March 04, 2020
Judge Kahn Finds No Constitutional Infirmities in Applying the SBRA Retroactively
Because the SBRA’s foundation is chapter 11, the new statute may be applied constitutionally to rights or property interests arising before enactment.
4th Circuit, North Carolina, North Carolina Middle DistrictOctober 04, 2019
Separate Classification of a Child’s Student Loan Barred in a Chapter 13 Plan
Factors in permitting separate classification of debts include moral obligation and tangible benefit.
4th Circuit, North Carolina, North Carolina Eastern DistrictMay 28, 2019
Survivor in a Merger Can’t Sue for a Preference Made by a Dissolved Entity
Plain language of Section 547 defeated what could have been an easily avoided preference.
4th Circuit, North Carolina, North Carolina Eastern DistrictSeptember 13, 2018
Requiring Conduit Mortgage Payments Is Ok Despite Costing the Debtor $5,300
Bankruptcy judge says a chapter 13 debtor receives ‘several benefits’ from paying 8% in commissions on mortgage payments through the trustee.
4th Circuit, North Carolina, North Carolina Eastern DistrictApril 10, 2018
Failing to Purchase Health Insurance Won’t Result in a Priority Tax Claim
Another court rules that Sebelius isn’t controlling on the characterization of the individual mandate under the Bankruptcy Code.
4th Circuit, North Carolina, North Carolina Eastern DistrictMarch 14, 2017
Courts Split on Allowing Credit Counseling on the Same Day but After Filing
Judge follows statutory language that didn’t achieve the result Congress intended.
4th Circuit, North Carolina, North Carolina Western DistrictFebruary 09, 2017
Breach of Corporate Fiduciary Duty Is Not Automatically Nondischargeable
‘Fiduciary duty’ is more narrowly defined in Section 523(a)(4) than in corporate law.
4th Circuit, North Carolina, North Carolina Eastern DistrictJanuary 24, 2017
Litigation Funding Could Be Champertous in Some States
Financing litigation is champertous if the lender exercises control.
4th Circuit, North Carolina, North Carolina Western DistrictOctober 18, 2016
Government’s Common Law Fraud Suit Excepted from Automatic Stay
Automatic stay nonetheless may preclude collecting judgment from estate property.
4th Circuit, North Carolina, North Carolina Eastern DistrictAugust 19, 2016
Evidence Rule Gives Wide Latitude for a Homeowner’s Opinion on Value
Evidence Rule 701 requires the homeowner’s opinion on value, not someone else’s.
4th Circuit, North Carolina, North Carolina Eastern District