Court Opinion

ID: 4162896
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-04-25 00:04:22.620049+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:23:14.645017
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                              APR 24 2017
 1                         NOT FOR PUBLICATION
                                                       SUSAN M. SPRAUL, CLERK
                                                         U.S. BKCY. APP. PANEL
 2                                                       OF THE NINTH CIRCUIT

 3                  UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY APPELLATE PANEL
                              OF THE NINTH CIRCUIT
 4
 5   In re:                        )      BAP No. CC-16-1293-LKuF
                                   )
 6   PAUL CHARLES ZEPPINICK,       )      Bk. No. 1:14-bk-13168-VK
                                   )
 7                  Debtor.        )      Adv. No. 1:14-ap-01168-VK
     ______________________________)
 8                                 )
     PAUL CHARLES ZEPPINICK,       )
 9                                 )
                    Appellant,     )
10                                 )
     v.                            )      M E M O R A N D U M*
11                                 )
     LUIS RAMIREZ,                 )
12                                 )
                    Appellee.      )
13   ______________________________)
14                   Argued and Submitted on March 23, 2017
                            at Pasadena, California
15
                             Filed - April 24, 2017
16
              Appeal from the United States Bankruptcy Court
17                for the Central District of California
18      Honorable Victoria S. Kaufman, Bankruptcy Judge, Presiding
                         _________________________
19
     Appearances:     Katherine Butts Warwick argued for Appellant Paul
20                    Charles Zeppinick; Michael John Hemming argued for
                      Appellee Luis Ramirez.
21                         _________________________
22   Before: LAFFERTY, KURTZ, and FARIS, Bankruptcy Judges.
23
24
25
26        *
            This disposition is not appropriate for publication.
27   Although it may be cited for whatever persuasive value it may
     have (see Fed. R. App. P. 32.1), it has no precedential value.
28   See 9th Cir. BAP Rule 8024-1.
 1                              INTRODUCTION
 2        In 2004, Appellee Luis Ramirez worked for Appellant Paul
 3   Zeppinick on home remodeling projects.    On one of those projects,
 4   the home sustained damage after the plastic Ramirez placed on a
 5   damaged roof blew off in a storm.     Thereafter, Zeppinick refused
 6   to pay Ramirez his wages, claiming an offset of $12,000-$14,000
 7   for the damage.   Ramirez filed a claim with the Labor
 8   Commissioner of the State of California seeking payment of his
 9   wages.   The Labor Commissioner found in favor of Ramirez, finding
10   that Ramirez was an employee and not an independent contractor
11   and that Zeppinick should have known he had not right to offset
12   any damages against an employee’s wages.    The Labor Commissioner
13   awarded Ramirez $23,156.50.   Zeppinick did not appeal the Labor
14   Commissioner’s decision, and a judgment was entered in the
15   Superior Court (the “Judgment”).
16        After Zeppinick filed his chapter 71 case, Ramirez filed an
17   adversary proceeding seeking a declaration of nondischargeability
18   of the sums due him under the Judgment.    At trial, the bankruptcy
19   court gave issue preclusive effect to the Labor Commissioner’s
20   findings and heard testimony from the parties.    The bankruptcy
21   court ruled in favor of Ramirez, finding the debt
22   nondischargeable under § 523(a)(6).    Zeppinick timely appealed.
23        We AFFIRM.
24
25
          1
26          Unless otherwise indicated, all chapter and section
     references are to the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. §§ 101-1532,
27   “Rule” references are to the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy
     Procedure, and “Civil Rule” references are to the Federal Rules
28   of Civil Procedure.

