*Senior Circuit Judge of the Second Circuit, sitting by designation. 

United States Court of Appeals,

Fifth Circuit.

No. 91-7393.

In the Matter of Ray G. BESING and Ray G. Besing & Associates, P.C., Debtors.

Ray G. BESING and Ray G. Besing & Associates, P.C., Appellants,

v.

Lyn Noble HAWTHORNE, Appellee.

Feb. 4, 1993.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas.

Before VAN GRAAFEILAND,** KING, and EMILIO M. GARZA, Circuit dges.

KING, Circuit Judge:

This appeal arisesfroma Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding. Ray G. Besing and his law firm,

RayG. Besing &Associates, (jointly"the Debtors"), appealfroma bankruptcycourt order dismissing

an action in which they sought to invoke 11 U.S.C. § 548 to avoid a state court judgment.

Concluding that the judgment, which had dismissed with prejudice the Debtors' contract and tort

claims against Lyn Noble Hawthorne ("Hawthorne"), did not constitute a "transfer" for purposes of

§ 548, the bankruptcy court dismissed the Debtors' action. The district court affirmed. We also

affirm, although we do so on different grounds.

I.

The claims at issue here have their rootsin a personal and businessrelationship that dates back

to 1981—the year Besing began handling legal matters for Hawthorne (then Lyn Noble). In

December 1982, Besing presented Hawthorne with a three-carat diamond ring, and the two became

engaged to be married. During the year that followed, Besing and Hawthorne entered into several

business ventures, including the purchase of two Arabian fillies and a tract of land located near

Austin, Texas. As time passed, however, the couple's relationship deteriorated, and, in early 1984,

Besing and Hawthorne called off their engagement.
 

1According to the Debtors' complaint, Hawthorne had orally agreed to (1) either return the

diamond ring or pay Besing $32,000, (2) pay Besing $42,000 in settlement of debts and accounts

arising from their business ventures, and (3) indemnify Besing for any liability arising from the

purchase of the Austin property. The Debtors also alleged that Hawthorne had agreed that she

and Besing would jointly own and manage the horses. 

 

2This sanction is expressly authorized by Texas law. See TEX.R.CIV.P. 215(2)(b)(5); see also

Transamerica Natural Gas v. Powell, 811 S.W.2d 913, 916-19 (Tex.1991); Bodnow Corp. v.

City of Hondo, 721 S.W.2d 839, 840 (Tex.1986); Downwind Aviation, Inc. v. Orange County,

760 S.W.2d 336, 339 (Tex.App.—Beaumont 1988, writ denied). 

 

3

See FED.R.BANKR.P. 4007. Hawthorne asserted that the judgment against Besing fell within

one or more of the statutory exceptions to discharge set forth at 11 U.S.C. § 523. 

In August 1984, the Debtors sued Hawthorne in Texas state court, seeking specific

performance of an alleged settlement agreement or damages for breach thereof.1 In the alternative,

they sought actual and exemplary damages for interference with and conversion of the ring, the

horses, and the Austin property. Hawthorne filed a counterclaim seeking a declaratory judgment that

she was the sole owner of the disputed property. She also sought recovery of damages on several

business debts incurred by Besing and for fraud arising from the land transaction.

On March 2, 1987, as a result of discovery abuse, the state court entered a sanction order

striking the Debtors' pleadings and dismissing with prejudice their claims for affirmative recovery.2

Shortly thereafter, the court entered a default judgment against Besing on Hawthorne's claims for

affirmative recovery and granted Hawthorne's motion for summary judgment on the property

ownership issues. The parties stipulated to the amount of damages, and the state court entered a final

judgment in favor of Hawthorne on January 25, 1988. The Debtors appealed.

On March 25, 1988, while the state court appeal was still pending, the Debtors filed joint

petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. Seeking to enforce the state court

judgment, Hawthorne submitted a proof of claim in the joint bankruptcy case and initiated an

adversary proceeding to determine the dischargeability ofthe debt.3 Besing objected to Hawthorne's

claim, and the Debtors brought a counterclaim, asserting essentially the same claims asthe state court

had dismissed with prejudice.

