Debt Resulting from Fraud is Not Dischargeable in Bankruptcy
Post 5230
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Knowing Misappropriation and Conversion of Funds is Fraud
In re Matthew Jene Tubbs (Bankr. N.D. Tex., Fort Worth Div., No. 22-42728-MXM-7; Adv. No. 23-04019-mxm), October 15, 2025 .
Key Facts
Plaintiffs (Robles) and Defendant (Tubbs) met through their church; both held leadership roles. In Feb 2021 Robles home suffered major water damage from Winter Storm Uri and insurance paid $173,000.
In the Fall of 2021: Tubbs represented to Mr. Robles that he personally built a newer house and large barn on his parents’ property “with his own hands” (except foundation/insulation). That he had 10 years’ experience overseeing window/door installations at a major home-improvement chain, was a licensed contractor (false) and carried general contractor liability insurance.
Relying on these representations and Tubbs’s church handyman work, Robles hired Tubbs as general contractor for insurance repairs + upgrades, even though Tubbs had no prior general contracting experience.
The parties did not enter into a formal written contract. Instead, the parties jointly created a detailed budget Spreadsheet (labor + materials by room) and an 8–9 week timeline (later revised to end of Feb 2022).
Plaintiffs advanced $216,000 to Tubbs. Tubbs made almost no meaningful progress by August 2022 and was fired. Most items on the Spreadsheet never started. Flooring and kitchen cabinets he did start were defective and had to be redone. Tubbs failed to buy most materials despite having the funds and could not account for the money. Tubbs admitted on June 10, 2022: “I do not have the money to finish the project right now.” 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. Tubbs raised numerous defenses (undue influence by church authority, insurance fraud by plaintiffs, no binding contract, Tex. Prop. Code § 162.031(b) trust-fund defense, illegality, unclean hands, mistake, statute of frauds, etc.).
Legal Conclusions
§ 523(a)(2)(A) – False Pretenses / False Representation (nondischargeable)
Court found Tubbs made three material false representations that induced plaintiffs to hire him and advance funds:
He built the house and barn himself.
He was a licensed contractor.
He carried GC liability insurance.
The Court concluded that the Plaintiffs justifiably relied on these representations and rejected Tubbs’s “puffery” argument. The entire $152,610.05 debt was found to be nondischargeable on this ground alone (court did need to reach a finding of “actual fraud.)
§ 523(a)(6) – Willful and Malicious Injury (nondischargeable)
The statute requires deliberate/intentional injury (not just intentional act), or objective substantial certainty of harm + subjective motive, or intent to cause the actual 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.
Contract debts can be nondischargeable under § 523(a)(6) when the breach/conversion is intentional and harmful.
All of Tubbs’s Defenses Overruled
No undue church influence.
No insurance fraud or unclean hands by plaintiffs.
Valid oral contract existed (Spreadsheet + communications).
Tex. Prop. Code § 162.031(b) trust-fund defense inapplicable because the $78,000+ was not legitimately spent on the project or reasonable overhead/GC fee.
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. Tubbs’s numerous defenses were rejected as not credible or legally unsupported.
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.
(c) 2025 Barry Zalma & ClaimSchool, Inc.
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Arsonist Incompetently Moves Pro Se to Avoid Prison
Post 5239
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In Christopher A. Barosh v. Morris Houser, et al., Civ. No. 22-0769, United States District Court, E.D. Pennsylvania (November 25, 2025) a convicted arsonist and insurance fraudster moved the USDC acting in Pro se filed Objections to Magistrate Judge Reid’s Recommendation that the US District Judge dismiss his § 2254 Petition to avoid jail.
BACKGROUND
In October 2005, Barosh set fire to his girlfriend’s Philadelphia home — some 25 hours before the cancellation of the property’s insurance policy. Several witnesses saw Barosh leaving the property shortly before the fire erupted. After the fire, Barosh made “two separate admissions of guilt.”
He attempted to pay an acquaintance to provide him with an alibi for the time of the arson. The eyewitnesses, brother, and ...
