A Promise Not to Enforce a Judgment Meant There Was No Discharge Violation
The inability to modify a Section 524(a) discharge put the Ninth Circuit BAP in a bind.
There’s Reciprocal Fee-Shifting in California When a Contract Has Unilateral Fee-Shifting
In California, bringing litigation with a marginal possibility of success could be a bad bet whenever a contract permits one side to recover attorneys’ fees.
Benchnotes August 2025
Benchnotes By Aaron M. Kaufman, Bradley D. Pack and Christina Sanfelippo 1 Ninth Circuit: Section 1322(c)(2) Allows Bifurcation of Short-Term Loans Secured Against Debtors’ Primary Residences In Mission Hen LLC v. Lee, 2 the Ninth Circuit considered whether the debtor’s
When an Objection Is Required for an Exemption Covering ‘100% of FMV’
Judge Hoffman explains when objections are or aren’t required for exemptions covering ‘100% of FMV’ under the current form 106C.
In Setting Aside a Tax-Lien Foreclosure, a Hypothetical Gave Standing to the Debtor
If state law prohibits assertion of the homestead exemption in tax foreclosure and the debtor can’t take federal exemptions, does the debtor lack standing to set aside a fraudulent transfer?
Like 18th Century England, There’s No Jury Trial Right for Stay Violations
Granfinanciera tells us to study English law from the 18th century in deciding when there’s a right to a jury trial in bankruptcy cases.
Equity Won’t Extend the Deadline for Filing a Dischargeability Complaint
The circuits are split on whether equity can extend the 60-day deadline for filing dischargeability complaints.
‘Notice’ in Rule 3002(c)(7) Means Notice of the Bar Date, Not Notice of the Case
Bankruptcy Judge Scott Grossman adopted the analysis by Bankruptcy Judge Brian Walsh in concluding that creditors are entitled to notice of the claims bar date, not just notice of the filing.
Middle Ground on the Circuit Split over Dismissal vs. Conversion in Chapter 13
Bankruptcy Judge Michael Fagone permits dismissal of a chapter 13 case, but with a bar to refiling within two years.