Tennessee v. Hollis (In Re Hollis)

MEMORANDUM

GEORGE C. PAINE, II, Bankruptcy Judge.

This matter is before the court on cross motions for summary judgment. The plaintiff asserts that an award of costs assessed against the debtor by the Criminal Court of Sumner County, Tennessee, after the debtor plead guilty to a charge of selling marijuana is a nondischargeable fine pursuant to 11 U.S.C. 523(a)(7) (West 1979). The debtor responds that the assessment of costs is pecuniary in nature and, thus, is dischargeable. Upon consideration of the stipulations of fact, briefs of the parties, statements of counsel, and the entire record, the…