Court Opinion

ID: 4349942
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-12-13 00:00:40.198925+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:23:25.680136
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                          DEC 12 2018
                           NOT FOR PUBLICATION
                                                                      SUSAN M. SPRAUL, CLERK
                                                                        U.S. BKCY. APP. PANEL
                                                                        OF THE NINTH CIRCUIT

             UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY APPELLATE PANEL
                       OF THE NINTH CIRCUIT

In re:                                               BAP Nos. CC-18-1052-STaL
                                                              CC-18-1058-STaL
CHRISTOPHER JAMES BOYCE,                                      (Consolidated)

                    Debtor.                          Bk. No. 8:14-bk-11571-CB

CHRISTOPHER JAMES BOYCE,                             Adv. No. 8:14-ap-01134-CB

                    Appellant,

v.                                                   MEMORANDUM*

LISA HAMILTON,

                    Appellee.

                 Argued and Submitted on November 29, 2018
                          at Pasadena, California

                             Filed – December 12, 2018

               Appeal from the United States Bankruptcy Court
                    for the Central District of California

         *
        This disposition is not appropriate for publication. 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 9th Cir. BAP Rule 8024-1.
          Honorable Catherine E. Bauer, Bankruptcy Judge, Presiding

Appearances:        Fritz J. Firman argued for appellant; Jonathan David
                    Alvanos of Tressler LLP argued for appellee.

Before: SPRAKER, TAYLOR, and LAFFERTY, Bankruptcy Judges.

                                 INTRODUCTION

      Chapter 71 debtor Christopher James Boyce appeals for the second

time from the bankruptcy court’s summary judgment in favor of judgment

creditor Lisa Hamilton on her § 523(a)(2)(A) claim for relief. In 2016, we

reversed the bankruptcy court’s prior summary judgment ruling, which

gave preclusive effect to a prepetition stipulated judgment in which Boyce

admitted to defrauding Hamilton.

      In our 2016 decision, we upheld the bankruptcy court’s

determination that the stipulated judgment met the threshold elements for

issue preclusion. Even so, we held that the bankruptcy court abused its

discretion by not considering whether the stipulated judgment should be

given preclusive effect in light of Boyce’s allegations of fraud and coercion

      1
        Unless specified otherwise, all chapter and section references are to the
Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. §§ 101-1532, all “Rule” references are to the Federal Rules
of Bankruptcy Procedure, and all “Civil Rule” references are to the Federal Rules of
Civil Procedure.

                                           2
in entering into the stipulated judgment. Notwithstanding these

allegations, the bankruptcy court had concluded that preclusion was

appropriate based in large part upon the state court’s denial of Boyce’s

postpetition motion to rescind the stipulated judgement. We ruled that

both the rescission motion and the state court’s order denying it violated

the automatic stay and hence were void. Consequently, we remanded for

further consideration of whether issue preclusion was appropriate in light

of Boyce’s allegations of fraud and coercion.

     On remand, the bankruptcy court retroactively validated the state

court’s denial of Boyce’s rescission motion by annulling the automatic stay.

Once again relying on the state court’s order denying the motion to rescind,

the bankruptcy court found that fairness and public policy supported the

application of issue preclusion and that Boyce should be barred from

relitigating the fraud underlying his debt to Hamilton. The bankruptcy

court again entered summary judgment on Hamilton’s § 523(a)(2)(A) claim.

Boyce again appealed.

     The bankruptcy court duly considered on remand the fairness and

policy considerations surrounding the application of issue preclusion to the

stipulated judgment. The bankruptcy court’s analysis was logical, plausible

and supported by the record. Accordingly, we AFFIRM.

                                      3
                                    FACTS

A.    Hamilton Invests In Kastel, Inc.

      Hamilton and Boyce are former spouses. In November and December

2010, before the dissolution of their marriage but while separated, they

entered into joint venture agreements pursuant to which Hamilton

invested funds in Kastel, Inc., a company owned and controlled by Boyce.

