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Small v. McMaster (In re Small)

Ruling
State court civil contempt order was subject to stay.
Procedural posture

Chapter 7 debtor brought an adversary proceeding in the U. S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Galveston Division, against appellant and appellant's attorney, alleging that a state court contempt petition violated the automatic stay. The bankruptcy court held appellant and the attorney liable for the debtor's attorney's fees. Appellant and the attorney appealed.

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Consumer opinion summary, case decided on June 30, 2011 , LexisNexis #0711-109

Imus v. Circle Y Saddles Inc.

Ruling
Debtor's prepetition claims were property of the estate but trustee was estopped from pursuing them due to debtor's failure to schedule or include claims in plan.
Procedural posture

Defendant filed a motion to dismiss plaintiff debtors' complaint, which alleged pre-bankruptcy petition claims of breach of contract, trademark infringement, federal unfair competition, false advertising, and violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

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Commercial opinion summary, case decided on April 07, 2011 , LexisNexis #0511-001

In re Tri-State Ethanol Co. LLC

Ruling
Law firm that represented debtor in chapter 11 case could represent trustee after conversion to chapter 7.
Procedural posture

The debtor initially filed for relief under chapter 11, and the matter had been converted to a proceeding under chapter 7. The company sought to disqualify the law firm retained by the chapter 7 trustee to represent the trustee, because the law firm had previously represented the debtor.

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opinion summary, case decided on July 10, 2007 , LexisNexis #0907-060

In re Squires

Ruling
Debt owed to Department of Veterans Affairs was nondischargeable due to debtor's misrepresentation of spouse's income in application for pension benefits.
Procedural posture

A chapter 13 trustee and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs objected to the confirmation of a debtor's chapter 13 plan, pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 1325(a)(3).

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opinion summary, case decided on May 07, 2007 , LexisNexis #0707-069

In re Tri-State Ethanol Co. LLC

Ruling
Prepetition claim against debtor was not grounds for diqualification of special counsel.
Procedural posture

A company that acquired an ownership interest in chapter 7 debtor objected to a proof of claim filed by debtor's special counsel and to special counsel's fee application, and filed a motion to disqualify special counsel.

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opinion summary, case decided on April 18, 2007 , LexisNexis #0607-020

In re Cink

Ruling
Bankruptcy court exercised discretion to deny motion for voluntary dismissal of chapter 7 case.
Procedural posture

In this chapter 7 bankruptcy case, the matters before the court were the trustee's motion for turnover and the debtors'motion to voluntarily dismiss the case.

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opinion summary, case decided on February 21, 2007 , LexisNexis #0407-039

Aguirre v. Fullerton Lumber Co. (In re Aguirre)

Ruling
Debtor could not avoid post-petition, pre-conversion mechanics' lien against exempt homestead.
Procedural posture

Plaintiffs, debtors, filed a complaint against defendant creditor seeking a determination that the creditor's mechanics' lien was avoidable. The creditor moved for summary judgment.

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opinion summary, case decided on February 21, 2007 , LexisNexis #0407-061

Spyke Inc. v. Zufall (In re Zufall)

Ruling
Stipulation in settlement agreement that debt was nondischargeable was not binding as contrary to public policy.
Procedural posture

Plaintiff judgment creditor brought an adversary claim against defendant debtors, seeking a finding that their claim was nondischargeable under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2)(A), pursuant to the terms of a consent judgment. Debtors moved for summary judgment on the issue.

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opinion summary, case decided on February 21, 2007 , LexisNexis #0407-062

In re Almen

Ruling
Debtor's counsel's pre-conversion fees for chapter 7 services are to be treated as general unsecured claims.
Procedural posture

Counsel for a debtor filed an application pursuant to Fed. R. Bankr. P. 2016(a) for compensation and reimbursement for both chapter 7 and chapter 13 services.

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opinion summary, case decided on January 31, 2007 , LexisNexis #0307-037

Jones v. Jones (In re Jones)

Ruling
Debtor's alienation of affection claim against former spouse was property of the estate and could not be set off against nondischargeable divorce decree obligations.
Procedural posture

Ex-spouse filed a complaint to determine that debtor's obligations under their divorce decree were nondischargeable, pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(15). The debtor sought to set off, against the ex-spouse's nondischargeable claim, an alleged claim against his ex-spouse.

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opinion summary, case decided on December 01, 2006 , LexisNexis #0107-018