U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, 2022

Donald Scott v. Julie Anderson

Donald Scott v. Julie Anderson
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit · Decided March 16, 2022

Donald Scott v. Julie Anderson

Opinion

United States Court of Appeals For the Eighth Circuit ___________________________ No. 21-2102 ___________________________ In re: Donald Henderson Scott; Carolyn Yvonne Scott lllllllllllllllllllllDebtors ------------------------------ Donald Henderson Scott; Carolyn Yvonne Scott lllllllllllllllllllllAppellants v. Julie Anderson, counsel for Mila Homes, LLC lllllllllllllllllllllAppellee ____________ Appeal from the United States Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Eighth Circuit ____________ Submitted: February 18, 2022 Filed: March 16, 2022 [Unpublished] ____________ Before COLLOTON, SHEPHERD, and GRASZ, Circuit Judges. ____________ PER CURIAM.

Donald and Carolyn Scott appeal after the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel (BAP) affirmed the bankruptcy court’s1 denial of their motions for sanctions and to disqualify the bankruptcy judge and awarded $3,000 in sanctions against the Scotts.

The Scotts argue that the BAP engaged in impermissible independent fact finding because the record on appeal was not properly transmitted from the bankruptcy court, and that the BAP erred by accepting Appellee’s brief and appendix. The Scotts do not argue the underlying merits of their appeal to the BAP or the BAP’s imposition of sanctions against them. Having carefully considered the record and the parties’ arguments, we find no basis for reversal. See In re Vote, 276 F.3d 1024, 1026 (8th Cir. 2002) (bankrupty court’s factual findings are reviewed for clear error and its conclusions of law de novo).

The Scotts have failed to identify how any of the claimed technical errors prejudiced them. Accordingly, any error was harmless. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 61 (harmless error is not grounds for disturbing judgment); Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9005 (Rule applies to bankruptcy cases); Shinseki v. Sanders, 556 U.S. 396, 409 (2009) (“The party that ‘seeks to have a judgment set aside because of an erroneous ruling carries the burden of showing that prejudice resulted.’”) (citation omitted); Hess v. Ables, 714 F.3d 1048, 1051 n.2 (8th Cir. 2013) (claims not briefed on appeal are waived).

Accordingly, we affirm. See 8th Cir. R. 47B. ______________________________

The Honorable Brian T. Fenimore, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Western District of Missouri.

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