Court Opinion

ID: 52392
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-26 01:15:25+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:58:22.779568
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                    FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
                                                                     United States Court of Appeals
                                                                              Fifth Circuit
                                                                           F I L E D
                                     No. 06-10620                        September 26, 2007
                                   Summary Calendar
                                                                       Charles R. Fulbruge III
                                                                               Clerk
In Re: JOHN C BAUM; LINDA D BAUM

                                                  Debtors

JOHN C BAUM

                                                  Appellant

v.

UNITED STATES TRUSTEE

                                                  Appellee

                    Appeal from the United States District Court
                   for the Northern District of Texas, San Angelo
                                  No. 6:05-CV-76

Before JOLLY, DENNIS, and PRADO, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*

       *
         Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.
R. 47.5.4.
                                         No. 06-10620

       Appellant John C. Baum (“Baum”) appeals the district court’s order
affirming the bankruptcy court’s judgment denying Baum’s discharge under 11
U.S.C. §§ 727(a)(2) and 727(a)(4). Finding no reversible error, we affirm.
                   I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
A.     Factual Background
       Baum and his companies, Baum Construction Company and Baum
Construction Company, Inc., had an extensive lending history with First
Coleman National Bank (“FCNB”). Baum entered into security agreements with
FCNB covering all of Baum’s assets, including his 392-acre ranch, most of his
personal property, company equipment and vehicles, fixtures, and his livestock,
including twenty-nine specifically identified horses.
       Baum defaulted on his loans, and on November 4, 2003, he filed a joint
petition for Chapter 11 bankruptcy with his wife, Linda Baum. On December
15, 2003, the bankruptcy court converted the case to a Chapter 7 proceeding.
       Pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code, the Baums were required to file
schedules of their assets and liabilities and a statement of financial affairs
(“SOFA”). See 11 U.S.C. § 521(a). On January 10, 2004, after a series of delays
and extensions, Baum and his wife filed their schedules and SOFA.1 The Baums
filed amended schedules and SOFAs on January 29, 2004, and May 5, 2004.
       On April 2, 2004, the United States Trustee (“Trustee”) filed a complaint
objecting to the discharge of Baum under 11 U.S.C. § 727(a).2 The Trustee
alleged, inter alia, that Baum fraudulently concealed and transferred property
of the estate in violation of § 727(a)(2), and that Baum knowingly and
fraudulently made a false oath in violation of § 727(a)(4).

       1
           Excuses for the delays varied but generally related to the Baums’ inability to retain
counsel.
       2
         The Trustee did not object to Linda Baum’s discharge, and she was discharged on
April 5, 2005.

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                                     No. 06-10620

        At the bankruptcy trial, the Trustee introduced testimony from numerous
witnesses on Baum’s pre- and post-petition transactions. The following are some
of the specific transactions that ultimately led the bankruptcy court to deny
Baum’s discharge under § 727(a).
        1.   Pre-Petition Transactions
             a.    Diamond Tennis Bracelet
        Several years before the Baums filed for bankruptcy, James Keith Neal,
a friend of Baum’s and the owner of three pawnshops, facilitated Baum’s
purchase of a diamond tennis bracelet from Ed Aleman for approximately $4000
to $5000. For one reason or another, Linda Baum gave the bracelet to Baum’s
mother, Joan Billings. At the bankruptcy trial, Billings testified that she gave
the bracelet back to Baum in September or October of 2003 when she realized
that the Baums were having financial difficulties. Billings further testified that
she intended for Baum to sell the bracelet since his family “needed some money.”
        In November 2003, the same month that Baum filed for bankruptcy, Baum
contacted Neal about reselling the bracelet. Neal testified that he contacted
Aleman about purchasing the bracelet. Neal stated that after Aleman told him
that he would be interesting in getting the bracelet back, Neal purchased the
bracelet from Baum on behalf of Aleman for approximately $2000 to $3000 in
cash.
        Baum failed to note this transaction on both his schedules and SOFA. At
trial, Dick Harris, an attorney who had attended the first meeting of the
creditors, testified that Baum was asked about the sale of the tennis bracelet at
the meeting. According to Harris, Baum replied that he had sold some jewelry
that had been given to him by relatives but that the jewelry was not his.
             b.    .45 Colt Pistol
        Testimony at trial indicated that Baum sold a .45 Colt pistol to James
Keith Neal at the same time he sold Neal the diamond bracelet. Neal testified

