April 18, 2018

Supreme Court Holds Argument in Lamar, Archer & Cofrin on Dischargeability

The high court seemed primed to rule that a debt will be discharged despite an oral misrepresentation about one asset.

Supreme Court

April 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 District

April 06, 2018

Unclaimed Oil and Gas Royalties Cannot Become Estate Property, Texas Judge Says

Confirmation order cannot turn someone else’s property into estate property.

5th Circuit, Texas, Texas Southern District

April 04, 2018

Delaware & New York Courts Still Agree on Treatment Among Undersecured Creditors

Post-petition interest accruals aren’t counted in figuring distributions among undersecured creditors with liens on the same collateral.

3rd Circuit, Delaware

Another Bankruptcy Judge Disregards Student Loans on Chapter 13 Eligibility

Student loan debtor ineligible for chapter 7 may pursue chapter 13 even with too much unsecured debt, Judge Catherine J. Furay says.

7th Circuit, Wisconsin, Wisconsin Western District

April 03, 2018

Not a ‘Mechanical Rule,’ Judicial Estoppel Requires Benefit, Second Circuit Says

Judicial estoppel requires ‘an effort to game the bankruptcy system.’

2nd Circuit

April 02, 2018

Chapter 13 Strip-Off Ok Even if Lienholder Does Not File a Claim, Fourth Circuit Holds

A contrary result would have obviated the judicially recognized right to strip off underwater subordinate liens in chapter 13.

4th Circuit

Fifth Circuit Adopts Flexible Timing for Section 1111(b) Cramdown Valuation

Fifth Circuit refuses to adopt chapter 13 valuation timing to chapter 11 cramdowns.

5th Circuit

March 27, 2018

SIPA Bars General Unsecured Claims for Failure to Transfer Accounts Before Filing

The trustee for a bankrupt broker can ignore an individual customer’s request to transfer securities to a solvent broker and may instead transfer customer accounts in bulk.

2nd Circuit, New York, New York Southern District

Rule 3001(c)(2)(D) Sanction Was 16 Times the Amount in Controversy

Innocent mistake turns into a $6,000 sanction for ‘willful failure to cooperate.’

10th Circuit, Kansas