A Primer on Drafting Adversary Complaints, Counterclaims, Cross-Claims, and Third-Party Complaints

By the Honorable Guy R. Humphrey, United States Bankruptcy Judge, Southern District of Ohio

Due to the fact that the bankruptcy process, particularly the consumer bankruptcy practice, is more akin to an administrative process than an adversarial litigation practice, consumer bankruptcy practitioners generally have little experience and training in drafting adversary complaints and other claims for relief. In light of the Supreme Court’s decisions in Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544 (2007) and Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662 (2009), drafting complaints, counterclaims, cross-claims, and third-party complaints . . .

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.

From the Editor

September 20, 2020

By The Honorable William Houston Brown (Retired) Debt buyer was debt collector under FDCPA. The Ninth Circuit agreed with the Third Circuit that an entity purchasing consumer debts qualified as a debt collector under the Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1692(a)(6), even though it outsourced the actual debt collection activity. McAdory v. M.N.S. & Assoc., LLC, 952 F.3d 1089 (9th Cir....

Members

Critical Case Comment – Frontloading Attorney’s Fees

Henry E. Hildebrand, III

August 6, 2023

Nothing prohibits the confirmation of a Chapter 13 plan which frontloads the payment of attorney’s fees ahead of payments to secured and other creditors.

Members

Passing of Sitting Chief Judge

The Academy

December 3, 2023

District of Idaho Announces Passing of Chief Bankruptcy Judge Joseph M. Meier

Tell the Story

May 16, 2021

By Cathy Moran, Esq., (Redwood City, CA) Have I got a story for you. A rousing tale of schedules, hearings, frustrations, and ultimately fortunes, traceable to a good story in the fee application. Maybe that's a bit overblown, but I'm telling this story with a purpose. Good stories lead to fair compensation for bankruptcy attorneys. Fee applications aren't hard Filing...

Members

Electronic Filing Scam Targets Attorneys – NEW INFORMATION

The Academy

November 10, 2024

You may have seen notices that courts across the country have received reports of suspicious emails going to attorneys and law firms purporting to be NEFs. These emails are fraudulent and did not come from the Court. Please do not click on any links or files contained within these emails. Please note that a few courts have reported the phishing emails...

Small Business Chapter 11 Update, Where Are We Eight Months In?

November 22, 2020

By M. Jonathan Hayes We are now eight months into the Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019, which took effect in February. The act attempted to establish a cheaper, quicker route for small businesses to reorganize under new Subchapter V of the bankruptcy code. Here are a few of my observations over the past several months. First, some small businesses...

Generative A.I. – Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid

Naliko Markel

October 22, 2023

“ . . . next leap: Generative A.I. learns everything there is to know about you from your public social media presence and crafts phishing attacks unique to YOU.”

Members

The Dangers of Extending a Plan Too Long – Or Alternatively, Why Take as Little Time as Possible

April 26, 2020

By Joseph A. Bledsoe, III, Chapter 13 Standing Trustee for the Eastern District of North Carolina (New Bern) Under section 1113(b)(1)(C) of the CARES Act, upon the request of a debtor, and after notice and a hearing, a plan confirmed may be extended up to 7 years from the date the first payment under the original plan came due if...

Members

We Love You Dan (“Stingray”) Brunner!!

October 1, 2023

Dan grew up in Spokane, Washington, and graduated from Gonzaga University in 1966 with a BA in political science. After finishing his undergraduate degree, Dan entered active duty in the United States Army. He was stationed in Korea from 1967 to 1968 where he commanded a HAWK missile battery. Dan retired from the United States Army in 1994 with the...

Too Little, Too Late: Lost Lease and Last-Minute Bankruptcy

Henry E. Hildebrand, III

October 13, 2024

Chapter 13 debtor who has been adjudicated by a state court to be in default of a residential lease does not get the benefit of the automatic stay to halt an eviction when the debtor fails to comply with all of the requirements of § 362(b)(22).

Members