Practice and Procedure

Benchnotes August 2024

Benchnotes By Aaron M. Kaufman, Bradley D. Pack and Christina Sanfelippo Court Affirms “Enhanced” 37-Month Sentence for Attorney’s Concealment of Brother’s Money The appeal in United States v. Kowalksi concerned the propriety of a 37-month sentence for an attorney who

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

Could You Be a Debtor? SDNY Renders Decision in Chapter 15 Proceeding for SVB Cayman Branch

Could You Be a Debtor? SDNY Renders Decision in Chapter 15 Proceeding for SVB Cayman Branch By Luke A. Barefoot, Thomas S. Kessler and Ethan Singer 1 The failure of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), the second-largest bank failure in U.S. history, in March 2023 rocked the

Supreme Court Mar 19, 2024

Supreme Court Rules on Mootness, but Not Equitable Mootness

The unanimous decision on March 19 by Justice Gorsuch contains language that could be used on both sides of the argument about the validity of equitable mootness.
10th Circuit Mar 11, 2024

A ‘13’ Debtor Can’t Dismiss After Conversion to ‘7,’ Tenth Circuit BAP Says

A 14-day stay under Rule 7062 might have saved the chapter 13 debtor’s right to dismiss under Section 1307(b).

Being a ‘Net Winner’ in a Ponzi Scheme Doesn’t Automatically Mean Nondischargeability

Alleging that a debtor realized an ‘impossibly high’ rate of return in a Ponzi scheme isn’t enough to state a claim of nondischargeability for ‘actual fraud.’
3rd Circuit Delaware Feb 27, 2024

Ritzen and Bullard Didn’t Change the ‘Pragmatic Approach’ to Bankruptcy Finality

Under binding circuit precedent, a Delaware district judge ruled that an order denying a motion to dismiss a chapter 11 case is final and appealable.