Opinion ID: 2978072
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: facts

Text: The Debtor filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code on June 5, 2008. The first meeting of creditors was held on July 15, 2008. The Debtor appeared and answered questions of the Trustee. During the meeting, the Trustee requested that the Debtor provide the Trustee with a copy of the Debtor’s divorce judgment. At the conclusion of his questions, the Trustee stated: That’s all the questions I have for you at this time. To the extent my review of the information provided to me [or upon receipt of the Divorce Judgment] causes me to need any further information or need to ask any further questions I’ll contact Mr. Andersen’s office directly. Assuming that doesn’t become necessary, I’ll close your file at that time. You should receive notice of your Chapter 7 Discharge 3 to 4 months from today directly from the Bankruptcy Court. Thank you for coming in today and good luck to you. (J.A. at 34-35.) While the Trustee asserts that the Debtor’s failure to provide a copy of the Debtor’s divorce judgment prior to or at the § 341 meeting resulted in the administration of the Debtor’s estate being delayed, he did not call a subsequent meeting after receiving a copy of the divorce judgment. The record does not reflect when the Trustee actually received a copy of the divorce judgment. On September 16, 2008, the Trustee filed his Report of First Meeting Held, and on September 29, 2008, he filed an objection to the Debtor’s claim of exemptions. The Trustee asserted that funds owed to the Debtor under the divorce judgment were not exempt as spousal support but rather were in the nature of a property settlement. The Debtor did not oppose the Trustee’s objection on the merits. She contended, however, that the objection was untimely pursuant to Rule 4003(b) of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure and Taylor v. Freeland & Kronz, 503 U.S. 638, 112 S. Ct. 1644 (1992). On November 19, 2008, the bankruptcy court heard oral argument on the issue of whether the § 341 meeting “concluded” on July 15, 2008. After additional briefing by the parties, the bankruptcy court issued its memorandum of decision on December 30, 2008, holding that the meeting had concluded on July 15, 2008, resulting in the Trustee’s objection being untimely. The bankruptcy court issued a separate order overruling the Trustee’s objection on December 30, 2008. -3- The Trustee filed this timely appeal on January 9, 2009. The Debtor filed a motion for certification of direct appeal to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals on February 23, 2009. This Panel issued an order denying that motion on April 13, 2009, because the motion did not comply with Rule 8001(f)(3)(C) of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure. See In re Dutkiewicz, 403 B.R. 472 (B.A.P. 6th Cir. 2009).