Court Opinion

ID: 4192668
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-08-03 17:02:07.655704+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:24:06.868427
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                              NOV 01 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 1                         NOT FOR PUBLICATION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-15-1427-LDoKi
                                     )
 6   RANDALL BESSLER and             )    Bk. No. 14-51963-btb
     DENISE BESSLER,                 )
 7                                   )    Adv. Pro. No. 15-05014-btb
                      Debtors.       )
 8                                   )
                                     )
 9   RALPH G. MERRILL,               )
                                     )
10                    Appellant,     )
                                     )
11   v.                              )    M E M O R A N D U M*
                                     )
12   RANDALL M. BESSLER,             )
                                     )
13                    Appellee.      )
                                     )
14
                        Submitted Without Oral Argument
15                             on October 21, 2016
16                          Filed - November 1, 2106
17             Appeal from the United States Bankruptcy Court
                         for the District of Nevada
18
       Honorable Bruce T. Beesley, Chief Bankruptcy Judge, Presiding
19                        ________________________
20   Appearances:     Appellant Ralph G. Merrill, pro se on brief;
                      Appellee Randall M. Bessler, pro se on brief
21                          ________________________
22   Before: LAFFERTY, DORE,** and KIRSCHER, Bankruptcy Judges.
23
24
          *
             This disposition is not appropriate for publication.
25   Although it may be cited for whatever persuasive value it may
26   have (see Fed. R. App. P. 32.1), it has no precedential value.
     See 9th Cir. BAP Rule 8024-1.
27
          **
             Hon. Timothy W. Dore, United States Bankruptcy Judge for
28   the Western District of Washington, sitting by designation.
 1                              I. INTRODUCTION
 2        The bankruptcy court dismissed Appellant-Plaintiff Ralph
 3   Merrill’s adversary proceeding for failure to prosecute after
 4   Merrill failed to appear at a continued status conference.     On
 5   appeal, Merrill, who is pro se, argues that he misunderstood the
 6   court’s instructions regarding the timing of the status
 7   conference relative to a yet-to-be scheduled settlement
 8   conference.
 9        Because the record1 reveals no basis for a finding of
10   unreasonable delay or prejudice to defendant, and no apparent
11   consideration of less drastic sanctions, we find that the
12   bankruptcy court abused its discretion in dismissing the
13   adversary proceeding.    We therefore VACATE and REMAND.
14                           II. FACTUAL BACKGROUND
15        On February 27, 2015, Appellant Ralph Merrill filed an
16   adversary complaint against Appellee-Debtor Randall Bessler.
17   Merrill alleged that Bessler was an antique firearms dealer, that
18   Merrill had consigned to Bessler several firearms, including a
19   rare .45 caliber German Luger pistol, and that Bessler had sold
20   the Luger and 40 other consigned firearms without Merrill’s
21   knowledge or authority and failed to turn over the proceeds.     The
22   complaint purported to plead three claims: conversion, breach of
23   contract, and breach of fiduciary duty.      Merrill alleged damages
24
25        1
             Not all the documents referred to in this Memorandum were
26   included in the parties’ excerpts of record. To the extent
     necessary, we take judicial notice of pleadings filed by both
27   parties in the adversary proceeding. Atwood v. Chase Manhattan
     Mortg. Co. (In re Atwood), 293 B.R. 227, 233 n.9 (9th Cir. BAP
28   2003).

                                      -2-
 1   of $763,000.    In the prayer for relief, Merrill requested a
 2   finding that the debt be found nondischargeable but did not
 3   designate a specific subsection of § 523(a).2
 4        Bessler filed an answer denying the allegations.
 5   Thereafter, on May 14, 2015, Merrill filed a motion for summary
 6   judgment and request for an order to show cause why Bessler
 7   should not be held in contempt for making false statements to the
 8   court.    Merrill did not set the matter for a hearing.
 9        The bankruptcy court set a scheduling conference for June 2,
10   2015.    Merrill did not appear.3    On June 8, 2015, the bankruptcy
11   court issued an order to show cause why the adversary proceeding
12   should not be dismissed for failure to appear at the June 2
13   scheduling conference.    The matter was set for hearing on
14   July 29, 2015.    Merrill did not file a response to the order to
15   show cause, but he filed an application to appear by telephone at
16   the hearing.
17        On June 25, 2015, Bessler filed a motion to dismiss the
18   adversary proceeding and set it for hearing on the same date as
19   the continued scheduling conference.      Merrill filed a motion to
20
21        2
             Unless otherwise indicated, all chapter and section
22   references are to the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. §§ 101-1532.
     “Rule” references are to the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy
23   Procedure, and “Civil Rule” references are to the Federal Rules
     of Civil Procedure.
24
          3
             It is not clear why Merrill failed to appear for the
25   June 2 scheduling conference. The Notice of Scheduling
26   Conference was included with the summons issued March 2, 2015.
     The bankruptcy court docket indicates that the summons was served
27   on Bessler via the Bankruptcy Noticing Center on March 4, 2015,
     but there is no record of service of the summons/notice on
28   Merrill.

