Allen v. Eisenberg (In Re Eisenberg), 18 B.R. 1001 (Bankr. E.D.N.Y. 1982). · Go Syfert
Allen v. Eisenberg (In Re Eisenberg), 18 B.R. 1001 (Bankr. E.D.N.Y. 1982). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
19 citation events (3 in the last 25 years) across 11 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Brody v. Brody (In Re Brody) (nyed, 1993-01-22)
Top citers, strongest first. 9 distinct citers.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Brody v. Brody (In Re Brody)
E.D.N.Y · 1993 · confidence medium
Some of the factors that courts have considered when making such a determination are the ability of the creditor spouse to obtain gainful employment, Forsdick, 812 F.2d at 803 ; the characterization given the award by the state court or the parties, id.; the length of the marriage, In re Eisenberg, 18 B.R. 1001, 1003 (Bankr.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Grasmann v. Grasmann (In Re Grasmann)
Bankr. E.D.N.Y. · 1992 · confidence medium
Some of the relevant factors which the bankruptcy courts consider include the following: the ability of the beneficiary (creditor) spouse to obtain gainful employment; the characterization given the award by a state court if any, Forsdick v. Turgeon, 812 F.2d 801, 803 (2d Cir.1987); the length of the marriage; the relative earning power of the parties; whether there was issue of the marriage, In re Eisenberg, 18 B.R. 1001, 1003 (Bankr.E.D.N.Y.1982); the context in which the debt appears in the decree; whether the obligation terminates upon the death or remarriage of the obligee; and whether th…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Brody v. Brody (In Re Brody)
Bankr. E.D.N.Y. · 1990 · confidence medium
Some of the factors considered by courts who utilize this approach include the following: the ability of the beneficiary (creditor) spouse to obtain gainful employment, Forsdick v. Turgeon, 812 F.2d at 803 ; the characterization given the award by a state court determination, if any, Id.; the length of the marriage, In re Eisenberg, 18 B.R. 1001, 1003 (Bankr.E.D.N.Y.1982); the relative earning power of the parties, Id.; whether there was issue of the marriage, Id.; the context in which the debt appears in the decree, In re Brown, 74 B.R. 968, 971 (Bankr.D.Conn.1987); whether the obligation ter…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Bell v. Bell (In Re Bell)
Bankr. S.D. Tex. · 1986 · confidence medium
In re Fox, 5 B.R. 317, 320 (Bkrtcy.N.D.Texas, 1980); In re Holland, 48 B.R. 874, 876 (Bkrtcy.N.D.Texas 1984); In re Petoske, 16 B.R. 412, 414 (Bkrtcy.E.D.N.Y.1982); In re Eisenberg, 18 B.R. 1001, 1003 (Bkrtcy.E.D.N.Y.1982).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Aurre v. Kalaigan (In Re Aurre)
Bankr. S.D.N.Y. · 1986 · confidence medium
See In re Nelson, 20 B.R. 1008, 1111 (Bankr.M.D.Tenn.1982); In re Comer, 27 B.R. 1018, 1020-21 (B.A.P. 9th Cir.1983); In re Eisenberg, 18 B.R. 1001, 1003 (Bankr.E.D.N.Y.1982); Matter of Gentile, 16 B.R. 381, 383 (Bankr.S.D.Ohio 1982).
cited Cited as authority (rule) In Re Roberts
Bankr. D. Utah · 1985 · confidence medium
Matter of CODESCO, supra, 18 B.R. at 1001. 133 .
discussed Cited as authority (rule) In Re Clarence Oral Calhoun Fdba Bimbo's Place, Debtor. Jo Ann Long Fka Jo Ann Calhoun v. Clarence Oral Calhoun Fdba Bimbo's Place (2×)
6th Cir. · 1983 · confidence medium
E.g., In re French, 9 B.R. 464, 466-67 (Bkrtcy.S.D.Cal.1981); In re Eisenberg, 18 B.R. 1001, 1003-004 (Bkrtcy.E.D.N.Y.1982); In re Dirks, 15 B.R. 775, 779 (Bkrtcy.N.M.1981); In re French, 19 B.R. 255, 256 (Bkrtcy.M.D.Fla.1982).
discussed Cited "see" Berse v. Langman (In re Langnam)
Bankr. D.N.J. · 2012 · signal: see · confidence high
Before the passage of BAPC-PA, courts in this Circuit and many others had already broadly interpreted § 523(a)(5) to provide an exception from discharge for certain debts to third parties, such as law firms, when the debts were incurred by the spouse, ex-spouse, or child of the debtor in furtherance of domestic support obligations, on the principle that “dischargeability must be determined by the substance of the liability rather than its form.” Falk & Siemer, LLP v. Maddigan (In re Maddigan), 312 F.3d 589, 593 (2d Cir.2002) (citing Pauley v. Spong (In re Spong), 661 F.2d 6, 9 (2d Cir.198…
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Ackerman v. Ackerman (In Re Ackerman)
Bankr. S.D.N.Y. · 1983 · signal: see also · confidence low
No. 95-595, 95th Cong. 1st Sess. 264, (1977) U.S. Code Cong. & Admin.News 1978, p. 5787; See also In re Lineberry, 9 B.R. 700 (Bkrtcy.W.D.Mo.1981), In re Eisenberg, 18 B.R. 1001 (Bkrtcy.E.D.N.Y.1982).
In Re Warren L. EISENBERG, Debtor. Rosetta ALLEN (Eisenberg), Plaintiff,
v.
Warren L. EISENBERG, Defendant
8-19-70817.
United States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. New York.
Apr 1, 1982.
18 B.R. 1001
Hession, Halpern & Bekoff, P. C., Mineó-la, N. Y., for plaintiff., Jeffrey I. Silver, Lake Ronkonkoma, N. Y., for debtor-defendant.
C. Albert Parente.
Cited by 15 opinions  |  Published

DECISION

C. ALBERT PARENTE, Bankruptcy Judge.

On August 10,1981, Warren L. Eisenberg (debtor-defendant) filed a petition in bankruptcy under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code.

