Keith E Hayes and Monica B Hayes

1 See S. 256, Pub. L. 109-8, 11 Stat. 23 (2005). Since the present case was filed in 2006,
following the October 17, 2005 effective date of the BAPCPA, the amended statute applies.
1
United States Bankruptcy Court
District of Massachusetts
_________________________________
)
In re: 	) 	Chapter 7
) 	Case No. 06-42638-HJB
KEITH E. HAYES, 	)
MONICA B. HAYES, 	)
)
Debtors 	)
_________________________________ )
AMENDED MEMORANDUM OF DECISION
Before the Court is the United States Trustee’s (the “Trustee”) “Motion to Dismiss
Case Pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 707(b)(2) and to Extend Time to Object to Discharge
Pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 727 and Move to Dismiss Case Pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 707(b)(3)”
(the “Motion to Dismiss”), and the debtors’ objection thereto. Specifically, the Court must
address an issue that has arisen in many jurisdictions since the passage of the Bankruptcy
Abuse and Protection Act of 20051 (the “BAPCPA”) – whether, for purposes of the “means
test,” a debtor may deduct payments to secured creditors when the debtor has indicated
an intention to surrender the secured property.
I. 	FACTS AND TRAVEL OF THE CASE
The material facts relevant to the limited question before the Court are not in
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2 See 11 U.S.C. §§ 101, et seq (the “Bankruptcy Code” or the “Code”). Unless otherwise
noted, references to specific statutory provisions will hereinafter refer to provisions of the
Bankruptcy Code.
3 See 11 U.S.C. § 521(a)(1).
4 Subsequent to the conversion of the case, each of the mortgagees sought and received
relief from the automatic stay in order to foreclose on the property. There is no information on the
record as to whether a foreclosure sale has taken place.
2
dispute. Keith and Monica Hayes (the “Debtors”) filed a petition under Chapter 13 of the
Bankruptcy Code2 on November 29, 2006. 	On their bankruptcy schedules filed in
conjunction with the case, 3 the Debtors disclosed, inter alia, debts of $102,951.28 and
$411,416.00, respectively, secured by a mortgages on the Debtors’ residence.
On March 5, 2007, the case was converted to Chapter 7, following which the
Debtors filed a “Chapter 7 Statement of Current Monthly Income and Means-Test
Calculation” (“Form 22A”, formerly “Form B22A”) on March 20, 2007. On Form 22A, the
Debtors calculated their Current Monthly Income (“CMI”) as $7,917.32 and monthly
expenses as $9,467.18. Included in their monthly expense calculation were the payments
due to each of the two mortgagees. On March 25, 2007, the Debtors filed their “Chapter
7 Individual Debtor’s Statement of Intention” (the “Statement of Intention”) regarding their
secured debts, wherein they indicated, inter alia, that they intended to surrender their
residence secured by the two mortgages. See 11 U.S.C. § 521(a)(2)(A); Official Form 8. 4
The meeting of creditors pursuant to § 341 was held on April 3, 2007. On April 13,
the Trustee filed the notice required by § 707(b)(4), reflecting her determination that the
Debtors’ case under Chapter 7 was presumptively abusive pursuant to § 707(b). And on
May 15, 2007, the Trustee filed the instant Motion to Dismiss.
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5 The parties do not dispute that the Debtors’ are individuals with primarily consumer debts.
See 11 U.S.C. § 101(8).
3
At the hearing on the Motion to Dismiss and the Debtors’ objection thereto, the Court
continued generally the Trustee’s request for an extension of time to object to discharge
or move for dismissal under § 707(b)(3) and took under advisement the “limited question
of whether an above-median debtor in a Chapter 7 case may, for purposes of the means
test, deduct mortgage payments on property which the debtor intends to surrender.”
II. 	POSITIONS OF THE PARTIES
A. 	Statutory Framework
A discussion of the parties’ positions must first begin with a brief description of the
statutory framework within which the present dispute arises. Pursuant to § 707(b)(2) of the
Bankruptcy Code, as amended by the BAPCPA, a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case filed by an
individual whose debts are primarily consumer debts 5 is subject to dismissal if the Court
finds that “the granting of relief would be an abuse. . . .” 11 U.S.C. § 707(b)(1). “Abuse,”
in turn, may be determined pursuant to either § 707(b)(2) or § 707(b)(3). The present case,
however, concerns only § 707(b)(2), which sets forth a detailed mathematical “formula” for
determining whether a “presumption of abuse” has arisen in a particular Chapter 7 case –
the so-called “means test.”
