Source: https://openjurist.org/998/f2d/730
Timestamp: 2019-03-19 09:48:19
Document Index: 628528114

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 523', '§ 523', '§ 523', '§ 523', '§ 524', '§ 101', '§ 541', '§ 5120', '§ 5122', '§ 5120', '§ 1328', '§ 101', '§ 101', '§ 523', '§ 1811', '§ 401', '§ 1437', '§ 3', '§ 1328', '§ 541']

998 F2d 730 Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Resolution Fund v. S Soderling | OpenJurist
998 F. 2d 730 - Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Resolution Fund v. S Soderling
998 F2d 730 Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Resolution Fund v. S Soderling
998 F.2d 730
In re Jay S. SODERLING, Debtor.
Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Resolution
Fund, Plaintiff-Appellee,
Jay S. SODERLING, an individual, and Evelyn Ruth Soderling,
his spouse, Defendants-Appellants.
In re Leif David SODERLING, Debtor.
Leif David SODERLING, an individual, and Sydney Lynn
Soderling, his spouse, Defendants-Appellants.
In re Evelyn Ruth SODERLING, Debtor.
Evelyn Ruth SODERLING, an individual, and Jay S. Soderling,
her spouse, Defendants-Appellants.
In re Sydney Lynn SODERLING, Debtor.
Sydney Lynn SODERLING, an individual, and Leif David
Soderling, her spouse, Defendants-Appellants.
Nos. 91-16406, 91-16919.
No. 91-16406 submitted February 5, 1993.
No. 92-16919 submitted February 9, 1993*.
The district court held that the criminal restitution judgment imposed by it against Leif and Jay Soderling is nondischargeable as a "fine, penalty, or forfeiture payable to and for the benefit of a governmental unit" within the meaning of 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(7) (1988). Leif and Jay Soderling pled guilty in 1987 to various crimes in connection with their ownership and operation of Golden Pacific Savings, including the misapplication of funds belonging to the thrift. As part of their sentences, the district court ordered the brothers to pay restitution of almost $6.75 million to the Federal Savings & Loan Insurance Corp. ("FSLIC").2 To date, only slightly more than $1.9 million has been recovered by FSLIC's successor, the FDIC.3
A grant of summary judgment is reviewed de novo. Jones v. Union P.R.R., 968 F.2d 937, 940 (9th Cir.1992). Our review is governed by the same standard used by the district court under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(c). Darring v. Kincheloe, 783 F.2d 874, 876 (9th Cir.1986). We must determine, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, whether there are any genuine issues of material fact and whether the district court correctly applied the relevant substantive law. FDIC v. O'Melveny & Meyers, 969 F.2d 744, 747 (9th Cir.1992).
The relevant statute, 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(7), provides that
(a) A discharge under section 727, 1141,[ ] 1228(a), or 1328(b) of this title does not discharge an individual debtor from any debt--
Kelly v. Robinson, 479 U.S. 36, 107 S.Ct. 353, 93 L.Ed.2d 216 (1986), held that in Chapter 7 proceedings a state court criminal restitution order is nondischargeable under § 523(a)(7). Id. at 53, 107 S.Ct. at 363. Post-Kelly, every court to consider the scope of this statute has held that a federal restitution order is nondischargeable in Chapter 7 proceedings as well. See, e.g., United States v. Vetter, 895 F.2d 456, 459 (8th Cir.1990) ("rationale in Kelly applies equally to restitution orders entered as part of a criminal sentence by federal and state courts"; "such restitution orders are excepted by section 523(a)(7) from discharge in Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings, [and] whether the restitution was ordered before or after the bankruptcy proceeding commenced is irrelevant"); United States v. Caddell, 830 F.2d 36, 39 (5th Cir.), reh'g denied, en banc, 833 F.2d 1010 (5th Cir.1987); Fernandez v. IRS (In re Fernandez), 112 B.R. 888, 892 (Bankr.N.D. Ohio 1990); FDIC v. Wright (In re Wright), 87 B.R. 1011, 1015 n. 3 (Bankr.S.D.1988) ("[i]n cases decided since Kelly, it has been held that the rationale of the Supreme Court applies equally to restitution obligations imposed under sentences for federal crimes").
We therefore hold that, as a matter of law, the FDIC is entitled to summary judgment that its claim based on the federal court criminal restitution order is nondischargeable under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(7).4
This conclusion leaves the question of whether the nondischargeable claim can reach beyond the separate property of the Soderling brothers so as to be nondischargeable as to the Soderling couples' community property as well. All claims against a marital community are discharged "except a community claim that is exempted from discharge under[, inter alia,] section 523." 11 U.S.C. § 524(a)(3) (1988). A "community claim" is defined as any "claim that arose before the commencement of the case concerning the debtor for which property of the kind specified in section 541(a)(2)5 of this title is liable, whether or not there is any such property at the time of the commencement of the case." Id. § 101(7) (1988).
Alan Pedlar, Community Property and the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978, 11 St. Mary's L.J. 349, 351-52 (1979), quoted in In re Sweitzer, 111 B.R. 792, 793 (Bankr.W.D.Wis.1990). The bottom line is that "[w]hether or not a creditor holds a community claim will be determined by state law." In re Sweitzer, 111 B.R. at 793.
