Skip to main content

§ 362(k)(1)

In re Ebadi

Ruling
Foreclosure on property where debtor was guarantor of underlying debt violated stay.
Procedural posture

Before the court was a motion filed by debtor to reopen debtor's bankruptcy case under 11 U.S.C.S. § 350(b) in order to have the court vacate a foreclosure sale of certain real property conducted by respondent. The Motion also sought an award of actual and punitive damages for respondent's alleged willful violation of the automatic stay, pursuant to 11 U.S.C.S. § 362(k)(1).

ABI Membership is required to access the full summary of In re Ebadi Please sign in if you are already an ABI member, or otherwise you may Become an ABI Member

Consumer opinion summary, case decided on March 30, 2011 , LexisNexis #0411-109

Heers v. Gibson Realty Inc. (In re Heers)

Ruling
Realty company sanctioned for applying debtor agent's earned commission to outstanding expense account and office expenses in violation of stay.
Procedural posture

Plaintiff chapter 7 debtor filed a complaint against defendant realty company alleging conversion and a violation of 11 U.S.C.S. § 362 based upon the realty company's retention of the debtor's commission on the sale of certain property and the deduction of office expenses of another realtor. The debtor sought to recover her attorney's fees and costs and the sales commission.

ABI Membership is required to access the full summary of Heers v. Gibson Realty Inc. (In re Heers) Please sign in if you are already an ABI member, or otherwise you may Become an ABI Member

Consumer opinion summary, case decided on August 31, 2010 , LexisNexis #0910-113

Velasquez v. Hanes PR Inc. (In re Velasquez)

Ruling
State court action against corporation did not violate stay in case of individual debtors.
Procedural posture

Plaintiff debtors filed an adversary proceeding against defendants, a creditor and its attorney, for willful violation of the automatic stay by having moved the local court to continue a collection of money proceeding against debtors. Defendants moved to dismiss, alleging that there was no violation of the automatic stay, and also filed a motion requesting sanctions against the debtors under Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9011.

ABI Membership is required to access the full summary of Velasquez v. Hanes PR Inc. (In re Velasquez) Please sign in if you are already an ABI member, or otherwise you may Become an ABI Member

Consumer opinion summary, case decided on July 02, 2010 , LexisNexis #0910-040

In re Szeflinski

Ruling
Foreclosure action filed in violation of stay entitled debtor to damages.
Procedural posture

A chapter 7 debtor filed a motion seeking monetary damages and other relief pursuant to 11 U.S.C.S. § 362(k)(1) based on a creditor's alleged willful and deliberate violation of the automatic stay related to the creditor's postpetition commencement of a state court civil action for the foreclosure of certain real property of the debtor.

ABI Membership is required to access the full summary of In re Szeflinski Please sign in if you are already an ABI member, or otherwise you may Become an ABI Member

Consumer opinion summary, case decided on April 20, 2010 , LexisNexis #0710-044

In re Sanders

Ruling
Creditor sanctioned for contacting debtor and repossessing motor vehicle despite actual notice of debtor's bankruptcy.
Procedural posture

A bankruptcy debtor asserted that a creditor secured by the debtor's vehicle violated the automatic bankruptcy stay by contacting the debtor and repossessing the vehicle after receiving notice of the debtor's bankruptcy. The debtor moved for sanctions against the creditor pursuant to 11 U.S.C.S. § 362(k)(1).

ABI Membership is required to access the full summary of In re Sanders Please sign in if you are already an ABI member, or otherwise you may Become an ABI Member

Consumer opinion summary, case decided on February 16, 2010 , LexisNexis #0310-114

Johnson v. Smith (In re Johnson)

Ruling
Damages for stay violation were proper and enforceable even after dismissal of underlying case.
Procedural posture

Chapter 13 debtors obtained damages under 11 U.S.C.S. § 362(k)(1) for violation of the automatic stay by appellants, a business and an officer. While that decision was pending appeal, the Chapter 13 case was dismissed. On remand of the adversary action, appellants argued that the dismissal divested the court of its § 362 jurisdiction. The bankruptcy court and the Tenth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel (BAP) disagreed. An appeal followed.

ABI Membership is required to access the full summary of Johnson v. Smith (In re Johnson) Please sign in if you are already an ABI member, or otherwise you may Become an ABI Member

Court :
Judge or Jurisdiction information not available
Consumer opinion summary, case decided on August 05, 2009 , LexisNexis #0909-029

Lichtenstein v. Cohen & Stamowitz LLP (In re Liechtenstein)

Ruling
Bankruptcy court properly declined to award sanctions and attorneys' fees for stay violation that it found was not willful.
Procedural posture

Debtor sought review of an order of the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, which denied his motion for sanctions and attorney's fees for an alleged willful violation by appellees, a creditor and its collection agency, of the automatic stay imposed by 11 U.S.C.S. § 362.

ABI Membership is required to access the full summary of Lichtenstein v. Cohen & Stamowitz LLP (In re Liechtenstein) Please sign in if you are already an ABI member, or otherwise you may Become an ABI Member

Consumer opinion summary, case decided on March 31, 2009 , LexisNexis #0509-008

In re Mitchell

Ruling
Creditor violated stay by contacting debtor and going to debtor's house after receiving notice of bankruptcy.
Procedural posture

A chapter 13 debtor filed a motion pursuant to 11 U.S.C.S. § 362(k)(1), seeking relief for violations of the automatic stay allegedly committed by a creditor.

ABI Membership is required to access the full summary of In re Mitchell Please sign in if you are already an ABI member, or otherwise you may Become an ABI Member

Consumer opinion summary, case decided on February 06, 2009 , LexisNexis #0309-112

5th Avenue Real Estate Dev. Inc. v. Countrywide Home Loans Inc. (In re 5th Avenue Real Estate Dev. Inc.)

Ruling
Corporte debtor was not an "individual" and not eligible for damages for stay violations.
Procedural posture

Plaintiff debtor filed a complaint against defendants, creditors, alleging that the creditors proceeded with a foreclosure action in violation of the automatic stay. The debtor sought damages under 11 U.S.C.S. § 362(k)(1) in the amount of $ 49,000.

ABI Membership is required to access the full summary of 5th Avenue Real Estate Dev. Inc. v. Countrywide Home Loans Inc. (In re 5th Avenue Real Estate Dev. Inc.) Please sign in if you are already an ABI member, or otherwise you may Become an ABI Member

Commercial opinion summary, case decided on September 19, 2008 , LexisNexis #1208-038

Parker v. Pioneer Credit Co. of Ala. Inc.

Ruling
Lodestar method properly used to determine fee award in stay violation proceeding.
Procedural posture

Appellant creditor challenged an award of attorneys' fees to appellee debtor by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Alabama, Southern Division. At issue was whether the fees awarded pursuant to 11 U.S.C.S. § 362(k)(1) were excessive and unreasonable.

ABI Membership is required to access the full summary of Parker v. Pioneer Credit Co. of Ala. Inc. Please sign in if you are already an ABI member, or otherwise you may Become an ABI Member

Consumer opinion summary, case decided on September 10, 2008 , LexisNexis #1008-039