Court Opinion

ID: 4192661
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-08-03 17:02:06.117866+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:40:19.897033
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                             NOV 17 2016
 1                         NOT FOR PUBLICATION
                                                         SUSAN M. SPRAUL, CLERK
                                                           U.S. BKCY. APP. PANEL
 2                                                         OF THE NINTH CIRCUIT

 3                  UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY APPELLATE PANEL
 4                            OF THE NINTH CIRCUIT
 5   In re:                        )      BAP No.      NV-15-1318-DoKiL
                                   )
 6   GLOYD GREEN and GAIL HOLLAND, )      Bk. No.      2:14-bk-15981-ABL
                                   )
 7                  Debtors.       )
     ______________________________)
 8                                 )
     GLOYD GREEN; GAIL HOLLAND,    )
 9                                 )
                    Appellants,    )
10                                 )
     v.                            )      MEMORANDUM*
11                                 )
     HOWARD FAMILY TRUST DATED     )
12   AUGUST 21, 1998; OSCAR BRANNON)
     HOWARD III; ROBERT GRAHAM;    )
13   JERIMY L KIRSCHNER; ANTHONY   )
     L. BARNEY; LAWYERSWEST, LTD., )
14                                 )
                    Appellees.     )
15                                 )
16                  Argued and Submitted on October 21, 2016
                              at Las Vegas, Nevada
17
                           Filed – November 17, 2016
18
              Appeal from the United States Bankruptcy Court
19                      For the District of Nevada
20        Honorable August B. Landis, Bankruptcy Judge, Presiding
                          _______________________
21
     Appearances:     Christopher P. Burke argued for appellants Gloyd
22                    Green and Gail Holland; Jerimy L. Kirschner argued
                      for appellees Jerimy L. Kirschner, Robert Graham,
23                    LawyersWest, Ltd., and Howard Family Trust Dated
                      August 21, 1998; Anthony L. Barney argued for
24                    appellees Anthony L. Barney and Oscar Brannon
                      Howard III.
25                             __________________
26
          *
            This disposition is not appropriate for publication.
27   Although it may be cited for whatever persuasive value it may
28   have (see Fed. R. App. P. 32.1), it has no precedential value.
     See 9th Cir. BAP Rule 8024-1.
 1   Before:     DORE,** KIRSCHER, and LAFFERTY, Bankruptcy Judges.
 2
 3                                INTRODUCTION
 4        Gloyd Green and Gail Holland (collectively, “Greens”) appeal
 5   an order declining to sanction Truman Holt, trustee of the Howard
 6   Family Trust dated August 21, 1998 (“Holt”), Holt’s attorneys
 7   Jerimy L. Kirschner, Robert Graham and LawyersWest, Ltd., Oscar
 8   Brannon Howard III and his attorney Anthony L. Barney
 9   (collectively, “Appellees”).     We AFFIRM.
10                                    FACTS
11        Prior to filing their bankruptcy case, the Greens provided
12   their bankruptcy counsel, Mr. Burke, with a $32,000 retainer.
13   The Greens obtained $7,500 of the funds used to pay Mr. Burke’s
14   retainer through a loan from Gail Holland’s mother, Theresa
15   Holland.1
16        At the initial § 3412 meeting of creditors (“Meeting of
17   Creditors”), the Greens testified that Gail obtained the $7,500
18   from an account held jointly in Gail and Theresa’s name (“Joint
19   Account”).     The funds in the Joint Account belonged to Theresa,
20   but Gail had spoken with Theresa on the telephone and Theresa had
21   allowed her to withdraw the funds.       The Greens transferred the
22
          **
23          Honorable Timothy W. Dore, United States Bankruptcy Judge
     for the Western District of Washington, sitting by designation.
24
          1
            We use Gail and Theresa for clarity since there are two
25   Ms. Hollands, but mean no disrespect.
26        2
            Unless otherwise indicated, all chapter and section
27   references are to the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. §§ 101-1532.
     “Rule” references are to the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy
28   Procedure.