                                     -2-
 1                                     FACTS2
 2          Zeppinick is a California licensed general contractor with
 3   50 years’ experience as a laborer, salesperson, foreman, and
 4   general contractor.       Prior to 2004, Zeppinick worked for a
 5   company named Thoughtful Builders as a superintendent and project
 6   manager doing home remodeling.       During his employment with
 7   Thoughtful Builders he met Ramirez, who also worked for
 8   Thoughtful Builders, and the two worked on projects together.       At
 9   some point in 2004 the owner of Thoughtful Builders fell ill, and
10   Zeppinick took over management of the company’s operations.
11          Around December 2004, Zeppinick asked Ramirez to work for
12   him.       They agreed that Ramirez would supervise projects and buy
13   materials, subject to reimbursement by Zeppinick.       Ramirez would
14   be paid $25 per hour as compensation for his work.       To be paid,
15   Ramirez would submit a weekly work report summarizing the work he
16   performed and detailing the number of hours he spent working and
17   any materials he purchased out of pocket.
18          From the beginning of the parties’ working relationship
19   until September 2005, Zeppinick regularly paid Ramirez his wages
20   and expense reimbursements; payments were made in cash.
21   Zeppinick did not pay the employer’s share of taxes, did not
22   withhold the employee’s share of taxes, and did not obtain
23   workers’ compensation insurance.
24          Around September 2005, Zeppinick was hired to repair the
25   roof of a house belonging to Chris Bentley (the “Bentley
26
27
            2
            In this factual recitation, we borrow heavily from the
28   bankruptcy court’s findings and conclusions.

                                         -3-
 1   Property”).    During the course of this project, the Bentley
 2   Property was damaged when Ramirez covered the already damaged
 3   roof with plastic sheeting and left for the weekend; the plastic
 4   blew off in a storm, resulting in water damage to the home.
 5   Zeppinick testified that he had to pay to repair those damages.
 6   From September 2005 through November 2005, Zeppinick did not pay
 7   Ramirez his wages or reimburse Ramirez for his expenses.
 8   Zeppinick testified that he withheld the funds owed to Ramirez
 9   because Ramirez’s work resulted in damage to the Bentley
10   Property.   In late November 2005, Ramirez’s employment with
11   Zeppinick was terminated.
12        On December 20, 2005, Ramirez filed a claim with the Labor
13   Commissioner of the State of California.    Ramirez alleged that he
14   was owed (1) unpaid wages earned from September 15, 2005 to
15   November 28, 2005, a total of $10,000; and (2) unreimbursed
16   business expenses from July 16, 2005 to November 28, 2005, a
17   total of $13,459.92.    To support his claim, Ramirez submitted
18   detailed documentation of wages and expenses he had incurred at
19   the time Zeppinick refused to pay Ramirez.
20        On July 31, 2006, the Labor Commissioner held a hearing on
21   the matter.    Both Ramirez and Zeppinick appeared at the hearing.
22   Zeppinick appeared without an attorney and without any
23   documentary evidence.    On September 6, 2006, the Labor
24   Commissioner issued its decision in favor of Ramirez.      In
25   relevant part, the Labor Commissioner found:
26        Plaintiff performed services as an employee not an
          independent contractor (sub-contractor).
27
          . . . .
28

                                      -4-
 1        Plaintiff’s wage claim contains a deduction of
          $4,000.00 for damages at one of the work sites.
 2
          . . . .
 3
          Defendant’s position is that Plaintiff [is] a
 4        sub-contractor, employed the crew and at least some of
          the work sites were fixed price wage agreements.
 5        Defendant produced no written evidence whatsoever
          despite admitting the records were in fact maintained.
 6        Defendant’s argument is really a setoff argument as
          Plaintiff’s leaving early caused extensive water damage
 7        at the Chris Bentley work site . . . .
 8        Defendant is a licensed contractor and should know the
          basic labor laws including the presumption in his state
 9        that one who performs services for another is an
          employee. There was no explanation for the failure to
10        produce records at the hearing. Plaintiff is awarded
          $9,000.00 in wages deducting the week not worked that
11        caused the controversy between the parties. Plaintiff
          is awarded $12,495.14 based on effective evidence as
12        produced at the hearing.
13        Absent admissions and a conviction there is no
          demonstrated proof of employee wrong doing or gross
14        negligence on the part of the Plaintiff in the record
          although the parties are in dispute as to when
15        Plaintiff notified Defendant he would be off the job.
          Plaintiff did the work and Plaintiff incurred the
16        expenses and he has to be paid and deducted $4,000.00
          off the claim for the damages to Bentley’s residence.
17        A majority of the evidence favors Plaintiff in this
          matter and he is awarded what he claims subject to the
18        modifications noted hereinabove.
19        The Labor Commissioner awarded Ramirez a total of $23,156.50
20   comprised of $9,000 in wages, $12,495.74 in reimbursable
21   expenses, and $1,660.76 in interest pursuant to Cal. Lab. Code
22   § 98.1.   The Labor Commissioner’s Order included the following
23   notice of a right to appeal:
24        The parties herein are notified and advised that this
          Order, Decision or Award of the Labor Commissioner
25        shall become final and enforceable as a judgment in a
          court of law unless either or both parties exercise
26        their right to appeal to the appropriate court within
          ten (10) days of service of this document.
27
28   Zeppinick neither appealed nor sent payment.   As a result, the

