Case ID: br_501/html/0835-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
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Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

In re Robert M. MEAD, Debtor, Robert M. Mead, Appellant, v. Lawrence J. Loheit; Carolyn Williams, Appellees.
    No. 10-60034.
    BAP No. 09-1241.
    United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
    Submitted June 18, 2013.
    
    Filed June 20, 2013.
    Robert M. Mead, Elk Grove, CA, pro se.
    Neil Enmark, Esquire, Stephen Allen Koonce, Law Offices of Stephen A. Koonce, Sacramento, CA, for Appellees.
    Lawrence J. Loheit, Sacramento, CA, pro se.
    Before: TALLMAN, M. SMITH, and HURWITZ, Circuit Judges.
    
      
       The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2).
    
   MEMORANDUM

Chapter 13 debtor Robert M. Mead appeals pro se from the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel’s judgment affirming the bankruptcy court’s order sustaining the objection of creditor Carolyn Williams and denying confirmation of Mead’s plan. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 158(d). We review de novo BAP decisions, and apply the same standard of review that the BAP applied to the bankruptcy court’s ruling. Boyajian v. New Falls Corp. (In re Boyajian), 564 F.3d 1088, 1090 (9th Cir.2009). We review de novo the bankruptcy court’s conclusions of law and for clear error its findings of fact, including a finding of bad faith. Leavitt v. Soto (In re Leavitt), 171 F.3d 1219, 1222-23 (9th Cir.1999). We affirm.

The bankruptcy court did not clearly err in finding that Mead’s bankruptcy plan lacked good faith in light of the evidence in the record indicating that Mead misrepresented Williams’s claim, attempted to manipulate the bankruptcy system to avoid the results of state court litigation, and submitted an inequitable plan proposal. See id. at 1224 (describing factors relevant for finding of bad faith); see also Goeb v. Heid (In re Goeb), 675 F.2d 1386, 1390 (9th Cir.1982) (discussing good faith determination). Accordingly, the bankruptcy court properly sustained Williams’s objection and denied confirmation of Mead’s plan. See 11 U.S.C. § 1325(a)(3) (bankruptcy plan must have been proposed in good faith to be confirmed).

We reject Mead’s contentions concerning the validity of Williams’s secured claim because Mead did not file an objection to Williams’s claim or an adversary proceeding to invalidate Williams’s lien. See 11 U.S.C. § 502(a); Fed. R. Bankr.P. 7001(2); see also Brady v. Andrew (In re Commercial W. Fin. Corp.), 761 F.2d 1329, 1336 (9th Cir.1985) (validity of lien can be contested only in an adversary proceeding, not in the plan confirmation process).

AFFIRMED. 
      
       This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.