Court Opinion

ID: 4212373
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-10-18 00:01:19.815746+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:41:29.837686
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                OCT 17 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 1                         NOT FOR PUBLICATION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.      MT-17-1085-FBKu
                                   )
 6   JOHN PATRICK STOKES,          )      Bk. No.      2:16-bk-60720-JDP
                                   )
 7                  Debtor.        )
     _____________________________ )
 8                                 )
     JOHN PATRICK STOKES,          )
 9                                 )
                    Appellant,     )
10                                 )
     v.                            )      MEMORANDUM*
11                                 )
     ROBERT G. DRUMMOND,           )
12   Chapter 13 Trustee,           )
                                   )
13                  Appellee.      )
     ______________________________)
14
                   Argued and Submitted on September 28, 2017
15                           at Seattle, Washington
16                          Filed – October 17, 2017
17               Appeal from the United States Bankruptcy Court
                           for the District of Montana
18
              Honorable Jim D. Pappas, Bankruptcy Judge, Presiding
19
20   Appearances:     Appellant John Patrick Stokes argued pro se;
                      Appellee Robert G. Drummond, Chapter 13 Trustee,
21                    argued pro se.
22
     Before: FARIS, BRAND, and KURTZ, 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, see
28   9th Cir. BAP Rule 8024-1.
 1                              INTRODUCTION
 2        Chapter 131 debtor John Patrick Stokes appeals from the
 3   bankruptcy court’s orders dismissing his case, denying his motion
 4   to vacate the dismissal, and denying his motion for
 5   reconsideration.   Because Mr. Stokes did not timely file his
 6   motion to vacate or motion for reconsideration, our appellate
 7   jurisdiction is limited to a review of the denial of
 8   reconsideration.   We discern no error and AFFIRM.
 9                           FACTUAL BACKGROUND2
10        On July 15, 2016, Mr. Stokes filed a chapter 13 petition in
11   the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Montana to
12   halt a foreclosure of his real property.      That same day, the
13   bankruptcy court issued the required Notice of Chapter 13
14   Bankruptcy Case (“Notice”).   The top of the second page of the
15   Notice stated: “Meeting of creditors.     Debtors must attend the
16   meeting to be questioned under oath.”     The Notice provided in
17   bold that the meeting of creditors would be held on August 11,
18   2016 at 2:00 p.m. in Kalispell, Montana.      The Notice was sent by
19   first class mail to Mr. Stokes’ address in Big Fork, Montana.
20
21        1
            Unless specified otherwise, all chapter and section
22   references are to the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. §§ 101-1532,
     all “Rule” references are to the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy
23   Procedure, and all “Civil Rule” references are to the Federal
     Rules of Civil Procedure.
24
          2
            Mr. Stokes fails to offer a complete record on appeal and
25   only provides a list of document names and a few unfile-marked
26   documents. Fortunately, the appellee presents comprehensive
     excerpts of record. We also take judicial notice of the
27   bankruptcy court’s electronic docket. See Atwood v. Chase
     Manhattan Mortg. Co. (In re Atwood), 293 B.R. 227, 233 n.9 (9th
28   Cir. BAP 2003).

