Court Opinion

ID: 2982446
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-22 20:20:03.627454+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:44:28.705209
License: Public Domain

By order of the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel, the precedential effect
                 of this decision is limited to the case and parties pursuant to 6th
                 Cir. BAP LBR 8013-1(b). See also 6th Cir. BAP LBR 8010-1(c).

                                     File Name: 14b0005n.06

               BANKRUPTCY APPELLATE PANEL OF THE SIXTH CIRCUIT

In re:                                              )
COLLEEN RENEE TRUDEL,                               )
                                                    )
Debtor.                                             )
 ______________________________________             )
                                                    )
COLLEEN RENEE TRUDEL,                               )
                                                    )     No. 13-8049
    Plaintiff - Appellant,                          )
                                                    )
                                                    )
          v.                                        )
                                                    )
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF                         )
EDUCATION, et al.,                                  )
                                                    )
   Defendants - Appellees.                          )
                                                    )
______________________________________              )

                        Appeal from the United States Bankruptcy Court
                               for the Northern District of Ohio
                                       Case No. 12-5269

                               Decided and Filed: August 8, 2014

   Before: HUMPHREY, LLOYD, AND PRESTON, Bankruptcy Appellate Panel Judges.
                          ____________________

                                         COUNSEL
                                    ____________________

ON BRIEF: Erin E. Brizius, UNITED STATES ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, Cleveland, Ohio, James
L. Bickett, UNITED STATES ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, Akron, Ohio, for Federal Appellee. Scott
W. Paris, KEITH D. WEINER & ASSOCIATES CO., LPA, Cleveland, Ohio, for Appellee
University of Akron. Colleen Renee Trudel, Uniontown, Ohio, pro se.

                                     ___________________

                                           OPINION
                                     ____________________

       JOAN A. LLOYD, Bankruptcy Appellate Panel Judge. Plaintiff-Debtor Colleen Renee
Trudel (the “Debtor”) appeals, pro se, the October 28, 2013 order of the Bankruptcy Court for the
Northern District of Ohio (the “Bankruptcy Court”) determining that the Debtor was not entitled
to an undue hardship discharge of her student loans under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(8). For the reasons
that follow, the Panel affirms the Bankruptcy Court’s order.

                                             ISSUES

       In this Appeal, the Panel must consider whether the Debtor’s student loans are eligible for
discharge under the “undue hardship” standard of 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(8).

                      JURISDICTION AND STANDARD OF REVIEW

       The United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio has authorized appeals
to the Panel, and no party has timely elected to have this appeal heard by the district court.
28 U.S.C. § 158(b)(6), (c)(1). A final order of the bankruptcy court may be appealed as of right
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 158(a)(1). For purposes of appeal, a final order “ends the litigation on the
merits and leaves nothing for the court to do but execute the judgment.” Midland Asphalt Corp.
v. United States, 489 U.S. 794, 798, 109 S. Ct. 1494, 1497 (1989) (citations omitted).
“Determinations of dischargeability are final orders for purposes of appeal.” Lowry v. Nicodemus
(In re Nicodemus), 497 B.R. 852, 854 (B.A.P. 6th Cir. 2013) (citing Cash Am. Fin. Servs., Inc. v.
Fox (In re Fox), 370 B.R. 104, 109 (B.A.P. 6th Cir. 2007)).

