Chikara Enterprises v. USA
Filing
56
MEMORANDUM DECISION granting 39 Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by Judge Dale A. Kimball on 08/08/2011. (asp)
______________________________________________________________________________
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF UTAH
CENTRAL DIVISION
CHIKARA ENTERPRISES, LLC, a Utah
Limited Liability Company Acting as
Trustee for The Patio Springs Real Estate
Holding Trust, a Utah Trust for the
benefit of COMPASSIONATE ORDER
OF SERVICE, Beneficiary of Said Trust,
Plaintiffs,
v.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Defendant.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Counterclaim Plaintiff/
Third Party Plaintiff
v.
CHIKARA ENTERPRISES, LLC, as
trustee for THE PATIO SPRINGS REAL
ESTATE HOLDING TRUST;
CHARLES W. BUSCH; CREATIVE
CAPITAL, LLC, and UNKNOWN
TRUSTEE, as trustee for 55 HOME
REAL ESTATE HOLDING TRUST,
Counterclaim/Third-Party
Defendants.
MEMORANDUM DECISION
AND ORDER
Case No. 2:09-CV-00693 DAK
This matter is before the court on Defendant/Counterclaim Plaintiff United States of
America’s Motion for Summary Judgment against Plaintiffs/Counterclaim Defendants Chikara
Enterprises, LLC; Creative Capital, LLC; and Charles W. Busch pursuant to Rule 56 of the
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The court held oral arguments on the motion on July 27, 2011.
At the hearing, Plaintiffs/Counterclaim Defendants were represented by John J.E. Markham, II,
and Defendant/Counterclaim Plaintiff was represented by Rick Watson. The court took the
motion under advisement. The court has carefully considered all pleadings, memoranda, and
other materials submitted by the parties. The court has further considered the law and facts
relevant to the motion. Now being fully advised, the court enters the following Memorandum
Decision and Order.
BACKGROUND
Plaintiff/Counterclaim Defendant Charles W. Busch is a Utah resident and a Minister in
the Church of Compassionate Service (“COCS”). Busch obtained a property in Eden, Weber
County, Utah, (“Eden property”) on December 31, 2002 by Special Warranty Deed from the
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. Plaintiff/Counterclaim Defendant Chikara
Enterprises, LLC (“Chikara”) is a Utah Limited Liability Company acting as trustee for The Patio
Springs Real Estate Holding Trust (“Patio Springs”), a religious trust that purportedly owns the
Eden property at issue in this case. Plaintiff Compassionate Order of Service (“the Order”) is an
association of persons who have taken a vow of poverty and dedicated themselves to religious
service as Ministers of COCS. The Order is the sole beneficiary of the Patio Springs trust. Both
the COCS and the Order are headquartered in Orem, Utah. Plaintiff/Counterclaim Defendant
Creative Capital, LLC (“Creative Capital”) is an entity that purportedly provided loans to Patio
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Springs secured by the Eden property.1
Kevin Hartshorn is the Head Minister of the COCS and authored its guiding text.
Hartshorn is also the managing member of Chikara, the trustor for Patio Springs as a
representative of the COCS, and the trustee of CET Business Holding Trust, which is part of
Creative Capital, LLC along with Chikara and Global Wealth Management, LLC. One of the
Members of Global Wealth Management, LLC at the time of the purported transfer of the Eden
property to Patio Springs was Slavi Kozhuharov (now Troy Sinclair), who was also a member of
the High Council of the Order.
In 2001, Busch entered into a “vow of poverty” with the International Academy of
Lymphology (IAL) in which Busch purported to give all of his real and personal property to IAL.
Hartshorn assisted in recruiting Busch into the IAL. In March 2004, Busch transferred from IAL
to the COCS, and he signed a new “vow of poverty” as well as a “vow of obedience.” Under the
new vow of poverty, Busch gave all of his real and personal property to the COCS, and Busch
sent all of his pay from selling vacation timeshares for various companies directly to the Order,
except when he worked for Shell Vacations Club in 2005. Since Shell Vacations Club refused to
pay the Order directly, Busch would personally send the money he earned from that job to the
Order after taxes were withheld. According to his vows of poverty and obedience, Busch worked
for these companies as part of his ministerial duties for the COCS, even though none of the
companies were in an agency relationship with the COCS.