                                      2
 1        Prior to the meeting of creditors, Appellee Richard G.
 2   Drummond, Chapter 13 Trustee (“Trustee”), filed a motion to
 3   dismiss based on Mr. Stokes’ failure to file all of his tax
 4   returns.    The court set a hearing for the motion to dismiss on
 5   September 15.
 6        Mr. Stokes did not appear at the meeting of creditors on
 7   August 11.    The next day, the Trustee filed a notice of
 8   Mr. Stokes’ failure to appear and requested dismissal pursuant to
 9   Local Bankruptcy Rule 2003-7.3    That same day, the bankruptcy
10   court issued an order dismissing the case.    Both the Trustee’s
11   request and the order were sent to Mr. Stokes’ address of record
12   via first class mail.
13        On August 23, the Trustee filed his Final Report and
14   Account.    The bankruptcy court closed the case on August 30.
15        On November 4, Mr. Stokes filed a motion to reopen his
16   chapter 13 case.    He stated that he “accidentally missed” the
17   August 11 meeting of creditors because he believed that the
18
19        3
              LBR 2003-7 provides, in relevant part:
20
               If a debtor fails to appear at the meeting of
21        creditors scheduled pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 341(a), the
          case may be dismissed or converted by the Court upon
22
          notification by the trustee or the U.S. Trustee of
23        debtor’s failure to appear (See Mont. LBF 7 and 7-A),
          unless the debtor or the debtor’s attorney filed an
24        application for continuance not later than fourteen
          (14) days prior to the scheduled creditors’ meeting, as
25        required under Mont. LBR 2003-4 above, and such
26        application was granted by the U.S. Trustee. Failure
          to timely file an application for continuance may
27        result in the case being dismissed or converted, unless
          the trustee or other party in interest requests that
28        the case remain open or in the present chapter.

                                       3
 1   September 15 hearing on the Trustee’s motion to dismiss “took
 2   precedence, Debtor was wrong.”    He represented that he did not
 3   find out that his case was dismissed until late August or early
 4   September.    The bankruptcy court granted the motion and reopened
 5   Mr. Stokes’ chapter 13 case.
 6        On November 18, Mr. Stokes filed a Motion to Vacate
 7   Dismissal (“Motion to Vacate”).    He did not address the order
 8   dismissing his case or his failure to attend the meeting of
 9   creditors but instead argued that three creditors had committed
10   mortgage fraud in attempting to foreclose on his property.    He
11   requested that the court vacate the dismissal so that he could
12   collect on judgments against those creditors to bring funds into
13   the estate.
14        In his reply brief, Mr. Stokes addressed the dismissal,
15   stating, “Stokes absolutely made a mistake.    A fatal but
16   correctable mistake.    Stokes falsely believed that the creditors
17   meeting was postponed and Debtor completely put it out of his
18   mind.”   He also attacked the Trustee, claiming that the Trustee
19   misled him by offering assistance without mentioning the upcoming
20   meeting of creditors.
21        The bankruptcy court held a hearing on the Motion to Vacate.
22   Mr. Stokes briefly addressed the grounds for the Motion to
23   Vacate, stating that he was preoccupied with preparing for the
24   hearing on the motion to dismiss, yet for the first time also
25   stated contradictorily that he “just forgot” about the meeting of
26   creditors.    He repeated his arguments that the creditors had
27   committed mortgage fraud with the Trustee’s assistance.
28        The bankruptcy court then placed him under oath, asked

                                       4
 1   questions, and permitted opposing counsel to cross-examine him.
 2   Mr. Stokes admitted that he had filed two prior bankruptcy cases
 3   and that his wife had filed for bankruptcy once, so he was aware
 4   of bankruptcy procedure, including the meeting of creditors.
 5   When the questions and answers veered off to the underlying
 6   dispute between the parties and the alleged mortgage fraud, the
 7   court interrupted the parties and informed them that it was only
 8   concerned with the dismissal for Mr. Stokes’ failure to attend
 9   the meeting of creditors.
10        The bankruptcy court issued its memorandum of decision on
11   January 9, 2017, holding that Mr. Stokes was not entitled to
12   relief under either Civil Rule 59 or 60.
13        Over fourteen days later, on January 26, Mr. Stokes filed a
14   motion for reconsideration of the denial of the Motion to Vacate
15   (“Motion for Reconsideration”).   This time, he represented that
16   he had simply forgotten to attend the meeting of creditors:
17   “Stokes completely made the case for a ‘mistake’ as it truly was.
18   Forgetting is a mistake.”
19        He also accused the Trustee of colluding with creditors to
20   deny him access to the courts, fabricate evidence and false
21   proofs of claim, and advance the creditors’ interests.    He said
22   that he had “newly discovered [evidence] . . . that Trustee
23   Drummond was working hand in glove with First American to
24   facilitate dismissal and trustee sale.”    He also generally
25   represented that he had evidence that the proofs of claim were
26   fraudulent.
27        On January 30, without a hearing, the bankruptcy court
28   issued an order denying the Motion for Reconsideration for all of

