In Re Max E. Salas ( 2022 )

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
In Re: MAX E. SALAS,
Debtor.
NICOLAAS J. BREKELMANS, et al.,
Appellants
v. Civil Action No. 20-3091 (FYP)
MAX E. SALAS,
Appellee.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
This case stems from a tragic accident in which two roommates, Nina Brekelmans and
Michael Patrick McLoughlin, were killed in a fire at 1610 Riggs Place, NW, Washington, D.C.
— a property that was rented to them by debtor and Appellee Max Salas. After the estates of
Brekelmans and McLoughlin were awarded substantial monetary damages in a wrongful death
suit, Max Salas filed for bankruptcy. In his bankruptcy petition, Salas claimed that the Riggs
Place property was exempt from the bankruptcy estate under the District of Columbia’s
“homestead exemption.” The Bankruptcy Court held that Salas could properly claim the
exemption. The personal representatives of the estates of Brekelmans and McLoughlin appealed
the Bankruptcy Court’s ruling to this Court. This Court dismissed the appeal after Appellants
filed a Motion to Supplement or Remand; and Appellants then filed a Motion for
Reconsideration in the Bankruptcy Court. The Bankruptcy Court denied the Motion for
Reconsideration. The personal representatives appeal again. For the reasons that follow, the
Court will affirm the judgment of the Bankruptcy Court.
BACKGROUND
On June 3, 2015, Michael Patrick McLoughlin and Nina Brekelmans were killed in a fire
at 1610 Riggs Place, NW, Washington, D.C. (the “Property”). ECF No. 6-1 (Appellants’ Brief
Appendix) at 1 (“Homestead Decision”); see also In re Salas, Bankruptcy Case No. 18-260,
2018 WL 4621930 (Bankr. D.D.C. Sept. 24, 2018). The decedents’ parents and estates pursued
wrongful death and survivorship claims in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia against
Max Salas (“Salas”) and his son Len Salas (“Len”), who rented the Property to the decedents.
Homestead Decision at 2. On April 4, 2018, the McLoughlins and the Brekelmans obtained jury
verdicts awarding $7.7 million in damages for the death of Michael Patrick McLoughlin and $7.5
million in damages for the death of Nina Brekelmans; Salas and Len are jointly and severally
liable for the judgment. Id.I. The Homestead Trial and Decision
On April 18, 2018, Max Salas filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition in the District of
Columbia. Id. 1 In proceedings before United States Bankruptcy Judge S. Martin Teel, Jr., Salas
sought to exempt the Property from the bankruptcy estate, pursuant to the District of Columbia’s
homestead exemption. Id.; see D.C. Code § 15-501(a)(14). 2 Appellants Nicolaas J. Brekelmans
and Gail Gregory Brekelmans (Co-Personal Representatives of the Estate of Nina Brekelmans)
and Michael McLoughlin and Martha Johnson (Co-Personal Representatives of the Estate of
Michael Patrick McLoughlin) were creditors in the bankruptcy case. After Appellants objected
1
Len Salas filed his own Chapter 11 Bankruptcy petition in the Middle District of Tennessee. Id.2
The homestead exemption provides that “the debtor’s aggregate interest in real property used as the
residence of the debtor” is “free and exempt from distraint, attachment, levy, or seizure and sale on execution or
decree of any court in the District of Columbia.” D.C. Code § 15-501(a)(14).
2
to Salas’s invocation of the homestead exemption, Judge Teel held a three-day trial to determine
whether Salas could properly claim that exemption (“Homestead Trial”). See generally
Homestead Decision. Appellants argued that the homestead exemption was inapplicable because
Salas was not the record owner of the Property. Id. at 1. On September 24, 2018, Judge Teel
issued his Homestead Decision, which overruled Appellants’ objections and found that Salas
holds both legal and beneficial interests in the Property. Id. at 57.
In the Homestead Decision, Judge Teel found that Salas and his ex-wife Vickie, as joint
owners of the Property, entered into a divorce agreement whereby Vickie would be paid for her
interest in the Property with proceeds from a loan taken out by Len and secured by the Property.
Id. at 3–4. On April 16, 2007, Vickie transferred her interest in the Property to Salas, who then
transferred the Property to Len for a recited consideration of $10. Id. at 4. Len then obtained a
loan, secured by a deed of trust on the Property, to fund the payment to Vickie. Id. After this
transaction, even though Len was the owner of record, he and Salas agreed that the Property
would remain Salas’s home. Id. at 5. Len treated Salas as the real owner — Salas made
mortgage payments; Salas paid for other expenses related to the Property; and the utilities and
insurance policies for the Property were in Salas’s name. Id. at 5–6. Salas has resided at the
Property since 1995, except for when he was temporarily displaced by the fire and attendant
repair work. Id. at 3.
