October 25, 2017

Section 1326(a)(2) Overrides a Levy Under State Law

On dismissal before chapter 13 confirmation, the debtor gets undistributed funds, not a creditor with a valid state court levy.

4th Circuit, Virginia

November 29, 2016

Section 106 Waivers of Sovereign Immunity May Be Unconstitutional Sometimes

Patriot Coal decision analyzes Supreme Court authorities on sovereign immunity.

4th Circuit, Virginia, Virginia Eastern District

October 11, 2016

Disability-Care Payments Are Excluded from Calculation of ‘Disposable Income’

Government payments to care for disabled adults go to parents, not creditors, judge rules.

4th Circuit, Virginia, Virginia Western District

October 04, 2016

Pro Se Debtors Entitled to Different Notice Before Sua Sponte Dismissal

Pro se debtors must be told explicitly of the right to request a hearing.

4th Circuit, Virginia, Virginia Western District

May 05, 2016

Exhausting Administrative Remedies Is No Prerequisite to Bankruptcy Jurisdiction

Exhaustion of state and federal administrative remedies are not the same, judge says.

4th Circuit, Virginia, Virginia Eastern District

January 21, 2016

Courts Spilt on Offsetting Government’s Non-Tax Claim Against a Tax Refund

Automatic stay bars collecting a debt by offsetting a tax refund.

4th Circuit, Virginia, Virginia Western District