                                       5
 1   the reasons given in its order denying the Motion to Vacate.
 2        On February 13, Mr. Stokes filed a notice of appeal from the
 3   bankruptcy court’s orders (1) dismissing the case, (2) denying
 4   the Motion to Vacate, and (3) denying the Motion for
 5   Reconsideration.
 6                               JURISDICTION
 7        The bankruptcy court had jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
 8   §§ 1334 and 157(b)(1).   Subject to our discussion below, we have
 9   jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 158.
10                                  ISSUE
11        Whether the bankruptcy court abused its discretion in
12   denying the Motion for Reconsideration.
13                            STANDARD OF REVIEW
14        We review for abuse of discretion a bankruptcy court’s
15   denial of a motion for reconsideration.    See Ahanchian v. Xenon
16   Pictures, Inc., 624 F.3d 1253, 1258 (9th Cir. 2010); Tennant v.
17   Rojas (In re Tennant), 318 B.R. 860, 866 (9th Cir. BAP 2004).
18        To determine whether the bankruptcy court has abused its
19   discretion, we conduct a two-step inquiry: (1) we review de novo
20   whether the bankruptcy court “identified the correct legal rule
21   to apply to the relief requested” and (2) if it did, whether the
22   bankruptcy court’s application of the legal standard was
23   illogical, implausible, or without support in inferences that may
24   be drawn from the facts in the record.     United States v. Hinkson,
25   585 F.3d 1247, 1262–63 & n.21 (9th Cir. 2009) (en banc).    “If the
26   bankruptcy court did not identify the correct legal rule, or its
27   application of the correct legal standard to the facts was
28   illogical, implausible, or without support in inferences that may

                                      6
 1   be drawn from the facts in the record, then the bankruptcy court
 2   has abused its discretion.”    USAA Fed. Sav. Bank v. Thacker
 3   (In re Taylor), 599 F.3d 880, 887–88 (9th Cir. 2010) (citing
 4   Hinkson, 585 F.3d at 1261–62).
 5                                 DISCUSSION
 6   A.   The scope of this appeal is limited to the Motion for
          Reconsideration.
 7
 8        As an initial matter, we must consider whether we have
 9   jurisdiction to review the orders on appeal.    “The untimely
10   filing of a notice of appeal deprives us of jurisdiction.”
11   Charlie Y., Inc. v. Carey (In re Carey), 446 B.R. 384, 389
12   (9th Cir. BAP 2011) (citations omitted); see Samson v. W. Capital
13   Partners, LLC (In re Blixseth), 684 F.3d 865, 869 (9th Cir.
14   2012).
15        An appeal from a final bankruptcy court order must be filed
16   within fourteen days of entry of the order.    See Rule 8002(a).
17   The deadline for filing an appeal is mandatory and
18   jurisdictional.   See Browder v. Director, Dep’t of Corrections,
19   434 U.S. 257, 264 (1978); Slimick v. Silva (In re Slimick),
20   928 F.2d 304, 306 (9th Cir. 1990).
21        Rule 8002(b) tolls the time for filing an appeal if a party
22   files a motion to alter or amend the judgment under Rule 9023 or
23   a motion for relief under Rule 9024 within fourteen days after
24   the judgment is entered.   Rule 8002(b)(1)(B), (D).   An untimely
25   motion for reconsideration will not extend the time to file a
26   notice of appeal.   Preblich v. Battley, 181 F.3d 1048, 1057 (9th
27   Cir. 1999); see Pryor v. B Squared, Inc. (In re B Squared, Inc.),
28   654 F. App’x 268, 269 (9th Cir. 2016) (“To the extent that