She invested $2,000,000 in November 2010 and invested another $1,125,000

in December 2010. In accordance with the joint venture agreements, the

funds she invested were supposed to be used for currency trading. Without

Hamilton’s knowledge, in January 2011, Boyce took $727,539 of the

invested funds and lent them to BIN International Investment, another

company he owned.

      Boyce eventually returned $1,397,461.31 of Hamilton’s investment. Of

the $1,727,538.69 in unreturned funds, Hamilton conceded that $1,000,000

was lost as a result of Kastel’s currency trading activities, leaving $727,539

in unexplained losses.

B.    The State Court Lawsuit.

      Hamilton sued Boyce, Kastel and BIN International in the Orange

County Superior Court to recover the $727,539 in April 2012. Hamilton

alleged causes of action for money had and received, conversion, and

fraud. Shortly after the filing of the state court complaint, Boyce contacted

Hamilton’s counsel seeking to resolve the dispute. Without the assistance

                                       4
of counsel, Boyce negotiated with Hamilton’s counsel over the terms of a

stipulated judgment. During May 2012, they worked on two or more drafts

of the stipulated judgment. Boyce’s comments on the draft stipulation

indicated that he understood that a judgment for fraud could be excepted

from discharge if he subsequently filed a bankruptcy case. Boyce asked if

there were any acceptable alternatives to a judgment for fraud and

conversion because he was concerned that the stipulated judgment as

drafted could negatively affect his ability to obtain future business

financing. Hamilton’s counsel replied and nonetheless insisted that the

stipulated judgment explicitly grant relief for both fraud and conversion.

She took the position that both grounds for relief were necessary “to

explain what causes of action are being stipulated to.”

      In one of the drafts, Hamilton’s counsel revised a representation

concerning legal advice. The draft was changed to read: “Each party to this

Stipulated Judgment is aware of his or her right to consult with

independent legal counsel. Defendant, Chris Boyce, warrants that he has

knowingly and voluntarily waived his right to seek independent legal

counsel.” Hamilton’s counsel asked Boyce if the change was acceptable.

The final version of the stipulated judgment, executed by both parties,

included the revised representation that Boyce “knowingly and voluntarily

waived his right to seek independent counsel.”

      As part of the stipulated judgment, Boyce admitted:

                                      5
      that on or about January 26, 2011, secured by a certain Non-
      Negotiable Promissory Note Secured by Security Agreement
      dated May 09, 2011 for the amount $727,539.00 (the “BIN
      International Investment”), he intentionally and without
      Hamilton’s knowledge or consent converted $727,538.69 of
      Hamilton’s Unreturned Funds designated for currency trading
      and invested said amount in Defendant BIN International
      (“BIN”) without Hamilton’s authorization. Defendant, Chris
      Boyce, admits and acknowledges that his intentional
      misrepresentations to Hamilton and conversion of Plaintiff’s
      funds resulted in a loss to Plaintiff in the amount of $727,538.69,
      which Defendants admit they are obligated to repay to
      Hamilton.

Stipulated Judgment (Aug. 27, 2012) at 3:9-18. The stipulated judgment

further stated that all three defendants were liable for the lost investment

funds, plus $2,500 in fees and costs, “as and for Hamilton’s fraud and

conversion causes of action.”

      On or about August 27, 2012, the state court approved the stipulated

judgment without a hearing and entered judgment against Boyce, Kastel,

and BIN International in the amount of $730,038.69.

C.    Boyce Files For Bankruptcy.

      On March 13, 2014, Boyce commenced his bankruptcy case by filing a

voluntary chapter 7 petition. In May 2014, Hamilton filed a complaint

objecting to Boyce’s discharge under § 727(a)(4)(A) and seeking to except

the judgment debt from discharge under § 523(a)(2)(A), (a)(4), and (a)(6).

      In February 2015, Boyce sought relief from the automatic stay for the

                                       6
purpose of filing a motion in the state court to rescind the stipulated

judgment. In support of the relief from stay motion, Boyce claimed

rescission was proper because he did not freely enter into the stipulated

judgment.2 According to Boyce, his acceptance of the stipulated judgment

was procured by fraud, mistake, menace, duress and undue influence.

