June 17, 2020

Debtors and the SBA Fight to a Draw Last Week on PPP ‘Loans’

Courts still have no consensus about debtors’ right to receive PPP ‘loans’ under the Cares Act.

11th Circuit, Florida, Florida Northern District

June 16, 2020

Subchapter V Trustee Barred from Routine Retention of Counsel

Bankruptcy Judge David Warren warns small business trustees that they won’t be compensated if they are “overzealous” or undertake “unnecessary or duplicative services.”

4th Circuit, North Carolina, North Carolina Eastern District

June 11, 2020

Force Majeure Clause Cut an Illinois Debtor’s Rent by 75%

Chicago judge cut rent by 75% after governor prohibited on-premises dining in the debtor’s restaurant.

7th Circuit, Illinois, Illinois Northern District

June 10, 2020

Last Week, the Government Went 2 for 3 in Defeating Debtor’s Demands for PPP Loans

Courts are divided on whether PPP litigation is ‘core’ or not.

1st Circuit, Maine

May 27, 2020

Farmers in Chapter 12 Don’t Qualify for PPP ‘Loans,’ Milwaukee Judge Rules

A PPP ‘loan’ under the Cares Act isn’t a ‘grant,’ thus the government isn’t barred from discriminating against a bankrupt under Section 525(a).

7th Circuit, Wisconsin, Wisconsin Eastern District

May 14, 2020

Another Judge Allows Switching to the SBRA When a Pending Chapter 11 Is About to Fail

Judge Jacobvitz allows the debtor to proceed under the SBRA more than a year after the initial chapter 11 filing

10th Circuit, New Mexico

May 05, 2020

Two More Judges Rule that Chapter 11 Debtors Are Eligible for PPP Loans

Judge Thuma of Albuquerque threatens the SBA with punitive damages if the debtor is not granted a $900,000 PPP loan.

10th Circuit, New Mexico

May 01, 2020

Houston Judge Enjoins SBA from Excluding Bankrupt Companies from PPP Loans

Judge David Jones found no basis in the Cares Act for precluding chapter 11 debtors from receiving PPP “loans” that the company isn’t required to repay.

5th Circuit, Texas, Texas Southern District

April 30, 2020

Currently Conducting Business Isn’t Required to Qualify for the SBRA

Dealing with the debt left over from a defunct business is enough to qualify as a small business debtor under the new subchapter V of chapter 11, Judge Burris rules.

4th Circuit, South Carolina

April 14, 2020

Stripping Down a Mortgage on a Mixed-Use Property Under the SBRA

A New York court allows a chapter 11 case pending for 15 months to redesignate for treatment under the Small Business Reorganization Act.

2nd Circuit, New York, New York Eastern District