(7th Cir. Mar. 18, 2016)
The seventh circuit affirms the lower courts' decisions finding the debt nondischargeable under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(4), because the debt arose from the debtor's "defalcation while acting in a fiduciary capacity." The debtor was an Illinois attorney that represented the plaintiff when he sold his home. The plaintiff spoke only Polish, and the attorney relied on the buyer's attorney to translate. The sale price was far below market price and the one term the plaintiff required, a life-estate interest in a portion of the property, was not included. The plaintiff obtained a pre-petition state court judgment for the loss. The seventh circuit explains that defalcation does not require deliberate wrongdoing, but fault greater than negligence is required. In this case, the applicable standard was met. Opinion below.
Judge: Hamilton
Attorneys for Plaintiff:
Attorneys for Debtor:
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