Rosetta Allen (plaintiff), the former wife of Warren L. Eisenberg, commenced an adversary proceeding against the debtor-defendant on October 23, 1981, to determine the dischargeability of certain debts agreed to by the parties in a stipulation which was incorporated in a decree of dissolution of their marriage.

FACTS

Plaintiff and the debtor-defendant were married on March 31, 1967, and are the parents of two infant children.

By order of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, dated April 1,1981, the marriage between Rosetta Allen (Eisen-berg) and Warren Eisenberg was dissolved.

The Judgment of Divorce incorporates a Stipulation entered into between Rosetta Allen (Eisenberg) and Warren Eisenberg dated February 25, 1981, which provides in part:

(1) That the marital dwelling which was held as tenants by the entirety shall be conveyed to the wife exclusively.

(2) That the husband shall provide child support at the rate of $65 per week per child.

(3) That the husband shall have the right to claim the two children as dependents for income tax purposes.

(4) That the husband agrees to assume and be responsible for certain existing debts of the marriage, viz., the National Bank of North America home improvement loan, the HFC loan, the Sag Harbor loan and the Meenan Oil loan.

(5) That the husband will hold the wife harmless and indemnify her in the event he fails to make payment of any of these loans.

The husband’s obligations to the wife are stated in those sections of the document providing for the support and maintenance of his wife and children.

The Judgment of Divorce decrees, inter a lia, that the husband should pay the wife’s counsel fees in the amount of $2,500. Said fees have been paid by the wife.

None of the above obligations have been paid by the debtor-defendant.

[*1003] As a result of debtor-defendant’s failure to make payments on the various debts, actions have been commenced against the plaintiff, and there are presently judgments which affect the real estate which was the marital abode.

Although plaintiff is a licensed nurse, she was not working at the time of the divorce nor at any time subsequent to it.

In the proceeding presently before this Court, the debtor-defendant denies that these debts are nondischargeable under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(5) on the grounds that they constitute a property settlement not alimony, maintenance or support and that as the debts were to be paid directly to the creditors, the payments were for the benefit of creditors rather than for the benefit of a spouse or dependents.

Section 523(a)(5) states:

(a) A discharge under section 727, 1141, or 1328(b) of this title does not discharge an individual debtor from any debt—
(5) to a spouse, former spouse, or child of the debtor for alimony to, maintenance for, or support of both spouse or child, in connection with a separation agreement, divorce decree, or property settlement agreement, but not to the extent that—
(A) such debt is assigned to another entity, voluntarily, by operation of law; or
(B) such debt includes a liability designated as alimony, maintenance, or support, unless such liability is actually in the nature of alimony, maintenance, or support.

The legislative history indicates:

Section 523(a)(5) is a compromise between the House bill and the Senate amendment. The provision excepts from discharge a debt owed to a spouse, former spouse or a child of the debtor, in connection with a separation agreement, divorce decree, or property settlement agreement, for alimony to, maintenance for, or support of such spouse or child but not to the extent that the debt is assigned to another entity. If the debtor has assumed an obligation of the debtor’s spouse to a third party in connection with a separation agreement, property settlement agreement, or divorce proceeding, such debt is dischargeable to the extent that payment of the debt by the debtor is not actually in the nature of alimony, maintenance or support of debtor’s spouse, former spouse, or child. 124 Cong.Rec.H 11,095-6 (Sept. 28, 1978); S 17,412-3 (Oct. 6, 1978).

The apparent intent and purpose of 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(5) is to prevent a debtor from discharging his responsibilities to an ex-spouse or children, even to the extent that such support was in the form of a debt to be paid to a third party. In re Mullins, 14 B.R. 771, 5 C.B.C. 368, 370 (Bkrtcy.W.D.Oklahoma 1981).

Since the nature of the claim underlying the debt determines the extent of the dischargeability, it is necessary to examine the agreement and all the circumstances surrounding the creation of the liability to determine if the debt is in the nature of alimony, maintenance or support. In re Lineberry, 9 B.R. 700, 704 (Bkrtcy.W.D.Missouri 1981).

Among the factors which the Court must consider in determining whether a husband’s debt is in the nature of alimony, maintenance or support are the length of the marriage, the relative earning power of the parties and whether there was issue of the marriage. See, In re Cartner, 9 B.R. 543, 545 (Bkrtcy.M.D.Alabama 1981), In re Henry, 5 B.R. 342, 343 (Bkrtcy.M.D.Florida 1980).

Additionally, the Court must determine whether the wife was otherwise provided for, id at 343, and whether the Stipulation taken as a whole indicates an intent of the parties that the obligation was in the nature of alimony,' maintenance or support. See, In re Snyder, 7 B.R. 147, 150 (D.C.W.D.Virginia 1980).

In the instant case, the parties were married for fourteen years, there were two children of the marriage and the. wife is unemployed and otherwise unprovided for.

A careful review of the Stipulation indicates that it was the intent and under[*1004] standing of the parties that the liability incurred by the husband was actually in the nature of alimony or maintenance.

Based on the foregoing facts, the Court finds that the debt owed by debtor-defendant to plaintiff is a liability in the nature of alimony or maintenance and nondischargeable under § 523(a).

Accordingly, judgment is granted in favor of plaintiff.