Consumer Bankruptcy

Estimated Tax Payments Made Before Filing Aren’t Fraudulent Transfers to the IRS

When estimated tax payments are ‘reasonable’ estimates of the year’s taxes, they aren’t fraudulent transfers, district judge says

Where, Oh Where, Are the Child-Support Creditors?

Where, Oh Where, Are the Child-Support Creditors? By Hon. Elizabeth Gunn, Stuart Wilson-Patton and William R. Pursell 1 It is axiomatic that bankruptcy law in the U.S. is designed to provide a fresh start to individuals weighed down by unfathomable debt (the honest, but

Bankruptcy Judge Upheld: No Arbitration on Claims for Violating the Automatic Stay

Bankruptcy Judge Paul Black was affirmed in district court for holding that arbitration of claims for violating the automatic stay would conflict with the centrality of administration in bankruptcy cases.
9th Circuit Mar 20, 2025

Equity Survives in the Ninth Circuit to Prevent Recoupment of Disability Overpayments

Reversing the BAP, the Ninth Circuit held that equitable considerations may stop the government from recovering disability overpayments, when the doctrine of recoupment otherwise would have allowed recovery despite the debtor’s chapter 7 discharge.

Benchnotes May 2025

Benchnotes By Aaron M. Kaufman, Bradley D. Pack and Christina Sanfelippo 1 Priority Wage Claims Must Be Counted for Sub V Eligibility, Even if Paid Post-Petition In a case of first impression, Hon. Eduardo V. Rodriguez of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern

Courts Divided on Broad or Narrow Grounds for Transferring Venue Under Section 1412

Some courts don’t transfer venue under 28 U.S.C. § 1412 if the claims are only ‘related to’ the bankruptcy and don’t arise in the bankruptcy case or arise under the Bankruptcy Code.

Bankruptcy Courts Disagree on Paying a ‘7’ Trustee Who Made No Distributions

Courts are split on whether chapter 7 trustees can be paid on another theory when the trustee had made no distributions to creditors under Section 326(a).

Class Actions: The Answer for Stay Violations with Small Damages for Each Debtor

A class action in Chicago will decide whether bankruptcy judges have the tools to rectify a single creditor’s violation of the rights of similarly situated debtors.

Chapter 13 Debtors Can’t Sell Co-Owned Property Under Section 363(h)

On a question where the courts are split, Bankruptcy Judge Pamela McAfee sides with the majority and holds that a chapter 13 debtor can’t sell co-owned property.

For Fraudulent Transfers, Retailers Needn’t Police Who Receives Value from the Purchase

Judge Peter Henderson declined to adopt an interpretation of Section 548 that would turn innocent retailers into recipients of fraudulent transfers when someone buys goods but turns the goods over to someone else.