As explained by the Bankruptcy Court in In re Singletary, § 707(b)(2) “creates a
presumption of abuse under certain circumstances when a debtor’s disposable income
exceeds fixed amounts. Pursuant to Fed. R. Bankr. P. 1007(b)(4), and in order to facilitate
the execution of the means test calculations, Official Form [22A] is completed by every
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6 “Current Monthly Income” is a defined term and refers to:
(A) 	. . . the average monthly income from all sources that the debtor receives (or
in a joint case the debtor and the debtor’s spouse receive) without regard to
whether such income is taxable income, derived during the 6-month period
ending on –
(i) 	the last day of the calendar month immediately preceding the date of the
commencement of the case if the debtor files the schedule of current
income required by section 521(a)(1)(B)(ii); or
(ii) 	the date on which current income is determined by the court for
purposes of this title if the debtor does not file the schedule of current
income required by section 521(a)(1)(B)(ii); and
(B) 	includes any amount paid by any entity other than the debtor (or in a joint case
the debtor and the debtor’s spouse), on a regular basis for the household
expenses of the debtor or the debtor’s dependents (and in a joint case the
debtor’s spouse if not otherwise a dependent), but excludes [certain
enumerated payments].
11 U.S.C. § 101(10A).
4
debtor and filed along with his schedules.” 354 B.R. 455, 460-461 (Bankr. S.D. Texas
2006). 	The first portion of Form 22A is used to calculate the debtor’s current monthly
income, or “CMI”. 11 U.S.C. § 707(b)(2)(A)(i). 6 If the debtor’s CMI is below the state
median income for a household of the same size, the 	§ 707(b)(2) inquiry ends and no
presumption of abuse arises. 11 U.S.C. § 707(b)(7).
If, however, the debtor’s CMI is greater than the applicable median income, the
debtor must complete the expense deduction calculations provided by §§ 707(2)(A)(ii)-(iv).
As the Trustee succinctly explained in her brief filed in support of the Motion to Dismiss,
a presumption of abuse
does not arise if an above-median debtor’s monthly disposable income is less
than 	$100 	per 	month 	(or 	$6,000 	over 	60 	months). 	11 	U.S.C. 	§
707(b)(2)(A)(i). If the debtor’s monthly disposable income exceeds $166.67
per month (or $10,000 over 60 months), the presumption of abuse arises.
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7 Specifically, § 707(b)(2)(A)(i) states:
In considering under paragraph (1) whether the granting of relief would be
an abuse of the provisions of this chapter, the court shall presume abuse exists if
the debtor’s current monthly income reduced by the amounts determined under
clauses (ii), (iii), and (iv), and multiplied by 60 is not less than the lesser of –
(I) 	25 percent of the debtor’s non-priority unsecured claims in the case,
or $6,000, whichever is greater; or
(II) 	$10,000.
5
Id. If the debtor’s monthly disposable income is between $100 and $166.67
per month, the presumption of abuse arises if that amount, over 60 months,
if sufficient to pay at least 25% of the debtor’s nonpriority secured debt. Id.7
If the “means test” calculation of § 707(b)(2) demonstrates that a case is presumed
abusive, the Trustee must either file a motion to dismiss the debtor’s case or a statement
of reasons why she declines to do so. 11 U.S.C. § 704(b)(2). If a motion to dismiss is filed,
the debtor may, by “demonstrating special circumstances,” rebut the presumption. 	11
U.S.C. § 707(b)(2)(B)(i). 	Should the Court determine that the Trustee is correct in her
assertion that the presumption of abuse has arisen and finds that the Debtor has not
successfully rebutted that presumption, then the debtor has the option of voluntarily
converting the case to one under Chapter 13. 11 U.S.C. § 707(b)(1). If the debtor does
not so choose, the case will be dismissed. Id.
