Fleming v. Gordon (In re Gordon)
Fleming v. Gordon (In re Gordon)
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before the Court are two adversary proceedings commenced separately by Plaintiff Dr. Bruce Fleming (hereafter referred to as “B. Fleming”) and Plaintiff Dr. Jessie Fleming (hereafter referred to as “J. Fleming”) (together, the “Plaintiffs”),
I. Procedural Background
The Adversary Proceedings were filed seeking a finding of non-dischargeability pursuant to Sections 523(a)(2), (4), (6) and (19) of the Bankruptcy Code. At the conclusion of discovery, Plaintiffs filed for summary judgment on all counts. The Court held a hearing on the Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment on April 24, 2012.
The Court found that material disputes of fact existed as to the § 523(a)(2) and (4) counts and summary judgment could not be granted in favor of Plaintiffs. Further, Plaintiffs conceded that the facts did not support a finding of willful and malicious injury under § 523(a)(6). The Court thereupon granted summary judgment to the Defendant as to the counts brought under § 523(a)(6). With respect to the § 523(a)(19)
The Court then conducted a two-day trial on October 9 and October 11, 2012 upon the remaining counts brought under §§ 528(a)(2) and (a)(4).
II. Factual Background
Defendant is a certified financial planner with twenty-three years of experience in the financial industry, and is licensed to sell all types of securities, including bonds. Both Plaintiffs were clients of Defendant. Plaintiff J. Fleming first approached Defendant in 1992 for investment recommendations when changes were being made to J. Fleming’s retirement and pension systems. Plaintiff B. Fleming initially went to Defendant to prepare his taxes, and later, as he began to receive money from his elderly father, approached Defendant for investment advice.
In 2004, Defendant approached both Plaintiffs with an investment opportunity in Pomfret Plantation, LLC (“Pomfret”), a Maryland limited liability company owned by Wills-Hatala, LLC and Gordon & Company LTD (the latter entity was owned wholly by the Defendant’s son, Matthew Gordon). The developers of the Pomfret project envisioned purchasing five tracts of land, measuring 520 acres, in Marion Station, Maryland and building a real-estate development. When presenting the Pom-fret opportunity to Plaintiffs, Defendant did not provide Plaintiffs with materials including a prospectus because according to Defendant, a prospectus was not required.
To raise funds for the project, Pomfret planned to sell Notes to be secured by the acreage owned by Pomfret. When an individual invested in the Pom-fret project, he or she was provided a packet that included a “Bill Obligatory”
Based upon the Defendant’s assurance that the Pomfret project was a good fit for the Plaintiffs’ respective investment portfolios,
On May 22, 2006, after expending $692,000 in owners’ capital and $525,000 of borrowed funds over the course of three years, Pomfret filed for bankruptcy relief in this Court under Chapter ll.
III. Analysis
Plaintiffs assert that the difference between the amount received in payment of the award by the Maryland Securities Commissioner and the amounts set forth in the Plaintiffs’ proofs of claims
A. 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(4)
Section 523(a)(4)
*697 (1) the establishment of an express trust regarding the funds;
(2) that the debtor acted in a fiduciary capacity; and
(3) the debt is based upon the debtor’s fraud or defalcation while acting as a fiduciary.
Once the requisite relationship is established, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has found that no intentional wrongful conduct must be proven by a plaintiff. Rather, “negligence or even an innocent mistake which results in misappropriation or failure to account is sufficient.” Republic of Rwanda v. Uwimana (In re Uwimana), 274 F.3d 806, 811 (4th Cir. 2001). See also Counsell v. Colfack (In re Colfack), 393 B.R. 222, 230 (Bankr.D.Neb. 2008) (The Eighth Circuit has held that a court can find a “defalcation” under § 523(a)(4) without evidence of bad faith, intentional fraud, or other intentional wrongdoing); Lewis v. Scott (In re Lewis), 97 F.3d 1182, 1187 (9th Cir. 1996) (An individual may be liable for defalcation without having the intent to defraud.). Contra Rutanen v. Baylis (In re Baylis), 313 F.3d 9, 18-19, 22 (1st Cir.Mass. 2002) (“For an act to fall under the “defalcation” exception to discharge, it must be a serious one indeed, and some fault must be involved.”); Spinoso v. Heilman (In re Heilman), 241 B.R. 137, 170 n. 31 (Bankr.D.Md. 1999) (“Mere negligence on the part of a trustee of an express trust in the absence of intentional wrongdoing ... does not constitute defalcation within the meaning of 11 U.S.C.S. § 523(a)(4).”)
