ABI Blog Exchange

The Daily Docket: Lehman Inks Loan-Portfolio Deal

Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. struck a deal with WCAS Fraser Sullivan Investment Management LLC that will allow the failed investment bank to turn its $5.3 billion commercial-loan portfolio into cash. Read the Daily Bankruptcy Review story here

Los Angeles Lumber Remains Absolute More Than 70 Years Later

Few cases have stood the test of time as well as Case v. Los Angeles Lumber Products, Justice Douglas, writing for a unanimous Supreme Court of the United States, clarified how courts were to interpret the “fair and equitable” language of section 77B

Unsecured Creditors Beware! The Western District of Texas Bankruptcy Court Declares an Unsecured Creditor Cannot Have Its Cake (Unsecured Claim) and Eat It Too (Post-Petition Legal Fees)

Courts have struggled with whether to allow an unsecured creditor’s post-petition attorneys’ fees and have come down on both sides of the issue. In a debate akin to the most grueling of Iron Chef competitions, proponents of the view that an unsecured

NYT: Saving on Real Estate In a Down Economy

By EILENE ZIMMERMANFrom 2009 to 2010, the commercial real estate market in the United States seemed bottomless. Whether seeking manufacturing, office or retail space, those looking to lease or buy were in the driver’s seat, said Fred Schmidt

Preserving Causes of Action In Plans

These days, defendants are getting more aggressive about repelling suits from bankruptcy estates. From jurisdictional squabbles based on Stern v. Marshall to judicial estoppel to failure to preserve a cause of action in a plan, the plaintiff's road

Our D-Word: Ecuador, Not Greece

In the inane and insane case the United States does skip a debt payment, please let us skip the comparisons to Greece. Greece is really out of money and probably should have bitten the D-bullet ( restructured, re-profiled, whatever) some time ago. We

How to pay taxes on a Roth IRA conversion

After losing a job, a tax bill for your IRA conversion is the last thing you need.

Don't make lending a family affair

There's a word to describe many loans made to relatives -- losses.

6 ways to ditch credit card debt

Want to eliminate your credit card balances? Pick the debt reduction strategy that's right for you.

9 ways to cool down air-condition costs

Don't let air conditioning overheat your utility bill. Cut AC use by trying these tricks.

Debt debate jolts mortgage rates

The battle over the debt ceiling leaves casualties in the form of higher mortgage rates.

Raid 529 college plan to pay down debts?

With college paid by the GI Bill, direct your 529 to trim debt unless tax issues arise.

Braidwood Bankruptcy Lawyer Developed Chapter 7 Questionnaire

Link The bankruptcy questionnaire is the document that helps us acquire information. So let’s go through this questionnaire with the understanding that this person is going to be like 75% of our clients; three out of four are going to be a Chapter 7

Signature Styles (Spiegel, Newport News) Seeks to Pay Google's Almost $900,000 Pre-Petition Claim for AdWords Usage as Critical Vendor

Trustee in Opus East Bankruptcy Files Preference Actions in Delaware

Last month, Jeoffrey Burtch, the Chapter 7 Trustee (the "Trustee") in the Opus East bankruptcy filed approximately 90 preference actions against various defendants. As stated in his complaints, the Trustee "seeks to avoid and recover ... all

Beso Investor Wants to Put Longoria Under Spotlight

Reuters Eva Longoria is used to the spotlight, but the latest request for the actress’s appearance doesn’t involve the red carpet. Instead, the “Desperate Housewives” star is being asked to show up for questioning at a court-reporting firm in Las

Preserving Causes of Action In Plans

These days, defendants are getting more aggressive about repelling suits from bankruptcy estates. From jurisdictional squabbles based on Stern v. Marshall to judicial estoppel to failure to preserve a cause of action in a plan, the plaintiff’s road

For-Profit Higher Education Industry Sues to Block Weak “Gainful Employment” Rule

Last week the Association of Private-Sector Colleges and Universities (aka the Career College Assn.) filed suit in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., to block enforcement of the U.S. Dept. of Education’s “Gainful Employment” regulation, issued

Maguire's poker lawsuit heading to trial

"Tobey Maguire's legal battle against the bankrupt trustees of convicted conman Bradley Ruderman is heading to trial in January, 2012. The Spider-Man star is accused of beating Ruderman in a series of unlicensed poker games in California, taking more

Post-Bankruptcy Survival: Three “Financial” Products You Should Avoid

Financial trouble is a part of life, even after you have filed bankruptcy it’s normal that you will have some rough times ahead. At least once every ten years, most Americans face at least one major financial issue. But how should you handle