Stealing from Fellow Church Members is Costly
Debt Resulting from Fraud is Not Dischargeable in Bankruptcy
Key Facts
Plaintiffs (Robles) and Defendant (Tubbs) met through their church; both held leadership roles. Tubbs admitted he used project funds for personal expenses (floor sander $5,000; personal credit-card bills $8,581).
Tubbs claimed he paid himself ~$78,000 as a legitimate GC/overhead fee ($10k/month). Court rejected this as not credible and unsupported by the Spreadsheet or timeline.
Legal Conclusions
Court found Tubbs made three material false representations that induced plaintiffs to hire him and advance funds:
1. He built the house and barn himself.
2. He was a licensed contractor.
3. He carried GC liability insurance.
§ 523(a)(6) – Willful and Malicious Injury (nondischargeable)
The statute requires deliberate/intentional injury.
Tubbs’s knowing misappropriation and conversion of at least $152,610.05 of project funds for personal use while knowingly leaving the job incomplete constituted willful and malicious injury to plaintiffs’ property.
Conclusion
The bankruptcy court entered a nondischargeable judgment of $152,610.05 against debtor Matthew Tubbs in favor of the Robles, based on false representations that induced the contract and willful/malicious conversion of construction funds.
Judgment for plaintiffs Felipe and Shereen Robles in the amount of $152,610.05, declared nondischargeable in Tubbs’s Chapter 7 bankruptcy under both 11 U.S.C. §§ 523(a)(2)(A) (false pretenses/representations) and 523(a)(6) (willful and malicious injury).
ZALMA OPINION
The availability of a great deal of insurance money creates a temptation to even honest church going people. Mr. Tubbs was tempted, lied about his abilities and took the insurance money designated to repair the home of Felipe and Shereen Robles and used it to pay off his ongoing debts and then filed bankruptcy hoping to avoid paying back what he owed. The bankruptcy court found that he defrauded the Robles’ and could not discharge that debt.