On July 6, 2010, Len and Salas executed an Irrevocable Trust Agreement and Quitclaim
Deed, attempting to transfer ownership of the Property to a trust for which Salas would be both
the trustee and beneficiary. Id. at 8. Judge Teel found that the “Irrevocable Trust” was invalid
because, under D.C. law, a trust is valid only if the “same person is not the sole trustee and sole
beneficiary.” Id. at 52–53 (citing D.C. Code § 19-1304.02(a)(5)). Nevertheless, under D.C. law,
3
the conveyance of property through an invalid trust will convey the legal and beneficial rights to
the intended beneficiary if there is consideration. Id. (citing Kemp v. Eiland, 139 F. Supp. 3d
329, 340 (D.D.C. 2015)). Judge Teel found that consideration was given for the Property,
relying on the Quitclaim Deed, which stated that the transfer was made “for good consideration
and for the sum of $100.” Id. at 54 (citing Quitclaim Deed). Even though it was a nominal
amount, Judge Teel ruled that the $100 was valuable consideration. Id. at 54–55 (stating “[i]n
effect, Len purchased the Property for $10 in 2007 and sold the Property for $100 three years
later in 2010”). Furthermore, Judge Teel found that Salas provided consideration by paying the
mortgage on the Property, as well as “all bills, taxes, and other expenses related to the property;”
and by agreeing to “take Len’s name off the mortgage when Max was able to refinance the
Property on his own credit.” Id. at 55. Ultimately, “Len put no investment into the Property, and
got more out of the Property than he put into it.” Id. Thus, Judge Teel concluded that the
Property was conveyed to Salas through the Irrevocable Trust and Quitclaim Deed, and that
Salas holds both legal and beneficial interests in the Property. Id. at 57. Salas therefore could
claim the homestead exemption in his Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding. Id.
II. The Homestead Appeal
Appellants filed a timely appeal of the Homestead Decision on October 8, 2018. See
Case No. 18-cv-2318 (“Homestead Appeal”). After the Homestead Appeal was fully briefed,
Appellants filed a Motion to Supplement or Remand. See Appellants’ Brief Appendix at 46
(“Motion to Supplement”); see also Homestead Appeal at ECF No. 17. The Motion sought to
supplement the record on appeal with three portions of transcripts from Len Salas’s bankruptcy
case in the Middle District of Tennessee. See Motion to Supplement at 2–3. In the Tennessee
bankruptcy proceedings, Len testified that Salas did not pay Len any money when they
4
attempted to convey the Property by Quitclaim Deed. Id. Appellants contended that Len’s
testimony proved that there was no consideration when Salas and Len executed the Irrevocable
Trust and Quitclaim Deed; that the Property therefore was not conveyed to Salas; and that Salas
consequently could not claim the homestead exemption. Id. As an alternative to supplementing
the record, Appellants requested a remand to the Bankruptcy Court for consideration of this new
evidence. Id. at 8.
On January 2, 2020, this Court issued a Memorandum Opinion denying the Motion to
Supplement or Remand. See ECF No. 4 (Bankruptcy Appeal Record) at DE #290 (“Homestead
Dismissal Opinion”); see also In re Salas, Case No. 18-cv-2318, 2020 WL 32567 (D.D.C. Jan. 2,
2020) (KBJ). 3 Noting that the testimony at issue was taken in the Tennessee proceeding after
the Bankruptcy Court had issued its Homestead Decision, the Court declined to allow Appellants
to supplement the record on appeal with transcripts of the testimony. See Homestead Dismissal
Opinion at 6–7. The Court explained that Appellants did not meet the standard for
supplementing the record under Bankruptcy Rule 8009(e), which permits correction or
modification of the record so that it adequately reflects what happened in the trial court. Id.(citing In re Application of Adan, 437 F.3d 381, 389 n.3 (3d Cir. 2006)). Nor did Appellants
present an extraordinary circumstance that warranted the exercise of the Court’s equitable
powers to supplement the appellate record with evidence that had not been considered by the
Bankruptcy Court. Id. at 7 (citing Colbert v. Potter, 471 F.3d 158, 165–66 (D.C. Cir. 2006)).
Although Appellants requested that the matter be remanded, the Court noted that Appellants had
“suggest[ed] that, if this appeal was not pending, Appellants would be able to file a motion for
reconsideration or for a new trial in the bankruptcy court.” Id. (citing Motion to Supplement at
3
The Homestead Dismissal Opinion was authored by a predecessor judge. This case was transferred to the
undersigned judge on October 1, 2021.
5
7). The Court therefore chose to “liberally construe” Appellants’ request as a “motion for
voluntary dismissal” of the appeal, which would leave Appellants free to pursue additional
litigation before the trial court. Id. at 8. Accordingly, the Court dismissed the appeal. See
generally id. Notably, Appellants did not seek reconsideration of the Homestead Dismissal
Opinion; nor did they appeal that Opinion.
III. The Motion for Reconsideration and Reconsideration Decision
Two months after the Homestead Appeal was dismissed, Appellants filed a Motion for
Reconsideration of the original Homestead Decision in the Bankruptcy Court on March 6, 2020.
See Appellants’ Brief Appendix at 50 (“Motion for Reconsideration”); see also Bankruptcy Case
No. 18-260, Dkt. No. 321. The Motion for Reconsideration argued that the Homestead Decision
was erroneous, based on new evidence from Len Salas’s bankruptcy case. See generally Motion
for Reconsideration. The Motion for Reconsideration did not address whether the procedural
posture of the case would permit the Bankruptcy Court to reopen its consideration of the
Homestead Decision. Id. On October 13, 2020, the Bankruptcy Court issued its memorandum
decision denying the Motion for Reconsideration. See Appellants’ Appendix Brief at 55
(“Reconsideration Decision”); see also In re Salas, Bankruptcy Case No. 18-260, 2020 WL
6054783 (Bankr. D.D.C. Oct. 13, 2020).
In the Reconsideration Decision, Judge Teel thoroughly examined all of the procedural
avenues for reconsidering the Homestead Decision; and determined that each option was
foreclosed by untimeliness and insufficiency on the merits. 4 See generally Reconsideration
Decision. Judge Teel considered the Motion for Reconsideration under Federal Rules of Civil
4
Judge Teel noted that Appellants were required to file any motion for relief from the Homestead Decision
in a timely manner, even though an appeal was pending. See Reconsideration Decision at 21–23 (citing Fed. R.
