A Conversation About Chapter 13 Debt Limitations of 11 U.S.C. § 109(e)

By Sarah E. Smith, Esq., Senior Staff Attorney, Kathleen A. Leavitt, Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Trustee

As staff attorney for a Chapter 13 Trustee, I’ve encountered more than my share of §109(e) eligibility issues or, as sometimes referred to, “debt limit” issues. When I talk about debt limit I’m referring to the section of the Bankruptcy Code that sets forth eligibility requirements for a Chapter 13 debtor. Specifically, 11 U.S.C. § 109(e) that states, in pertinent part: “Only an individual with regular income that owes, on the date of filing of the petition, noncontingent, liquidated, unsecured . . .

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Rule 3002.1 Does Not Justify Punitive Sanctions

September 19, 2021

By Henry E. Hildebrand, III, Chapter 13 Standing Trustee (Nashville, TN) In order for a bankruptcy court to impose sanctions for contempt, Taggart compelsa finding of a violation of a clear and unambiguous order; the bankruptcy court lacks inherent power to issue punitive sanctions under Rule 3002.1. (Jacobs) PHH Mortgage Corporation v. Sensenich, 6 F.4th 503 (2nd Cir. August 2,...

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New Judge Appointed

The Academy

June 4, 2023

Honorable Corali Lopez-Castro Appointed Miami’s Newest Bankruptcy Judge

Herb Beskin – A Proclamation

Angela M. Scolforo

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Upon this auspicious occasion, seeing before us this eloquence of attorneys, let us recount the mighty deeds of one Herbert Lee Beskin. WHEREAS, Herbert was born and began his legal career in the last century (or we presume); and WHEREAS, a double Hoo, Herbert graduated from the University of Virginia with a B.A. in 1972, and stayed in Charlottesville to...

Who Files the Tax Returns Under SBRA

June 7, 2020

By Steven L. Walker, Esq. (San Jose, CA) Subchapter V of the newly amended Bankruptcy Code is silent on the question as to whether the debtor-in-possession, or the court appointed trustee, must file the entity’s income tax returns on Form 1065, Form 1120, or Form 1120S. Although the IRS also has not issued any formal guidance, answers can be found...

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Still Trying to Apply Taggart: Fourth Circuit Vacates Beckhart v. Newrez, LLC

Lawrence R. Ahern, III

May 15, 2022

Background - In re Taggart In 2019, the Supreme Court rendered its opinion in In re Taggart,1 which was the subject of earlier analyses: (1) Is a Finding of Contempt Precluded by a "Good Faith" but Unreasonable Belief that an Action Does Not Violate the Discharge Injunction?; (2) Looking Beyond . . . It looks like you are not signed...

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Critical Case Comment – Punitive Damages? Yep.

Henry E. Hildebrand, III

March 10, 2024

Punitive damages can be awarded for a violation of Rule 3002.1 even where there are no compensatory damages, other than attorney’s fees.

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Critical Case Comment

June 2, 2019

By Henry E. Hildebrand, III, Chapter 13 Standing Trustee for the Middle District of Tennessee If a Chapter 13 debtor does not list a creditor on the creditor matrix when filing the petition and makes no effort to provide supplemental notice to the creditor, the provisions of Rule 3002 allow the extension of time for the creditor to file a...

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Just the Facts, Ma’am – Consolidated Appropriations Act, December 27, 2020

January 10, 2021

By The Honorable William Houston Brown (Retired) This legislation includes several bankruptcy-related provisions, in addition to government funding and other COVID relief. Consumer bankruptcy issues are addressed in Title X of the Act, section 1001, which amends Bankruptcy Code § 541(b)’s exclusions from property of the estate, adding subsection 11 for certain coronavirus relief, defined as “recovery rebates made under...

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CARES Act Financial Hardship ‘Laundry List’

April 5, 2020

By Henry E. Hildebrand, III, Chapter 13 Standing Trustee (Nashville, TN) During the free Academy webinar The CARES Act – Impacts on Chapter 13 on April 2, 2020, the panel – Judge Wm. Houston Brown (Retired), Amanda DeBerry and I – referred to the importance of detailing the reasons for modifications or suspensions to be related to financial hardship stemming...

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Escrow 101 and 102

Michael J. McCormick, Esq.

August 13, 2023

In the fall of 2021, Michael McCormick provided subscribers with an EXCELLENT, expository, seven-part outline on mortgage escrow. This information is just as relevant today as when we first published it with one important update . . . When the next escrow analysis is performed and the servicer has received less than 12 payments of escrow (and often zero, as is often the case after the borrower received a forbearance during the COVID pandemic), the escrow balance will be far less than anticipated!!

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