                                                 2
       Dischargeability determinations, such as whether student loans pose an undue hardship, are
conclusions of law reviewed de novo.1 Cheesman v. Tennessee Student Assistance Corp. (In re
Cheesman), 25 F.3d 356, 359 (6th Cir. 1994); Hogan v. George (In re George), 485 B.R. 478, 2013
WL 135274, at *1 (B.A.P. 6th Cir. 2013) (table). Under a de novo standard of review, the appellate
court determines the law at issue “ ‘independently of, and without deference to, the trial court's
determination.’ ” Palmer v. Washington Mut. Bank (In re Ritchie), 416 B.R. 638, 641 (B.A.P. 6th
Cir. 2009) (quoting Gen. Elec. Credit Equities, Inc. v. Brice Rd. Devs., L.L.C. (In re Brice Rd.
Devs., L.L.C.), 392 B.R. 274, 278 (B.A.P. 6th Cir. 2008)). However, “[t]he Panel must affirm the
underlying factual determinations unless they are clearly erroneous.” Hart v. Molino (In re
Molino), 225 B.R. 904, 906 (B.A.P. 6th Cir. 1998). “[A] finding is clearly erroneous when
although there is evidence to support it, the reviewing court on the entire evidence is left with the
definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed.” Anderson v. City of Bessemer
City, 470 U.S. 564, 573, 105 S. Ct. 1504, 1511 (1985) (citation omitted) (internal quotation marks
omitted). “If two views of the evidence in a case are permissible, the choice between those views
made by the fact finder is not clearly erroneous.” Michigan v. City of Allen Park, 954 F.2d 1201,
1213 (6th Cir. 1992) (citing United States v. Yellow Cab Co., 338 U.S. 338, 342, 70 S. Ct. 177, 179
(1949)).

                                              FACTS

       The Debtor, a fifty-five year old single woman, filed a voluntary chapter 7 bankruptcy
petition on June 15, 2012. In Schedule F of her petition, the Debtor listed debts of $129,518.91 for

       1
         Cases from this circuit do not state the standard of review for each prong explicitly, but do
discuss existence or absence of clear error, apparently treating each prong as a finding of fact. See,
e.g., Hertzel v. Educ. Credit Mgmt. Corp. (In re Hertzel), 329 B.R. 221, 234 (B.A.P. 6th Cir. 2005)
(“The bankruptcy court’s finding that the Debtor met the good faith prong of the Brunner test is also
not clearly erroneous.”). The Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel has delved into the prong-
by-prong standard of review question and stated another position: “[T]he three independent prongs
are [] mixed questions” of law and fact “requiring de novo review” on appeal. Roth v. Educ. Credit
Mgmt. Corp. (In re Roth), 490 B.R. 908, 916 (B.A.P. 9th Cir. 2013). In this case, the distinction
between these standards of review makes no difference as to the result.
                                                    3
educational loans.2 The Debtor incurred these loans (the “Student Loans”), while attending the
University of Akron between 1988 and 1996, from the United States Department of Education
(“USDOE”) and the University of Akron (collectively, the “Creditors”). The Student Loans have
been in default since 1996.

       On October 3, 2012, the Debtor, pro se, initiated the underlying adversary proceeding
against the Creditors requesting an undue hardship discharge of the Student Loans under 11 U.S.C.
§ 523(a)(8). The Creditors answered the Debtor’s complaint, and the parties completed discovery
and stipulated to the admissibility of employment and medical records submitted by the Debtor.
Prior to trial, the Debtor submitted a lengthy Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law,
in which she described a history of medical problems and unsuccessful educational and professional
endeavors. The Creditors submitted several exhibits of their own. The case went to trial on May
20, 2013. At the trial, the Bankruptcy Court heard testimony from the Debtor’s mother, Betty
Daugherty, and the Debtor’s son, Daniel Trudel. 3

       The USDOE and the Debtor also filed post-trial briefs that addressed the Debtor’s
obligations under the USDOE’s Income Contingent Repayment Program (the “ICRP”).4 The

       2
       There is some discrepancy in the filings as to whether this amount is correct. The exact
amount is immaterial to the resolution of this appeal.

       3
         The Record on Appeal does not contain a transcript of the trial. According to the Debtor’s
Reply Brief, she “could not afford the $698.00 required for transcripts of the Trial.” Appellant’s
Reply Br. at 10, March 3, 2014, ECF No. 23.