Anticipating Hawthorne'sresjudicata defense, the Debtors argued that their claims were not

barred by the adverse state court judgment because it had not become final prior to the
 

4

See 11 U.S.C. § 362(a)(1) (Automatic Stay) (staying the continuation of any judicial

proceeding against the debtor that was commenced before the filing of the bankruptcy petition). 

 

5The statute, in pertinent part, provides:

The trustee may avoid any transfer of an interest of the debtor in property, or any

obligation incurred by the debtor, that was made or incurred on or within one year

before the date of the filing of the petition, if the debtor voluntarily or involuntarily

... received less than a reasonably equivalent value in exchange for such transfer or

obligation; and ... was engaged in business or a transaction or was about to

engage in business or a transaction, for which any property remaining with the

debtor was an unreasonably small capital....

11 U.S.C. § 548(a)(2)(A) and (B)(ii). Subject to limited exceptions not applicable to

these facts, the debtor in possession has all of the rights and powers of a trustee. 11

U.S.C. § 1107(a). 

 

6At the request of the parties, the bankruptcy court abated the adversary proceeding to allow

the Debtors to pursue their appeal. 

 

7The court heard testimony from Mr. Besing and Mr. Burch, a CPA who testified regarding

the financial status of the Debtors at the time of the state court judgment. The parties also

stipulated to the admission of substantial portions of the state court record, including the Besing

Group's Second Amended Petition (their last live pleading), the Sanction Order, the trial court's

Final Judgment, and the Texas Court of Appeal's mandate. 

commencement of the bankruptcy proceeding.4 In the alternative, the Debtors asserted that the

judgment constituted a transfer of their claims against Hawthorne for which they had received no

value. Thus, the Debtors argued, the judgment was subject to avoidance pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §

548(a)(2)(A) and (B)(ii),5and they were free to relitigate their claims in the bankruptcy proceeding.

The Debtors' finality argument became moot when the Texas Court of Appeals upheld the

state trial court judgment.6 In light of this final determination, the bankruptcy court concluded that

the only aspect of the Debtors' counterclaim that "remained" was the § 548 action—that is, unless

the state court judgment could be avoided pursuant to § 548, it barred relitigation of the Debtors'

contract and tort claims against Hawthorne. The Debtors apparently conceded this point before the

bankruptcy court, and they do not raise the issue on appeal.

After a short bench trial,7 the bankruptcy court concluded that the state court judgment did

not constitute a transfer within the meaning of § 548. The court therefore dismissed the Debtors'

counterclaimwithprejudice. The court then overruled Besing's objection, allowed Hawthorne's claim
 

8Because Hawthorne's claim had been fully allowed and the confirmed plan provided for

payment in full, the parties agreed that there was no reason to proceed with Hawthorne's § 523

claim. The court therefore dismissed the claim without prejudice. 

 

9

In the final paragraph of their brief on the transfer issue, the Debtors assert that, even if the

state court judgment did not constitute a "transfer" of their claims, the damages assessed against

Besing—approximately $60,000—constitute an "obligation incurred" for which Besing received

no value. See 11 U.S.C. § 548(a). Thus, the Debtors argue, the money judgment is subject to

avoidance notwithstanding this court's ultimate resolution of the transfer issue. Our review of the

record reveals that the Debtors did raise this argument in their counterclaim, although they did

little to urge it before the bankruptcy court. On appeal, the Debtors offer no authority to support

this theory, and they make no attempt to set forth any legal argument to persuade us of its

correctness. Under these circumstances, we will not address the merits of the Debtors' argument. 

See FED.R.APP.P. 28(a)(5); Zeno v. Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co., 803 F.2d 178, 180-81 (5th

Cir.1986) (issues not adequately briefed are waived and will not be considered on appeal); see

also Franceski v. Plaquemines Parish School Bd., 772 F.2d 197, 199 n. 1 (5th Cir.1985); Texas

Mortgage Serv. Corp. v. Guadalupe Savings & Loan Assoc., 761 F.2d 1068, 1073-74 (5th

Cir.1985). 

against Besing's estate, and closed the adversary proceeding.8 The Debtors appealed, and the district

court affirmed. The Debtors now appeal from the decision of the district court.

II.