Here, the Debtors’ CMI, $7,917.32, yields an annualized income of $95,007.84,
which is $3,287.84 more than the $91,720.00 median income in Massachusetts for a
household of the same size (a household of five). The Debtors, therefore, were required
to calculate and deduct their expenses pursuant to §§ 707(b)(2)(A)(ii)-(iv). The Debtors
completed the required calculations on Form 22A, including in their calculation $4,545.77
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8 The Trustee’s calculation also differs from the Debtors’ in that the Trustee added a monthly
expense of $128.50 for the projected average monthly Chapter 13 administrative expense.
6
in monthly mortgage payments. They further indicated on the form that no presumption of
abuse had arisen, as their total allowed expenses were $9,467.18 (approximately
$1,500.00 more than their CMI).
The Trustee, however, takes issue with the Debtors’ deduction of mortgage
payments as allowable expenses pursuant to § 707(b)(2)(A)(iii)(I), which allows debtors to
deduct from their CMI the average of monthly payments due on secured debt, “calculated
as the sum of . . . the total of all amounts scheduled as contractually due to secured
creditors in each month of the 60 months following the date of the petition . . . .” 11 U.S.C.
§ 707(b)(2)(A)(iii)(I). 	The Trustee contends that the mortgage expenses should not be
included in the Debtors’ mean-test calculation because the Debtors, on the Statement of
Intention, have indicated an intent to surrender their residence. Instead, the Debtors should
be allowed only to claim the $1,711 standard mortgage/rent expense provided by the Local
Standards for housing and utilities issued by the Internal Revenue Service. According to
the Trustee’s calculation, the Debtors have a monthly disposable income of $1,156.47, 8
well above the $166.67 threshold for presumed abuse.
B. 	Trustee’s Position
The Trustee argues that the phrase “scheduled as contractually due to secured
creditors in each of the 60 months following the date of the petition” requires the Court to
examine a debtor’s bankruptcy schedules and statements, including the Statement of
Intention, and to ascertain whether the claimed expense for secured debt “will actually be
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7
paid by the debtor in the future.” 	According to the Trustee, both a plain reading of the
statute and a consideration of congressional intent compel this approach.
First, as to the statutory language, the Trustee argues that the term “scheduled”
refers to a debtor’s bankruptcy schedules and statements filed with the case. Thus, the
Court must consider a debtor’s intention to surrender property, as stated in their Statement
of Intention, to determine whether a claimed secured payment will be “contractually due”
in the future. 	Additionally, the Trustee posits that the ordinary meaning of the word
“following” leads to the conclusion that deductions for secured payments are only allowed
if they “will be made ‘subsequent to’ or ‘after’ the petition date, and payments for
surrendered property that will never be made would not qualify.”
To support her argument, the Trustee relies on legislative history – specifically,
Congress’ stated purpose that the BAPCPA was intended to ensure “that those who can
afford to repay some portion of the unsecured debts be required to do so . . . .” 151 Cong.
Rec. S2470 (March 10, 2005). The Trustee maintains that allowing a deduction for secured
property the debtor intends to surrender amounts to allowing a deduction for a “phantom”
expense in contravention of Congress’ intent that debtors use their disposable income to
pay unsecured debts insofar as they are able.
C. 	The Debtors’ Position
The Debtors, not surprisingly, read the statute differently. According to the Debtors,
the phrase “scheduled as contractually due” should be afforded the meaning given to it by
the Bankruptcy Court in In re Walker, namely, that the phrase simply refers to those
payments due and owing pursuant to the relevant contract at the time the petition is filed.
2006 WL 1314125, *3, 2006 Bankr. LEXIS 845, *9 (Bankr. N.D. Ga. 2006). 	The word
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8
“scheduled,” in this sense, takes into account the fact that payments may not actually be
made. The Debtors contend that if Congress’ intention was to restrict the expense to only
those payments that would actually be made, it would have restricted the deduction
accordingly.