If the asserted fiduciary relationship is one of a trustee,
The Defendant’s job was described in various ways during trial as well as in the pleadings: financial advisor, broker-dealer, investment advisor.
In the Complaints, Plaintiffs allege that because Defendant was the Plaintiffs’ financial and investment advisor, Defendant was in a position of “trust” and “confidence” and used this position in order to solicit, through fraud and defalcation, investment funds from Plaintiffs.
Similarly, although B. Fleming testified that he believed that Defendant had authority to invest money without his prior specific consent, the arrangement he described does not fit one where the financial planner has autonomy over investments. B. Fleming acknowledged that the Defendant had to discuss investments when making investment recommendations.
Plaintiffs also cannot successfully state a claim under the other provisions of § 523(a)(4) because they have failed to plead or prove embezzlement or larceny. Under § 523(a)(4) embezzlement has been defined as “the fraudulent appropriation of property by a person to whom such property has been entrusted or into whose hands it has lawfully come.” Brady v. McAllister (In re Brady), 101 F.3d 1165, 1172-73 (6th Cir. 1996); Brown v. Beckett (In re Beckett), 96 B.R. 366, 368 (M.D.Fl. 1989). Plaintiffs have not submitted facts that would support a claim of embezzlement because they have not submitted any facts that suggest Defendant misappropriated funds. Rather, Plaintiffs concede Defendant invested the Plaintiffs’ monies in the Pomfret project as directed.
As to larceny, federal common law and federal practice define larceny as a “felonious taking of another’s property with intent to convert or deprive the owner of the same.” In re Davis, 262 B.R. 663, 672 (Bankr.E.D.Va. 2001); In re Lynch, 315 B.R. 173 (Bankr.D.Colo. 2004). Accord In re Zanetti-Gierke, 212 B.R. 375 (Bankr.D.Kan. 1997). Plaintiffs have neither asserted, nor presented any evidence of a larcenous taking by Defendant.
Thus, the Court finds and concludes that the Plaintiffs’ debts shall not be excepted from discharge under § 523(a)(4).
B. 11 U.S.C. 523(a)(2)
Plaintiffs also allege that the debts owed them by Plaintiff must be found non-dischargeable pursuant to § 523(a)(2)(A). This section provides that debts “for money, property, services” are non-dischargeable “to the extent obtained, by — false pretenses, a false representation,
To sustain an action under § 523(a)(2)(A) a plaintiff must satisfy five elements by a preponderance of the evidence. Garner, 498 U.S. at 291, 111 S.Ct. at 661, 112 L.Ed.2d at 767 (1991); In re Rountree, 478 F.3d 215, 218 (4th Cir. 2007); In re Koep, 334 B.R. 364, 371-72 (Bankr.D.Md. 2005); In re Pleasants, 231 B.R. 893, 897 (Bankr.E.D.Va. 1999), aff'd, 219 F.3d 372 (4th Cir. 2000). To successfully prosecute a § 523(a)(2)(A) claim, a Plaintiff must prove:
1. That a representation was made by the defendant;
2. That the defendant knew that the representation was false when she made it;
3. That the defendant made the representation with the intent and purpose of deceiving the plaintiff;
4. That the plaintiff justifiably relied on the false representation; and
5. That plaintiff suffered damages as a proximate result of the representation.
Koep, 334 B.R. at 372; In re Biondo, 180 F.3d 126 (1999); In re Valdes, 188 B.R. 533 (Bankr.D.Md. 1995). While the underlying validity of a creditor’s claim is determined by state law, the issue of non-dis-chargeability is a matter of federal law governed by the Bankruptcy Code. Garner, 498 U.S. at 283, 111 S.Ct. at 657, 112 L.Ed.2d at 763 (1991) (citing to Brown v. Felsen, 442 U.S. 127, 129-130, 99 S.Ct. 2205, 60 L.Ed.2d 767 (1979)).