Since § 541(a)(2) measures the community property portion of the bankruptcy estate "as of the commencement of the case," it is appropriate to refer to the law of the state where the debtor and his spouse lived when the petition was filed. Both Soderling couples lived in California during and immediately after the filing of the Chapter 7 petitions. Under California law, all community property is liable for debts of either spouse incurred before or during marriage. Cal.Civil Code § 5120.110 (West Supp.1993); see also id. §§ 5122(b)(1), 5122(b)(2) (West Supp.1993). In this context, a "debt" is "an obligation incurred by a married person before or during marriage, whether based on contract, tort, or otherwise." Id. § 5120.030 (West Supp.1993).
In interpreting this provision we must determine how the California Supreme Court would construe it. See Aetna Casualty & Surety v. Sheft, 989 F.2d 1105, 1106-07 (9th Cir.1993). Although no California case considers whether a federal restitution judgment is a "debt" under state community property law, the Supreme Court has held that a state restitution obligation is a "debt" within the meaning of the Bankruptcy Code. Pennsylvania Dep't of Public Welfare v. Davenport, 495 U.S. 552, 557-63, 110 S.Ct. 2126, 2130-33, 109 L.Ed.2d 588 (1990); see also 11 U.S.C. § 1328(a)(3) (restitution judgment is nondischargeable debt in Chapter 13 cases). A "debt" is defined in 11 U.S.C. § 101(11) as a "liability on a claim." A "claim," in turn, is defined as a "right to payment." 11 U.S.C. § 101(5)(A).
As they did below, some of the Soderlings' arguments continue to challenge aspects of the restitution order itself. These are non-cognizable. The validity of the criminal restitution orders, both as to scope and enforceability, has been decided adversely to the Soderlings. United States v. Soderling, 970 F.2d 529, 531 (9th Cir.1992) (the Soderling brothers "struck a deal," agreeing "to make restitution for the losses stemming from those two offenses and from the other five transactions"; "[i]n accordance with the plea agreement, the court ordered the Soderlings to make restitution for losses stemming from the seven transactions in question") (emphasis added).
Their claim that the so-called "RLI Settlement" released them from any claim or demand relating to Golden Pacific Savings is similarly meritless. Paragraph 4 of the Settlement explicitly provides that "[t]his agreement is not intended to affect any obligations Leif Soderling and Jay Soderling may have to make criminal restitution to FDIC as provided in their sentencing orders ... in ... Case Number CR 87-0143." CR 68, Exh. 24. The Soderlings' claim now to the contrary is both disingenuous and plainly incorrect. These claims, like their others, are a "rehash of arguments previously considered and rejected by [the district] court." In re Soderling, Nos. C-90-1904, C-90-1908 (July 31, 1991).
The district court's determination that a balance of $4,841,806.98, exclusive of interest, remains unsatisfied from the original criminal restitution judgment of over $6.7 million, and, pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §§ 523(a)(7) and 524(a)(3), is not dischargeable as to either the Soderling brothers' separate property or the Soderling couples' community property, is AFFIRMED.
The panel unanimously finds these cases suitable for decision without oral argument. Fed.R.App.P. 34(a); Ninth Cir.R. 34-4
More precisely, the court sentenced the Soderling brothers "to make full and complete restitution to [FSLIC] for any and all net losses sustained by Golden Pacific Savings ... in connection with [seven specified transactions]." CR 68, Exh. 9 (Judgment and Probation/Commitment Order, United States v. Soderling, No. CR 87-0143 (June 29, 1987) (Peckham, J.)). The restitution amount was defined as "the difference between the amounts loaned or expended by Golden Pacific Savings ... and the amounts recovered from sale of the properties [involved in the seven transactions]...." Id. That amount was eventually determined to be $6,745,648.98. Id. at Exh. 14 (United States v. Soderling, No. CR 87-0143, slip op. at 9 (N.D.Cal. Dec. 1, 1989))
The Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 ("FIRREA"), Pub.L. 101-73, 103 Stat. 183 (1989), "delegated to the FDIC the responsibilities of the FSLIC." FDIC v. Letterman Bros., 980 F.2d 1298, 1299 (9th Cir.1992) (citing 12 U.S.C.A. § 1811 (1989 and Supp.1992)). Thus, FDIC was automatically substituted as creditor in the Soderling bankruptcy cases. FDIC v. O'Melveny & Meyers, 969 F.2d 744, 746 n. 2 (9th Cir.1992); FDIC v. New Hampshire Ins. Co., 953 F.2d 478, 480 n. 1 (9th Cir.1992) (same) (citing FIRREA § 401(f)(2), "reprinted at 12 U.S.C.A. § 1437 (repealed 1989) (Historical and Statutory Notes)")
In Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare v. Davenport, 495 U.S. 552, 110 S.Ct. 2126, 109 L.Ed.2d 588 (1990), the Supreme Court held that state criminal restitution orders were dischargeable in Chapter 13 proceedings. Congress quickly overruled that holding in P.L. 101-581, § 3, 104 Stat. 2865 (1990), codified at 11 U.S.C. § 1328(a)(3). Thus, restitution orders are now nondischargeable under both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13
Section 541(a)(2) provides that the filing of a bankruptcy petition creates an estate, which, among other types of property, includes
11 U.S.C. § 541(a)(2) (1988).