Nauman v. Kotoshirodo (In Re Nauman)

MEMORANDUM

Chapter 7 debtors Thomas Garth Nau-man and Kimley Merete Nauman (“debtors”), and Thomas’s parents, Alfred Garth Nauman and Evelyn Frances Nauman, appeal pro se from the district court’s order affirming the bankruptcy court’s summary judgment determining that they are liable to the bankruptcy trustee for amounts transferred both before and after the debtors filed for bankruptcy. We have juris diction under 28 U.S.C. § 158 (d). We review independently the bankruptcy court’s decision, without deference to the district court’s determinations. Leichty v. Neary (In re Strand), 375 F.3d 854, 857 (9th Cir.2004). We affirm.

The bankruptcy court properly granted summary judgment as to the trustee’s claim regarding the transfer of real property in Washington state because the court found that, within two years before filing for bankruptcy, the debtors transferred this property to the parents with the intent to avoid the claims of their creditors. See 11 U.S.C. §§ 548 (a)(1)(A) & 550(a); see also Greene v. Savage (In re Greene), 583 F.3d 614, 618 (9th Cir.2009) (bankruptcy judge’s findings of facts are accepted unless “the court is left with the definite and firm conviction that…