The debtor’s adversary complaint stated a claim under sections 522 and 524 against a creditor who pursued state court action to avoid the transfer of community property from the non-debtor spouse to the debtor after the debtor had obtained discharge of the creditor’s claim. Rhodes v. Pecanland Village Shopping Center, LLC., No. 19-31559, Adv. Proc. No. 22-3010 (Bankr. W.D. La. Dec. 14, 2022). [Read more…] about Non-Debtor Spouse Transfers Interest to Debtor Post-Discharge
Change of Beneficiary Not Avoidable Transfer
The chapter 7 debtor’s change of beneficiary in his life insurance policy from his employer to his wife was not an avoidable property transfer where the debtor retained his interest in the policy and the transfer did not diminish the bankruptcy estate. Harden v. Harrison (In re Harrison), 2021 WL 739533, No. 19-5730, Adv. Proc. No. 20-113 (Bankr. E.D. N.C. Feb. 22, 2021). [Read more…] about Change of Beneficiary Not Avoidable Transfer
Debtor May Avoid County Tax Foreclosure Sale
A county’s tax sale of the debtor’s farm was avoidable as constructively fraudulent under section 548, where the debtor was insolvent at the time of the title transfer and the tax debt was substantially less than the fair market value of the property. DuVall v. County of Ontario, No.19-20179, Adv. Proc. No. 19-2011 (Bankr. W.D. N.Y. Feb. 18, 2021). [Read more…] about Debtor May Avoid County Tax Foreclosure Sale
Transfer of Funds Divided between Creditor and Creditor’s Agent Fully Avoidable
Garnished wages divided between the creditor and his agent in accordance with their fee agreement were an avoidable transfer in their entirety even though the creditor never received the portion withheld by the agent. Hooker v. Wanigas Credit Union, No. 20-2252 (6th Cir. Jan. 26, 2021) (unpublished).
During the ninety-day preference period,Wanigas Credit Union, through its agent, Shek Law Offices, garnished $884.13 from the debtor’s wages in satisfaction of a judgment Wanigas had against the debtor. Shek retained $452.60 of the garnished wages and sent the remaining $431.53 to Wanigas. After filing for bankruptcy the debtor sought turnover of the funds under section 547(b)(1) as a preferential transfer. Wanigas turned over only the funds it received. It argued that the portion retained by Shek was not subject to turnover because Wanigas never received the funds, and in the alternative, because the funds were subject to an attorney-charging lien. The bankruptcy court denied Wanigas’s motion for summary judgment and ordered turnover of the funds. The district court granted leave to appeal and affirmed. [Read more…] about Transfer of Funds Divided between Creditor and Creditor’s Agent Fully Avoidable
Avoidability of Tuition Payments Depends on Timing
Once tuition funds became non-refundable, the universities receiving the funds would be considered initial transferees and the transfers would be subject to avoidance under section 550(a). Pergament v. Brooklyn Law School, Nos. 18-2204, 18-2235, 18-2236 (E.D. N.Y. amended opinion Jan. 4, 2019).
In three adversary proceedings, the Chapter 7 Trustee, Marc Pergament, sought to recover tuition payments the debtor, Harold Adamo, made for his children’s education in three universities. The bankruptcy court found that the trustee could not avoid the transfers because the institutions were subsequent transferees who took in good faith under section 550(b). [Read more…] about Avoidability of Tuition Payments Depends on Timing