Roberto Rios Vargas v. Planet Home Lending, LLCRoberto Rios Vargas v. Planet Home Lending, LLC
FOR PUBLICATION
Before Cary, Fagone, and Katz, U.S. Bankruptcy Appellate Panel Judges
Alberto O. Lozada Colon, Esq., on brief for Appellant.
Sergio A. Ramirez de Arellano, Esq., on brief for Appellee.
The bankruptcy court disallowed a claim asserted by Planet Home Lending, LLC (“Planet Home“) against Roberto O. Rios Vargas (the “Debtor“). Later, Planet Home asked the court to reconsider the order disallowing the claim. The court obliged, issuing an order that rеconsidered the disallowance and allowed the claim. The Debtor now appeals. For the reasons set forth below, we AFFIRM.
BACKGROUND
In February 2023, Luna Residential III, LLC (“Luna Residential“) obtained a judgment against Manuel Angel Jimenez Garcia in an action for foreclosure of a mortgage encumbering real estate located in the Boqueron district of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico (the “Boqueron Property“). The Debtor then bought the Boqueron Property subject to the lien. Later, Luna Residential filed a motion in the foreclosure action indicating that the note secured by the mortgage had been transferred to Estrella Homes III, LLC (“Estrella Homes“).
In September 2023, the Debtor commenced a chapter 13 case, listing the Boqueron Property as his residence and listing Estrella Homes as a creditor holding a claim secured by that property. In his chapter 13 plan, the Debtor proposed to pay Estrella Homes on account of its secured claim. Planet Home filed a timely proof of claim, Claim No. 4-1, asserting a claim secured by the Boqueron Property. It also аttached an escrow statement identifying the borrower as Mr. Jimenez Garcia along with copies of a note and a recorded mortgage signed by him. The proof of claim identified the creditor as “Planet Home Lending, LLC, Servicer for Espacio Residential, LLC” (as opposed to Estrella Homes), and indicated that the claim had not been acquired from someone else. However, the mortgage proof of claim attachment (“Form 410A“) identified the creditor as Luna Residential. Neither the proof of claim nor Form 410A referenced Estrella Homes.
On December 21, 2023, the Debtor filed an objection to Planet Home‘s claim, asserting that the claim left him uncertain who held the note secured by the mortgage. Citing
Planet Home, in its asserted capacity as servicer to Espacio Residential, LLC (“Espacio Residential“), opposed the claim objection. As for the identity of the claimant, Planet Home acknowledged that the note had been transferred from Luna Residential to Estrella Homes prepetition, but it said nothing about any interest that Espacio Residential might have in the note. The Debtor replied that, in the absence of any evidence that Espacio Residential was the owner of the note, the claim should be disallowed. The bankruptcy court ordered Planet Home to respond to the Debtor‘s reply.
In response, on March 25, 2024, Planet Home, as servicer for Estrella Homes, filed a “Motion in Compliance with Order Re Debtor‘s Objection to Claim No. 4” (“Motion in Compliance“). In it, Planet Home confirmed that Estrella Homes, not Espacio Residential, was the holder of the claim and admitted that it had filed its original proof of claim as servicer for Espacio Residential by mistake. That same date, Planet Home also filed an amended proof of claim, Claim No. 4-2, identifying the creditor as “Planet Home Lending, LLC, Servicer for Estrella Homes III, LLC.” The amended proof of claim was filed along with a copy of the note signed by Mr. Jimenez Garcia and an endorsement of the note by Luna Residential to Estrella Homes.
On April 2, 2024, thе Debtor filed a “Reply to Answer to Order, Objection to Amended Claim 4-1 and for Imposition of Sanctions” (the “Reply“). This document was docketed as a reply to the Motion in Compliance rather than an objection to Planet Home‘s claim. In the Reply, the Debtor insisted that because the amended proof of claim named a new creditor it amounted to a new claim that should be disallowed as untimely, citing Gens v. Resolution Trust Corp., 112 F.3d 569 (1st Cir. 1997). He also argued that Planet Home‘s failure to acknowledge its mistake in a timely fashion amounted to bad faith litigation warranting disallowance of the claim, cancellation of the lien, and an award of attorney‘s fees. Planet Home responded by providing details of an error that had led its counsel to mistakenly identify the creditor in its original proof of claim.
On April 3, 2024, the bankruptcy court held a hearing on the Debtor‘s objections to Planet Home‘s claim, a hearing at which Planet Home did not appear. Several weeks later, the court entered an order partially sustaining the Debtor‘s objection to Planet Home‘s amеnded claim as unopposed and disallowing the claim. The court denied the Debtor‘s requests for cancellation of the lien and attorney‘s fees.
Two days later, Planet Home filed a motion for reconsideration, citing
The Debtor opposed the motion for reconsideration on due process grounds, pointing out that Planet Home received notice of the Reply—which clearly objected to the amended claim—and failed to oppose that objection or to appear at the hearing on the claim objections. Then, the Debtor filed a “Motion Requesting Entry of Order Adjudicating the Motion for Reconsideration” renewing the arguments that he made in his original claim objection. He did not request a hearing in this motion or in his opposition to Planet Home‘s motion for reconsideration.