The requirement of a knowing false representation can be satisfied by a reckless representation. A representation is “reckless” if it is made without any knowledge of the truth, if the person making the representation knows that he does not have sufficient information or a basis to support it, or if he realizes that he does not know whether or not the statement is true. 37 Am Jur 2d Fraud and Deceit § 120. See e.g. Livingston Livestock Exchange, Inc. v. Hull State Bank, 14 S.W.3d 849 (Tex.App.Beaumont 2000); Folies v. Midwest Street Rod Ass’n of Omaha, Inc., 254 Neb. 552, 578 N.W.2d 418 (1998); Ausley v. Bishop, 133 N.C.App. 210, 515 S.E.2d 72 (1999). Simply stated, a representation is made recklessly when the speaker has no regard for whether it is true or false. Accord In re Lindsley, 388 B.R. 661, 669 (Bankr.D.Md. 2008) (citing Pleasants, 231 B.R. at 898).
Intent to deceive may be inferred if defendant knowingly or recklessly made false representations, which he should have know would induce another to rely on them. Pleasants at 898. AT & T Universal Card Servs. Corp. v. Trivisani (In re Trivisani), 225 B.R. 319, 321 (Bankr.D.Md. 1998) (citing Citibank, N.A. v. Michel, 220 B.R. 603, 606 (N.D.Ill. 1998)). See also In re Falk of Bethlehem, 3 B.R. 266, 275 (Bankr.D.N.J. 1980) (the ultimate facts required to make a determination of intent must often be inferred because they in
Here, Plaintiffs aver that Defendant explicitly misrepresented pertinent information regarding the Pomfret project, and also misrepresented by omission that the Pomfret investment was within each of the Plaintiffs’ respective investment portfolios.
First, Plaintiffs argue that Defendant misrepresented the risk of the Pomfret investment by commission. Plaintiffs focus on the fact that Defendant informed Plaintiffs the Bills were secured. Defendant concedes that she did in fact inform each Plaintiff the Bills would be secured, but that was because she believed that to be the case
Counsel: Now, at the time you made that statement, that was not true, was it?
Defendant: I have no idea. At the time I thought it was true.
Counsel: All right. Now, at the time, you made that statement, Pomfret Plantation didn’t even own the real estate, in October of 2004.
Defendant: They were already under contract.
Counsel: You understand the difference between something under contract and actual ownership?
Defendant: It was
The Court: Well, it depends upon if you’re talking about legal ownership or equitable ownership under the laws of Maryland when you use that term, counsel and you didn’t define it. You want to define it?
Counsel: I do.
The Court: All right.
Counsel: In terms of giving them a mortgage as a part of where their money [sic], how could Pomfret Plantation do that if they didn’t have legal title to the property at the time of the investment, do you know?
Defendant: Well, my understanding is on an installment sale that they do in all terms of management and ownership and legalities own the property. They just don’t have the deed until the final closing which had been determined that it would be in December.
The Court finds that it cannot infer that Defendant could not have believed the statement in the Notes that the Notes were secured because Deeds to the Pom-fret property had not been received by Pomfret at the time the Notes were exhibited to the Plaintiffs. No definitive information as to the type of eontract(s) to purchase by and between Pomfret and the seller of the land was placed in evidence. The Court makes no finding that the contracts) were retail installment contracts. However, under the doctrine of after acquired title:
In equity, however, a mortgage which in terms covers things thereafter to be acquired creates a lien or charge on such things, upon their acquisition by the mortgagor, this being an application of a general equitable principle that if one, by contract, undertakes to create a lien or charge, the lien or charge will be regarded as actually existing, upon the acquisition by such person of the thing sought to be charged, unless the mortgage is, by its terms, restricted to the interest held by the mortgagor at the time of its execution.
5 Tiffany, Real Prop., § 1385 (2012 ed.) (citations omitted). It therefore appears that the statement as to being secured, contained in the Notes was not a legal impossibility, even if this Court were to charge the lay Defendant with having knowledge of applicable real estate law.