Furthermore, the Debtors argue, Congress’ plan in passing the means test was to
create a mechanical, mathematical formula for determining whether or not a presumption
of abuse arises in a particular case. A case-by-case approach to determining whether a
payment on a secured debt will actually be made in the future injects the kind of uncertainty
and judicial discretion that Congress distinctly sought to avoid by the creation of the “means
test.” 	According to the Debtors, a consideration of facts and circumstances beyond the
simple calculations required by Form 22A is reserved for determinations of abuse pursuant
to § 707(b)(3) and is not relevant in determining whether a presumption of abuse has
arisen under § 707(b)(2). 	Therefore, the Debtors say, they are entitled to deduct the
mortgage expenses on Form 22A and thus no presumption of abuse has arisen in their
case.
III. 	DISCUSSION
A proper interpretation of § 707(b)(2)(A)(iii)(I) “begins where all such inquiries must
begin: with the language of the statute itself.” United States v. Ron Pair Enter., Inc., 489
U.S. 235, 241 (1989) (citing Landreth Timber Co. v. Landreth, 471 U.S. 681, 685 (1985)).
“[W]hen the statute’s language is plain, the sole function of the courts – at least where the
disposition required by the text is not absurd – is to enforce it according to its terms.”
Lamie v. United States, 540 U.S. 526, 534 (2004) (quoting Hartford Underwriters Ins. Co.
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9
v. Union Planters Bank, N.A., 530 U.S. 1, 6 (2000); Ron Pair, 489 U.S. at 241; Caminetti
v. United States, 242 U.S. 470, 485 (1917)).
A. 	“Scheduled as contractually due”
We begin by parsing the phrase “scheduled as contractually due.”
The common meaning of “as contractually due” is that the debtor is legally
obligated under the contract, in this case, a promissory note, to make a
payment in a certain amount, with a certain amount of interest, for a set
number of months into the future.
In re Walker, 2006 WL 1314123 at *3, 2006 Bankr. LEXIS 845 at *9 (Bankr. N.D. Ga.
2006). There is no dispute as to the nature of the Debtors’ obligations under the contracts
between the Debtors and the holders of the mortgages. At the time the petition was filed,
the Debtors were contractually obliged to make monthly mortgage payments in fixed
amounts.
The more interesting question, however, is what to make of the phrase [“scheduled
as contractually due”] as a whole, i.e. what meaning to give to the phrase “scheduled as”
in reference to those payments which are “contractually due.” Recent case law appears
to split into two main interpretive camps. A compelling analysis is provided by those courts
which have concluded that “[a]lthough “scheduled” is not a statutorily-defined term, it is
repeatedly given a specific meaning under the Code rather than the general meaning . . .
. Therefore, . . . the word ‘scheduled’ in § 707(b)(2)(A)(iii)(I) . . . refer[s] to a debt being
listed on the Debtors’ official schedules . . . .” In re Singletary, 354 B.R. 455, 467 (Bankr.
S.D. Tex. 2006); see also In re Haar, 360 B.R. 759, 765 (Bankr. N.D. Ohio 2007); In re
Ray, 362 B.R. 680, 685 (Bankr. D.S.C. 2007); In re Harris, 353 B.R. 304, 309 (Bankr. E.D.
Okla. 2006); In re Skaggs, 349 B.R. 594, 599 (Bankr. D. Mo. 2006).
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10
The other view, endorsed with excellent analyses by the courts in, inter alia, In re
Walker, 2006 WL 1314123, 2006 Bankr. LEXIS 845, and In re Nockerts, 357 B.R. 497
(Bankr. E.D. Wisc. 2006), adopts the common, dictionary-defined meaning of “scheduled”
as “planned for a certain date.” Walker, 2006 WL 1314123 at *3, 2006 Bankr. LEXIS 845
at *9. Those courts conclude that the statute refers simply to payments “scheduled for a
certain date.” Id. This Court is persuaded that the conclusion reached by the Walker and
Nockerts courts is the correct one. As the Nockerts court explained:
. . . [A]lthough the Bankruptcy Code uses the phrase “scheduled as
contractually due” only once (in § 707(b)(2)(A)(iii)), it also uses the phrase
“scheduled as” only one time – in § 1111(a) . . . . While it is readily apparent
from the [ ] terms and the context of the section that § 1111(a) is referring to
the bankruptcy schedules, there is no similar reference or apparent context
in § 707(b)(2)(A)(iii). 	Broadening the review to include the Bankruptcy
Code’s references to a claim or debt being “scheduled” turns up two
provisions that obviously mean “listed on the bankruptcy schedules”: §
523(a)(3) (discharge of a debt that is “neither listed nor scheduled under
section 521(1)”); and § 554(c) (deemed abandonment of property “scheduled
under section 521(1)”), and two provisions which obviously do not: §
524(k)(3)(H)(ii) (suggested reaffirmation agreement language “describing the
repayment schedule with the number, amount, and due dates or period of
payments scheduled to repay the debts reaffirmed to the extent then known
by the disclosing party); and § 1326(a)(1)(B) (debtor shall make pre-
confirmation payments “scheduled in a lease of personal property directly to
the lessor”). This exercise in statutory analysis compels the conclusion that
“scheduled as contractually due” does not refer to the bankruptcy schedules.
