Two Supreme Court Decisions with Effects on Bankruptcy Practice

By William Houston Brown, Adviser, Academy for Consumer Bankruptcy Education, Inc. and Lawrence R. Ahern, III, Brown and Ahern (Nashville, TN)

In two February opinions, the Supreme Court addressed issues that appear in bankruptcy cases, one dealing with a common practice of entering nunc pro tunc orders and the other affecting determination of property rights under state law.

In a per curiam decision February 24, 2020, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Juan, Puerto Rico v. Acevedo Feliciano, et al., 2020 WL 871715 (Feb. 24 . . .

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A Few of Our Favorite (Chapter 13) Things

December 20, 2020

(To be sung to the tune of Julie Andrews’ version of “These Are a Few of My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music) Raindrops on roses, and whiskers on kittens, Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens– Hey, wait a minute, that’s not what I mean; It’s time that we focus on Chapter Thirteen. We’ve been Trustees for so...

Dollar Amount Increases in Bankruptcy Code

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By William Houston Brown, United States Bankruptcy Judge, Retired; Editor/Adviser, The Academy On April 1, 2019, an increase takes effect in those dollar amounts in the Bankruptcy Code that are subject to adjustment every three years.1 The following increases have significance in everything from the eligibility maximums for filing under Chapters 12 and 13 to the debtor’s exemptions. Relevant Official...

A Guide to the Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019 – Revised June 2022

Paul W. Bonapfel

November 9, 2022

Click here to see PDF – SBRA Guide June 2022 Compilation FINAL Click here to see PDF – SBRA May-June Supplement Final

Critical Case Comment – How Many Cats?

Henry E. Hildebrand, III

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Even though the Chapter 13 debtor’s 36 cats were property of the estate, the county animal control office could pursue possession of the cats and resulting disposition (by way of adoption). (Hagenau) In re Karen Mitchell-Smith, 2022 WL 2195466 (Bankr. N.D. Ga. June 17, 2022) Case Summary Sometime in 2021, Henry County Animal Control took possession of 36 cats that...

Conflicting Interpretations: A Chapter 13 Trustee’s Compensation After Pre-Confirmation Dismissal or Conversion – Part 2 of 3

Brittani Bushman

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(Used with expressed permission from the MI Bankruptcy Journal and the Steven W. Rhodes Consumer Bankruptcy Conference) III. Contrasting the Majority and Minority Interpretations The majority and minority approaches differ as to (1) the interpretation of the use of "collect" in § 586(e); (2) the operative effect of parallel provisions in chapters 11 and 12 on the interpretation of §...

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Critical Case Comment

June 16, 2019

By Henry E. Hildebrand, III, Chapter 13 Standing Trustee for the Middle District of Tennessee Mortgage creditor may not withdraw a notice of fees, costs, and charges filed in a case after the supplement to the claim has been challenged without court approval; the allowance of such a notice will not be permitted where a state statute forbids it. Quicken...

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Sixth Circuit Selects Douglas L. Lutz as Bankruptcy Judge for the Eastern District of Kentucky

The Academy

April 28, 2024

The Circuit Executive for the Sixth Circuit announces that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has selected Douglas L. Lutz as Bankruptcy Judge for the Eastern District of Kentucky to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Bankruptcy Judge Tracey N. Wise. He took the oath of office on April 19, 2024.

Critical Case Comment – Although a Mess, Month-to-Month Lease Assumed

Henry E. Hildebrand, III

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A month-to-month residential lease can be assumed and defaults cured in a Chapter 13 plan. (Rucker) In re Mattoon, 2022 WL 2080184 (Bankr. E.D. Tenn. June 9, 2022) Case Summary Sarah Mattoon executed a lease with Open Doors in September of 2019. Several of Ms. Mattoon’s family members lived with her in the rented apartment including her “companion” and her...

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Meet the New Trustee

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Jack N. Zaharopoulos was appointed as the Chapter 13 Standing Trustee for the Middle District of Pennsylvania on May 1, 2021. He succeeded Charles DeHart after his retirement. After graduating from Marquette Law School in Milwaukee in 2002, Zaharopoulos worked at a general practice firm, doing debtor and creditor bankruptcy work, family law, and even some criminal cases. After gaining...

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Mark C. Leffler

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In this series of articles, I’ve described how my firm developed a litigation practice area to generate revenue that isn’t dependent on new bankruptcy cases. As debtor attorneys around the country wait for bankruptcy cases to return to pre-COVID levels, I hope these articles might inspire others to create income for themselves while obtaining valuable remedies for their clients. Today,...

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