On Bankruptcy and Mediation
Ancient tool with limited present value (photo by Marilyn Swanson) By Donald L. Swanson How much precedential value does an 1885 opinion of the U.S. Supreme Court deserve on a bankruptcy discharge issue? That’s a central question in the Petition for a Writ of Certiorari before the U.S. Supreme Court in Bartenwerfer v. Buckly, Case No.... Continue Reading →
“Either this or that” (photo by Marilyn Swanson) By Donald L. Swanson Here’s an important rule for mediators: When the parties try to present you with a binary equation—“either this or that”—reject it; insteadGet the parties involved in the process with you—try to help think your way out of the binary box they are trying to... Continue Reading →
A healthy tree? (photo by Marilyn Swanson) By: Donald L Swanson Does a rotten tree produce good fruit? That’s the bankruptcy issue before the U.S. Supreme Court in Siegel v. Fitzgerald, where the Question is this: “Whether the Bankruptcy Judgeship Act violates the uniformity requirement of the Bankruptcy Clause by increasing quarterly fees solely in... Continue Reading →
By: Donald L Swanson Justice Stephen G. Breyer is set to retire from the U.S. Supreme Court in a few months. But he’s not easing into retirement. Instead, he’s out there swinging—fighting for his beliefs: trying to instruct / persuade current and future jurists on how the law should be applied. Justice Breyer’s latest punch is... Continue Reading →
An well-worn path (photo by Marilyn Swanson) By: Donald L Swanson Question: What gets an attorney’s fee application allowed—or rejected—in bankruptcy? Short answer: The services, (i) must be “necessary,” and (ii) must require legal expertise. Two Recent Opinions Two recent opinions address this question: In re H.T.O. Architect, PLLC, Case No. 19-10915, SDNY Bankruptcy Court (issued... Continue Reading →
Dale G. Higer is an attorney and a long-time Commissioner for the State of Idaho on the Uniform Law Commission. His newest role is Chair of the Commission’s newly-formed Study Committee on Assignments for Benefit of Creditors. What follows is Mr. Higer’s report on the Commission and on the work of the newly formed Study... Continue Reading →
Built for speed (photo by Marilyn Swanson) By Donald L. Swanson “Subchapter V is supposed to be a fast process toward plan confirmation, but I don’t see that happening!” --Comment of a Bankruptcy Judge (as I recall the comment) It’s true: (i) Subchapter V is supposed to go quickly, but (ii) it often doesn’t. Here’s why... Continue Reading →
Self-Centered? (photo by Marilyn Swanson) By: Donald L Swanson A study on “egocentrism” and “misunderstanding in conflict and Negotiation” is enlightening. [Fn. 1] “Egocentrism” is defined as an “excessive interest in oneself . . . at the expense of or in disregard of others.” Study Findings The study finds, in three separate experiments, that negotiating parties,... Continue Reading →
A lack of uniformity? (photo by Marilyn Swanson) By: Donald L Swanson It’s time for a uniform law on the subject of assignment for benefit of creditors. Description Assignment for benefit of creditors laws are commonly known by the acrostic “ABC Laws”--for obvious reasons. Such laws are a tool for owners of a distressed business in... Continue Reading →
SUNSET (photo by Marilyn Swanson) By Donald L. Swanson The sun has set. Yes it has. The $7,500,000 eligibility limit for Subchapter V expired yesterday (March 28, 2022), without action by Congress to extend it. Actually, the Subchapter V sun was set to set on March 27—but that’s a Sunday. So let’s give the benefit of... Continue Reading →
MEDIATBANKRY 