What Does “Following” Mean?

Section in 109(g)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code bars a debtor from filing a new case for 180 days if the Debtor voluntarily dismisses a case “following” a motion for relief. Not surprisingly, courts are split on how they interpret the word “following” as used in § 109(g)(2). After all, the word “following” is not limited to one definition, or even one part of speech for that matter – it can be used a preposition, a noun, a pronoun, an adjective, or a verb. There are several ways that courts have interpreted the term in connection with § 109 . . .

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Kara K. Gendron

Mott & Gendron Law (Harrisburg, PA)

Kara Gendron has been practicing bankruptcy law exclusively since 2001 and focuses her practice on representing individuals, farmers, and small business owners in bankruptcy cases. She lives in Central Pennsylvania with her husband, four children, and assorted pets, including dogs, goats, and chickens. Kara is a member of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NACBA) where she serves as the 3rd Circuit Community Leader, a
Director of the Pennsylvania Middle District Bankruptcy Bar Association, past President of the MDBBA, and is a board member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Review and Certifying Board. Ms. Gendron is a bankruptcy court certified mediator and taught bankruptcy law for several years at the Widener School of Law. Kara is well known for her pro bono work and is a frequent presenter at bankruptcy law seminars, including NACBA, PBI and the MDBBA. She is admitted to practice law before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of the United States of America.

EDUCATION:

B.A., University of Pennsylvania, 1997
J.D., Dickinson School of Law, 2001

CREDENTIALS:

Board Certified in Consumer Bankruptcy Law, American Board of Certification
Bankruptcy Court Certified Mediator, Middle District Bankruptcy Court

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

Board Member, Pennsylvania Bar Association Review and Certifying Board
Director and Past President, Middle District Bankruptcy Bar Association
Pennsylvania Bar Association
Federal Bar Association
National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys
National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees

Critical Case Comment

November 3, 2019

By Henry E. Hildebrand, III, Standing Chapter 13 Trustee for the Middle District of TN (Nashville) A creditor may request an extension of time to file a claim under Rule 3002, F.R.B.P. only where the conditions of that rule have been fully satisfied; the filing of a defective list of creditors does not permit an extension of the time for...

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New Fellows of American College of Bankruptcy

December 15, 2019

By William H. Brown, Editor and Advisor, Academy for Consumer Bankruptcy Education, Inc. (d/b/a ConsiderChapter13.org) Members of the Academy and regular speakers at NACTT’s annual seminars were recently elected as Fellows of the American College of Bankruptcy, representing recognition by the College of the important contributions by those in the consumer bankruptcy system. Newly elected Fellows, who are to be...

Bankruptcy Court Finds Jurisdiction to Hear Discharge-Injunction Violation Class Action

May 9, 2021

By Lawrence R. Ahern, III, Brown & Ahern (Nashville, TN) Introduction The Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of New York ruled last month, in a case styled In re Ajasa,1 that bankruptcy courts have subject matter jurisdiction to consider nationwide class actions that allege contempt of discharge injunctions. The broader effect of the opinion is that a discharge injunction...

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Critical Case Comment – Siegel v. Fitzgerald

Henry E. Hildebrand, III

June 19, 2022

Congress’ enactment of differing fees for U.S. Trustee states and Bankruptcy Administrator states violated the uniformity provision of the Bankruptcy Clause of Article I of the Constitution. (Sotomayer) Siegel v. Fitzgerald, 2022 WL 1914098 (S.Ct. June 6, 2022) Case Summary In 2008, the retail chain, Circuit City Stores, filed a Chapter 11 petition. In 2010, Circuit City’sliquidating plan was confirmed...

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From the Editor – Claims

October 20, 2019

By The Honorable William Houston Brown (Retired) Debtor’s objection to tax claim for being “too low” was rejected. Noting that the debtor could not benefit prior to distribution to creditors, in event trustee found assets for distribution, debtor’s objection to claim filed by tax creditor on basis that claim was “too low” was rejected. “The debtor comes last, not first,...

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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...

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TFS Bill Pay Announces New Attorney Report Center

November 21, 2021

TFS Bill Pay has launched a new powerful tool to help you succeed; the Attorney Report Center located in your AttorneyPortal. In the current bankruptcy environment, it is absolutely essential that your firm receives all of the compensation for the valuable work it has already done. TFS now provides you with pre-set, real-time reports to confirm your clients’ payments, which...

Remember, Landlords Are Sacred Cows in Bankruptcy

June 27, 2021

By M. Jonathan Hayes, Resnik Hayes Moradi LLP (Los Angeles, CA) (Reprinted with permission. Originally published by the Los Angeles Daily Journal on May 20, 2021) We have been getting a lot of calls recently as you might expect from distressed small businesses. The “free” government money is starting to run out and panic is setting in. The potential client...

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Critical Case Comment – Prime vs. Riskless Treasury Rate

Henry E. Hildebrand, III

May 28, 2023

In determining the appropriate “present value” factor to be added to the payment of a secured claim in a Chapter 12, the Court should look at the “riskless” treasury rate rather than the “prime rate” before enhancing it with a risk factor. (Ebinger) Farm Credit Services of America v. Topp, 2022 WL 2981590 (S.D. Iowa, July 19, 2022) Case Summary...

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Chapter 13 Trustee Duties, Powers, and Limitations

October 4, 2020

By James J. Robinson, Chief United States Bankruptcy Judge, Northern District of Alabama Who appoints the standing chapter 13 trustee? The United States Trustee appoints the standing chapter 13 trustee for each judicial district where the UST system is in place, while the court appoints the standing chapter 13 trustee under the Bankruptcy Administrator program. See 11 U.S.C. § 1302...

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