Since the early 1990s, Busch has owned a one-sixth interest in a parcel of real property
1
The court will refer to Busch, Chikara, and Creative Capital collectively as
Counterclaim Defendants.
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located in Baldwin County, Alabama. When Busch entered into his vow of poverty with the
COCS in March 2004, he pledged his interest in the property to the COCS, although his coowners refused to have the interest legally signed over to the COCS. The Alabama property was
sold in November 2005, and Busch received $797, 631.46 for his interest in the property. Busch
directed that his share of the proceeds of the sale be wired to a bank account associated with the
COCS.
With respect to Busch’s other property in Eden, Utah, Busch filled out a loan application
in order to purchase such property in September 2002. The loan application included two Deeds
of Trust, which totaled $148,400.00 and which were conveyed to GreenPoint Mortgage Funding,
Inc. (GreenPoint). Although the Trust Deeds specified that a transfer of the Eden property
without prior consent from GreenPoint would result in a demand for immediate repayment and
would constitute a default, Busch transferred his interest in the Eden property without notifying
GreenPoint on January 16, 2003, to 55 Home Real Estate Holding Trust for no consideration.
Despite Busch’s transfer of his interest in the Eden property, Hartshorn directed an entity
related to COCS to issue checks to GreenPoint on January 9, 2006, for the entire amount of
$148,400.00 to discharge the obligations on the two Trust Deeds encumbering the property. The
$148,400.00 used to discharge the debt came from the same account that received the money
from the sale of Busch’s Alabama property. Four days later, on January 13, 2006, a warranty
deed was recorded transferring the Eden property from Busch to the Order for no additional
consideration. This transfer left Busch with no substantial assets in his own name. At the exact
same time, a warranty deed was recorded transferring the title to the Eden property from the
Order to Patio Springs. Although the Eden property was estimated to be worth between
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$300,000.00 to $350,000.00 at that time, the only consideration for the transfer of the property
from the Order to Patio Springs was twenty silver dollars worth $1,278.00. The twenty silver
dollars involved in the transaction were the property of COCS or a related entity and not the
property of Patio Springs at the time of the transfer.
Exactly one minute after the two transfers above were recorded, a deed of trust was
recorded describing a loan of $259,000.00 from Creative Capital to Patio Springs secured by the
Eden property. In the following minute, a deed of trust was recorded describing a loan of
$75,000.00 from Creative Capital to Patio Springs, which was also secured by the property.
Despite the recording of these deeds of trust, Patio Springs received no funds from Creative
Capital.
Although the Eden property has been transferred several times, Busch continues to use
the property as a residence without paying rent whenever he has an assignment from the COCS
in Salt Lake City, Utah. In addition, the utilities and services for the property remain in Busch’s
name, including utilities and services obtained for the property after the purported transfer of the
property to Patio Springs. However, the utility bills are paid by the COCS, and Busch does not
consider the Eden property to be his because he turned it over to the COCS under his vow of
poverty. Whether the Eden property is also used by other Ministers of the COCS when they are
on assignment in Utah is disputed.
In September 2001, Busch filed federal income tax returns for 1998, 1999, and 2000.
According to the tax returns, Busch owed income taxes for each of those years, but Busch did not
include payments with his returns and has not made payments since. Busch did not file income
tax returns for 2002, 2003, or 2005. But, based on information provided by third parties, the
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Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) assessed tax liabilities against Busch for those years. On
January 11, 2006, October 27, 2006, and October 31, 2006, a delegate of the Secretary of
Treasury recorded Notices of Federal Tax Liens against Busch in Weber County, Utah, for his
unpaid federal tax liabilities. The liens attached to all property and rights to property in which
Busch had an interest. On November 7, 2008, the IRS filed a Notice of Federal Tax Lien in the
Registry of Deeds for Weber County, Utah, claiming a lien on the Eden property in the amount of
$699,369.23 for taxes due and owing by Busch. Based on the income tax returns Busch filed, the
tax liabilities assessed by the IRS, and statutory accruals, the total outstanding balance of all
federal income tax liabilities assessed against Busch was $730,440.64 as of January 31, 2011.