Acting without a hearing, the bankruptcy court issued an order granting the motion to reconsider, overruling both of the Debtor‘s objections to Planet Home‘s claim, and allowing Planet Home‘s amended claim. The court characterized the motion as a request to alter or amend under
APPELLATE JURISDICTION
We have jurisdiction to hear appeals from final orders, judgments, and decrees.
SCOPE AND STANDARDS OF REVIEW
At the outset, we must determine which issues are properly considered on appeal and identify the standards by which
As for the procedural and timeliness arguments, neither was properly preserved for our review because neither was presented to the trial court. See Mullane v. U.S. Dep‘t of Just., 113 F.4th 123, 132 (1st Cir. 2024) (“To preserve a point for appeal, some developed argumentation must be put forward in the nisi prius court[.]“) (quoting B&T Masonry Constr. Co. v. Pub. Serv. Mut. Ins. Co., 382 F.3d 36, 40 (1st Cir. 2004).4 As a result, we review those issues only for plain error. See id. at 133 (assuming that issues were forfeited, rather than waived, and reviewing them for plain error); see also United States v. Acevedo-Sueros, 826 F.3d 21, 24 (1st Cir. 2016) (“Where a . . . claim would fail even if reviewed for plain error, we have often declined to decide whether the . . . failure to raise the issue below constituted waiver or mere forfeiture.“) (citation omitted). To obtain relief under the plain error standard, an appellant must show: “(1) that an error occurred (2) which was clear or obvious and which not only (3) affected the [appellant‘s] substantial rights, but also (4) seriously impaired the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings.” Cipes v. Mikasa, Inc. 439 F.3d 52, 56 (1st Cir. 2006) (quoting United States v. Duarte, 246 F.3d 56, 60 (1st Cir. 2001)). The third element is met only where the asserted error affected the outcome of the proceeding in a manner prejudicial to the appellant‘s rights. United States v. Turbides-Leonardo, 468 F.3d 34, 39 (1st Cir. 2006). Stated differently, the appellant must show a reasonable likelihood that, but for the asserted error, the proceeding would have turned out differently. Id. The fourth element requires a showing that a clear “miscarriage of justice will result if the [asserted] error is not сorrected.” See Cambridge Plating Co. v. Napco, Inc., 85 F.3d 752, 767 (1st Cir. 1996). “Plain error review is ‘extremely demanding,’ and ‘in this circuit, it is rare indeed for a panel to find plain error in a civil case.‘” Sparkle Hill, Inc. v. Interstate Mat Corp., 788 F.3d 25, 30 (1st Cir. 2015) (quoting Chestnut v. City of Lowell, 305 F.3d 18, 20 (1st Cir. 2002)).
As for the Debtor‘s final argument concerning bad faith, it is subject to a mixed standard of review. Ordinarily, an appellate court reviews a trial court‘s decision to grant a motion for reconsideration for abuse of discretion. Best Auto Repair Shop, Inc. v. Universal Ins. Grp., 875 F.3d 733, 737 (1st Cir. 2017). The same is true of a decision to allow an amendment to a proof of claim; that, too, is usually reviewed for abuse of discretion. Belser v. Nationstar Mortg., LLC (In re Belser), 534 B.R. 228, 234 (B.A.P. 1st Cir. 2015). But where, as here, the only issue preserved for appellate review is directed to an underlying legal question (i.e., the standard to be applied in assessing good faith) and a related finding of fact (that Planet Home did not act in bad faith), the appropriate standard of review is de novo as to the legal question and clear error as to the finding of fact. See Piazza v. Nueterra Healthcare Physical Therapy, LLC (In re Piazza), 719 F.3d 1253, 1271 (11th Cir. 2013) (concluding that “[t]he legal standard by which the court finds bad faith” under
DISCUSSION
I. The Bankruptcy Court Did Not Commit Plain Error by Granting Reconsideration Without a Hearing
The Debtor first maintains that the bankruptcy court erred in granting Planet Home‘s motion for reconsideration without a hearing. We are not convinced. Under
The court may decline to reconsider an order of allowance or disallowance without notice to any adverse party and without affording any hearing to the movant. If а motion to reconsider is granted, notice and hearing must be afforded to parties in interest before the previous action in the claim taken in respect to the claim may be vacated or modified.
