Supreme Court of the United States
Cohen v. De La Cruz
March 24, 1998523 U.S. 213
Summary
Justice O’Connor delivered the unanimous opinion holding that 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2)(A) excepts from discharge all liability arising from money or property obtained by fraud, including treble damages, attorney’s fees, and costs, rather than merely the value the debtor obtained. The statutory text, parallel discharge exceptions, historical bankruptcy practice, and the policy of protecting fraud victims supported that construction. The Court affirmed the Third Circuit’s judgment that the landlord’s entire liability was nondischargeable. There were no separate opinions.
Holding
- Scope of the fraud exception to discharge under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2)(A).. The exception encompasses all liability arising from money, property, services, or credit fraudulently obtained, including treble damages, attorney’s fees, and costs exceeding the value obtained by the debtor.
Docket 96-1923
Cited authorities
- CA11
- 11 U.S.C. § 523
- 11 U.S.C. § 523
- N.J. Stat. Ann. §§56:8-2
- 11 U.S.C. § 523
- 30 Stat. 550
- 32 Stat. 798
- 11 U.S.C. § 523
Cited by
- In Re Marlon J. Aviles and Nelli Markushevska, Debtors. Allure Labs, Inc. v. Marlon J. Aviles and Nelli Markushevska
- Aluisi v. Jorgensen
- Buckley v. Bartenwerfer
- Oasis, Inc., John C. Fisher, and John L. Sousa v. Nicholas J. Fiorillo
- In Re Andrea Levasseur, Debtor. Old Republic National Title Insurance Company v. Andrea Levasseur
- In re Paul D. McCARTHY, Tacheryn A. McCarthy, Debtors. Stewart Title Guaranty Company v. Paul D. McCarthy
- In Re Nicholas J. Fiorillo, Debtor. Oasis, Inc., John L. Sousa, John C. Fisher v. Nicholas J. Fiorillo
- In Re: Peter T. Marano, Debtor. Edward MacPherson v. Peter T. Marano