       4
           As understood by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals:
       The Income Contingent Repayment Program permits a student loan debtor to pay
       twenty percent of the difference between his adjusted gross income and the poverty
       level for his family size, or the amount the debtor would pay if the debt were repaid
       in twelve years, whichever is less. Under the program, the borrower’s monthly
       repayment amount is adjusted each year to reflect any changes in these factors. The
       borrower’s repayments may also be adjusted during the year based on special
       circumstances. See 34 C.F.R. § 685.209(c)(3). At the end of the twenty five year
       payment period, any remaining loan balance would be cancelled by the Secretary of
       Education. However, the amount discharged would be considered taxable income.
                                                  4
USDOE claimed that the Debtor’s medical co-pays could be considered in computing her required
monthly payments if she were to enter into the ICRP. Post-Trial Brief of the United States of
America, June 11, 2013, ECF No. 24, at 7. The Debtor responded that her monthly ICRP payments
would amount to $53.00 or less. She arrived at this figure using her salary from a thirty-two hour
work week. She also contended that her medical co-pays might not be taken into account should
she enroll.

       On October 28, 2013, the Bankruptcy Court issued a Memorandum Opinion in which it
determined that the Debtor was not entitled to a discharge of her educational loans. The
Bankruptcy Court first listed a number of findings of fact, as follows:

       1. Plaintiff-debtor, through counsel, filed a voluntary chapter 7 bankruptcy petition
       on June 15, 2012.

       2. On her Schedule E - Creditors Holding Unsecured Priority Claims, plaintiff-debtor
       lists $24,000 in taxes. On her Schedule F - Creditors Holding Unsecured Nonpriority
       Claims, plaintiff-debtor lists $248,059.16, including $129,518.91 for educational
       loans. Debtor does not list any real property on her Schedule A and no secured debts
       on her Schedule D.

       3. Plaintiff-debtor is obligated to the USDOE for educational obligations in an
       amount between $106,595.88 and $130,000.00. Plaintiff-debtor is also obligated to
       the University of Akron for educational obligations in an amount between $13,000.00
       and $24,352.54. (The obligations to the USDOE and the University of Akron will be
       collectively referred to as the “Student Loans”). The Student Loans were incurred by
       plaintiff-debtor in attending the University of Akron. Plaintiff-debtor did not receive
       a degree from the University of Akron.

       4. Plaintiff-debtor has never made any voluntary payments on her Student Loans. The
       only payments received by the United States came from income tax refund intercepts.

       5. Plaintiff-debtor is 54 years old and employed as a Credit/Merchandise Specialist
       for Sterling, Inc. (“Sterling”).

Tirch v. Pa. Higher Educ. Assistance Agency (In re Tirch), 409 F.3d 677, 682 (6th Cir. 2005)
(quoting Korhonen v. Educ. Credit Mgmt. Corp. (In re Korhonen), 296 B.R. 492, 496 (Bankr. D.
Minn. 2003)).
                                            5
       6. Plaintiff-debtor has no dependents.

       7. Plaintiff-debtor is paid $12.65 per hour plus overtime, when applicable. Plaintiff-
       debtor earned $19,680.08 from Sterling in 2012.

       8. Plaintiff-debtor lives in a rented residence and resides there with her son and
       mother. On her Amended Schedule J - Current Expenditures of Individual Debtor(s),
       plaintiff-debtor reports $600.00 for monthly rent.

       9. During trial plaintiff-debtor’s mother testified that monthly rent for their residence
       was $750.00 and that she contributes to the rent in an unspecified amount. Plaintiff-
       debtor’s son testified that he also contributes $400 per month in rent. Mr. Trudell
       [sic] also testified that it was his intention to move from Ohio so there is a possibility
       that his contribution to rent will not continue in the future.

       10. Plaintiff-debtor suffers from several medical conditions including chronic
       bronchitis and the beginning stages of emphysema. Plaintiff-debtor also suffers from
       chronic neck and back pain.

       11. In the opinion of her treating physician, plaintiff-debtor is not permanently
       disabled, is able to perform her job functions at Sterling, is capable of working 4 days
       a week for 8 hours each day and will not be incapacitated for a single continuous
       period of time due to her medical condition, including any time for treatment and
       recovery. USDOE Ex. C and D.

       12. The treating physician also opined that it will be medically necessary for plaintiff-
       debtor to be absent from work during “flare-ups” in her medical condition, that such
       “flare-ups” would likely occur one time every six months and would last for 3 to 4
       days per episode. USDOE Ex. C.

