert appl t e doc r e ofj diilesopp l ( )wh t era par ' it r 7 e e m nn eh o yh ti n u ca t e : 1 e h t s ae y

1 po ioni d l a l ic n it n ' t isear post n'2) t er h paryhass c ee e i 8 st s ' e ry n o sse t wi t l io , whe h t e t i c h y i( uc d d n
1 p r ua ig a c u tt ac eptt a p rys e rerp ston,s t a j dii la c p an e ofan 9 e s dn o r o c h t a t' a l o i i i o h t u ca c e t c
20 i consit ntposii n i a It rpr ceedi g woul cr at ihe per epton t ateihert e fr tor n se to n a e o n d e e' t cih t h is

21 t es c ndc urwasmild,t er b t r a enigj dii ln e r y' ( )wh t er h p d h eo o t se ' h e y h e t n u ca it g i , ' t and 3 e h t e a y
22 seeki g t asser an i consit ntposii n woul derve an un ai advant ge ori pose an no tn se to d i fr a m

2 un ai d ti en ont e opp sn padyi n t t pp d. Ham ion, F.d at78 - 3 ( in 3 f r er t h m o ig f o eso e l 27O 3 t 2 8 ct g i

2 New HamDs i v. ne, 32 U. . 42, 21S. t 1 08, 49 L. d.d 9 8 ( 001 ) Ho ev r 4 h r Mai 5 e S7 1 C .8 1 E 2 6 2 ). w e , 25 t e Supr m e Cour stt d t at'inenumer tng t ese f ct r , do notest bl h ifexi i h e ' a e h ') t E ai h a o s we a i n l be s 2 pr r quii soranex au t e f r ul f rd t r iig t e ap l abit o j diil t ppel 6 e e st e h s i o m a o e e m n n h p i ly f u ca eso . v ci '
27 L- ' ddii nal consi er tons m ay i f r t e docti es appi aton i specii f ct al du ' to A d ai no m h rn ii n c fc a u 28 cont x s. L=. et 'd '
.

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The Nit Cic ihasappl d t e do tie of u iil t pp l o cai s n tdico e n h r ut i h c rn j d ca eso e t l m o s ls d e

2 i a bankr pt y petton butI t rfl d i coud. See Ham ion,270 F. d at778*see alo Hav n uc ii ae i n e l t 3 , s

3 v.Fis It rt t BankofKal o l N. . 9 8 F.d 55 ( t Ci.1 9 ) I Hav t e Nit rt n e sa e i el A , 7 2 5 9h r 9 2 . n s. , h nh 4 Ci uia fm ed an or erofsu m ar j dgm en on b halo t e d f n an afert e piit f r t fi c r d m yu t e f f h e e d t t h an i f
5 fl d sui on a case if i d t di cl se t t e bankr pt y cour. 978 F. d at555. Accor i g i e t tal o s o o h e uc t 2 dn 6 t t e cour,t e d om pl i tsetf dh sever lcauses ofac i n,each ofw hih ar se out of oh th d c an o a to c o 7 event t at occured eiher pror t , or durng t e pendency of' pl i tf' bankr pt y sh r t io ih a n ifs uc

8 pr ceedig,L- at556- 7. I f c ,he cour not dt atpl itf dear ed oft ef cs't atId o n du 5 n a tt t e h an if' n l h a t 'h e
9 t t e dicov r oft e cl i s asseded i t e case d om e f urm ont s pror o t e cl se oft e o h s e y h am nh d s o h it h o h 1 bankr pt y case. I . The coud st t d t a ir c gnied t a alf cs ' er notknown t 0 uc 'J 'ae h t t e o z h t I a t i e w o
.