In response to the tax lien on the Eden property, Chikara and the Order filed a Complaint
seeking a declaratory judgment that the lien was wrongfully filed and should be removed because
allegedly Busch no longer has any interest in the Eden property. The United States filed an
Answer, Counterclaim, and Third Party Complaint against an unknown Trustee for 55 Home
Real Estate Holding Trust. Chikara and Busch filed an Answer to the United States’
Counterclaim. The United States later amended its Third Party Complaint and added Creative
Capital, LLC as a defendant because it may claim an interest in the Eden property.
After filing its Amended Counterclaim/Third Party Complaint, the United States filed a
Motion for Default Judgment against 55 Home Real Estate Holding Trust2 and a Motion for
Summary Judgment against Chikara, Creative Capital, and Busch.
2
The United States’ Motion for Default Judgment against 55 Home Real Estate Holding
Trust was granted in a separate decision. Therefore, this Order will only address the United
States’ Motion for Summary Judgment.
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DISCUSSION
The United States moves for summary judgment against Chikara, Creative Capital, and
Busch on the grounds that there are no genuine issues of material fact as to Busch’s outstanding
federal tax obligations and as to whether the United States is entitled to foreclose its federal tax
lien against the Eden property. The court will address each of these issues.
I.
Tax Assessments Should Be Reduced to Judgment
Although both the United States and Counterclaim Defendants argued extensively in their
memoranda before the court regarding whether the taxes assessed against Busch were valid,
Counterclaim Defendants, in a Post-Argument Correction and Clarification, stated that they “no
longer dispute that the taxes stated in the lien filed by the IRS were assessed against Busch and
that the assessments were never challenged and thus are currently, along with interest and
penalties, the taxes due and owing.” Based on this concession and the law relied upon by the
United States, the court grants the United States’ motion to reduce the taxes assessed against
Busch to judgment. The court, therefore, will consider the taxes assessed against Busch valid for
the remainder of this Order.
II.
The United States is Entitled to Foreclose Federal Tax Liens Against the Real
Property
Next, the court concludes that, based on the undisputed evidence before the court, the
United States is entitled to foreclose its federal tax liens against Busch on the Eden property
because Busch has retained the beneficial ownership of the property, the transfers of the property
were fraudulent, and Creative Capital has no interest in the Eden property.
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A.
Patio Springs is a Nominee of Busch
The United States is entitled to foreclose the federal tax liens against the Eden property
because the federal tax liens against Busch attach to all property and rights to property in which
Busch has an interest and because Busch retains a beneficial interest in the Eden property.
First, a tax lien is perfected upon assessment without further action by the United States.
United States v. Vermont, 377 U.S. 351, 352 (1964). A United States tax lien attaches to all
property and rights to property of the taxpayer, 26 U.S.C. §§ 6321, 6322, including property
acquired by the taxpayer when the lien is in force, Glass City Bank v. United States, 326 U.S.
265, 267-68 (1945), and the lien continues to be in force until the liability is paid in full or
becomes unenforceable due to the lapse of time, 26 U.S.C. § 6322. Once a lien has arisen, the
United States may file an action to enforce the lien against any property in which the taxpayer has
an interest. 26 U.S.C. § 7403. Because the United States validly assessed tax liabilities against
Busch and because Busch has not yet paid those liabilities, the United States may foreclose the
tax liens against any property in which Busch has an interest.
Busch has an interest in the Eden property because Patio Springs qualifies as a nominee
of Busch, or as the named holder of the property or rights to the property to which Busch retains
the beneficial ownership. A federal tax lien attaches to property held by a taxpayer’s nominee.