       13. Despite suffering from chronic bronchitis and the beginning stages of
       emphysema, plaintiff-debtor still occasionally smokes cigarettes.

       14. The United States offered plaintiff-debtor a discharge from the one time income
       tax responsibility arising from a loan forgiveness at the conclusion of an ICRP.
       Plaintiff-debtor refused this offer and chose not to participate in an ICRP because of
       her concern that enrolling in the program could impair her ability to obtain future
       credit.

Mem. Op. at 4-6, Trudel v. United States Dep’t of Educ. Adv Proc. No. 12-05269 (Bankr. N.D. Ohio
October 28, 2013), ECF No. 29 (footnotes omitted). The same day, the Bankruptcy Court entered
a judgment finding that the Debtor was not entitled to an undue hardship discharge.

                                                   6
       The Bankruptcy Court did not make any finding of fact as to whether the Debtor would be
able to earn a higher income in the future. According to the Bankruptcy Court, “[t]here was no
evidence at trial regarding whether any more lucrative employment opportunities were available to
plaintiff-debtor at Sterling or whether, in her current position, plaintiff-debtor could expect to earn
more than her current hourly rate.” Mem. Op. at 10, ECF No. 29. Similarly, the Bankruptcy Court
made no finding of fact as to what the Debtor would have to pay every month were she to enroll in
the ICRP. The Bankruptcy Court described the issue of the Debtor’s monthly ICRP payments as
follows:

       During closing arguments, plaintiff-debtor asserted that she would be obligated to
       pay at least $54 per month under the ICRP. Given that such assertion was not
       supported by any evidence, the Court left the record open to allow all parties to file
       post-trial briefs to address the issue . . . . In her post-trial pleading plaintiff-debtor
       references her Exhibit 20 as evidence of an obligation to pay $54 per month. That
       document consists of 6 pages of what appear to be plaintiff-debtor’s calculations of
       what she might have to pay under various repayment programs offered by the United
       States. No direct testimony on this exhibit was offered at trial and the Court does not
       find it probative on the matter of what, if anything, plaintiff-debtor would be
       obligated to pay under the ICRP.

Mem. Op. at 12 n.4, ECF No. 29.

       After setting forth its findings of fact, the Bankruptcy Court discussed the undue hardship
standard for the discharge of student loans and applied the three-part Brunner test to the Debtor’s
case. Under the Brunner test, a debtor must prove three elements in order to qualify for an undue
hardship discharge of educational loans. Brunner v. New York State Higher Educ. Serv. Corp., 831
F.2d 395, 396 (2d Cir. 1987). The Bankruptcy Court concluded that the Debtor had not satisfied all
three prongs of the test. The court found she had satisfied the first “minimal standard of living”
prong but had failed to satisfy the second “additional circumstances” and the third “good faith”
prongs of the Brunner test. The Debtor filed a timely Notice of Appeal on November 8, 2013.

                                                   7
                                           DISCUSSION

       The Bankruptcy Code is especially exacting with regard to the repayment of student loans
made, insured, or guaranteed by a governmental unit. Section 523(a)(8) of the Bankruptcy Code
makes such student loan debt nondischargeable in bankruptcy, unless excepting the debt from
discharge “would impose an undue hardship on the debtor and the debtor’s dependents[.]” 11 U.S.C.
§ 523(a)(8).

       The Bankruptcy Code does not define precisely what “undue hardship” means. Instead, the
case law has developed tests that provide that definition. The test employed by the majority of
courts, including the Sixth Circuit, is the Brunner test. See Oyler v. Educ. Credit Mgmt. Corp. (In
re Oyler), 397 F.3d 382, 385 (6th Cir. 2005) (adopting Brunner test in the Sixth Circuit). Under the
Brunner test, a debtor must prove the following three elements in order to qualify for an undue
hardship discharge of educational loans:

       (1) that the debtor cannot maintain, based on current income and expenses, a
       “minimal” standard of living for herself and her dependents if forced to repay the
       loans; (2) that additional circumstances exist indicating that this state of affairs is
       likely to persist for a significant portion of the repayment period of the student loans;
       and (3) that the debtor has made good faith efforts to repay the loans.

