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U.S. Supreme Court

Baker Botts L.L.P. v. ASARCO LLC

Ruling
Attorneys hired pursuant to § 327(a) are not entitled to award of attorneys' fees for defending their fee applications.
Issue(s)
Whether § 330(a)(1) permits a bankruptcy court to award trustee's attorney's fees for work performed in defending a fee application in court?

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Commercial opinion summary, case decided on June 15, 2015 , LexisNexis #0715-005

Bank of Am. N.A. v. Caulkett

Ruling
A chapter 7 debtor may not void a junior mortgage lien under §506(d) when senior mortgage debt exceeds the property value if the creditor's claim is an allowed secured claim.
Issue(s)
Whether a debtor in a chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding could void a junior mortgage under 11 U.S.C.S. § 506(d) when the debt owed on a senior mortgage exceeded the present value of the property?

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Consumer opinion summary, case decided on June 01, 2015 , LexisNexis #0715-050

Wellness Intl Network Ltd. v. Sharif

Ruling
Bankruptcy courts may adjudicate Stern v. Marshall claims with the knowing and voluntary consent of the parties.
Issue(s)
Could debtor's Stern v. Marshall objection be waived and the bankruptcy court enter final judgment on an alter-ego claim when the parties knowingly and voluntarily, though not expressly, consented to adjudication by a bankruptcy judge?

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Consumer opinion summary, case decided on May 26, 2015 , LexisNexis #0715-063

Harris v. Viegelahn

Ruling
A debtor who converts to Chapter 7 is entitled to return of any postpetition wages not yet distributed by the Chapter 13 trustee.
Issue(s)
Whether the debtor who converted from chapter 13 to chapter 7 was entitled to the return of any postpetition wages not yet distributed by the chapter 13 trustee?

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Consumer opinion summary, case decided on May 18, 2015 , LexisNexis #0715-038

Bullard v. Blue Hills Bank

Ruling
Denial of chapter 13 plan confirmation is not a final appealable order.
Issue(s)
Is an order denying confirmation of a chapter 13 plan a final appealable order?

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Consumer opinion summary, case decided on May 04, 2015 , LexisNexis #0715-064

Clark v. Rameker

Ruling
Funds in an inherited individual IRA are not exempt "retirement funds."
Procedural posture

Prior to filing their Chapter 7 case, the debtor wife inherited an IRA from her mother. The debtor wife, who was the sole beneficiary on the account, elected to take monthly distributions from the account. In their subsequently filed Chapter 7 case, the d

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Consumer opinion summary, case decided on June 12, 2014 , LexisNexis #0614-114

Executive Benefits Ins. Agency v. Arkison

Ruling
When presented with a Stern claim, the proper course is for the bankruptcy court to issue proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law for de novo review and entry of judgment by a district court.
Procedural posture

On de novo review, a district court affirmed a bankruptcy court's summary judgment for a trustee alleging a fraudulent conveyance in a chapter 7 case. After the creditor appealed, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in Stern; based on Stern, the cr

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Consumer opinion summary, case decided on June 09, 2014 , LexisNexis #0614-137

Law v. Siegel

Ruling
Bankruptcy court erred in surcharging debtor's homestead exemption to pay attorneys' fees incurred in opposing debtor's fraudulent lien.
Issue(s)
Did the bankruptcy court err in granting trustee's motion to surcharge petitioner bankruptcy debtor's homestead exemption for attorneys' fees incurred in opposing the debtor's claimed lien against the debtor's homestead, which was found to be fraudulent?

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Consumer opinion summary, case decided on March 04, 2014 , LexisNexis #0314-081

RadLAX Gateway Hotel LLC v. Amalgamated Bank

Ruling
Plan that stripped a secured creditor of its right to credit bid at a sale of its collateral could not be confirmed.
Procedural posture

A bankruptcy court denied petitioner debtors' request to confirm a "cramdown" bankruptcy plan over respondent lienholder bank's objection, finding that a proposed auction to sell the encumbered asset free and clear of a lien without permitting the bank to credit-bid did not comply with 11 U.S.C.S. § 1129(b)(2)(A)'s requirements for cramdown plans. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed. Certiorari was granted.

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Commercial opinion summary, case decided on May 29, 2012 , LexisNexis #0612-062

Hall v. United States

Ruling
Federal tax liability resulting from postpetition sale of debtors' farm was not incurred by the estate and was neither collectible nor dischargeable in debtors' Chapter 12 plan.
Procedural posture

Debtors who filed a bankruptcy petition under chapter 12 and then sold their farm proposed a plan which provided for treatment of the capital gains tax from the sale as an unsecured claim, and respondent United States objected. Upon the grant of a writ of certiorari, the debtor appealed the judgment of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit which held that the tax was not subject to treatment in the debtors' plan.

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Commercial opinion summary, case decided on May 14, 2012 , LexisNexis #0512-140