CaseMark Dischargeability Complaint
Drafts a court-ready adversary complaint under 11 U.S.C. §523 for U.S. bankruptcy proceedings, with jurisdiction/venue allegations, evidence-anchored counts, and FRBP compliance.
Quick Start
Collect before drafting:
- Standing: Plaintiff's enforcement right (original creditor, assignee, successor, subrogee)
- Case data: Court, case number, chapter, petition date, first §341 date, conversion status
- Deadline posture: FRBP 4007(c) timing — confirm filing window or extension basis
- Evidence: Contracts, account records, correspondence, payment history, admissions, fiduciary documents
- §523 theories: Map each subsection to its required elements under controlling circuit law
- Damages: Principal, contractual interest, statutory interest, fees, costs
- Local rules: Caption format, paragraph style, line numbering, font/margins, filing protocol
Core Workflow
1. Build complaint scaffold
| Section | Content | Verify |
|---|---|---|
| Caption | Court name, bankruptcy case no., adversary caption, parties | District matches debtor case |
| Jurisdiction/Venue | 28 U.S.C. §§1334, 157(b)(2)(I), 1409; core proceeding | Explicitly alleged |
| Parties | Names, addresses, standing chain | Standing complete |
| Procedural posture | Petition date, §341 date, Rule 4007(c) timing | Within deadline or extension stated |
| Factual narrative | Chronological facts with dates and sources | Each allegation tied to exhibit |
| Counts | Per-theory allegations for each §523 subsection | All elements and remedies included |
| Prayer | Non-dischargeability, amount, interest, fees, costs | Amounts traceable to evidence |
| Verification | Perjury statement and signature block | Authorized signer confirmed |
| Service checklist | Filing-ready package | Complete |
2. Plead theory-specific elements
| Theory | Elements | Style |
|---|---|---|
| §523(a)(2)(A) | False representation, scienter, reliance, proximate causation, damages | Fact-dense: who/what/when/where/how |
| §523(a)(2)(B) | Materially untrue financial statement | Attach supporting financials, explain materiality |
| §523(a)(4) | Express fiduciary relationship, breach, fraud/defalcation | Distinguish express fiduciary duty from contractual/statutory |
| §523(a)(6) | Willful and malicious injury | Show intentional conduct + substantial certainty of harm |
3. Apply paragraph construction rules
- Number all paragraphs; keep short-to-medium length for readability.
- Fraud allegations must satisfy Rule 9(b): identify statement, communicator, medium, date, and falsity.
- Incorporate prior paragraphs by reference at each count's start.
- Use separate counts per theory — prevents collapse if one fails.
- Cross-reference facts; do not repeat full blocks.
4. Produce mandatory sections
- Complaint heading and title
- Jurisdiction and venue
- Parties / standing
- Factual background
- Procedural timing
- Count I: §523(a)(2)(A)
- Count II: §523(a)(4) (if applicable)
- Count III: §523(a)(6) (if applicable)
- Prayer for relief
- Verification
- Signature block
- Service/filing checklist
Legal Constraints
- FRBP 7001: Adversary proceeding form governs structure.
- FRBP 7009 / Rule 9(b): Heightened pleading for fraud allegations.
- FRBP 7012 / Rule 12(b)(6): Frame for plausibility to resist dismissal.
- FRCP 11: Remove weak, conclusory, or unsupported allegations — sanctions exposure.
Pitfalls and Checks
- Reconcile all damages figures against attached evidence.
- Confirm every element has at least one direct fact anchor.
- No allegation may rest on speculation — separate facts from legal inference.
- Do not mix circuit authority; use only jurisdiction-verified standards.
- Do not plead causes outside §523 scope.
- Keep tone objective — factual allegations only, no inflammatory language.
- Include
[VERIFY]placeholders for unresolved legal standards or local-rule citations. - Confirm attorney signature, bar status, and filing authorization before finalizing.
- Preserve exhibit organization and authentication trail.