Conditional Release Allows Supplemental Claims
Post 5238
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A Release Should Totally Resolve Dispute
In Harvey et al. v. Hall, No. A25A1774, Court of Appeals of Georgia, Fourth Division (December 3, 2025) Paul Harvey, an employee of Arthur J. Dovers (d/b/a 3D Mobile Home Services), drove a truck towing a trailer loaded with machinery and equipment. Harvey fell asleep, veered off the road, and crashed into a culvert, causing Lamar Hall serious injuries.
FACTS OF SETTLEMENT
On August 18, 2020, Hall signed a limited liability release under OCGA § 33-24-41.1, releasing Harvey, Dovers, and their insurer (Georgia Farm Bureau Insurance Company) from liability for the accident in exchange for $50,000, “except to the extent other insurance coverage is available which covers the claim.”
Dovers’s general liability insurer (Republic-Vanguard ...
When Harm is Inherent in the Nature of the Act it is Intentional
Post 5237
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No Coverage for Intentional Acts
Hitting a Person in the Face is an Intentional Act
In Unitrin Auto and Home Insurance Company v. Brian C. Sullivan, et al., George A. Ciminello, No. 2022-01607, Index No. 21632/14, Supreme Court of New York, Second Department (November 19, 2025) George A. Ciminello was injured when struck in the face by a cup filled with liquid, thrown from a moving vehicle operated by Brian C. Sullivan, with Robert Harford as the passenger who threw the cup. The vehicle approached Ciminello at about 30 mph, from 2 to 10 feet away, and Harford extended his arm to make contact. The cup splintered upon impact.
Sullivan and Harford later conceded liability on the intentional tort claim before a damages trial.
Insurance Policy:
Unitrin Auto and Home...
The Professional Claims Handler
Post 5219
Posted on October 31, 2025 by Barry Zalma
An Insurance claims professionals should be a person who:
Can read and understand the insurance policies issued by the insurer.
Understands the promises made by the policy.
Understand their obligation, as an insurer’s claims staff, to fulfill the promises made.
Are competent investigators.
Have empathy and recognize the difference between empathy and sympathy.
Understand medicine relating to traumatic injuries and are sufficiently versed in tort law to deal with lawyers as equals.
Understand how to repair damage to real and personal property and the value of the repairs or the property.
Understand how to negotiate a fair and reasonable settlement with the insured that is fair and reasonable to both the insured and the insurer.
How to Create Claims Professionals
To avoid fraudulent claims, claims of breach of contract, bad faith, punitive damages, unresolved losses, and to make a profit, insurers ...
The History Behind the Creation of a Claims Handling Expert
The Insurance Industry Needs to Implement Excellence in Claims Handling or Fail
Post 5210
This is a change from my normal blog postings. It is my attempt. in more than one post, to explain the need for professional claims representatives who comply with the basic custom and practice of the insurance industry. This statement of my philosophy on claims handling starts with my history as a claims adjuster, insurance defense and coverage lawyer and insurance claims handling expert.
My Training to be an Insurance Claims Adjuster
When I was discharged from the US Army in 1967 I was hired as an insurance adjuster trainee by a professional and well respected insurance company. The insurer took a chance on me because I had been an Army Intelligence Investigator for my three years in the military and could use that training and experience to be a basis to become a professional insurance adjuster.
I was initially sat at a desk reading a text-book on insurance ...
The History Behind the Creation of a Claims Handling Expert
The Insurance Industry Needs to Implement Excellence in Claims Handling or Fail
Post 5210
This is a change from my normal blog postings. It is my attempt. in more than one post, to explain the need for professional claims representatives who comply with the basic custom and practice of the insurance industry. This statement of my philosophy on claims handling starts with my history as a claims adjuster, insurance defense and coverage lawyer and insurance claims handling expert.
My Training to be an Insurance Claims Adjuster
When I was discharged from the US Army in 1967 I was hired as an insurance adjuster trainee by a professional and well respected insurance company. The insurer took a chance on me because I had been an Army Intelligence Investigator for my three years in the military and could use that training and experience to be a basis to become a professional insurance adjuster.
I was initially sat at a desk reading a text-book on insurance ...
