In re Cohen

In re:, SAEED COHEN, Debtor.

Subsequent History: Decision reached on appeal by, Remanded by In re Cohen, 551 B.R. 23, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 136595 (C.D. Cal., 2015)

Later proceeding at In re Cohen, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 158109 (C.D. Cal., Nov. 15, 2016)

Counsel: 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 1For Saeed Cohen, aka Steve Cohen, Debtor: Ron Bender, Krikor J Meshefejian, Beth Ann R Young, Los Angeles, CA; Kurt Ramlo, Levene, Neale, Bender, Yoo & Brill L.L.P, Los Angeles, CA.

For United States Trustee (LA), U.S. Trustee: Dare Law, Office of the United States Trustee, Los Angeles, CA; Hatty K Yip, Office of the UST/DOJ, Los Angeles, CA.

For Bryan Cave LLP, Creditor Committee: Sharon Z. Weiss, Bryan Cave LLP, Santa Monica, CA.

For Committee of Creditors Holding Unsecured Claims, Creditor Committee: Mikel R Bistrow, Christopher Celentino, Ballard Spahr LLP, San Deigo, CA.

For Foley & Lardner LLP, Creditor Committee: Kathryn M.S. Catherwood, Foley & Lardner LLP, San Diego, CA.

Judges: Neil W. Bason, United States Bankcruptcy Judge.

Opinion by: Neil W. Bason

Opinion

522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 233 MEMORANDUM DECISION ON "ISSUE 1" RELATED TO WHETHER IRS CLAIM IS A COMMUNITY CLAIM

I. INTRODUCTION

Tax debts that arise during marriage are "community claims" in bankruptcy parlance, and they are payable from community property. In this case the debtor's wife argues that her interest in community property somehow ceased to be liable for those tax debts because, after she separated from the debtor, he entered into a settlement with the Internal Revenue Service522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 2 ("IRS"). She cites no authority that is on point, and this court rejects her arguments. This court also holds that certain entities in which the bankruptcy estate holds an interest are entitled to interpled funds in litigation to which the IRS is a party, and sustains in part and overrules in part various objections to the claims asserted by the IRS.

II. BACKGROUND

For brevity, filed documents are referred to by docket number ("dkt.") rather than their full title. Many arguments are repeated in numerous briefs, and this Memorandum Decision usually cites the briefs filed in the main bankruptcy case rather than the briefs in the adversary proceedings. Unless the context suggests otherwise, references to a "chapter" or "section" ("§") refer to the United States Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. § 101 et seq. (the "Code"), a "Rule" means one of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure ("FRBP"), Federal Rules of Civil Procedure ("FRCP"), or other federal or local rule, and other terms have the meanings provided in the Code, the Rules, and the parties' briefs.

In 1989 the debtor, Mr. Cohen ("Debtor"), was married to Ms. Fariba Cohen ("Ms. Cohen"). They separated in 2010 (the parties disagree on the precise separation date, 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 3 but it makes no difference for purposes of this memorandum decision). See Dkt. 60 at 10:10-11; 97; 460 at 5:12. Just before their divorce trial was set to resume, Debtor filed his voluntary chapter 11 bankruptcy petition on June 25, 2013 (the "Petition Date"). Dkt. 60 at 10:16-19. It is undisputed that by this time Debtor and Ms. Cohen had already incurred an astounding total of more than $13 million in legal fees in connection with their divorce.

Ms. Cohen has sought relief from the automatic stay (Section 362(a)) to continue her divorce litigation in State court. She has also argued that the automatic stay does not apply to some of the divorce proceedings, and that this court must or should abstain. She now reiterates many of these arguments. See, e.g., dkt. 242 at 15:18-21:12. The official committee of creditors holding unsecured claims (the 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 234 "Committee") and Debtor oppose that relief.

This court has rejected Ms. Cohen's arguments before, and does so again. Those arguments are not properly raised at this time (see dkt. 256 at 13:1-16:21) (Committee's Brief) and alternatively this court rejects the arguments on the merits, for the same reasons as before. Among other things, the divorce trial would 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 4 eat up more millions of dollars on litigation that very likely would be irrelevant, such as allocation of assets between Debtor and Ms. Cohen when, in all likelihood, there will be few or no assets left to allocate. See, e.g., dkt. 60, 134, 135, 223, 256 at 16:22-18:14, and Adv. 2:14-ap-01484 dkt. 16 & 17.

On June 3, 2014, this court issued a scheduling order pursuant to a stipulation among Debtor, Ms. Cohen, the Committee, and the IRS. See Dkt. 375, 394, 407, 448. This memorandum decision addresses Issues 1(a), 1(b), and 1(c) in that scheduling order:

Issue #1(a) — whether any of the claims asserted by the IRS against Debtor's estate are an allowed "community claim" as defined in Section 101(7), or if instead they are the separate debt of Debtor (or of Ms. Cohen) payable from property other than the kind identified in Section 541(a)(2);

Issue #1(b) — resolution of two adversary proceedings: Lighton Property, LLC v. Cohen, 2:14-ap-01194-NB ("Lighton"), and Nazarian v. Cohen, 2:14-ap-01195-NB ("Nazarian"); and

Issue #1(c) — resolution of the Committee's objection to the IRS claims asserted in its amended proof of claim 3-2 (the "IRS Claim").

In connection with the foregoing issues this court has reviewed the parties' 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 5 briefs in the bankruptcy case (dkt. 460-467), the documents referenced therein including in the Lighton and Nazarian adversary proceedings, the documents referenced below, and all other documents that this court has deemed relevant. For the reasons set forth below this court is not persuaded that it is necessary to hold an evidentiary hearing on any of these issues.

Some issues have been presented through formal motions for summary judgment, and others are presented as claim objections, all as modified by the scheduling order. The parties are all familiar with the standards for determining if there are genuine issues of material fact (see, e.g., Lighton Adv. dkt. 10, Ex. 33), and this court will not repeat them here.

A. Facts underlying Issue 1(a)

The IRS Claim is for over $8 million. The IRS asserts that most of this is a community claim that arises from 2003 through 2008 when Debtor and Ms. Cohen were married.

There is no dispute that Amp Plus, Inc. dba Elco Lighting ("Elco") and the income from it are community assets and have been at all relevant times. See Lighton Adv. dkt. 10, Ex. 33 (ex. 2&3 thereto). During the marriage, multiple foreign bank accounts were used "to hold unreported 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 6 income from [Elco]," aggregating approximately $35 million by 2008. Dkt. 461 at 6:7-14.

