March 08, 2018

Courts Split on Denying a Chapter 13 Discharge for Failure to Make Direct Payments

Illinois judge interprets Rule 3002.1 as being ‘debtor-friendly,’ not as creating new grounds for denial of a chapter 13 discharge.

7th Circuit, Illinois, Illinois Central District

February 20, 2018

Arresting the Debtor During Mediation Is a Very Big No-No

How to ruin a good case: have your adversary arrested during mediation.

9th Circuit, California, California Central District

February 06, 2018

Ok to Bifurcate the Lien on an Auto Used by the Debtor’s Non-Filing Partner

Congress created a loophole in the hanging paragraph in Section 1325(a).

4th Circuit, West Virginia, West Virginia Northern District

January 29, 2018

On the Means Test, a Single Debtor Can Take Deductions for Two Cars

New York judge rules that the IRS Handbook is not controlling on auto expenses for the means test.

January 15, 2018

Supreme Court Grants Certiorari in a Third Bankruptcy Case This Term

High court to decide whether a false oral statement about one asset results in nondischargeability.

Supreme Court

January 10, 2018

BAP Declines to Rule on Waiver Resulting from Election to ‘Surrender’

Mortgage lender fails to export the Eleventh Circuit’s Failla decision to the Ninth Circuit.

9th Circuit

January 09, 2018

Update: The Justices May Hear Another Bankruptcy Case, but Not Sunnyslope

Odds have risen that the high court will decide whether an oral statement about one asset is a statement of ‘financial condition’ that must be in writing.

Supreme Court

January 04, 2018

Chicago Judge Erases Chapter 13 Debt Limits on Student Loans

Large student loans do not justify dismissal of a chapter 13 case when chapter 11 is the only alternative, Bankruptcy Judge Janet S. Baer says.

7th Circuit, Illinois, Illinois Northern District

January 03, 2018

Misrepresenting One Asset Is More Dangerous than Misrepresenting All Assets

Boasting about ‘strong financial condition’ must be in writing for the debt to be nondischargeable, Fifth Circuit says.

Supreme Court

November 24, 2017

Even ‘False’ Debts Are Discharged

Student loan lender’s argument was ‘preposterous,’ judge says.

5th Circuit, Texas, Texas Southern District