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                                  No. 06-10620

at trial that in November 2003, he purchased a .45 Colt pistol from Baum for
$500 in cash. While Baum did not dispute that he sold the gun to Neal, Baum
testified that the .45 Colt pistol belonged to his eleven-year-old son.
      Although Baum’s schedules show that he sold two shotguns and a rifle to
James Keith Neal for $600, they do not indicate that Baum sold a .45 Colt
handgun for $500 to Neal in the year before he filed for bankruptcy. In addition,
Baum’s SOFA does not reference any specific firearms that he was purportedly
holding for others, including his son.
      2.    Post-Petition Transactions
            a.    Preifert Portable Arena
      On December 16, 2003, the bankruptcy court granted FCNB’s motion for
relief from the stay, which permitted FCNB to collect and foreclose on its
collateral. Agents of FCNB attempted to enter Baum’s property on December
18, 2003, but were refused. After obtaining a writ of sequestration from the
state district court in Coleman County, representatives of FCNB and the
Coleman County sheriff’s office arrived at Baum’s ranch on January 5, 2004, and
seized FCNB’s collateral, including a number of horses and personal property.
      On January 5, 2004, FCNB representatives noted the presence of a
Preifert portable arena on the property but did not seize the arena at that time.
FCNB foreclosed on the ranch on January 6, 2004, but failed to take possession
until February 11, 2004. When FCNB representatives arrived on February 11,
2004, they found that the arena was no longer on the property. FCNB later
found the portable arena in the possession of Baum’s friend, John Curtis.
      Baum’s original schedules, filed on January 10, 2004, indicate that he was
the owner of the Preifert portable arena. On January 29, 2004, however, Baum
amended his schedules to indicate that his friend, Russell Johnson, owned the
arena. At the bankruptcy trial, Johnson testified that he did not own the arena,
but that Baum had tried to give him the arena sometime in 2003 as payment for

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                                      No. 06-10620

a favor he had performed for Baum. Johnson testified, however, that he declined
Baum’s offer and never took possession or control of the arena.
       In his trial testimony, Baum denied that he removed the arena from his
property. Baum testified, however, that he was aware that his friend, John
Curtis, was going to remove the arena from the ranch, but that he never gave
Curtis permission to do so. Curtis’s deposition testimony contradicted Baum’s
story; Curtis testified that Baum asked him to remove the arena and store it for
Johnson, which he agreed to do. Curtis testified that he later surrendered the
arena to FCNB.
              b.     Damaged Guardrails
       Mason Cullins, an agent of Pine Street Salvage, testified in his deposition
that on February 20, 2004, which was after FCNB had foreclosed on Baum’s
property, Baum permitted Cullins to enter Baum’s former ranch and remove
damaged guardrails from the property.                  The Trustee learned of this
unauthorized sale of estate property and intercepted a check from Pine Street
Salvage in the amount of $532.40 for the scrap value of the guardrails.
       Baum’s schedules and SOFA do not list any inventory of used guardrails.
At trial, Baum denied his involvement in this transaction.
B.     Procedural History
       On April 5, 2005, the bankruptcy court denied Baum’s discharge under
§ 727(a). The bankruptcy court found that Baum, with the requisite fraudulent
intent, concealed his ownership of and allowed to be transferred post-petition the
portable arena and the damaged guardrails, in violation of § 727(a)(2). The
bankruptcy court also found that Baum knowingly and fraudulently failed to
disclose his pre-petition transfer of the diamond tennis bracelet and the .45 Colt
handgun, in violation of § 727(a)(4).3

