Court Opinion

ID: 2757120
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-12-03 19:08:32.605563+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:05:16.083496
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                          APR 06 2012
 1                                                    SUSAN M SPRAUL, CLERK
                                                        U.S. BKCY. APP. PANEL
                                                        OF THE NINTH CIRCUIT
 2
 3               UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY APPELLATE PANEL
 4                         OF THE NINTH CIRCUIT
 5   In re:                        )      BAP No.   WW-11-1180-JuHKi
                                   )
 6   MICHAEL PETER SPITZAUER,      )      Bk. No.   10-16355
                                   )
 7                  Debtor.        )
     ______________________________)
 8                                 )
     MICHAEL PETER SPITZAUER,      )
 9                                 )
                    Appellant,     )
10                                 )
     v.                            )      M E M O R A N D U M*
11                                 )
     EXOTERM HOLDING D.D.;         )
12   WILLIAM FRANCKE; MANDY        )
     FRANCKE; CHAKRA ENERGY        )
13   CORPORATION,                  )
                                   )
14                  Appellees.     )
     ______________________________)
15
                     Submitted Without Oral Argument
16                          on March 23, 2012**
17                         Filed - April 6, 2012
18             Appeal from the United States Bankruptcy Court
                  for the Western District of Washington
19
         Honorable Samuel J. Steiner,1 Bankruptcy Judge, Presiding
20                _______________________________________
21
          *
22          This disposition is not appropriate for publication.
     Although it may be cited for whatever persuasive value it may
23   have (see Fed. R. App. P. 32.1), it has no precedential value.
     See 9th Cir. BAP Rule 8013-1.
24
          **
            This case was submitted without oral argument pursuant to
25   a stipulation by the parties.
26        1
            Effective April 4, 2011, the bankruptcy case was
27   reassigned from Bankruptcy Judge Samuel J. Steiner to Bankruptcy
     Judge Timothy W. Dore. The order on appeal was signed by Judge
28   Steiner.

                                    -1-
 1
     Appearances:      John R. Scannell of ActionLaw.Net on brief for
 2                     Appellant Michael Peter Spitzauer; Frederick
                       Mendoza on brief for Appellee Chakra Energy
 3                     Corporation; Steven D. Phillips of Stoel Rives
                       LLP on brief for Appellee Exoterm Holding D.D.;
 4                     Bradley B. Jones of Gordon Thomas Honeywell LLP
                       on brief for Appellees William and Mandy Francke
 5                   _______________________________________
 6   Before:     JURY, HOLLOWELL, and KIRSCHER, Bankruptcy Judges.
 7
              Debtor Michael Spitzauer appeals the decision of the
 8
     bankruptcy court denying his motion for extension of time to
 9
     file a notice of appeal (“NOA”).        Because the motion was
10
     untimely, we AFFIRM.
11
                    I. BACKGROUND FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
12
              This appeal is one of several attempts by debtor to reverse
13
     the bankruptcy court’s decision to convert his bankruptcy case
14
     from one under chapter 132 to chapter 7.
15
              On June 2, 2010, debtor filed a petition for bankruptcy
16
     under chapter 13.3     On June 15, 2010, Exoterm Holding D.D.,
17
     William and Mandy Francke, and Chakra Energy Corporation
18
     (“Appellees”) filed a motion to convert the case from chapter 13
19
     to chapter 7 based in part on debtor’s three prior bankruptcy
20
     filings within four months.     On July 19, 2010, debtor filed a
21
22
          2
23          Unless otherwise indicated, all chapter and section
     references are to the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. §§ 101-1532.
24   “Rule” references are to the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy
     Procedure and “Civil Rule” references are to the Federal Rules of
25   Civil Procedure.
26        3
            We take judicial notice of the bankruptcy court docket in
27   the underlying bankruptcy case, No. 10-16355-TWD. Atwood v.
     Chase Manhattan Mortg. Co. (In re Atwood), 293 B.R. 227, 233 n.9
28   (9th Cir. BAP 2003).

