Consumer Bankruptcy

Rochelle’s Daily Wire

Expert analysis of the latest court decisions affecting consumer debtors — covering discharge, mortgage servicing, student loans, exemptions, and more.

Cases covered: 1,408 (all-time)
Covering all circuits
Showing 1 - 10 of 68
Unless all of a private student loan was used for “qualified higher education expenses,” none of the loan is nondischargeable under Section 523(a)(8)(B). The Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel.....
Sep 18, 2025 M. Margaret McKeown
Affirming the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel, the Ninth Circuit explained why the costs of an attorney’s disciplinary proceeding are not dischargeable in California. Paradoxically, similar costs from.....
Jul 07, 2025 Scott H. Gan
When fraud results in the loss of discharge, it doesn’t necessarily also limit the amount of a state homestead exemption under Section 522(q)(1)(B)(ii), as shown by an opinion from the Ninth Circuit.....
Jul 02, 2025 Gary Spraker
The Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel painted itself into a corner in 2002 when it held that a bankruptcy court has no discretion to modify a discharge injunction under Section 524(a). To avoid.....
Jun 18, 2025 Robert J. Faris
An attorney’s disciplinary proceeding offends neither the automatic stay nor the discharge injunction, for reasons explained by the Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel. The same is true even when.....
May 07, 2025 Gary Spraker
The actions of a 13-year-old boy resulted in a $1 million default judgment against the parents based on vicarious liability. Unwilling to expand the Bartenwerfer holding, the Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy.....
Mar 25, 2025 Richard D. Bennett
Following its own precedent and declining the government’s invitation to create a circuit split, the Ninth Circuit held that the doctrine of recoupment “is not permissible where, as here, [the Social.....
Feb 12, 2025 Daniel P. Collins
In December, we reported on a decision where Bankruptcy Judge David T. Thuma of Albuquerque, N.M., held that he could avoid a judicial lien based on a judgment for fraud. In re Mirabal, 23-10862, 2024.....
Jan 07, 2025 Robert J. Faris
Building on Bartenwerfer, Bankruptcy Judge Robert J. Faris of Honolulu held that a husband owed a nondischargeable debt because he was the beneficiary of funds that his wife had misappropriated from a.....
Dec 24, 2024 Scott H. Gan
The Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel wrote a decision teeing up a case where the Ninth Circuit can decide whether a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress from a violation of.....