Brunner, 831 F.2d at 396. “It is the debtor’s burden to establish the existence of each of these
elements by a preponderance of the evidence.” Grant v. United States Dep’t of Educ. (In re Grant),
398 B.R. 205, 209 (Bankr. N.D. Ohio 2008) (citing Pa. Higher Educ. Assistance Agency v. Faish
(In re Faish), 72 F.3d 298, 306 (3d Cir. 1996)).

       Neither party has challenged the Bankruptcy Court’s finding that the Debtor satisfied the first
prong of the Brunner test.      Accordingly, the Panel will focus on the second, “additional
circumstances,” and the third, “good faith” prongs.

                                                   8
        a.      Additional Circumstances

        Under the second prong of the Brunner test, a debtor who has proven that she cannot
maintain a minimal standard of living if forced to repay her student loans must show “that additional
circumstances exist indicating that this state of affairs is likely to persist . . . .” Brunner, 831 F.2d
at 396. Such additional circumstances “may include, but are not limited to, ‘illness, disability, a lack
of useable job skills, or the existence of a large number of dependents.’ ” Barrett v. Educ. Credit
Mgmt. Corp. (In re Barrett), 487 F.3d 353, 359 (6th Cir. 2007) (citing Oyler v. Educ. Credit Mgmt.
Corp., 397 F.3d 382, 385 (6th Cir. 2005)). The circumstances at issue must have such a damaging
impact on the debtor’s earning capacity or financial condition that they indicate a “certainty of
hopelessness, not merely a present inability to fulfill financial commitment.” Oyler, 397 F.3d at 386
(quoting In re Roberson, 999 F.2d 1132, 1136 (7th Cir. 1993)).

        A debtor claiming that a medical condition indicates a “certainty of hopelessness” must
“precisely identify her problems and explain how her condition would impair her ability to work in
the future.” Tirch v. Pa. Higher Educ. Assistance Agency (In re Tirch), 409 F.3d 677, 681 (6th Cir.
2005). “[T]he mere existence of a medical condition, no matter the severity, is insufficient to form
the basis of [an] undue hardship discharge. Instead, a strong nexus between the medical condition
and its adverse effect on the debtor’s terms of employment (specifically, a debtor’s income) must
be shown.” Morrow v. U.S. Dep’t of Educ. (In re Morrow), 366 B.R. 774, 778 (Bankr. N.D. Ohio
2007) (citing Swinney v. Academic Fin. Servs. (In re Swinney), 266 B.R. 800, 805 (Bankr. N.D. Ohio
2001). Furthermore, while corroborating expert testimony is not necessarily required, Barrett, 487
F.3d at 361, a debtor must still provide probative evidence as to the nexus between her condition and
her inability to earn enough income to pay off her loan:

        To establish a nexus, mere speculation will not suffice; for everyone, there exists a
        possibility that a medical condition will arise that will adversely affect a person’s
        terms of employment. Rather, a debtor must come forth with evidence showing that
        they presently have a medical condition sufficiently debilitating to affect their ability
        to maintain employment, and that such a condition is unlikely to improve.

                                                   9
Lowe v. ECMC (In re Lowe), 321 B.R. 852, 859 (Bankr. N.D. Ohio 2004) (internal citations
omitted).

       The Debtor failed to persuade the Bankruptcy Court that her medical conditions were severe
enough to satisfy the “additional circumstances” prong of the Brunner test. According to the
Bankruptcy Court, “the evidence presented at trial demonstrates that [the Debtor’s medical
conditions] do not prevent her from performing her job functions at Sterling.” Mem. Op. at 9, ECF
No. 29. The Court explained its view of the Debtor’s medical condition as follows:

       Plaintiff-debtor’s evidence goes to support her subjective lay opinion that she suffers
       from medical conditions that impair her ability to work. However, such evidence
       must be weighted against the opinion of the plaintiff-debtor’s treating physician
       which concludes that plaintiff-debtor’s medical conditions do not impair her ability
       to work, see USDOE Ex. C and D. In so doing, the Court cannot find that plaintiff-
       debtor’s evidence outweighs that of her treating physician.

