Bullard: Back to the Basics (1)

By Trevor Bond, law clerk to Chief Judge Cynthia A. Norton in the Western District of Missouri Bankruptcy Court
click here for part II

Part I

In Bullard v. Blue Hills Bank,2 the Supreme Court resolved a circuit split3 regarding whether an order denying Chapter 13 plan confirmation is “final.” The decision interpreted the meaning of “final” in 28 U.S.C. § 158(a)(1 . . .

It looks like you are not signed in or registered! This content is only available to members.

Or Sign In Below:

No Author Biography has been linked to this Article.

Complete Termination of The Automatic Stay Under §362(c)(3)(A) According to the First Circuit

March 3, 2019

By Carri Hayden Johnson, Staff Attorney to O. Byron Meredith, Chapter 13 Trustee (Savannah, GA) The filing of a bankruptcy petition acts as a stay of certain actions against the debtor or the debtor’s property. The automatic stay is essentially the fundamental reason that a debtor seeks relief in the form of bankruptcy, as it allows the debtor a brief...

Members

Assumption of Auto Lease in Chapter 7 Requires No Court Approval Says the 9th Circuit: In re Bobka

May 9, 2021

By Matthew D. Resnik, Resnik Hayes Moradi, LLP (Encino, CA) In Bobka v. Toyota Motor Credit Corporation (In re Bobka), 968 F.3d 946 (9th Cir. August, 2020), the chapter 7 debtor wanted to retain her leased Toyota. Toyota sent her an "assumption agreement" which she signed and returned to Toyota the day before she received her discharge. By then she...

Members

Ask Ms. Ps & Qs

December 8, 2019

By Professor Nancy Rapoport Dear Readers: I know, I know—I’ve been absent from this column for a while,1 but I’ve found a set of cases that intrigued me, so here goes. In several cases, bankruptcy courts here in Nevada have made it clear that lawyers should do a better job of proving up their fees (and proofreading them), especially when...

Members

The Proposed Consumer Bankruptcy Reform Act: A Political Analysis

January 17, 2021

By Kevin M. Ball, Eastern Michigan University Senator Warren and Representative Nadler introduced identical legislation entitled the Consumer Bankruptcy Report Act (“CBRA”) late in the 116th Congress. Although the bills died without action at the conclusion of that term, the sponsors have indicated their intent to reintroduce them in the 117th Congress. The legislation would bring major changes to the...

Members

Meet a New Trustee

The Academy

October 22, 2023

Angela M. Scolforo was appointed as the Chapter 13 Standing Trustee for the Western District of Virginia on April Fool’s Day. She replaced Herbert L. Beskin who served as the Trustee for 20 years, retiring in March of this year. Angela received a B.A. in English from College of the Holy Cross in Worchester, Massachusetts, in1987. She did not immediately go...

How My Law Firm Learned to Stop Leaving Money on the Table Part 2 – The “Other Appropriate Relief” of Rule 3001

Mark C. Leffler

May 8, 2022

At my firm, we see a lot of consumers who have some combination of high debt and low income. Many of them arrive for their consultations after having been abused by debt collectors and predatory lenders, harmed by mortgage servicing errors, or subjected to inaccurate and derogatory credit reporting. Until fairly recently, after filing bankruptcies for these folks, we usually...

Members

The Gambling Debtor – What is a Chapter 13 Trustee to Do?

Stacey A. O’Stafy

January 28, 2024

Gambling was one of the earliest forms of entertainment, likely pre-dating recorded human history and before man invented minted currency. . . . gambling alone is not evidence of bad faith! Another article on this topic: If You’re Gonna Bet the Farm, Maybe Play Against the House

Members

Treasury, IRS Issue Final Regulations, Other Guidance on New Qualified Business Income Deduction; Safe Harbor Enables Many Rental Real Estate Owners to Claim Deduction

January 27, 2019

1/18/19 the Treasury Department and the IRS issued final regulations and three related pieces of guidance, implementing the new qualified business income (QBI) deduction (section 199A deduction). The new QBI deduction, created by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) allows many owners of sole proprietorships, partnerships, S corporations, trusts, or estates to deduct up to 20 percent of...

Critical Case Comment – Funds on Hand at Dismissal Go to Debtor. Not So Fast. 13 Trustee May Be Subject to State Court Proceedings

Henry E. Hildebrand, III

January 16, 2022

While a 13 trustee is partially insulated by the Barton doctrine from being dragged into state court, if a movant seeks authority from the Bankruptcy Court to pursue the trustee and satisfies the conditions of the Barton doctrine, the trustee may be subject to state court judicial proceedings. (Hall) In re Alexander Louis Bednar, 2021 WL 1625399 (Bankr. W.D. Okla....

Members

Critical Case Comment – In the Windfalls Category

Henry E. Hildebrand, III

August 28, 2022

Unanticipated post-petition acquisitions, constituting property of the estate, can be captured for the purpose of repaying creditors. In re Powell, 2022 WL 1043502 (Bankr. C.D. Ill. April 7, 2022)(Perkins) Case Summary Clarence and Betty Powell filed a Chapter 13 petition in February of 2020 and their plan was confirmed that October. The plan required the Powells to make monthly payments...

Members