                                       7
 1   [debtor] challenges the underlying dismissal order, we lack
 2   jurisdiction over that decision because [debtor] did not timely
 3   appeal from it, and the late-filed motion for reconsideration did
 4   not toll the time for filing the appeal.”).
 5        The bankruptcy court’s August 12, 2016 dismissal order was a
 6   final, appealable order.   See Neary v. Padilla (In re Padilla),
 7   222 F.3d 1184, 1188 (9th Cir. 2000) (stating that a “bankruptcy
 8   court’s order dismissing [a debtor’s] bankruptcy petition is a
 9   final order”).   Mr. Stokes did not file a notice of appeal or
10   tolling motion within fourteen days.    Thus, he cannot appeal the
11   dismissal order.4   See Rule 8002(a).
12        The January 9, 2017 order denying the Motion to Vacate was
13   also a final, appealable order.   See Mason v. Integrity Ins. Co.
14   (In re Mason), 709 F.2d 1313, 1315 (9th Cir. 1983) (“Orders
15   denying relief on [motions to vacate] are generally considered to
16   be final and appealable.”).   Mr. Stokes did not file a notice of
17   appeal or tolling motion within fourteen days.   Rather, he filed
18   his Motion for Reconsideration seventeen days later on
19   January 26.   Thus, the Motion for Reconsideration did not toll
20   the time to file an appeal from the order denying the Motion to
21   Vacate, and we lack jurisdiction to consider any argument on
22   appeal relating to the Motion to Vacate.
23        Mr. Stokes filed a timely notice of appeal within fourteen
24   days of the January 30 order denying the Motion for
25
          4
26          We express no opinion as to the propriety of the local
     rule allowing the ex parte dismissal of a debtor’s bankruptcy
27   case for failure to appear at a § 341 meeting of creditors. We
     do not have jurisdiction to review the dismissal order, and
28   Mr. Stokes did not raise this issue.

                                       8
 1   Reconsideration.   Thus, the scope of this appeal is limited to
 2   the order denying the Motion for Reconsideration.
 3   B.   The bankruptcy court did not err in denying the Motion for
          Reconsideration.
 4
 5        Mr. Stokes’ only viable argument on appeal is that the
 6   bankruptcy court abused its discretion in denying his Motion for
 7   Reconsideration.   Although he lists fifteen issues on appeal, he
 8   makes only two arguments: (1) he repeats his original argument
 9   (rejected by the bankruptcy court) that he made a mistake and
10   forgot to (or did not think he had to) attend the § 341(a)
11   meeting of creditors, and (2) he claims that the Trustee colluded
12   with certain creditors to “harm Stokes and make him homeless.”
13   We discern no reversible error.5
14        We examine Mr. Stokes’ arguments under Civil Rule 60(b).
15   See Am. Ironworks & Erectors, Inc. v. N. Am. Constr. Corp.,
16   248 F.3d 892, 898-99 (9th Cir. 2001) (“A ‘motion for
17   reconsideration’ is treated as a motion to alter or amend
18   judgment under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59(e) if it is
19   filed within [fourteen] days of entry of judgment.   Otherwise, it
20   is treated as a [Civil] Rule 60(b) motion for relief from a
21   judgment or order.” (citation omitted)).   Civil Rule 60(b)
22   provides:
23        On motion and just terms, the court may relieve a party
          or its legal representative from a final judgment,
24
25        5
            Following oral argument and submission of this case,
26   Mr. Stokes filed a supplemental document entitled “Appellant[’]s
     Clarified Answer to Judge Farris [sic] on Oral Argument
27   September 28, 2017. Judicial Notice of Prejudice Upon Remand.”
     The Panel will not consider his unauthorized supplemental filing.
28   See Rule 8018(a)(3).

