Justia U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals Opinion Summaries

The Eighth Circuit affirmed the bankruptcy appellate panel's decision affirming the bankruptcy court's determination that debtor's debt to Lariat is excepted from discharge because it was obtained by actual fraud. The court explained that, although Lariat's claim was partially disallowed against debtor's bankruptcy estate under 11 U.S.C. 502(b)(6), the landlord cap does not foreclose Lariat's argument that the claim should be excepted from discharge under section 523(a)(2)(A). Therefore, Lariat's claim is excepted from discharge under section 523(a)(2)(A) to the extent that it was obtained by actual fraud. In this case, the bankruptcy court did not clearly err in finding that debtor had received a fraudulent transfer from her husband, and the record supports the bankruptcy court's finding that debtor participated in the scheme with the requisite wrongful intent. View "Lariat Companies, Inc. v. Wigley" on Justia Law

A VeroBlue preferred shareholder, FishDish appeals the district court's order granting appellees' motions to dismiss FishDish's appeal of the bankruptcy court order confirming debtors' Chapter 11 plan of reorganization over FishDish's objections, and certain pre-confirmation orders.After determining that the district court and this court have statutory subject matter jurisdiction, the Eighth Circuit concluded that the district court erred in limiting the mandatory but non-jurisdictional timeliness requirements of Bankruptcy Rule 8002 to appeals from final bankruptcy court orders. Because FishDish has conceded that its appeal from the preconfirmation Claim Objection Order was untimely under Rule 8002, the court affirmed the grant of appellees' Partial Motion to Dismiss Appeal on this alternative ground. In regard to the equitable mootness claim, the court concluded that the district court did not apply a sufficiently rigorous test to determine when bankruptcy equities and pragmatics justify foregoing Article III judicial review of a bankruptcy court order confirming a Chapter 11 plan. Therefore, the court remanded for further district court proceedings. View "FishDish, LLP v. VeroBlue Farms USA, Inc." on Justia Law

The Bankruptcy Appellate Panel dismissed debtor's appeal as moot where he challenged the bankruptcy court's order denying his motion for relief from a previous order denying his request for a waiver of the Bankruptcy Code's credit counseling requirement. The court concluded that the bankruptcy case was subsequently dismissed, and thus a reversal of the waiver denial order would be of no benefit to debtor. View "Lincoln v. Snyder" on Justia Law

The Bankruptcy Appellate Panel affirmed the bankruptcy court's decisions that debt owed by each debtor to Madison related to U.S. Bank in the amount of $1,676,162.20, plus interest, costs and any attorney's fees awarded in the matter are nondischargeable pursuant to Bankruptcy Code 523(a)(2)(A).The panel concluded that the bankruptcy court correctly analyzed first, under nonbankruptcy law the existence of a debt to Madison and second, under federal bankruptcy law the issue of dischargeability. In this case, the bankruptcy court appropriately found with respect to damages that debtors misrepresented and concealed material facts from Madison in order to further their conspiracy. View "Madison Resource Funding Corp. v. Marsh" on Justia Law

The Eighth Circuit affirmed the bankruptcy appellate panel's decision affirming the district court's dismissal of plaintiffs' action based on issue preclusion grounds. Looking to North Dakota preclusion law for the federal common law principles of issue preclusion applicable in this case, the court concluded that its decision in Finstad II that plaintiffs do not have any interest in the property was an issue actually litigated in a prior suit between the parties that is binding on plaintiffs in this lawsuit. View "Finstad v. Gord" on Justia Law

The Bankruptcy Appellate Panel vacated the bankruptcy court's order confirming debtor's chapter 12 plan, concluding that the bankruptcy court erred by failing to hold an evidentiary hearing to determine the value of the Bank's collateral where the collateral was disputed. The panel also concluded that the Bank needed to file a proof of claim. The panel explained that, until the bankruptcy court holds the requisite evidentiary hearing and determines the value of the Bank's collateral, it is impossible to say whether under the debtor's plan the Bank will be paid not less than the allowed amount of its secured claim. Accordingly, the panel remanded for further proceedings. Finally, the panel concluded that the record amply supports the bankruptcy court's finding of disposable income under 11 U.S.C. 1225(b)(1)(B). View "Citizens State Bank v. Schiller" on Justia Law

