January 08, 2021

Court Narrowly Construes Taggart to Find Contempt of the Discharge Injunction

Atlanta judge gave the benefit of the doubt to the debtor on a discharge violation, but limited damages to the recovery of attorneys’ fees.

11th Circuit, Georgia, Georgia Northern District

December 30, 2020

Follow the Rules or Lose an Exemption in a New Home While in Chapter 13

Chapter 13 debtors lost an exemption in a new home after converting to chapter 7 because they didn’t follow the rules.

11th Circuit, Florida, Florida Southern District

December 22, 2020

Statement of Profitability Must Be in Writing to Underpin a Nondischargeability Claim

A statement about the profitability of a corporation the debtor owns is a statement about the debtor’s own financial condition, the Fifth Circuit says.

5th Circuit

December 16, 2020

A Nonprimary Residence May Nonetheless Qualify for a Federal Exemption

A debtor may have a valid ‘homestead’ exemption without residing in the property, so long as a dependent does reside there, the Second Circuit rules.

2nd Circuit

December 15, 2020

The Mailbox Presumption Won’t Deem a Claim to Have Been Timely Filed

Courts are split on the extent to which an affidavit of timely mailing will suffice to prove that a claim was filed.

4th Circuit, North Carolina, North Carolina Middle District

December 14, 2020

A Payment to a Death Beneficiary Under an IRA Is Not Estate Property

Even though received within 180 days of filing, a distribution from an IRA to a death beneficiary does not become estate property.

6th Circuit, Michigan, Michigan Eastern District

December 08, 2020

Arizona District Judge: No Final Orders in Preference Suits Without a Claim or Consent

Expanding on dicta in Bellingham, the district court in Arizona finds no power to enter a final order in a preference suit against a defendant who did not consent to a final order in bankruptcy court.

9th Circuit, Arizona

December 03, 2020

Ninth Circuit Upholds an FDCPA Suit for Collecting a Debt Paid in Full in Chapter 13

Even though the discharge order had been violated, neither Midland Funding nor Ninth Circuit precedent precluded an FDCPA suit for attempting to collect a debt paid in full.

9th Circuit

December 03, 2020

Ninth Circuit Upholds an FDCPA Suit for Collecting a Debt Paid in Full in Chapter 13

Even though the discharge order had been violated, neither Midland Funding nor Ninth Circuit precedent precluded an FDCPA suit for attempting to collect a debt paid in full.

9th Circuit

November 27, 2020

The Debtor in Taggart v. Lorenzen Loses Again after Remand by the Supreme Court

The Ninth Circuit rules that Taggart raised a ‘significantly high hurdle’ before holding a creditor in contempt of the discharge injunction.

9th Circuit