When describing the bankruptcy schedules, Congress included in the statute
a reference to the schedules, either directly by name or indirectly by
reference to § 521, the provision that requires the debtor to file bankruptcy
schedules. 	On the other hand, when the statute refers to scheduled
payments, such as in the reaffirmation or pre-confirmation lease provision,
the bankruptcy schedules are not mentioned.
In 	re 	Nockerts, 	357 	B.R. 	at 	502 	(emphasis 	added). 	The 	provision 	at 	hand, 	§
707(b)(2)(A)(iii)(I), is more similar to the latter two provisions (§ 524(k)(3)(H)(ii) and §
1326(a)(1)(B)) than the former in that it does not refer to the bankruptcy schedules either
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9 Other cases where courts have adopted this interpretation include: In re Kogler, 368 B.R.
785, 790 (Bankr. D. Wisc. 2007); In re Longo, 364 B.R. 161, 164-65 (Bankr. D. Conn. 2007); U.S.
Tr. v. Mundy (In re Mundy), 363 B.R. 407, 412-13 (Bankr. M.D. Pa. 2007).
11
directly or by reference to the debtor’s bankruptcy schedules filed pursuant to § 521. In
addition, 	as 	the 	court 	in 	In 	re 	Sorrell 	noted, 	§ 	707(b)(2)(A)(iii)(I) 	has 	two 	more
commonalities with § 524(k)(3)(H)(ii) and § 1326(a)(1)(B): “1) all the provisions were added
in the 2005 Act; [and] 2) all the provisions address circumstances where a debtor
scheduled payments in a lease or contract . . . .” 	359 B.R. 167, 185 (Bankr. S.D. Ohio
2007). And, as noted by the court in In re Randle, “[t]here is no bankruptcy schedule that
requires the debtor to list ‘all amounts contractually due to secured creditors in each month
of the 60 months following the date of the petition.’” 	358 B.R. 360, 365 (Bankr. N.D. Ill.
2006), aff’d Randle v. Neary (In re Randle), 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 54985 (N.D. Ill. July 20,
2007). For these reasons, the Court agrees and concludes that the reference to “payments
scheduled as contractually due” means those payments required to be made on a monthly
basis according to the debtor’s contract with the secured lender. 9
Nevertheless, even if this Court were to conclude that the Trustee’s interpretation
of the statute is the appropriate one – i.e., that “scheduled as” refers to the debtor’s
bankruptcy schedules – this would “really be a distinction without a difference.” In re Haar,
360 B.R. at 766; see also In re Randle, 358 B.R. at 365. The “scheduling” of a secured
debt on the debtor’s bankruptcy petition does not change the fact that the payments are
“contractually due.” In re Haar, 360 B.R. at 764, 765; In re Sorrell, 359 B.R. at 184; In re
Randle, 358 B.R. at 365; In re Singletary, 354 B.R. at 468. Nor does declaring an intention
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10 The Court pauses briefly to note that even a debtor’s expressed intention to surrender
property is not conclusive evidence that the debtor will not make future payments on the secured
property in the future. Although the First Circuit has made clear that a Chapter 7 debtor must make
an election to reaffirm, redeem or surrender secured property, Bank of Boston v. Burr (In re Burr),
160 F.3d 843, 847-48 (1st Cir. 1998); 11 U.S.C. § 521(a)(2)(A), the First Circuit has also held that
a debtor “surrenders” by “agree[ing] to make the collateral available to the secured creditor – viz.,
to cede his possessory rights in the collateral . . . [but] nothing in subsection 521(a)(2) remotely
suggests that the secured creditor is required to accept possession . . . .” Pratt v. General Motors
Acceptance Corp. (In re Pratt), 462 F.3d 14, 19 (1st Cir. 2006). In short, what a “surrender” of
property specifically means in all instances is a question left partially unanswered in this Circuit.
