Opinion
03 C 50087
April 16, 2003
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Appellant, Dan Babusek, filed a notice of appeal in the bankruptcy court on February 4, 2003. The notice of appeal does not identify the judgment or order appealed from but the items included in the record on appeal contains an August 26, 2002 judgment in favor of the appellee, Bernard J. Natale, trustee of the bankruptcy estate of Amy Kinsella, a January 29, 2003 order denying his motion to set aside the August 26, 2002, judgment and a February 3, 2003 order directing the U.S. Marshal's Service to take appellant into custody until he purged himself of civil contempt by submitting to a citation interrogation. It appears appellant is appealing the latter two orders and clearly the time for appealing the August 26, 2002 order had long past at the time appellant filed notice of appeal. The court has jurisdiction over final bankruptcy court orders under 28 U.S.C. § 158(a).
A civil contempt sanction is reviewed for abuse of discretion. See Grove Fresh Distrib., Inc. v. John Labatt, Ltd., 299 F.3d 635, 641 (7th Cir. 2002), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 123 S.Ct. 1486 (2003). The bankruptcy court clearly had authority to order appellant to appear for interrogation pursuant to a citation to discover assets under Illinois law which governs proceedings in aid of execution of a judgment in federal court. 735 ILCS 512-1402; F.R.Bankr.P. 7069; Fed.R.Civ.P. 69(a). Appellant was found in direct contempt of the bankruptcy court for refusing in the bankruptcy court's presence to submit to interrogation. (Tr. Jan. 27, 2003 pp. 17-21) The bankruptcy court's order imposing a civil contempt sanction in the face of this direct refusal by appellant to be examined was not an abuse of discretion.
Appellant also appeals the denial of his motion for relief from the judgment entered against him on August 26, 2002 under Fed.R.Civ.P. 55(c) and 60(b). The bankruptcy court denied this motion finding appellant had not shown good cause for relief under rule 55(c) and failed to establish grounds for relief under Rule 60(b). (1/29/03 Order) Since judgment had been entered on the default the proper basis for seeking relief is Rule 60(b), see Pretzel Stouffer, Chartered v. Imperial Adjusters, Inc., 28 F.3d 42, 45 (7th Cir. 1994), is addressed to the sound discretion of the bankruptcy court and will only be reversed for abuse of discretion. Id. The bankruptcy court considered the motions and concluded they were not well taken and were advanced as a delaying tactic. (Tr. Jan. 27, 2003 pp. 18-20) Appellant cites to a hearing transcript of April 15, 2002, as revealing an admission by the trustee and the bankruptcy court that appellant had filed an answer. (Tr. Apr. 15, 2002 p. 18) However, a review of the transcript does not support appellant's claim. It is evident the trustee did not believe the document at issue was an answer and in fact that the trustee was seeking to strike the document and the bankruptcy court apparently did strike it. (Id. pp. 21-22) While the bankruptcy court did say at one point, "so we do have an answer, then," (Id. at p. 19) the court later stated "having looked at it, frankly, it does not comply with the requirements of a pleading, which is in response to a complaint." (Id. p. 21) It cannot be said the bankruptcy court abused its discretion in denying the motions for relief.
The document at issue was not designated by appellant for the record on appeal.
For the foregoing reasons, the orders of the bankruptcy court are affirmed.