Robinson v. Hagan, No. 14-3585 (7th Cir. 2016)
Annotate this CaseRobinson filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition, seeking to discharge unsecured debt of $23,834.00. Among her scheduled personal property, Robinson listed an “old Morm[o]n bible.” At the creditors’ meeting, the trustee inquired about the Book of Mormon. Robinson confirmed that it was an 1830 first edition and that she possessed several additional copies in print or digital form. In 2003, while employed at the local library, she made an agreement with the director that, if she cleaned out a storage area, she could use the area as an office and keep any books she found. She found the Book of Mormon and had it authenticated one of only 5,000 copies printed by Joseph Smith, then valued at $10,000.00. The trustee objected to the claimed exemption, acknowledging an exemption in 735 ILCS 5/12-1001(a) for a “bible,” but arguing that, given that Robinson owned many copies, the valuable edition should be used for the benefit of the creditors. The bankruptcy court believed that allowing the exemption would violate the statutory purpose, “to protect a bible of ordinary value so as not to deprive a debtor of a worship aid.” The district court vacated. The Seventh Circuit affirmed, finding that the statute's plain language allows the exemption without respect to value.
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