See, e.g. In re Pratt, 462 F.3d at 18 & n.4 (citing In re Cornejo, 342 B.R. 834 (Bankr. M.D. Fla.
2005); Bankboston, N.A. v. Claflin (In re Claflin), 249 B.R. 840 (B.A.P. 1st Cir. 2000)); see also In
re Lair, 235 B.R. 1 (Bankr. M.D. La. 1999).
12
to ultimately surrender property to the creditor abrogate a debtor’s contractual obligations.10
In re Longo, 364 B.R. at 165-66; In re Haar, 360 B.R. at 764; In re Sorrell, 359 B.R. at 184;
In re Singletary, 354 B.R. at 467 n.11, 468; In re Walker, 2006 WL 1314123 at *4, 2006
Bankr. LEXIS 845 at *13-14.
The debtor’s contractual liability for the debt is not eliminated upon the
surrender of the collateral. At the earliest, it may be eliminated by the entry
of the discharge. . . . In other words, nothing the debtor does or does not do
changes the fact that scheduled payments remain contractually due.
In re Walker, 2006 WL 1314123 at *4, 2006 Bankr. LEXIS 845, *12-13.
B. 	“Following the date of the petition”
The phrase “scheduled as contractually due” does not stand in isolation. It is further
modified by the remaining language of the statute – “scheduled as contractually due to
secured creditors . . . in each of the 60 months following the date of the petition.” This latter
phrase must also be consistent with any proper analysis of its precedent language.
The Trustee correctly notes that the term “following” denotes a look forward,
specifically, a look sixty months into the debtor’s future. But the Trustee goes too far when
she claims that this foward-looking term requires the Court to take into account only those
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11 On this point, the Court disagrees with the conclusion reached in In re Singletary, where
the court held that post-petition events, including a post-petition surrender of the collateral, could
be taken into account in determining whether secured payments were properly deducted under §
707(b)(2)(A)(iii)(I). The Singletary court concluded that it was compelled by controlling Fifth Circuit
precedent, In re Cortez, 457 F.3d 448 (5th Cir. 2006), to consider post-petition events until the time
of the filing of a motion to dismiss pursuant to § 707(b)(2). This Court is not bound by the Cortez
decision and, more importantly, interprets the latter part of § 707(b)(2)(A)(iii)(I) to clearly
contemplate a look at the debtor’s contractual obligations as of the date of the filing of the petition,
without regard for post-petition occurrences.
13
payments that will actually be made. In re Haar, 360 B.R. at 766. Apart from the obvious
practical difficulties the Court would encounter in trying to determine which debtors will
actually make all payments required under their contracts with secured creditors during
each of the sixty months following the petition, it is equally clear that the plain language of
the statute does not contemplate the Court assuming this kind of predictive role.
The Court does agree that § 707(b)(2)(A)(iii)(I) is “forward-looking” in the sense that
it takes into account payments required under the contract that are to made in each of the
sixty months following the petition date. 	But it is clear from the plain language of the
provision that this determination is to be made at the time the petition is filed. In re Haar,
360 B.R. at 766 (“the 60-month constraint . . . simply operates to define the period over
which the debtor’s ‘contractually due’ payments are averaged.”). In this sense, then, the
statute takes a “snap-shot” of the debtor’s situation as of the petition date. 11 See In re
Kogler, 368 B.R. at 791; In re Longo, 364 B.R. at 165; In re Haar, 360 B.R. at 767; In re
Randle, 358 B.R. at 366; In re Nockerts, 357 B.R. at 504.
Nothing in the phrase “following the date of the petition” suggests that the calculation
must include only those payments actually made. 	Instead, the phrase modifies the
preceding portion of the statute which refers to those payments that are “scheduled as
contractually due.”
