Civil Remedies › Bankruptcy

In re School Specialty, Inc., Case No. 13-10125 (KJC) (Bankr. D. Del. Apr. 22, 2013)

In an age of historically low interest rates, lenders rely on fee income and other devices to enhance their returns. One of these mechanisms -- and one that can have dramatic consequences for a borrower -- is the inclusion of...more

Incentive Awards Corrupted Class Action Settlement By Undermining Adequacy Of Class Representatives And Counsel

The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit recently considered “the issue of whether class representatives and class counsel are adequate where the settlement agreement conditions payment of incentive awards on...more

What happens if I do not provide my bankruptcy attorney with the documents he requested?

If you are considering bankruptcy or are wondering what is required of a debtor who files for bankruptcy, then you will want to read this post! Contact: George E. Bourguignon, Jr. Phone: (508) 769-1359...more

Bank Did Not Alter Right To Foreclose By Agreeing To Work With The Debtor After Bankruptcy Dismissal

In Branch Banking and Trust Company v. TCI Luna Ventures, LLC, BB&T appealed a temporary injunction order prohibiting it from foreclosing on two properties owned by TCI Luna. No. 05-12-00653-CV, 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 1745...more

Rubin: Enforcement of US Judgments in England

UK Supreme Court decision confirms traditional rules on enforcement of all US judgments in England and reverses a significant liberalisation of cross-border bankruptcy law....more

Your Last Resort: The Unpaid Account

A suit on an unpaid account against your customer will likely entitle you to the principal balance plus interest and attorney fees. But a suit on an unpaid account is only as good as your customer’s ability to satisfy the...more

Ninth Circuit Rejects Class Action Settlement Providing Conditional Incentive Awards

Earlier this week, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reversed approval of a $45 million class action settlement that had been reached with three credit reporting agencies in Radcliffe v. Experian...more

Using Recievers to Collect Judgments Against Intellectual Property Assets

I have been asked to be a receiver to help collect a judgment. The judgment debtor has intellectual property assets. Plaintiff’s counsel has asked me how hard it will be to get me appointed and if I would be able to sell the...more

Cyprus Bailout: Potential Recourse for Lost Investments

Large depositors in Cyprus's two largest banks may consider international arbitration and appeals to the European courts to recover funds lost under the bailout plan....more

Eleventh Circuit Holds Mental Anguish Claim Not Bodily Injury

In its recent decision in N.H. Ins. Co. v. Hill, 2013 U.S. App. LEXIS 7204 (11th Cir. Apr. 10, 2013), the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, applying Florida law, had occasion to consider whether an...more

Maryland's highest court blocks another foreclosure defense

On March 22, 2013, the Maryland Court of Appeals clarified the meaning of an "endorsement in blank" on mortgage notes, saying that physical transfer without additional endorsement stamps gives the loan servicer standing to...more

Narrow Interpretation of "Customer" Under SIPA Is Affirmed by the Second Circuit

On February 22, 2013, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in In re Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC held that certain individuals who had invested indirectly in Bernard L. Madoff Investment...more

Drafting Errors - Routinely Cost Lenders’ Post-Bankruptcy Attorney’s Fees and Interest

Originally published in Community Banker - Spring 2013. When a bankruptcy intervenes to prevent the continuation of a restructuring or loan enforcement effort, it is too late to supplement or strengthen loan...more

MICHAEL L. JONES v WELLS FARGO BANK

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA OPINION AFFIRMING $3.1 MILLION PUNITIVE DAMAGE AWARD AGAINST WELLS...

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA MICHEAL L. JONES vs WELLS FARGO BANK OPINION Before the Court is Appellant Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.'s Appeal from a decision of the United States...more

When in Doubt, File a Motion: Trends Concerning Automatic Stay Violations

Bankruptcy filings in Virginia, and nationwide, declined significantly in 2012, and it appears the decline is continuing in 2013. However, thousands of cases continue to be filed, and it is important for practitioners to...more

A Tale Of Two Debtors: Lehman Brothers And The Availability Of Equitable Subordination In The “Dueling Debtor” Context

Originally published in the NYU Journal of Law & Business - Vol. 9:269, 2012. This article suggests that the generally accepted “offensive/defensive” standard used by bankruptcy courts to determine whether a debtor may...more

Question of the Day: What Happens to My Lawsuit in Bankruptcy?

Question: I have a personal injury lawsuit and I want to pursue it but I need to file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy....more

Non-Compete Case Law Update: The Mildly Interesting, But Useful, Edition

The new year is off to a pretty big start. We've already seen significant decisions from federal appellate courts on criminal trade secrets prosecutions and the epic Mattel/MGA "Bratz" dolls dispute. We have a looming debate...more

In re: Chapter 7 Case No. 11-24269 JUANITA STRASSFIELD, Debtor.

ORDER DENYING WELLS FARGO’S MOTION TO VACATE AUTOMATIC STAY BASED ON FILING FALSE DOCUMENTS WITH THE COURT

ORDER DENYING WELLS FARGO’S MOTION TO VACATE AUTOMATIC STAY AND PARTIALLY GRANTING RELIEF SOUGHT IN OBJECTIONS THERETO Upon the motion, dated January 24, 2012 (the “Motion”), of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (“Wells Fargo”) to...more

Bankruptcy Loses Arguments for Special Relief Under Prepetition Agreements for Environmental Liability

A recent case from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York addressed the recurring conflict between the goals of bankruptcy law, which seeks to give debtors a fresh start, and the goals of federal and...more

Obligations To Pensioners In An Insolvency: Supreme Court Clarifies The Law

The Supreme Court of Canada overturned the Ontario Court of Appeal today in what is one of the most highly-anticipated cases for the pension and insolvency bars pending before the courts. In Indalex (Re) 2013 SCC 6, the court...more

Attorney Fee Award to Debtor Is Affirmed Where Creditor's "Reasonable Reliance" Claims Have No Merit

In Heritage Pacific Financial LLC v. Machuca, 2012 DJDAR 16803 (2012), the US Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Ninth Circuit decided an interesting attorney fee case arising in the commercial litigation context. The fee...more

Focused on Franchise Law - January 2013

In This Issue: - Mark Melton Has Become Of Counsel To The Firm - Franchisor 101: Personal Liability In New York For A Franchisor's Owners - Franchisee 101: Beer & Wine Franchisees Enjoy Protection From...more

Fifth Circuit Crafts New Test For Foreign Debtor Relief

Originally published in the New York Law Journal on January 3, 2012. On Nov. 28, 2012, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in In re Vitro S.A.B. de C.V. issued a groundbreaking decision under Chapter 15 of...more

Fifth Circuit Crafts New Test For Foreign Debtor Relief

Originally published in the New York Law Journal on January 3, 2012. On Nov. 28, 2012, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in In re Vitro S.A.B. de C.V. issued a groundbreaking decision under Chapter 15 of...more