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Bankruptcy Court Issues New Decision on Recognition of Foreign Proceedings Under Chapter 15

The U.S. bankruptcy court in New York recently issued an important decision under Chapter 15 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code concerning the restructuring of U.S. law governed debt in a foreign insolvency proceeding. In re Mega...more

Court Must Sign Off on Post-Petition Settlement to Survive Discharge

Todd Christenson filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy in November 2010. In February 2011, a federal bankruptcy court in Minnesota discharged Christenson’s debts and, later the same year, closed the case. But almost 15 years...more

The Barton Doctrine: Suit Against Receiver Did Not Require Court Permission

The Barton doctrine provides that a court-appointed receiver cannot be sued absent “leave of court by which he was appointed.” Barton v. Barbour, 104 U.S. 126, 127 (1881). “An action against a receiver without court...more

Appeals Court Rules on Police Power and the Automatic Stay

The Bankruptcy Code provides immediate and automatic protection to a debtor upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition, staying legal claims and debt collection efforts against a debtor—subject to certain exceptions. See 11...more

The Ponzi Scheme Presumption in Avoidance Action Litigation

Section 548 of the bankruptcy code authorizes a trustee, debtor, or other appropriate party to avoid actual and constructive fraudulent transfers that occurred prepetition. In order to prove that a transfer was an actual...more

Court Rules Mere Conduit Defense Not Suitable for a Motion to Dismiss

At the motion to dismiss stage, courts usually won’t consider affirmative defenses. This issue arose recently in a preferential transfer case, where a defendant sought to dismiss a complaint by arguing it was a mere conduit,...more

Eighth Circuit Issues Decision on Involuntary Bankruptcy Case and Damages Arising from a Bad Faith Filing

An appeals court has issued an insightful decision on the availability of damages when an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed in bad faith. See Stursberg v. Morrison Sund PLLC, No. 23-1186, 2024 U.S. App. LEXIS 20286...more

Individuals Charged with Bankruptcy Crimes Are Connected to Controversial Mayor of Dolton, Illinois

Under federal law, a debtor may be criminally prosecuted for various kinds of misconduct in connection with a bankruptcy case, including concealing assets, falsifying information, embezzlement, or bribery. See 18 U.S.C. §§...more

Courts Split Over Requirement for Chapter 15 Jurisdiction in the U.S.

To file bankruptcy in the U.S., a debtor must reside in, have a domicile or a place of business in, or have property in the United States. 11 U.S.C. § 109(a). In cross border chapter 15 cases, courts have considered whether...more

Popularity of Subchapter V Bankruptcy Filings

In 2019, Congress enacted the Small Business Reorganization Act, which created subchapter V within chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. Congress’ intent was to create a more cost-efficient and streamlined restructuring process...more

Seventh Circuit Addresses Scope of Section 546(e)

We have previously blogged about the section 546(e) defense to a trustee’s avoidance powers under the Bankruptcy Code. A trustee has broad powers to set aside certain transfers made by debtors before bankruptcy. See 11 U.S.C....more

Joining Other Circuits, the Fifth Circuit Reverses Lower Court and Approves Sale of Preferential Transfer Claims to...

The Fifth Circuit recently ruled that a debtor can sell a preferential transfer action under Bankruptcy Code section 363 to a purchaser that is not a representative of the bankruptcy estate. Briar Cap. Working Fund Cap.,...more

Bankruptcy Court Provides an Object Lesson to Practitioners: Return Your Client’s Calls

Judge Jacqueline P. Cox recently found that three Illinois attorneys violated their ethical obligations by failing to return their client’s phone calls. She thus ordered the attorneys to return half of their...more

Second Circuit Clarifies Tribune in New Decision

We have previously blogged about the section 546(e) defense to a trustee’s avoidance powers under the Bankruptcy Code. A trustee has broad powers to set aside certain transfers made by debtors before bankruptcy. See 11...more

Second Circuit Rejects Former Real Estate Mogul's Appeal

After years of litigation involving state, federal, Irish, and (to a lesser extent) Swiss law; transfers of numerous assets, including Ireland’s priciest-personal residence; a jury trial; and extensive post-trial briefing,...more

An Update on the Ongoing Fight Over the United States Trustee’s Fees

The United States Trustee Program is responsible for the efficient administration of bankruptcy cases throughout most of the country. Since 1986, the Trustee Program has covered all states except North Carolina and Alabama,...more

Ex-Con Held in Civil Contempt but Escapes Incarceration (For Now)

Bankruptcy Judge James J. Tancredi appeared to give a chapter 7 debtor one last chance to avoid being incarcerated. In adversary proceedings arising out of the bankruptcy of a thrice-convicted former stockbroker, In re...more

Avoidance Actions Can Be Sold in Section 363 Sales

An appeals court ruled recently that chapter 5 avoidance actions are property of a debtor’s bankruptcy estate that can be sold in section 363 sales. In re Simply Essentials, LLC, No. 22-2011, 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 21814 (8th...more

8/30/2023  /  Appeals , Bankruptcy Code , Chapter 7 , Debtors

Tenth Circuit Holds that Sovereign Immunity Does Not Limit Section 544 Claim

Section 544(b)(1) of the Bankruptcy Code enables a trustee to step into the shoes of a creditor and avoid a transfer “of an interest of the debtor in property” that an unsecured creditor could avoid under applicable state...more

Court Holds Plan Administrator Didn’t Have a Conflict in Bringing a Lawsuit Against Preferred Shareholders

Sometimes we blog about cases with unusual fact patterns. The cases don’t stand for any overriding legal principle. They might not have application beyond the parties to them. But they can make for good reading, giving...more

New Ruling on Remedy for Disparity in Bankruptcy Fees

We have blogged a few times about the Supreme Court’s decision in Siegel v. Fitzgerald and its implications. In Siegel, the Supreme Court invalidated the disparity in debtor-paid fees prevailing in most of 2018 between the 88...more

The Unique Case of Bittrex

On May 8, cryptocurrency platform Bittrex filed for chapter 11 in Delaware. Bittrex’s first day filings emphasize that, unlike many other crypto filings over the past year, this case is not a “free fall” bankruptcy. In...more

Late Appeals and Excusable Neglect: A Curious Case Where a Court Gives an Individual a Break

Persuading a bankruptcy judge to find “excusable neglect” after missing a filing deadline is usually a tough sell.  You’d think it would be particularly hard when the party seeking relief was “belligerent and disrespectful to...more

Supreme Court Holds That Fraud Exception to Debt Discharge can Include Fraud by Someone Other Than the Debtor

We have previously blogged about Bartenwerfer v. Buckley, No. 21-908, a Supreme Court case concerning the scope of the fraud exception to the dischargeability of debts in bankruptcy. Section 523 of the Bankruptcy Code exempts...more

Applying the Barton Doctrine, the Fifth Circuit Deepends Its Schism with the Eleventh

In a recent per curium opinion, the Fifth Circuit recommitted to its practice of dismissing claims against court-appointed fiduciaries when plaintiffs fail to obtain permission before bringing suit.  The court rested its...more

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