Taxpayers who have foreign bank accounts with over $10,000 at any time during a calendar year are required to disclose the existence of these accounts to the IRS on a foreign bank account report ("FBAR"). 31 U.S.C. § 5314. See dkt. 461 at 7:12-17. For 2003 through 2008, Debtor and Ms. Cohen failed to file FBARs. To the contrary, they filed joint income tax returns verifying — incorrectly — that they did not have any such accounts. According to Debtor, this subjected 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 235 them to possible penalties of $58 million or more. Dkt. 461 at 8:24-25.

Debtor provides an example of how the principal FBAR penalties work: "For willful failures to timely file FBARs occurring after October 22, 2004, the maximum civil penalty is the greater of $100,000 or 50 percent of the high balance in the account during the taxable year for each year for which there is a failure to timely file an FBAR. See 31 U.S.C. § 5321(a)(5). Thus, for example, if a taxpayer had a high balance in a foreign bank account of $30 million earning zero interest for six straight years and willfully failed to file FBARs for each of those six years, the taxpayer could be subject to maximum 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 7 penalties of $90 million (50% x $30 million x 6 years), even though the account balance never exceeded $30 million. This failure to report penalty is completely separate from income tax penalties, and from any taxes and interest owed as the result of failing to report all income on a taxpayer's return." Dkt. 461 at 4:18-26.

In 2011, after Debtor and Ms. Cohen separated, he participated in a disclosure and settlement program, the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Initiative ("OVDI"), and entered into a "closing" agreement (settlement) with the IRS for approximately $8.7 million. The IRS characterizes this as a "miscellaneous penalty" pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 7121. Dkt. 245 at 5:6-12; and see Proof of Claim 3-2.

Ms. Cohen notified the IRS that she was opting out of the OVDI. Instead she has attempted (so far unsuccessfully) to assert an entitlement to an "innocent spouse" defense under 26 U.S.C. § 6015. See Nazarian Adv. dkt. 12 at 3:2-3 (Ms. Cohen's Brief); see also dkt. 465 at 6 n.8 (Committee Brief) and dkt. 245 at 12:20-13:2 (IRS Brief).

Meanwhile, before this bankruptcy court, Ms. Cohen has argued that the IRS Claim arises not from the 2003 through 2008 failure to file FBARs and false statements on the joint tax returns, 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 8 but instead from the post-separation OVDI agreement, and therefore, she asserts, the debt was not "incurred" during marriage and the community property of the bankruptcy estate is not liable for it. In support of this argument, she asserts among other things that there is no such thing as the "miscellaneous penalty" claimed by the IRS, so the debt allegedly must have been incurred when the post-separation OVDI contract became effective.

B. Additional facts underlying Issue 1(b)

The Lighton and Nazarian interpleader actions have been referred to this bankruptcy court. See Lighton Adv. dkt. 10, Ex. 60; Nazarian Adv. dkt. 10, Ex. 76. In Lighton the issue is who, as between the IRS, Ms. Cohen, and Debtor or his bankruptcy estate is entitled to rents paid by Elco to its landlord and affiliate, Lighton Property, LLC ("Lighton"). In Nazarian the issue is who is entitled to repayment of approximately $1 million that was loaned to plaintiff Nazarian in 2009, either from Elco or from Debtor or both. The IRS has filed motions for summary judgment in both actions. See Lighton Adv. dkt. 10, Ex. 33; Nazarian Adv. dkt. 10, Ex. 28.

C. Additional facts underlying Issue 1(c)

The IRS Claim consists of (1) 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 9 a secured claim for $8,208,469.29 based on the OVDI settlement and (2) certain other unsecured claims relating to Ms. Cohen's tax liabilities for years 2009 through 2011 and Mr. Cohen's tax liability for tax year 2012. The Committee has objected to the IRS Claim on various grounds, the other parties have filed briefs, and some of the issues initially raised by the Committee are no longer contested by the IRS. See dkt. 219, 242, 245, 254, 256.

522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 236 III. JURISDICTION, AUTHORITY, AND VENUE

The Supreme Court has distinguished between (a) bankruptcy courts' broad subject matter jurisdiction and (b) their narrower constitutional and statutory "authority" to issue final judgments or orders. Whenever the bankruptcy court lacks such authority then its determinations constitute only proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law that are subject to de novo review by an Article III court. See Stern v. Marshall, 564 U.S. 2; 131 S.Ct. 2594, 180 L. Ed. 2d 475 (2011); Law v. Siegel, U.S. ; 134 S.Ct. 1188, 188 L. Ed. 2d 146 (2014); In re Bellingham Ins. Agency, Inc., 702 F.3d 553, 567 (9th Cir. 2012), aff'd sub nom Executive Benefits Ins. Agency v. Arkison, U.S. , 134 S.Ct. 2165, 189 L. Ed. 2d 83 (2014) Executive Benefits Ins. Agency v. Arkison, U.S. , 134 S.Ct. 2165, 189 L. Ed. 2d 83 (2014). This court has an independent duty to examine these issues. See In re Rosson, 545 F.3d 764, 769 n. 5 (9th Cir. 2008) (subject matter jurisdiction); In re Pringle, 495 B.R. 447, 455 (9th Cir. BAP 2013) (authority under Stern).

A. This court has subject matter jurisdiction

Bankruptcy courts are "units" of the federal district courts, to which all bankruptcy proceedings have been referred 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 10 or local rule or standing order in each district. See 28 U.S.C. § 151; Cent. Dist. Cal. General Order No. 13-05; LBR 5011-1(a). As such, this court has jurisdiction over all civil proceedings (1) "arising under title 11," i.e., any proceedings to enforce rights created by the Bankruptcy Code, (2) "arising in" a bankruptcy case, i.e., other proceedings that would not exist outside a bankruptcy case, such as case administration, or (3) "related to" a bankruptcy case, i.e., any proceedings the outcome of which could conceivably have any effect on the bankruptcy estate. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 157(a), 1334(b); In re Harris, 590 F.3d 730, 737 (9th Cir. 2009) (summarizing jurisdictional standards); In re Marshall, 600 F.3d 1037, 1054 (9th Cir. 2010) (same); In re Fietz, 852 F.2d 455, 457 (9th Cir. 1988) (adopting "related to" test of Pacor, Inc. v. Higgins, 743 F.2d 984 (3rd Cir.1984)).