The Court finds that the Defendant’s representation that the Bills were secured was not a known falsehood but rather Defendant believed the Bills were secured as stated therein. Nor was the Defendant’s belief, based upon a document prepared by counsel for Pomfret, reckless as a legal replacement for a knowing falsehood.
In the alternative, Plaintiffs argue that Defendant did not have sufficient information regarding Pomfret to make an informed recommendation to Plaintiffs, and thus in recommending the project she did so recklessly. Plaintiffs contend that they would not have invested if Defendant had properly advised them about the Pom-fret project. In turn, Defendant testified that she concluded that Pomfret was financially sound after discussions with the real estate developers and other local real estate developers, an informal appraisal prepared by Bill McCain that valued the property at $5,000,000, and her examination of budget sheets and cash flow projections provided by Matthew Gordon.
In their submission Plaintiffs cite to In re Lindsley, 388 B.R. at 661, for the legal proposition that words or conduct, including omissions which produce a false or misleading impression constitute a misrepresentation. However, the facts in Linds-ley are so divergent from the evidence before the Court in the instant case as to lend no weight to the court’s application of the elements of § 523(a)(2) to this case.
An example of a “reckless” statement that could not be ruled out as not “reckless,” on directed verdict, is found in Livingston Livestock. In Livingston Livestock, the plaintiff bank customer brought suit against his bank alleging, inter alia, fraud based on the bank’s actions in connection with a wire transfer. The Court of Appeals of Texas, in finding that the lower
Here, as opposed to Livingston Livestock, the evidence presented at trial was that Defendant took steps to investigate the Pomfret project and from the information received reasonably believed the Notes were secured and the investment was within the expressed risk tolerances of each Plaintiff. The Court finds the Defendant’s testimony credible, and that Defendant did in fact believe that the Notes purchased by Plaintiffs would be secured by the land, and that the “worst case scenario” would be that the land was sold and Plaintiffs were reimbursed in full.
In evaluating the evidence, the Court must take judicial notice of the economic events in the years immediately leading up to the investment. In the years leading up to 2004 when Plaintiffs invested in Pom-fret, real estate values had increased exponentially. However, beginning perhaps in 2007 and accelerating in 2008, real estate sales and development projects like Pom-fret virtually crashed. The Court cannot impute to Defendant that in 2004 she should have known this crash would occur.
Both at trial and in the Posh-Trial Memorandum, Plaintiffs vigorously assert that Defendant misrepresented her son, Matthew Gordon’s, involvement in the Pomfret venture. Mr. Gordon’s involvement does raise a concern as to a conflict of interest in the Defendant’s investment advice. However, there was no misrepresentation by omission or commission of Matthew Gordon’s involvement as both Plaintiffs conceded that they were informed by the Defendant of Matthew Gordon’s involvement in the project when Defendant made the investment recommendation.
Nor does the Defendant’s desire to aid her son in his business venture, standing alone, prove by a preponderance of the evidence that Defendant intended to deceive Plaintiffs in order to induce them to invest. It is undisputed that Defendant wanted the venture to succeed. However, the evidence was uncontradicted that the Defendant only became directly involved in the project after the Plaintiffs’ investments
Plaintiffs not only focus on the specific representations made to them regarding the risk of the Pomfret investment, but also on the inferences from the Defendant’s representations. Specifically, Plaintiffs suggest that by recommending Pom-fret, Defendant implied that the project was within each of the Plaintiffs’ risk tolerance, when in fact they assert it was a riskier investment than those historically recommended by Defendant. For instance, B. Fleming testified, “The fact that she said ... Pomfret is the best place for my money. Had to assume she had my best interest at heart and that was correct.”
The Court finds at trial that Plaintiffs downplayed their risk tolerance. Both Plaintiffs repeatedly testified that they were each low risk investors.
B. Fleming completed an investment profile for Defendant in 2001 and it classified him as a “growth investor.”
Accordingly, the Defendant’s debts will not be excepted from discharge under § 523(a)(2)(A).