                                     -5-
 1   Judgment in the amount of $23,877.96 (including post-hearing
 2   interest and filing fee) was entered in favor of the Labor
 3   Commissioner and against Zeppinick; the Labor Commissioner
 4   subsequently assigned the Judgment to Ramirez.
 5        Zeppinick filed a chapter 7 bankruptcy on June 29, 2014.
 6   Ramirez filed a timely adversary proceeding seeking a declaration
 7   of nondischargeability of the amounts owed to him pursuant to the
 8   Judgment.    The matter was tried on August 30, 2016.    As a result
 9   of amendments to the original complaint and a stipulation to
10   dismiss the § 523(a)(2)(B) claim, the sole claim remaining for
11   adjudication was under § 523(a)(6).
12        As of the trial date, Zeppinick had not paid any portion of
13   the Judgment.    At trial, the bankruptcy court gave issue
14   preclusive effect to the Labor Commissioner’s findings and also
15   heard testimony from the parties.      The bankruptcy court issued
16   its ruling the following day, finding in favor of Ramirez on the
17   § 523(a)(6) claim.    The bankruptcy court entered judgment on
18   September 30, 2016 declaring $47,206.56 nondischargeable under §
19   523(a)(6).    Zeppinick timely appealed.
20                               JURISDICTION
21        The bankruptcy court had jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
22   §§ 1334 and 157(b)(2)(I).    We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C.
23   § 158.
24                                  ISSUES
25        Did the bankruptcy court err in applying issue preclusion to
26   the Labor Commissioner’s findings?
27        Did the bankruptcy court err in entering judgment finding
28   the debt Zeppinick owed to Ramirez to be nondischargeable under

                                      -6-
 1   § 523(a)(6)?
 2                           STANDARDS OF REVIEW
 3        We review de novo the bankruptcy court’s determination that
 4   issue preclusion was available.    Plyam v. Precision Dev., LLC
 5   (In re Plyam), 530 B.R. 456, 461 (9th Cir. BAP 2015).       If issue
 6   preclusion was available, we review the bankruptcy court’s
 7   application of issue preclusion for an abuse of discretion.      Id.
 8   A bankruptcy court abuses its discretion if it applies the wrong
 9   legal standard, misapplies the correct legal standard, or if its
10   factual findings are illogical, implausible, or without support
11   in inferences that may be drawn from the facts in the record.
12   See TrafficSchool.com, Inc. v. Edriver Inc., 653 F.3d 820, 832
13   (9th Cir. 2011) (citing United States v. Hinkson, 585 F.3d 1247,
14   1262 (9th Cir. 2009) (en banc)).
15        We review the bankruptcy court’s conclusions of law de novo
16   and its factual findings for clear error.     Carrillo v. Su
17   (In re Su), 290 F.3d 1140, 1142 (9th Cir. 2002).     A finding that
18   an injury is willful is a factual finding that is reviewed for
19   clear error, see Gee v. Hammond (In re Gee), 173 B.R. 189, 192
20   (9th Cir. BAP 1994), as is a finding that an injury is malicious,
21   Thiara v. Spycher Bros. (In re Thiara), 285 B.R. 420, 427 (9th
22   Cir. BAP 2002).   A finding is clearly erroneous “when although
23   there is evidence to support it, the reviewing court on the
24   entire evidence is left with the definite and firm conviction
25   that a mistake has been committed.”     Anderson v. City of Bessemer
26   City, 470 U.S. 564, 573 (1985) (citation omitted).     Where two
27   permissible views of the evidence exist, the factfinder’s choice
28   between them cannot be clearly erroneous.     Id. at 574.   We are to