                                       -2-
 1   $7,500 drawn from the Joint Account to Mr. Burke.   The exact
 2   method of transmission of the $7,500 from the Joint Account to
 3   Mr. Burke is not clear from the record.
 4        Mr. Burke’s employment application, the Greens’ Statement of
 5   Financial Affairs and the Disclosure of Compensation of Attorney
 6   for Debtor(s) identify the Greens as the source of the $32,000
 7   retainer paid to Mr. Burke.   They do not disclose that $7,500 of
 8   the $32,000 came from Theresa.   Theresa is listed as a creditor
 9   on the Greens’ Schedule F in the amount of $7,500, for a loan
10   incurred in 2014.
11        On February 25, 2015, the Appellees filed a motion seeking
12   to disqualify Mr. Burke as bankruptcy counsel for the Greens and
13   require Mr. Burke to disgorge the retainer and any fees paid to
14   him in connection with the case.   On February 26, 2015, the
15   Appellees filed an amended motion to disqualify Mr. Burke
16   (“Disgorgement Motion”).   The arguments in the Disgorgement
17   Motion included that the transfer of the $7,500 from Theresa
18   should have been disclosed, the transfer of the $7,500 from
19   Theresa plus the Greens’ debt to Theresa created an actual
20   conflict of interest rendering Mr. Burke ineligible to be
21   bankruptcy counsel for the Greens, and Mr. Burke violated
22   §§ 327(a) and 329 and Rules 2014 and 2016.
23        On February 27, 2015, Mr. Burke sent a letter and a draft
24   motion for sanctions under Rule 9011 (“Draft Sanctions Motion”)
25   to Mr. Kirschner and Mr. Barney asserting that he would file it
26   if the Disgorgement Motion was not withdrawn within 21 days.    The
27   Appellees did not withdraw the Disgorgement Motion.
28        On March 2, 2015, Gail testified under oath in an

                                      -3-
 1   evidentiary hearing related to another motion in the Greens’
 2   bankruptcy case.    The issue of the retainer was raised, and when
 3   asked who had paid Mr. Burke’s retainer, Gail responded, “We paid
 4   it.”
 5          On March 20, 2015, the final day of the 21-day safe harbor
 6   period under Rule 9011, Mr. Burke filed a response to the
 7   Disgorgement Motion.    Attached to the response are two
 8   declarations, one from Mr. Burke and one from Gail, stating,
 9   among other things, that Theresa did not pay Mr. Burke anything
10   and did not have a payment agreement with Mr. Burke.    Mr. Burke’s
11   declaration also stated the retainer was paid to him directly by
12   the Greens.    Theresa died prior to the Meeting of Creditors and,
13   therefore, was not available to testify or otherwise provide
14   information about the $7,500 loan transaction.
15          On March 27, 2015, Holt filed a reply regarding the
16   Disgorgement Motion (“Disgorgement Reply”).3   In it, Holt
17   acknowledges that the loaned $7,500 was transmitted indirectly
18   from Theresa to Mr. Burke, but argues that, regardless of the
19   means of transmission, Theresa is still the “source” of the funds
20   under § 329(a) and that her loan to the Greens should have been
21   disclosed by Mr. Burke and the Greens.
22          On May 1, 2015, the bankruptcy court gave an oral ruling
23   denying the Disgorgement Motion.    In its oral ruling, the
24   bankruptcy court determined that the entire retainer came
25
26          3
            The Disgorgement Motion was filed by Holt and
27   Mr. Howard III, although it was signed only by Mr. Kirschner.
     The Disgorgement Reply was filed solely by Holt and signed only
28   by Mr. Kirschner.

