Court Opinion

ID: 799371
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2012-05-07 15:10:19+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:59:48.918404
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                           FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
                                   ___________

                                   No. 11-2147
                                   ___________

In re: Douglas R. Edwards;                     *
Saundra S. Edwards,                            *
                                               *
               Debtors,                        *
                                               *
-------------------------------------------    *
                                               *
Douglas R. Edwards;                            *
Saundra S. Edwards,                            *
                                               *
               Appellants,                     *
                                               * Appeal from the United States
        v.                                     * Bankruptcy Appellate Panel
                                               * for the Eighth Circuit.
R.G. Edmondson, Trustee of the                 *
Jewell Edmondson Testamentary Trust, *                  [UNPUBLISHED]
                                               *
               Appellee.                       *
                                          ___________

                             Submitted: May 4, 2012
                                Filed: May 7, 2012
                                 ___________

Before MURPHY, ARNOLD, and SHEPHERD, Circuit Judges.
                          ___________

PER CURIAM.
      Douglas and Saundra Edwards (Debtors) appeal the decision of the Bankruptcy
Appellate Panel (BAP) affirming the bankruptcy court’s1 order allowing the claim of
R.G. Edmondson, Trustee of the Jewell Edmondson Testamentary Trust.

       Having carefully reviewed the bankruptcy court’s factual findings for clear
error and its conclusions of law de novo, we find no error in the bankruptcy court’s
determination of the claim. See In re Vote, 276 F.3d 1024, 1026 (8th Cir. 2002)
(standards of review). As to Debtors’ new arguments about the calculation of the
claim amount, we decline to consider them in view of Debtors’ decision not to testify
or present any evidence in the bankruptcy court. See First Bank Investors’ Trust v.
Tarkio Coll., 129 F.3d 471, 476-77 (8th Cir. 1997) (appellate court ordinarily will not
consider issues not presented to bankruptcy court in first instance). Likewise, we
conclude that the BAP did not deny Debtors due process of law by declining to
consider new arguments and exhibits not presented to the bankruptcy court. Finally,
we note that Debtors’ claim that their attorney engaged in malpractice does not
provide a basis for relief. See Watson v. Moss, 619 F.2d 775, 776 (8th Cir. 1980)
(per curiam) (party to civil action does not have any right to new trial on basis that
his retained counsel’s representation was inadequate; remedy is suit against attorney
for malpractice).

     Accordingly we affirm. See 8th Cir. R. 47B. We also deny the pending
motions.
                   ______________________________

      1
      The Honorable Jerry W. Venters, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the
Western District of Missouri.

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