Posted by NCBRC - April 9th, 2015
The element of “willful and malicious injury” in the discharge exception under section 523(a)(6) could not be established by issue preclusion where the state court judgment could have been based on negligence. Gerard v. Gerard, No. 14-1496 (7th Cir. March 12, 2015). Read More
Posted by NCBRC - April 7th, 2015
When a debt is the result of fraud may the debtor still discharge it if he was not complicit in the fraud? What if the fraudulent actor was an agent of the debtor? Judge Posner of the Seventh Circuit answered both questions in the negative. Sullivan v. Glenn (In re Glenn), No. 14-3213 (7th Cir. Apr. 2, 2015). Read More
Posted by NCBRC - January 16th, 2015
The Tenth Circuit has concluded that late-filed tax returns are not “returns” for dischargeability purposes unless filed by the IRS in cooperation with the debtor. Mallo v. IRS (In re Mallo), __ F.3d __, 2014 WL 7360130 (Dec. 29, 2014) (consolidated with In re Martin, 14-1488). Read More
Posted by NCBRC - December 29th, 2014
A debtor’s agreement prior to filing bankruptcy not to discharge her debt for attorney’s fees was found to be unenforceable under section 523(a)(2) and for public policy reasons. Ziegler v. Kline (In re Kline), No. 14-12815, Adv. Proc. No. 14-227 (Bankr. E.D. Pa. Nov. 20, 2014). Read More
Posted by NCBRC - November 13th, 2014
The doctrine of collateral estoppel mandated that findings in a state court arbitration judgment applied to the determination of nondischargeability of a debt in chapter 7 bankruptcy. Margolis v. Hensley (In re Hensley), No. 12-42785, Adv. Pro. 12-4180 (Bankr. E.D. Tex. Oct. 1, 2014). Read More
Posted by NCBRC - September 29th, 2014
Approximately a year and a half after the debtors abandoned their condominium and stopped paying their homeowners assessments, they filed for chapter 13 bankruptcy. Their plan proposed to transfer title to the secured creditor, Bank of America, and made no provision for payment of ongoing Homeowners Association assessments. Both the bank and the HOA objected to confirmation of the plan. The bankruptcy court sustained the Bank’s objection but denied the HOA’s and confirmed the plan insofar as it did not include payment of ongoing HOA assessments. In re Coonfield, No. 14-2533 (Bankr. E.D. Wash. Sept. 25, 2014). Read More
Posted by NCBRC - August 6th, 2014
The evidence showed that the debtors’ breach of contract and conversion of collateral was not willful and malicious for purposes of nondischargeability under section 523(a)(6). Mountain Am. Credit Union v. Trujillo (In re Trujillo), No. 13-12434, Adv. No. 13-1095 (Bankr. D. N.M. July 3, 2014). Read More
Posted by NCBRC - August 5th, 2014
A Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Ninth Circuit found that debt based on expenses incurred by the county juvenile justice system for the care of the debtor’s son while incarcerated is nondischargeable Rivera v. Orange County Probation Dept. (In re Rivera), No. 13-1476 (B.A.P. 9th Cir. June 4, 2014). Read More
Posted by NCBRC - July 29th, 2014
A million-dollar-plus district court judgment against the debtor for intentional trademark infringement and cybersquatting resulted in a nondischargeable debt in bankruptcy under section 523(a)(6). Nguyen v. Biondo (In re Biondo) No. 13-1612 (Bankr. S.D. Fla. June 13, 2014). Read More
Posted by NCBRC - December 4th, 2013
State law precluded a creditor’s claim of nondischargeability due to fraud in the case of Heritage Pac. Fin. v. Montano (In re Montano), __ B.R. __, 2013 W.L.5890681 (B.A.P. 9th Nov. 1, 2013). Read More