                                         -3-
 1   strike the pleading and, as noted, an application to appear
 2   telephonically at the July 29 hearing.
 3        On July 21, 2015, the bankruptcy court issued an order
 4   indicating that the July 29 hearing would be a status conference
 5   regarding the pending motion for summary judgment and motion to
 6   dismiss.   The order setting the status conference indicated that
 7   the parties could appear either in person or by telephone.
 8        At the July 29, 2015 hearing, Merrill appeared
 9   telephonically.   The bankruptcy court informed the parties that
10   after reading their pleadings, it intended to send them to a
11   settlement conference.   The court strongly encouraged Merrill to
12   settle, stating
13        I think it is highly unlikely from looking at this in
          the sort of not documented, confused state, various
14        conflicting representations. And I’m not suggesting
          that anyone is lying, but you have a long and
15        complicated relationship that had lots and lots and
          lots and lots of variables in it. And I will be
16        surprised if you can prove a dischargeability case. So
          I’m sending you to a settlement conference.
17
18   Hr’g Tr. (July 29, 2015) 5:8-17.
19        Merrill asked if he could respond, but the bankruptcy court
20   declined that request, informing Merrill that he could not
21   prosecute the adversary proceeding unless he appeared in person,
22   and that he should save his response for the settlement
23   conference.4   The bankruptcy court indicated that it would not
24
25        4
              The bankruptcy court stated:
26
               No. You are in my court, this is a status
27        conference. I wanted to tell you this. You asked to
          be allowed to appear. You are not allowed to prosecute
28                                                     (continued...)

                                     -4-
 1   set a trial date until after a settlement conference had
 2   occurred, and that the court would notify the parties of the date
 3   set for the settlement conference and the name of the settlement
 4   judge.   The court then stated that the status conference would be
 5   continued to December 2, 2015, but that if the case had settled
 6   before then Merrill would not be required to appear.   The court
 7   then stated: “If you’re doing anything else, you do have to be
 8   here.”   Id. 7:15-16.
 9        At the end of the hearing, Bessler informed the court that
10   Merrill was incarcerated and that he believed Merrill was being
11   released in March 2016.5   The court commented: “Okay. We'll set
12   the trial after that [if] we have to. . . .   I don’t know that I
13   realized that.”   Id. 9:6-7.
14        On August 6, 2015, the bankruptcy court issued a Notice of
15   Continued Status Hearing setting the status conference for
16   December 2, 2015.   The notice contains a notation that “[t]he
17   court’s hearing calendar for the date scheduled by this Notice
18
          4
19         (...continued)
          cases here if you are not here. So I’m not going to
20        hear you. I’m ordering you to a settlement conference.
          You can make your statements to the settlement judge.
21        Next time there is a hearing you need to be here. I
22        will not let you appear by telephone.

23   Hr’g Tr. 6:8-14. The record does not indicate the reason for the
     bankruptcy court’s apparent irritation with Merrill regarding his
24   telephonic appearance. As noted, the order setting the status
     conference explicitly permitted telephonic appearances.
25
          5
26           In Merrill’s response to the motions panel’s order
     requiring him to file a complete copy of the transcript, Merrill
27   alleges that he had hung up the telephone before Bessler informed
     the court of Merrill’s incarceration. Merrill states that he was
28   released from prison on November 20, 2015.

