Measuring Success in Chapter 13: Successful Dismissals and Conversions

A. Introduction

When should we regard dismissal or conversion of a chapter 13 as an unsuccessful bankruptcy? The arguments are familiar.Chapter 13 is the easiest, quickest, and cheapest way to stop foreclosures, repossessions, and garnishments by creditors.Desperate debtors can file a chapter 13 case without schedules, statements, or a plan and buy themselves a stay for a short period. And if they change their mind, chapter 13 debtors have an absolute right to dismiss or convert their case. But academic critics argue that such a definition of success is weak and lacks reliable . . .

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lynch
United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Western District of Washington, Tacoma Division

Honorable Brian Lynch was sworn in as a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Western District of Washington, Tacoma Division, on June 1, 2010. He served as Chief Bankruptcy Judge of the District from October 1, 2014 to September 30, 2019., and served as Chair of the Conference of 9th Circuit Chief Bankruptcy Judges in 2017. Prior to his appointment, he served as the Standing Chapter 13 Trustee for the Portland Division of the District of Oregon, and as the Standing Chapter 12 Trustee for the District of Oregon. And in 2018, he was the recipient of the National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees Hon. Ralph Kelley Award.

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