Joining the Tenth Circuit, the Ninth Circuit also has held that chapter 13 trustees are not paid their fees when cases are dismissed before confirmation. The identical issue was argued on February 15 before the Second Circuit.
In short order, we’ll have either unanimity or a split of circuits. A split will give rise to an issue worthy of a grant of certiorari by the Supreme Court.
Notably, the Ninth Circuit’s opinion on June 12 adopted reasoning in an amicus brief filed in support of the debtor by the National Consumer Bankruptcy Rights Center and National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys.
Once a debtor has completed plan payments, the bankruptcy court has power under Bankruptcy Rule 7070 to clear title by removing liens that were stripped off in the debtor’s chapter 13 plan.
In.....
If a creditor doesn’t cash a $230,000 distribution check on an allowed unsecured claim, is the chapter 7 debtor entitled to the funds 10 years later on the idea that the $230,000 represented a surplus.....