Our jurisdiction to hear this appeal is conferred by 28 U.S.C. § 158(d). See In re Louisiana

World Exposition, Inc., 832 F.2d 1391, 1398 (5th Cir.1987); see also In re Moody, 849 F.2d 902,

904 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 488 U.S. 967, 109 S.Ct. 493, 102 L.Ed.2d 530 (1988); 28 U.S.C. §

157(b)(2) (core proceedings). We review the legal conclusions of the courts below, including their

interpretations of the Bankruptcy Code, de novo. In re Bradley, 960 F.2d 502, 507 (5th Cir.1992);

In re Fussell, 928 F.2d 712, 715 (5th Cir.1991), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 112 S.Ct. 1203, 117

L.Ed.2d 443 (1992); see also In re Busenlehner, 918 F.2d 928, 930 (11thCir.), cert. denied, --- U.S.

----, 111 S.Ct. 2251, 114 L.Ed.2d 492 (1991).

III.

Our task on appeal isto determine whether the Texas court's judgment constituted a transfer

of the Debtors' claims which is subject to avoidance under § 548(a)(2)(A) and (B)(ii).9 Relying

exclusively on the Bankruptcy Code's expansive definition of "transfer," the Debtors argue that the

judgment may be avoided because it "forced [them] to part with [their] claims" and "quite literally

took [their] claims away ... and extinguished them without a trial." Thus, the Debtors contend, the
 

10Due to an error in the numbering of paragraphs added by Pub.L. 101-647 (Crime Control

Act of 1990), 11 U.S.C. § 101 now has two sections (54), one defining "stockbroker" and the

second defining "transfer." We shall refer to the definition of "transfer" as being codified at §

101(54). See Barnhill, --- U.S. at ---- n. 4, 112 S.Ct. at 1389 n. 4. 

 

11Circuit courts have recently construed the definition broadly enough to include dispositions

of property as diverse as a leveraged buy-out, see Mellon Bank, N.A. v. Metro Communications,

Inc., 945 F.2d 635, 646 (3rd Cir.1991), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 112 S.Ct. 1476, 117 L.Ed.2d

620 (1992), and a taxpayer's election to carry forward net operating losses, see In re Russell, 927

F.2d 413, 417 (8th Cir.1991). 

bankruptcy court erred in dismissing their § 548 action and refusing to retry their contract and tort

claims against Hawthorne. We disagree.

A.

What constitutes a transfer for purposes of § 548 is a question of federal bankruptcy law.

Barnhill v. Johnson, --- U.S. ----, ----, 112 S.Ct. 1386, 1389, 118 L.Ed.2d 39 (1992) (citing

McKenzie v. Irving Trust Co., 323 U.S. 365, 369-70, 65 S.Ct. 405, 407-08, 89 L.Ed. 305 (1945)).

The Bankruptcy Code itself provides a definition:

"transfer" means every mode, direct or indirect, absolute or conditional, voluntary or

involuntary, of disposing of or parting with property or with an interest in property, including

the retention oftitle as a security interest and foreclosure ofthe debtor's equityofredemption.

11 U.S.C. 101(54).10

As the Debtors correctly point out, Congress intended for the Code's definition of "transfer"

to be as broad as possible. See S.REP. No. 95-989, 95th Cong.2d Sess. 27 (1978) ("A transfer is a

disposition of an interest in property. The definition ... is as broad as possible."), reprinted in 1978

U.S.C.C.A.N. p. 5787, 5813; H.R.REP. No. 95-595, 95th Cong. 1st Sess. 314 (1977) (same

language), reprinted in 1978 U.S.C.C.A.N. p. 5963, 6271. "The word is used in its most

comprehensive sense, and isintended to include everymeans and manner bywhich property can pass

from the ownership and possession of another...." Pirie v. Chicago Title &Trust Co., 182 U.S. 438,

444, 21 S.Ct. 906, 908, 45 L.Ed. 1171 (1901) (construing former section 1(30) of the Bankruptcy

Act from which the current Code definition was derived). Indeed, the Code's expansive definition

literally encompasses "every mode ... of ... parting with ... an interest in property." 11 U.S.C. §

101(54).11
Moreover, because the Code's definition of "transfer" expressly includes involuntary

dispositions of property, dispositions of property which are brought about by state judicial

proceedings clearly fall within itsscope. See, e.g., In re BFP, 974 F.2d 1144 (9th Cir.1992) (judicial

foreclosure); Butler v. Lomas & Nettleton Co., 862 F.2d 1015, 1019 (3rd Cir.1988) (judicial

foreclosure); In re Hulm, 738 F.2d 323, 326 (8th Cir.) (judicial foreclosure), cert. denied, 469 U.S.