       3
       The bankruptcy court made other findings of fact and conclusions of law concerning
Baum’s pre-petition and post-petition transfer of property. We need not reach these findings,

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                                       No. 06-10620

       The district court affirmed the bankruptcy court, concluding that the
bankruptcy court’s findings were not clearly erroneous. Baum now appeals,
disputing the underlying factual findings that the bankruptcy court used in
denying his discharge. Baum also argues that the Trustee failed to prove by a
preponderance of the evidence that he concealed and transferred property post-
petition with the requisite fraudulent intent, in violation of § 727(a)(2), or that
he made a false oath with the requisite intent, in violation of § 727(a)(4). This
court has jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 158(d) and § 1291.
                           II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
       This court applies the same standard of review as the district court when
reviewing the decision of the bankruptcy court. See Nesco Acceptance Corp. v.
Jay (In re Jay), 432 F.3d 323, 325 (5th Cir. 2005). “‘We review the bankruptcy
court’s findings of fact for clear error and its conclusions of law de novo.’”
Robertson v. Dennis (In re Dennis), 330 F.3d 696, 701 (5th Cir. 2003) (quoting
Gamble v. Gamble (In re Gamble), 143 F.3d 223, 225 (5th Cir. 1998)). “A finding
of fact is clearly erroneous only if ‘on the entire evidence, the court is left with
the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed.’”
Id. (quoting Hibernia Nat’l Bank v. Perez (In re Perez), 954 F.2d 1026, 1027 (5th
Cir. 1992)); see Webb v. Reserve Life Ins. Co. (In re Webb), 954 F.2d 1102, 1104
(5th Cir. 1992). Strict application of the clearly erroneous rule is necessary
when, as here, the district court affirmed the bankruptcy court’s findings of fact.
Butler Aviation Int’l, Inc. v. Whyte (In re Fairchild Aircraft Corp.), 6 F.3d 1119,
1128 (5th Cir. 1993).
       In addition, when the bankruptcy court’s findings of fact are based on
determinations regarding the credibility of witnesses, they should be awarded
even greater deference. In re Webb, 954 F.2d at 1106; see FED. R. BANKR. P. 8013

however, because we conclude that the grounds listed below are more than sufficient to affirm.

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                                   No. 06-10620

(“[D]ue regard shall be given to the opportunity of the bankruptcy court to judge
the credibility of the witnesses.”).      “We will not attempt to reassess the
credibility of witnesses whom we have not had the opportunity to see on the
stand.” Tex. Mortgage Servs. Corp. v. Guadalupe Sav. & Loan Ass’n (In re Tex.
Mortgage Servs. Corp.), 761 F.2d 1068, 1078 (5th Cir. 1985).
                               III. DISCUSSION
A.    Violations of 11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(2)
      The bankruptcy court shall not grant a discharge under Chapter 7 if
      the debtor, with intent to hinder, delay, or defraud a creditor or an
      officer of the estate charged with custody of property under this
      title, has transferred, removed, destroyed, mutilated, or concealed,
      or has permitted to be transferred, removed, destroyed, mutilated,
      or concealed . . . property of the debtor, within one year before the
      date of the filing of the petition; or . . . property of the estate, after
      the date of the filing of the petition.

11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(2)(A)-(B). The bankruptcy court’s determination that a debtor
had the requisite intent is a factual finding, which we must review under the
clear error standard. In re Dennis, 330 F.3d at 701. “Actual intent . . . may be
inferred from the actions of the debtor and may be proven by circumstantial
evidence.” Pavy v. Chastant (In re Chastant), 873 F.2d 89, 91 (5th Cir. 1989).
Factors that tend to evidence actual intent to defraud include:
      (1) the lack or inadequacy of consideration; (2) the family, friendship
      or close associate relationship between the parties; (3) the retention
      of possession, benefit or use of the property in question; (4) the
      financial condition of the party sought to be charged both before and
      after the transaction in question; (5) the existence or cumulative
      effect of the pattern or series of transactions or course of conduct
      after the incurring of debt, onset of financial difficulties, or
      pendency or threat of suits by creditors; and (6) the general
      chronology of the events and transactions under inquiry.

