Cui Pro Bono?

Judge Gustafson and Daniel Tavera explore “Who Benefits” from work done in a Chapter 13 case, and they suggest that the title of this piece comes from an old-time radio show – “Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar” – one of the most popular radio shows in its day. It was a five-part show called “The Cui Bono Matter.” To hear a show, search for “Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar” on YouTube.

The Latin phrase, “cui bono?” asks the question: “who benefits?” “Pro bono” is a term often used for free legal services. If . . .

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The Honorable John P. Gustafson

United States Bankruptcy Judge, Northern District of Ohio

John P. Gustafson was appointed United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Northern District of Ohio in April 2014. In his former life, he was a bankruptcy law clerk, an associate and partner in a law firm representing both debtors and creditors, a solo bankruptcy practitioner representing debtors, banks and trustees, the staff attorney to a Chapter 13 trustee, and from October 2007 to April 2014 he was the Standing Chapter 13 Trustee for the Northern District of Ohio, Western Division. Judge Gustafson regularly writes and speaks on a variety of bankruptcy issues.

Lien Avoidance, Pre-Existing Liens and Notice

Robert G. Drummond

October 20, 2024

“Can a Debtor avoid a lien when a creditor holds a secured position that preceded the Debtor’s ownership interest . . . ? Judge Michelle Harner, . . . recently addressed this issue.

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Court Review of Fee Applications in Chapter 13: One Judge’s Perspective

August 16, 2020

By Hon. Brian Lynch, Bankruptcy Judge, WAWB “[T]he bankruptcy court has a duty to review fee applications, notwithstanding the absence of objections by the United States trustee (“UST”), creditors, or any other interested party….” In re Busy Beaver Bldg. Ctrs., Inc., 19 F.3d 833, 841 (3d Cir. 1994). In Chapter 13 cases this role is critical because in this judge’s...

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Vesting of Property in the Debtor Cuts Off Creditor’s Rights, Ninth Circuit Says

January 26, 2020

By Cathy Moran, Esq. (Redwood City, CA) Clouds of uncertainty have hovered over Chapter 13 debtors who find that they need to sell appreciated property before the case is over. Does appreciation occurring after filing go to creditors on the theory that the appreciation is property of the estate? Or does the vesting of property at confirmation entitle the debtor...

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Georgia Attorney Sanctioned in Debtor’s Seventh Chapter 13 Case

M. Jonathan Hayes

September 8, 2024

Apparently, seventh time’s the harm. In this case, aggressive lawyering’ crosses the line.

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Critical Case Comment – Playing the System – Good or Bad Thing??

Henry E. Hildebrand, III

October 8, 2023

Chapter 13 debtor that repeatedly fails to maintain payments to the mortgage servicer directly as provided in the original plan and in all amendments is not acting in good faith and has misled the court as to feasibility of the plan justifying dismissal of the case.

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2022 Bankruptcy Procedure Year in Review: Revised Statute and Rules and Selected Cases Part 5 – Supreme Court Activity

Lawrence R. Ahern, III

February 5, 2023

Introduction This series reviews developments in bankruptcy procedure during 2022. Amendments to 16 rules and one new rule took effect December 1, 2022. Many reflected changes necessitated by the Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019 (SBRA),1 and have been in place in the same or similar form on an interim basis since that legislation took effect.

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Critical Case Comment – Creditor Not Required to Dismiss Prepetition Nonbankruptcy Action

November 14, 2021

By Henry E. Hildebrand, III, Chapter 13 Standing Trustee for the Middle District of TN (Nashville) The automatic stay does not require a creditor pursuing a prepetition nonbankruptcy court action to dismiss that action once a bankruptcy case is filed; requesting continuances and attending status conferences do not constitute “continuation” of the prepetition action for purposes of the automatic stay....

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Critical Case Comment – Repeat: No Fee Splitting

Henry E. Hildebrand, III

October 23, 2022

A referral fee by retained special counsel paid to debtor’s attorney violates the prohibition in § 504 in that it constitutes an unauthorized splitting of attorney’s fees. (Williamson) In re Davis, 638 B.R. 198 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. March 31, 2022) Case Summary Four years after Lisa Davis filed her Chapter 13 petition, she was involved in an auto accident resulting...

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Chapter 13 Trustee Duties, Powers, And Limitations – Part 3

October 18, 2020

By James J. Robinson, Chief United States Bankruptcy Judge, Northern District of Alabama Can the trustee challenge the debtor’s attorney’s fee? In re Rodriguez Perez, 2018 WL 3655656 (Bankr. D.P.R. 2018). In this case, the chapter 13 trustee asked the bankruptcy court to assess the contract between the debtor and counsel under § 526-528. The trustee alleged that the contract...

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From the Editor – Avoidance

September 22, 2019

By The Honorable William Houston Brown (Retired) Tax foreclosure sale avoided as preference. Affirming the District and Bankruptcy Courts, at 571 B.R. 662 and 588 B.R. 394, the Third Circuit held that the Chapter 13 debtors could avoid a pre-petition tax foreclosure sale as a preferential transfer. The township held a properly noticed tax sale at public auction, which resulted...

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Cui Pro Bono?

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The Honorable John P. Gustafson

United States Bankruptcy Judge, Northern District of Ohio

Related Articles

Lien Avoidance, Pre-Existing Liens and Notice

Court Review of Fee Applications in Chapter 13: One Judge’s Perspective

Vesting of Property in the Debtor Cuts Off Creditor’s Rights, Ninth Circuit Says

Georgia Attorney Sanctioned in Debtor’s Seventh Chapter 13 Case

Critical Case Comment – Playing the System – Good or Bad Thing??

2022 Bankruptcy Procedure Year in Review: Revised Statute and Rules and Selected Cases Part 5 – Supreme Court Activity

Critical Case Comment – Creditor Not Required to Dismiss Prepetition Nonbankruptcy Action

Critical Case Comment – Repeat: No Fee Splitting

Chapter 13 Trustee Duties, Powers, And Limitations – Part 3

From the Editor – Avoidance

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