Atlanta Debtor Attorney/Firm Sanctioned

“Because Kakol’s representation of Debtor in this case fell drastically below the standard for acceptable representation of individual debtors in chapter 13 cases as discussed in greater detail below, he and the Kakol Firm will be sanctioned as follows: (1) they will be required to disgorge any and all fees paid in connection with his representation of Debtor in this case and pay such fees to U.S. Bank; (2) they will be ordered to reimburse U.S. Bank for all legal fees and costs incurred in this case in the amount of $5,090.00; (3) Kakol will be required to attend fifteen (15) hours of continuing legal education focused on consumer bankruptcy within the next six months in addition to any bar requirements; (4) Kakol and the Kakol Firm will be prohibited from using associate or appearance counsel without appropriate supervision to insure that such counsel is sufficiently familiar with the matter to effectively represent clients before this Court; and (5) Kakol and the Kakol Firm shall be subject to a further sanction of up to $500.00 for each instance in the future in which Kakol, attorneys for the Kakol Firm, or appearance counsel appearing on behalf of the Kakol Firm are unprepared or unable to properly handle a debtor’s business before the Court.”

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From the Editor – Confirmation

March 8, 2020

By The Honorable William Houston Brown (Retired) Equal monthly payments and attorney fees. The secured creditor objected to confirmation on basis that the plan improperly deferred its payments until debtor’s attorney fees were paid, and the District Court affirmed confirmation that delayed start of secured equal monthly payments for 21 months. The opinion examines three approaches to the issue: 1)...

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From the Editor – Claims

June 21, 2020

By The Honorable William Houston Brown (Retired) Recordation of divorce judgment created secured claim. In Chapter 13 case, the debtor objected to former spouse’s secured claim, with pre-bankruptcy divorce judgment awarding former marital home to the husband but ordering equalization payments to the wife. No security was mentioned in the judgment, but its recordation created a lien under Wisconsin law....

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Planning for Attorney Disability or Death

Pat E. Morgenstern-Clarren

November 26, 2023

Although this article was originally published in 2009, Judge Morgenstern-Clarren took a fresh look just this week. It is just as relevant today as the day she first wrote it

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Will Getting Home Mortgage Forbearance Save Your Client’s Home?

April 19, 2020

By Cathy Moran, Esq. (Redwood City, CA) Mortgage forbearance for homeowners, shout the headlines. No need to make a house payment. Borrowers who can’t make this month’s mortgage payment were thrown a lifeline of sorts in the coronavirus rescue package. Only it’s probably not the help they think it is. And the lifeline may be far more fragile than they...

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The Neglected Non-Dischargeability Provision

Cathy Moran

June 11, 2023

Hands up everyone who has encountered a claim that a debt is non-dischargeable by reason of § 523(a)(14). That’s what I thought: nada, or next thing to it. Despite watching for it, I hadn’t seen one ‘til this year when AmEx filed an adversary in a case in which I was peripherally involved. My copy of Collier’s code doesn’t comment...

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2022 Bankruptcy Procedure Year in Review: Revised Statute and Rules and Selected Cases – Part 1 Amended Statute and Rules Amendments Not Related to SBRA

Lawrence R. Ahern, III

November 6, 2022

Introduction This year sees changes in the Code and numerous new and amended Rules of BankruptcyProcedure that are to be effective December 1. The statutory amendments and the changes in therules that do not relate to cases under subchapter V of Chapter 11 are summarized below. They will be followed, by a digest of other new and amended rule and...

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Critical Case Comment – Sec. 328 vs. Sec. 327 Not Exactly a Smack Down

Henry E. Hildebrand, III

July 17, 2022

A referral fee by retained special counsel paid to debtor’s attorney violates the prohibition in § 504 in that the referral fee 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...

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The Proposed Consumer Bankruptcy Reform Act: A Political Analysis

January 17, 2021

By Kevin M. Ball, Eastern Michigan University Senator Warren and Representative Nadler introduced identical legislation entitled the Consumer Bankruptcy Report Act (“CBRA”) late in the 116th Congress. Although the bills died without action at the conclusion of that term, the sponsors have indicated their intent to reintroduce them in the 117th Congress. The legislation would bring major changes to the...

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Volunteering is Great But Not If You Expected Payment

Henry E. Hildebrand, III

June 9, 2024

Although Acevedo does not prohibit the court from entering an order ex post facto, to obtain an order authorizing employment of a professional effective from the date of filing application, must be based upon compelling and unusual circumstances.

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