990, 105 S.Ct. 398, 83 L.Ed.2d 331 (1984); Britt v. Damson, 334 F.2d 896, 902 (9th Cir.1964)

(divorce decree, applying former section 1(30) of the Bankruptcy Act), cert. denied, 379 U.S. 966,

85 S.Ct. 661, 13 L.Ed.2d 560 (1965); In re Thrifty Dutchman, Inc., 97 B.R. 101, 105-06

(Bankr.S.D.Fla.1988) (judgment requiring debtor to convey leasehold to holdover tenant); In re

Wallace, 66 B.R. 834, 842-43 (Bankr.E.D.Mo.1986) (divorce decree); In re Clausen, 44 B.R. 41,

43-44 (Bankr.D.Minn.1984) (divorce decree); In re Perdido Bay Country Club Estates, Inc., 23

B.R. 36, 41 (Bankr.S.D.Fla.1982) (judicial foreclosure); see also In re Jones, 20 B.R. 988, 994

(Bankr.E.D.Pa.1982) (judicial foreclosure, expressly applying § 548 only). Thus, to the extent the

judgment had the effect of causing the Debtors to part with an interest in property, we agree that it

constituted a transfer within the meaning of § 548. See Britt, 334 F.2d at 902 ("[I]n deciding whether

the occurrence in question was a "transfer' we are not concerned with what label [state law] has

placed upon occurrences of this kind. We do however, look to [state law] to determine what was

actually done....").

B.

An interest in property, for purposes of § 548, includes any interest of the debtor that would

have been preserved for the benefit of the bankruptcy estate but for the alleged transfer. See In re

Stevens, 112 B.R. 175, 177 (Bankr.S.D.Tex.1989); see also In re Hargis, 887 F.2d 77, 79 (5th

Cir.1989) (stating that the Bankruptcy Code's avoidance provisions are "exclusively geared toward

protecting the rights of creditors via protection of the bankruptcy estate"), clarified, 895 F.2d 1025

(5th Cir.1990). Under § 541, "all legal and equitable interests of the debtor in property" become

property of the bankruptcy estate. 11 U.S.C. § 541. This description is all-encompassing, and

Congressintended for it to include state law claims and causes of action. See In re Mortgageamerica
Corp., 714 F.2d 1266, 1274 (5th Cir.1983); see also S.REP. No. 95-989, 95th Cong.2d Sess. 82

(1978), reprinted in 1978 U.S.C.C.A.N. p. 5787, 5868; H.R.REP. No. 95-595, 95th Cong. 1st Sess.

367 (1977), reprinted in 1978 U.S.C.C.A.N. p. 5963, 6323. Texas law also recognizes claims and

causes of action asinterestsin property. See Renger Memorial Hosp. v. State, 674 S.W.2d 828, 830

(Tex.App.—Austin 1984, no writ); Garrett v. Reno Oil Co., 271 S.W.2d 764, 767

(Tex.Civ.App.—Fort Worth 1954, writ ref'd n.r.e.). The Debtors' contract and tort claims against

Hawthorne thus constituted interests in property for purposes of § 548. We therefore look to the

judgment itself to determine whether it caused the Debtors to "part with" their claims.

 The Debtors sued Hawthorne in Texas state court, asserting their contract and tort claims.

As a result of discovery abuse by the Debtors, however, the court entered a sanction order dismissing

those claims with prejudice. The sanction order was incorporated into a final judgment, and that

judgment was affirmed by the Texas Court of Appeals.

Because the dismissal of the Debtors' claims was a dismissal with prejudice, the final

judgment operates to bar the Debtors from reasserting their contract and tort claims in state court.