IV. Conclusion
As the above demonstrates there are differing levels of mens rea needed among the various subsections of § 523(a). As to § 523(a)(4), if a plaintiff proves a position of fiduciary capacity, then the breach of care is quite modest. Uwimana, 274 F.3d at 811. Where a defendant does not occupy a position tantamount to a trustee, debts arising at most from negligence, or breach of contract (here Defendant’s duties to Plaintiffs appear to arise from a contractual relationship), are dis-chargeable. In contrast, when evaluating a defendant’s conduct under § 523(a)(2)(A), a defendant need not be in a fiduciary relationship with a plaintiff, however, the defendant’s conduct must be more egregious. Likewise, with claims pled under § 523(a)(6) (disposed of at summary judgment) a fiduciary capacity is not required, but a defendant’s actions must be “wilful and malicious.”
Further, Congress has also provided for the non-dischargeability of certain debts arising from securities violations, even if a debtor is not a trustee or a similar fiduciary under § 523(a)(4), nor has the requisite intent of either §§ 523(a)(2)(a) or (a)(6). Under § 523(a)(19) a debt that is for violation of securities laws, or fraud, deceit or manipulation in connection with the purchase or sale of any security is non-dis-chargeable if the acts result in a judgment, order or settlement agreement as described with specificity in § 523(a)(19).
However, Congress did not draft the reach of § 523(a)(2),(4),(6) and (19) to include all losses arising from investment advice by a financial advisor. Despite the Plaintiffs’ attempts to utilize § 523(a)(2) and (a)(4) to recover the investment losses incurred by Plaintiffs that were not included in the Consent Order entered by the Securities Commissioner of Maryland, because Plaintiffs have not proven that the Defendant held the necessary position of trust required under § 523(a)(4) nor acted with the fraudulent conduct required by § 523(a)(2), the Court cannot find a basis in the Bankruptcy Code to find the Plaintiffs’ losses non-dischargeable.
. The adversary proceedings were combined by an Order To Jointly Administer Adversary Proceedings entered on March 29, 2011. Plaintiff J. Fleming is the mother of Plaintiff B. Fleming.
. Section 523(a)(19) excepts from discharge a debt that
(A) is for—
(i) the violation of any of the Federal securities laws (as that term is defined in section 3(a)(47) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), any of the State securities laws, or any regulation or order issued under such Federal or State securities laws; or
(ii) common law fraud, deceit, or manipulation in connection with the purchase or sale of any security; and
(B) results, before, on, or after the date on which the petition was filed, from—
(i) any judgment, order, consent order, or decree entered in any Federal or State judicial or administrative proceeding;
(ii) any settlement agreement entered into by the debtor; or
(iii) any court or administrative order for any damages, fine, penalty, citation, restitu-tionary payment, disgorgement payment, attorney fee, cost, or other payment owed by the debtor.
11 U.S.C. 523(a)(19). Thus, § 523(a)(19) allows for debts to found non-dischargeable if the acts of a financial planner violate federal or state securities law, or constitute fraud, deceit, or manipulation in connection with the purchase or sale of a security and there is an entered judgment in a federal or state court, or by an administrative proceeding, settlement, or consent order.
. The Transcripts of the October 9 and October 11, 2012 trial are part of the Court's record and appear at docket Nos. 59 and 60, respectively.
. Transcript, October 9, 2012, p. 45, lines 1-5.
. Id. at p. 61, lines 23-24.
. Id. at p. 62, lines 4-5.
. A Bill Obligatory is a seldom used and perhaps archaic term for a promissory note. Cf. Hand v. Mfrs. & Traders Trust Co., 405 Md. 375, 952 A.2d 240 (Md. 2008).
. Plaintiffs' Exhibit No. 3.
. Defendant testified that she would not have recommended the investment in Pomfret to Plaintiffs if she did not think the investment was a good fit for each of the Plaintiffs' re
. Transcript, October 11, 2012, p. 93, lines 22-25.
. Case No. 06-12930-DK.
. J. Fleming filed Proof of Claim 1-1 asserting a claim of $155,684.93. B. Fleming filed Proof of Claim No. 4-1 for $621,534.26. On Schedule F, Defendant listed J. Fleming as holding a $150,134.00 tort claim and B. Fleming as holding a $626,741.00 tort claim.
