Expanding On Comments Made In Response To The Honorable William Houston Brown (Retired)’s Editor’s Desk Alert On The Rogers Decision

Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 3002.1 was amended, effective December 1, 2025, and judicial decisions on the amended Rule are being reported. This article summarizes several significant decisions that have been reported since the first of 2026.

“ . . . Barb quickly put my concerns to rest . . . . She was respectful but firm, of course, and I could also detect a nurturing side. We talked about, of all things, my relationship with my mother (let's not go there!) and I foresaw that Barb would be making her mark on our district.” We will miss you, Barb!!!

“ . . . practice and procedure accomplishing the lien strip have been slow to evolve since 2017. . . . in the jurisdictions that opted out of usage of the Form 113 Plan, multiple iterations for lien stripping and release are found.”

Consider the following Christmas miracle: Bob Cratchit has a long-term mortgage with Scrooge & Marley Bank. Bob Cratchit dies and there is a default on the mortgage. The mortgaged residence then passes to his son, Tiny Tim, by operation of law. Tiny Tim files for chapter 13 and includes the defaulted mortgage with Scrooge & Marley Bank in his plan. Scrooge & Marley Bank argues it has no claim against Tiny Tim because privity of contract is lacking, and Scrooge & Marley Bank therefore has no debtor-creditor relationship with Tiny Tim. How might the court rule?