See Mossler v. Shields, 818 S.W.2d 752, 754 (Tex.1991) (dismissal with prejudice as discovery

sanction constituted a determination on the merits of a claim which barred relitigation of the claims

dismissed); Logan v. First Bank of Houston, 736 S.W.2d 927, 931 (Tex.App.—Beaumont 1987, writ

ref'd n.r.e.) (dismissal with prejudice as a discovery sanction constituted a judgment on the merits of

a claim which precluded the same issue from being raised as a defense in a subsequent suit between

the parties). Moreover, under the Full Faith and Credit Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1738, federal courts must

give the Texasjudgment the same preclusive effect it would have in a Texas court. In re Brady, 936

F.2d 212, 217 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 112 S.Ct. 657, 116 L.Ed.2d 748 (1991); see

Parsons Steel, Inc. v. First Alabama Bank, 474 U.S. 518, 523, 106 S.Ct. 768, 771, 88 L.Ed.2d 877

(1986); Marrese v. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 470 U.S. 373, 380, 105 S.Ct.

1327, 1331, 84 L.Ed.2d 274 (1985); Migra v. Warren City School Dist. Bd. of Education, 465 U.S.

75, 81, 104 S.Ct. 892, 896, 79 L.Ed.2d 56 (1984); Kremer v. Chemical Constr. Corp., 456 U.S.

461, 466, 102 S.Ct. 1883, 1889, 72 L.Ed.2d 262 (1982); Allen v. McCurry, 449 U.S. 90, 96, 101
S.Ct. 411, 415, 66 L.Ed.2d 308 (1980). The judgment thus effectively extinguished the Debtors'

claims against Hawthorne: Prior to the judgment, the Debtors had contract and tort claims—the right

to seek a judicial remedy for Hawthorne's alleged breach of contract and interference with the

disputed property; in the wake of the judgment, the Debtors had no such claims—no right to seek

a judicial remedy.

In light of the Bankruptcy Code's expansive definition of "transfer," which literally

encompasses "every" mode of parting with an interest in property, and the expressintent ofCongress

that this definition be read as broadly as possible, we must agree with the Debtors' contention that

the Texas court's dismissal of their claims caused them to "part with" their claims. We hold,

therefore, that the bankruptcy court erred in concluding that the state court judgment had not effected

a "transfer" of the Debtors' claims against Hawthorne within the meaning of § 548.

C.

Our resolution of the transfer issue does not, however, compel reversal. We may affirm if

there are any grounds in the record to support the judgment, even if those grounds were not relied

upon by the courts below. Mangaroo v. Nelson, 864 F.2d 1202, 1204 n. 2 (5th Cir.1989); Watts v.

Graves, 720 F.2d 1416, 1419 (5th Cir.1983). Even the complete lack of findings and conclusions

by the bankruptcy court on a material issue does not compel reversal if we can nevertheless fully

understand and resolve the issue on appeal. In re Texas Extrusion Corp., 836 F.2d 217, 221 (5th

Cir.1988), cert. denied, 488 U.S. 926, 109 S.Ct. 311, 102 L.Ed.2d 330 (1988); Cf. PullmanStandard v. Swint, 456 U.S. 273, 292, 102 S.Ct. 1781, 1792, 72 L.Ed.2d 66 (1982) (where findings

are infirm, a remand is proper unless the record permits only one resolution of the issue). Thus, if

the record otherwise supports the bankruptcy court's dismissal of the Debtors' § 548 action, we may

affirm notwithstanding that court's erroneous conclusion on the transfer issue. We conclude that it

does.

Although the bankruptcy court found the transfer issue dispositive, the occurrence of a

transfer is merely a threshold issue under § 548(a)(2)(A). To avoid the Texas court's judgment under

that provision, the Debtors also must establish, inter alia, that they received less than a reasonably
 

12See In re Morris Communications NC, Inc., 914 F.2d 458, 467 (4th Cir.1990) (noting the

confusion as to whether reasonable equivalency is a finding of fact or a conclusion of law). In

Durrett v. Washington Nat'l Ins. Co., 621 F.2d 201, 203 (5th Cir.1980), a panel of this court

clearly held that the determination of "fair consideration" under § 548's predecessor was a

question of law. The court noted, however, that the same result would have obtained under the

clearly erroneous standard properly applied to findings of fact. Although we have not

subsequently directly addressed the issue, we have, on at least two occasions, treated reasonable

equivalency as if it were a fact issue. See In re McConnell, 934 F.2d 662, 665 (5th Cir.1991); In

re Emerald Oil Co., 807 F.2d 1234, 1239 n. 7 (5th Cir.1987). Of the other circuits that have

directly addressed the issue, only one appears to treat reasonable equivalency as a question of law. 

