IN RE: INNOVATIVE COMMUNICATION CORPORATION, Debtor IN RE: JEFFREY J. PROSSER, Debtor STAN SPRINGEL and JAMES P. CARROLL, Plaintiffs v. JEFFREY J. PROSSER, DAWN PROSSER, SYBIL G. PROSSER, JUSTIN PROSSER, MICHELLE LABENNETT, and LYNDON A. PROSSER, Defendants
Springel v. Prosser
IN RE: INNOVATIVE COMMUNICATION CORPORATION, Debtor IN RE: JEFFREY J. PROSSER, Debtor STAN SPRINGEL and JAMES P. CARROLL, Plaintiffs v. JEFFREY J. PROSSER, DAWN PROSSER, SYBIL G. PROSSER, JUSTIN PROSSER, MICHELLE LABENNETT, and LYNDON A. PROSSER, Defendants
IN RE: INNOVATIVE COMMUNICATION CORPORATION, Debtor IN RE: JEFFREY J. PROSSER, Debtor STAN SPRINGEL and JAMES P. CARROLL, Plaintiffs v. JEFFREY J. PROSSER, DAWN PROSSER, SYBIL G. PROSSER, JUSTIN PROSSER, MICHELLE LABENNETT, and LYNDON A. PROSSER, Defendants
Civil No. 2008-77
District Court of the Virgin Islands Division of St. Thomas and St. John
August 22, 2008
Karin A. Bentz, Esq., St. Thomas, USVI, For Dawn Prosser.
Alan E. Pedersen, ESQ., Omaha, NE, For Justin Prosser, Sybil G. Prosser, Michelle LaBennett, and Lyndon A. Prosser.
Mark W. Eckard, ESQ., St. Croix, USVI, For Jeffrey J. Prosser.
Andrew Kamensky, Esq., Miami, FL, For Stan Springel.
Fred Stevens, esq., St. Thomas, USVI, For James P. Carroll.
GÓMEZ, Chief Judge
MEMORANDUM OPINION
(August 22, 2008)
Dawn Prosser appeals from the May 7,2008, order of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of the Virgin Islands (the "Bankruptcy Division"), finding that Dawn Prosser is not entitled to a jury trial. For the reasons stated below, the Court will affirm the decision below.
I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Because the Court has previously outlined the facts of this matter in related proceedings, the Court recites only those facts pertinent to its analysis in this particular motion.
On October 19, 2007, Chapter 11 trustee in the bankruptcy proceeding involving Innovative Communication Corporation, Stan Springel ("Springel") commenced an adversary proceeding (the "Turnover Action") against Dawn Prosser, Jeffrey Prosser, and their children, Justin Prosser, Michael J. Prosser, Sybil G. Prosser, Michelle LaBennett, and Lyndon A. Prosser ("the "Prossers") in the Bankruptcy Division. Springel's verified complaint seeks to: (1) compel the Prossers to assemble and deliver to Springel all personal property in the possession, custody, or control of the Prossers that was acquired with Innovative funds; (2) direct the Prossers to provide an inventory and accounting of that property; (3) compel the Prossers to safeguard and protect the property pending its delivery to Springel; and (4) to disallow any claims of the Prossers against Innovative pending the assembly and delivery of the property. Along with the verified complaint, Springel filed a motion for a temporary restraining order and for preliminary and permanent injunctive relief.
On December 7, 2007, Springel filed an amended complaint, which requested similar relief. James P. Carroll ("Carroll"), the trustee in the Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding involving Jeffrey Prosser joined in the amended complaint.
On March 17, 2008, Dawn Prosser Dawn Prosser filed an answer to the amended complaint, in which she invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and demanded a trial by jury.
On May 2, 2008, Dawn Prosser moved for withdrawal of the of this Court's automatic reference to the Bankruptcy Division of the Turnover Action, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 157(d) ("Section 157(d)") and Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 5011 ("Rule 5011"). In that motion, Dawn Prosser again asserted her right to a trial by jury.
On May 7, 2008, the Bankruptcy Division entered a memorandum opinion and order rejecting Dawn Prosser's claim that she was entitled to a jury trial.
On May 14, 2008 Dawn Prosser filed a notice of appeal from the May 7, 2008, order.
