Passing of Memphis’ Beloved Judge Kennedy

The Honorable David S. Kennedy, retired Chief U. S. Bankruptcy Judge, Western District of Tennessee, passed away on November 26, 2023. Judge Kennedy held a BBA from the University of Memphis and a J.D. from University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. In 1970, upon graduating from law school, Judge Kennedy served a year as a law clerk to the Honorable Robert M. McRae, U. S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee (1970-1971); general practice of law and served as a Bankruptcy Receiver and Trustee (1971-1973); Bankruptcy Court Clerk, U. S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee (1974-1975); private practice and bankruptcy Panel Trustee (1976-1980); Adjunct Professor, University of Memphis School of Law (1981-2019); U. S. Bankruptcy Judge, Western District of Tennessee (1980-1988); and Chief U. S. Bankruptcy Judge, Western District of Tennessee (1988-2022). He was a member of the Memphis and Shelby County Bar Association and Tennessee Bar Association.

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Consumer Bankruptcy Education

The NACTT Academy offers a comprehensive community for bankruptcy professionals seeking to advance their education in consumer bankruptcy.

Judicial Year in Review 2021: Part 4 Selected Cases under Parts VIII and IX of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure

Lawrence R. Ahern, III

December 19, 2021

Introduction Following Part 1's review of the December 1, 2021 changes in the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, Part 2 and

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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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Are 401(k) Contributions Disposable Income or Not?

Cathy Moran

May 21, 2023

For a system that is supposed to rehabilitate personal finances and set debtors back on their feet, Chapter 13 nationwide is schizophrenic about on- going retirement savings, divided about whether post petition contributions to retirement accounts preclude confirmation of a Chapter 13 plan. Too many courts, in my opinion, come down barring voluntary provisions for old age for the 5...

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The “Snapshot” Rule – Part 1: The Circuits Begin to Line Up

March 14, 2021

By Lawrence R. Ahern III, Brown & Ahern (Nashville, TN) Exemptions are determined at the time the debtor files for bankruptcy. … This maxim is called the "snapshot" rule because the debtor's financial situation is frozen in time, as if someone had taken a snapshot of it.1 Recent Caselaw The First and Ninth Circuits On March 1, the Ninth Circuit...

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Meet a Newish Trustee

January 24, 2021

On October 1, 2019, John G. Jansing was appointed Chapter 13 Standing Trustee for the Southern District of Ohio at Dayton. John took over from Jeff Kellner, who retired and moved to New Hampshire. John had some great mentors: Herb Beskin in Charlottesville, Marge Burks in Cincinnati and Faye English in Columbus. John toured Herb’s office in January 2020 and...

Quick Tips to Make You a PowerPoint Master – Effective Use of PowerPoint

January 5, 2020

By Honorable Cynthia Norton & Honorable Kevin R. Anderson Create a Master Slide Template: Create a custom slide template that you can use each time you produce a new PowerPoint presentation (in PowerPoint, click View and then Slide Master). This avoids "reinventing the wheel" each time. In creating your Master Slide, use complimentary and contrasting colors to maximize readability. I...

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Fastest Way to Check Tax Refund Is ‘Where’s My Refund?’ Tool at IRS.Gov

February 17, 2019

Offering time-saving alternatives to a telephone call, the IRS reminds taxpayers they can get fast answers to their refund questions by using the “Where’s My Refund?” tool available on IRS.gov and through the IRS2Go app. The IRS issues nine out of 10 refunds in less than 21 days, and the fastest way to get a refund is to use IRS...

Fourth Circuit Overrules Own Precedent, Holds Certain Primary Residence Claims Can be Crammed Down in Chapter 13 Bankruptcies

October 20, 2019

(First published here on August 19, 2019. Used with permission.) By Daniel Cohn, Esq., Legal Department, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. General Rule: No Primary Residence Mortgage Changes The general rule in bankruptcy is that debtors cannot cram down loans secured only by mortgages on their primary residences. But wait, “what’s a cram down?” you ask. For non-bankruptcy folks, a cram...

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Fond Farewell to Danny O’Brien

The Academy

September 25, 2022

Dear Danny, We know that you would not want a tribute – it’s simply not who you are. But we couldn’t let this moment pass without acknowledging how admired and respected you are. We will all miss you and are better for having known you. You are a stellar example of what all humanity should strive to be. As a...

Did You Really Rely Upon That?

Angela M. Scolforo

September 11, 2022

The Mississippi Bankruptcy Court in The Huntington National Bank vs. Ashley Mosby, case #21-11614, adversary case #21-1028, on September 1, 2022, denied the bank’s request to declare a debt non-dischargeable because the bank did not rely upon the debtor’s false statement. In this case the Debtor purchased a 2020 Dodge Challenger, financed by the bank, without disclosing she intended to...

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