Bankr. P. 8008(a); Carr v. District of Columbia, 543 F.2d 917, 926 n.70 (D.C. Cir. 1976) (“[A] timely Rule 60(b)
motion predicated on newly-discovered evidence can be made notwithstanding pendency of the appeal.”)).
6
Procedure 60(b)(1), (b)(2), and (b)(6), and explained why relief was untimely under each
provision. Id. at 19–21. 5 A motion for relief under Rule 60(b)(1) or (b)(2) is required to be
made within “a year after the entry of the judgment or order or the date of the proceeding.” Fed.
R. Civ. P. 60(c). Because the Motion for Reconsideration was filed on March 6, 2020, more than
seventeen months after the entry of the Homestead Decision on September 24, 2018, the Motion
for Reconsideration was untimely under Rules 60(b)(1) and (b)(2). See Reconsideration
Decision at 24. While relief under Rule 60(b)(6) is not subject to the one-year time limit, such
relief must be sought within a reasonable time. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(c). Judge Teel found that
the seventeen-month gap did not constitute a reasonable amount of time because after the
Homestead Decision was issued, Salas had relied on the court’s finding that he is the owner of
the Property; 6 and Appellants did not provide any valid reason for their delay in seeking
reconsideration. See Reconsideration Decision at 25–27. Thus, the Motion for Reconsideration
was deemed untimely under each of the provisions considered. 7
In the alternative, Judge Teel held that even if the Motion for Reconsideration were
timely, it would be denied on the merits. Under Rule 60(b)(1), which provides a basis for relief
5
Judge Teel held that Rule 60(a) relief was not available because that Rule provides relief for clerical errors
or mistakes, and Appellants sought to attack the substance of the Homestead Decision. See Reconsideration
Decision at 20–21.
6
In reliance on the Bankruptcy Court’s Homestead Decision, Salas pursued his rights as an owner “at
substantial expense” by, for example: (1) applying to hire an appraiser to assist him in seeking refinancing for the
Property; (2) applying to employ conflicts counsel to resolve issues involving the bank that held the mortgage on the
Property; (3) filing a motion to approve a compromise with the bank that held the mortgage on the Property; and (4)
filing an objection to the District of Columbia’s secured claim against the Property. See Reconsideration Decision at
25–26.
7
Judge Teel further determined that the Motion to Supplement or Remand filed in the District Court did not
suspend the time for filing a Rule 60(b) motion in the Bankruptcy Court. See Reconsideration Decision at 27–29.
Moreover, the Motion to Supplement or Remand could not be treated as a timely Rule 60(b) motion that was
misfiled in the District Court. Id. at 30. In addition, the District Court did not transfer the Motion to Supplement or
Remand to the Bankruptcy Court, and that motion was not presented as one under Rule 60(b). Id. at 32–37. As
discussed, infra, the Court agrees with Judge Teel’s conclusion that nothing tolled or extended the deadline for the
creditors/Appellants to file a motion in the Bankruptcy Court. See Section II n.16.
7
based on mistake or excusable neglect, 8 Judge Teel ruled that such relief was not warranted
because Appellants’ Motion merely rehashed arguments that were presented at trial. Id. at 43–
44. Additionally, he categorized the long delay in presenting Appellants’ arguments as a case of
“inexcusable neglect.” Id. at 45. Judge Teel found Appellants’ claims unavailing even under
Rule 60(b)(2), which allows relief based on newly discovered evidence. 9 He first determined
that the transcripts likely did not constitute newly discovered evidence because the same
testimony could have been elicited by Appellants’ attorney in the Homestead Trial through the
exercise of due diligence. Id. at 46–48. In any event, Judge Teel ruled that nothing in the new
evidence “contradicts the testimony of Max and Len in the homestead exemption trial or
undercuts the findings . . . in the Homestead Decision.” Id. at 48. Judge Teel stated that “[a]ny
failure of Max to pay Len $100.00 at the time Len executed the Quitclaim Deed would not alter
the finding in the Homestead Decision that Max provided valuable consideration for the transfer”
because a “recitation of a nominal amount of cash paid in exchange for a deed is commonplace,
and it is likely equally commonplace that often the consideration is something different.” Id. at
49. According to Judge Teel, even if Salas did not pay the $100, Len still received valuable
consideration “based on Property expenses for which Len was liable and that Max agreed to
continue paying” and “based on Max’s agreement to attempt to refinance the Property to
eliminate Len as a mortgagor.” Id. at 50. Therefore, Judge Teel found that the new evidence
offered by Appellants would not change the holding of the Homestead Decision. Id.
8
“[M]istake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect” are grounds for relief from a final judgment under
that provision. Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(b)(1).
9
Rule 60(b)(2) allows for relief for “newly discovered evidence that, with reasonable diligence, could not
have been discovered in time to move for a new trial under Rule 59(b).” Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(b)(2).
8
Judge Teel also ruled that Appellants failed to demonstrate the necessary extraordinary
circumstances warranting relief under Rule 60(b)(6). 10 Id. at 51–56. He reasoned that since the
transcripts did not reveal any error under Rule 60(b)(2), they certainly did not demonstrate that
the Homestead Decision was manifestly unjust under Rule 60(b)(6). Id. Lastly, he concluded
that the Motion for Reconsideration could not succeed as an independent action under Rule
60(d)(1) 11 because Appellants had a fair opportunity to advance their arguments on appeal and
failed to establish that the Homestead Decision was erroneous. Id. at 57.
