In re: Hackett
In re: Hackett
Opinion
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
_____________________
No. 99-30618 _____________________
In The Matter Of: ROBERT LEO HACKETT
Debtor
-------------------------
ROBERT LEO HACKETT
Appellant
v.
UNITED STATES FIDELITY & GUARANTY COMPANY, INC.; DAVID OESTREICHER; JANICE CHENIER TAYLOR
Appellees
_________________________________________________________________
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana (98-CV-3819) _________________________________________________________________ August 31, 2000
Before KING, Chief Judge, and PARKER, Circuit Judge, and KAZEN*, District Judge.
PER CURIAM:**
Robert L. Hackett appeals the district court’s judgment
affirming the order of the bankruptcy court dismissing his Chapter
* District Judge of the Southern District of Texas, sitting by designation. ** Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4. 11 case.
The record reflects that Hackett filed a Chapter 13 case in
October 1997. Two motions for relief from stay were filed, one of
which was granted. The second creditor, Schwegmann Bank & Trust
Company, filed a § 362 motion for relief from the automatic stay in
January 1998, but resolution of the matter was delayed due to
uncertainty whether Hackett’s case would proceed. Schwegmann
renewed its motion in April 1998. Faced with an attempt by the
United States Trustee to dismiss his case for ongoing nonobservance
of Chapter 13 deadlines, Hackett voluntarily dismissed that case -
on the morning of the hearing date set for Schwegmann’s motion.
The dismissal mooted Schwegmann’s § 362 proceeding.
Three days later, Hackett sought relief under Chapter 11 of
the Bankruptcy Code in a new case. The United States Trustee
successfully moved to dismiss pursuant to
11 U.S.C. § 109(g)(2).
Hackett appealed the dismissal to the district court which affirmed
and filed a thoughtful opinion in support of its judgment.
On appeal, Hackett has favored us with a four-paragraph brief,
which asserts that he “followed the advice of counsel” in
voluntarily dismissing his Chapter 13 case and refiling in Chapter
ll. He provides no record cites and no argument in support of that
assertion. As appellee United States Fidelity & Guaranty Company
correctly points out, that is insufficient to preserve the issue
and it is waived. Hackett also attempts to raise the issue whether
§ 109(g)(2) should be strictly enforced or whether, instead, it should read in appropriate circumstances to include a good faith
exception. See In re Ulmer,
19 F.3d 234(5th Cir. 1994). Whatever
may be the answer to that question, it is clear that Hackett would
not qualify for such an exception however it might be configured.
The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED. Costs shall
be borne by Hackett.
Reference
- Status
- Unpublished