See In re Bundles, 856 F.2d 815, 821 (7th Cir.1988) (holding that the statute requires the

reviewing court to make an independent assessment). Three others consider it a question of fact. 

See In re Ozark Restaurant Equip. Co., Inc., 850 F.2d 342, 344 (8th Cir.1988) (question of fact); 

In re Roco Corp., 701 F.2d 978, 981-82 (1st Cir.1983) (the question "appears to be a factual

issue"); Klein v. Tabatchnick, 610 F.2d 1043, 1047-48 (2d Cir.1979) ("Fairness of consideration

is generally a question of fact."). We need not, however, decide this issue to resolve the case

before us. 

 

13For purposes of § 548, " "value' means property, or satisfaction or securing of a present or

antecedent debt of the debtor, but does not include an unperformed promise to furnish support to

the debtor or to a relative of the debtor...." 11 U.S.C. § 548(d)(2)(A). 

equivalent value for their claims. See 11 U.S.C. § 548(a)(2)(A); see also In re McConnell, 934 F.2d

662, 665 n. 1 (5th Cir.1991) (the debtor in possession has the burden to prove the el ements of a

fraudulent transfer under § 548). The Debtors' failure to establish this element would be fatal to their

§ 548 action.

Because the Bankruptcy Code does not define "reasonably equivalent value," the task of

determining the scope of the term has been left to the courts. And while there is some disagreement

as to whether the ultimate determination of reasonable equivalency is a question of law or of fact,12

the inquiry is ordinarily fact-intensive. In the usual case, a court must base its determination upon

subsidiary fact findings regarding the value of the property transferred and the "value"13 received in

exchange. See, e.g., In re McConnell, 934 F.2d at 665-67 (comparing the amount ofliability incurred

for breaching a real estate contract to the amount of earnest money forfeited); In re Emerald OilCo.,

807 F.2d 1234, 1239 (5th Cir.1987) (comparing the value of an assigned oil and gas interest to the

payments made and liabilities incurred in exchange for the interest).

Courts have developed a variety of standards for determining reasonable equivalency,
 

14In Durrett v. Washington Nat'l Ins. Co., 621 F.2d 201 (5th Cir.1980), for example, a panel of

this circuit applied a purely mathematical test, holding that a foreclosure sale which brought only

57.7 percent of the market value of a debtor's property was subject to avoidance. In so holding,

the Durrett court also observed that it had found no case in which a transfer for less than 70

percent of market value had been approved. Id. at 203. This dictum spawned the so-called

"Durrett rule," which, when mechanically applied, invalidates any transfer for less than 70 percent

of fair market value. See, e.g., In re Wheeler, 34 B.R. 818, 821 (Bankr.N.D.Ala.1983).

Other circuits, indeed the majority of the circuits that have addressed the issue,

reject Durrett 's purely mathematical analysis in favor of a broader "totality of the

circumstances" standard. See In re Grissom, 955 F.2d 1440, 1445 (11th Cir.1992); 

Barrett v. Commonwealth Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass'n, 939 F.2d 20, 23-25 (3rd Cir.1991); In

re Morris Communications NC, Inc., 914 F.2d 458, 467 (4th Cir.1990); In re Bundles,

856 F.2d 815, 821 (7th Cir.1988); In re Hulm, 738 F.2d 323, 326 (8th Cir.), cert. denied,

469 U.S. 990, 105 S.Ct. 398, 83 L.Ed.2d 331 (1984). Under this standard, foreclosure

proceedings conducted in accordance with state law are presumed to bring the reasonably

equivalent value of a property unless the trustee proves that the totality of the

circumstances rebut that presumption. Grissom, 955 F.2d at 1148; Bundles, 856 F.2d at

824. "Only in this manner," the Eleventh Circuit observed, "do we provide adequate

deference to state ... proceedings ..., without unduly trammelling upon the policies of the

bankruptcy laws." Grissom, 955 F.2d at 1149.

