December 12, 2023
Dismissing a Divorce Action Didn’t Result in an Unauthorized, Post-Petition Transfer
An inchoate interest in property created by filing a divorce action doesn’t survive dismissal of the divorce action, the Tenth Circuit BAP says.
10th CircuitNovember 30, 2023
Willful Breach of Contract Doesn’t Result in Section 523(a)(6) Nondischargeability
Without allegations of an intentional tort, a willful breach of contract can’t be nondischargeable as a ‘willful and malicious’ injury.
10th Circuit, Oklahoma, Oklahoma Western DistrictNovember 27, 2023
Tenth Circuit BAP Disagrees with the Fourth Circuit on Inapplicability of Article III
The split deepens on whether the jurisdiction of bankruptcy courts is limited by Article ‘case or controversy’ requirements.
10th CircuitNovember 06, 2023
Properly Written, a Divorce Decree Doesn’t Create a Debtor/Creditor Relationship
A properly written divorce decree can create a separate property interest that won’t be part of the bankruptcy estate of a bankrupt spouse.
10th Circuit, New MexicoOctober 23, 2023
Labor Union Beats Back a Motion to Transfer Venue to the Bankruptcy Court
A district judge, who had been a bankruptcy and BAP judge, narrowly interpreted 28 U.S.C. § 1412 as being inapplicable to pending suits only “related to” the bankruptcy.
10th Circuit, KansasOctober 05, 2023
The Standard for Enlarging the Time to File a Subchapter V Plan
Judge Jacobvitz of New Mexico follows Judge Harner of Maryland in developing a standard for deciding whether a Subchapter V debtor may extend the time for filing a plan.
10th Circuit, New MexicoAugust 24, 2023
State Court Is the ‘More Appropriate Forum’ to Divide Marital Property
The bankruptcy court can divide marital property, but just because it can doesn’t mean it should, Judge Thuma says.
10th Circuit, New MexicoJuly 05, 2023
A Bankruptcy Petition Automatically Stays the Filing of an Appeal or a Cross Appeal
When the debtor files bankruptcy before the time has elapsed for a creditor to file a cross appeal, the cross appeal is deemed timely when filed within 30 days after the stay terminated, the Tenth Circuit held.
10th CircuitJuly 03, 2023
IRS Has No Sovereign Immunity to Bar a Fraudulent Transfer Suit Under Section 544(b)
The circuits are now split 3/1, with the majority finding a waiver of sovereign immunity under Section 544(b)(1) for lawsuits by a trustee based on claims that an actual creditor could not have brought outside of bankruptcy.
10th CircuitJune 12, 2023
Accumulated, Identifiable Wages Were Held Exempt, Regardless of the Total Amount
Colorado allows the ‘stacking’ of exemptions, given the mandate to interpret exemptions liberally in favor of debtors.
10th Circuit, Colorado