Member Articles

“For the past seven months, the National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees has hosted and participated in a working group (the “Working Group”) comprised of individuals from the financial services industry. . . . The Working Group’s stated purpose was to discuss the issues, concerns and challenges involved with providing debtors in consumer bankruptcy cases with the ability to make online post-petition payments to creditors holding secured claims and access to online account information related to such claims.”

Continuing your summer reading, Judge Norton shares with subscribers a three-part outline on zealous advocacy followed by a multi-part Addendum of case summaries broken into various categories. We believe you will enjoy this resource. This week we offer the second group of cases from the Addendum finishing up those dealing with behavior. Part 1 - History of Zealous Advocacy Part 2 - How Have Courts Discussed “Zealous Advocacy”? Part 3 - Practical Takeaways Part 4 – Case Summaries – Behavior

Post-petition use of a “kill switch” disabling debtor’s leased automobile after receiving oral notice by the debtor that he had filed Chapter 13 constituted a willful violation of the automatic stay justifying the award of damages and, when egregious, punitive damages.

Continuing your summer reading, Judge Norton shares with subscribers a three-part outline on zealous advocacy followed by a multi-part Addendum of case summaries broken into various categories. We believe you will enjoy this resource. This week we offer the first group of cases from the Addendum. These cases deal with behavior. Part 1 - History of Zealous Advocacy Part 2 - How Have Courts Discussed “Zealous Advocacy”? Part 3 - Practical Takeaways

Consumer bankruptcy lawyers are seeing clients with solar panel debt. In Part 1, Mark Leffler provides a background for multi-district class action litigation in Minnesota and other enforcement actions by AG’s in Minnesota and Virginia concerning financing of rooftop solar panels. This, Part 2, examines legal issues underlying the fraud claims in the litigation.

Failure to hold the debt before filing proof of claim may lead to disallowance of claim.

Consumer bankruptcy lawyers are seeing clients with solar panel debt. In Part 1 of his article, Mark Leffler provides a background for multi-district class action litigation in Minnesota and other enforcement actions by Attorneys General in Minnesota and Virginia concerning the financing of rooftop solar panels. Part 2 of his article will appear next week, and in that Part the author examines legal issues underlying the fraud claims in the litigation.

Last week we published the second Part of Judge Norton’s article on Zealous Advocacy. Part I discussed the History of Zealous Advocacy, and Part II examined how courts have discussed zealous advocacy. Part III identifies Practical Takeaways from the article. In the following weeks, we will post Judge Norton’s extensive Addendum of reported cases on Zealous Advocacy.

Last week we published the first Part of Judge Norton’s article on Zealous Advocacy. Part I discussed the History of Zealous Advocacy, and Part II examines how courts have discussed zealous advocacy. Part III next week will look at Practical Takeaways from the article. In the following week, we will post Judge Norton’s extensive Addendum of reported cases on Zealous Advocacy.

Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 3002.1 was amended, effective December 1, 2025, and judicial decisions on the amended Rule are being reported. This article summarizes several significant decisions that have been reported since the first of 2026.