January 08, 2025

A Judgment Lien Isn’t Created by Filing a UCC Financing Statement, Judge Furay Says

To obtain a judgment lien, filing a UCC financing statement is no substitute for docketing a judgment.

7th Circuit, Wisconsin, Wisconsin Western District

December 30, 2024

Delaware Judge Writes a Treatise for Avoiding WARN Act Liability

Good faith and attention to detail should enable a failing business to avoid WARN Act liability.

3rd Circuit, Delaware

December 23, 2024

‘Accrual Test’ Again Survives to Say Whether the Debtor or the Estate Owns a Claim

There are two tests again for the existence of a claim, one test for claims against the debtor and another for claims by the debtor.

11th Circuit, Florida, Florida Middle District

November 26, 2024

Class Action Commonality Justifies an ‘Opt Out’ Plan for Nondebtor Releases

With an exception, cases after Purdue are pointing toward approval of nondebtor releases where creditors are only allowed to opt out.

2nd Circuit, New York, New York Northern District

November 05, 2024

Fully Secured, Nonrecourse Creditors Can Be Involuntary Petitioners, BAP Says

An involuntary petitioner whose claim was paid after filing is still counted as an involuntary petitioner, the Ninth Circuit BAP says.

9th Circuit

November 04, 2024

Releasing a Lien Under Section 1325(a)(5)(B) Is Different When There Are Co-Debtors

Despite Section 1325(a)(5)(B), an auto lender was entitled to retain a lien when there were co-debtors.

7th Circuit, Illinois, Illinois Southern District

October 08, 2024

Bankruptcy Judge Hursh Denies Arbitration over a Trustee’s Usury Claim

Arbitration was denied over a trustee’s claim objection based on the lender’s violation of state usury laws.

9th Circuit, Montana

September 23, 2024

Chapter 15 Automatic Stay Isn’t Effective Retroactively, Ninth Circuit Says

Alter ego claims belong to the creditor, not to the bankrupt estate.

9th Circuit

September 18, 2024

Solvent Debtors in Chapter 11 Must Pay Make-Wholes, Third Circuit Says

The opinion by Circuit Judge Thomas Ambro reads Jevic as animating the solvent-debtor exception to the disallowance of unmatured interest.

3rd Circuit

September 17, 2024

A Lender Can’t Have a Lien on Avoidance Actions, Judge Thad Collins Says

The Eighth Circuit had held that a debtor has an ‘inchoate’ property interest in avoidance actions before bankruptcy, but Judge Collins ruled that a lender can’t have a lien.

8th Circuit, Iowa, Iowa Northern District