The matters addressed in this memorandum decision are all quintessentially "arising under" and "arising in" proceedings because they consist of determining the parties' "hierarchically ordered claims to a pro rata share of the bankruptcy res." Stern, 131 S.Ct. at 2614 (quoting Granfinanciera, S.A. v. Nordberg, 492 U.S. 33, 56, 109 S. Ct. 2782, 106 L. Ed. 2d 26 (1989)). (The quoted phrase is from the Supreme Court's discussion of a non-jurisdictional issue — what proceedings are "core" — but the same concept presumably applies to jurisdictional issues because the Court interpreted statutory "core" proceedings to be coterminous with statutory "arising in" and "arising 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 11 under" jurisdiction. Id. at 2605.)

Alternatively, assuming for the sake of argument that there were any question on this point, this court at the very least has "related to" jurisdiction. In short, this bankruptcy court has subject matter jurisdiction.

B. This court has the authority to issue final judgments or orders

The bankruptcy courts' authority to issue final judgments or orders is governed both (1) by federal statute and (2) by the United States Constitution.

1. Statutory authority

Bankruptcy courts have the statutory authority to issue final judgments or orders in "core" proceedings. 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2). Congress used that terminology in an attempt to track the Supreme 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 237 Court plurality's decision in Northern Pipeline Constr. Co. v. Marathon Pipe Line Co., 458 U.S. 50, 71, 102 S. Ct. 2858, 73 L. Ed. 2d 598 (1982).

The statutory list is non-exclusive (28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)) but the courts have been careful to interpret the statute and its "catchall" provisions to stay within constitutional limits, and they have considered "factors such as whether the rights involved exist independent of title 11, depend on state law for their resolution, existed prior to the filing of a bankruptcy petition, or were significantly affected by the filing of the bankruptcy case." In re Cinematronics, Inc., 916 F.2d 1444, 1450 n.5 (9th Cir. 1990). See also In re Castlerock Prop's, 781 F.2d 159 (9th Cir. 1986). This court also bears in mind that a "determination that a proceeding is 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 12 not a core proceeding shall not be made solely on the basis that its resolution may be affected by State law." 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(3).

The issues addressed in this memorandum decision come within the statutory definition of core proceedings, including allowance or disallowance of the IRS claims (28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(B)); determination of the extent and priority of its asserted liens and interests over the claims of Ms. Cohen and other parties in interest (id., subpara. (K)); and adjustment of the debtor's financial relationships with the IRS and Ms. Cohen in her assertion of claims and interests in the bankruptcy res (id., subpara. (O)). This court therefore has statutory authority to issue a final judgment or order.

2. Constitutional authority

To safeguard "individual liberty and separation of powers" there are constitutional limits on the authority of bankruptcy judges, who are not appointed pursuant to Article III of the Constitution, to issue final judgments and orders. Stern, 131 S.Ct. at 2615. In analyzing those limits the Supreme Court has focused primarily on whether the "public rights" exception to Article III applies. See, e.g., id. at 2611-15 & 2618-19 (plurality opinion).

One definition of "public rights" is that if "it depends upon the will of [C]ongress whether a remedy in the courts shall be allowed 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 13 at all,' [then] Congress could limit the extent to which a judicial forum was available." Stern at 2612 (quoting Murray's Lessee v. Hoboken Land & Improvement Co., 59 U.S. 272, 18 How. 272 at 284, 15 L. Ed. 372 (1855)). For example, a bankruptcy discharge arguably is a matter of public rights because Congress need not provide any discharge at all.

The same reasoning arguably could apply more broadly, because Congress need not enact any bankruptcy laws at all. At one point the Supreme Court stated that "the restructuring of debtor-creditor relations, which is at the core of the federal bankruptcy power ... may well be a 'public right.'" Marathon, 458 U.S. at 71 (plurality opinion).

More recent decisions, however, have expressly declined to endorse such a general rule. See Stern, 131 S.Ct. at 2614 n.7 (plurality opinion); Bellingham, 702 F.3d at 561 (acknowledging "demise" of general rule that controversies at the "core of the bankruptcy process implicated public rights"). Unfortunately, no alternative general rule has emerged. As the Supreme Court has acknowledged, its reasoning has not been "entirely consistent." Stern, 131 S.Ct. at 2611 (plurality); and id. at 2621 (Scalia, J., concurring).

Nevertheless, the Stern plurality has articulated two alternative tests to determine when a Bankruptcy Judge can issue a final judgment or order:

... Congress may not bypass Article III simply because a proceeding may have 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 14 some bearing on a bankruptcy case; the question is whether the action at issue 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 238 [a] stems from the bankruptcy itself or [b] would necessarily be resolved in the claims allowance process. [Stern, 131 S.Ct. at 2618 (underlining added, citation omitted)]

These two alternatives are examined below.

a. Constitutional authority to adjudicate claims that "stem[] from the bankruptcy itself"

This first test — whether the action at issue "stems from the bankruptcy itself" (Stern, 131 S.Ct. at 2618) — initially sounds very similar to the pre-Stern test — whether the controversy at issue is at the "core of the bankruptcy process." Bellingham, 702 F.3d at 561. Fortunately, the Ninth Circuit has explained, after a careful review of Granfinanciera, Stern, and other Supreme Court cases, that the difference is whether there is a jury right:

Stern fully equated bankruptcy litigants' Seventh Amendment right to a jury trial in federal bankruptcy proceedings with their right to proceed before an Article III judge. [Bellingham, 702 F.3d 553, 563]

In other words, under Stern's first test, the statutory definition of core proceedings fails to meet constitutional muster when a party is entitled to have the proceeding heard by a jury.

In this case, the parties have not established that they are being deprived of any right to a jury 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 15 as to any of the issues addressed in this memorandum decision. Therefore, under Stern's first alternative test, this bankruptcy court has the constitutional authority to issue a final judgment or order on all of the issues presented.

b. Alternative Constitutional authority to adjudicate matters that "would necessarily be resolved in the claims allowance process"

