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Qmect Inc. v. Burlingame Capital Partners II LP (In re Qmect Inc.)

Ruling
Creditor held a valid claim for postpetition attorneys'fees incurred in defending adversary proceeding.
Procedural posture

Defendant moved for an award of postpetition attorneys'fees as part of its judgment in adversary proceedings filed by plaintiff debtors. At the time, Ninth Circuit precedent (the Fobian case) held that attorneys'fees were not recoverable for litigating issues peculiar to bankruptcy law. In its Travelers decision, the Supreme Court overruled the Fobian case. Following briefing, the bankruptcy court issued its ruling on defendant's motion.

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opinion summary, case decided on May 17, 2007 , LexisNexis #0707-058

In re Withers

Ruling
Failure to obtain credit counseling did not require immediate dismissal.
Procedural posture

A chapter 7 bankruptcy debtor failed to obtain credit counseling as required under 11 U.S.C. § 109(h) to be eligible as a debtor in bankruptcy and failed to file documents required by 11 U.S.C. § 521(a)(1)(B). The bankruptcy court denied the trustee's motion for an order to show cause why the debtor should not be held in contempt for disobeying a court order, pending consideration of whether dismissal of the case was warranted or required.

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opinion summary, case decided on February 26, 2007 , LexisNexis #0407-036

In re Keppert

Ruling
Attorneys' fee application denied due to inadequate notice to creditors and illegible time records.
Procedural posture

The attorney who represented two bankruptcy debtors filed an application with the court seeking an award of $21,977.10 in attorneys'fees and $136.74 in costs for his representation of the debtors. The case was originally filed under chapter 7, it was later converted to a chapter 13 case, and it was changed back into a chapter 7 case in 2006. Both of the debtors died while the bankruptcy proceedings were pending.

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opinion summary, case decided on February 15, 2007 , LexisNexis #0407-127

In re Qmeet Inc.

Ruling
Confirmation of election of permanent trustee denied as not requested by creditors holding sufficient amount of claims.
Procedural posture

An interim trustee was appointed in debtor's bankruptcy case. At a continued meeting of creditors, the election of a permanent trustee was requested under 11 U.S.C. § 702. The validity of the election was contested. The U.S. Trustee filed a report of a disputed election of a chapter 7 trustee. An motion to confirm the election was filed by an administrative creditor. The motion was opposed by the interim trustee and an equity holder in debtor.

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opinion summary, case decided on January 25, 2007 , LexisNexis #0307-102

Kendall v. Carbatt (In re Carbatt)

Ruling
Transfer of marital home to former spouse for reasonably equivalent value was not avoidable nor was subsequent transfer from former spouse to her mother.
Procedural posture

Chapter 7 trustee sought to avoid the prepetition transfer by debtor to defendant ex-wife of his interest in their family home and in an unsecured promissory note pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §§ 548(a) and 544(b). He also sought to recover the transfers or their value from the wife pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 550(a)(1) and with respect to his interest in the house, from defendant, the wife's mother, as a subsequent transferee pursuant to section 550(a)(2).

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opinion summary, case decided on December 19, 2006 , LexisNexis #0207-005

In re Pak

Ruling
Confirmation denied due to debtor's failure to commit all projected disposable income to plan.
Procedural posture

A debtor sought confirmation of his amended chapter 13 plan, but the trustee and an unsecured creditor objected to the confirmation. The debtor contended that the plan should be confirmed because the payments constituted more than his "projected disposable income" under 11 U.S.C. § 1325(b)(1)(B).

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opinion summary, case decided on December 14, 2006 , LexisNexis #0207-050

In re Gutierrez

Ruling
Debtor's former attorney ordered to disgorge fees due to failure to comply with BAPCPA provisions for Bankruptcy Truthfulness Notice or fee agreements.
Procedural posture

Chapter 7 debtor filed a motion, seeking an order compelling his former bankruptcy attorney to disgorge pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 526(c) all monies received in connection with his representation of debtor.

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opinion summary, case decided on December 01, 2006 , LexisNexis #0107-004

Brady v. Bestworth-Rommel Inc. (In re Johnson)

Ruling
Creditor who released lien on land owned by corporation of which debtor was a shareholder in exchange for transfer by debtor was a subsequent transferee and transfer was not avoidable.
Procedural posture

Plaintiff chapter 7 trustee filed an adversary proceeding against defendant creditor seeking to avoid an alleged transfer from the debtor pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 548(a)(2) and to recover the amount of the transfer pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 550(a) or (b).

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opinion summary, case decided on November 25, 2006 , LexisNexis #0107-063

Tranche 1 (SVP-AMC) Inc. v. Relito Tan (In re Relito Tan)

Ruling
Denial of discharge granted on remand after evidentiary hearing established debtor's fraud.
Procedural posture

Plaintiff bank brought an adversary proceeding against defendant chapter 7 debtor, seeking denial of the debtor's bankruptcy discharge pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(2), (a)(3) and (a)(4)(A). The Ninth Circuit reversed the grant of summary judgment to the bank, concluding that an evidentiary hearing was required with respect to the debtor's intent. On remand, the bankruptcy court held a hearing.

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opinion summary, case decided on October 03, 2006 , LexisNexis #1106-128

Para v. Para (In re Para)

Ruling
Debt to former spouse discharged where former spouse had paid country club dues rather than support payments owed to debtor.
Procedural posture

Plaintiff former spouse brought an adversary proceeding against defendant debtor pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(15), seeking a judgment of nondischargeability as to two obligations imposed on the debtor in a divorce proceeding. The parties filed cross-motions for summary judgment with respect to this claim. The court held a hearing on the motions.

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opinion summary, case decided on September 26, 2006 , LexisNexis #1206-026