Opinion ID: 32817
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Persisting State of Affairs

Text: 9 The second prong of the Brunner test asks if additional circumstances exist indicating that this state of affairs is likely to persist [for a significant period of time]. Brunner, 831 F.2d at 396. Additional circumstances encompass circumstances that impacted on the debtor's future earning potential but which [were] either not present when the debtor[] applied for the loans or [have] since been exacerbated. In re Roach, 288 B.R. 437, 445 (Bankr.E.D.La.2003). This second aspect of the test is meant to be a demanding requirement. Brightful, 267 F.3d at 328. Thus, proving that the debtor is currently in financial straits is not enough. Id. Instead, the debtor must specifically prove a total incapacity ... in the future to pay [his] debts for reasons not within [his] control. 2 In re Faish, 72 F.3d 298, 307 (3d Cir.1995) (quoting In re Rappaport, 16 B.R. 615, 617 (Bankr.D.N.J. 1981)). 10 Under the second prong of the test, the district court correctly concluded that Gerhardt has not established persistent undue hardship entitling him to discharge his student loans. Gerhardt holds a masters degree in music from the New England Conservatory of Music. He is about 43 years old, healthy, well-educated, and has no dependents, yet has repaid only $755 of his over $77,000 debt. 3 During the LPO's off-seasons, Gerhardt has collected unemployment, but he has somehow managed to attend the Colorado Music Festival. Although trial testimony tended to show that Gerhardt would likely not obtain a position at a higher-paying orchestra, he could obtain additional steady employment in a number of different arenas. For instance, he could attempt to teach full-time, obtain night-school teaching jobs, or even work as a music store clerk. 4 Thus, no reasons out Page 93-123 11 of Gerhardt's control exist that perpetuate his inability to repay his student loans. 12 In addition, nothing in the Bankruptcy Code suggests that a debtor may choose to work only in the field in which he was trained, obtain a low-paying job, and then claim that it would be an undue hardship to repay his student loans. See, e.g., In re Grigas, 252 B.R. 866, 875 (Bankr.D.N.H.) (concluding that a debtor could not satisfy the second Brunner prong when financial distress was self-imposed). Under the facts presented by Gerhardt, it is difficult to imagine a professional orchestra musician who would not qualify for an undue hardship discharge. Accordingly, Gerhardt has failed to demonstrate the type of exceptional circumstances that are necessary in order to meet [his] burden under the second prong of Brunner. Brightful, 267 F.3d at 330. Finding no error, the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.