                                       -7-
 1   give “due regard to the trial court’s opportunity to judge the
 2   witnesses’ credibility.”    Civil Rule 52(a)(6) (incorporated via
 3   Rule 7052).    We also give deference to inferences drawn by the
 4   trial court.   Beech Aircraft Corp. v. United States, 51 F.3d 834,
 5   838 (9th Cir. 1995).
 6                                DISCUSSION
 7   A.   The bankruptcy court did not err in applying issue
 8        preclusion to the Labor Commissioner’s findings.
 9        Zeppinick contends that the bankruptcy court erred in giving
10   issue preclusive effect to the Labor Commissioner’s findings.      In
11   its findings and conclusions, the bankruptcy court stated: “The
12   parties do not dispute the collateral estoppel effect of the
13   Labor Commissioner’s decision and the Judgment regarding the
14   amount of unpaid wages and unreimbursed expenses owed to
15   Plaintiff and as to the characterization of Plaintiff as an
16   employee.”    In the bankruptcy court, Zeppinick’s counsel did not
17   expressly object to the application of issue preclusion to the
18   Labor Commissioner’s decision, but in the parties’ Joint Pretrial
19   Stipulation, they agreed that the issues of fact to be litigated
20   included Ramirez’s status as an employee of Zeppinick.    However,
21   at trial, the bankruptcy court cut off Zeppinick’s counsel’s
22   questioning of Ramirez regarding facts relevant to whether
23   Ramirez was an employee or an independent contractor, stating
24   “there’s no real point in arguing about being an independent
25   contractor.    It’s already been determined at a hearing . . . in
26   which the defendant participated.”     Although Zeppinick could have
27   (and probably should have) explicitly raised and briefed the
28   preclusion issue, on this record we are reluctant to conclude

                                      -8-
 1   that he waived any objection to the bankruptcy court’s
 2   application of the doctrine.   That said, we find no error by the
 3   bankruptcy court in applying issue preclusion to the Labor
 4   Commissioner’s findings.
 5        In applying issue preclusion to a state court judgment, the
 6   bankruptcy court must apply the forum state’s law of issue
 7   preclusion.   In re Plyam, 530 B.R at 462.   In California,
 8   application of issue preclusion requires that: (1) the issue
 9   sought to be precluded from relitigation is identical to that
10   decided in a former proceeding; (2) the issue was actually
11   litigated in the former proceeding; (3) the issue was necessarily
12   decided in the former proceeding; (4) the decision in the former
13   proceeding is final and on the merits; and (5) the party against
14   whom preclusion is sought was the same as, or in privity with,
15   the party to the former proceeding.   Id. (citing Lucido v. Super.
16   Ct., 51 Cal. 3d 335, 341 (1990)).
17        Zeppinick does not contest the first, fourth or fifth
18   elements, but implicitly argues that the second element – the
19   “actually litigated” requirement – was not met here.    He argues
20   that there was an insufficient record to determine the issues
21   litigated before the Labor Commissioner because no record of the
22   hearing was introduced into evidence, citing Kelly v. Okoye
23   (In re Kelly), 182 B.R. 255, 258 (9th Cir. BAP 1995), aff’d,
24   100 F.3d 110 (9th Cir. 1996) (“a party [seeking the application
25   of issue preclusion] must introduce a record sufficient to reveal
26   the controlling facts and pinpoint the exact issues litigated in
27   the prior action”).   Zeppinick misconstrues Kelly: there is no
28   requirement that the entire record of the underlying proceedings