Two circuit courts have afforded even greater deference to state proceedings,

holding that the price received at a noncollusive, regularly conducted foreclosure sale

establishes reasonably equivalent value as a matter of law. See In re BFP, 974 F.2d 1144

(9th Cir.1992); In re Winshall Settlor's Trust, 758 F.2d 1136, 1139 (6th Cir.1985). In

adopting this rule, the Ninth Circuit acknowledged that it undermines, so some degree, the

debtor's ability to recover lost equity. BFP, 974 F.2d at 1148. The court nevertheless

concluded that "broader considerations" required it "to give a reasonable meaning to §

548 without unduly upsetting ... state law." Id. at 1148-49. By doing so, the court

observed, "we are able to balance bankruptcy policy and comity concerns." Id. at 1149. 

frequently in the context of the attempted avoidance ofstate foreclosure proceedings.14 In this case,

however, the property interests at stake are the Debtors' state law contract and tort claims against

Hawthorne, and the challenged transferis a Texasstate court judgment, which dismissed those claims

with prejudice. Under Texas law, the dismissal constituted an adjudication on the merits of the

Debtors' claims. Mossler v. Shields, 818 S.W.2d 752, 754 (Tex.1991); Logan v. First Bank of

Houston, 736 S.W.2d 927, 931 (Tex.App.—Beaumont 1987, writ ref'd n.r.e.); see also In re J.A.L.,

608 S.W.2d 819, 821 (Tex.Civ.App.—Amarillo 1980, no writ); Zimmerman v. Texaco, Inc., 409

S.W.2d 607, 613-14 (Tex.Civ.App.—El Paso 1966, writ ref'd n.r.e.); Schenker v. City of San

Antonio, 369 S.W.2d 626, 630 (Tex.Civ.App.—San Antonio 1963, writ ref'd n.r.e.); Murphy v.
 

15The Debtors would have us draw a distinction in this case because the dismissal was the

result of a sanction order. They argue that they "did not lose [their] claims on the merits, the trial

court took them away by sanction." This, we refuse to do. As noted, supra, Texas law draws no

such distinction. See Mossler, 818 S.W.2d at 754 (dismissal with prejudice as discovery sanction

constituted a determination on the merits of a claim); Logan, 736 S.W.2d at 931 (dismissal with

prejudice as a discovery sanction constituted a judgment on the merits of a claim). Indeed, the

Texas Supreme Court has expressly recognized that the legal basis for a sanction dismissal with

prejudice is the fact that "a party's hindrance of the discovery process justifies a presumption that

its claims or defenses lack merit." Transamerica Natural Gas v. Powell, 811 S.W.2d 913, 918

(Tex.1991). We further note that, while we are bound to give the state court judgment at least

the same preclusive effect it would have under state law, see In re Brady, 936 F.2d 212, 217 (5th

Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 112 S.Ct. 657, 116 L.Ed.2d 748 (1991), the same result would

obtain under Fifth Circuit precedent. See In re Reed, 861 F.2d 1381, 1382-83 (5th Cir.1988); 

Dillard v. Security Pacific Brokers, Inc., 835 F.2d 607, 608 (5th Cir.1988). 

Stigall, 352 S.W.2d 918, 919 (Tex.Civ.App.—San Antonio 1962, writ ref'd).15 The judgment

conclusivelyestablished that the Debtors' claims against Hawthorne had no merit. SeeRESTATEMENT

(SECOND) OF JUDGMENTS § 17 cmt. b (1982) (if the original claim is invalid, "the effect of the

judgment is to conclusively establish its invalidity"). We decline the Debtors' invitation to "look

behind" the state court judgment and make an independent evaluation of the claims on their merits.

Instead, we hold that the Texas court's disposition of the Debtors' claims constituted a transfer for

reasonably equivalent value as a matter oflaw. Thus, because the Debtors cannot, as a matter of law,

establish one ofthe essentialstatutoryelements oftheir cause of action, the bankruptcycourt properly

dismissed the Debtors' § 548 claim.

