United States Trustee Challenges Practice of Filing Time-Barred Claims

By William Houston Brown, Academy Editor and Advisor

In complaints filed by the United States Trustee, various theories were alleged concerning the practices of defendants, which involved the filing of proofs of claim for debts that would otherwise be time barred under applicable nonbankruptcy law. In granting the defendants’ motion to dismiss in large part, the court made numerous findings. As to the complaints of improper signatures to the proofs of claim, the court found that the fixing of a signature to a proof of claim by a person who had no role in the preparation of that . . .

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2nd Circuit Joins Bandwagon

The Academy

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On May 9th, the 2nd Circuit issued an opinion in Soussis v. Macco joining other Circuits holding that the Bankruptcy Code does not permit a Chapter 13 Trustee to retain the percentage fees collected on payments that a chapter 13 debtor made pre-confirmation in accordance with 26 U.S.C. §586 but, upon dismissal prior to confirmation of the plan, is obligated to return the fee to the debtor, as required by § 1326.

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“The headline was ‘Are your clients really stupid?’ . . .The answer isn’t what you’re tempted to respond.” The second in a 3-part series on treating clients as we would want to be treated. More on this topic: Why Listening Is a Bankruptcy Lawyer’s Superpower

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Done with Taxes This Year? Use 2018 Return to Get 2019 Withholding Right

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Millions of taxpayers filed a 2018 tax return in the last few weeks, making now a prime time for everyone to consider whether their tax situation came out as they expected. If it didn’t, they can use their recently finished 2018 return and the IRS Withholding Calculator to do a Paycheck Checkup and adjust their withholding. Checking and then adjusting...

From the Editor – Claims

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Subchapter V Update

Paul W. Bonapfel

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Herbert L. Beskin

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Employment Law Alphabet Soup

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Word to the Wise: Failure to Properly Notice a Creditor Is Bad!

M. Jonathan Hayes

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When the debtor fails to properly schedule a creditor in an asset case, is the now non-dischargeable debt under § 523(a)(3) limited to the amount the creditor would have received had it filed a proof of claim?

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The Effect of “Success” (or the Lack of It) on Attorneys’ Fees – Part 1: Judicial and Legislative Background

Lawrence R. Ahern, III

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Introduction In In re Village Apothecary, Inc.,1 the Sixth Circuit last month reduced an attorney's fees by half, where the professional's services were not "successful." The results obtained (or, actually, the lack of results) justified cutting the fees of attorneys for a Chapter 7 trustee by 50%. Why It Matters to Chapter 13 People This analysis of the implications of...

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