                                     -9-
 1   be produced if the issues can be ascertained from the documents
 2   presented.   See Johnson v. GlaxoSmithKline, Inc., 166 Cal. App.
 3   4th 1497, 1513 n.9 (2008) (a court may refer to the entire record
 4   to determine the issues decided in the earlier case);
 5   In re Plyam, 530 B.R. at 470 (to the extent jury findings are
 6   clearly and solely based on the relevant elements, they may be
 7   sufficient for the application of issue preclusion).     Here, the
 8   Labor Commissioner explicitly found that Ramirez was an employee
 9   and not an independent contractor, noting that Zeppinick had
10   “produced no written evidence whatsoever despite admitting that
11   records were in fact maintained” to support his contention that
12   Ramirez was a subcontractor.
13         Zeppinick also cites Wehrli v. County of Orange, 175 F.3d
14   692 (9th Cir. 1999).   In that case, the Ninth Circuit Court of
15   Appeals reversed the district court’s ruling that a state
16   administrative ruling was preclusive in a federal court action
17   under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.   Id. at 695.    However, in Wehrli, the
18   Court of Appeals’ holding was based on its conclusion that the
19   appellant did not have an adequate opportunity to litigate the
20   issues decided in the administrative ruling because the ruling
21   was not subject to judicial review.     Id. at 694.   That is not the
22   circumstance here.   It is undisputed that the Judgment based on
23   the Labor Commissioner’s Order was appealable; Zeppinick’s
24   failure to avail himself of this remedy does not change the
25   preclusive effect of the judgment.    See id. (“If an adequate
26   opportunity for review is available, a losing party cannot
27   obstruct the preclusive use of the state administrative decision
28   simply by foregoing her right to appeal.”) (quoting Plaine v.

                                    -10-
 1   McCabe, 797 F.2d 713, 719 n.12 (9th Cir. 1986)).
 2        In his reply brief, Zeppinick argues for the first time that
 3   he was not afforded due process before the Labor Commissioner
 4   because he was not served with the Superior Court judgment and
 5   thus had no opportunity to seek judicial review, again citing
 6   Wehrli, 175 F.3d at 694.    However, we do not consider arguments
 7   raised for the first time in a reply brief.    Coleman v. Quaker
 8   Oats Co., 232 F.3d 1271, 1289 n.4 (9th Cir. 2000).     In any event,
 9   this argument is baseless: Zeppinick does not dispute that he was
10   served with the Labor Commissioner’s Order, which informed him
11   that the Order would become final in ten days unless a party
12   exercised its right to appeal.
13   B.   The bankruptcy court did not err in finding that Zeppinick’s
14        failure to pay Ramirez was willful and malicious.
15        Section 523(a)(6) provides in relevant part: “[a] discharge
16   under 727 . . . does not discharge an individual debtor from any
17   debt . . . for willful and malicious injury by the debtor to
18   another entity or to the property of another entity.”    The
19   plaintiff bears the burden of proof on these elements by a
20   preponderance of the evidence.    Grogan v. Garner, 498 U.S. 279,
21   287 (1991).    The creditor must prove that the debtor’s conduct in
22   causing the injuries was both willful and malicious.    In re Su,
23   290 F.3d at 1146-47.
24        Willfulness requires proof that the debtor deliberately or
25   intentionally injured the creditor, and that in doing so, the
26   debtor intended the consequences of his act, not just the act
27   itself.    Id. at 1143 (citing Kawaauhau v. Geiger, 523 U.S. 57
28   (1998)).    The debtor must act with a subjective motive to inflict