11 ( l it f a t a tm e,bu enou h was k o n t r qur n t iat n o t e exsen e o t e p a n ij t h t i f t g n w o e ie o ic i f h it c f h fo
1 assett t e bankr pt y cour. L- Because t e pl i tf f i d t gie t e r quied notce t 2 oh uc t' du h a n if a l o v h e r e io
1 t e bankr pt y coud,t e coud hel t atpl itf was est pped fom lt rbrngi g t e cl i s. 3h uc h dh a n if o r a e i n h am

1 Lw As a r s l, um m aw j dgm en wa ap r pr t . 4 d. e ut s u t s po i e a
1 5 I Ham ion, he Nit Cicui appl dt et r ef ct r espous d byt e Supr m e Coud n lt t nh r t i h he a o s e e h e
1 t hol t at Ham ion was est pped fom brngi g a cl i agai stSt t Far because he 6 o dh l t o r in am n ae m 1 f i d t di cl se t e cl i t t e bankr pt y coud. 270 F. d at778.Ast t e fr tf c or t e 7 al o s o h am o h e uc 3 o h is a t , h

1 cour not d t atHam ion cl ary asseded i consit ntposii ns when he 'ai d t I thi 8 teh l t el n se to i l oi s fe s
1 cl i s agai s St t Far as asset on hi bankr pt y schedul s,and t en I t rsued St t 9 am n t ae m s s uc e h ae ae

20 Far on t e same cl i s. L=.at784. As t t e second f cor t e cour st t d t at' m h am ' d oh at ,h t ae h a
21 dichar e ofdebtby a bankr pt ycoud,undert ese cicum st nces,i sufii ntaccept nc s g uc h r a s ce ae

2 t pr vie a ba i f r u iil t p elev n it e dic ar e i lt rv c t d. L uTh co r 2 o od ss o j d ca es o p , e f h s h g s a e a a e ' d e u t '23 went on t not t at is hol i g ' oes not i pi t att e bankr pt y coul m us act af o eh t dn ' d m yh h uc ' t t ul y

2 dic ar e de t b f r t ej diil c p anc pr n ma b s tsid. L- ' h bank u t y 4 s h g b s e o e h u ca ac e t e o g y e a if ' d.' e e' T rpc
25 cour m ay( cceptt edebt rsassedi nsbyr li g ont edebt rsnondi cl sur o pot n i l t a 'h o' o eyn h o' s o e f e ta

26 cli s i manyot erways. L. Bas d on t e f r goig,he cour hel t ati' us ivoke am n h ' d. ' e h oe n t t d h t' t n m

2 j dii l t pp fo pr t c t e it g i of h b nk up c pr c s ' L= 7 u ca es o e t o e t h n e rt t e a r t y o e s ' d. y

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itimatrjdcaetpeiaporttpoeth itgi otebnrpc . nhs t .uiilsop! prpieo rtctenery fh akutyl e s a t
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1 pr cess. Pl i tf concedes t athe f i d t dicl se hi pot n i l ai s agai stt e M iage o a n if h al o s o e s e ta cl m nh r 2 i hi bankr pt y petton. M or over Pl itf fld hi EEO C char e sever lm ont s prort ns uc ii e , a n if i es g a h io 3 t e com m encem en oft e bankr pt y pr ceedi gs, ch showst athe had t e if r aton h th uc o n whi h h no m i 4 w hi h he r l d on i hi dicrm i aton cl i sever l ont s bef r fl g f rbankr pt y.As c ei e n s s i n i am am h o e ii o n uc 5 a r sul,bec use Pl i tf f i d t dicl s hi dicrm i aton cl i t t e bankr pt y cour, et a a n if a l o s o e s s i n i e am o h uc t 6 hi I t rposii n t sue t e M iage based on t atsam e cl i i ' l ary i consit nt' ih t e s ae to o h r h a m s ce l n s e 'w t h 7 posii n he t ok wih t e bankr pt y coud. I addii n,i i cl art att e bankr pt y cour to o th uc n to t s e h h uc t 8 accept d Pl i tf' eari rposion because i dichar ed Pl itf s debt ThatPl i tf has e a n if s l e t i ts g a n ir . ani
9 subsequenty m oved t r open t e bankr pt y pr ceedi g does notexcuse hi eari rf i r l oe h uc o n s l al e e u