                                        9
 1        order, or proceeding for the following reasons:
 2               (1) mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable
                 neglect;
 3
                 (2) newly discovered evidence that, with
 4               reasonable diligence, could not have been
                 discovered in time to move for a new trial under
 5               Rule 59(b);
 6               (3) fraud (whether previously called intrinsic or
                 extrinsic), misrepresentation, or misconduct by an
 7               opposing party;
 8               (4) the judgment is void;
 9               (5) the judgment has been satisfied, released or
                 discharged; it is based on an earlier judgment
10               that has been reversed or vacated; or applying it
                 prospectively is no longer equitable; or
11
                 (6) any other reason that justifies relief.
12
13   Civil Rule 60(b)(1)-(6).    We construe his arguments liberally.
14   Kashani v. Fulton (In re Kashani), 190 B.R. 875, 883 (9th Cir.
15   BAP 1995).
16        Regarding his failure to attend the meeting of creditors,
17   Mr. Stokes merely repeated the contradictory arguments raised in
18   the Motion to Vacate: he was aware of the meeting of creditors,
19   but thought another hearing took precedence and the meeting was
20   postponed; or he just forgot to appear.    The bankruptcy court has
21   wide latitude to determine whether a particular “mistake”
22   justifies relief under Civil Rule 60(b)(1).    See Navajo Nation v.
23   Confederated Tribes & Bands of the Yakama Indian Nation, 331 F.3d
24   1041, 1046 (9th Cir. 2003) (“Whether or not to grant
25   reconsideration is committed to the sound discretion of the
26   court.”).    The bankruptcy court had already rejected these
27   arguments when it denied the Motion to Vacate, and Mr. Stokes did
28   not present the bankruptcy court with any compelling reason to

                                       10
 1   reconsider that decision.   See Agostini v. Felton, 521 U.S. 203,
 2   257 (1997) (stating that “relitigation of the legal or factual
 3   claims underlying the original judgment is not permitted in a
 4   Rule 60(b) motion or an appeal therefrom”).
 5        Mr. Stokes contends that the Trustee and certain creditors
 6   committed fraud or misconduct.   If we afford these arguments a
 7   liberal interpretation, they might invoke Civil Rule 60(b)(3).
 8   “[T]he moving party must prove by clear and convincing evidence
 9   that the verdict was obtained through fraud, misrepresentation,
10   or other misconduct and the conduct complained of prevented the
11   losing party from fully and fairly presenting the defense. . . .
12   [The] fraud . . . [must] not be discoverable by due diligence
13   before or during the proceedings.”    Casey v. Albertson’s Inc.,
14   362 F.3d 1254, 1260 (9th Cir. 2004) (internal citations omitted).
15        But these arguments concern supposed misconduct arising from
16   the underlying dispute and sale of his property, not anything
17   connected to the dismissal of his chapter 13 case or the Motion
18   to Vacate.   See Pac. & Arctic Ry. & Nav. Co. v. United Transp.
19   Union, 952 F.2d 1144, 1148 (9th Cir. 1991) (stating that, under
20   Civil Rule 60(b)(3), the fraud must “be materially related to the
21   submitted issue”).   In any event, Mr. Stokes offered only
22   conjecture and unsupported speculation that the Trustee was
23   “working hand in glove” with the creditors to perpetuate fraud.
24   The bankruptcy court did not err in rejecting these arguments.
25        On appeal, Mr. Stokes expands on his unsupported claims
26
27
28

                                      11
 1   concerning the alleged fraud and misconduct.6    These are new
 2   arguments not substantively raised before the bankruptcy court,
 3   so we will not consider them.   See Yamada v. Nobel Biocare
 4   Holding AG, 825 F.3d 536, 543 (9th Cir. 2016).    Further, these
 5   arguments are not relevant to the reconsideration of the order
 6   denying the Motion to Vacate, but rather concern the underlying
 7   collection dispute between the parties.7
 8                              CONCLUSION
 9        The bankruptcy court did not abuse its discretion in denying
10   the Motion for Reconsideration.    Accordingly, we AFFIRM.
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22        6
            The majority of the argument in Mr. Stokes’ opening brief
23   consists of a cut-and-pasted treatise or handbook on a chapter 13
     trustee’s duties. He does not provide any other authority
24   supporting his position.
25        7
            Mr. Stokes argues that we must strike the Trustee’s
26   answering brief because he did not sign and date it. While he is
     correct that the Trustee did not affix his signature at the end
27   of the brief, the Trustee’s electronic signature appears on the
     second page of the document, which contains the certification
28   required by BAP Rule 8015(a)-1. This signature is sufficient.

                                       12