Griffith v. Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. (In Re Voight)

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

BILL H. BRISTER, Bankruptcy Judge.

The trustee filed complaint against Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in each of the above adversary proceedings, seeking to recover “deposits” which had been paid by each debtor, exemplary and punitive damages, interest, and attorneys fees. The defendant telephone company acknowledged that “deposits” were paid by each debtor, but denied that those “deposits” were “property of the estate” within the meaning of § 541 of the Bankruptcy Code at any time relevant to these adversary proceedings. The adversary proceedings were consolidated for…