Disagreeing with the Tenth and D.C. Circuits and siding with four other circuits, the Seventh Circuit rules that passively holding estate property violates the automatic stay.

Although the debtor only intended to halt eviction, the Seventh Circuit enhanced the sentence to reflect the claims of all creditors.

On direct appeal, Seventh Circuit upholds Bankruptcy Judge Thorne by allowing chapter 13 debtors to retain anticipated refunds from earned income tax credits.

Co-debtor stay prevented from becoming an automatic stay for a non-filing spouse.

Over dissent, the Seventh Circuit creates a safe harbor for pursuing stale claims in bankruptcy.