Boyce also claimed that he had valid defenses to Hamilton’s causes of

action. More specifically, he claimed that Hamilton later ratified his loan of

the investment funds to BIN International and that she even attempted to

solicit additional investments for BIN from her friends. He also asserted

that his unilateral decision to invest the $727,539 in BIN International,

without Hamilton’s knowledge and consent, was consistent with the terms

of the parties’ joint venture agreements. Boyce’s legal theories in support of

his rescission motion all treated the stipulated judgment entered by the

state court as if it were nothing more than a contract.

       The bankruptcy court denied Boyce’s relief from stay motion as

unnecessary. According to the bankruptcy court, the automatic stay did not

enjoin the debtor from filing the motion to rescind in the state court.

       Thereafter, Boyce filed his motion to rescind in the state court. On

       2
         Neither party has included the relief from stay motion and related documents
in their excerpts of record. We have exercised our discretion to take judicial notice of
these and other bankruptcy court documents not included in the parties’ excerpts. See
Rivera v. Curry (In re Rivera), 517 B.R. 140, 143 n.2 (9th Cir. BAP 2014), aff’d in part, appeal
dismissed in part, 675 F. App’x 781 (9th Cir. 2017).

                                               7
May 15, 2015, the state court denied the motion based on the papers

submitted. The state court found that Boyce failed to meet his burden of

proof in multiple respects. First, it noted that Boyce had delayed seeking

rescission of the stipulated judgment for well over two years. The state

court found that Boyce’s attempt to rescind the stipulated judgment was

due to the very real prospect of a nondischargeability judgment rather than

any sort of delayed discovery that he had been misled or coerced by

Hamilton or her counsel.

      Second, the state court rejected Boyce’s arguments based on

rescission of contracts. The court distinguished contracts from duly entered

stipulated judgments. It explained that a final judgment is not a contract for

rescission purposes, citing Stevens v. Stevens, 268 Cal. App. 2d 426 (1968).

      And third, the state court pointed out that Boyce’s motion had not

invoked the court’s inherent or equitable power to grant relief from a

judgment improvidently entered based on extrinsic fraud. The state court

stated that, even if it were to consider the motion as a request for the court

to exercise its inherent or equitable powers, the motion still would be

denied. According to the state court, Boyce had not demonstrated his

diligence in seeking such relief. The court additionally found that Boyce

had not shown that he had a meritorious defense to Hamilton’s fraud and

conversion claims. The state court pointed to a number of holes in Boyce’s

story regarding his intended use of the $727,539, his actual use of those

                                       8
funds, and his failure to inform Hamilton regarding their actual use. The

state court also found that Boyce was not credible and had failed to prove

fraud, menace, undue influence, economic distress or mistake. Contrary to

Boyce’s account of his negotiations with Hamilton and her counsel, the

state court found that Boyce was a sophisticated businessman, that he was

“fully aware of what he was doing,” and that he “voluntarily, and on his

own accord, entered into the stipulation, for his own interests.” Boyce did

not appeal the state court’s denial of his motion to rescind.

      Meanwhile, Hamilton moved for summary judgment in the

adversary proceeding. Hamilton contended that the issue preclusive effect

of the stipulated judgment conclusively established the nondischargeability

of the judgment debt under § 523(a)(2)(A), (a)(4) and (a)(6).

      Boyce opposed the summary judgment motion. Boyce’s opposition

relied on the same allegations of fraud and coercion set forth in his state

court rescission motion. According to Boyce, the stipulated judgment was

not actually litigated because there had been no trial of the matters at issue

and Hamilton procured his assent to the stipulated judgment by coercion

and fraud.