We emphasize that our decision addresses only the disposition of state law claims by a state

tribunal. It does not in any way limit the well-established rule that other transfers of property may

be subject to avoidance under the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code. Thus, we believe that it

"provide[s] adequate deference to state ... proceedings ..., without unduly trammelling upon the

policies of the bankruptcy laws." In re Grissom, 955 F.2d 1440, 1449 (11th Cir.1992). We further

note that because our decision is based upon a finding of reasonable equivalency, it does not address

the issue of claims lost or forfeited by a debtor with the actual intent to defraud the creditors of the

bankruptcy estate. See 11 U.S.C. § 548(a)(1). Finally, we note that our decision is consonant with

our obligation under the Full Faith and Credit Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1738, to give the Texasjudgment the

same preclusive effect it would have in a Texas court. See In re Brady, 936 F.2d 212, 217 (5th Cir.),
 

16The Debtors raise (but, again, fail to brief) two additional arguments that warrant very little

discussion. First, they assert that because the bankruptcy court erred in concluding that the state

court judgment did not constitute an avoidable transfer, that court's allowance of Hawthorne's

proof of claim was clearly erroneous. This argument is rendered moot by our resolution of the §

548 issue. Second, they assert that it was clearly erroneous for the court to allow Hawthorne's

claim against Ray G. Besing & Associates, P.C., because the state court judgment was rendered

solely against Besing individually. Our review of the record, however, reveals a claim filed by

Hawthorne in Besing's individual case, an objection filed by Besing, and an order allowing the

claim as filed. We therefore find nothing in the record to support the Debtors' argument. 

Moreover, as the bankruptcy court correctly observed in its oral findings and conclusions, the

Debtors raised only two objections to Hawthorne's claim—the lack of a final judgment and the

pending adversary proceeding to avoid the judgment. Having disposed of both of these grounds,

the bankruptcy court properly allowed the claim. 

 

1

See Record Excerpts for Besing at Tab 9. 

 

2

See maj. op. at 2155. 

cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 112 S.Ct. 657, 116 L.Ed.2d 748 (1991). Texas law would not afford the

Debtors the opportunity to reassert their contract and tort claims against Hawthorne. See Mossler,

818 S.W.2d at 754; Logan, 736 S.W.2d at 931. Section 548 should not operate to circumvent this

result. "The Bankruptcy Code was not intended to give litigants a second chance to challenge a state

court judgment nor did it intend for the Bankruptcy Court to serve as an appellate court [for state

court proceedings]." In re G & R Mfg. Co., 91 B.R. 991, 994 (Bankr.M.D.Fla.1988).

IV.

In sum, although we are persuaded that the Bankruptcy Code's definition of "transfer" is

indeed broad enough to encompass the Texas court's dismissal of the Debtors' claims, we conclude

that the Debtors cannot as a matter of law est ablish that they received less than a reasonably

equivalent value. The bankruptcy court therefore properly dismissed the Debtors' § 548 action. For

the foregoing reasons, we AFFIRM the judgment of the district court.16

EMILIO M. GARZA, Circuit Judge, concurring specially:

I concur in the judgment and the majority opinion, except to the extent that it holds the state

court judgment transferred the Debtors' claims within the meaning of § 548. See maj. op. at 2155-56.

I agree with the bankruptcy court's determination that the state court judgment did not "transfer" any

interest in property for the purpose of § 548. As both the bankruptcy court and the majority correctly

point out, the effect ofthe state court judgment wasto "discharge"1or "extinguish"2the Debtors' tort
 

3The tautology in part III.C.—the value of Debtors' claims, found by a state judgment to be

without merit is reasonably equivalent to nothing—bolsters the obvious: One cannot transfer

what one does not have. 

and contract claims.

The majority emphasizes, however, the language in 11 U.S.C. 101(54), which defines

"transfer" as "every mode ... of parting with ... an interest in property." See supra part III.A. The

majority reasons that when the state court judgment extinguished the Debtors' claims, the Debtors'

"part[ed] with" their claim which effected a "transfer" within the meaning of § 548. See maj. op. at

2155-56. I disagree. The word "transfer" suggests ownership rights passing to the possession of

another. See Pirie, 182 U.S. at 444, 21 S.Ct. at 908 ("The word ... is intended to include every

means and manner by which property can pass from the ownership and possession of another....").

Clearly, the state court judgment did not "transfer" those claims to Ms. Hawthorne; it did, however,

determine that the Debtors' claims against Hawthorne had no merit. See maj. op. at 2157-58. Besing

cannot "transfer" or "part with" a claim which a judgment has extinguished. Cf. Matter of Wey, 854

F.2d 196, 199 (7thCir.1988) ("[W]hat actually occurred whenWeydefaulted was an extinguishment

of his equity interest in the hotel, not a transfer."). I would hold, under the facts of this case, that the

Debtors' claims were extinguished, rather than transferred for the purposes of § 548.3