Archer v. Warner — Thomas, J., Dissenting

Summary

Justice Thomas dissenting with Justice Stevens would have reversed the decision on dischargeability of a debt in a settlement agreement. The dissent concluded that a general release severed the causal nexus between the underlying fraud and the settlement debt, transforming it into a purely contractual obligation not subject to nondischargeability under Section 523(a)(2). Justice Thomas argued the majority improperly distinguished Brown v. Felsen and ignored the parties' intent to replace the fraud debt with a new contract debt.