Mem. Op. at 10, ECF No. 29. Noting an absence of evidence regarding whether the Debtor could
obtain more lucrative employment, the Bankruptcy Court went on to state that “[w]hile it is true that
plaintiff-debtor’s present income is insufficient to enable her to pay the Student Loans and still
maintain a minimal standard of living, the Court has not been presented with enough evidence to
warrant finding a ‘certainty of hopelessness.’ ” Mem. Op. at 10, ECF No. 29.

       The Debtor takes issue with the Bankruptcy Court’s factual finding that her medical
conditions do not prevent her from working. According to the Debtor, the Bankruptcy Court gave
excessive weight to evidence that supported the conclusion that she could work, while failing to
consider evidence that supported the opposite conclusion. A review of the record, however,
indicates that the Bankruptcy Court did not commit clear error in finding as it did.

       The evidence cited by the Bankruptcy Court consists of two exhibits filed by the USDOE.
One is a U.S. Department of Labor form entitled “Certification of Health Care Provider for
Employee’s Serious Health Condition Family and Medical Leave Act,” dated January 30, 2013.
USDOE Ex. C, Dec. 18, 2013, ECF NO. 43-1. The other is a Sterling Jewelers, Inc. form entitled

                                                 10
“Attending Physician’s Statement Workplace Restrictions/Accommodations” (the “Statement of
Workplace Restrictions”), also dated January 30, 2013. USDOE Ex. D, Dec. 18, 2013, ECF No. 43-
1. In both of these documents, doctors treating the Debtor state that the Debtor can work for eight
hours a day, four days a week. The Statement of Workplace Restrictions describes the work
restriction as temporary, to last until May 15, 2013.

       The Debtor argues that the Bankruptcy Court overlooked other evidence that, she claims,
supports the conclusion that her medical conditions impair her ability to work and constitute
“additional circumstances” under Brunner. The Debtor cites (1) various medical records and test
results describing the severity and degenerative nature of her conditions; (2) a collection of her pay-
stubs dating from between December 2012 and March 2013 that allegedly show her failing to
maintain a thirty-two hour work week due to her medical conditions; and (3) a “Symptom Journal”
dating from between November 2012 and April 2013 in which the Debtor recorded her daily
incidents of pain and stress, including those instances when pain and stress forced her to leave work.
These documents do not undercut the evidence relied upon by the Bankruptcy Court. The medical
records and test results cited by the Debtor contain a wealth of information regarding the nature and
severity of her ailments, but none contain statements contradicting or differing from the medical
opinion contained in the USDOE’s exhibits: that the debtor can work, albeit with a temporary thirty-
two hour week restriction. As for the pay-stub collection and Symptom Journal, these exhibits might
support a finding that the Debtor’s conditions impaired her ability to work, but neither contains the
opinion of a medical professional and are not entitled to more weight than the USDOE’s doctor-
prepared exhibits. Given its discretion as the fact-finder, the Bankruptcy Court did not clearly err
when it relied upon the USDOE’s exhibits to find that the Debtor’s conditions did not prevent her
from working. See Michigan v. City of Allen Park, 954 F.2d 1201, 1213 (6th Cir. 1992) (“If two
views of the evidence in a case are permissible, the choice between those views made by the fact
finder is not clearly erroneous.”).

                                                  11
       The Debtor also disputes the Bankruptcy Court’s finding that there was no evidence that her
conditions precluded her from obtaining more lucrative employment. She claims that the facts of
her medical condition, age, educational attainment, and work history constitute just such evidence.
According to the Debtor, these facts support the conclusion that her “future employment prospects
are limited and advancement highly unlikely.” Appellant’s Br. at 20, ECF No. 15.

