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97 F. 493

Docket No. 2,936.

In re Black

California Northern District Court

Decided November 1, 1899.)

California Northern District Court · decided 1899-11-01

<p>Bankruptcy — Grounds of Owosmos to Disgharor — Fraud.</p> <p>It is no ground for refusing a, bankrupt's application for discharge that the debt of the creditor opposing such application was created by the fraud and false representations of tlio bankrupt. The effect of the discharge, if granted, upon any particular, claim cannot be determined upon the petition for discharge, but only in an action for the enforcement ol’ such claim, to which the discharge is pleaded in bar.</p>

Cited by 5 later decisions — most recently March 1938

1 federal appellate · 2 district ·

2 counsel of record

Key passage — most relied on by later courts

““The judge shall hear the application for a discharge, and such proofs and pleas as may he made in opposition thereto by parties in interest, at such time as will give parties in interest a reasonable opportunity to lie fully heard, and investigate the merits of the application and discharge the applicant unless he has (1) committed an offense punishable by imprisonment as herein provided; or (2) with fraudulent intent to eonceal his true financial condition and in contemplation of bankruptcy,' destroyed, concealed, or failed to keep books of account or records from which his true condition might be ascertained.””

quoted by 1 later decision, including Marshall Paper Co. v. Train

Relies on In re Thomas

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1899-11-01

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

¶1Bankruptcy — Grounds of Owosmos to Disgharor — Fraud.

¶2It is no ground for refusing a, bankrupt's application for discharge that the debt of the creditor opposing such application was created by the fraud and false representations of tlio bankrupt. The effect of the discharge, if granted, upon any particular, claim cannot be determined upon the petition for discharge, but only in an action for the enforcement ol’ such claim, to which the discharge is pleaded in bar.

¶3In Bankruptcy. On opposition to bankrupt’s application for discharge.

¶4Fisher Ames, for bankrupt.

¶5Rosenthal & Wise, for apposing creditors.

¶6DE HAVEN, District Judge.

¶7The bankrupt’s application for discharge is opposed by Bier & Regensburger, creditors, upon the ground that her indebtedness to them was fraudulently contracted; the specific charge being that such indebtedness is for money loaned, and that such loan was obtained from them by means of certain false and fraudulent representations upon the part of the bankrupt.

¶8The matters thus alleged in opposition to the discharge are not sufficient in law. The fraudulent contracting of a debt is not made, by section 14 of the bankruptcy act of 1898, a ground for refusing the bankrupt’s application for a discharge. That section provides that the application shall be granted, unless the bankrupt lias “(1) committed an offense punishable by imprisonment, as herein pro*494vided; or (2) with fraudulent intent to conceal his true financial condition, and in contemplation of bankruptcy, destroyed, concealed, or failed to keep books of account or records from which his true condition might be ascertained.” This language is plain, and there is no escape from the conclusion that the court is not authorized to deny the application for discharge upon a ground not set forth in this section; and it is equally plain that fraud in the creation of a debt is not made by this section one of the causes for which a discharge shall be denied. The bankruptcy act provides (section 17) that a discharge shall not affect any debt created by the fraud of the bankrupt, but the question whether there was fraud in the creation of any particular debt is one which the court of bankruptcy is not authorized to adjudicate in passing upon the bankrupt’s application for discharge. That question is one which can only be determined in an action by the creditor for the recovery of such debt when the discharge in bankruptcy is pleaded in bar. In such an action, and in answer to such plea, the creditor would have the right to show that the debt sued for was created by fraud, and therefore not affected by the discharge. In re Thomas (D. C.) 92 Fed. 912.

¶9The petition for discharge is granted, the opposing creditors to pay the costs incident to the opposition filed.

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