                                      -4-
 1   directly from the Greens to Mr. Burke and, therefore, Mr. Burke
 2   did not violate the disclosure requirements of § 329(a) and
 3   Rules 2014 and 2016 or the employment requirements of § 327(a).
 4   The bankruptcy court declined to interpret the “source of such
 5   compensation” language from § 329(a) to require the disclosure of
 6   the indirect transfer of the loaned funds from Theresa to
 7   Mr. Burke.
 8        On May 5, 2015, the bankruptcy court entered an order
 9   denying the Disgorgement Motion.
10        On July 11, 2015, the Greens filed a motion seeking
11   sanctions under Rule 9011 against the Appellees for filing and
12   failing to withdraw the Disgorgement Motion (“Sanctions Motion”).
13   After a hearing, the bankruptcy court gave an oral ruling denying
14   the Sanctions Motion.   Thereafter, on September 1, 2015, the
15   bankruptcy court entered its order denying the Sanctions Motion.
16   This appeal timely followed.
17                               JURISDICTION
18        The bankruptcy court had jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C.
19   §§ 1334 and 157(b)(2)(A).   We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C.
20   § 158.
21                                  ISSUE
22        Did the bankruptcy court abuse its discretion when it
23   declined to award Rule 9011 sanctions against the Appellees for
24   filing and failing to withdraw the Disgorgement Motion?
25                           STANDARDS OF REVIEW
26        We review a bankruptcy court’s refusal to impose Rule 9011
27   sanctions for abuse of discretion.     Classic Auto Refinishing,
28   Inc. v. Marino (In re Marino), 37 F.3d 1354, 1358 (9th Cir.

                                     -5-
 1   1994).   We apply a two-part test to determine whether the
 2   bankruptcy court abused its discretion.     United States v.
 3   Hinkson, 585 F.3d 1247, 1261-62 (9th Cir. 2009) (en banc).
 4   First, we consider de novo whether the bankruptcy court applied
 5   the correct legal standard.    Id.   Second, we consider if its
 6   application of the correct legal standard or its factual findings
 7   are illogical, implausible or without support in the record.
 8   Id.; DeLuca v. Seare (In re Seare), 515 B.R. 599, 614 (9th Cir.
 9   BAP 2014).
10                                 DISCUSSION
11        The Greens assert the bankruptcy court abused its discretion
12   in two ways when it denied the Sanctions Motion.     First, they
13   argue the bankruptcy court abused its discretion by ruling as a
14   matter of law that the Sanctions Motion could not be granted
15   because the Draft Sanctions Motion did not contain the
16   declarations attached to the Sanctions Motion.     Second, they
17   argue the bankruptcy court abused its discretion when it denied
18   the Sanctions Motion because the Disgorgement Motion was
19   factually and legally frivolous.
20        The bankruptcy court applied the correct legal standard.
21   The bankruptcy court quoted the applicable portions of
22   Rule 9011(b), and cited In re Blue Pine Group, Inc., 448 B.R.
23   267, 271 (Bankr. D. Nev. 2010), affirmed in part and vacated in
24   part by In re Blue Pine Group, 526 F. App’x 768 (9th Cir. 2013),
25   Operating Engineers Pension Trust v. A-C Co., 859 F.2d 1336, 1344
26   (9th Cir. 1988), Larez v. Holcomb, 16 F.3d 1513, 1522 (9th Cir.
27   1994), and Strom v. United States, 641 F.3d 1051, 1059 (9th Cir.
28   2011) for the propositions that:     (1) Rule 9011 sanctions are

                                      -6-
 1   reserved for exceptional cases and cases where the action is
 2   clearly frivolous, legally unreasonable, or without legal
 3   foundation, (2) the party to be sanctioned must have made an
 4   objectively reasonable investigation into the relevant law and
 5   facts, and (3) sanctions should not be levied against a party
 6   raising a novel issue of law when there is no case law to the
 7   contrary.   Rule 9011 is the applicable Rule, and the cases
 8   properly recite the Ninth Circuit law on the issuance of
 9   Rule 9011 sanctions.
10        The bankruptcy court did not abuse its discretion by ruling
11   as a matter of law that the Sanctions Motion could not be granted
12   because the Draft Sanctions Motion did not contain evidence.    The
13   bankruptcy court made no such ruling.
14        The bankruptcy court did discuss the lack of evidence
15   attached to the Draft Sanctions Motion in its oral ruling:    “the
16   [Draft Sanctions Motion] . . . did not contain any other exhibits
17   confirming that the debtors were the exclusive and direct payor
18   of the monies received by their counsel,” and “[t]here was no
19   affidavit evidence [when the Disgorgement Motion was filed] . . .
20   from debtors’ counsel and from Gail confirming that Gail had made
21   the payment directly to Mr. Burke as opposed to the payment
22   having been made directly by T[h]eresa to Mr. Burke.”   Nowhere in
23   the bankruptcy court’s oral ruling or its order denying the
24   Sanctions Motion, however, is there a statement that the lack of
25   evidence with the Draft Sanctions Motion doomed the Sanctions
26   Motion as a matter of law.   Rather, the oral ruling demonstrates
27   the bankruptcy court considered the lack of evidence as one
28   factor in assessing whether there was a sufficient inquiry into

