Court Opinion

ID: 3019336
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-13 22:20:48.040929+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:47:15.474832
License: Public Domain

United States Bankruptcy Appellate Panel
                           FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT

                              No. 97-6040SIDM

In re:                                   *
                                         *
HEUANG VANH LEUANG,                      *
                                         *
            Debtor                       *
                                         *
TRI-COUNTY CREDIT UNION,                 *
                                    *
            Plaintiff-Appellant           *
                                      * Appeal from the United
     -v.-                                 * States Bankruptcy Court
                                    * for the Southern District
HEUANG VANH LEUANG,                       * of Iowa
                                          *
            Defendant-Appellee            *

                       Submitted:    August 21, 1997

                        Filed:    September 10, 1997

Before KRESSEL, SCHERMER, and DREHER, Bankruptcy Judges.

DREHER, Bankruptcy Judge

     This is an appeal from the bankruptcy court's decision which

determined that Debtor's obligations on three loan transactions were not

excepted from discharge under § 523(a)(2)(A) of the Bankruptcy Code.

For the reasons set forth below, we affirm.
     In 1995, Debtor entered into three loan transactions with

Appellant.   In connection with each, Debtor signed a loan application

which included personal financial information.   Appellant asserts that

Debtor made a number of false statements in the loan applications.

These included representing that he was not married and had no

dependents, that he owned three vehicles, and that he was a student and

his father was an engineer.   Appellant also asserts that, with respect

to one of the loans, Debtor represented that he intended to use the

proceeds to purchase a van when, in fact, he did not.

     The bankruptcy court determined that Debtor made some false

statements and did not use the proceeds of one of the loans to purchase

a van, as Debtor had represented he would.   The court also found that

Appellant had not proved other elements of a cause of action under §

523(a)(2)(A).   These included knowledge of falsity, intent to deceive,

materiality, and justifiable reliance.   The bankruptcy court, thus, held

the debts arising from the loans were not excepted from discharge.

     On appeal, findings of fact will not be set aside unless clearly

erroneous, and due regard shall be given to the opportunity of the

bankruptcy court to judge the credibility of a witness.   Fed. R. Bankr.

P. 8013; First Nat’l Bank of Olathe, Kansas v. Pontow, 111 F.3d 604, 609

(8th Cir. 1997).   "A finding is 'clearly erroneous' when although there

is evidence to support

                                    2
it, the reviewing court on the entire evidence is left with the definite

and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed."   Anderson v.

City of Bessemer, 470 U.S. 564, 573, 105 S. Ct. 1504, 1511, 84 L. Ed. 2d
518 (1985) (quoting U.S. v. U.S. Gypsum Co., 333 U.S. 364, 395, 68

S.Ct.525, 541-42, 92 L. Ed. 746 (1948)).    We review the legal conclusions

of the bankruptcy court de novo.   First Nat'l, 111 F.3d at 609; Estate

of Sholdan v. Dietz, (In re Sholdan), 108 F.3d 886, 888 (8th Cir. 1997).

     The bankruptcy court's findings of fact were not clearly

erroneous.    There was ample evidence in the record to sustain each of

the court's detailed factual findings.    Debtor explained each

inconsistency in the loan applications and also provided an explanation

for why he did not purchase the van with the loan proceeds.    The

bankruptcy court judged his testimony to be credible.    It is not the

function of an appellate court to substitute its judgment of the

credibility of a witness for that of the trial court.   U.S. v. Triplett,

104 F.3d 1074, 1080 (8th Cir. 1997), cert. denied, __ U.S. __, 117 S. Ct.
1837, 137 L. Ed. 2d 1042 (1997), and cert. denied, __ U.S. __, 117 S. Ct.
2445, 138 L. Ed. 2d 204 (1997); U.S. v. Ballew, 40 F.3d 936, 942 (8th Cir.

1994), cert. denied, 514 U.S. 1091, 115 S. Ct. 1813, 131 L. Ed. 2d 737

(1995); Handeen v. LeMaire (In re LeMaire), 898 F.2d 1346, 1349 (8th

Cir. 1990).

                                     3
     The bankruptcy court concluded that the debts were not excepted

from discharge under § 523(a)(2)(A).    However,

§ 523(a)(2)(B) was applicable to that portion of Appellant's case which

rested on misrepresentations contained in written statements concerning

Debtor's financial condition.   First Nat'l, 111 F.3d at 609.   Appellant

did not specifically plead, nor attempt to prove, a cause of action

under § 523(a)(2)(B). In addition to being deficient with respect to the

elements of proof on which the bankruptcy court made findings, the

record is devoid of any evidence1 of reasonable reliance.   Appellant,

thus, also failed to prove a cause of action under § 523(a)(2)(B).

     ACCORDINGLY, the decision of the bankruptcy court is AFFIRMED.

A true copy.

Attest:

     CLERK, U.S. BANKRUPTCY APPELLATE PANEL
     FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT

1
     At oral argument debtor moved to strike portions of
Appellant's Appendix, or, alternatively, to supplement the
record. This court has granted the request to supplement the
record. Accordingly, the record includes both the Appellant's
Appendix and the Supplemental Appendix of the Defendant-Appellee.

                                    4