UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY APPELLATE PANEL

FOR THE FIRST CIRCUIT

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BAP No. MB 99-102

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IN RE: CHRISTOPHER PILAVIS

Debtor.

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CHRISTOPHER PILAVIS,

Appellant,

v.

RICHARD CAMPANA,

Appellee.

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Appeal from the United States Bankruptcy Court

for the District of Massachusetts

(Hon. William C. Hillman, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge)

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Before

VOTOLATO, GOODMAN, AND HAINES, U.S. Bankruptcy Judges

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Evan James Pilavis, on brief for Appellant.

Frederic D. Grant, Jr., and Grant & Roddy on brief for Appellee.

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March 31, 2000

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Per Curiam.

The Debtor, Christopher Pilavis, (“Pilavis”) appeals from

the November 17, 1999 bankruptcy court order that overruled his

objection to the proof of claim filed by Richard Campana. 

(“Campana”). For the reasons set forth below, we affirm the

decision of the bankruptcy court. 

BACKGROUND

On June 15, 1995 the Middlesex Superior Court entered

judgment in favor of Campana and against Pilavis. Appellant’s

Brief, Exhibit A. On March 30, 1998, Pilavis filed a Chapter 7

petition. On July 26, 1999, Campana filed a proof of claim

asserting an unsecured claim in the amount of $1,057,147.30. 

Appellant’s Brief, Exhibit A. Campana’s claim arose from the

final judgment of the Middlesex Superior Court, a copy of which

was attached to his proof of claim. Pilavis objected to

Campana’s proof of claim and sought to have the bankruptcy court

determine that the state court “had no basis to impose M.G.L.A.

c223 sec 51 interest and/or 93A damages and attorney’s fees.” 

Debtor’s Opposition to Campana’s Proof of Claim at 5, attached to

Appellant’s Brief as Exhibit B. On November 17, 1999, the

bankruptcy court overruled Pilavis’s objection. Pilavis filed

this appeal. 

Pilavis seeks review of “the findings, ruling and the order

of the Superior Court which is attached to [sic] Debtor’s Exhibit

E.” Appellant’s Brief at 3. Pilavis’s statement of the issues

identifies two specific issues on this appeal:
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“Issue I. Where the judgment issued by the

Superior Court against the Debtor is not supported

by that Court’s Findings, Rulings and Orders as a

matter of fact and law should the Bankruptcy Court

look only to the findings, rulings and order to

determine the damages to be assessed against the

Debtor.” Appellant’s Brief at 3. 

“Issue II: Can Campana apply C.221 §51 interest on the

judgment.” Appellant’s Brief at 5.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

The bankruptcy’s court’s decision to overrule Pilavis’s

objection and give full faith and credit to the state court

judgment that supports Campana’s proof of claim is a conclusion

of law, and as such, it is reviewed de novo by this panel. In re

Leicht, 222 B.R. 670, 671 (B.A.P. 1st Cir. 1998). 

JURISDICTION

The bankruptcy appellate panel has jurisdiction of the

appeal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §158(b). 

DISCUSSION

Pilavis fully and completely litigated his defenses to

Campana’s claim in state court, all appeals related to the state

court judgment have terminated and the judgment has become final. 

Appellee’s Brief at 2. Pilavis does not deny that he litigated

his defenses to Campana’s claim in state court. He now claims

that the state court ruled incorrectly. He argues that this

panel should reverse the bankruptcy court; modify the state court

judgment by applying a rate of interest different than that

applied by the state court; strike the award of attorney’s fees

from the state court judgment; and reduce the state court
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judgment. Appellant’s Brief at 6. Pilavis appears to be asking

for the opportunity to re-litigate the state court judgment in

the bankruptcy court, and he appears to be asking the bankruptcy

court to exercise appellate review of the state court judgment. 

The Full Faith and Credit Act, 28 U.S.C. §1738, provides, in

relevant part, as follows:

Such Acts, records and judicial proceedings or copies

thereof, so authenticated, shall have the same full

faith and credit in every court within the United

States and its Territories and Possessions as they have

by law or usage in the courts of such State, Territory

or Possession from which they are taken.

The bankruptcy court is required to give a state court decision

the same preclusive effect the decision would be afforded in any

state court of the rendering state. In the case In re Abijoe

Realty Corp., 943 F.2d 121, 126 (1st Cir. 1991), the First

Circuit noted that “[e]ven though the [debtor] has challenged the

allowability of the claim, there can be no doubt that a judgment,

in all respects regular on its face, cannot be considered

meritless on its face. Indeed formidable obstacles confront any

challenge to the ‘full faith and credit’ of a state court

judgment.” See also In re Singleton, 230 B.R. 533, 537 (B.A.P.

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th Cir. 1999). We reject Pilavis’s unsupported argument that he

is entitled to relitigate the merits of his defenses to Campana’s

claim. 

We also reject Pilavis’s argument that he can seek appellate

review of the final judgment of the Middlesex Superior Court in

the bankruptcy court. The Rooker-Feldman doctrine, a doctrine
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drawn from two Supreme Court cases, prevents a lower federal

court from reviewing a state court judgment. Rooker v. Fidelity

Trust Co., 263 U.S. 413, 44 S.Ct. 149, 68 L.Ed. 362 (1923);

District of Columbia Court of Appeals v. Feldman, 460 U.S. 462,

103 S.Ct. 1303, 75 L.Ed.2d 206 (1983); see also In re Audre,

Inc., 216 B.R. 19, 26 (B.A.P. 9th Cir. 1997). Contrary to

Pilavis’s arguments, the bankruptcy court cannot recalculate the

penalty interest or damages imposed by the state court; it cannot

reduce the award of attorney’s fees; and it cannot otherwise

modify the state court judgment. 

CONCLUSION

The bankruptcy court properly overruled Pilavis’s objection

to Campana’s proof of claim. The bankruptcy court’s November 17,

1999 order is AFFIRMED.