      The bankruptcy court held three hearings on the summary judgment

motion. At the first two, the bankruptcy court did little more than defer

ruling on the summary judgment motion until the state court had

considered and ruled on the rescission motion. The third hearing on the

                                       9
summary judgment motion took place on June 9, 2015. The bankruptcy

court noted that the state court had considered and rejected Boyce’s

allegations of coercion and fraud. It further posited that there was no way

around the state court’s ruling on the rescission motion. On that basis, the

bankruptcy court granted Hamilton’s summary judgment motion.3

D.    The First Appeal And Proceedings On Remand.

      On appeal, Boyce challenged the bankruptcy court’s application of

issue preclusion to the stipulated judgment. We reversed and remanded.

Boyce v. Hamilton (In re Boyce), BAP No. CC–15–1220–TaKuKi, 2016 WL

6247612 (9th Cir. BAP Oct. 25, 2016) (“Boyce I”). Boyce I addressed all of the

threshold elements for issue preclusion under California law. We held that

the stipulated judgment, which specifically admitted to a debt arising from

fraud, satisfied all of these threshold elements for purposes of establishing

a claim under § 523(a)(2)(A). But we also recognized that the bankruptcy

court needed to consider whether fairness and the public policy

considerations underlying the preclusion doctrine supported the preclusive

effect of the stipulated judgment. We explained that the bankruptcy court

did not properly consider the fairness and policy concerns in light of

Boyce’s allegations of coercion and fraud. We further explained that the

      3
        On January 8, 2016, the bankruptcy court entered an order clarifying that
summary judgment was granted only as to Hamilton’s § 523(a)(2)(A) claim. The
bankruptcy court also entered an order granting Hamilton’s motion pursuant to Civil
Rule 54(b) and entered final judgment on her § 523(a)(2)(A) claim.

                                         10
bankruptcy court’s reliance on the state court’s denial of the motion to

rescind, and on the state court’s rejection of Boyce’s coercion and fraud

allegations, was misplaced because the state court’s ruling violated the

automatic stay. Hence, it was void. We ultimately concluded:

       Because the bankruptcy court improperly relied on a stay
       violative order in applying issue preclusion to the stipulated
       judgment, we reverse the bankruptcy court's grant of summary
       judgment in Hamilton's favor and remand for further
       proceedings consistent with this decision. Perhaps these
       particular circumstances warrant a retroactive annulment of the
       stay; we cannot and do not say. Instead, we leave it to the
       bankruptcy court to make appropriate determinations in light
       of our analysis.

Boyce I, 2016 WL 6247612 at *5.4

       On remand, the bankruptcy court granted Hamilton’s motion to

annul the stay.5 The bankruptcy court then held a hearing on the remanded

summary judgment proceedings. At this hearing, held on January 23, 2018,

Boyce requested mediation, an opportunity to conduct discovery, and an

opportunity for further briefing on his coercion and fraud theories. While

counsel for Boyce repeatedly asked for discovery and supplemental

       4
         In Boyce I, we noted that Boyce’s fraud and coercion allegations in theory also
could potentially affect the actually litigated element. But we held that these allegations
most directly affected the fairness and public policy considerations. Ultimately, our
reversal of the bankruptcy court’s original summary judgment ruling hinged on the
fairness and public policy considerations and not on the actually litigated element.
       5
           Boyce did not appeal the order granting stay annulment.

                                            11
briefing, he never explained why either was needed. The bankruptcy court

rejected these requests.

      According to the bankruptcy court, the Panel was concerned with the

void state court order denying the rescission motion and the bankruptcy

court’s reliance on that order. As the bankruptcy court explained, now that

it had resolved that concern by annulling the stay, there was no need to

relitigate Hamilton’s nondischargeability theories or Boyce’s claims of

coercion and fraud. The bankruptcy court acknowledged that the Panel

also was concerned that the court previously did not consider whether

fairness and public policy supported application of issue preclusion given

Boyce’s allegations. But the bankruptcy court concluded that it could

conduct that analysis without further litigation or briefing. The court set

the summary judgment motion for a continued hearing on March 6, 2018.

The court said that it would review all of the relevant papers again but

noted that it might issue a decision in advance of the continued hearing.