                                     -5-
 1   may be viewed at www.nvb.uscourts.gov up to five days before the
 2   scheduled hearing date to determine whether or not the hearing
 3   has been kept on calendar.”
 4        In late August and early September, Merrill and a deputy
 5   clerk for the bankruptcy court exchanged emails regarding the
 6   scheduling of the settlement conference.    Merrill included those
 7   emails in his excerpts of record, but the record does not reveal
 8   whether the bankruptcy court ever saw or considered any of that
 9   correspondence.   On August 24, 2015, the clerk sent Merrill an
10   email informing Merrill of available dates for a settlement
11   conference of November 2, 3, or 4, 2015.    The clerk requested
12   Merrill inform him which dates and times would suit his schedule
13   and stated that he was transmitting the same information to
14   Bessler, and that once the parties agreed on a date and time, a
15   scheduling order would be issued.     On August 31, 2015, the clerk
16   sent a follow-up email asking for a response no later than
17   September 4, 2015.
18        On September 4, 2015, Merrill replied to the clerk’s email
19   as follows:
20        Thank you for your notice. I received a written notice
          from the Court a couple of weeks ago or so, informing
21        me of a settlement conference on the 2nd of December.
          Assuming that was pretty reliable, I scheduled my
22        travel plans to align with that date so that I would be
          in the region at that time, thus able to attend. I am
23        in Colorado at the present time, and would find it very
          difficult to change my current travel plans for the 2nd
24        of December. Is there any possibility that we can
          adhere to the original plan? That would help
25        considerably.
26        It appears to us from this email that Merrill was conflating
27   the settlement conference with the continued status conference.
28   Indeed, the clerk replied the same day, explaining to Merrill

                                     -6-
 1   that the settlement conference was separate from the December 2
 2   status conference:
 3        Reviewing the docket, I see that on 8/6 a notice was
          issued continuing the 7/29 status hearing(s) to Tues.
 4        Dec. 2. In contrast to this, what I am attempting to
          coordinate is a separate settlement conference which
 5        the Court ordered during the 7/29 hearings. My review
          of the record of the 7/29 hearing(s) indicates that the
 6        Court will not bring the matter to trial until such a
          settlement conference takes place, so I wanted to give
 7        you the opportunity for one of the November settings –
          since they are the very soonest available. . . .
 8
 9   (emphasis added).    The clerk then informed Merrill that if the
10   November dates were not feasible, the clerk would advise Merrill
11   of future dates as they became available.
12        A few days later, Merrill sent a reply email to the clerk
13   stating that his return to the Utah/Nevada area would be
14   difficult to manage any sooner than December and requested a date
15   “around that time.”    On September 10, 2015, the clerk responded
16   with “Fair enough, Mr. Merrill. Right now, it looks like the next
17   chance we’ll have for settlement conferences will be sometime in
18   the second quarter of 2016.    I'll be back in contact then.”
19        The next item on the bankruptcy court’s docket is the Order
20   Dismissing Adversary Proceeding entered December 4, 2015.    The
21   Order states:
22             At the prior hearing on July 29, 2015, the
          Plaintiff was ordered to be present at this hearing.
23        There was no appearance by Plaintiff, and no pleading
          filed or request for a continuance received.
24
               Therefore, this matter is dismissed for lack of
25        prosecution.
26   No minute entry appears on the bankruptcy court docket to
27   indicate that a hearing was held or to otherwise explain the
28   court’s ruling.

                                      -7-
 1        Merrill timely appealed.
 2                              III. JURISDICTION
 3        The bankruptcy court had jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
 4   §§ 1334 and 157(b)(2)(I).     We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C.
 5   § 158.
 6                                  IV. ISSUE
 7        Did the bankruptcy court abuse its discretion in dismissing
 8   the adversary proceeding for lack of prosecution?
 9                            V. STANDARD OF REVIEW
10        The bankruptcy court may sua sponte dismiss an adversary
11   proceeding for lack of prosecution under Civil Rule 41(b),
12   applicable in bankruptcy via Rule 7041.        See Henderson v. Duncan,
13   779 F.2d 1421, 1423 (9th Cir. 1986); Abandonato v. Stuart
14   (In re Stuart), 88 B.R. 247, 249 (9th Cir. BAP 1988).       We review
15   the bankruptcy court’s dismissal of an adversary proceeding based
16   upon a plaintiff’s failure to prosecute for abuse of discretion.
17   Moneymaker v. CoBEN (In re Eisen), 31 F.3d 1447, 1451 (9th Cir.
18   1994).   Dismissal is a harsh penalty to be imposed only in
19   extreme circumstances.    Henderson, 779 F.2d at 1423.
20        A bankruptcy court abuses its discretion if it applies the
21   wrong legal standard, misapplies the correct legal standard, or
22   if its factual findings are illogical, implausible, or without
23   support in inferences that may be drawn from the facts in the
24   record. See TrafficSchool.com, Inc. v. Edriver Inc., 653 F.3d
25   820, 832 (9th Cir. 2011).     To reverse for abuse of discretion, we
26   must have a definite and firm conviction that the bankruptcy
27   court committed a clear error of judgment in the conclusion it
28   reached upon a weighing of the relevant factors.       In re Eisen,