. At the close of trial, both parties were instructed to submit proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law. Plaintiffs filed proposed findings or conclusions in support of a finding of non-dischargeability under § 523(a)(2) but submitted no proposed findings or conclusions in support of non-dis-chargeability under § 523(a)(4). However, because the counts brought under § 523(a)(4) have not been formally withdrawn, the Court will address those counts as part of this Memorandum Opinion.
. Section 523(a)(4) provides: A discharge under section 727 ... of this title does not discharge an individual from any debt—
(4) for fraud or defalcation while acting in a fiduciary capacity, embezzlement, or larceny.
. Black's Law Dictionary defines “trustee” as "one who stands in a fiduciary or confidential relation to another; esp., one who, having legal title to property, holds it in trust for the benefit of another and owes a fiduciary duty to that beneficiary.” Black's Law Dictionary (9th ed. 2009).
. Transcript, October 11, 2012, p. 52, line 11 (financial advisor); Complaint, Docket no. 1 (investment advisor); Plaintiffs’ Post-Trial Memorandum, Docket no. 51 (investment-ad-visor); Defendant’s Post-Trial Memorandum, Docket no. 56 (investment advisor); Transcript, October 11, 2012, p. 77, lines 13-15 (broker/dealer).
. For example, B. Fleming described the Defendant as his financial advisor. Transcript, October 9, 2012, p. 49, line 22.
. Complaint, Docket No. 1, p. 6.
. Transcript, October 9, 2012, p. 77, line 11.
. Id. at p. 77, lines 12-13.
. The term discretionary account was used in the testimony of the parties to describe an investment account in the control of an investment professional that could be invested by the professional in her discretion without specific approval by a client.
. Transcript, October 9, 2012, p. 84, lines 9-10.
. Id. atp. 77, line 1.
. Transcript, October 9, 2012, p. 61, line 25-page 62, line 4.
. See e.g., Id. at p. 52, lines 8-11.
. Transcript, October 11, 2012, p. 54, line 5.
. Transcript, October 9, 2012, p. 64, lines 23-24.
. Section 523(a)(2)(A) provides:
(a) A discharge under § 727, 1141, 1228(a), 1228(b), or 1328(b) of this title does not discharge an individual debtor from any debt— (2) for money, property, services, or an extension, renewal, or refinancing of credit, to the extent obtained by—
(A) false pretenses, a false representation, or actual fraud, other than a statement respecting the debtor’s or an insider's financial condition.
. Transcript, October 9, 2012, p. 77, lines 16-18.
. Id. atp. 36, lines 6-11.
. Id. at p. 30, limes 13-15.
. Transcript, October 11, 2012, p. 65, line 17.
. Plaintiffs' Exhibit 3.
. Neither Plaintiffs nor Defendant called the drafting counsel as a witness and no evidence was presented explaining why the statement as to security was included in the Bill but not accomplished in fact.
. Transcript, October 9, 2012, p. 32, lines 6-7 and 16-20.
. Id. at p. 77, line 22 (testimony of J. Fleming); Id. at p. 59, line 14 (testimony of B. Fleming).
. Id. at p. 36, line 3.
. Id. at p. 58, lines 18-20.
. Id. atp. 77, line 16-18.
. B. Fleming: Transcript October 9, 2012, p. 51. lines 7-8. p. 54, lines 15-21, p. 66, lines 19-20, p. 73, lines 8-15; J. Fleming: Id. at p. 82, lines 4 — 5, p. 83, lines 18-22, p. 76, lines 12-13 and 20-21.
. Transcript, October 9, 2012, p. 83, lines 7-11.
.Transcript, October 11, 2012, p. 57, line 6.
. Id. at p. 59, lines 15-19.
. Id. at p. 10, lines 20-22.
. Id. at lines 22-24.
. Transcript, October 11, 2012, p. 92, lines 21-23.
. Id. at p. 56, lines 7-10.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- In re Kathy GORDON, Debtor. Bruce Fleming v. Kathy Gordon, Defendant Jessie Fleming v. Kathy Gordon
- Cited By
- 6 cases
- Status
- Published