Consumer Protection › Bankruptcy

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

Bill on Bankruptcy: Trustees Sleep Easy after High Court Ruling  [Video]

May 15 (Bloomberg Law) -- Trustees of all types are sleeping easier, knowing that their liabilities for theft by a co-trustee is a debt that can be wiped out in bankruptcy as a result of a unanimous Supreme Court decision...more

Global Connection - May 2013: Ninth Circuit Strikes Down $45 Million Class Action Settlement and Issues Warning About Use of...

Citing a conflict of interest between class representatives and a class, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently invalidated a $45 million class action settlement that had previously been approved by the district court....more

Reports Of Late Payments To Credit Reporting Agencies While Bankruptcy Is Pending Do Not Violate Federal And State Fair Credit...

After filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, a consumer discovered that her credit report listed delinquent payments to a bank even though she had been current with her payments up to the date she filed. After disputing the report...more

Debt Relief and Counseling Scams

The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 instituted a credit counseling requirement for debtors filing for bankruptcy protection. Credit counseling agencies sprang up quickly on the heels of this...more

Bill on Bankruptcy: Kodak Plan Bumps the Debt, Craters Stock  [Video]

May 2 (Bloomberg Law) -- Eastman Kodak Co. filed a Chapter 11 plan that cratered the stock and bumped up the unsecured notes, although the plan may be revised to pay off second-lien debt fully in cash, as Bloomberg Law's Lee...more

Ninth Circuit Disapproves $45 Million FCRA Class Settlement Based On Conditional Incentive Award

On April 22, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reversed a district court’s order approving a $45M class action settlement under FCRA on the grounds that the conditional nature of the incentive award rendered the...more

What happens to my student loan debt in a chapter 13?

If you have student loans and are considering filing bankruptcy, specifically chapter 13, then you really want to read this post. It can make a big difference. Contact: George E. Bourguignon, Jr., Esq. Phone: (508)...more

Bankruptcy audits and their recent indefinite suspension.

In the event that you are considering filing bankruptcy and want to know the latest development in that area that will affect your case, you want to give this post a read. Contact: George E. Bourguignon, Jr, Phone: ...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

Can My Illinois Bankruptcy Attorney File a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy For Me and Get Rid of My Debt?

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy is many people’s ultimate weapon in getting rid of all their unwanted debt and starting fresh. However, in order to file for a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, you must meet the criteria set out by the bankruptcy...more

Bill on Bankruptcy: Easterbrook Turns the Tide on Student Loans  [Video]

April 18 (Bloomberg) -- Why and when U.S.-managed hedge funds can go bankrupt in the Caribbean, not in the U.S., is the first item discussed on the new bankruptcy video with Bloomberg Law's Lee Pacchia and Bloomberg...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

Home Loan Modification Help FAQs from the State Bar of California

Senate Bill 94 does not prevent an attorney from earning fees for helping consumers with home loan modifications. However, no one can accept fees up front for the work, nor can they place fees in their trust...more

Bill on Bankruptcy: Stockton May Win the Battle, Lose the War [Video]

April 2 (Bloomberg Law) -- Although Stockton, California established the right to be in a Chapter 9 municipal bankruptcy, the judge warned the city that victory may be short-lived if bondholders prove that pensioners must...more

Debtor v. Bank of America, N.A.; 2:11-ap-01983-VZ

Court Transcript on Summary Judgment Hearing

Debtor's counsel successfully defeated this summary judgment motion brought forth by Bank of America, N.A. and a successive motion in this case. A pretrial conference is scheduled for May 23, 2013. The findings of fact...more

Buchheit: Cyprus Could Need a Second Bailout  [Video]

Mar. 28 (Bloomberg Law) -- The sovereign debt crisis in Cyprus marks the fifth European nation to need a bailout in recent memory, but this crisis is unique because European Union regulators are taking the unprecedented step...more

Bill on Bankruptcy: Sigmund Freud, Marx Brothers, Bernie Madoff [Video]

March 27 (Bloomberg Law) -- There was no settlement afoot when U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff put off a hearing on an effort by the trustee for Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC to block a $410 million settlement...more

EOUST Releases Final Rules for Bankruptcy Counseling and Debtor Education

On Wednesday, March 13, 2013, the Executive Office for United States Trustees (“EOUST”) released its long-awaited final rules for pre-bankruptcy counseling and post-filing debtor education. The regulations update procedures...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

Debt settlement for you? Be very afraid.

Are you struggling with debt and considering a "debt settlement" company? In 2011, the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs called debt settlement “the single greatest consumer fraud of the year.” The Better Business...more

Filing Bankruptcy Without a Lawyer is Risky

The bankruptcy process is riddled with potential traps. An experienced lawyer is not a luxury in bankruptcy cases but a necessity....more

Aldridge v. OneWest Bank, FSB

Evidence filed with Motion for Summary Judgment

View the evidence yourself and decide whether OneWest Bank, FSB has a perfected security interest in the real property belonging to the Debtor in this case. Attorney for the Debtor is now preparing to take this case to...more

Aldridge v. OneWest Bank, FSB

Motion for Summary Judgment

Court denies Debtor's Motion for summary judgment despite OneWest Bank's pattern and practice of filing 'questionable' documents with bankruptcy courts all over the country. ...more