February 11, 2016

Claim Buyer Doesn’t Acquire Seller’s Insider Status, Ninth Circuit Holds

Debtor-friendly opinion validates strategy for cramming down on secured lender.

9th Circuit

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

January 15, 2016

Madoff ‘Net Equity’ Method Was Properly Applied to Inter-Account Transfers

Madoff trustee’s newest appellate victory again disregards fictitious profits.

2nd Circuit, New York, New York Southern District

January 11, 2016

Fifth Circuit Sticks by ‘Specificity’ Test for Third-Party Releases

Generic language won’t release third parties in the Fifth Circuit.

5th Circuit

Trustee Not Required to Investigate Claimed Exemption for Timely Fraud Objection

BAP makes life easier on trustee in objecting to exemptions.

9th Circuit

January 08, 2016

District Judge Packs Off New GM to the First Ignition Switch Trial in Oklahoma

New GM and ignition switch plaintiffs play high-stakes poker in federal court.

2nd Circuit, New York, New York Southern District

Second Circuit Broadly Reads Claim Subordination Under Section 510(b)

Lehman co-underwriters are stuck with worthless contribution claims.

2nd Circuit

Another Lower Court Nixes an FDCPA Claim Based on a Time-Barred Debt

Chicago bankruptcy judge opines on how the circuit should rule on the FDCPA.

7th Circuit, Illinois, Illinois Northern District

January 07, 2016

Florida District Court Again Overrides the FDCPA on Time-Barred Claims

Lower courts continue ignoring the Eleventh Circuit’s policy statement on the FDCPA.

11th Circuit, Florida, Florida Middle District

January 06, 2016

Fifth Circuit Clarifies Rule on Surcharging Collateral Under Section 506(c)

Specific intent to benefit the lender not required before surcharging collateral.

5th Circuit