Discharge/Dischargeability

Return of the Living Claim

Return of the Living Claim By Brittany M. Woodman What is “zombie debt” (also referred to as stale debt)? Some have defined it as debt that is not recognized as discharged following a bankruptcy — although the debt is no longer legally enforceable. 1 Yet others have

9th Circuit Apr 29, 2024

Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Judges Disagree on Allowing Emotional Distress Damages

One day apart, bankruptcy judges in the Ninth Circuit disagreed on emotional distress damages for violations of the discharge injunction.

Benchnotes July 2024

Benchnotes By Bradley D. Pack, Aaron M. Kaufman and Christina Sanfelippo Debts of Sub V Corporate Debtors Can Be Nondischargeable As a matter of first impression, the Fifth Circuit recently held that in subchapter V proceedings, both corporate and individual debtors are

9th Circuit May 3, 2024

Collecting a Student Loan Can (Sometimes) Violate the Discharge Injunction, BAP Says

The Ninth Circuit BAP holds that nondischargeability of student loans in Section 523(a)(8) isn’t ‘self-executing.’

Evidence of Intent to ‘Hinder’ Wasn’t Sufficient to Deny Discharge, District Judge Says

The bankruptcy court’s inference of intent to hinder the trustee wasn’t supported by the evidence, the district judge says in reversing a denial discharge.
9th Circuit Mar 8, 2024

For No Notice in an ‘Asset’ Case, the Entire Debt Is Not Discharged, the Ninth Circuit Says

The Ninth Circuit explains why the debt owing to a creditor without notice is discharged in a ‘no asset’ case but not in an ‘asset’ case.

Benchnotes May 2024

Benchnotes By Aaron M. Kaufman, Bradley D. Pack and Christina Sanfelippo Preference Claims Under § 547 Are Estate Property and May Be Sold Joining the Eighth and Ninth Circuits, 1 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit held that claims for the avoidance of