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District Court

Grillo v. JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Ruling
Discharged debtor lacked standing to pursue unscheduled claims against lender, which remained property of the estate.
Issue(s)
Should debtor's case against lender based on loan modification be dismissed due to failure to list the claim in its bankruptcy schedules?

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Consumer opinion summary, case decided on May 30, 2014 , LexisNexis #0614-125

Jonak v. McDermott

Ruling
Individual who did more than type filings for debtors was a bankruptcy petition preparer and was properly held to have acted in violation of §110.
Issue(s)
Was debtor who was not an attorney, is the sole shareholder, president and operating principal of a company that provided customers with legal services plans for various subject matters, including bankruptcy, a bankruptcy petition preparer engaging in the unauthorized practice of law?

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Consumer opinion summary, case decided on May 28, 2014 , LexisNexis #0614-074

Gulf Offshore Logistics LLC v. Serian Exploration and Pros. Co. LLC

Ruling
Claim of intervenor against broker with no formal tie to debtors was not subject to stay.
Issue(s)
Should intervenor be allowed to reopen case to pursue cross-claim against broker, agent, and charterer of vessels, barges and other marine equipment and services to the marine industry that held a claim against debtor, a company that was engaged in offshore drilling and exploration operations in the Gulf of Mexico?

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Commercial opinion summary, case decided on May 28, 2014 , LexisNexis #0614-076

First Sec. Bank & Trust Co. v. Vander Vegt

Ruling
Family dairy farmer debtor could pursue alternative financing.
Issue(s)
Had family dairy farmer debtors established that they were entitled to pursue alternative financing by showing that they have been unable to obtain credit by any other means and that creditor bank's position was adequately protected?

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Consumer opinion summary, case decided on May 27, 2014 , LexisNexis #0614-083

Mahoney v. Bank of Am.

Ruling
Debtor mortgagors had standing to pursue negligent loan administration claim against loan servicers.
Issue(s)
Did debtor borrowers have standing to pursue claims for breach of contract, declaratory relief, negligent loan administration, injunctive relief and specific performance against loan servicer?

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Consumer opinion summary, case decided on May 27, 2014 , LexisNexis #0614-090

Schneller v. Journal Register Co.

Ruling
Bankruptcy court properly denied pro se appellant's motion to reopen debtor's bankruptcy to pursue frivolous claims that had been dismissed by state courts.
Issue(s)
Should pro se debtor be allowed to reopen cases of debtor newspaper publisher to prosecute state law claims that had been dismissed with prejudice in state court?

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Consumer opinion summary, case decided on May 22, 2014 , LexisNexis #0614-075

Hinners v. Argent Corp.

Ruling
Bankruptcy court properly found that state court judgment for fraudulent misrepresentation established nondischargeability of debt.
Issue(s)
Did bankruptcy court err in holding finding that collateral estoppel applied to state court judgment of fraudulent misrepresentation for purposes of nondischargeability?

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Consumer opinion summary, case decided on May 19, 2014 , LexisNexis #0614-053

Berman v. Smith (In re Goldschmidt)

Ruling
Trustee could settle fraudulent transfer claim regarding avoidable transfer from debtors to debtors' business.
Issue(s)
Did trustee have standing to settle fraudulent transfer claim against debtor's non-debtor business?

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Commercial opinion summary, case decided on April 30, 2014 , LexisNexis #0914-123

IRS v. Smith (In re Smith)

Ruling
Filing by debtors years after IRS commenced action did not constitute a "return" and related tax debt was nondischargeable.
Issue(s)
Did bankruptcy court err in holding that debtor's Form 1040 submitted seven years after it was due and three years after the IRS made an assessment and commenced collection proceedings constituted a return so that the related tax debt could be discharged?

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Consumer opinion summary, case decided on April 29, 2014 , LexisNexis #0914-116

Nevada Prop. 1 LLC v. DAmico (In re DAmico)

Ruling
Gambling debts to casinos properly held dischargeable.
Issue(s)
Did bankruptcy court err in holding that debtor's gambling debts to Las Vegas casinos were dischargeable?

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Consumer opinion summary, case decided on April 23, 2014 , LexisNexis #0914-120