                                      -11-
 1   injury, or with a belief that injury is substantially certain to
 2   result from the conduct.    Id. at 1146. And for conduct to be
 3   found malicious, the creditor must prove that the debtor:
 4   (1) committed a wrongful act; (2) that was done intentionally;
 5   (3) which necessarily causes injury; and (4) was done without
 6   just cause or excuse.    Id. at 1146-47.
 7        1.    Zeppinick’s conduct was willful.
 8        The willful injury requirement is met “only when the debtor
 9   has a subjective motive to inflict injury or when the debtor
10   believes that injury is substantially certain to result from his
11   own conduct.”    Ormsby v. First Am. Title Co. of Nev.
12   (In re Ormsby), 591 F.3d 1199, 1206 (9th Cir. 2010).     The debtor
13   is charged with the knowledge of the natural consequences of his
14   actions.   Id.   Although this standard is subjective, the
15   bankruptcy court need not take the debtor’s word for his state of
16   mind; rather, “[i]n addition to what a debtor may admit to
17   knowing, the bankruptcy court may consider circumstantial
18   evidence that tends to establish what the debtor must have
19   actually known when taking the injury-producing action.”
20   In re Su, 290 F.3d at 1146 n.6 (citation omitted).
21        Here, it is undisputed that Zeppinick breached the parties’
22   oral employment agreement by willfully failing to pay Ramirez his
23   wages.    A breach of contract alone, even an intentional one, will
24   not generally give rise to a nondischargeable debt.      But “where
25   an intentional breach of contract is accompanied by tortious
26   conduct which results in willful and malicious injury, the
27   resulting debt is excepted from discharge under § 523(a)(6).”
28   Petralia v. Jercich (In re Jercich), 238 F.3d 1202, 1205 (9th

                                     -12-
 1   Cir. 2001).    In California, “conduct amounting to a breach of
 2   contract becomes tortious only when it also violates an
 3   independent duty arising from principles of tort law.”    Id. at
 4   1206 (quoting Applied Equip. Corp. v. Litton Saudi Arabia Ltd.,
 5   7 Cal. 4th 503, 515 (1994)).    And tort recovery for a bad faith
 6   breach of contract is permitted only when “a defendant’s conduct
 7   violates a fundamental public policy of the state.”    Id. (quoting
 8   Rattan v. United Servs. Auto. Assoc., 84 Cal. App. 4th 715, 722
 9   (2000)).
10        The prompt payment of wages due an employee is a fundamental
11   public policy in California.    Id. (quoting Gould v. Md. Sound
12   Indus., Inc., 31 Cal. App. 4th 1137, 1147 (1995)).    In fact, the
13   willful failure to pay wages is a misdemeanor under the
14   California Labor Code:
15        In addition to any other penalty imposed by this
          article, any person, or an agent, manager,
16        superintendent, or officer thereof is guilty of a
          misdemeanor, who:
17
          (a) Having the ability to pay, willfully refuses to pay
18        wages due and payable after demand has been made.
19        (b) Falsely denies the amount or validity thereof, or
          that the same is due, with intent to secure for
20        himself, his employer or other person, any discount
          upon such indebtedness, or with intent to annoy,
21        harass, oppress, hinder, delay, or defraud, the person
          to whom such indebtedness is due.
22
23   Cal. Lab. Code § 216.    Even where an employee owes a debt to his
24   or her employer, the employer may not set off that debt against
25   wages owed.    Cal. Lab. Code § 201;3 Barnhill v. Robert Saunders &
26
          3
27            That statute provides in relevant part:

28                                                         (continued...)

