Bankruptcy filings affect businesses across America. The Bankruptcy Code is complex and difficult to navigate. But used properly, it can helpcreditors to minimize losses when a customer files bankruptcy. ...more
A recent case from the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Indiana is a strong reminder to secured creditors of the importance of filing a proof of claim. In In re Ramirez Flores, 22-10010 (Bankr....more
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina recently rejected a debtor’s argument that the 2017 Amendments to Rules 3012 and 3015 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure permitted her to avoid a...more
A proof of claim is a written statement setting out a creditor's claim and asserting its right to receive a distribution from the bankruptcy estate. It must "conform substantially" to Official Bankruptcy Form B410 (Fed. R....more
One of the first things creditors ask after filing a proof of claim is, “when do I get paid?” As with so many other legal questions, the answer is, “it depends.” Although many different factors govern payment in a bankruptcy...more
Last March, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) made several changes to the Bankruptcy Code, including those changes discussed in more detail here. As it...more
Bankruptcy is primarily about “claims.” The debtor seeks to discharge personal liability on claims, while creditors seek payment on their claims. In basic terms, a bankruptcy “claim” is a right to payment. The claim does not...more
Secured creditors have many choices when it comes to how to file a proof of claim in bankruptcies. Those choices should be weighed carefully, however, because certain choices can have important unexpected consequences that...more
You just heard that a customer has filed for bankruptcy — what do you do now? One of the first steps is to determine whether you should file a proof of claim. How will I be alerted about the bankruptcy? When a...more
The early bird gets the worm. Do your homework upon receiving notice of a bankruptcy filing, and review the account. Initial questions include: Is your debt secured or unsecured? What is the outstanding debt owed? Are there...more
As we cross the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic, we reflect on the multiple amendments to the Bankruptcy Code that have been implemented to help curb the effects of various economic shutdowns and financial...more
Chapter 13 bankruptcy provides relief only to individuals with regular income. This Chapter is most frequently used by debtors who have sufficient disposable monthly income to make some payments over time to their creditors....more
Much of the bankruptcy chatter arising from the pandemic world in which we find ourselves is now focusing on the cascade of new bankruptcy cases that are predicted to arrive soon. We have already seen the effects of closed...more
Many steps creditors take in the process of directly or indirectly originating a vehicle finance agreement are designed to protect the creditor in the event its credit risk assessment was off and the consumer defaults. A...more
The Bankruptcy Code creates a rebuttable presumption that a proof of claim is prima facie evidence of the claim's validity and amount. Courts disagree, however, over whether that presumption also applies in a proceeding to...more
The intersection of Chapter 13 bankruptcy and escrow accounts is complicated and confusing. Since 2011, various bankruptcy rule and form changes have occurred in an effort to eliminate perceived problems with Chapter 13...more
We previously provided you with some of the American Bankruptcy Institute’s Commission on Consumer Bankruptcy’s recommendations to improve the consumer bankruptcy system. As the commission noted, changes in bankruptcy law...more
In In re Dukes, No. 16-16513 (11th Cir. Dec. 6, 2018), the Eleventh Circuit held that a debtor’s mortgage obligation was not discharged, despite a proof of claim not being filed, because the mortgage was not provided for by...more
On December 11, 2017, in a case entitled In re Iliceto, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the district court’s decision, which held that Nationstar Mortgage, LLC (“Nationstar” or the “Creditor”) received notice...more
On December 1, 2017, several changes to the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure took effect. The changes involve consumer cases under Chapter 13 and affect creditors with secured claims, unsecured claims, and judgment liens...more
Creditors need to know of significant changes about to occur to the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure ("Bankruptcy Rules"). On December 1, 2017, certain amendments to the Bankruptcy Rules will become effective. This...more
Bankruptcy Rule 3002 is getting an update, which goes into effect on December 1, 2017. Creditors in a Chapter 7 (liquidation), Chapter 12 (family farmer), and Chapter 13 (individual reorganization) bankruptcy need to take...more
In Midland Funding, LLC v. Johnson, No. 16-348, 2017 BL 161314 (U.S. May 15, 2017), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a credit collection agency does not violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ("FDCPA") when it files...more
Question: I am a receiver in a fraud case where there are a lot of investors, trade creditors and secured creditors. Pursuant to my request, the court established a claims procedure and set a deadline for all creditors to...more
The Supreme Court recently issued two rulings interpreting various sections of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) in favor of creditors and certain debt buyers. The FDCPA protects debtors from unfair collection...more