See United States v. Miller Bros. Constr. Co., 505 F.2d 1031, 1036 (10th Cir. 1974); see also
Spotts v. United States, 429 F.3d 248, 251 (6th Cir. 2005) (clarifying that tax liens attach to
“property held by a third party if it is determined that the third party is holding the property as a
nominee or alter ego of the delinquent taxpayer”). The following six factors are used to
determine whether a party qualifies as a nominee: “‘(1) whether inadequate or no consideration
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was paid by the nominee; (2) whether the property was placed in the nominee’s name in
anticipation of a lawsuit or other liability while the tranferor remains in control of the property;
(3) whether there is a close relationship between the nominee and the transferor; (4) whether they
failed to record the conveyance; (5) whether the transferor retained possession; and (6) whether
the transferor continues to enjoy the benefits of the transferred property.’” Holman v. United
States, 505 F.3d 1060, 1065 n.1 (10th Cir. 2007) (quoting Spotts, 429 F.3d at 251).
Applying the six factors to this case leads to the conclusion that Patio Springs is holding
the Eden property as a nominee of Busch. First, Busch transferred the Eden property to the Order
for either no or inadequate consideration, even though he had previously transferred it to 55
Home Real Estate Holding Trust. Busch transferred the Eden property to the Order a few days
after the Order discharged the obligations on the two Trust Deeds encumbering the property for
$148,400.00. Counterclaim Defendants argue that this discharging of the obligations qualifies as
consideration for the subsequent transfer of the property. But the United States argues that,
because the $148,400.00 came from the same account into which the money from the sale of
Busch’s Alabama property was transferred, Busch essentially paid off his own obligations and
the money does not qualify as consideration. The court declines to address whether the discharge
of the obligations on the property qualified as consideration because, even if the $148,400.00 was
considered to be money paid from the Order, the consideration was still inadequate. The
property at the time of the transfer was predicted to be worth between $300,000.00 and
$350,000.00. Because the “consideration” was less than half the value of the property, it was
inadequate for the transfer of the property from Busch to the Order. The $1,278.00 in silver
dollars used in the subsequent transfer of the Eden property from the Order to Patio Springs,
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therefore, was also inadequate consideration.
Second, at the time the Eden property was transferred to the Order and then to Patio
Springs, Busch was aware that he had significant, outstanding tax liabilities to the IRS. And, after
transferring the property, Busch remained in control of it. By 2006, Busch had filed tax returns
for the years 1998, 1999, and 2000, and was thus aware of the over $40,000.00 in taxes that he
owed for those years. In addition, Busch earned money in 2002, 2003, and 2005, which,
although the assessments took place after the transfer, he was likely aware would result in
additional income tax liabilities. Finally, Busch received $797,631.46 for the sale of his property
in Alabama prior to transferring the Eden property. Although he may not have been aware of the
exact amount that he owed in taxes for the income derived from the sale of that property, he was
aware that he owed significant taxes on that income. Therefore, Busch transferred the Eden
property in anticipation of significant tax liabilities.
Despite the transfer of the property, Busch still retained control over the property. Even
after transferring the Eden property to the Order, Busch continued to reside at the property
whenever he was in Utah. All of the utilities for the property remained in Busch’s name and,
significantly, after the transfer, new utilities obtained for the property were placed in Busch’s
name. There is no evidence that any other party had control over the property. Therefore,
undisputed evidence demonstrates that Busch retained control over the property.
The third factor requires the court to examine whether there is a close relationship
between the nominee and the transferor. The evidence demonstrates that there is a close
relationship between the Order, Patio Springs, and Busch. Hartshorn, who assisted in recruiting
Busch to the IAL, is the Head Minister of COCS and the Order. Hartshorn is also the managing
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member of Chikara and the trustor for Patio Springs as a representative of the COCS. In fact, all
of the entities involved in the several transfers are closely related to and largely managed by the
COCS under the direction of Hartshorn. Therefore, a close relationship exists between the
entities involved in the Eden property’s transfer.