      On February 7, 2018, the bankruptcy court entered its amended order

granting summary judgment post remand. In the order, the bankruptcy

court once again granted summary judgment on Hamilton’s § 523(a)(2)(A)

claim. The bankruptcy court quoted at length from the state court’s denial

of the motion to rescind. As to Boyce’s claims that he believed Hamilton’s

counsel was also representing him in the negotiation of the stipulated

judgment, the bankruptcy court found that the express language of the

                                      12
stipulated judgment precluded that argument.

       The bankruptcy court then considered fairness and the policies

underlying the issue preclusion doctrine. The bankruptcy court held that

the integrity of the judicial system, protection against vexatious litigation,

and judicial economy all favored the application of issue preclusion. The

court further determined that there was no compelling reason to relitigate

any of the issues from the state court proceedings. The bankruptcy court

pointed out that, in the state court, Boyce had filed, litigated, and lost his

rescission motion. The court again entered summary judgment on

Hamilton’s §523(a)(2)(A) claim, concluding:

              The Judgment and the order denying the Motion to
              Rescind are entitled to full faith and credit by this
              Court. Issue preclusion is warranted and sound
              public policy is served by its application to this
              matter.

Amended Order Granting Summary Judgment Post Remand (Feb. 7, 2018)

at 6:17-19.

       Boyce timely appealed the bankruptcy court’s amended summary

judgment on remand.6

       6
          In this appeal after remand, we issued an order raising the issue of finality. In
response, Boyce sought and obtained a new order granting relief under Civil Rule 54(b)
and entering final judgment on Hamilton’s § 523(a)(2)(A) claim, thereby resolving the
finality issue for purposes of this appeal.

                                            13
                               JURISDICTION

      The bankruptcy court had jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1334 and

157(b)(2)(I). We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 158.

                                    ISSUE

      Did the bankruptcy court commit reversible error when it granted

summary judgment against Boyce based on the preclusive effect of the

state court judgment?

                            STANDARD OF REVIEW

      We review de novo the bankruptcy court’s grant of summary

judgment. Plyam v. Precision Dev., LLC (In re Plyam), 530 B.R. 456, 461 (9th

Cir. BAP 2015). We also review de novo the bankruptcy court’s

determination that issue preclusion is available. Lopez v. Emerg. Serv.

Restoration, Inc. (In re Lopez), 367 B.R. 99, 103 (9th Cir. BAP 2007). When we

review an issue de novo, “we consider [the] matter anew, as if no decision

had been rendered previously.” Kashikar v. Turnstile Capital Mgmt., LLC (In

re Kashikar), 567 B.R. 160, 164 (9th Cir. BAP 2017).

      If we determine that issue preclusion is available, we then review the

bankruptcy court's decision to apply it for an abuse of discretion. In re

Lopez, 367 B.R. at 103. A bankruptcy court abuses its discretion if it applies

the wrong legal standard or its findings of fact are illogical, implausible or

without support in the record. TrafficSchool.com, Inc. v. Edriver Inc., 653 F.3d

820, 832 (9th Cir. 2011).

                                       14
                                 DISCUSSION

A.    Summary Judgment and Issue Preclusion Standards.

      In our prior decision, we set forth the basic standards governing

summary judgment and issue preclusion; there is no need to restate them

at length here. Instead, we need only highlight those factors directly

implicated by Boyce’s attempt to rescind the stipulated judgment.

      Under the Full Faith and Credit Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1738, we must give

state court judgments the same preclusive effect as the originating state

would give them. In re Lopez, 367 B.R. at 105 & n.3. Under California law,

findings are eligible for issue preclusion when:

      (1) the issue sought to be precluded from relitigation is identical
      to that decided in a former proceeding; (2) the issue was
      actually litigated in the former proceeding; (3) the issue was
      necessarily decided in the former proceeding; (4) the decision in
      the former proceeding is final and on the merits; and (5) the
      party against whom preclusion is sought was the same as, or in
      privity with, the party to the former proceeding.

