April 06, 2017

First Circuit Interprets PROMESA’s Automatic Stay Broadly, Reverses District Court

Circuit court bars lawsuit by one Puerto Rico bondholder group against another.

1st Circuit

April 05, 2017

Civil Contempt Proceedings Exempt from Automatic Stay in Ninth Circuit

No automatic stay to protect litigation misconduct in the Seventh and Ninth Circuits.

9th Circuit

March 31, 2017

Chapter 13 Plan Confirmation Doesn’t Bar Later Claim Objections, Circuit Holds

Res judicata does not apply to ‘deemed allowed’ claims.

4th Circuit

Equitable Mootness Doesn’t Deprive Appellate Court of Jurisdiction

Impossibility of upsetting a confirmed plan doesn’t result in constitutional mootness, only equitable mootness.

11th Circuit

March 30, 2017

Personal Bankruptcy Bars Incarceration, but Not Finding of Civil Contempt

FTC allowed to continue contempt proceedings for failure to pay restitution.

2nd Circuit, New York, New York Southern District

March 29, 2017

Ninth Circuit Holds that Bullard Overruled Bonner Mall Allowing Non-Final Appeals

Controlling legal issues no longer make an order appealable as of right in the Ninth Circuit.

9th Circuit

March 28, 2017

No Res Judicata Effect for ‘Deemed Allowed’ Claims in ‘No Asset’ Cases

Do ‘deemed allowed’ claims have res judicata effect in ‘asset’ cases?

5th Circuit

March 27, 2017

Foreign Representatives May Bring Avoidance Suits Under State or Foreign Law

Prohibition on avoidance actions in chapter 15 only bars suits under Bankruptcy Code powers.

11th Circuit, Florida, Florida Southern District

March 21, 2017

Delaware District Judge Issues Important Opinion on Third-Party Releases

Bankruptcy courts can’t issue final orders approving third-party releases in chapter 11 plans.

3rd Circuit, Delaware

March 16, 2017

False Claims Suits by Governments Are Not Halted by Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy court held to lack exclusive jurisdiction over exceptions to the automatic stay.

6th Circuit, Tennessee, Tennessee Middle District