A recent Bankruptcy Appellate Panel decision is a reminder of both a benefit of bankruptcy, in appropriate circumstances, and the need to respect the bankruptcy discharge a party obtains in the process.
Mr. Lee was developing a sushi restaurant concept called Little Madfish. Mr. Im and his wife invested $200,000 and obtained stock and rights to open a Little Madfish restaurant. They also applied for a visa to work in the U.S. on the basis of having made a substantial investment in the business.
The restaurant failed. Lee filed for bankruptcy. After he obtained a discharge, Mr. Im sued in state court for franchise law violations, fraud and rescission of the stock purchase. Lee moved in state court to dismiss the claims based on his bankruptcy discharge. The state court dismissed some claims, but not all of them. At trial, a jury found Mr. Lee did not commit fraud and the court ruled that another claim was barred by the bankruptcy discharge.
Lee then asked the bankruptcy court to reopen his case so he could seek sanctions against Im for violating the discharge in bringing the state litigation. The bankruptcy court held Mr. Im in contempt, holding him liable for $50,000, for suing in state court after Mr. Lee obtained a discharge.
A bankruptcy discharge protects against claims for violating franchise laws as well as other claims. (Though under one bankruptcy code exception, a discharge may not protect against securities law claims). A person who is sued for franchise law violations or most other claims, may be able to discharge them through bankruptcy and it is important for claimants to respect the bankruptcy discharge.
Read the entire decision: In re Lee 2015 WL 3960897 (9th Cir. Bankr. App. Panel)