On October 27, 2020, Appellants filed a timely appeal of the Reconsideration Decision in
this Court. See ECF No. 1. Appellants filed their brief on appeal on December 30, 2020. See
ECF No. 6 (Appellants Brief). Appellee Max Salas filed his Opposition on January 29, 2021, see
ECF No. 7 (Appellee Brief); and Appellants filed a Reply on February 15, 2021, see ECF No. 8
(Appellants Reply).
LEGAL STANDARD
Federal district courts have jurisdiction to hear appeals from final judgments, orders, and
decrees “entered in cases and proceedings referred to the bankruptcy judges.” 28 U.S.C. § 158.
An appellate court’s review of motions filed under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b) is
limited to determining whether the trial court abused its discretion in ruling on the motion. See
Smalls v. United States, 471 F.3d 186, 191 (D.C. Cir. 2006); Murray v. District of Columbia, 52
F.3d 353, 355 (D.C. Cir. 1995); In re Hardy, 561 B.R. 281, 284 (D.D.C. 2016); see also Greater
Se. Cmty. Hosp. Found., Inc. v. Potter, 586 F.3d 1, 4 (D.C. Cir. 2009) (reviewing discretionary
decisions of a bankruptcy court under an abuse of discretion standard); In re Taylor, 575 B.R.
10Rule 60(b)(6) allows for relief from a final order for “any other reason that justified relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P.
60(b)(6).
11
Rule 60(d)(1) allows a court to “entertain an independent action to relieve a party from a judgment, order,
or proceeding.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(d)(1).
9
390, 394 (N.D. Ill. 2017) (stating that the “universe of cases that will qualify for relief on appeal”
from a denial of a Rule 60(b) motion is “tin[y]”). This Court’s review must take into account
that “Rule 60(b) was intended to preserve ‘the delicate balance between the sanctity of final
judgment . . . and the incessant command of the court’s conscience that justice can be done in
light of all the facts.’” Good Luck Nursing Home, Inc. v. Harris, 636 F.2d 572, 577 (D.C. Cir.
1980) (quoting Bankers Mortg. Co. v. United States, 423 F.2d 73, 77 (5th Cir. 1970)).
The abuse-of-discretion standard is met if the court “did not apply the correct legal
standard or misapprehended the underlying substantive law,” or if its ruling was not “within the
scope of permissible alternatives in light of the relevant factors and the reasons given to support
it.” Smalls, 471 F.3d at 191; Kickapoo Tribe of Indians of Kickapoo Reservation in Kan. v.
Babbitt, 43 F.3d 1491, 1497 (D.C. Cir. 1995). The bankruptcy judge “has a range of choice,”
and its decision “will not be disturbed as long as it stays within that range and is not influenced
by any mistake of law.” United States v. Volvo Powertrain Corp., 758 F.3d 330, 345 (D.C. Cir.
2014) (citations omitted); see also Anderson v. Bessemer City, 470 U.S. 564, 573–74 (1985) (“If
the [trial] court’s account of the evidence is plausible in light of the record viewed in its entirety,
the court of appeals may not reverse it even though convinced that had it been sitting as the trier
of fact, it would have weighed the evidence differently.”); Smalls, 471 F.3d at 191 (“[T]he
appellate court’s function is not to determine the substantive correctness of the judgment but
rather is limited to deciding whether the [trial] court abused its discretion in ruling that sufficient
grounds for disturbing the finality of the judgment were not shown.”). The bankruptcy judge,
“who is in the best position to discern and assess all the facts, is vested with a large measure of
discretion in deciding whether to grant a Rule 60(b) motion.” Twelve John Does v. District of
Columbia, 841 F.2d 1133, 1138 (D.C. Cir. 1988).
10
ANALYSIS
I. Scope of Review
Due to the unusual procedural history of this case, the parties appear to dispute what
issues are properly before the Court. Appellants’ brief on appeal is largely devoted to
challenging the merits of the Homestead Decision; while Appellee contends that this Court may
review only the Reconsideration Decision. See generally Appellants Brief; Appellee Brief.
Whether Appellants may now challenge the merits of the Homestead Decision turns on whether
this Court’s dismissal of the prior appeal of the Homestead Decision was a final order resolving
that appeal, or whether it was a remand order to the Bankruptcy Court. See Appellants Brief at
3–4; 41. If the Homestead Dismissal Opinion was a final order, Appellants may not appeal the
Homestead Decision anew. See Ray Haluch Gravel Co. v. Central Pension Fund of Int’l Union
of Operating Eng’rs, 571 U.S. 177, 183 (2014) (A final decision is one that “ends the litigation
on the merits and leaves nothing for the court to do but execute the judgment.”).
