15 B 35358, 16 A 00727
The Debtor filed an adversary complaint against Walsh Construction Company (“Walsh”), seeking to avoid and recover certain funds deposited with the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County (the “Deposited Funds”) pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §§ 547(b), 548(a), 550(a), and 553(b).  Walsh filed a motion to dismiss the complaint, arguing that under the doctrine of res judicata, the dismissal of the Debtor’s prior adversary complaint seeking a declaratory judgment that the Deposited Funds were property of the bankruptcy estate and turnover of those Funds barred any further litigation arising from a judgment order (the “Judgment Order”) entered by the Circuit Court.  In the alternative, Walsh asked the Court to abstain from making a decision because the appeal of the Judgment Order is pending in the Circuit Court.  The Court found that, although the three elements required for res judicata had been met, the “Statutory Scheme Exception” to claim splitting in § 26(1)(d) of the Restatement (Second) of Judgments precluded the application of res judicata to bar the Debtor’s adversary proceeding, and, thus, Walsh’s motion to dismiss was denied.  In its discretion, the Court abstained from conducting further proceedings in connection with the adversary until the state court renders its decision on the related appeal of the Judgment Order.