       The Bankruptcy Court’s view of the evidence on this issue was not mistaken. The record
does not contain documents or testimony relating to whether or not the Debtor could earn a higher
salary at Sterling or some other employer. The Debtor did not present evidence, for example, that
her health, age, or educational attainment level precluded her from advancing within Sterling or
obtaining employment elsewhere. Student-loan debtors may present such evidence in undue
hardship cases, allowing courts to make findings as to the limits of a debtor’s earning potential. See,
e.g., Nixon v. Key Educ. Res. (In re Nixon), 453 B.R. 311, 321 (Bankr. S.D. Ohio 2011) (“The
highest salary [debtor] could possibly earn given his educational background and experience would
be as a librarian . . . making approximately $40,000 annually.”); Lebovits v. Chase Manhattan Bank
(In re Lebovits), 223 B.R. 265, 269 (Bankr. E.D.N.Y. 1998) (stating that debtor “is currently
commanding the highest salary that he can expect to earn” and that debtor “has no expectations of
pay raises other than cost-of-living adjustments”). Though the Debtor presented evidence of her age,
background, and health conditions, she did not present evidence that explained how her
circumstances affected her earning potential.

       To prove “additional circumstances,” the Debtor had to establish that her medical issues
precluded her from improving her financial condition. Instead, the evidence showed that her
conditions allowed her to continue working, albeit at a temporarily reduced schedule. And no
evidence was presented regarding her potential future income. Therefore, the Panel agrees with the
Bankruptcy Court’s conclusion that the Debtor failed the “additional circumstances” prong of the
Brunner test.

                                                  12
       b.      Good Faith

       The third prong of the Brunner test requires that the debtor show that she has made a good
faith effort to repay her student loans. Brunner, 831 F.2d at 396. “Good faith, in this context, is
essentially an inquiry into whether the debtor has consciously or irresponsibly disregarded his or her
repayment obligation—or, instead, whether there is some justification for the debtor’s default and
ongoing inability to repay the loan.” Crawley v. Educ. Credit Mgmt. Corp. (In re Crawley), 460
B.R. 421, 444 (Bankr. E.D. Pa. 2011). Courts consider a number of factors to determine good faith,
including the debtor’s repayment history and her efforts to obtain employment, maximize income,
minimize expenses, and participate in alternative repayment programs, though no single factor is
dispositive. See, e.g., Benjumen v. AES/Charter Bank (In re Benjumen), 408 B.R. 9, 21-22 (Bankr.
E.D. N.Y. 2009). See also Hertzel v. Educ. Credit Mgmt. Corp. (In re Hertzel), 329 B.R. 221, 233-34
(B.A.P. 6th Cir. 2005) (quoting Norasteh v. Dept. of Educ. (In re Norasteh), 311 B.R. 671, 676
(Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2004)).

       “[I]nherent in any good-faith analysis under the third prong of the Brunner test is whether
and the extent to which the debtor actually made any voluntary payments on the obligation.” Grant,
398 B.R. at 213 (citing Morrow v. U.S. Dep’t of Educ. (In re Morrow), 366 B.R. 774, 779 (Bankr.
N.D. Ohio 2007)). Similarly, participation in an income sensitive repayment program, like the ICRP,
is “probative of [the debtor’s] intent to repay her loans.” Tirch, 409 F.3d at 682.

       Debtors who fail to make voluntary payments or enroll in a repayment program can still
prove good faith. To do so, however, they need a probative explanation for their behavior. For
example, courts have excused the failure to make voluntary payments if a debtor has applied for or
obtained deferments to avoid default. See Barrett v. Educ. Credit Mgmt. Corp. (In re Barrett), 487
F.3d 353, 365-66 (6th Cir. 2007) (debtor obtained deferments). See also Cekic-Torres v. Access
Grove, Inc. (In re Cekic-Torres), 431 B.R. 785, 795 (Bankr. N.D. Ohio 2010) (debtor obtained a
deferment and attempted to obtain an extension of the deferment, but was denied). Likewise, courts
have excused the failure to enroll in a repayment program in a number of scenarios. In Barrett, the
Court of Appeals excused the debtor’s non-enrollment based on the debtor’s explanation that
                                           13
enrolling in the ICRP could potentially result in burdensome tax liability upon the conclusion of the
program. 487 F.3d at 365. In Hertzel, this court excused a debtor’s failure to enroll in the ICRP
where the debtor “was told she could not qualify . . . because her loans were in default” and “[d]ebtor
was not given any assistance or information on how to make herself eligible for the program.”
329 B.R. at 234.