II. JURISDICTION AND STANDARD OF REVIEW
The Court has jurisdiction to review this case pursuant to Title 28 U.S.C. § 158(a). The Court will review the Bankruptcy Division's findings of fact for clear error and will exercise plenary review over questions of law. In re Barbel, No. 01-221, 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19417, at *2 (D.V.I. Sept. 21, 2004) ("A district court reviews the Bankruptcy Division's conclusions of law de novo but may only review findings of fact that are clearly erroneous.") (citing Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8013; In re Excalibur Auto. Corp., 859 F.2d 454, 457 (7th Cir. 1988)), aff'd 183 Fed. Appx. 227 (3d Cir. 2006).
III. ANALYSIS
In the memorandum opinion supporting the May 7, 2008, order, the Bankruptcy Division found that "the relief sought by the Trustee is purely equitable and therefore there is no right to jury trial with respect to this adversary proceeding." (Mem. Op. 9, May 7, 2008.) Even assuming, arguendo, that Dawn Prosser is entitled to a jury trial in the Turnover Action, in order to obtain a jury trial her jury demand must comply with the time requirements of Rule 9015-1 of the Local Rules of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of the Virgin Islands ("Rule 9015-1").
The pertinent portion of Rule 9015-1 provides:
C. Within thirty (30) days of filing [a jury trial] demand the party making the demand shall file with the Clerk and serve on all parties in interest:
1. the consent of all parties to trial by jury in the Bankruptcy Court; or
2. a motion to withdraw the reference to the District Court. All proceedings shall continue in the Bankruptcy Court unless and until an order is issued by the District Court withdrawing the reference.
D. The failure to comply with this Local Bankruptcy Rule shall be deemed to be a waiver of trial by jury in the Bankruptcy Court.
LRBP 9015-1 (2007).
Here, Dawn Prosser requested a jury trial on March 17, 2008. Thereafter, Dawn Prosser did not move to withdraw the reference until May 2, 2008, after the expiration of the thirty-day deadline imposed by Rule 9015-1(C). Dawn Prosser also failed to provide notice that all parties consented to a jury trial in the Bankruptcy Division. Thus, her motion to withdraw the reference was untimely. Because Dawn Prosser failed to comply with the requirements of Rule 9015-1, the Court finds that, even if this matter was amenable to a jury trial, she waived her right to a jury trial. Cf. Rothschild v. Seivers (In re Servers Enters.), 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15443 (W.D. Pa. July 29, 2005) (holding that the defendant waived her right to a jury trial because she failed to file a motion to withdraw the reference within thirty days of her jury demand, as required by Rule 9015-1 of the Local Rules of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania).
IV. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the Court will affirm the Bankruptcy Division's May 7, 2008, order. An appropriate Order follows.
Section 157(d) provides that "[t]he district court may withdraw, in whole or in part, any case or proceeding referred under this section, on its own motion or on timely motion of any party, for cause shown." 28 U.S.C. § 157(d) (2005).
Rule 5011(a) provides that "[a] motion for withdrawal of a case or proceeding shall be heard by a district judge." F.R.B.R 5011(a) (1991).
Dawn Prosser timely filed her notice of appeal in accordance with Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 8002(a), which states that "notice of appeal shall be filed with the clerk within 10 days of the date of the entry of the judgment, order, or decree appealed from." Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8002(a).
Title 28 U.S.C. § 158(a) provides that "[t]he district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction to hear appeals... of bankruptcy judges entered in cases and proceedings referred to the bankruptcy judges under [28 U.S.C. § 157], An appeal under this subsection shall be taken only to the district court for the judicial district in which the bankruptcy judge is serving." 28 U.S.C. § 158(a) (Lexis 2008).
Rule 9015-1 of the Local Rules of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania provides, in pertinent part:
C. Within thirty (30) days of filing the demand the party making the demand shall file with the Clerk and serve on all parties in interest:
(1) the consent of all parties to trial by jury in the Bankruptcy Court;
(2) pursuant to Fed. R. B ANKR. P. 5011, a motion for withdrawal of the reference in order to conduct a jury trial in the District Court; or
(3) a motion to extend time to file a consent or motion for withdrawal of the reference.
D. The failure to comply with this Local Rule shall be deemed to be a waiver of trial by jury in the Bankruptcy Court.
LRBP 9015-1 (2007).