                                     -7-
 1   the facts and an objectively reasonable basis to file the
 2   Disgorgement Motion.   The bankruptcy court denied the Sanctions
 3   Motion because, “[t]he Court on the record before it is satisfied
 4   that it was sufficiently unsettled, that it was objectively
 5   reasonable for the creditors’ attorney to take the position that
 6   they did in filing the motion that is the subject of the
 7   sanctions motion here.”
 8        The Greens’ larger point, that Holt and Mr. Howard III
 9   should have withdrawn the Disgorgement Motion after discovering
10   the indirect nature of the transfer of funds from Theresa to
11   Mr. Burke, does not give full credit to the arguments asserted in
12   the Disgorgement Motion and the Disgorgement Reply.   The
13   Appellees argued that even the indirect transfer of funds from
14   Theresa was a fact that needed to be disclosed to satisfy
15   § 329(a) and Rule 2016.
16        There is no binding Ninth Circuit law providing that counsel
17   need not disclose the indirect transfer of funds from a third
18   party insider used to pay a bankruptcy attorney’s retainer.    The
19   requirements for disclosure under § 329(a) and Rule 2016 are
20   broad and determined on a case-by-case basis.   Neben & Starrett,
21   Inc. v. Chartwell Fin. Corp. (In re Park-Helena Corp.), 63 F.3d
22   877 (9th Cir. 1995).   “The duty is one of complete disclosure of
23   all facts.”   Id. at 881, quoting In re Plaza Hotel Corp.,
24   111 B.R. 882, 883 (Bankr. E.D. Cal. 1990).   The applicant “must
25   disclose the precise nature of the fee arrangement, and not
26   simply identify the ultimate owner of the funds.”   Id. (internal
27   quotations omitted).
28        Without binding Ninth Circuit law to the contrary, the

                                     -8-
 1   Appellees’ argument that the indirect transfer of funds from
 2   Theresa to Mr. Burke should have been disclosed is not legally
 3   frivolous, and the bankruptcy court did not abuse its discretion
 4   when it declined to sanction the Appellees.    Because there is a
 5   legally non-frivolous argument that the indirect transfer of
 6   funds should have been disclosed, the Greens’ argument that the
 7   Appellees should have expended more time investigating whether
 8   the $7,500 was transferred directly from Theresa to Mr. Burke or
 9   indirectly from Theresa to Mr. Burke through Gail fails as well.4
10   If Theresa should have been disclosed as the ultimate “source” of
11   the funds regardless of how they were transferred from Theresa to
12   Mr. Burke, then the issue of whether the funds were transferred
13   directly or indirectly is not dispositive.
14        The Appellees argue that Mr. Barney, Mr. Howard III and Holt
15   should not be sanctioned because they did not “present” an
16   argument to the bankruptcy court under Rule 9011(b).    These
17   arguments were briefed and discussed at oral argument before the
18   bankruptcy court.    The bankruptcy court, however, did not clearly
19   rule on whether Mr. Barney, Mr. Howard III and Holt would have
20   been subject to Rule 9011 sanctions if it had decided to award
21   them.    The bankruptcy court did not need to rule on that issue
22   since it determined there was no sanctionable conduct.    Because
23   the bankruptcy court did not explicitly rule on the issue and its
24   resolution is not necessary to our disposition of this appeal, we
25   decline to rule on it as well.
26
          4
27          As the bankruptcy court noted in its oral ruling, further
     investigation of the direct versus indirect payment issue was
28   complicated by Theresa’s death prior to the Meeting of Creditors.

                                      -9-
 1                              CONCLUSION
 2        The bankruptcy court indicated it was a “close” call or
 3   question on four occasions in its oral ruling.   Regardless, the
 4   bankruptcy court identified the correct legal standard and
 5   neither its application of that standard nor its factual findings
 6   were illogical, implausible or without support in the record.
 7   Accordingly, the bankruptcy court did not abuse its discretion in
 8   denying the Sanctions Motion, and we AFFIRM.
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