15 B 28696, 16 A 00026
Plaintiff Tillman Enterprises, LLC (“Tillman”) filed a three-count adversary complaint against Todd S. Horlbeck (“Horlbeck”), seeking a determination that a debt owed to it by Horlbeck for alleged securities violations and fraud was not dischargeable pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §§ 523(a)(19), (a)(2)(A), and (a)(2)(B).  After Tillman amended the complaint and Horlbeck’s motion to dismiss was denied, the parties’ filed cross-motions for summary judgment.  No material facts were in dispute.  Tillman argued that Horlbeck had violated securities laws by reporting inflated account values while managing a hedge fund in which Tillman had invested.  In addition, Tillman alleged that Horlbeck misrepresented and omitted material information while the parties negotiated the settlement of those securities claims.  Horlbeck admitted to reporting inaccurate values but contested whether Tillman could prove the requisite elements of its claims.  After establishing that it had jurisdiction to determine liability for the violation of securities laws under § 523(a)(19), the Court found that Tillman had failed to prove that Horlbeck violated any securities laws.  As such, the Court granted Horlbeck’s motion for summary judgment under § 523(a)(19) and denied Tillman’s cross-motion.  Turning to §§ 523(a)(2)(A) and (a)(2)(B), the Court first found that Tillman could maintain claims under both subsections because they were based on separate alleged misrepresentations.  On the merits, the Court found that Horlbeck had failed to disclose liabilities on a financial statement, and that he had misrepresented information about a regulatory investigation and his management of the hedge fund.  Tillman, in turn, had relied on those misrepresentations and omissions while deciding to enter into a settlement agreement and extend credit under a promissory note.  Thus, the Court found that the debt Horlbeck owes under the settlement agreement and promissory note is not dischargeable under §§ 523(a)(2)(A) and (a)(2)(B), granted Tillman’s motion for summary judgment, and entered judgment in its favor.