In referring to an action that "would necessarily be resolved in the claims allowance process" (Stern, 131 S.Ct. at 2618, emphasis added), the Stern plurality apparently means to encompass both (i) the adjudication of "hierarchically ordered claims to a pro rata share of the bankruptcy res" (id. at 2614) and (ii) the adjudication of constitutionally non-core issues that are necessary to the allowance or disallowance of filed claims. Under the latter principle, when a party has filed a proof of claim, then the bankruptcy court can issue a final judgment or order if the allowance or disallowance of that claim necessarily requires adjudication of issues that normally would require a jury or are not statutorily core. See Stern, 131 S.Ct. at 2615-18 (plurality opinion, Part III.C.2); Langenkamp v. Culp, 498 U.S. 42, 111 S. Ct. 330, 112 L. Ed. 2d 343 (1990) (although alleged recipient of avoidable preference normally is entitled to jury, there is no such right if 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 16 creditor files proof of claim, because claims allowance process necessarily involves determination of preference issues); Katchen v. Landy, 382 U.S. 323, 86 S. Ct. 467, 15 L. Ed. 2d 391 (1966) (bankruptcy referee could use summary proceeding without jury to determine preference claim, because preference issues necessarily had to be resolved in the course of claims-allowance process); Bellingham, 702 F.3d at 562, n. 7 (distinguishing final adjudication of fraudulent transfer action by bankruptcy court when creditor had filed a proof of claim and it was "not possible" to rule on allowance of the proof of claim without first resolving the fraudulent transfer issue) (citation omitted); In re Deitz, 760 F.3d 1038 (9th Cir. 2014), adopting In re Deitz, 469 B.R. 11, 17-24 (9th Cir. BAP 2012) (bankruptcy court can enter final judgment on underlying non-core claims that necessarily are part of adjudicating nondischargeability action); In re Wash. Coast I, LLC, 485 B.R. 393, 406-07 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 239 (9th Cir. BAP 2012) ("[T]he determination of priority between two creditors ... is not only tied to the claims resolution process, but it also involves the adjudication of rights created by the Bankruptcy Code under § 506. ... Accordingly, the bankruptcy court's exercise of power over the lien priority dispute was a constitutional delegation of power from Congress.") (citation omitted).

In this case, Issues 1(a), 1(b) and 1(c) are part of determining the "hierarchically ordered claims 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 17 to a pro rata share of the bankruptcy res." Stern, 131 S.Ct. at 2614. In addition, supposing for the sake of discussion that some of the parties' underlying claims normally would have to be tried to a jury or are statutorily non-core, those underlying claims "would necessarily be resolved in the [bankruptcy] claims allowance process." Id. at 2618 (emphasis added). For each of these alternative reasons, this court has the constitutional authority to issue a final judgment or order on all of the issues presented.

c. Alternative constitutional authority to adjudicate pretrial matters

Even in a constitutionally non-core proceeding under Stern, the bankruptcy court can resolve pretrial matters, including case-dispositive motions that do not require factual findings. See In re Professional Satellite and Communication, LLC, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 171314, 2012 WL 6012829, at *3 (S.D. Cal.); In re Heller Ehrman, LLP, 2011 Bankr. LEXIS 3764, 2011 WL 4542512, at *3 (Bankr. N.D. Cal.) (citing In re Healthcentral.com, 504 F.3d 775, 787 (9th Cir. 2007)). See also Arkison, 134 S.Ct. 2165, 189 L. Ed. 2d 83 (district court's de novo review was same under appeal from summary judgment ruling as it would have been for proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law).

In this case, the issues can be determined on the uncontested facts and the law (with very limited exceptions, as to which this court is not ruling, as noted below). Therefore, this is an alternative reason why this court has the constitutional authority to issue a final judgment 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 18 or order on all of the issues addressed below.

d. Alternative constitutional authority if parties have expressly or impliedly consented

At least under current the Ninth Circuit authority, parties can consent to final adjudication of claims that are constitutionally non-core, and such consent may be implied. See Bellingham, 702 F.3d 553 (litigant consented to adjudication by bankruptcy judge by failing timely to object), aff'd on other grounds, Arkison, 134 S. Ct. 2165, 189 L. Ed. 2d 83; Pringle, 495 B.R. 447 (rebuttable presumption that failure to challenge authority to issue final order is intentional and indicates consent). See also Stern, 564 U.S. 462, 131 S.Ct. 2594, 2608, 180 L. Ed. 2d 475 (if litigant "believed that the Bankruptcy Court lacked the authority to decide his claim...then he should have said so — and said so promptly.").

In this case, Debtor and the Committee have expressly consented to this court's entry of final orders or judgments (see dkt. 394 at 25-27), but both the IRS and Ms. Cohen have expressly declined to provide such consent (dkt. 387, 419). Accordingly, this alternative ground for this court's authority to enter final orders or judgments is not available.

C. Conclusion as to jurisdiction, authority, and venue

For the reasons set forth above, this bankruptcy court has both subject matter jurisdiction and 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 19 the authority to enter final judgments and orders on the issues addressed below. Venue is proper under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1408(1) and 1409(a).

522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 240 IV. DISCUSSION

As a preliminary matter, the Committee argues (dkt. 465, 13:13-20 & n. 17) for judicial estoppel. The Committee cites a transcript (dkt. 257-2, Ex. B) in which the State court asks Ms. Cohen's counsel to confirm that "the tax" is "a community property obligation" and he responds, "It has been paid. We're not disputing that it's a community property obligation." Id. at 9:16-17 & 9:25-26. It is not clear what tax is "the tax" in this quoted colloquy, but the IRS claim in this case has not "been paid" so it appears that Ms. Cohen's counsel was referring to some other tax debt. In any event, the evidence is not sufficiently clear to apply judicial estoppel.

A few of Ms. Cohen's papers and arguments appear to have been presented without observing the normal procedural requirements do so (see dkt. 256 at 2:9-15 & 13:1-16:11) (Committee Brief). Nevertheless, this court has considered these documents and for the reasons set forth below, is unpersuaded.

One more preliminary issue is that prepetition the IRS filed five notices of federal tax liens with respect to its miscellaneous 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 20 penalty of over $8 million. For most of the following discussion, that is irrelevant. The overriding issue is whether there is any claim at all against community property, not whether that claim is secured or unsecured.

For ease of discussion, the following analysis focuses first on Ms. Cohen's arguments regarding the IRS claim. Other issues are discussed thereafter.

A. Federal bankruptcy law

Community property:

The commencement of a [bankruptcy] case ... creates an estate. Such estate is comprised of [in addition to other assets] [a]ll interests of the debtor and the debtor's spouse in community property as of the commencement of the case that is —

(A) under the sole, equal, or joint management and control of the debtor; or

(B) liable for an allowable claim against the debtor, or for both an allowable claim against the debtor and an allowable claim against the debtor's spouse, to the extent that such interest is so liable. [11 U.S.C. § 541(a)(2)]

Such property is referred to in this Memorandum Decision as "Estate Community Property."

Community claim:

The term "community claim" means claim that arose before the commencement of the case concerning the debtor for which [Estate Community Property] is liable, whether or 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 21 not there is any such property at the time of the commencement of the case. [11 U.S.C. § 101(7)]

Distributions. The Bankruptcy Code's distribution scheme regarding community property is generally intended to parallel state law. As discussed in more detail below, creditors are entitled to be paid first, and if there are any remaining assets in the bankruptcy estate then those assets are distributed to the equity owners, i.e., the spouses. If there are any differences between State law and the bankruptcy distribution scheme, then the state law scheme is preempted. See, e.g., 6 Collier on Bankruptcy ¶ 726.04 & 726.05[1] (Alan N. Resnick & Henry J. Sommer eds., 16th ed.) (State laws are preempted to extent of any inconsistency with Bankruptcy Code's "waterfall" of distributions out of "sub-estates").