Fourth, Counterclaim Defendants recorded the conveyances of the Eden property. But, in
this case, the recording of the conveyances is not a strong indicator that Patio Springs is the true
holder of the beneficial ownership instead of a nominee for Busch. In general, parties are less
likely to record a conveyance to a nominee because the initial owner desires to maintain control
over the property. However, if property is being conveyed in anticipation of tax liabilities,
recording the conveyance may actually assist the taxpayer in avoiding liabilities. Therefore,
although Counterclaim Defendants recorded their conveyances of the Eden property, the
recording of the conveyance in this situation is not persuasive evidence that the transfer was to
the true beneficial owner rather than to a nominee.
Under the fifth factor, as already mentioned, Busch retained possession of the property
because he continued to reside there whenever he was in Utah. And, finally, Busch continues to
enjoy the benefits of the transferred property because he lives there without paying rent and
because he continues to arrange for maintenance contracts for the property in his own name.
Therefore, based on the undisputed evidence presented to the court, the court concludes
that Patio Springs qualifies as a nominee of Busch, holding the Eden property for Busch’s
beneficial interest. Accordingly, the United States may attach a federal tax lien against Busch to
the Eden property.
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B.
The Transfers of the Real Property Were Fraudulent Conveyances
In addition to Patio Springs qualifying as a nominee of Busch, the United States is also
entitled to foreclose its federal tax liens against the Eden property because undisputed evidence
demonstrates that the transfers of the property qualify as fraudulent conveyances under the Utah
Code. In order for transfers to constitute constructive fraud in Utah, they must meet the terms of
the following statute:
A transfer made or obligation incurred by a debtor is fraudulent as to a
creditor whose claim arose before the transfer was made or the obligation
was incurred if the debtor made the transfer or incurred the obligation
without receiving a reasonably equivalent value in exchange for the
transfer or obligation and the debtor was insolvent at the time or the debtor
became insolvent as a result of the transfer or obligation.
Utah Code Ann. § 25-6-6(1). “That statute deems a transfer fraudulent without requiring proof
of actual intent to defraud when the transfer is not made for a reasonably equivalent value; the
transferor is either insolvent at the time or rendered insolvent by the transfer; and the creditor's
claim arose before the transfer.” Morganroth & Morganroth v. DeLorean, 213 F.3d 1301, 1305
(10th Cir. 2000). When a transfer is fraudulent, the Utah Code allows the transfer to be set aside.
See Utah Code Ann. § 25-6-8.
In this case, all of the elements of constructive fraud are met. As already discussed, the
various transfers of the Eden property were not made for reasonably equivalent value even if the
$148,400.00 discharge of the obligations on the property qualifies as consideration. In addition,
when Busch transferred the Eden property to the Order, Busch was rendered insolvent because,
having already transferred his earnings from the sale of the Alabama property to the Order, Busch
no longer had any substantial assets in his own name. Finally, the United States’ lien on the
Eden property arose before Busch transferred the property to the Order because the lien was
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perfected at the time of the assessment. See Morganroth & Morganroth, 213 F.3d at 1305
(granting summary judgment under this provision where transfer was not made for reasonably
equivalent value and rendered the debtor insolvent).
Therefore, the court concludes that the transfers of the Eden property were fraudulent and
the court sets aside these transfers. Because the transfers are set aside, Busch is the true owner of
the Eden property, and the United States is entitled to foreclose its federal tax lien against Busch
on that property.
C.
Creative Capital Has No Interest in the Real Property
Finally, this court holds that Creative Capital has no interest in the real property. In
general, 26 U.S.C. § 6323(a) grants bona fide purchasers of property priority over unfiled federal
tax liens. In order for a purchaser to take priority over an unfiled federal tax lien, however,
“valuable consideration” must be exchanged for the property. United States v. Scovil, 348 U.S.
218, 221 (1955). Because it is undisputed that no real value was exchanged for the debts secured
on the Eden property in favor of Creative Capital, the debts do not have priority over the federal
tax liens. Accordingly, the court finds that Creative Capital has no interest in the Eden property.
CONCLUSION
Based on the above reasoning, Defendant/Counterclaim Plaintiff United States’ Motion
for Summary Judgment is GRANTED.
Dated this 8th day of August, 2011.
_______________________________
Dale A. Kimball,
United States District Judge
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