                                     -13-
 1   Co., 125 Cal. App. 3d 1, 6 (1981).
 2        Relying on these authorities, the Ninth Circuit Court of
 3   Appeals in Jercich held that the debtor-employer engaged in
 4   tortious conduct meeting the willfulness requirement of
 5   § 523(a)(6) based on state court findings that the debtor knew he
 6   owed the wages, had the ability to pay the wages, and knew that
 7   injury to the plaintiff was substantially certain to occur if the
 8   wages were not paid but chose instead to use the money for his
 9   own personal benefit.   In re Jercich, 238 F.3d at 1208-09.
10        Here, Zeppinick testified that he had the ability to pay
11   Ramirez during the pertinent times but that he did not pay the
12   wages because he asserted a right of setoff against Ramirez.    The
13   bankruptcy court did not make an explicit finding that Zeppinick
14   knew that harm to Ramirez was substantially certain to occur from
15   the nonpayment of wages.   However, the court cited the rule that
16   the debtor is charged with the knowledge of the natural
17   consequences of his actions, In re Ormsby, 591 F.3d at 1206, and
18   concluded that denying Ramirez “$9,000 in wages and reimbursement
19   of $12,495.74 paid out of pocket when one makes $4,000 in gross
20   wages per month is clearly injurious.”   Under Jercich, this
21   finding is sufficient to support the conclusion that Zeppinick
22   knew that harm to Ramirez was substantially certain if the wages
23   were not paid.
24        Zeppinick argues that he had no subjective intent to harm
25
26        3
           (...continued)
27        (a) If an employer discharges an employee, the wages
          earned and unpaid at the time of discharge are due and
28        payable immediately. . . .

                                    -14-
 1   Ramirez but that he withheld the wages in the legitimate belief
 2   that he was entitled to an offset for the roof repairs.    However,
 3   the bankruptcy court found not credible Zeppinick’s testimony
 4   that he estimated the roof damage at between $12,000 and $14,000
 5   – noting that had produced no documentary evidence to support
 6   that estimate – and concluded that Zeppinick apparently
 7   “exaggerated the amount of damage to the Bentley Property to
 8   support his argument regarding offset and not because of any
 9   legitimate basis.”    We must defer to the bankruptcy court’s
10   credibility determination and the inferences it drew from the
11   evidence.    See Civil Rule 52(a)(6); Beech Aircraft Corp., 51 F.3d
12   at 838.   In any event, it is implausible that Zeppinick would not
13   have known that harm to Ramirez would result from the nonpayment
14   of wages.    We find no error in the bankruptcy court’s finding
15   that Zeppinick’s conduct was willful.
16        2.     The bankruptcy court did not err in finding that
17               Zeppinick’s conduct was malicious.
18        The bankruptcy court found that Zeppinick’s conduct was
19   malicious because his failure to pay Ramirez was an intentional
20   wrongful act done without just cause or excuse that necessarily
21   caused injury.    The evidence supporting the bankruptcy court’s
22   willfulness finding also supports the finding of malice.    As
23   noted above, the intentional failure to pay wages is a
24   misdemeanor under California law (an intentional wrongful act),
25   which necessarily caused injury.
26        Additionally, the bankruptcy court did not err in finding
27   that there was no just cause or excuse for Zeppinick’s
28   withholding of Ramirez’s wages.    Although Zeppinick testified

                                     -15-
 1   that he withheld the wages because he believed he had an offset,
 2   as noted above, the bankruptcy court found Zeppinick’s testimony
 3   regarding the amount of the offset not credible.
 4        Zeppinick argues that this case is distinguishable from
 5   Jercich because there the employer had used the withheld funds
 6   for his own benefit, a factor which the state court had found to
 7   constitute substantial oppression under California Civil Code
 8   § 3294, i.e., “despicable conduct that subjects a person to cruel
 9   and unjust hardship in conscious disregard of that person’s
10   rights.”   However, while that fact bolstered the Court of
11   Appeals’ holding that the conduct was malicious, it was not
12   dispositive.   Therefore, what Zeppinick did with the funds is not
13   relevant to the analysis here.
14                               CONCLUSION
15        For the reasons explained above, the bankruptcy court did
16   not err in applying issue preclusion to the Labor Commissioner’s
17   findings or in finding that the debt Zeppinick owed to Ramirez
18   pursuant to the Judgment was nondischargeable under § 523(a)(6).
19        Accordingly, we AFFIRM.
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28

                                      -16-