Search Opinion

In re Cabrera-Mejia

The court issued an order to show cause why a law firm should not be subjected to sanctions for filing motions seeking relief from the automatic stay that was imposed after various debtors filed petitions under chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code.
Ruling: 
Law firm sanctioned for filing and then withdrawing numerous requests for relief from stay without conducting proper investigation into basis for motions.
ABI Membership is required to access the full summary of In re Cabrera-Mejia. Please sign in if you are already an ABI member, or otherwise you may Become an ABI Member
Consumer case opionion summary, case decided on December 23,2008, LexisNexis #0309-094

In re Vargas

The movant, which was apparently not the mortgagee of record, sought relief from the automatic stay to proceed on the foreclosure of the promissory note and mortgage. The debtor asserted that the promissory note in issue was a forgery and not a valid instrument.
Ruling: 
Law firm sanctioned for bringing motion for relief from stay to foreclose without evidentiary support.
ABI Membership is required to access the full summary of In re Vargas. Please sign in if you are already an ABI member, or otherwise you may Become an ABI Member
Consumer case opionion summary, case decided on October 22,2008, LexisNexis #0209-135

In re Pearce

Debtor filed a petition under chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code and objected to four claims that were filed against her bankruptcy estate. The court sustained the debtor's objection to three of the four claims and took under advisement the question of whether one of the creditors should be sanctioned for filing its proof of claim.
Ruling: 
Court declined to sanction creditor that purchased claims from original creditor for filing proofs of claim.
ABI Membership is required to access the full summary of In re Pearce. Please sign in if you are already an ABI member, or otherwise you may Become an ABI Member
Consumer case opionion summary, case decided on October 01,2008, LexisNexis #0109-098

In re Brooks-Hamilton

Upon remand from the U.S. Court of Appeals from the Ninth Circuit, the court reconsidered its order suspending an attorney for his conduct in a bankruptcy case.
Ruling: 
Bankruptcy court reaffirmed six month suspension of attorney for misconduct on remand.
ABI Membership is required to access the full summary of In re Brooks-Hamilton. Please sign in if you are already an ABI member, or otherwise you may Become an ABI Member
Consumer case opionion summary, case decided on September 02,2008, LexisNexis #1108-068

In re Martinez

The debtors filed for relief under chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code. In their schedules, the debtors listed a principal residence and two rental properties. A chapter 13 trustee filed an opposition to confirmation of the debtors' plan and recommended their case for dismissal based on ineligibility under 11 U.S.C.S. § 109(e).
Ruling: 
Creditor's attorney sanctioned for refusing to cooperate with correction of erroneous stipulation.
ABI Membership is required to access the full summary of In re Martinez. Please sign in if you are already an ABI member, or otherwise you may Become an ABI Member
Consumer case opionion summary, case decided on August 01,2008, LexisNexis #1008-054

Cadle Co. v. Pratt (In re Pratt)

The matter was remanded to the court from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. The district court had affirmed the denial of a motion for sanctions filed by plaintiff company against defendant debtor, but reversed the court's decision to award attorney's fees and costs to the debtor's attorney. The matter was remanded so the court could determine whether an attorney fee award to the debtor's counsel was warranted.
Ruling: 
Debtor's counsel awarded fees in costs for successful defense of motion for sanctions.
ABI Membership is required to access the full summary of Cadle Co. v. Pratt (In re Pratt). Please sign in if you are already an ABI member, or otherwise you may Become an ABI Member
Consumer case opionion summary, case decided on July 30,2008, LexisNexis #0908-035

In re Withrow

An attorney filed a motion for a stay pending appeal to the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the First Circuit (BAP) of an order, which sanctioned him for violating Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9011 and 11 U.S.C.S. § 707(b)(4)(C) and (D) and ordered that sum paid to the chapter 7 trustee within 30 days.
Ruling: 
Debtor's attorney denied stay pending appeal of sanctions for misrepresentations in debtor's statements and schedules.
ABI Membership is required to access the full summary of In re Withrow. Please sign in if you are already an ABI member, or otherwise you may Become an ABI Member
Consumer case opionion summary, case decided on July 25,2008, LexisNexis #0808-130

In re Withrow

The court issued an order requiring the attorney for a chapter 7 debtor to show cause why he should not, pursuant to Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9011(c)(1)(B), be sanctioned on account of alleged misrepresentations, omissions, and errors in the debtor's bankruptcy schedules, Statement of Financial Affairs, and Rebuttal of Presumption of Abuse.
Ruling: 
Debtor's attorney sanctioned for failure to meet obligations to review schedules and resolve or explain contradictions and inconsistencies.
ABI Membership is required to access the full summary of In re Withrow. Please sign in if you are already an ABI member, or otherwise you may Become an ABI Member
Consumer case opionion summary, case decided on July 03,2008, LexisNexis #0708-129

Nosek v. Ameriquest Mortg. Co. (In re Nosek)

The court issued an order to show cause why sanctions should not be imposed under Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9011 for apparent misrepresentations as to the status of a lender as the holder of the note and mortgage at issue in the case. The order was directed at the lender, the law firm that served as its local law firm, three of its attorneys, the law firm that served as its national law firm, one of its attorneys, and the existing mortgage holder.
Ruling: 
Lender and counsel sanctioned for misrepresentation of status with regard to note and mortgage.
ABI Membership is required to access the full summary of Nosek v. Ameriquest Mortg. Co. (In re Nosek). Please sign in if you are already an ABI member, or otherwise you may Become an ABI Member
Consumer case opionion summary, case decided on April 25,2008, LexisNexis #0608-035

Harris v. Brown (In re Brown)

Before the court was movant chapter 7 trustee's motion for sanctions pursuant to Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9011(c) against respondent, debtor's brother, who had a one-third interest in the assets and liabilities of debtor.
Ruling: 
Debtor's brother sanctioned for frivolous and mertiless filings.
ABI Membership is required to access the full summary of Harris v. Brown (In re Brown). Please sign in if you are already an ABI member, or otherwise you may Become an ABI Member
Consumer case opionion summary, case decided on March 11,2008, LexisNexis #0408-139

Pages