BANKRUPTCY MEDIATION OF HOME MORTGAGE MODIFICATIONS

Introduction by Vijay Malik, Creighton University Law Student

Although the housing crisis has resulted in over one million foreclosures, industry experts expect a million more in 2011 alone, the expected peak year. Accordingly, the Obama administration has made foreclosure mediation one of three priorities in its Access to Justice Initiative (see: http://www.justice.gov/atj/). On February 1, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary held a hearing entitled "Foreclosure Mediation Programs: Can Bankruptcy Courts Limit Homeowner and Investor Losses?" The hearing brought to the fore many challenges faced by . . .

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Motions to Extend or Impose the Automatic Stay

Erik P. Kimball

October 8, 2023

“In most cases, debtor’s counsel addresses only the argument that the debtor’s personal or financial affairs have substantially changed since dismissal of the preceding case.”

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Can a Secured Claim Still “Ride-Through” Bankruptcy Despite BAPCPA? – Part 1 In re Rhodes Says, “Let Me Count the Ways”

Lawrence R. Ahern, III

January 30, 2022

Background A recent Chapter 7 case out of the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of California, In re Rhodes,1 addresses reaffirmation in a context that is very significant and should be of interest to all debtor's attorneys. It points out that the "ride-through" of a debtor's secured debt in Chapter 7—which Congress tried to eliminate in 2005—still exists. In...

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Rule 3002.1, Contempt and Sanctions – How a Lender Can Create a Mess

Thomas D. DeCarlo

October 16, 2022

The facts in In re DeWitt, 2022 WL 4588320 (Bankr. S.D. Ohio 2022), are a bit “unusual”. Debtor filed Chapter 13 to reinstate her mortgage. The mortgage was “non-escrowed” and Debtor was required to pay property taxes directly. Surprisingly, she did not pay her property taxes. The first time, the Lender paid the property taxes but decided not to pursue...

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Hanging Paragraph, Cars for Non-Personal Use, and PMSI

November 3, 2019

By Gretchen Holland, Standing Chapter 13 Trustee for the Greenville/Spartanburg Division of South Carolina The hanging paragraph of § 1325(a)(9) prevents bifurcation of a PMSI claim if the collateral securing it was purchased within certain time periods prepetition. A 910-day limitation applies to motor vehicles acquired for the debtor’s personal use. A one-year limitation applies to all other PMSI collateral,...

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Paying the Car Loan Directly vs. Through the Plan: Till Debt Us do Part?

January 31, 2021

By Herbert L. Beskin, Chapter 13 Trustee for the Western District of Virginia (Charlottesville) In a recent case out of the Sixth Circuit, the Appeals Court heard an appeal by the Chapter 13 Trustee concerning direct payments by the debtor on a car loan and the applicable interest rate. The case is In re Chambers, 6th Circuit, # 20-1376, Appeal...

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Division of Marital Property During a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Michael B. Joseph

November 5, 2023

“The focus of this article is to review some of the issues faced in cases with pending state court marital property division proceedings.”

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Negotiating Plan Confirmation with Secured Creditors – Issues Involving Balloon Payments and Other Mortgage Loans Subject to Modification Under § 1322(c) – Part 1 of 3

November 8, 2020

By David Cox,1 Cox Law Group, PLLC (Lynchburg, VA) Some Basics about Secured Claim Treatment in Chapter 13 What is a Secured Claim under § 506(a)? Secured by a lien on property of the debtor’s bankruptcy estate. Some value in the property to which the lien may attach. Must be secured by property that is property of the debtor’s bankruptcy...

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Automatic Stay Denial of Stay Relief was Final and Appealable, Although It Was “Without Prejudice.”

The Honorable William Houston Brown

April 10, 2022

Selected Consumer Opinions Since January 1, 2022 Automatic Stay Denial of stay relief was final and appealable, although it was “without prejudice.”Deciding an issue not addressed in Ritzen Grp., Inc. v. Jackson Masonry, LLC, 140 S.Ct. 582 (2020), the Ninth Circuit concluded that the bankruptcy court’s order denying stay relief was final and appealable, despite its “without prejudice” language, because...

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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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Chris Hawkins Appointed Judge

The Academy

March 20, 2022

Chris Hawkins was sworn in as a bankruptcy judge for the Middle District of Alabama on March 14, 2022, succeeding Judge William R. Sawyer. Before his appointment, Chris was a partner at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, where he focused exclusively on bankruptcy and insolvency matters. For over twenty years, he represented debtors and creditors in out-of-court restructurings, commercial and...