April 04, 2024

Evidence of Intent to ‘Hinder’ Wasn’t Sufficient to Deny Discharge, District Judge Says

The bankruptcy court’s inference of intent to hinder the trustee wasn’t supported by the evidence, the district judge says in reversing a denial discharge.

6th Circuit, Michigan, Michigan Eastern District

April 02, 2024

Offensive Appellate Rights May Be Sold, but Maybe Not Defensive Appellate Rights

State laws differ on whether defensive appellate rights are estate property that may be sold.

8th Circuit, Arkansas, Arkansas Western District

April 01, 2024

A False Certificate of Payment (Temporarily) Barred a Landlord from Evicting

New York’s Judge David Jones explored the intricacies of Section 322(b)(22)’s bar to using bankruptcy to halt eviction.

2nd Circuit, New York, New York Southern District

March 29, 2024

For No Notice in an ‘Asset’ Case, the Entire Debt Is Not Discharged, the Ninth Circuit Says

The Ninth Circuit explains why the debt owing to a creditor without notice is discharged in a ‘no asset’ case but not in an ‘asset’ case.

9th Circuit

March 25, 2024

Supreme Court Rules on Mootness, but Not Equitable Mootness

The unanimous decision on March 19 by Justice Gorsuch contains language that could be used on both sides of the argument about the validity of equitable mootness.

Supreme Court

March 19, 2024

Rooker-Feldman Held Not to Prevent Relitigation of a Denied Exemption

The Supreme Court’s narrowing of Rooker-Feldman is showing up in circuit court opinions.

11th Circuit

March 18, 2024

A ‘13’ Debtor Can’t Dismiss After Conversion to ‘7,’ Tenth Circuit BAP Says

A 14-day stay under Rule 7062 might have saved the chapter 13 debtor’s right to dismiss under Section 1307(b).

10th Circuit

March 15, 2024

Being a ‘Net Winner’ in a Ponzi Scheme Doesn’t Automatically Mean Nondischargeability

Alleging that a debtor realized an ‘impossibly high’ rate of return in a Ponzi scheme isn’t enough to state a claim of nondischargeability for ‘actual fraud.’

4th Circuit, North Carolina, North Carolina Eastern District

March 12, 2024

Another Circuit Says Creditors Take Appreciation When a ‘13’ Case Converts to ‘7’

The Eighth Circuit aligned with the Ninth Circuit by holding that postpetition appreciation in a home belongs to creditors when a chapter 13 case converts to chapter 7.

8th Circuit

March 07, 2024

Ritzen and Bullard Didn’t Change the ‘Pragmatic Approach’ to Bankruptcy Finality

Under binding circuit precedent, a Delaware district judge ruled that an order denying a motion to dismiss a chapter 11 case is final and appealable.

3rd Circuit, Delaware