In re Plyam, 530 B.R. at 462 (citing Lucido v. Sup. Ct., 51 Cal. 3d 335, 341

(1990)). In addition to these five threshold factors, courts must also

consider a sixth element; whether under the circumstances of the particular

case application of issue preclusion is fair and consistent with the policies

underlying the doctrine. Baldwin v. Kilpatrick (In re Baldwin), 249 F.3d 912,

919–20 (9th Cir. 2001); In re Lopez, 367 B.R. at 107-08; see also Christopher

Klein et al., Principles of Preclusion & Estoppel in Bankruptcy Cases, 79

                                        15
Am. Bankr. L. J. 839, 855 (2005).

       The fairness and policy considerations are part of the bankruptcy

court’s exercise of its discretion in deciding whether it should apply issue

preclusion in the particular case. In re Lopez, 367 B.R. at 107-08. More

plainly stated, the bankruptcy court’s final decision regarding the

application of issue preclusion is always a matter of discretion. Id.

B.     We Previously Decided that the Stipulated Judgment Met The
       Threshold Issue Preclusion Elements But Was Subject To The
       Fairness And Policy Considerations.

       In this current appeal, Boyce again challenges the threshold element

of actual litigation. However, in Boyce I, we examined whether Hamilton’s

fraud claims were actually litigated by the stipulated judgment. Noting

that the stipulated judgment expressly provided that it was enforceable

under CCP § 664.6, we concluded that “the stipulated judgment was an

appropriate basis for a potential application of issue preclusion; it satisfied

the ‘actually litigated’ requirement.” Boyce I, 2016 WL 6247612, at *4.7

       Our initial ruling in Boyce I is law of the case. The law of the case

       7
          Citing Cal. State Auto. Ass’n Inter–Ins. Bureau v. Super. Ct., 50 Cal. 3d 658, 664 &
n.2 (1990), we held in Boyce I that a stipulated judgment can satisfy the actually litigated
element for issue preclusion when the parties manifest their intent to be bound by the
judgment in future actions. Boyce I, 2016 WL 6247612, at *3. And we also said that a
party manifests its intent to bind itself to a liability finding typically by admitting to that
liability in the stipulated judgment. Id. Based on the criteria set forth in Cal. State Auto.
Ass’n Inter–Ins. Bureau, we noted that the stipulated judgment satisfied the “actually
litigated” requirement. Boyce I, 2016 WL 6247612 at *4, 5 & n.7.

                                              16
doctrine generally requires that prior decisions by the same or a higher

court “be followed in all subsequent proceedings in the same case.”

American Express Travel Related Serv. Co., Inc. v. Fraschilla (In re Fraschilla),

235 B.R. 449, 454 (9th Cir. BAP 1999), aff'd, 242 F.3d 381 (9th Cir. 2000). This

doctrine is not mandatory, but earlier decisions should be followed

“unless: (1) the decision is clearly erroneous and its enforcement would

work a manifest injustice, (2) intervening controlling authority makes

reconsideration appropriate, or (3) substantially different evidence was

adduced at a subsequent trial.” Id. at 454 (quoting United States v. Garcia, 77

F.3d 274, 276 (9th Cir. 1996)). None of these exceptions apply here. Rather,

Boyce simply seeks to reargue the issue. The law of the case doctrine

governs. Therefore, we will follow our prior holding from Boyce I that the

stipulated judgment entered in the state court action was actually litigated.

      Having already determined in Boyce I that the stipulated judgment

could preclude relitigation of the fraud claim in the discharge action, the

question we now must address is whether the bankruptcy court correctly

exercised its discretion in determining that the stipulated judgment should

preclude that relitigation. See Khaligh v. Hadaegh (In re Khaligh), 338 B.R. 817,

831-32 (9th Cir. BAP 2006) (having concluded that issue preclusion was

permissible, “the question becomes whether the court's actual choice to do

so nevertheless was an abuse of discretion.”)