In this case, Ms. Cohen has not asserted a claim for any prepetition support payments (as distinguished from any postpetition 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 241 support payments that might be payable under 11 U.S.C. § 1129(a)(14)). Nor has Ms. Cohen asserted that most of the property at issue is her separate property. Nevertheless, some of her arguments presuppose that she is entitled to distributions on a par with creditors, or ahead of them. For the reasons discussed 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 22 below, those arguments are contrary to California law, and alternatively they are contrary to the Bankruptcy Code's distribution scheme.

B. Issue 1(a): the bulk of the IRS Claim is a community claim

1. Governing law

"Apart from [any provisions of federal bankruptcy that override State law], Congress has generally left the determination of property rights in the assets of a bankrupt's estate to state law." Butner v. United States, 440 U.S. 48, 54, 99 S. Ct. 914, 59 L. Ed. 2d 136 (1979). See also In re McCoy, 111 B.R. 276, 279 (9th Cir. BAP 1990).

Under California law, it is helpful to distinguish between in personam liability and in rem liability. Creditors can reach community property to pay debts incurred by either spouse during marriage, regardless whether any right to reimbursement exists as between the spouses. See Lezine v. Sec. Pac. Fin. Serv., Inc., 14 Cal.4th 56, 64, 58 Cal. Rptr. 2d 76, 925 P.2d 1002 (1996). California Family Code section 910 codifies this in rem liability:

Except as otherwise expressly provided by statute, the community estate is liable for a debt incurred by either spouse before or during marriage, regardless of which spouse has the management and control of the property and regardless of whether one or both spouses are parties to the debt or to a judgment for the debt. [Cal. Fam. C. § 910(a), emphasis added. See also Cal. Code Civ. P. § 695.020.]

The phrase, "during marriage" does not include "the period during which the spouses are living separate 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 23 and apart before a judgment of dissolution of marriage or legal separation of the parties." Cal. Fam. C. § 910(b). Debtor and Ms. Cohen were separated in 2010. See dkt. 60 at 10:10-11; dkt. 97; dkt. 460 at 5:12.

Therefore the question is whether the debts asserted in the IRS proof of claim were "incurred" before or after the 2010 separation. California Family Code section 903 defines when an obligation is incurred:

A debt is 'incurred' at the following time:

(a) In the case of a contract, at the time the contract is made.

(b) In the case of a tort, at the time the tort occurs.

[Cal. Fam. C. § 903, emphasis added]

The IRS, the Committee and Debtor argue that, under subdivision "(c)" above, the debts were "incurred" before the 2010 separation when the tax obligations arose. That is either (i) in 2003 through 2008 when Debtor and Ms. Cohen, despite having FBAR accounts, represented on their tax returns that they had no such accounts, failed to file FBAR forms, and did not pay the associated taxes, or (ii) at the latest, in 2009 when the last of those forms and payments were due and that triggered associated penalties. The IRS briefs cite ample authority for this proposition. See, e.g 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 24., dkt. 460 (citing, inter alia, Espinosa v. Comm'r, 24 F. App'x 825, 826 (9th Cir. 2001); Edelson v. Comm'r, 829 F.2d 828, 833-34 (9th Cir. 1987); Jeffries v. Comm'r, 2010 T.C.M. 172, 2010 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 209 (2010)).

Ms. Cohen argues that the debt is actually a contract debt, created by Debtor's post-separation closing/settlement agreement with the IRS, and therefore the debt 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 242 supposedly was "incurred" after the marriage. Ms. Cohen's arguments are unpersuasive.

2. The plain meaning of the statute is contrary to Ms. Cohen's argument

Ms. Cohen cites no authority that tax debts incurred pre-separation are somehow transformed by settlement into debts "incurred" post-separation. That is an unnatural reading of the statute. For these reasons alone this court rejects her argument.

3. Relevant cases are contrary to Ms. Cohen's argument

Although Ms. Cohen's (strained) argument is apparently unprecedented in any reported decisions, what authority does exist strongly supports the contrary conclusion. One such decision is In re Marriage of Hirsch, 211 Cal.App.3d 104, 259 Cal. Rptr. 39 (Cal. Ct. App. 1989) (cited in Debtor's Brief, dkt. 461, 15:22-16:3).

The facts in Hirsch are very analogous to this case. During marriage the husband was a director of a failed bank and that failure led to lawsuits. After separation, the husband settled those lawsuits, although the wife refused to participate in any settlements. The wife argued that the debts under the settlements 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 25 were not community debts, and the trial court agreed, but the court of appeal reversed. Ms. Cohen points out that the decision does not explicitly state that the obligations at issue were "incurred" during the marriage, but that is an essential prerequisite to that court's holding. The fact that this issue was not discussed only shows that the court of appeal viewed it as obvious: settlement of debts incurred pre-separation does not somehow convert them into debts "incurred" post-separation.

Another decision contrary to Ms. Cohen's argument is In re Marriage of Hargrave, 36 Cal. App.4th 1313, 43 Cal. Rptr. 2d 474 (1995). In that case, tax debts incurred during the marriage were settled by the husband after the marriage had terminated, and the community property was still held liable for those debts even though the IRS had determined that the wife was an "innocent spouse."

Analogous authority in the bankruptcy context points to the same outcome. The Supreme Court has held that, although a settlement agreement and releases may have "worked a kind of novation," that did not convert nondischargeable tort liabilities into a dischargeable contract debt. Archer v. Warner, 538 U.S. 314, 323, 123 S. Ct. 1462, 155 L. Ed. 2d 454 (2003).

4. Ms. Cohen's attempts to disregard the pre-separation tax debts are unconvincing

Ms. Cohen attempts to bolster 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 26 her argument by citing numerous cases treating "closing agreements" with the IRS as contracts. See dkt. 242 at 14:11-22 and dkt. 466 at 7:12-26 (Ms. Cohen's Briefs). But cf. dkt. 461 at 13:16-14:20 (Debtor's Brief, citing authority that rejects the treatment of closing agreements as contracts).