Id. (quoting Fox v. Schmit (In re Schmit), 71 B.R. 587, 590 (Bankr. D. Minn.
1987)).

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                                 No. 06-10620

      After reviewing the record, we conclude that the bankruptcy court did not
err in denying Baum’s discharge under § 727(a)(2). The evidence before the
bankruptcy court indicated that Baum owned the portable arena, that Baum
attempted to conceal his ownership of the arena by claiming that it belonged to
Russell Johnson, that Baum asked and permitted John Curtis to remove the
arena after he filed for bankruptcy, and that Baum committed these actions with
the requisite fraudulent intent. Although Baum maintains that he gave the
arena to Russell Johnson, the bankruptcy court found Johnson’s and Curtis’s
testimony, which refuted Baum’s story, more credible than that of Baum. As
stated above, we give great deference to the bankruptcy court’s findings of fact
that are based on determinations regarding the credibility of witnesses. See In
re Webb, 954 F.2d at 1106. Because Baum has not shown error, clear or
otherwise, we will not reverse the bankruptcy court’s findings and conclusions
of law regarding the portable arena.
      We reach the same conclusion on the damaged guardrails. There was
sufficient evidence before the bankruptcy court that Baum allowed the post-
petition removal of damaged guardrails with the intent to defraud his creditors
or the estate. The damaged guardrails became property of the estate once the
Baums filed for bankruptcy. The bankruptcy court found that Baum’s failure to
consult with the Trustee or any other party in interest before disposing of the
guardrails evidenced Baum’s intent to hinder, delay, and defraud creditors and
the estate.   On appeal, Baum has failed to show that these findings and
conclusions were in error. Accordingly, we affirm.
B.    Violations of 11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(4)
      Alternatively, we conclude that there was sufficient evidence to bar
Baum’s discharge under § 727(a)(4). Under that section, the bankruptcy court
shall not grant the debtor a discharge if “the debtor knowingly and fraudulently,
or in connection with the case . . . made a false oath or account.” 11 U.S.C.

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                                    No. 06-10620

§ 727(a)(4)(A). Stated differently, the debtor’s discharge may be denied if the
debtor makes a false oath in connection with his bankruptcy filings. Cadle Co.
v. Pratt (In re Pratt), 411 F.3d 561, 566 (5th Cir. 2005). “An omission of an asset
can constitute a false oath.” Id.
      Based on our review of the record, the bankruptcy court did not err in
finding that Baum sold a diamond tennis bracelet and a .45 Colt pistol in the
year before he filed for bankruptcy and did not report these transactions on his
schedules or SOFA. The record evidence shows that Baum knowingly and
fraudulently failed to disclose the sale of these items on his schedules or SOFA.
Although Baum argues that he was not the owner of either item, the evidence
indicates otherwise. Moreover, to the extent the bankruptcy court credited other
witnesses’ testimony over Baum’s in concluding that Baum in fact owned these
items, we will not disturb the bankruptcy court’s credibility determinations on
appeal. See In re Tex. Mortgage Servs. Corp., 761 F.2d at 1078. Accordingly,
Baum’s failure to disclose the sale of the bracelet and the .45 Colt handgun on
his schedules and SOFA resulted in him making a false oath in violation of
§ 727(a)(4). Cf. In re Pratt, 411 F.3d at 566.
      Because any of the grounds we have addressed here are more than
sufficient to affirm the judgment, we do not find it necessary to discuss each
alleged point of error raised by Baum. Consequently, we affirm.
                              IV. CONCLUSION
      For the reasons stated above, the judgment is AFFIRMED.

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