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. . . the word “scheduled” . . . implies the possibility that the payments may
not be made as required under the contract, either because the debtor will
surrender the collateral or because the payments might be modified and paid
through a Chapter 13 plan. If the intent were to permit only those payments
that would actually be made in the post-petition period, Congress could have
specified that the payments to be deducted are only those payments to be
made on secure debts that the debtor intends to reaffirm.
Walker, 2006 WL 1314123 at *4, 2006 Bankr. LEXIS 845 at *11; see also In re Hartwick,
359 B.R. 16, 19 (Bankr. D.N.H. 2007); In re Randle, 358 B.R. 360, 363 (Bankr. N.D. Ill.
2006); In re Singletary, 354 B.R. at 471.
In sum, § 707(b)(2)(A)(iii)(I) is not ambiguous. On the contrary, it is perfectly clear
– debtors may deduct, for purposes of the means test and on Form 22A, payments to their
secured creditors that are required under contract to be paid in each of the sixty months
after the date the petition is filed. 	See In re Randle, 358 B.R. at 363. 	Whether the
payments will actually be made, whether the debtor will redeem the collateral, whether the
debtor will reaffirm the debt or whether the debtor will eventually surrender the property to
the secured creditor – all are possible outcomes that are not contemplated by the statute,
not capable of determination on the date of the filing of the petition and, therefore, ought
not 	be 	considered 	in 	determining 	the 	amount 	that 	may 	be 	deducted 	under 	§
707(b)(2)(A)(iii)(I). See id.
C. 	Congressional Intent
The Trustee relies heavily on congressional intent to argue that the Debtors’
mortgage payments should not be deducted from their CMI, arguing that allowing the
deduction would conflict with Congress’ purpose in passing BAPCA “to ensure that those
who can afford to repay some portion of their unsecured debt [be] required to do so.” 151
Cong. Rec. S2459, 2469-70 (March 10, 2005); see also In re Hardacre, 338 B.R. 718
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(Bankr. N.D. Tex. 2006). 	But congressional intent is only relevant where the statute is
ambiguous or where a plain reading of the statute would result in an absurd result or one
demonstrably at odds with congressional intent. See, e.g. Lamie, 540 U.S. at 534 (“It is
well established that ‘when the statute’s language is plain, the sole function of the courts
– at least where the disposition of the text is not absurd – is to enforce it according to its
terms.’”) (quoting Hartford Underwriters Ins. Co. v. Union Planters Bank, N.A., 530 U.S. 1,
6 (2000); Ron Pair, 489 U.S. at 241; Caminetti v. United States, 242 U.S. 470, 485 (1917));
Ron Pair, 489 U.S. at 242 (“The plain meaning of legislation should be conclusive, except
in the ‘rare cases [in which] the literal application of a statute will produce a result
demonstrably at odds with the intentions of its drafters.’”) (quoting Griffin v. Oceanic
Contractors, Inc., 458 U.S. 564, 571 (1982)). 	“[A]s long as the statutory scheme is
coherent and consistent, there generally is no need for a court to inquire beyond the plain
language of the statute.” 	Ron Pair, 489 U.S. at 241. 	Here, the statute, as previously
discussed, is not ambiguous.
Moreover, the plain reading of the statute does not produce an absurd result. While
Congress’ over-arching intention in creating the “means-test” may have been to identify
those debtors who were capable of paying a percentage of their unsecured debts and to
deny their Chapter 7 discharge and/or push them into the Chapter 13 framework, the intent
of Congress in creating the specific mechanics of the means test under § 707(b)(2)
appears more to have been a plan to reduce judicial discretion on the question of whether
a particular case is presumed “abusive.” See In re Kogler, 368 B.R. 785 (Bankr. D. Wisc.
2007); In re Mundy, 363 B.R. at 413-14; In re Haar, 360 B.R. at 767; In re Hardwick, 359
B.R. at 21; In re Sorrell, 359 B.R. at 184; In re Randle, 358 B.R. at 363-364; In re Hartwick,
352 B.R. 867, 870 (Bankr. D. Minn. 2006).
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For instance, other portions of the means test, as expressed in Form 22A, clearly
do not take into consideration a factually accurate picture of the debtor’s financial situation.