                                         17
C.     Fairness And Policy Considerations In Applying Issue Preclusion
       To The Discharge Action.

       In Boyce I, we held that “[t]o the extent a California consent judgment

was obtained by inappropriate coercion, a court applying issue preclusion

must determine whether reliance on such a judgment appropriately

furthers the public policy underlying the issue preclusion doctrine.”

Boyce I, 2016 WL 6247612, at * 5. We remanded because the bankruptcy

court did not correctly consider whether fairness and policy considerations

supported application of issue preclusion in this instance given its reliance

upon the state court’s void order denying Boyce’s rescission motion.

       On remand, the bankruptcy court resolved the stay violation by

annulling the stay retroactively to validate entry of the state court’s

decision denying Boyce’s motion to rescind, which decision Boyce did not

appeal. As a result, the stipulated judgment continued to exist as a final

judgment, entitled to full faith and credit in the discharge action. The

specific effect of the state court’s denial of the motion to rescind on Boyce’s

fraud and coercion allegations is less clear, but we need not resolve that

issue here.8 As a result of the denial of the motion to rescind the stipulated

       8
         When relief from a judgment obtained through extrinsic fraud, mistake or
accident is sought, and such equitable relief is sought and denied by motion, the denial
of that motion ordinarily has no issue preclusive effect. See Estudillo v. Security Loan etc.
Co., 149 Cal. 556, 564 (1906); Jeffords v. Young, 98 Cal. App. 400, 406–407 (1929); Groves v.
Peterson, 100 Cal. App. 4th 659, 667 (2002). The wording of the bankruptcy court’s
decision on remand makes it difficult to ascertain with certainty whether the
                                                                                (continued...)

                                             18
judgment still exists as a valid, final state court judgment entitled to full

faith and credit. Boyce unsuccessfully attacked the stipulated judgment in

the state court and apparently has abandoned any attempt to challenge the

judgment in the court that entered it.9

      On remand, the bankruptcy court duly considered the fairness and

policy concerns underlying the issue preclusion doctrine. The California

Supreme Court has instructed that, when considering application of issue

preclusion, “preservation of the integrity of the judicial system, promotion

of judicial economy, and protection of litigants from harassment by

vexatious litigation - strongly influence whether its application in a

particular circumstance would be fair to the parties and constitute sound

judicial policy.” Lucido, 51 Cal. 3d at 343; see also Murray v. Alaska Airlines,

      8
        (...continued)
bankruptcy court simply considered the state court’s denial within its policy analysis or
also applied issue preclusion to the state court’s order on Boyce’s motion to rescind. To
the extent that it applied issue preclusion such application would, at worst, be harmless
error because the bankruptcy court did not err in considering the state court’s decision.
And we must ignore harmless error. Van Zandt v. Mbunda (In re Mbunda), 484 B.R. 344,
355 (9th Cir. BAP 2012), aff’d, 604 F. App’x 552 (9th Cir. 2015).
      9
         Boyce repeatedly argues that he has been denied the opportunity to prove his
allegations of fraud and coercion. We disagree. Moreover, Boyce still has, in theory, a
right under California law to commence an independent action seeking relief from the
judgment on equitable grounds. See Estudillo, 149 Cal. at 564; Jeffords, 98 Cal. App. At
406–407; Groves, 100 Cal. App. 4th at 667-68. We express no opinion as to the merits of
such an action. His ability to bring an independent action, however, did not preclude
the bankruptcy court from considering the state court’s denial of the motion to rescind
as part of its policy consideration.

                                           19
Inc., 50 Cal. 4th 860, 879 (2010) (policies underlying issue preclusion

“include conserving judicial resources and promoting judicial economy by

minimizing repetitive litigation, preventing inconsistent judgments which

undermine the integrity of the judicial system, and avoiding the

harassment of parties through repeated litigation.”). The bankruptcy court

specifically acknowledged these policy considerations and found that

“[t]hese factors weigh in favor of applying issue preclusion here.” The

court further explained:

            There is no compelling reason to re-litigate the
            issues that were raised in state court (both as to the
            Judgment and as to the Motion to Rescind). It
            would result in unnecessary expense, expenditure
            of duplicative judicial resources, and create the real
            danger of inconsistent results.