The Debtor has seized upon this note, insisting that the order granting reconsideration should be vacated because it was not preceded by a hearing. He has not, however, identified any cases that so hold. He has also failed to explain why the rule of construction provided by
We are persuaded that the rule of construction provided by
II. The Bankruptcy Court Did Not Commit Plain Error by Deeming Planet Home‘s Claim Timely Filed
The Debtor‘s second argument—that the bankruptcy court erred in determining that Planet Home‘s clаim was timely filed—fares no better. The timely filing of proofs of claim is a subject governed by
A proof of claim secured by a security interest in the debtor‘s principal residence is timely filed if:
(A) the proof of claim and attachments required by [Bankruptcy] Rule 3001(c)(2)(C) are filed within 70 days after the order for relief; and
(B) the attachments required by [Bankruptcy] Rule 3001(c)(1) and (d) are filed as a supplement to the holder‘s claim within 120 days after the order for relief.
Under
As for the documents required by
In short, the bankruptcy court did not err, let alone plainly err, in concluding that Planet Home‘s claim was timely filed and, even if the court had so erred, the Debtor has made no effort tо establish
III. The Bankruptcy Court Did Not Err in Determining that Planet Home‘s Need to Amend Was Not the Product of Bad Faith or Dilatory Tactics
We now turn to the Debtor‘s final, preserved argument: that the bankruptcy court erred in concluding that Planet Home did not act in bad faith or engage in dilatory tactics in connection with the amendment of its proof of claim. In deciding whether to permit an amendment to a timely-filed proof of claim, a bankruptcy court “must scrutinize both the substance of the proposed amendment and the original proof of сlaim to ensure that the amendment meets three criteria.” In re Hemingway Transp., Inc., 954 F.2d at 10.
First, the proposed amendment must not be a veiled attempt to assert a distinctly new right to payment as to which the debtor estate was not fairly alerted by the original proof of claim. Second, the amendment must not result in unfair prejudice to other holders of unsecured claims against the estate. Third, the need to amend must not be the product of bad faith or dilatory tactics on the part of the claimant.
Id. (citations omitted).
The Debtor contests the bankruptcy court‘s determination regаrding the third criterion. Specifically, he complains that the court‘s ruling was not tethered to any definition of bad faith, and that it “fails to take into consideration the whole record of this case and the procedural conduct of the claimants.” He emphasizes that Planet Home did not amend the claim to reflect that Estrella Homes was the holder of the claim until March 2024, almost six months after the petition date. This procedural record, he says, “clearly shows bad faith and dilatory tactics.”
When the court in Hemingway Transport announced bad faith or dilatory tactics as a criterion bearing on the permissibility of an amendment to a claim, it relied upon In re McLean Industries, Inc., 121 B.R. 704, 708 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 1990), which in turn referred to a series of cases that leads back to Foman v. Davis, 371 U.S. 178, 182 (1962). That decision did not deal with amendments to proofs of claims, but rather enunciated standards to employ when assessing whether leave to amend a complaint should be granted under
In the wake of Foman, some courts grappling with the meaning of “bad faith” have, like the Debtor, resortеd to the dictionary. See, e.g., United States ex rel. Nicholson v. MedCom Carolinas, Inc., 42 F.4th 185, 198 (4th Cir. 2022) (attempting to define the “many-faceted” concept of bad faith). In the context of claim amendments, however, the case law on bad faith and dilatory tactics more precisely turns on whether there is any “evidence whatever from which to infer” that the claimant “intentionally refrained, out of any improper or dilatory purpose” from providing in the original proof of claim the information set forth in the amended claim. See In re Hemingway Transp., Inc., 954 F.2d at 12. Not evеry delay amounts to bad faith or suggests a dilatory motive. In Gens, for example, an agent incorrectly filed a proof of claim in its own name, rather than as agent for the creditor, and demonstrated “considerable laxity in executing its agency responsibilities[.]” Gens, 112 F.3d at 575. The agent did not file an amended claim to correct the name of the creditor until seven
Here, Planet Home explained that it mistakenly identified the holder of the claim in its original proof of claim. While it offered no excuse for its delay in correcting the proof of claim, there is no suggestion in the record that Planet Home inaccurately completed its original proof of claim on purpose or delayed in filing the amеnded proof of claim in order to obtain some sort of unfair advantage. Simply stated, Planet Home‘s tardiness does not, by itself, establish bad faith or dilatory motives. See Gens, 112 F.3d at 575-76. In the absence of any evidence from which the bankruptcy court could have inferred an improper motive for the mistake and the delay in correcting it, we perceive no infirmity in the bankruptcy court‘s determination that Planet Home did not act in bad faith or engage in dilatory tactics in amending its claim.
CONCLUSION
Based on the analysis set forth above, we AFFIRM the bankruptcy court‘s order allowing Planet Home‘s claim and reconsidering the prior order disallowing that claim.
Notes
S. Rep. No. 95-989, at 27 (1978), as reprinted in 1978 U.S.C.C.A.N. 5787, 5813.[T]he concept of “after notice and a hearing” . . . is central to . . . the separation of the administrative and judicial functions of bankruptcy judges. The phrase means after such notice as is appropriate in the particular circumstances (to be prescribed by either the Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure or by the court in individual circumstances thаt the rules do not cover . . .), and such opportunity for a hearing as is appropriate in the particular circumstances. Thus, a hearing will not be necessary in every instance.