See In re Mundy, 363 B.R. at 413; In re Randle, 358 B.R. at 364; In re Nockerts, 357 B.R.
at 504; In re Hartwick, 352 B.R. at 870. The debtor’s income, for example, is calculated
based on the debtor’s actual income received in the six months prior to the petition filing.
See 11 U.S.C. §§ 101(10A); 707(b)(2)(A)(i). Even if the Chapter 7 debtor has concrete and
conclusive evidence that his or her post-petition income will differ from that six-month
period, neither the statute nor Form 22A provide a basis for consideration of future income.
See Walker, 2006 WL 1314123 at *6, 2006 Bankr. LEXIS 845 at *20.
Additionally, many of the expense deductions allowed to debtors are not based on
the debtor’s actual expenses – instead, debtors are only permitted in most instances to
deduct standard expenses set by the Internal Revenue Service National and Local
standards. See 11 U.S.C. § 707(b)(2)(A)(ii); In re Randle, 358 B.R. at 364; Walker, 2006
WL 1314123 at *7, 2006 Bankr. LEXIS 845 at *20. It cannot be fairly said, therefore, that
Congress was overly-concerned with capturing an accurate, precise financial picture to
determine whether the case would be presumed abusive. See In re Randle, 358 B.R. at
364; Walker, 2006 WL 1314123 at *6, 2006 Bankr. LEXIS 845 at *18-19.
The deduction of secured payments due at the time of the petition filing – even if the
debtor intends to eventually surrender the property – is consistent with the mechanical,
discretion-void nature of the means test. See In re Kogler, 368 B.R. at 790-91; Walker,
2006 	WL 	1314123 	at 	*6, 	2006 	Bankr. 	LEXIS 	845 	at 	*18-19. 	To 	read 	into 	§
707(b)(2)(A)(iii)(I) a requirement that the court inquire into possible future outcomes in each
debtor’s case “is completely contrary to Congress’ intent because it requires the kind of
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12 See also In re Mundy, 363 B.R. at 414; In re Haar, 360 B.R. at 767 (“what the position of
the UST seeks to do is throw a wrench into this mechanical process . . . .”); In re Hardwick, 359
B.R. at 21; In re Nockerts, 357 B.R. at 503 (“when applying an arbitrary test like the means test,
which substitutes formulaic calculations for judicial discretion, resort to the “spirit” of the law is
inappropriate and leads to misapplication of the statute.”); In re Singletary, 354 B.R. at 465
(consideration of possible future events would “eliminate the distinction between the presumption
of abuse test and the totality of the circumstances test”); In re Walker, 2006 WL 1314123 at *5,
2006 Bankr. LEXIS 845 at *17 (“When applying a test that essentially judges the debtor’s financial
situation as it exists at the time of filing, it would be inconsistent to consider post-petition events to
determine whether the debtor is entitled to deduct secured debt payments.”).
13 Of course, the Trustee is free to bring an action under § 707(b)(3), if she so chooses.
In re Hardwick, 359 B.R. at 21-22; 	In re Singletary, 354 B.R. at 465; 	In re Walker, 2006 WL
1314123 at *8, 2006 Bankr. LEXIS 845 at *25. As previously stated, her request for an extension
of the deadline to file such a motion remains pending before the Court.
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case-by-case adjustment based on a debtor’s individual circumstances for the presumption
of abuse that Congress rejected.” 12 In re Randle, 358 B.R. at 364.13
IV. 	CONCLUSION
For all the foregoing reasons, this Court rules that payments on secured debts may
be included on Form 22A pursuant to § 707(b)(2)(A)(iii)(I) notwithstanding a debtor’s
intention to surrender the collateral. In the present case, the Debtors properly calculated
their CMI and expenses as required by § 707(b)(2) and Form 22A. 	Since the Debtors’
expenses exceed their Current Monthly Income, no presumption of abuse pursuant to §
707(b)(2) has arisen. The Trustee’s request for dismissal under § 707(b)(2) will accordingly
be DENIED.
An order in conformity with this memorandum will issue forthwith.
DATED: September 26, 2007 	By the Court,
Henry J. Boroff
United States Bankruptcy Judge
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