LLC Operating Agreement: Is A Purchase Option Enforceable Against A Bankrupt Member?

In re Denman, 513 B.R. 720 (Bankr. W.D. Tenn. 2014)

A chapter 13 debtor was a member of a limited liability company. Another member sought relief from the automatic stay in order to exercise a right to acquire the debtor’s membership interests pursuant to the LLC operating agreement. Continue reading

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Delayed Recording: Sometimes Late Is No Better Than Never

Collins v. JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (In re Flannery), 513 B.R. 1 (Bankr. D. Mass. 2014)

A chapter 7 trustee sought to avoid as a preference a mortgage that was recorded within 90 days before a bankruptcy filing. The mortgagee defended on the basis that it was protected by the “earmarking” doctrine and because it would have been entitled to receive all of the proceeds of the property anyway based on its junior mortgage. Continue reading

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Equitable Subrogation: “Complete and Perfect Justice” Requires Party To Be Without Fault

Ocwen Loan Servicing LLC v. Summit Bank, N.A. (In re Francis), 750 F.3d 754 (8th Cir. 2014) –

A lender that attached the wrong legal description to its recorded mortgage sought equitable subrogation and/or reformation of the mortgage in order to obtain a first priority lien on the intended property. Continue reading

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Credit Bid (Round 2): What Does It Take to Show “Cause”?

In re Charles Street African Methodist Episcopal Church of Boston, 510 B.R. 453 (Bankr. D. Mass. 2014) –

In connection with a proposed sale of real property, a chapter 11 debtor sought to prohibit the mortgagee from submitting a credit bid. It contended that there was “cause” based on its argument that the mortgagee’s claims were subject to a bona fide dispute. Continue reading

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Credit Bid: Loan-to-Own Strikes Out

In re The Free Lance-Star Publ’g Co. of Fredericksburg, VA, 512 B.R. 798 (Bankr. E.D. Va. 2014)

After the debtors obtained court approval of bidding procedures to auction substantially all of their assets, a secured creditor sought a court determination that it had valid perfected liens on the assets, and the debtors sought to limit the secured creditor’s right to credit bid in the bankruptcy sales. Continue reading

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Abandonment: When Property Drops Out of the Bankruptcy Estate

In re Rich, 510 B.R. 366 (Bankr. D. Utah 2014)

In a case that was converted from a chapter 11 reorganization to a chapter 7 liquidation, the debtor sought an order directing the trustee to abandon certain real estate, arguing that there was no equity for the bankruptcy estate. A lender had already obtained relief from the automatic stay permitting it to foreclose on the property, and the debtor wanted to do a short sale with the consent of the lender. The chapter 7 trustee opposed the motion. Continue reading

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