1 t dicos 'u iil t p el su est a d bor mak a iulan h n s dico u e'o t ei 0 o s l e, dca eso p en r h t e t s e i l d o e t s ls r ' f h r j f
11 as et i t e orgi albankr pt y pr ceedi g. See Ham i on, s sn h in uc o n l 270 F. d at784- 5. Nordoes t 3 8 1 Pl i t r cl i ed i nor nc oft e di cl sur r quiem ent because he fl d hi EEO C char e 2 an i s a m f g a e h s o ee r s i es g

1 wi ou an ator ey pr v n t e a pl a i n o j dii lesopp l Att e tm e h fld f r 3 tt h tn e e t h p i to f u ca t e . c hi ei o e
1 bankr pt y,Pl i tf knew t e f ct gii g rse t hi cl i s agai s t e M iage,and al w i g 4 uc a n if h a s vn i o s a m n th r ln o 1 such cl i s t pr ceed att i tm e woul di r ptand i pai t e i t gr y oft e bankr pt y 5 am o o hs i d su m r h ne i t h uc 1 pr ceedi gs. 6 o nl

1 7

Ba edont ef r goig, m maw j dg en i appr prae on Plit f cli sag is s h o e n su u m ts o it an i ' a m a n t fs

18 t e M iage. However ator l gum ent t e pari s conceded t att e r al t i it r sti h r , a ar ,h te h h e pary n n e e n 1 t i case i t e bankr pt ytus ee because Pl itf fl d t r open hi bankr pt y pr ceedi g 9 hs sh ucrt a n if i o e e s uc o n

20 a t rt e Mi g fid i m o in f r m m ar j d m en .As a r s l t e p riss iult d t fe h r e i t t o su a es o y ug t e ut h a t t ae o , ep
21 t e i t r enton oft e bankr pt y t ust e i t i m ater h ne v i h u c r e n hs t. 22 23
24

CONCLUSI N O Based on t e f r goi g, I I HEREBY ORDERED t at Def ndants M oton f r h oe n T S h e ' io

25 I A t or l a gum e t Pl i tf a gue t a hi f iur t ls hi di c i i a j c ai o hi ar n . a n if r d h t s . l e o i t s s r m n ton l m n s a 26 b nkr pt l s he ul w a notbas d on an b d f ih m olve ori t ntt de ei e. .. ow e e .Pl i tf a u c'c d e s e ) a at i n e. o c v H v r a n if pr vi e no ca e l w o au hort ' ort e pr poston t a hi ..good t ih i nor nc u,s a e c pton o dd s a r t il f h o ii h t s at g a e a n x e i

n. t t e do li e ofi di ile t ppe i t i contxt M o e Ne . ai tf sr pe t d as e tonst a t e e y o h c rn u c a so l n h s e . r o rr Pl n if e a e s ri h t b r voul be- o h n ,done-i Plitf Na alou'dt p oe edi hi dic ilnain can i sihoul v d ' ah1 n 'f an if v s i e o r e n s s rn i to lil s vt 28 n ert No a l .a l n' g Pli tf t pr ce d i t i m at Turul ha m t e j di i li l grt (tt e a i. t b ) lo i an if o o e n h s te' o d r h u c a n e i) )'h n
-

ba kr pt ) p oc e i g and t e r ing a d hoi i g ott a c ur . n u c r edn h ui n dn hlo t
, . .

.

.

!

l '

1 Su m ar Ju gm en ( 11 i GRANTED. I i FURTHER ORDERED t att i ma t rs al m yd t# )s ts h hs te h l
r m ai open t al w t e i t r enton oft e bankr pt y tust e. en o l h ne v i o h uc r e

DA TED : s 22n day ofAprl 2009. Thi d i ,

U N l ED STA T ES D I T R I T JU D G E S C

21