Ask Ms. Ps & Qs

By Professor Nancy Rapoport

Dear Readers:

You and I have seen good lawyers and bad lawyers, but rarely have we gotten a glimpse into a sequence of bad decisions leading to what former Judge Markell would term an “epic fail.”[1] In Greenfield v. Anderson (In re Disciplinary Proceeding of Bruce M. Greenfield), Case No. CC-13-1006-KiTaKu (Bankr. 9th Cir. 2013) (not for publication), the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel affirmed disciplinary sanctions for a lawyer who, it seems, did many, many things wrong.

The opinion does not start out well for the . . .

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Meet Another New Trustee

January 20, 2019

On October 1, 2018, Dynele L. Schinker-Kuharich was appointed as a Chapter 13 Standing Trustee for the Northern District of Ohio. She maintains her offices in Canton. Ms. Schinker-Kuharich replaces retiring Toby Rosen who served in this position for 30 years. Prior to her appointment as a Standing Chapter 13, Schinker-Kuharich was on the panel of Chapter 7 Trustees for...

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Critical Case Comment – Separate Class Classy Option for Student Loans

Henry E. Hildebrand, III

January 14, 2024

In some instances, this case could be a real game-changer for dealing with student loans. Chapter 13 plan may classify student loans in a separate class!

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Critical Case Comment – But It’s a GOLF CART!

Henry E. Hildebrand, III

November 20, 2022

A golf cart is a motor vehicle and may be exempted by a Chapter 7 debtor under state law. (Loyd) In re Smith, 2022 WL 3023209 (Bankr. W.D. Okla. July 28, 2022) Case Summary Bobby Smith filed a Chapter 7 petition and listed his golf cart as an exempt asset under Oklahoma law because it was a “motor vehicle.” The...

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The Day the Music Died

Henry E. Hildebrand, III

May 8, 2022

I never set out to be a bankruptcy lawyer, much less a trustee. It was always my intent to be trial lawyer. The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat, and the captive audience of a jury; having to think fast on your feet was exciting. Facing jurors and witnesses with a modicum of confidence was what my view of...

Form 1099G – How to Fight Back Against Scams

February 21, 2021

By William J. Purdy III (Soquel, CA) Got an EDD tax form 1099 but no benefits? At this moment, POTENTIALLY hundreds of thousands of California taxpayers are enjoying the ghastly experience of receiving a Form 1099G courtesy of the California EDD for unemployment benefits the taxpayer never received. The problem is not confined to California; it’s so prevalent, the IRS...

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Critical Case Comment – Debtor Refuses to Give Location of Surrendered Mercedes; Pleads the Fifth

Henry E. Hildebrand, III

December 26, 2021

Where a Chapter 7 debtor fails to disclose the location of his Mercedes which he intended to surrender, fails to produce documents relating to the ownership of his property, and invokes his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination, the Court appropriately denied the debtor a discharge. (Preston) In re Appleby, 2021 WL 5121854 (Bankr. S.D. Ohio, Nov. 3, 2021) Case Summary...

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Critical Case Comment – Siegel v. Fitzgerald

Henry E. Hildebrand, III

June 19, 2022

Congress’ enactment of differing fees for U.S. Trustee states and Bankruptcy Administrator states violated the uniformity provision of the Bankruptcy Clause of Article I of the Constitution. (Sotomayer) Siegel v. Fitzgerald, 2022 WL 1914098 (S.Ct. June 6, 2022) Case Summary In 2008, the retail chain, Circuit City Stores, filed a Chapter 11 petition. In 2010, Circuit City’sliquidating plan was confirmed...

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From the Editor – Avoidance

September 22, 2019

By The Honorable William Houston Brown (Retired) Chapter 7 trustee’s avoidance of post-petition mortgage lien. After filing Chapter 7, the debtor, without prior authority, refinanced property of the estate twice and the trustee sought avoidance of the mortgage lien under § 549. No defense was available because the mortgagee did not qualify as a good faith transferee, having knowledge of...

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What is a “Consumer Debt”?

M. Jonathan Hayes

April 21, 2024

By highlighting Judge Stephen Johnson's rulings and insights, Hayes brings readers an analysis of the definition of what consumer debt is . . . and is not.

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“How Long, O Lord?”

November 29, 2020

By Angela M. Scolforo, Staff Attorney to Herbert L. Beskin, Chapter 13 Trustee for the Western District of Virginia “How long?” is a common plea. When my children were young and we travelled they would ask, “how long before we get there?” In scripture we find David, Habakkuk and Zechariah (none of whom were Debtors’ attorneys) all crying out, “how...

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Related Articles

Meet Another New Trustee

Critical Case Comment – Separate Class Classy Option for Student Loans

Critical Case Comment – But It’s a GOLF CART!

The Day the Music Died

Form 1099G – How to Fight Back Against Scams

Critical Case Comment – Debtor Refuses to Give Location of Surrendered Mercedes; Pleads the Fifth

Critical Case Comment – Siegel v. Fitzgerald

From the Editor – Avoidance

What is a “Consumer Debt”?

“How Long, O Lord?”

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