Under section 1322(b)(9), the chapter 13 plan may provide for vesting of title to property that the debtor has surrendered in an entity (the mortgagee) without that entity’s consent. In re Watt, No. 14-31295 (Bankr. D. Or. Oct. 15, 2014). [Read more…] about Lender May Be Compelled to Take Title to Surrendered Property
Late Proof of Claim Amendment Rejected
A proof of claim amendment filed after the debtor successfully completed his chapter 13 plan was too late to increase the mortgage arrears. In re Mason, No. 10-4195, 2014 WL 5502385 (Bankr. S.D. Miss. Oct. 30, 2014). [Read more…] about Late Proof of Claim Amendment Rejected
Nevada Banks Take a Gamble when it Comes to HOA Liens
In a 4-3 decision, the Nevada Supreme Court decided that Nev. Rev. St. 116.3116 gives a homeowners’ association (HOA) a superpriority lien based on certain unpaid dues and assessments so as to extinguish the first deed of trust upon foreclosure. SFR Investments Pool v. U.S. Bank, No. 63078 (Nev. S. Ct. Sept. 18, 2014). The court also held that, under the statute, an HOA may use a non-judicial foreclosure.
[Read more…] about Nevada Banks Take a Gamble when it Comes to HOA Liens
Violation of Discharge Injunction and Abuse of Process
There is no private right of action for violation of the discharge injunction but a debtor may move for contempt in the main bankruptcy case. An abuse of process action, however, may be brought in an adversary proceeding and be established by repeated use of protected personally identifiable information of debtors to file unenforceable proofs of claim in Chapter 13 cases. Moore v. Comenity Capital Bank, No. 13-11325, Adv. Pro. 14-1011 (Bankr. E.D. Tenn. Sept. 29, 2014). [Read more…] about Violation of Discharge Injunction and Abuse of Process
Compassion Wins the Day in Modification Case
The bankruptcy court properly exercised its discretion when it found that the chapter 13 debtor did not have to contribute the life insurance proceeds he received upon the death of his wife to repay his creditors in full, where the funds were necessary to his support. <i>Townson v. McAllister (In re McAllister),</i> No. 14-106 (N.D. Ga. Oct. 14, 2014). [Read more…] about Compassion Wins the Day in Modification Case
Court Gets it Wrong in Cure and Maintain Case
Contrary to the principle that “cure and maintain” permits a residential loan debtor to return to status quo ante, the Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina found that while operation of section 1322(b)(5) reverses a loan acceleration, it does not reverse other contractual consequences of default; specifically an increased interest rate. In re Anderson, No. 13-5843 (Bankr. E.D. N.C. Sept. 5, 2014). [Read more…] about Court Gets it Wrong in Cure and Maintain Case
Strained Reading of “Derived During” Boots Chapter 7 Case
The Tenth Circuit BAP interpreted the phrase “derived during” to mean that all income received during the 6-month look-back period be included in the current monthly income calculation. Based on this, the court found that the debtor was above-median and his chapter 7 case presumptively abusive under section 707(b)(2). When the debtor failed to convert to chapter 13, the bankruptcy court dismissed the case. The BAP affirmed. In re Miller, No. 14-2 (B.A.P. 10th Cir. Oct. 8, 2014). [Read more…] about Strained Reading of “Derived During” Boots Chapter 7 Case
CashCall’s Use of Tribal Arbitration under Attack
An arbitration clause is not enforceable when the specified forum is unavailable. So said the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Inetianbor v. CashCall, Inc., __ F.3d __, 2014 WL 4922225 (11th Cir. Oct. 2, 2014). [Read more…] about CashCall’s Use of Tribal Arbitration under Attack
Post-Petition Equity Goes to Debtor upon Conversion
Equity created by payments into a chapter 13 plan belongs to the debtor upon conversion to chapter 7. In re Hodges, No. 13-361 (E.D. Tenn. Sept. 29, 2014). [Read more…] about Post-Petition Equity Goes to Debtor upon Conversion
Trustee Fee Cut Where No Meaningful Distribution
In three consolidated chapter 7 cases, the Bankruptcy Court, finding that carve-out or short sale agreements did not lead to any meaningful distribution to creditors, reduced the trustee’s fee by 50% of the requested amount. In re Scoggins, No. 12-42158 (Bankr. E.D. Cal. Sept. 8, 2014) (the court approved the fee request in a fourth, business, case). [Read more…] about Trustee Fee Cut Where No Meaningful Distribution