March 17, 2016

Dischargeability Judgment Must Not Lower Interest on a Creditor’s Judgment

Abuse of discretion automatically results if a judgment harms a defrauded creditor.

9th Circuit, Oregon

March 11, 2016

Fifth Circuit Finds an Exception to General Rule on Appellate Standing

Debtors facing discharge denial have standing to appeal claim allowances.

5th Circuit

March 10, 2016

Ruling on Texas Law, New York Judge Upsets Oil and Gas Pipelines

Protections for oil and gas pipelines undermined in Sabine Oil reorganization.

2nd Circuit, New York, New York Southern District

March 08, 2016

Seventh Circuit Opines on Bullard and the Concept of ‘Finality’

Did Bullard alter the notion of ‘finality’? Not in the Seventh Circuit.

7th Circuit

Removing an Employee Benefit Plan Trustee Is Proper in District Court

Courts continue disregarding Section 704(a)(11) as grounds for jurisdiction.

1st Circuit, Puerto Rico

March 04, 2016

Arbitration Agreement Cannot Include Waiver of Dischargeability

On dischargeability, post-filing waivers work, but pre-filing ones don’t.

7th Circuit, Wisconsin, Wisconsin Western District

Chapter 13 Equated with Chapter 11 on Derivative Standing for Creditors

Creditor can sue when a chapter 13 trustee won’t or can’t.

3rd Circuit, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Eastern District

March 03, 2016

Courts Split on Whether Surrender Entails Waiver of Defenses to Foreclosure

Gutsy Judge Laurel Isicoff disagrees with district and bankruptcy judges in her district.

11th Circuit, Florida, Florida Southern District

March 02, 2016

Supreme Court Argument Pits Notions of Equity Against Statutory Construction

Ghost of Justice Scalia haunts the high court in a statutory construction case.

Supreme Court

Caesars Wins Brief Reprieve from Lawsuit Against Non-Filed Parent

Chicago entrenches itself as a debtor-friendly venue for chapter 11 reorganizations.

7th Circuit, Illinois, Illinois Northern District