      As part of its fairness and policy analysis, the bankruptcy court duly

considered Boyce’s fraud and coercion charges. The bankruptcy court was

aware that Boyce chose to pursue those allegations in the state court, that

the state court denied Boyce’s motion to rescind, and that he never

appealed that adverse decision.

      The bankruptcy court was entitled to consider this history when

weighing the fairness and policy concerns underlying the issue preclusion

doctrine. The bankruptcy court also independently examined and rejected

Boyce’s argument that Hamilton’s counsel misled him to believe that she

was personally representing him in drafting the stipulated judgment.

                                      20
Finally, the bankruptcy court evaluated the fairness and policy concerns in

light of all of the surrounding circumstances of the case. The record

supports the bankruptcy court’s reasoning that application of issue

preclusion was fair and consistent with the policies underlying the

doctrine. Furthermore, there is nothing illogical or implausible regarding

the bankruptcy court’s decision to apply issue preclusion to the stipulated

judgment under these circumstances. In sum, the bankruptcy court did not

abuse its discretion when it applied issue preclusion to the stipulated

judgment to bar relitigation of Boyce’s fraud.

D.    Stipulated Judgment as a Prepetition Waiver of Discharge.

      In his only other argument on appeal, Boyce contends that the

stipulated judgment constituted an unenforceable prepetition waiver of his

discharge. Boyce cites two Ninth Circuit decisions in support of the

proposition that prepetition waivers of the debtor’s discharge are

unenforceable because they are inconsistent with public policy and the

Bankruptcy Code. See Cont’l Ins. Co. v. Thorpe Insulation Co. (In re Thorpe

Insulation Co.), 671 F.3d 1011, 1026 (9th Cir. 2012); Bank of China v. Huang (In

re Huang), 275 F.3d 1173, 1177 (9th Cir. 2002). We agree that such waivers

are unenforceable. See Hayhoe v. Cole (In re Cole), 226 B.R. 647, 651–52 & n. 7

(9th Cir. BAP 1998).

      Here, however, Boyce did not waive his discharge but rather

stipulated to the underlying facts that support nondischargeability of his

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debt under § 523(a)(2)(A). When a defendant stipulates to judgment, and in

the process admits to liability on grounds that would qualify as

nondischargeable in bankruptcy, such admissions typically are given

preclusive effect in a subsequent nondischargeability proceeding. Johnson v.

W3 Inv. Partners (In re Johnson), BAP No. SC–17–1194–LBF, 2018 WL

1803002, *6 (9th Cir. BAP Apr. 16, 2018) (citing In re Cole, 226 B.R. at 655). In

other words, such stipulated judgments ordinarily are not treated as if they

were mere prepetition waivers of the discharge. Id. at *6-8.

      In Wank v. Gordon (In re Wank), 505 B.R. 878, 890-91 (9th Cir. BAP

2014), we recognized a narrow exception to this rule where the evidence

established that the sole purpose of the admissions was to render the debt

nondischargeable in any subsequent bankruptcy and where the admissions

were not included in the stipulated judgment itself. Id.; see also In re Johnson,

2018 WL 1803002, at *6-7 (citing Wank). But Boyce’s admission does not

meet the requirements of the narrow Wank exception. He agreed to include

language in the stipulated judgment stating that he made

misrepresentations to Hamilton which resulted in her loss. He also agreed

to language stating that he was liable on grounds of both fraud and

conversion for Hamilton’s loss. Hamilton’s complaint stated a garden-

variety cause of action for fraud alleging all the essential elements for a

fraud claim. Boyce has not argued otherwise. Furthermore, Boyce has

admitted that he understood at the time he entered into the stipulated

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judgment that it later could be used to preclude him from discharging the

judgment debt. Under these circumstances, Boyce’s waiver of discharge

argument lacks merit.

                             CONCLUSION

     For the reasons set forth above, we AFFIRM the bankruptcy court’s

summary judgment in favor of Hamilton.

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