Supreme Court Corner

By M. Jonathan Hayes, Certified Bankruptcy Specialist, Northridge, CA

The Supreme Court has accepted cert in Bank of America, N.A. v. Caulkett agreeing to review the right of a chapter 7 debtor to strip off an entirely unsecured lien. In Los Angeles we call them "Lam Motions." I expect oral argument some time in April, 2015 and I expect to be there. Nearly every court in the country has held that the Supreme Court case of Dewsnup requires denial of the strip off in chapter 7. My brief summary of the cases follow . . .

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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...

Representing Elderly Clients in Bankruptcy – Part 2 of 3

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ABI Commission on Consumer Bankruptcy – Definition of “Tax Return” for Purposes of Nondischargeability

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By Henry E. Hildebrand, III and Sloan Hastings Section 523(a)(1) excepts from discharge taxes that are priority claims under § 507(a)(8). One of § 507(a)(8)’s provisions makes debts not dischargeable for income taxes requiring the filing of a tax return due during the three years prior to filing bankruptcy. It is this “recent years taxes nondischargeable” moniker that leads many...

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Leaders Must Take Action to Halt Foreclosure Crisis for Minorities

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July 10, 2020, the CFPB released a report examining recent trends in debt settlement and credit counseling. Many Americans struggle with their debts, especially during times of crisis. Today’s report documents changes over time in how consumers have used these debt relief options for unsecured debt. Using the Bureau’s Consumer Credit Panel (CCP), a nationally representative sample of approximately five...

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From the Editor

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By Wm. Houston Brown, United States Bankruptcy Judge (Retired) Confirmation - Trustee’s “double-dipping” objection to above-median confirmation denied. The trustee objected to confirmation based on above-median debtor deducting the IRS Local Standard housing deduction when the actual mortgage expense was on a marital residence owned by the debtor’s nonfiling spouse, while also claiming the marital adjustment for the spouse’s income...

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Turnover by Motion? How About Under Rule 6008?

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By Joseph A. Bledsoe, III (“Jody”), Chapter 13 Standing Trustee for the Eastern District of North Carolina (New Bern) In the aftermath of City of Chicago v. Fulton, discussions abound as to whether it is sufficient for a chapter 13 debtor to seek return of his vehicle, repossessed prepetition, via a motion for turnover. Most seem to believe a motion...

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