From this premise Ms. Cohen appears to reason that the liability to the IRS was a purely contractual creation that sprang into existence and was "incurred" post-separation in 2010. This court agrees with the preliminary assessment by the State court (Hon. Mark A. Juhas):

... the fallacy of [Ms. Cohen's] argument is [that] the agreement that was made with the I.R.S. isn't a separate property agreement. ... He [Debtor] didn't go out and cheat on his taxes after [the] date of separation. All of this arises from things that happened during marriage. [Dkt. 464, Ex. D at 28:9-16]

In a similar vein, Ms. Cohen makes numerous arguments to try to distance the liability under the closing agreement from 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 243 any association with the 2003 through 2008 tax years. She argues (dkt. 466, 11:1-12:4) that there is no statute that authorizes the IRS to issue a "miscellaneous penalty," and that liability under the closing 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 27 agreement was calculated not based on the FBAR penalty but instead based on a different formula used for OVDI agreements (id. and dkt. 254 at 5:3-7). She asserts that FBAR penalties only "arise" once the IRS brings a lawsuit, and that the IRS, having elected not to bring such a suit did not pursue FBAR penalties, forfeited the right to allege that the debts at issue were related to the 2003 through 2008 tax years, and instead elected a post-separation contractual liability. Alternatively, she cites authority that, at least for some purposes, FBAR penalties are not treated as "tax" penalties. Dkt. 466 at 11:7-19. Finally (at least as the Committee interprets Ms. Cohen's arguments, dkt. 256 at 9:7-21) she may be arguing that the penalty must be disallowed because it is unauthorized. These are all red herrings.

There is no evidence to contradict the statements in the closing agreement itself (Nazarian Adv. dkt. 10-2, Ex. 28 at PDF pp. 260-64) that it relates to the 2003 through 2008 tax years. Those were the years in which Debtor and Ms. Cohen failed to disclose their FBAR accounts and pay associated taxes, and the IRS has identified "11 different statutory penalties in each of the disclosed 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 28 years" for which the "miscellaneous penalty" was a "proxy" (dkt. 460 at 11:25-26). The IRS has broad statutory authority to settle taxpayer disputes (26 U.S.C. §§ 7121, 7122) and its settlement prior to actually commencing suit does not take away from the fact that it was liabilities for the 2003 through 2008 tax years that were being settled. Nor is there anything inconsistent with the IRS using a settlement formula under the OVDI program that is similar to, but not as complex as, the calculus that would have actually been used in any FBAR lawsuit. Ms. Cohen has not cited any authority that would limit the IRS' ability to settle the pre-separation tax liabilities in this manner, or to include claims for several tax years within one settlement and label it a "miscellaneous penalty." Her attempt to characterize the pre-separation tax debts as post-separation contract debt is essentially sleight of hand.

5. Ms. Cohen's objection that the maximum liability would be $60,000 is unpersuasive

Ms. Cohen appears to take the position (dkt. 466 at 10:24-25, 13:4-5, and dkt. 245 Ex. 1 at 26 (letter to IRS)) that the maximum penalty that could have been asserted against Debtor was $10,000 per year for a total of $60,000.522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 29 If that is so, the Committee argues (dkt. 256 at 7:21-9:6), then perhaps the closing agreement and IRS liens created an unwarranted advantage for the IRS over similarly situated creditors (although the Committee offers no independent argument in support of Ms. Cohen's position).

As Ms. Cohen concedes (dkt. 466 at 10:24-1), the $10,000 limit only applies if Debtor (and Ms. Cohen) acted without any willful intent to violate the FBAR requirements. She also concedes (id.) that if willfulness is shown then the penalties can greatly exceed the dollar amount of the closing agreement.

As a factual matter, Ms. Cohen disputes that she or Debtor had the willful intent to violate the FBAR statutes — she alleges that their tax advisor did not tell them about this obligation. But she does not dispute, and cannot dispute, the false statements on their tax returns that there were no foreign accounts over $10,000. In addition, Debtor recites a litany of facts (dkt. 461 at 15:5-17:22) that could readily result in a finding of willfulness if the 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 244 dispute had ever gone to trial. Ms. Cohen has not disputed those underlying facts, and even if she did, Debtor has conceded them. Therefore, if the case had ever 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 30 gone to trial, there would have been every reason for a finder of fact to conclude that Debtor, at least, acted willfully.

The IRS and Debtor also provide calculations showing that any finding of willfulness easily could have resulted in liability many times the roughly $8 million settlement, up to or exceeding, in different scenarios, $26.25 million (dkt. 460 at 12 n. 6) (IRS example) or $58 million (dkt. 461 at 8:24-25, Debtor example), or even $90 million (dkt. 461 at 4:18-26, Debtor example). Ms. Cohen has not disputed these examples.

6. Ms. Cohen's attempts to transform the community claim into Debtor's sole obligation are unavailing

Ms. Cohen appears to argue that, because Debtor and the IRS entered into the closing agreement without her, she and all community property are exonerated from any liability. She also asserts that Debtor should have litigated defenses that, she claims, would have either eliminated or reduced the penalties to a substantially lesser amount. Dkt. 466 at 10:24-11:6 & 14:7-16. Other parties disagree about her purported innocence (see, e.g., dkt. 460 at 11:28-12:8 and dkt. 461 at 7:18-26, 8:24-25, & 11:17-18) but those disagreements raise factual issues that 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 31 this court need not address because on the undisputed facts Ms. Cohen's arguments miss the mark.

The IRS concedes (dkt. 245 at 12:2 and 12:12-19) that its claim for the miscellaneous penalty is what it calls a "[s]eparate" debt of Debtor. In other words, although the IRS asserts in personam liability against Debtor and in rem liability against community property, the IRS is not asserting (at least in its claim filed in this bankruptcy case) in personam liability against Ms. Cohen. Therefore, to the extent that Ms. Cohen is raising defenses to her own in personam liability her arguments are irrelevant.

Ms. Cohen apparently is also attempting to second-guess Debtor's settlement of his own liability. She claims that by entering into that settlement Debtor violated the automatic temporary restraining order ("ATRO") under California Family Code § 2040(a)(2). Among other things, the ATRO restrains both divorcing spouses from

transferring, encumbering, hypothecating, concealing, or in any way disposing of any property, whether real or personal, whether community, quasi-community, or separate, without the written consent of the other party or an order of the court, except in the usual course of business or for the necessities of life .... 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 32 [Cal. Fam. C. § 2040(a)(2)]

It is difficult to see how Debtor's settlement of his own liability amounts to "transferring" any "property" (or any other violation of the ATRO). Ms. Cohen argues, however, that Debtor violated the ATRO by:

retroactively impair[ing] the couple's interests in community property. See, e.g., Droeger v. Friedman, Sloan & Ross , 54 Cal.3d 26, 283 Cal. Rptr. 584, 812 P.2d 931 (1991) (the transfer of community property realty during marriage, in violation of statute requiring spousal consent, may be invalidated in its entirety by non-consenting spouse). [Dkt. 242 at 14:27-28]

First, there was nothing "retroactive[]" about the liability under the closing agreement. That agreement was a settlement of the 2003-08 tax year debts that were incurred prior to separation.

