March 01, 2017

Circuit Split Widens on Stay Violation for Failure to Turn Over Repossessed Collateral

Tenth Circuit joins the minority by holding that passive retention of collateral is no stay violation.

10th Circuit

February 28, 2017

Judgments for Malice in California Aren’t Nondischargeable Automatically

Ninth Circuit again shows deference to the BAP in making the circuit’s bankruptcy law.

9th Circuit

February 28, 2017

Federal Judgment Rate Is Employed when Claims Are Paid in Full

Courts remain divided on what ‘legal rate’ means in Section 726(a)(5).

11th Circuit, Georgia, Georgia Northern District

February 27, 2017

Sixth Circuit Thwarts Tennessee in Jacking Up Interest Rate on Tax Claims

Does ‘nonbankruptcy law’ mean any law other than the Bankruptcy Code?

6th Circuit

February 23, 2017

For Insufficient Notice, a Recorded Right of First Refusal Survived a Sale

Constructive notice deprived a purchaser of ‘bona fide’ status.

7th Circuit, Wisconsin, Wisconsin Eastern District

February 21, 2017

Banks Admonished to File Foreclosure Deeds Promptly, or Else

Requiring prompt filing of a foreclosure deed is not absurd, Massachusetts judge says.

1st Circuit, Massachusetts

February 20, 2017

Constructive Trust Theory Fails Without Showing Unjust Enrichment

Parents who benefitted from son’s secret ownership couldn’t claim title.

2nd Circuit, New York, New York Eastern District

February 17, 2017

Circuits Now Split on Dischargeability for Third Party’s Violation of Securities Laws

Eleventh Circuit panel divided on reaching alternative holding under Section 523(a)(19).

11th Circuit

February 16, 2017

Fifth Circuit Denies Exemption to Nonfiling Spouse for Home Owned Fewer than 1,215 Days

Community property homestead rights are lost if only one spouse files bankruptcy.

5th Circuit

February 16, 2017

Falsely Misrepresenting One Asset Isn’t Grounds for Nondischargeability, Circuit Holds

Eleventh Circuit takes sides with the majority in circuit split over Section 523(a)(2).

11th Circuit