On Bankruptcy and Mediation
By: Donald L. Swanson “I’d be happy to pay the million dollars I owe you. The problem is that I have only two of them.” --A defendant’s claim of poverty and non-collectibility in settlement negotiations. A defendant's poverty/non-collectibility claim creates an interesting dynamic in mediation and other negotiations. And that’s true whether the defendant is an... Continue Reading →
By: Donald L Swanson Back in 1966, when the Bankruptcy Act of 1898 was newly-eligible (in human years) for Social Security, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 7 to 2 majority opinion in Katchen v. Landy, 382 U.S. 323 (1966). The Katchen opinion is founded in the U.S. Constitution’s “Bankruptcies” clause and authorizes bankruptcy courts to... Continue Reading →
Competing and Turbulent InterestsBy Donald L. Swanson The case is In re Anonymous, 283 F.3d 627 (4th Cir. 2002). It’s an attorney discipline action over breaches of mediation confidentiality in an arbitration. The dispute in arbitration is between an attorney and his former client over litigation expenses. This dispute arose after the attorney and client concluded... Continue Reading →
By: Donald L. Swanson One of the best innovations in the U.S. bankruptcy system is creation of bankruptcy appellate panels (“BAPs”), as a division of the U.S. circuit courts of appeals. BAPs hear appeals of bankruptcy court decisions. Currently, there are five BAPs, one in each of the following circuits: First, Sixth, Eighth, Ninth and... Continue Reading →
By Donald L. Swanson “Even if a plan emerged out of mediation that unfairly discriminated against financial creditors, it’s the court’s responsibility to block the deal.” -- Judge Steven Rhodes, as reported by Nathan Bomey in “Detroit Resurrected: to Bankruptcy and Back.” Judge Rhodes is defending his mediators in the City of Detroit bankruptcy against... Continue Reading →
By: Donald L. Swanson Here’s a case about the effects of executory contract rejection. While its focus is on “intellectual property” rights under § 365(n) [Fn. 1], the case also delves into the effects of rejection for all types of executory contracts under § 365(g) [Fn. 2]. And this case demonstrates the hazards of a failure... Continue Reading →
By: Donald L. Swanson “There was a settlement . . . many arguments have been constructed to get around that unfortunate fact, but it’s a fact.” --Bankruptcy Judge, during hearing on Motion to enforce a mediated settlement in Lehman Brothers bankruptcy. It’s common in business bankruptcies for the estate to pursue preference and fraudulent transfers claims. Sometimes,... Continue Reading →
By: Donald L. Swanson Imagine buying assets out of bankruptcy at a fair price, only to have a previously-unknown liability tag along. --Surprise, surprise! The U.S. Supreme Court has an opportunity to weigh-in on such a “Surprise, surprise” issue. A petition for writ of certiorari is pending in a case where this could happen—complete with a $63... Continue Reading →
By: Donald L Swanson “Any district court that elects to require the use of . . . alternative dispute resolution in certain cases may do so . . . with respect to mediation.” Alternative Dispute Resolution Act of 1998 (28 U.S.C. § 652(a)). “I don’t feel comfortable requiring parties to mediate.” Ubiquitous sentiment among judges. I... Continue Reading →
By: Donald L Swanson “Congress shall have Power”: “To establish . . . uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States”; and “To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers.” U.S. Constitution, Art. I, Sec. 8, cls. 4 & 18 (emphasis added). Any opinion... Continue Reading →
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