The Eighth Circuit affirmed the bankruptcy appellate panel's decision upholding the bankruptcy court's order that fully voided Waltrip's judicial lien on debtor's homestead. In this case, after Waltrip filed suit against debtor in October 2016 for breach of contract in Missouri state court, a fire damaged debtor's home. The homeowner's insurance policy paid debtor for damages and Waltrip obtained a consent judgment that gave Waltrip a judicial lien against the homestead property. The parties do not dispute that Waltrip had a valid, avoidable lien that was affixed to debtor's property before she filed her bankruptcy petition. At issue is the extent to which Waltrip's lien impairs debtor's claimed homestead exemption.The court concluded, under Missouri law, that when property is properly exempted under 11 U.S.C. 522, a debtor is the sole owner of the insurance proceeds covering the property. Without any precedent to support Waltrip's position, the court declined to include the amount of the insurance payout when calculating the fair market value of debtor's home on the petition date, and thus the court affirmed the bankruptcy court's ruling using the $3,000 to $6,000 valuation of the unrepaired, fire-damaged property as determined on the petition date. The court also concluded that, because Waltrip's lien is smaller than the extent of the impairment, the entirety of Waltrip's lien can be avoided. Finally, the court concluded that the bankruptcy court did not abuse its discretion in reopening the case to avoid the lien or in denying Waltrip's requests for attorneys' fees and costs related to the reopening. View "David G. Waltrip, LLC v. Sawyers" on Justia Law

The Bankruptcy Appellate Panel affirmed the bankruptcy court's grant of the trustee's motion to determine the reasonableness of respondent's attorney's fees. At issue in this case is the reasonableness of fees charged by a consumer bankruptcy attorney, respondent, for all work associated with filing a chapter 7 case using a bifurcated arrangement. The panel found no clear error in any of the findings of fact made by the bankruptcy court, concluding that it was well within its authority to reduce respondent's fees by $500 and did not abuse its discretion in doing so. In this case, respondent failed to present evidence that would enable the court to conduct a lodestar analysis. View "Ridings v. Casamatta" on Justia Law

Excellent Home filed a claim against appellee in bankruptcy, arguing that its claim is excepted from discharge, as well as alleging three state law theories: fraudulent misrepresentation, negligent misrepresentation, and civil conspiracy.The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's decision upholding the bankruptcy court's finding in favor of appellee, and concluded that Excellent Home, in submitting the full-credit bid, did not justifiably rely on appellee's misrepresentations, so its claim is not excepted from discharge. The court explained that Missouri fraudulent misrepresentation, negligent misrepresentation, and derivative civil conspiracy each require a plaintiff justifiably rely on defendant's actions. In this case, based on the findings of fact, Excellent Home's reliance was unjustifiable and its state law claims were thus properly dismissed. View "Excellent Home Properties, Inc. v. Kinard" on Justia Law

Debtors' claims relate to matters stemming from the 2018 foreclosure sale of their home. Mila Homes, represented by its counsel, purchased the property at the foreclosure sale.The Bankruptcy Appellate Panel affirmed the bankruptcy court's orders denying debtors' motions for sanctions against Mila's counsel; to alter or amend the order denying the request for sanctions and for additional findings of fact and conclusions of law; and seeking to disqualify the bankruptcy judge. The panel concluded that the bankruptcy court did not err by denying debtors' sanctions request based on counsel's statements on behalf of Mila Homes in the Mila Stay Motion. In this case, the bankruptcy court provided debtors with a hearing, listened patiently to their arguments, read methodically through the Bankruptcy Sanctions Motion, and addressed in detail why nothing in the Mila Stay Motion violated Rule 9011. Finally, the panel denied debtors' requests for judicial notice and awarded Mila's counsel $3,000 in sanctions from debtors. The panel concluded that the bankruptcy court did not err in denying debtors' fifth motion for disqualification of recusal and that debtors' appeal is frivolous. View "Scott v. Anderson" on Justia Law