                                       -8-
 1   31 F.3d at 1451.
 2                               VI. DISCUSSION
 3   A.   Factors to be considered in determining whether dismissal is
          appropriate
 4
 5        In determining whether to dismiss a case for lack of
 6   prosecution, the bankruptcy court is to weigh the following
 7   factors: (1) the public’s interest in expeditious resolution of
 8   litigation; (2) the court’s need to manage its docket; (3) the
 9   risk of prejudice to the defendants; (4) the public policy
10   favoring the disposition of cases on their merits; and (5) the
11   availability of less drastic sanctions.      In re Eisen, 31 F.3d at
12   1451; Henderson, 779 F.2d at 1423; Tenorio v. Osinga
13   (In re Osinga), 91 B.R. 893, 894 (9th Cir. BAP 1988).     No finding
14   of bad faith is required.    Henderson, 779 F.2d at 1425.
15        A dismissal for lack of prosecution must be supported by a
16   showing of unreasonable delay.    Nealey v. Transportacion Maritima
17   Mexicana, S.A., 662 F.2d 1275, 1280 (9th Cir. 1980).
18   Unreasonable delay creates a presumption of injury to the
19   defense.   Ash v. Cvetkof, 739 F.2d 493, 496 (9th Cir. 1984).      We
20   give deference to the bankruptcy court in reviewing whether
21   unreasonable delay existed, as the bankruptcy court is in the
22   best position to determine what period of delay can be endured
23   before its docket becomes unmanageable.      In re Osinga, 91 B.R. at
24   895; In re Stuart, 88 B.R. at 249.     Because of the countervailing
25   interest in disposing of cases on their merits, the pertinent
26   question is not simply whether there has been a delay but rather
27   whether there has been sufficient delay or prejudice to justify
28   dismissal of the plaintiff’s case.     Nealey, 662 F.2d at 1280.

                                      -9-
 1   B.   Application of the factors to the facts of this case
 2        The bankruptcy court did not make explicit findings to
 3   support the dismissal of the adversary proceeding, but such
 4   findings are not required; we may independently review the record
 5   to determine whether the bankruptcy court abused its discretion.
 6   Ash, 739 F.2d at 496.
 7        1.   Unreasonable delay
 8        It appears to us that the bankruptcy court dismissed the
 9   case based on unreasonable delay.     However, we find no basis for
10   such a finding.   It is not clear that Merrill’s failure to appear
11   at the December 2 status conference resulted in any delay at all.
12   Rather, the delay was due to the rescheduling of the settlement
13   conference.   Even though Merrill’s unavailability for the
14   November dates caused the delay in scheduling the settlement
15   conference, it appears that his unavailability was due to his
16   incarceration.6
17        To the extent the bankruptcy court also relied on Merrill’s
18   failure to appear at the original June 2 scheduling conference in
19   dismissing the case, it is not clear whether Merrill had notice
20   of the June 2 hearing; therefore, any such reliance was probably
21   misplaced.
22        2.   Prejudice
23        Nothing in the appellate record or the bankruptcy court
24   docket reflects prejudice to Bessler resulting from Merrill’s
25   failure to appear at the December 2 status conference, beyond the
26
27
          6
             The bankruptcy court may well not have recalled Bessler’s
28   assertion that Merrill would be incarcerated until March 2016.

                                    -10-
 1   presumed inconvenience and possible expense of appearing at a
 2   hearing that did not occur.   Both parties were waiting for the
 3   scheduling of the settlement conference, which would not have
 4   occurred before April 2016.
 5
          3.   The bankruptcy court did not consider less drastic
 6             sanctions.
 7        Dismissal is a harsh penalty that should be imposed only in
 8   extreme circumstances.   Henderson, 779 F.2d at 1423.   Here,
 9   dismissal was effectively with prejudice because any
10   nondischargeability action would be time-barred if refiled.
11   Thus, Merrill has lost the opportunity to have his claims heard
12   on the merits.   Less drastic sanctions, such as a monetary
13   penalty, could have been imposed, but there is nothing in the
14   record to suggest that the bankruptcy court considered those.
15
          4.   Merrill’s failure to appear was based on his
16             misunderstanding of the court’s instructions.
17        Merrill argues in his brief that he believed that the
18   settlement conference was to occur before another status
19   conference would be held.   Merrill contends in his opening brief
20   that he interpreted the court clerk’s communications to mean that
21   no status conference would be held until after the settlement
22   conference had occurred:
23        Merrill assumed that if the Settlement Conference was
          to be rescheduled, as the Clerk clearly inferred, then
24        the Status Conference that was going to follow it,
          would necessarily be rescheduled. Otherwise, the
25        “status” would not have changed for the scheduled
          December 2, 2015 Status Conference, rendering it moot.
26        Accordingly, Merrill cancelled his plans for travel and
          awaited further notification from the Clerk of Court
27        who had previously advised: “I'll be back in contact
          then.”
28

