News & Analysis as of

Chapter 7 Creditors Dischargeable Debts

Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP

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

Falcon Rappaport & Berkman LLP

Fourth Circuit Holds That Settlement of Nondischargeable Debt and Resulting Interest and Fees Owed Thereunder Are Both...

We have written in the past about exceptions to the general rule regarding a debtor’s ability to discharge debt in bankruptcy and achieve a “fresh start.” In a recent decision of interest, the Court of Appeals for the Fourth...more

Troutman Pepper Locke

$225,000 Punitive Damages Award Upheld Where Creditor Repeatedly Contacted Customer After Being Notified of Attorney...

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Earlier this year, a district court for the Middle District of Florida upheld a jury award of $225,000 in punitive damages in a debt collection case finding the defendant’s conduct “reprehensible” based on the physical harm...more

Hendershot Cowart P.C.

Section 727 & Section 523 Complaints: Objecting to the Discharge of a Debt

In bankruptcy, certain specified types of debts are forgiven or “discharged”, releasing the debtor from personal liability for those debts. Debt discharges are permanent, and when granted, the debtor is no longer required to...more

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP

Supreme Court Confirms Nondischargeability of Debts Obtained by Fraud

In a unanimous decision handed down on Feb. 22, 2023, the Supreme Court reinforced one of the Bankruptcy Code’s important creditor protections. In Bartenwerfer v. Buckley, No. 21-908, 598 U.S. ___ (2023), the Court confirmed,...more

Jones Day

Post-Taggart, Ninth Circuit BAP Holds That "No Fair Ground of Doubt" Standard Applies to Automatic Stay Violations

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In Taggart v. Lorenzen, 139 S. Ct. 1795 (June 3, 2019), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a bankruptcy court may hold a creditor in civil contempt for attempting to collect on a debt that has been discharged in bankruptcy "if...more

Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC

Top 10 Bankruptcy Truths for Creditors to Know

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

Farrell Fritz, P.C.

To Be (Held in Contempt) or Not To Be? That Is the (Bankruptcy) Question

Farrell Fritz, P.C. on

Recently, the United States Supreme Court in Taggart v. Lorenzen set the legal standard that should be followed by bankruptcy courts when determining whether to hold a creditor in civil contempt for attempting to collect a...more

Rumberger | Kirk

The Supreme Court Hands Down a New Standard for Bankruptcy Discharge Violations

Rumberger | Kirk on

On June 3, 2019, Justice Breyer delivered a unanimous opinion of the Supreme Court conclusively establishing the standard courts must apply to hold a creditor in civil contempt for violation of a bankruptcy discharge order....more

Jones Day

From the Top in Brief - August 2019

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On June 3, 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Taggart v. Lorenzen, 139 S. Ct. 1795 (2019), that a bankruptcy court may hold a creditor in civil contempt for attempting to collect on a debt that has been discharged in...more

Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP

Creditors Beware: Collection of Debt Based on Unreasonable Belief/Understanding That the Debt Was Not Discharged in Bankruptcy...

In Taggart v. Lorenzen, the U.S. Supreme Court reviewed the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals' Order, which affirmed the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel's Order vacating civil contempt sanctions against Bradley Taggart's ("Bradley")...more

Ward and Smith, P.A.

Supreme Court Sets Standard for Bankruptcy Discharge Violations

Ward and Smith, P.A. on

When your customer is in bankruptcy, there are two major no-nos that you must remember. First, don't violate the automatic stay, which prevents a creditor from attempting to collect a debt while the debtor is in bankruptcy...more

Ballard Spahr LLP

SCOTUS Adopts "No Fair Ground of Doubt" Standard for Violations of Bankruptcy Discharge Order

Ballard Spahr LLP on

In a unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled recently in Taggart v. Lorenzen that a creditor in a bankruptcy case may be held in civil contempt, and subject to sanction, where there is "no fair ground of doubt" about...more

Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP

Supreme Court Decides Civil Contempt Standard for Violations of Discharge Orders

Successful bankruptcy cases typically end with a court order releasing a debtor from liability for most pre-bankruptcy debts. This order, generally known as a “discharge order,” prohibits the debtor’s creditors from trying to...more

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

Where a “Fair Ground of Doubt” Can Create Comfort: Taggart v. Lorenzen

In a unanimous, and perhaps unsurprising, decision, the Supreme Court determined that a creditor may be held in civil contempt for violating the discharge injunction if there is “no fair ground of doubt” as to whether the...more

McCarter & English, LLP

Creditors May Be Held In Contempt For Violating A Bankruptcy Discharge Order If There Is “No Fair Ground Of Doubt”

The U.S. Supreme Court has established an objective standard for determining whether a creditor should be held in civil contempt when the creditor attempts to collect a debt subject to a bankruptcy discharge order....more

Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

Supreme Court Decides Taggart v. Lorenzen

On June 3, 2019, the Supreme Court decided Taggart v. Lorenzen, No. 18-489, holding that a court may hold a creditor in civil contempt for violating a bankruptcy court’s discharge order as long as there is “no fair ground of...more

Ward and Smith, P.A.

In Chapter 7, Lowballing Your Assets Can Cost You Your Bankruptcy Discharge

Ward and Smith, P.A. on

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit—which covers North Carolina—recently decided a case that will have bankruptcy debtors thinking twice about how they complete their bankruptcy Petition and Schedules....more

Ballard Spahr LLP

Second Circuit, on Truncated Record, Holds Dispute Implicating Core Bankruptcy Proceeding Non-Arbitrable

Ballard Spahr LLP on

In a recent decision pitting the Bankruptcy Code against the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit held that a creditor could not compel arbitration of a debtor's class action claims...more

Burr & Forman

Eleventh Circuit Moves Toward Bright Line Rule That Debtors Cannot Retain Real Property Post- Discharge Without Reaffirming the...

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Last year, Burr & Forman lawyers won a decisive victory in the Eleventh Circuit, in the case of In re Failla, 838 F.3d 1170 (11th Cir. 2016). In Failla, the Eleventh Circuit held that a debtor who files a statement of...more

Burr & Forman

Debtors Who Misuse Collateral Can Lose the Benefit of Discharging their Debt in Bankruptcy

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On November 21, 2016, in a case entitled In re Monson, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the Bankruptcy Court’s decision, which held that a debtor’s conduct constituted a willful and malicious injury to a...more

McCarter & English, LLP

The Supreme Court Continues Stability In The Secondary Mortgage Market

On Monday, the Supreme Court reaffirmed the principle that junior “underwater” residential mortgage liens can “pass through” a bankruptcy case unaffected. In Bank of America, N.A. v. Caulkett, the Supreme Court held...more

Buchalter

The Supreme Court Prohibits Chapter 7 Debtors From Stripping Off Wholly Underwater Liens in Bankruptcy

Buchalter on

On June 1, 2015, the United States Supreme Court in Bank of America, N.A. v. Caulkett, 575 U.S. ____ (2015), unanimously held that a Chapter 7 debtor cannot strip off wholly “underwater” liens secured by the debtor’s...more

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