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In re Spisak

Ruling
Extension of time to pay filing fee granted due to delay caused by litigation of issue of fee waiver.
Procedural posture

The debtor filed for relief under chapter 7 and was required to make the last installment payment of his filing fee no later than March 2, 2007. In an earlier proceeding the court issued an order to show cause against the debtor because of the debtor's failure to make the January 31, 2007 filing fee installment payment of $75.

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Consumer opinion summary, case decided on February 22, 2007 , LexisNexis #1007-060

In re OCA Inc.

Ruling
Plan confirmation denied as grant of participation rights to junior class of equity holders without paying unsecured creditors in full violated absolute priority rule.
Procedural posture

Bankruptcy debtors sought confirmation of a plan of reorganization by non- consensual cramdown pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 1129(b), but a creditor, the former principal of the primary debtor, objected to plan confirmation on the grounds that the plan undervalued the debtors and contravened the absolute priority rule.

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opinion summary, case decided on December 29, 2006 , LexisNexis #0207-007

In re Hill

Ruling
Unearned portion of debtor's attorney's retainer became property of the estate upon filing.
Procedural posture

Trustee filed a motion to compel turnover of funds held by chapter 7 debtor's attorney.

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opinion summary, case decided on November 30, 2006 , LexisNexis #0107-019

United States v. Bartlett (In re Bartlett)

Ruling
Debtors whose expired right of redemption was reinstated by district court could reinstate and cure mortgage.
Procedural posture

Defendant United States of America, acting on behalf of the Rural Housing Service, and chapter 13 debtors cross-moved for summary judgment on the second count of the government's complaint, which sought a declaration that debtors'residence was not property of their bankruptcy estate.

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opinion summary, case decided on November 02, 2006 , LexisNexis #1206-138

McCrey v. Hughes (In re Hughes)

Ruling
Existence of romantic relationship did not create trust relationship between creditor and debtor to whom creditor entrusted funds.
Procedural posture

Plaintiff creditor filed an adversary proceeding against defendant debtor seeking a determination that her debt was nondischargeable pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(4) and (a)(6).

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opinion summary, case decided on October 30, 2006 , LexisNexis #1206-128

In re Pool

Ruling
Creditor covered by section 1325(a)(5) "hanging paragraph" was not entitled to a deficiency upon surrender of collateral.
Procedural posture

Debtors sought confirmation of their second amended chapter 13 plan. All other objections to confirmation had been resolved except for an objection raised by a creditor that financed debtors'purchase of a car, so the court considered whether the creditor's objection was properly sustained. At issue was the effect on that claim of the "hanging paragraph" enacted as part of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005.

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opinion summary, case decided on September 27, 2006 , LexisNexis #1006-114

In re Fibermark Inc.

Ruling
Debtors' attorneys' fees allowed except for fees for administrative tasks and other insufficiently supported expenses.
Procedural posture

The court pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 330 considered the final applications for fees and expenses of lead bankruptcy counsel for chapter 11 debtors, local counsel for debtors, special counsel for debtors, auditors for debtors, and restructuring accountant for debtors.

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opinion summary, case decided on September 06, 2006 , LexisNexis #1006-048

Harris v. Adams (In re Adams)

Ruling
Claim for damage to auto caused when debtor repairer's son drove creditor's vehicle after hours was not due to willful and malicious conduct by debtor and was dischargeable.
Procedural posture

Plaintiff owner of a vehicle brought an adversary proceeding against defendant bankruptcy debtor, who operated an automobile repair shop, seeking a determination that a debt to the owner for damage to the vehicle was not dischargeable under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(6) based on willful and malicious injury from the unauthorized use of the vehicle by the debtor's son. The bankruptcy court conducted a trial.

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opinion summary, case decided on August 29, 2006 , LexisNexis #1006-091

Lightfoot v. Landry (In re Lightfoot)

Ruling
Revocation of discharge for failure to disclose motorcycle denied where trustee knew of alleged fraud, but failed to act prior to deadline for objection to discharge.
Procedural posture

Plaintiff chapter 7 trustee sued defendant debtors, seeking to revoke their discharge under 11 U.S.C. § 727(d)(1) on the ground that they failed to disclose a motorcycle on their original bankruptcy schedules. The bankruptcy court held a trial on the complaint.

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opinion summary, case decided on August 25, 2006 , LexisNexis #1006-101

In re Hess

Ruling
Exemptions from prepetition credit counseling requirement granted where debtors had attempted to comply in good faith.
Procedural posture

Two debtors each filed a bankruptcy petition subject to the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act without the proof of prepetition credit counseling required by 11 U.S.C. § 109(h)(1). The trustee in bankruptcy moved to dismiss the second of the two petitions. The court issued orders to show cause why the petitions should not be dismissed.

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opinion summary, case decided on August 14, 2006 , LexisNexis #0906-001