casemark/dischargeability-complaint

Dischargeability Complaint

Drafts a court-ready adversary complaint under 11 U.S.C. §523 for U.S. bankruptcy proceedings, with jurisdiction/venue allegations, evidence-anchored counts, and FRBP compliance.

Quick Start

Collect before drafting:

• Standing: Plaintiff's enforcement right (original creditor, assignee, successor, subrogee)
• Case data: Court, case number, chapter, petition date, first §341 date, conversion status
• Deadline posture: FRBP 4007(c) timing — confirm filing window or extension basis
• Evidence: Contracts, account records, correspondence, payment history, admissions, fiduciary documents
• §523 theories: Map each subsection to its required elements under controlling circuit law
• Damages: Principal, contractual interest, statutory interest, fees, costs
• Local rules: Caption format, paragraph style, line numbering, font/margins, filing protocol

Core Workflow

1. Build complaint scaffold

| Section | Content | Verify | |---|---|---| | Caption | Court name, bankruptcy case no., adversary caption, parties | District matches debtor case | | Jurisdiction/Venue | 28 U.S.C. §§1334, 157(b)(2)(I), 1409; core proceeding | Explicitly alleged | | Parties | Names, addresses, standing chain | Standing complete | | Procedural posture | Petition date, §341 date, Rule 4007(c) timing | Within deadline or extension stated | | Factual narrative | Chronological facts with dates and sources | Each allegation tied to exhibit | | Counts | Per-theory allegations for each §523 subsection | All elements and remedies included | | Prayer | Non-dischargeability, amount, interest, fees, costs | Amounts traceable to evidence | | Verification | Perjury statement and signature block | Authorized signer confirmed | | Service checklist | Filing-ready package | Complete |

2. Plead theory-specific elements

| Theory | Elements | Style | |---|---|---| | §523(a)(2)(A) | False representation, scienter, reliance, proximate causation, damages | Fact-dense: who/what/when/where/how | | §523(a)(2)(B) | Materially untrue financial statement | Attach supporting financials, explain materiality | | §523(a)(4) | Express fiduciary relationship, breach, fraud/defalcation | Distinguish express fiduciary duty from contractual/statutory | | §523(a)(6) | Willful and malicious injury | Show intentional conduct + substantial certainty of harm |

3. Apply paragraph construction rules

• Number all paragraphs; keep short-to-medium length for readability.
• Fraud allegations must satisfy Rule 9(b): identify statement, communicator, medium, date, and falsity.
• Incorporate prior paragraphs by reference at each count's start.
• Use separate counts per theory — prevents collapse if one fails.
• Cross-reference facts; do not repeat full blocks.

4. Produce mandatory sections

1. Complaint heading and title
2. Jurisdiction and venue
3. Parties / standing
4. Factual background
5. Procedural timing
6. Count I: §523(a)(2)(A)
7. Count II: §523(a)(4) (if applicable)
8. Count III: §523(a)(6) (if applicable)
9. Prayer for relief
10. Verification
11. Signature block
12. Service/filing checklist

Legal Constraints

• FRBP 7001: Adversary proceeding form governs structure.
• FRBP 7009 / Rule 9(b): Heightened pleading for fraud allegations.
• FRBP 7012 / Rule 12(b)(6): Frame for plausibility to resist dismissal.
• FRCP 11: Remove weak, conclusory, or unsupported allegations — sanctions exposure.

Pitfalls and Checks

• Reconcile all damages figures against attached evidence.
• Confirm every element has at least one direct fact anchor.
• No allegation may rest on speculation — separate facts from legal inference.
• Do not mix circuit authority; use only jurisdiction-verified standards.
• Do not plead causes outside §523 scope.
• Keep tone objective — factual allegations only, no inflammatory language.
• Include [VERIFY] placeholders for unresolved legal standards or local-rule citations.
• Confirm attorney signature, bar status, and filing authorization before finalizing.
• Preserve exhibit organization and authentication trail.