A debt based on breach of a Stipulated Agreement that was incorporated but not merged into the final Judgment of Divorce was a debt “in connection with” a divorce decree within the meaning of section 523(a)(15) and was therefore nondischargeable in bankruptcy. Monassebian v. Monassebian, No. 21-41251, Adv. Proc. No. 21-1162 (Bankr. E.D.N.Y. Aug. 1, 2022). [Read more…] about Debt Based on Breach of Pre-Divorce Stipulation Nondischargeable
Sorry, Can’t Confirm Plan If You’re Dead
A debtor who has shuffled off this mortal coil cannot confirm a chapter 13 plan where he has no ability to fund it with future income and no need for the fresh start offered by bankruptcy discharge. In re Carrasco, No. 21-51420 (Bankr. W.D. Tex. July 19, 2022).
In this case, the debtor died after the meeting of the creditors, but before his proposed chapter 13 plan had been confirmed. The debtor’s counsel lobbied to substitute the debtor’s son to confirm the plan notwithstanding the fact that the debtor himself had ridden the carriage into immortality. The trustee objected to confirmation. [Read more…] about Sorry, Can’t Confirm Plan If You’re Dead
“Special Charges” Not Included in Priority Tax Debt
The City of Milwaukee failed to present evidence that the “special charges” on the debtor’s delinquent property tax bill were in the nature of property taxes entitled to priority in the debtor’s chapter 13 plan. In re Peete, No. 21-23863 (Bankr. E.D. Wisc. June 30, 2022).
When the debtor filed for bankruptcy, the City of Milwaukee filed a claim for delinquent property taxes of which it claimed $26,754.99 as an unsecured priority debt. Ninety percent of the claim, however, represented special charges consisting of delinquent municipal services, delinquent storm water account, delinquent water account, and “total other special.” Only $903.36 of the claim represented “tax principal.” Additionally, $2,242.87 of the total amount represented interest and penalties.
The debtor objected to the claim’s priority status arguing that the special charges were not property tax debt entitled to priority under section 507(a)(8)(B). He filed a chapter 13 plan consistent with that view, and the City objected to confirmation. [Read more…] about “Special Charges” Not Included in Priority Tax Debt
Tenancy by Entirety Not Exempt from IRS Debt
The debtor could not exempt property of the estate which he owned as a tenant in the entirety with his non-filing spouse with respect to a debt he owed to the IRS where section 522(b)(3)(B) exempts such property only to the extent it would be exempt under nonbankruptcy law and the Tax Code permits the IRS to collect against the property. Morgan v. Bruton (In re Morgan), No. 21-891 (N.D. N.C. Aug. 12, 2022). [Read more…] about Tenancy by Entirety Not Exempt from IRS Debt
Silla v. Ghazvini, No. 22-1092 (BAP 9th Cir.)
Type: Amicus
Date: July 25, 2022
Description: Interest rate on arrears
Result: Pending
Numa Corp. v. Diven, No. 22-15298 (9th Cir.)
Type: Amicus
Date: July 25, 2022
Description: Sanctions for continuation of tribal case despite automatic stay.
Result: Judgment affirmed, November 22, 2022.
Evans v. McCallister, No. 22-35216 (9th Cir.)
Type: Amicus
Date: July 6, 2022
Description: Whether the bankruptcy court erred in ruling that the Chapter 13 trustee may not retain a fee in a case dismissed prior to confirmation of a plan.
Result: Pending
Soussis v. Macco, No. 22-155 (2d Cir.)
Type: Amicus
Date: April 21, 2022
Description: Whether a Chapter 13 trustee is entitled to an award of the trustee’s statutory fee in a case that is dismissed prior to confirmation of a plan.
Result: Pending
Bartenwerfer v. Buckley, No. 21-908 (USSCt)
Type: Amicus
Date: July 26, 2022
Description: Whether a bankruptcy debtor can be held liable for another person’s fraud, which cannot be discharged in bankruptcy, even when she was not aware of the fraud.
Result: Pending
$5 Million Domestic Support Debt and Offshore Trust
The bankruptcy court was not bound by the state court’s finding that the debtor’s ex-wife did not violate the stay when she had the debtor arrested for failure to pay domestic support out of an offshore trust he claimed no ownership interest in, but the court found the issues more appropriate for summary judgment and granted the debtor’s motion to vacate its earlier order of dismissal. Foufas v. Foufas, No. 20-22967, Adv. Proc. No. 22-1013 (Bankr. S.D. Fla. June 17, 2022). [Read more…] about $5 Million Domestic Support Debt and Offshore Trust