                                    -11-
 1   Thus, Merrill did not appear for the December 2 status conference
 2   because he was awaiting an order setting the date for the
 3   settlement conference.   It does not appear that the bankruptcy
 4   court was aware of this.
 5        Bessler argues that Merrill “repeatedly” ignored the
 6   bankruptcy court’s orders to personally appear at hearings on
 7   June 2, 2015, July 29, 2015, and December 2, 2015.   Bessler
 8   states that “Merrill was told at the hearing on July 29th, 2015,
 9   that if he did not appear at the next hearing on December 2nd,
10   2015, that his Adversary Complaint would be dismissed.”
11        These assertions are not completely accurate.   First,
12   Merrill was not required to appear in person on July 29; the
13   order setting the status conference explicitly permitted the
14   parties to appear telephonically (by making arrangements with
15   Court Call one day before the hearing).   Second, although the
16   bankruptcy court told Merrill that, barring settlement, Merrill
17   needed to personally appear at the continued status conference,
18   the court did not explicitly state that a failure to appear would
19   result in dismissal of the adversary proceeding.
20        Still, the bankruptcy court’s dismissal of the adversary
21   proceeding was not entirely baseless:   Merrill failed to appear
22   at the initial scheduling conference on June 2, after which the
23   court issued an order to show cause; the court stated on the
24   record on July 29, 2015 that if the case had not settled, Merrill
25   had to personally appear at the December 2 status conference; and
26   the court clerk explained to Merrill that the settlement
27   conference and status conference were two different hearings.
28   Also, Merrill could have contacted the court to confirm whether

                                    -12-
 1   the December 2 status conference was going forward.
 2        Notwithstanding the foregoing, as noted above, dismissal is
 3   a harsh penalty to be imposed only in extreme circumstances.
 4   Henderson, 779 F.2d at 1423.   At an early point in the case, the
 5   decision to terminate is subject to further scrutiny.   Taylor v.
 6   Singh (In re Singh), 2016 WL 770195, at *5 (9th Cir. BAP Feb. 26,
 7   2016).7   And, “in the absence of less drastic alternative
 8   sanctions and where there is no evidence of prejudice to the
 9   defendant, dismissal of the plaintiff’s case is improper.”
10   In re Stuart, 88 B.R. at 250 (citing Raiford v. Pounds, 640 F.2d
11   944, 945 (9th Cir. 1981)).
12                             VII. CONCLUSION
13        Under the totality of the circumstances presented in this
14   appeal, we find that the the public policy favoring the
15   disposition of cases on their merits was not outweighed by the
16   court’s need to manage its docket, the risk of prejudice to the
17   defendant, or the public’s interest in expeditious resolution of
18   litigation.   Moreover, the bankruptcy court did not consider
19
20
          7
             In Singh, the bankruptcy court dismissed the adversary
21   proceeding at the first status conference for plaintiff’s
     counsel’s failure to file a status report as required by local
22
     rule. Counsel did not file the status report because the parties
23   were in the process of preparing a stipulation and order to stay
     the proceedings pending the outcome of a § 727 action brought by
24   the United States Trustee. We reversed, finding that counsel’s
     noncompliance was minimal, and that the bankruptcy court erred in
25   finding risk of prejudice to the debtor where debtor was subject
26   to a denial of discharge proceeding as well as related adversary
     proceedings. We also found that the bankruptcy court erred in
27   its consideration of lesser sanctions, and that on balance, the
     need to manage the court’s docket did not outweigh the public
28   interest in having cases heard on their merits.

                                    -13-
 1   lesser sanctions.   Thus, the bankruptcy court abused its
 2   discretion in dismissing the adversary proceeding.
 3        Therefore, we VACATE and REMAND for further proceedings in
 4   accordance with this disposition.
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                                    -14-