May 20, 2024
Prefiling Review Ok with BAP as Sanction for Filing Baseless Dischargeability Complaint
A lender was filing baseless dischargeability complaints believing that the impecunious debtors would default or settle.
9th CircuitMay 17, 2024
Fifth Circuit Draws ‘Person Aggrieved’ into Question for Appellate Standing
The Bankruptcy Code dropped ‘person aggrieved’ as the standard for appellate standing. Did it survive nonetheless?
5th CircuitMay 16, 2024
Recoupment of Social Security Benefit Overpayments Is Barred as a Setoff
Medicaid overpayments may be recovered as ‘recoupment’ while Social Security overpayments are attempted setoffs barred by discharge, Bankruptcy Judge Harwood says.
1st Circuit, New HampshireMay 15, 2024
Orders for Contempt and Sanctions Aren’t Appealable in the Fourth Circuit
Whether orders in contested matters are ever appealable is in doubt after a Fourth Circuit decision that declined to follow contrary opinions by bankruptcy appellate panels.
4th CircuitMay 14, 2024
Federal Government Doesn’t Have Sovereign Immunity to Avoid Contempt Sanctions
Bankruptcy Judge Scott Clarkson nailed the government with $38,000 in sanctions for a ‘willful’ violation of a discovery order shown by ‘clear and convincing evidence.’
9th Circuit, California, California Central DistrictMay 13, 2024
Three Circuits Now Say ‘13’ Trustees Aren’t Paid if Dismissal Precedes Confirmation
The same question has been sub judice in the Second Circuit for 15 months. Is the Second Circuit on the cusp of making a circuit split?
7th CircuitMay 10, 2024
Collecting a Student Loan Can (Sometimes) Violate the Discharge Injunction, BAP Says
The Ninth Circuit BAP holds that nondischargeability of student loans in Section 523(a)(8) isn’t ‘self-executing.’
9th CircuitMay 09, 2024
Sub V Plan Doesn’t Require Automatic Increases Based on Actual Disposable Income
Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Bradley disagreed with a district court in Florida that required a ‘true up’ if actual disposable income in Sub V exceeds projected disposable income.
5th Circuit, Texas, Texas Western DistrictMay 08, 2024
MOAC Again: No Remedy for the Landlord Despite Beating Sears in the Supreme Court
On remand from the Supreme Court and the Second Circuit, the district court decides that the Mall of America landlord isn’t entitled to more than the bargain it made with Sears in 1991.
2nd Circuit, New York, New York Southern DistrictMay 07, 2024
Noncompete and Confidentiality Agreements Can’t Be Rejected as Executory Contracts
If a breach results only in a right to equitable relief, there is no ‘claim’ and thus no executory contract.
6th Circuit, Michigan, Michigan Eastern District