Second, Ms. Cohen cites no authority that one spouse's post-separation settlement 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 245 of his own liability amounts to a "transfer" of community property. The one case she does cite, Droeger, was decided under a different statute governing consensual liens, and has been distinguished by the California Supreme Court, which interpreted that statute not to limit the usual rule that community property is liable for the debts of either spouse incurred during marriage. Lezine, 14 Cal.4th 56, 58 Cal. Rptr. 2d 76, 925 P.2d 1002.

Conceivably (although Ms. Cohen does not actually articulate 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 33 this argument) a settlement that exceeded the liability to which community property was already exposed could be interpreted as the equivalent of a "transfer" of such property within the meaning of the ATRO statute. But Ms. Cohen offers no reason why Debtor would choose to settle in excess of his exposure to liability. To the contrary, as set forth above, his actual exposure was far greater than the settlement.

For all of these reasons, there is neither any legal authority nor any factual basis for Ms. Cohen's argument that Debtor's settlement with the IRS somehow violated the ATRO and could be avoided.

7. Conclusion as to Issue 1(a): which portions of the IRS Claim constitute "community claims" under § 101(7)

By far the largest portion of the filed IRS Claim is for the miscellaneous penalty, which arises from the 2003 through 2008 tax years and is for debts that were incurred prior to separation. Ms. Cohen has not established that the settlement of those debts in 2010 somehow retroactively caused them to be "incurred" after separation. The IRS has a community claim for the miscellaneous penalty.

Another portion of IRS Claim is for unpaid taxes arising from Ms. Cohen's separately-filed 2009 tax 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 34 return. The IRS has a community claim for this pre-separation debt, for essentially the same reasons that the miscellaneous penalty is a community claim. The Estate Community Property is liable for the debt of either spouse incurred prior to separation, so Ms. Cohen's pre-separation 2009 tax debts are properly characterized as "in rem" community claims. See 11 U.S.C. 102(2) ("'claim against the debtor' includes claim against property of the debtor).

The IRS Claim also includes some of Ms. Cohen's post-separation tax debts for 2011 and 2012, and those do not qualify as community claims. As the Committee concedes, however, the IRS can attempt to collect any such debts from Ms. Cohen, based on her in personam liability, and in addition the IRS may be able to collect from any separate property interests that she has. This court agrees with the Committee (dkt. 256 at 7:10-14) that, to the extent that the IRS seeks to "garnish" any distributions to Ms. Cohen from this bankruptcy estate, simply filing a proof of claim is not sufficient; but no doubt the IRS can achieve the same result in various other ways.

The IRS claim with respect to Ms. Cohen's 2010 tax obligations falls somewhere in the middle of the522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 35 foregoing analysis. That is the year when the spouses separated, and the parties have not specifically briefed how to treat the tax liabilities arising in that situation. The IRS has cited authority that taxes accrue at the end of the tax year (see, e.g., dkt. 460) but that general rule may be subject to exceptions in the divorce situation, or perhaps taxpayers can make some sort of short year election or other options. In addition, the parties disagree about the precise date of separation. For all of these reasons, it is beyond the scope of this Memorandum Decision to determine whether certain portions of the IRS Claim arising from Ms. Cohen's 2010 tax year are or are not community claims. That issue is reserved for 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 246 later determination, and if helpful the parties can address at a future status conference what procedures should apply to such determination.

The last component of the IRS Claim is for Debtor's 2012 tax year. That debt arose in the post-separation period, so it is not a community claim. It can be collected from separate property of Debtor, or from distributions, if any, that he receives on account of his equity ownership in property of the bankruptcy estate.

D. Issue 1(b):522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 36 the interpled funds

1. Limits of IRS lien

As the Committee points out, the IRS has conceded that its "lien does not attach to property and earnings acquired post-petition by the estate." Dkt. 245 (IRS Opp. to Committee's Claim Obj.) at 11:1-2. See also dkt. 219 at 4:8-19 (Committee Obj. to IRS Claim). In addition, as Ms. Cohen points out (dkt. 467 at 7:20-8:2), there is no showing that any IRS lien extends beyond Debtor's own property to the revenues of entities in which Debtor holds an interest.

The IRS has not disputed these assertions, although it adds the caveat that it expects such property and earnings to be used to fund a chapter 11 plan, including payment of its claim, and "[t]o the extent future distributions from Elco and Lighton threaten [its] secured position in the value of the shares of stock and/or membership interests that are part of the estate, the [IRS] is entitled to adequate protection." Dkt. 245 at 11:3-10. Those issues are not before this court for decision at this time, and for present purposes the point is only that the IRS does not assert a lien on the interpled funds.

This moots the various arguments by Ms. Cohen (dkt. 467 at 8:3-27) and the Committee (dkt. 465 at 16:7-13) regarding whether Debtor was only 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 37 a nominal payee, whether the IRS can rely on "reverse piercing," and the applicability of alter ego or similar doctrines. The remaining issue is whether Ms. Cohen has established any basis to receive distributions from the interpled funds ahead of the bankruptcy estate. She has not.

2. Limits of Ms. Cohen's interests

Ms. Cohen asserts that she has a prior, separate interest in the interpled funds "by reason of the Superior Court's award to [her] of one-half of the monthly Lighton Property rental proceeds, pursuant to its 'Order on Temporary Spousal Support, Child Support, and Other Related Matters' filed on August 10, 2011." Dkt. 467, 6:21-26. This court does not agree.

As the Committee points out, that order is a temporary spousal support order that does not permanently define relative property interests. See dkt. 465, 20:16-23 (Committee Brief) and Nazarian Adv. dkt. 10-1, Ex. 16, at 156-59) (Order for temporary support). This temporary allocation has no binding effect and is not controlling. In any event, as the Committee argues (dkt. 465 at 16:15-28), once this bankruptcy case commenced the automatic stay superseded any temporary spousal support order insofar as any property division.522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 38 See In re Teel, 34 B.R. 762, 764 (9th Cir. BAP 1983).

Ms. Cohen appears to assert (dkt. 467 at 6:13-7:14 & 9:19-21) that her claimed 50% interest in the Lighton interpled funds attached prior to the bankruptcy case. But her asserted interest in those funds was for purposes of paying support, and she has not argued that she was owed any unpaid support as of the petition date, so that argument is unavailing.

