In re Ross, 838 F.3d 779 (3rd Cir. 2017) –
A debtor filed bankruptcy to block a foreclosure. When he sought to voluntarily dismiss the case, the bankruptcy court granted the request but also enjoined him from filing at any time in the indefinite future. The order was appealed first to the district court and then to the Third Circuit. Continue reading
Brown v. Ellmann (In re Brown), 851 F.3d 619 (6th Cir. 2017) –
After a chapter 7 trustee sold mortgaged residential property that had been surrendered by the debtor, the debtor claimed an exemption in the sale proceeds based on her state law redemption rights. The bankruptcy court denied the exemption claim, and the debtor appealed – first to the district court and then to the Sixth Circuit. There was no stay pending appeal and the debtor had no equity in the property, so as a threshold mater the court addressed mootness and standing before considering the merits of the exemption claim. Continue reading
Czyzewski v. Jevic Holding Corp., 580 U.S. ____, 137 S.Ct. 973, __ L. Ed. 2d ___ (2017) –
Settlement of LBO litigation led to a structured dismissal of a chapter 11 bankruptcy case that resulted in distributions to general unsecured creditors even though former employees with higher priority wage claims received nothing. The district court and Third Circuit affirmed the bankruptcy court dismissal, and the wage claimants sought and the Supreme Court granted certiorari. Continue reading
Turner v. Wells Fargo Bank N.A. (In re Turner), 859 F.3d 1145 (9th Cir. 2017) –
The debtors brought multiple claims following foreclosure of their residence. After the bankruptcy court dismissed the claims in a decision that was affirmed by the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel, the debtors appealed to the 9th Circuit. Continue reading
A creditor appealed a bankruptcy court order valuing a secured claim at $3.9 million for purposes of a Chapter 11 plan. The district court affirmed, but the Court of Appeals panel reversed and remanded. Then the 9th Circuit granted a rehearing en banc. The primary issue was how to value property subject to low-income housing restrictions. The court also addressed the proper “cramdown” rate and feasibility of a 40-year balloon payment plan. Continue reading
Peters v. Clark (In re Bryan), 857 F.3d 1078 (10th Cir. 2017) –
After a convoluted history of appeals and remands, issues relating to the sale of a residence by a chapter 7 trustee once again came before the 10th Circuit. This time the court addressed whether the trustee could properly surcharge a judgment creditor’s interest in the sale proceeds for expenses related to litigation involving the creditor’s liens. Continue reading
Bankruptcy-RealEstate-Insights 