As noted, Appellants timely appealed the Homestead Decision and the parties submitted
briefs on the merits related to that appeal. When Appellants moved to supplement the appellate
record, this Court denied the Motion to Supplement, because Appellants did not seek to
supplement the record with documents that the Bankruptcy Court had considered, but instead
proffered new evidence. See generally Homestead Dismissal Opinion. The Court then
considered Appellants’ alternative request for a remand to allow the new evidence to be
considered by the Bankruptcy Court. Id. Appellants suggested in their Motion to Supplement
that if the appeal were not pending, they would be able to file a motion for reconsideration or a
motion for a new trial in the Bankruptcy Court. 12 See Motion to Supplement at 4 (stating that
12
Appellants apparently misunderstood the procedure for filing a motion for reconsideration. Nothing
prevented Appellants from filing a motion in the Bankruptcy Court while an appeal was pending; the rules only bar
11
while an Appellant “may request” reconsideration “[w]hen discovering new information or
evidence after trial,” “the Bankruptcy Court does not have jurisdiction because of the Appellants’
timely appeal”). As a result, the Court construed the Motion to Supplement as a motion for
voluntary dismissal of the appeal, to enable unencumbered litigation in the Bankruptcy Court.
See Homestead Dismissal Opinion at 7–8. The Court granted the motion for voluntary dismissal
and dismissed the appeal. Appellants thereafter filed their Motion for Reconsideration in the
Bankruptcy Court. The Motion for Reconsideration argued for reconsideration of the Homestead
Decision based on the new evidence gleaned from Len Salas’s bankruptcy case in Tennessee.
See generally Motion for Reconsideration.
In his Reconsideration Decision, Judge Teel found that the Homestead Dismissal Opinion
was a final decision that resolved the appeal of the Homestead Decision, and that Appellants had
relinquished their right to challenge the merits of the Homestead Decision when they failed to
appeal the Homestead Dismissal Opinion within thirty days. See Reconsideration Decision at 18
(stating that the failure to seek reconsideration or appeal “appear[ed] to have eliminated any
appellate rights the judgment creditors had regarding the Homestead Decision”); see also Fed. R.
App. P. 4(a) (“In a civil case . . . the notice of appeal . . . must be filed with the district clerk
within 30 days after entry of the judgment or order appealed from.”); Matton Steamboat Co. v.
Murphy, 319 U.S. 412, 415 (1943) (stating the purpose of Rule 4 is “to set a definite point of
time when litigation shall be at an end, unless within that time the prescribed application has
been made; and if it has not, to advise prospective appellees that they are freed of the appellant’s
demands”). Although Appellants contend that Judge Teel’s conclusions were “beyond the
the Bankruptcy Court from deciding such a motion while the appeal is pending. See Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8008; Carr v.
District of Columbia, 543 F.2d 917, 926 n.70 (D.C. Cir. 1976) (“[A] timely Rule 60(b) motion predicated on newly-
discovered evidence can be made notwithstanding pendency of the appeal.”).
12
jurisdiction and authority of the bankruptcy court to make,” and constituted an “unwarranted and
improper ‘advisory opinion,’” Appellants Reply at 3–4, this Court disagrees. When confronted
with Appellants’ substantive arguments that challenged the Homestead Decision in the Motion
for Reconsideration, the Bankruptcy Court was required to determine whether such arguments
were properly before it. 13
To avoid the unwelcome consequence of Judge Teel’s reasoning, Appellants argue that
the Homestead Dismissal Opinion (characterized as a “Remand Order” in their briefs), “directed
litigation in the bankruptcy court on the impact of the significant testimony detailing the lack of
consideration from Max to Len at the time of the attempted 2010 transfer.” Appellants Brief at
42. Appellants argue that the Bankruptcy Court was required to comply with the “implied
rulings” of the District Court. See id. (citing Creek v. Village of Westhaven, 144 F.3d 441, 445
(7th Cir. 1998)). Appellants are correct that a district court’s order of remand to a bankruptcy
court is not a final order if it directs the bankruptcy judge to hold further proceedings. See In re
St. Charles Preservation Inv’rs, Ltd., 916 F.2d 727, 728 (D.C. Cir. 1990); see also Occidental
Petroleum Corp. v. SEC, 873 F.2d 325, 329 (D.C. Cir. 1989) (stating that a remand order is
“interlocutory” rather than “final”); Am. Haw. Cruises v. Skinner, 893 F.2d 1400, 1402 (D.C.
Cir. 1990) (finding that a district court order remanding to an agency was not final because it
13
Appellants argue that the “bankruptcy court’s Memorandum is not binding upon this court.” Appellants
Reply at 13. In contending that the Bankruptcy Court lacked the authority to decide the finality of the Homestead
Decision, Appellants assert that whether they have “the right to continue their appeal of the [Homestead Decision] is
an issue of law” that is subject to de novo review. Id. Indeed, this Court has reviewed Judge Teel’s legal analysis de
novo and agrees with him that the Homestead Dismissal Opinion was a final order resolving the appeal; and that
Appellants’ failure to seek reconsideration of that ruling or to appeal it extinguished Appellants’ right to challenge
the Homestead Decision.
Appellants contend that the intent of the Homestead Dismissal Opinion was to permit litigation of new
evidence in the Bankruptcy Court, and that Judge Teel “refused to listen to those arguments.” Id. Yet in an
alternative ruling, Judge Teel in fact did consider Appellants’ arguments about the new evidence from Len Salas’s
bankruptcy proceedings.
13
gave instructions to engage in reasoned decision making). Thus, characterizing the Homestead
Dismissal Order as a “Remand Order” would permit Appellants to pursue their claims of error
related to the Homestead Decision.