       None of these explanations in the above cases are applicable to the Debtor. The Debtor has
gone almost two decades without obtaining or applying for deferments. Tax liability should be no
concern to her: the USDOE has offered her a discharge of any tax liability that may arise at the end
of the repayment program. Her rationale for refusing to participate in the ICRP is that it would harm
her ability to obtain credit, but this excuse is “insufficient for rejecting a program that would allow
[the Debtor] to fulfill her loan obligations in a more reasonable and manageable way.” Robinson v.
Educ. Credit Mgmt. Corp. (In re Robinson), 416 B.R. 275, 282 (Bankr. E.D. Va. 2009).

       The Debtor cites cases in which courts refused to force debtors into repayment programs on
the grounds that participation would be futile or meaningless. Indeed, in a number of cases, courts
concluded that the debtor’s circumstances were so desperate that participation in a repayment
program would fail to result in “any meaningful repayment of the debt.” Balaski v. Educ. Credit
Mgmt. Corp. (In re Balaski), 280 B.R. 395, 400 (Bankr. N.D. Ohio 2002). See also, e.g., Roth v.
Educ. Credit Mgmt. Corp. (In re Roth), 490 B.R. 908, 919-20 (B.A.P. 9th Cir. 2013) (“Given
[debtor’s monthly plan payment of zero, and likelihood that payment would never increase], we
conclude that [d]ebtor’s refusal to participate in the IBRP should not be weighed against her . . . .”).
But in these cases, courts deciding the good faith question had already concluded that the debtors
had satisfied the second “additional circumstances” prong of the Brunner test; the debtors had
proven that their circumstances were highly unlikely to ever improve. This case presents the
opposite scenario: The Debtor has failed the second Brunner prong and thus, at least in the view of
the Bankruptcy Code as interpreted in this circuit, she can still hope for improved income and
meaningful repayment in the future.

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          Given the Debtor’s failure to make voluntary payments, enroll in the ICRP, or satisfy the
additional circumstances prong of the Brunner test, the Panel will affirm the Bankruptcy Court’s
conclusion that the Debtor failed to prove that she made a good faith effort to repay her student
loans.5

                                          CONCLUSION

          Based on the foregoing, Panel AFFIRMS the Bankruptcy Court’s judgment and order
determining the Debtor’s student loans to be non-dischargeable.

          5
         The Debtor also complains that the Bankruptcy Court erred when it stated that her ICRP
calculations, contained in her Exhibit 20, were not probative of what her payments would be if she
were to enroll in the program. It is unclear based on the record whether Exhibit 20 was actually
admitted, because the Debtor did not provide a trial transcript, but, regardless, it does not assist the
Debtor. Exhibit 20 consists of some notes by the Debtor and screen shots of the repayment plan
calculators located at the government student aid website. (http://studentaid.gov/repay-
loans/understand/plans). The Bankruptcy Court considered this evidence and found it not probative.
Admissions of evidence and determinations of relevancy are reviewed for an abuse of discretion.
United States v. Phillips, 888 F.2d 38, 40-41 (6th Cir.1989). In order for a future monthly ICRP
payment calculation to be accurate, there must first be an accurate determination of the Debtor’s
income going forward. Unfortunately, this first step did not occur. The Debtor based her ICRP
calculations on income from a thirty-two hour work week that at least one of her doctors described
as a temporary restriction. The Court had already concluded in its “additional circumstances”
analysis that the Debtor might improve her financial condition in the future. Given the uncertainty
about her income going forward, the Bankruptcy Court’s statement with regard to the Debtor’s ICRP
calculations was not clear error or an abuse of discretion.
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