Consumer Bankruptcy

Trustee Has No Private Right of Action for Debtor’s Failure to Cooperate

Discharge denial is enough sanction for a debtor who doesn’t cooperate with the trustee.

Courts Split on Stripping Down Partially Commercial Mortgages

Buffalo case begs for circuit court ruling to set up a circuit conflict and cert petition.

Austin Judge Writes Treatise on Valuation of Personal Property

Lender needs more than Blue Book value to win a valuation trial.

Potential Tort Claims Are Not Estate Property

Not knowing a cause of action exists sometimes keeps a tort claim out of the estate.

Lower Courts Split on Nondischargeability of Education-Related Loans

New York judges narrowly define ‘educational benefit’ to discharge student loans.

Ninth Circuit Says 1980s Supreme Court Opinion Out of Step with Plain Meaning

High court should revisit Kelly v. Robinson from 1986, circuit court says.
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Courts Split on Chapter 13 Debtors’ Rights under Section 108(b)

Chattanooga judge takes pity on a debtor about to lose her home in a tax sale.

Courts Split on Allowing Individual Debtors to Retain Wages on Conversion from 11 to 7

Question left open in Harris v. Viegelahn decided against debtor in chapter 11.