Unfortunately for Appellants, however, the Homestead Dismissal Opinion cannot fairly
be construed as a “Remand Order.” The Homestead Dismissal Opinion plainly stated that the
Court was construing the Motion to Supplement as a “motion for voluntary dismissal of this
appeal,” and that the Court was dismissing the appeal on that basis. Homestead Dismissal
Opinion at 8. Faced with a request for a “remand,” the Court instead chose to issue an order of
“dismissal.” To be sure, the Opinion stated that the appeal would be dismissed “upon remand to
the bankruptcy court,” as noted by Appellants. Id.; see Appellants Reply at 7. But the stray use
of the word “remand” in a sentence that unequivocally grants a motion to dismiss does not
convert the dismissal into a remand. See Homestead Dismissal Opinion at 8 (“So construed, this
Court finds that Appellant’s motion to voluntarily dismiss the instant appeal upon remand to the
bankruptcy court should be granted.”). As noted by Judge Teel, when this Court dismissed the
appeal of the Homestead Decision, the Court provided no instructions to the Bankruptcy Court to
consider the newly proffered evidence. See Reconsideration Decision at 17. Instead, the Court
left it to Appellants to independently pursue the relief that they thought appropriate in the
Bankruptcy Court. 14 See generally Homestead Dismissal Opinion. Appellants did not appeal
14
In attempting to preserve their appellate rights in the Homestead Decision, Appellants further argue that
even if this Court decides that the purpose of the Homestead Dismissal Opinion was “only to allow the Appellants to
seek a limited reconsideration,” it is clear that the “remand” was not final. Appellants Reply at 12–13. Appellants
rely on In re Harrington, for their assertion that the “remand” order was not a final judgment. See 992 F.2d 3 (1st
Cir. 1993). Harrington stated that “a district court remand order . . . is not final . . . unless it resolves all procedural
and substantive issues necessary to conclude the entire appeal.” Id. at 5–6; see also id. (stating that a remand order
only contemplating “ministerial” tasks is still final). According to Appellants, the “remand order” was not final
within the meaning of Harrington because it did not end the proceedings, as it contemplated further litigation in the
Bankruptcy Court. See Appellants Reply at 12–13. Appellants’ argument, however, presupposes that this Court’s
order was a “remand order.” As noted, the Homestead Dismissal Opinion contained no mandate or instructions for
the Bankruptcy Court to take any action. While the intent may have been to allow further litigation to occur, by
14
the Homestead Dismissal Opinion, nor did they seek reconsideration of it. Therefore, the
Homestead Dismissal Opinion “ended the litigation” of the appeal on the merits of the
Homestead Decision. See Ray Haluch Gravel Co., 571 U.S. at 183; Am. Haw. Cruises, 893 F.2d
at 1402. In other words, the Homestead Dismissal Opinion was a final judgment that precludes
any further appeal of the Homestead Decision. See Reconsideration Decision at 18.
Because the appeal of the Homestead Decision was resolved by a final order of dismissal,
the only appeal that this Court may now entertain is an appeal of the Bankruptcy Court’s denial
of the Motion for Reconsideration of the Homestead Decision. Such an appeal raises for review
only the order of denial itself, not the underlying judgment. See Browder v. Dep’t of Corr., 434
U.S. 257, 263 n.7 (1978) (stating that an “appeal from denial of Rule 60(b) relief does not bring
up the underlying judgment for review”); see also Am. Bankers Ins. Co. v. Nw. Nat’l Ins. Co.,
198 F.3d 1332, 1338 (11th Cir. 1999) (an appeal from a bankruptcy court’s denial of a motion
for reconsideration “is narrow in scope, addressing only the propriety of the denial or grant of
relief and does not raise issues in the underlying judgment for review”). The Court notes,
however, that Judge Teel addressed the merits of Appellants’ arguments based on the new
evidence in an alternative ruling, see Reconsideration Decision at 48–51, and this Court will do
the same. 15
failing to give any instructions to the Bankruptcy Court and by stating that the appeal was “dismissed,” the
Homestead Dismissal Opinion ended litigation of the Homestead Decision and concluded the appeal of that ruling.
15
Appellants argue that
[i]f this Court remanded knowing that any reconsideration was impermissible in
the bankruptcy court and also understanding that the Appellants had no right to
continue their appeal of the [Homestead] Decision in this Court, the result would
be that this Court foreclosed Appellants’ right to appeal. That cannot be the result
contemplated by this Court or intended by its [Dismissal Order].
Appellants Reply at 6–7. This Court acknowledges that foreclosure of Appellants’ right to appeal the Homestead
Decision likely was not contemplated or intended by the judge who issued the Homestead Dismissal Opinion. But
this Court cannot now rewrite the Dismissal Order, which unambiguously dismissed the appeal of the Homestead
Decision. Appellants could have, but did not, seek reconsideration of the Dismissal Order: In a reconsideration
15
II. The Bankruptcy Court Did Not Abuse Its Discretion
Judge Teel ruled that (1) the Motion for Reconsideration was untimely under Federal
Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b), 16 and (2) even if the Motion for Reconsideration were timely
filed, it would fail on its merits. See generally Reconsideration Decision. Appellants present
few arguments that substantively challenge the legal analysis in the Reconsideration Decision,
focusing instead on attacking the substance of the Homestead Decision. See generally
Appellants Brief; Appellants Reply. Appellants do argue, however, that the Bankruptcy Court
erred in declining to find that the Homestead Decision was “manifestly unjust” under Rule
60(b)(6). See Appellants Brief at 42–43.
Rule 60(b)(6) allows for relief from judgment for “any other reason that justifies relief.”
See Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(b)(6). A party “must clear a very high bar to obtain relief under Rule
60(b)(6).” Kramer v. Gates, 481 F.3d 788, 792 (D.C. Cir. 2007). To prevail under Rule
60(b)(6), a party must show extraordinary circumstances, such as previously undisclosed
evidence that was “so central to the litigation that it shows the initial judgment to have been
manifestly unjust.” Good Luck Nursing Home, 636 F.2d at 577. Appellants contend that the
motion, they could have advocated instead for a remand order that would have safeguarded their right to appeal the
Homestead Decision. In any event, the prejudice to Appellants is ameliorated by Judge Teel’s alternative ruling that
takes account of the newly proffered evidence, which this Court will review.
16
While Appellants do not challenge Judge Teel’s ruling regarding the timeliness of the Motion for
Reconsideration, the Court discerns no error in Judge Teel’s determination that the Motion was untimely. Judge
Teel did not err in ruling that the pending appeal did not toll the deadline for Appellants to file their Motion for
Reconsideration. See, e.g., Carr v. District of Columbia, 543 F.2d 917, 926 n.70 (D.C. Cir. 1976) (“[A] timely Rule
60(b) motion predicated on newly-discovered evidence can be made notwithstanding pendency of the appeal.”);
Transit Cas. Co. v. Sec. Trust Co., 441 F.2d 788, 791 (5th Cir. 1971) (stating that a Rule 60(b) motion “can be made
even though an appeal has been taken and is pending”). Moreover, it would be inappropriate to treat the Motion to
Supplement as a misfiled Rule 60(b) motion, as a Rule 60(b) motion must be filed in the trial court. See Bankers
Mortg. Co., 423 F.2d at 78 (“The motion for relief from final judgment must be filed in the [trial] court and in the
action in which the original judgment was entered.”). Further, the District Court lacked the power to extend the
deadline for filing a Rule 60(b) motion. See Goland v. CIA, 607 F.2d 339, 372 (D.C. Cir. 1978) (stating that “the
one-year period is not tolled by a pending appeal, and under the federal rules no court has power to extend the
deadline”). Lastly, the District Court did not transfer the Motion to Supplement to the Bankruptcy Court, and the
Motion to Supplement was not cast as a Rule 60(b) motion. Therefore, the deadlines for filing a motion for
reconsideration under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b) were in effect, and Appellants’ Motion was untimely.
16
proffered new transcripts show that the Homestead Decision was “manifestly unjust,” requiring
the Bankruptcy Court to reconsider the decision. See Appellants Brief at 42–43 (stating that
there was “substantial evidence of no consideration” that “directly contradicted” arguments at the
Homestead Trial). In considering whether relief would be appropriate under Rule 60(b)(6),
Judge Teel found that the creditors failed to show the extraordinary circumstances necessary to
warrant relief, as the transcripts did not show that the Homestead Decision was incorrect. See
Reconsideration Decision at 52–53. Judge Teel reasoned that even if the revelations in the
transcripts were true, any failure by Salas to pay Len $100 when the Quitclaim Deed was
executed would not alter the Bankruptcy Court’s finding that Salas provided valuable
consideration for the Property. See id. at 49–50 (stating that even if Max did not pay $100, Len
still received valuable consideration based on the Property expenses for which Len was liable
and that Max agreed to continue paying, and based on Max’s agreement to have Len removed
from the mortgage).
Judge Teel did not abuse his discretion in concluding that the newly proffered transcripts
did not demonstrate that the Homestead Decision was “manifestly unjust.” The Court declines to
second guess Judge Teel’s findings, given his familiarity with the evidence and his thorough
analysis of the legal issues. See Twelve John, 841 F.2d at 1138. Although the evidence in the
transcripts undermines the finding that Salas paid Len $100 for the Property pursuant to the
Quitclaim Deed, other evidence supports the Bankruptcy Court’s ultimate finding that
consideration was paid: Salas agreed to pay expenses for the Property that otherwise would have
been Len’s financial responsibility; and Salas also agreed to relieve Len of his legal obligation to
pay the mortgage. Therefore, the Homestead Decision was not based on a “fundamental
misconception of the facts.” See Good Luck Nursing Home, 636 F.2d at 576. Appellants thus
17
were not entitled to relief under Rule 60(b)(6), and Judge Teel’s denial of their Motion for
Reconsideration was not an abuse of discretion. 17
III. The Findings in the Homestead Decision Were Not Clearly Erroneous
While the Court finds it clear that the merits of the Homestead Decision are unreviewable
as a procedural matter, the Court finds it appropriate under the circumstances to nevertheless
examine Judge Teel’s alternative ruling that considered the new evidence presented by
Appellants and reaffirmed the Homestead Decision. See Reconsideration Decision at 48–53. If
Appellants’ claims on the merits were properly before this Court, the Court would affirm Judge
Teel’s ruling.
In any review of the Homestead Decision, this Court could not set aside findings of fact
unless clearly erroneous; and the Court would defer to the Bankruptcy Court’s findings about the
credibility of witnesses. See Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8013; In re Johnson, 236 B.R. 510, 518 (D.D.C.
1999). Appellants would have the burden to show that the Homestead Decision was “clearly
erroneous as to the assessment of the facts and not simply that another conclusion could have
been reached.” Advantage Healthplan, Inc. v. Potter, 391 B.R. 521, 537 (D.D.C. 2008) (cleaned
up); see also Anderson, 470 U.S. at 574 (“Where there are two permissible views of the
evidence, the factfinder’s choice between them cannot be clearly erroneous.”). “‘To be clearly
erroneous, a decision must . . . strike [the Court] as wrong with the force of a five week old,
unrefrigerated dead fish.’” In re Johnson, 236 B.R. at 518 (quoting Parts & Elec. Motors, Inc. v.
