A Brief Guide to Analyzing the Fairness of Student Loan Discrimination*

By Samuel Dart, Attorney Representing Chapter 13 Trustee David M. Howe, Tacoma, Washington

As student loan debt continues to grow, so too does the frequency of attempts to deal with this nondischargeable millstone in a chapter 13 plan. Although judges across the country seem more interested in challenging the standards for hardship discharge of student loans, especially those set forth in the Brunner test, the fact remains that most debtors are not eligible to discharge student loan debt in bankruptcy. This reality has led to debtors attempting to separately classify student loans from other unsecured creditors in a . . .

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.

Critical Case Comment–IRS and the “Innocent Spouse”

Henry E. Hildebrand, III

May 14, 2023

Bankruptcy courts lack jurisdiction to apply “innocent spouse” relief to determine the amount of a tax claim to be paid in a Chapter 13 case. (Taddonio) In re Geary, 2023 WL 2996720 (Bankr. W.D. Pa. April 19, 2023) Case Summary When a taxpayer signs a joint tax return with their spouse, the Internal Revenue Code is very clear. Both signatories...

Members

From the Editor – Lien Issues

September 15, 2019

By The Honorable William Houston Brown (Retired) Manufactured home did not become accession to real property. The creditor holding security interest in a manufactured home objected to confirmation, on the basis that § 1322(b)(2)’s anti-modification provision prevented bifurcation of its claim into secured and unsecured parts. The Eighth Circuit noted that the Bankruptcy Code does not resolve the issue of...

Members

When Wishes Come True

September 19, 2021

By Helen M. Morris, Chapter 13 Standing Trustee for the Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia Like most trustees, my case load is down, and I’ve been actively encouraging new filings. Perhaps too enthusiastically as certain new cases reflect. A bankruptcy filer who has been dormant for months filed a new case recently. Schedule A is clearly marked with...

Members

Critical Case Comment – But It’s a GOLF CART!

Henry E. Hildebrand, III

November 20, 2022

A golf cart is a motor vehicle and may be exempted by a Chapter 7 debtor under state law. (Loyd) In re Smith, 2022 WL 3023209 (Bankr. W.D. Okla. July 28, 2022) Case Summary Bobby Smith filed a Chapter 7 petition and listed his golf cart as an exempt asset under Oklahoma law because it was a “motor vehicle.” The...

Members

The Extent of 362(c)(3)’s Stay Termination: Bankruptcy Court Adds an Argument to the Debate

June 28, 2020

By Lawrence R. Ahern III, Brown & Ahern (Nashville, TN) Introduction In In re Dao,1 Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Klein on May 11 ruled on an issue on which the circuits are split and certiorari is pending.2 Judge Klein agreed with the majority view that, under paragraph 362(c)(3) of the Bankruptcy Code, the automatic stay terminated 30 days after the order...

Members

Eviction and Bankruptcy Remedies

August 30, 2020

By Wayne Silver, Wayne Silver Law (Redwood City, CA) The 120-day CARES Act eviction moratorium expired on Saturday, July 25. At the expiration of the moratorium, landlords covered by the federal moratorium could begin serving eviction notices, and begin filing eviction lawsuits 30 days thereafter. That means on Monday, August 24, 2020 the moratorium on evictions expired, while we face...

Members

ABI Commission on Consumer Bankruptcy – Collateral Repossessed Pre-Petition

October 6, 2019

By Henry E. Hildebrand, III, Chapter 13 Standing Trustee (Nashville, TN) One of the most difficult situations faced by a debtor and debtors’ counsel is the repossession of important collateral securing a debt owed to a creditor. These items, such as automobiles, furniture, boats, and mowers which have been pledged to a creditor are important – often critical – to...

Members

Seventh Circuit Agrees with Ninth and Tenth

The Academy

May 19, 2024

In Marshall v Johnson, 2004 WL 1953490 (7th Cir. May 3, 2024), the Seventh Circuit agreed with the holdings from the Ninth and Tenth Circuits, In re Doll, 57 F.4th 1129 (10th Cir. 2023), and In re Evans, 69 F.4th 1101 (9th Cir. 2023). Under these decisions, Chapter 13 trustees may not retain fees when the case is dismissed prior to confirmation.

Meet a Brand Spankin’ New Trustee

The Academy

August 7, 2022

William F. Jaworski, Jr. - Bill - was appointed Chapter 13 Standing Trustee for the District of Delaware on April 1, 2022. Jaworski has very large shoes to fill as he is taking over for Michael Joseph upon his well-deserved retirement. Jaworski was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. As a hometown boy, he didn’t venture too far away...

Members

Yet Another Arrow in the Quiver of the “Less Than Honest Debtor”?

January 6, 2019

By Academy Staff In July of 2016 ConsiderChapter13.org posted an article, “Another Arrow in the Quiver of the ‘Less Than Honest Debtor’.” That article addressed a decision of the Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee in In re Hurt, 2015 WL 9592064 (Bankr. E.D. Tn. 2015), in which the Court overruled the Trustee’s objection to exemptions. In Hurt,...

Members