                                       -2-
 1   competing motion to voluntarily dismiss his chapter 13
 2   bankruptcy case.     On July 22, 2010, the bankruptcy court granted
 3   Appellees’ motion to convert the case to chapter 7.
 4            On August 2, 2010, debtor filed a motion for
 5   reconsideration of the conversion order.       Appellees opposed the
 6   motion for reconsideration.     On October 28, 2010, the bankruptcy
 7   court denied debtor’s motion for reconsideration.
 8            On November 15, 2010, debtor filed both a motion for
 9   extension of time for filing a NOA and a NOA, appealing the
10   bankruptcy court’s order denying reconsideration.       On
11   November 19, 2010, the bankruptcy court denied debtor’s motion
12   for an extension of time on grounds the NOA deprived the
13   bankruptcy court of jurisdiction.4       On February 22, 2011, this
14   Panel dismissed debtor’s first appeal for lack of jurisdiction
15   due to the untimely NOA.
16            On February 25, 2011, debtor filed a second motion for an
17   extension of time to file a NOA.        On April 5, 2011, the
18   bankruptcy court denied debtor’s second motion for extension.
19   On April 18, 2011, debtor filed a second NOA, this time
20   appealing the bankruptcy court’s denial of the extension.
21                               II. JURISDICTION
22            The bankruptcy court had jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
23   §§ 1334 and 157(b)(1).     This Panel has jurisdiction under
24   28 U.S.C. § 158.
25                                  III. ISSUE
26
          4
27          The filing of a NOA does not deprive the bankruptcy court
     of jurisdiction on matters related to the extension of time to
28   file a NOA. In re Provan, 74 B.R. 717, 719 (9th Cir. BAP 1987).

                                       -3-
 1              Whether the bankruptcy court abused its discretion in
 2   denying debtor’s second motion for extension of time to file a
 3   NOA.5
 4                              IV. STANDARD OF REVIEW
 5              We review a bankruptcy court’s order denying a motion for
 6   extension of time to file a NOA for abuse of discretion.         Alaska
 7   Limestone Corp. v. Hodel, 799 F.2d 1409, 1411 (9th Cir. 1986).
 8   A bankruptcy court abuses its discretion when it makes an error
 9   of law, when it rests its decision on clearly erroneous findings
10   of fact, or when we are left with a definite and firm conviction
11   that the bankruptcy court committed a clear error of judgment.
12   United States v. Hinkson, 611 F.3d 1094, 1114 (9th Cir. 2010)(en
13   banc), cert. denied, 131 S.Ct. 2096.
14                                  V. DISCUSSION
15              Rule 8002 governs the time for filing a NOA.   Rule 8002(a)
16   provides that the NOA shall be filed with the clerk within 14
17   days of the entry of the judgment, order, or decree appealed
18   from.
19              Rule 8002(c)(2) permits an extension of time to file a
20   NOA.       Rule 8002(c)(2) provides:
21              A request to extend the time for filing a notice of
22
            5
23          The Panel does not decide the issues briefed by both
     parties relating to the bankruptcy court’s order denying
24   reconsideration, nor does it address the underlying issue also
     raised in debtor’s brief - whether he had a right to voluntary
25   dismissal. On February 22, 2011, this Panel dismissed debtor’s
26   appeal of the reconsideration order. Our dismissal was without
     prejudice on the condition that debtor seek relief under
27   Rule 9024 to obtain an order granting an extension of time to
     file an appeal. Debtor’s failure to seek that relief bars our
28   consideration of those issues.

                                         -4-
 1        appeal must be made by written motion filed before the
          time for filing a notice of appeal has expired, except
 2        that such a motion filed not later than 21 days after
          the expiration of the time for filing a notice of
 3        appeal may be granted upon a showing of excusable
          neglect. . . .
 4
 5   There is, therefore, a maximum of 35 days from the entry of the
 6   order on appeal to file a motion for extension.
 7        In this case, the bankruptcy court correctly denied
 8   debtor’s motion for an extension because the motion was
 9   untimely.   The order denying reconsideration was entered on
10   October 28, 2010.   On February 25, 2011, or 120 days later,
11   debtor filed his motion for an extension of time to file a NOA.
12   Even assuming debtor made a showing of excusable neglect, the
13   motion was filed well past the maximum 35 days permitted by Rule
14   8002(c)(2).
15                             VI. CONCLUSION
16        Having determined the bankruptcy court did not abuse its
17   discretion by denying the motion for extension of time to file a
18   NOA, we AFFIRM.
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