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In re Foels

United States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Iowa
Jun 28, 2006
Bankruptcy No. 04-04594, Adversary No. 05-9093 (Bankr. N.D. Iowa Jun. 28, 2006)

Opinion

Bankruptcy No. 04-04594, Adversary No. 05-9093.

June 28, 2006


RULING ON MOTION FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT


On June 23, 2006, the above-captioned matter came on for hearing on a Motion for Summary Judgment filed by Defendant Countrywide Home Loans. Debtors were represented by Attorney Richard Boresi. Defendant Countrywide Home Loans was represented by Attorney Ben Hopkins.

BACKGROUND

Debtors filed a Chapter 7 petition on November 24, 2004. A discharge was entered on March 9, 2005. During the administration of the bankruptcy, Countrywide Home Loans held both a first and second mortgage on property owned by Debtors. Countrywide transferred the first mortgage to Litton Loan Servicing, L.P. on April 2, 2005, after the case was closed. The basis of Debtors' complaint relates to certain mortgage statements which were reportedly sent to Debtors on a regular basis. Each statement contains the assertion that it is for informational purposes only and is not an attempt to collect against Debtors personally.

Based upon these mailings, Debtors assert that Countrywide has violated both the automatic stay during the administration of the case as well as the post-discharge injunction from the entry of the discharge until the present time. Countrywide asserts that these contacts could not be expected to have a significant impact upon a determination by a debtor as to whether to repay. It argues that these contacts are fair under all the circumstances and requests summary judgment in its favor as a matter of law.

SUMMARY JUDGMENT STANDARDS

A Motion for Summary Judgment may be granted when there are no material facts in controversy and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed.R.Bankr.P. 7056; Fed.R.Civ.Proc. 56(a). In considering a Motion for Summary Judgment, the Court reviews the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. In re Marlar, 267 F.3d 749, 755 (8th Cir. 2001). The moving party has the burden to show that there is no genuine issue of material fact. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986).

ANALYSIS

Countrywide describes, in its brief, the test formulated by the Bankruptcy Court in the Eastern District of Michigan. In re Briggs, 143 B.R. 438, 453 (Bankr. E.D. Mich. 1992). In that case, the court set out a two part test establishing a violation of § 362 if the creditor's act (1) could reasonably be expected to have a significant impact on the debtor's determination as to whether to repay, and (2) is contrary to what a reasonable person would consider to be fair under the circumstances. Id. This test clearly has a subjective component which requires the Court to evaluate conduct to determine its reasonableness both from a subjective standpoint as well from the viewpoint of Debtors.

This Court has also addressed this issue and made a determination as to the extent of rights of undersecured creditors who retain some rights through post-discharge liens pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 506(a). In re Bandy, 2003 WL 21781995, *2 (Bankr. N.D. Iowa July 29, 2003). In that opinion, this Court noted that undersecured creditors who make post-discharge contacts with a debtor navigate a very narrow path between legality and violation of the post-discharge injunction. Creditors with partially discharged claims may initiate minimal contact with the debtor to the extent necessary to service the surviving secured debt. However, the contact must be minimal, unobtrusive, polite, and with no greater frequency than a debtor not in bankruptcy would reasonably expect. Id. Again, this determination requires a finding by the Court as to the appropriateness of the contacts made applying a subjective test.

While Defendant argues that there are no facts in controversy, the Court must evaluate the facts to determine whether or not, under all of the circumstances, the automatic stay or post-discharge injunction has been violated. It is impossible to evaluate and make this subjective determination based on this record.

For the reasons set out herein, facts remain for determination by this Court from which subjective conclusions must be drawn. This case is inappropriate for summary judgment at this time.

WHEREFORE, Defendants Motion for Partial Summary Judgment is DENIED.


Summaries of

In re Foels

United States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Iowa
Jun 28, 2006
Bankruptcy No. 04-04594, Adversary No. 05-9093 (Bankr. N.D. Iowa Jun. 28, 2006)
Case details for

In re Foels

Case Details

Full title:MARK WALTER FOELS TRACI LEANN FOELS Chapter 7, Debtor(s). MARK WALTER…

Court:United States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Iowa

Date published: Jun 28, 2006

Citations

Bankruptcy No. 04-04594, Adversary No. 05-9093 (Bankr. N.D. Iowa Jun. 28, 2006)