This leaves Ms. Cohen without a basis to assert a "claim" on a par with creditors, let alone a priority over creditors' claims (apart from any unpaid postpetition support 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 247 payments). See 11 U.S.C. §§ 507(a)(1) and 1129(a)(14)). As noted above, this accords with the general rule that creditors are entitled to be paid first, and thereafter any distributions on account of equity ownership interests are made to the divorcing spouses.

For example, in the factually similar case of Hirsch the court of appeal applies the usual rules that "[i]n dividing the community property equally under the mandate of [California divorce law], the court must distribute both the assets and the obligations of the community so that the residual assets awarded to each party after the deduction of the obligations [to creditors] are equal." Hirsch, 211 Cal.App.3d 104, 108-09, 259 Cal. Rptr. 39 (citations and internal quotation marks omitted, emphasis 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 39 altered). In addition, although a spouse may or may not have in personam liability for tortious conduct, creditors generally are "able to reach a community asset to satisfy a debt incurred by one spouse alone." Id. at 109 (citations and internal quotation marks omitted, emphasis added). A separate issue is that "[b]etween the spouses, certain obligations which are properly characterized as separate may be assigned to the responsible person if unpaid, or reimbursement may be ordered in favor of the community if the debt was paid from community assets," but that does not diminish creditors' recoveries. Id., 211 Cal.App.3d at 109 (citations and internal quotation marks omitted, emphasis added).

The Committee (dkt. 465 at 11:18-12:8) cites numerous authorities that reiterate these principles. See Lezine, 14 Cal.4th 56, 64, 58 Cal. Rptr. 2d 76, 925 P.2d 1002 (community property liable for debts of either spouse during marriage, and reimbursement obligations between spouses do not affect creditors' primacy in collecting from community property to satisfy debts); United States v. Berger, 574 F.3d 1202, 1203-06 (9th Cir. 2009) (community property liable to satisfy husband's criminal restitution judgment, "including that portion of the property that otherwise would potentially be awarded upon dissolution of marriage to an innocent spouse who was not involved 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 40 in the criminal activity"); Ordlock v. Comm'r., 533 F.3d 1136, 1138-39 (9th Cir. 2008) (wife was not entitled to refund of community property payments made on tax debts, because such property was liable for such debts notwithstanding any alleged "innocent spouse" status with respect to IRS); In re McIntyre, 222 F.3d 655, 658 (9th Cir. 2000) (community property, including non-debtor spouse's share, was liable for husband's tax debts).

Any "bad acts" by Debtor against Ms. Cohen might be the basis to seek a reallocation of any property remaining after payment of creditors, but those acts would not be a basis for any claim competing on a par with creditors, let alone any sort or priority over such creditors. See, e.g., Berger, 574 F.3d 1202 (criminal restitution judgment); Ordlock, 533 F.3d 1136 (husband's tax debts, regardless of wife's alleged "innocent spouse" status); In re Provenza, 316 B.R. 177, 201 (para. 90) & passim (Bankr. E.D. La. 2003) (extensive wrongdoing by debtor both prior to and within bankruptcy).

Ms. Cohen cites California law that she implies is to the contrary, but as argued by Debtor (dkt. 461 at 10 n.5) and the Committee (dkt. 465 at 9:19-11:17), those statutes address the allocation of responsibility as between the divorcing spouses, not the liability of community property for debts incurred during the marriage. Ms. Cohen cites no contrary authority. 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 41

Not only are creditors' rights superior under California law; but to the extent of any conflict between California law and the 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 248 Bankruptcy Code the latter will control under the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution, Article VI, Clause 2. Teel, 34 B.R. 762, 764 (citations omitted). Under the Bankruptcy Code's distribution scheme, creditors have priority over equity interests. See, e.g., 11 U.S.C. § 544 (estate has "strong arm" rights of hypothetical and actual creditors) and § 1129(b) (so called "absolute priority" of claims over interests). In re General Teamsters, Warehousemen and Helpers Union, Local 890, 265 F.3d 869, 873 (9th Cir. 2001) ("The bankruptcy code establishes a strict priority for satisfaction of obligations of a debtor. Claims of equity holders are always junior to claims of both secured and unsecured creditors.") (internal citations omitted).

For all of these reasons, Ms. Cohen has not established any primacy of her interests with respect to the interpled funds. To the contrary, her interests are subordinate to those of creditors and the bankruptcy estate.

3. Conclusion regarding Issue 1(b): distribution of interpled funds

There is ambiguity about the proper recipient of some of the interpled funds because certain promissory notes (Nazarian Adv. dkt. 10-2, Ex. 28 at 89) were made payable to "Saeed Cohen or Elco Lighting" 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 42 (emphasis added). Therefore, it appears that there is a genuine dispute of fact about where the funds came from, and to whom the interpled funds should be repaid as between Debtor and Elco (assuming that, as this court has ruled, the interests of those entities are superior to the interests of the IRS and Ms. Cohen in the interpled funds). The Committee suggests (dkt. 256 at 19 n.14) that this issue can be deferred by ordering the distribution of the funds to Elco to hold pending further order of this court. The Committee suggests a similar solution (dkt. 465 at 16-17) with respect to distributing funds to Lighton. No party in interest has established any reason to do otherwise, so that is what this court will order.

E. Issue 1(c): resolution of the Committee's objection to the IRS claims

Most of the Committee's objections to the IRS claim are resolved above. The filed IRS Claim includes some debts that might not be fully liquidated and may be disputed on standard tax law grounds — Ms. Cohen's 2009 tax debt is listed as "Pending Examination" (Claim 3-2 at 3), Debtor notes that his 2012 tax liability has yet to be finalized (dkt. 461 at 17:23-18:16), and there may be other debts that 522 B.R. 232 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4731 2014-2 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50,507 114 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2014-6597 at 43 are subject to revision. The Committee acknowledges that the IRS may need to amend its claim, and the rulings in this Memorandum Decision are without prejudice to the rights of the IRS to amend its claim as appropriate, and the rights of other parties in interest to object to amended claims.

V. CONCLUSION

This court anticipates directing counsel for the Committee to draft, circulate, and lodge separate orders implementing the decisions set forth above. Before that, this court intends to review with the parties at the next status conference whether to defer entry of any such orders so as to give all parties in interest at least a short "breathing spell" before having to litigate appeals. That time could be used for possible settlement discussions, agreements regarding procedures, or similar negotiations.

Date: November 13, 2014

/s/ Neil W. Bason

Neil W. Bason

United States Bankcruptcy Judge

End of Document