Holding a Contempt Hearing May Be Ok, but the Remedy Might Violate Automatic Stay
A contempt hearing fell under the ‘criminal’ exception to the automatic stay, but jailing a debtor to coerce payment of a prepetition debt violated the stay, Judge Grossman ruled.
Third Circuit Finds Constitutional Power to Grant Releases in Confirmation Orders
Third Circuit emphasizes the limitation of nonconsensual, third-party releases to ‘exceptional’ cases.
Supreme Court Grants ‘Cert’ to Decide Whether Inaction Violates the Automatic Stay
Virginia case highlights the damage that will be done to debtor protections if affirmative action is required for a stay violation.
Supreme Court Might Allow FDCPA Suits More than a Year After Occurrence
The ‘fraud-specific discovery rule’ might permit FDCPA suits filed more than one year after the occurrence that gives rise to the claim.
Seventh Circuit Limits Punitive Damages to Total Compensatory Damages of $582,000
Despite atrocious mortgage servicing, the circuit court cut a jury’s $3 million award of punitive damages to $582,000.
Law v. Segal Allowed a Fraudster to Retain $30,000
Eighth Circuit was compelled to overrule its own precedent that permitted the bankruptcy court to bar a debtor from amending schedules based on bad faith.