Sterling Elec., Inc., 866 F.2d 228, 233 (7th Cir. 1988)).
17
Even if relief under Rule 60(b)(6) were warranted on the merits, such relief was not procedurally available
to Appellants as they were also seeking relief under Rules 60(b)(1) and (b)(2). See Williamsburg Wax Museum, Inc.
v. Historic Figures, Inc., 810 F.2d 243, 249 (D.C. Cir. 1987) (“[I]t is generally accepted that cases clearly falling
under Rule 60(b)(1) cannot be brought within the more generous Rule 60(b)(6) in order to escape the former’s one
year time limitation.”); Liljeberg v. Health Servs. Acquisition Corp., 486 U.S. 847, 863 (1988) (stating that a Rule
60(b)(6) motion is mutually exclusive and cannot be premised “on one of the grounds for relief enumerated in
clauses (b)(1) through (b)(5)”).
18
Appellants raise numerous arguments seeking to attack and overturn the Homestead
Decision in their Brief and Reply. They contend that the homestead exemption should have been
denied because the debtor, Max Salas, had unclean hands. Appellants Brief at 19. They
additionally argue that their objections to the homestead exemption should have been sustained
because Salas did not pay valuable consideration for the purported transfer of the Property. Id. at
22. They further assert that Judge Teel made numerous erroneous evidentiary rulings related to
“when and where the trust documents [pertaining to the Irrevocable Trust and Quitclaim Deed]
were found and how.” Id. at 40.
At bottom, however, Appellants do not clear the high bar of showing that Judge Teel’s
decision regarding the homestead exemption was clearly erroneous. Judge Teel held a three-day
trial and wrote a detailed sixty-page opinion, which thoroughly and clearly laid out the path from
the evidence to the ruling. In reading the Homestead Decision, nothing strikes this Court as
wrong “with the force of a five week old, unrefrigerated dead fish.” See In re Johnson, 236 B.R.
at 518. Salas made the $80,000 down payment on the Property; has lived at the Property since
1995; and pays all the expenses associated with the Property, including the mortgage taken out
by Len: Salas treats the place as his home. See Homestead Decision at 3–6. Judge Teel
reasonably determined that the legal maneuverings of the Salas family to finance a divorce
settlement did not change Salas’s fundamental relationship to the Property. And although
Appellants argue strenuously that Salas is not credible and that he “clearly played games with his
perceived right to the subject property,” Appellants Brief at 20, this Court is required to defer to
Judge Teel’s credibility determinations. See Twelve John Does, 841 F.2d at 1138. Appellants’
disagreement with the outcome of the case does not make Judge Teel’s decision clearly
erroneous: The Bankruptcy Court’s findings were based on a careful consideration of the
19
evidence. See Anderson, 470 U.S. at 574. Thus, this Court would not have overturned Judge
Teel’s factual findings regarding Salas’s ownership of the Property.
In denying Appellants’ Motion for Reconsideration, Judge Teel further ruled (as an
alternative to his procedural analysis) that the new evidence proffered by Appellants did not
contradict the Bankruptcy Court’s findings in the Homestead Decision, and thus would not merit
reconsideration of the Homestead Decision. See supra Section II. Judge Teel held that,
regardless of whether Salas failed to pay the recited consideration of $100 referenced in the
Quitclaim Deed, Salas paid consideration in other forms: He assumed responsibility for property
expenses and agreed to relieve Len of his legal obligations under the mortgage. See
Reconsideration Decision at 49–50 (“If Max did not pay $100 at closing that does not alter the
finding in the Homestead Decision that Len received valuable consideration based on Property
expenses for which Len was liable and Max agreed to continue paying, and based on Max’s
agreement to attempt to refinance the Property to eliminate Len as a mortgagor.”) The
Bankruptcy Court did not abuse its discretion in so ruling — the court’s analysis was based on
the evidence and its factual findings were not clearly erroneous. Therefore, even if this Court
could reach the merits of the Homestead Decision, and even if this Court considered Appellants’
arguments regarding the effect of the newly proffered testimony, Appellants would fail to
persuade the Court that the Homestead Decision should be overturned. 18
18
In a final attempt to prevail, Appellants assert that this Court should, on appeal, consider the full record,
including the transcripts. See Appellants Reply at 16–17. According to Appellants, appellate courts have the
discretion to consider an issue raised for the first time in a motion for reconsideration. Id. (citing In re Coudert
Brothers LLP, 809 F.3d 94, 100 (2d Cir. 2015)). While Coudert did state that the rule that courts should not
consider arguments raised for the first time in a motion for reconsideration is “not absolute,” id., the facts and
holding of Coudert are inapplicable here. The Coudert court did not examine when and why a court may consider
new arguments on appeal, but rather stated that that when a court does “consider on appeal arguments raised for the
first time below in a motion for reconsideration and remands on the basis of those arguments, the lower court must
follow [that] mandate.” Id. (emphasis added). Appellants further argue, again relying on Coudert, that the
Bankruptcy Court failed to give the “remand order” full effect. See Appellants Reply at 14–15. As discussed, supra
Section I, the Court disagrees that there was a “remand order.” In any event, the Court has considered the new
20
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the Bankruptcy Court will be affirmed. A
separate Order will issue this day.
____________________________
FLORENCE Y. PAN
United States District Judge
Date: April 19, 2022
evidence proffered by Appellants, to the extent that it has examined Judge Teel’s alternative ruling concerning that
evidence.
21