On Bankruptcy and Mediation
By: Donald L Swanson “Those with business, managerial, consulting, mediation and operational experience are encouraged to apply.” --From “Solicitation” by U.S. Trustee for Applicants to Serve as Subchapter V Trustees (emphasis added) Back in August of this year, the Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019 became law. It’s effective date is 180 days later—February 19, 2020.... Continue Reading →
By: Donald L. Swanson Let’s try combining a couple empirical studies on unrelated matters to support the following proposition: --The “mediator’s proposal,” as a form of choice delegation, can help parties reach settlement. The proposal becomes a portal or entryway to decision. First Study: Delegating Difficult Choices The first study is titled, “Delegating Decisions: Recruiting Others... Continue Reading →
By: Donald L Swanson There is often a tension in mediation that goes something like this: Party of the first part says: We win on a technical legal issue—100% certainty! Party of the second part responds: You do not win on that issue—100% certainty! Party of the first part reacts: Do so! Party of the second... Continue Reading →
By: Donald L. Swanson The American Bankruptcy Institute and St. John’s University School of Law do an annual forty-hour [yes, that’s 40-hour] “Bankruptcy Mediation Training” course in New York City. The next course is coming soon -- it’s scheduled for December 8 – 12, 2019. Here is a schedule and sign-up link. I took... Continue Reading →
By: Donald L. Swanson The case is Trujillo v. Tak (In re Tak), Case No. 18-ap-01217 (Bankry. C.D. Cal.). The Case Celia Trujillo sues Debtor in Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, at Case No. BC672613, for sexual harassment and discrimination. In response, Debtor files Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Then, Celia Trujillo... Continue Reading →
By Donald L. Swanson Feuding parties are blinded by their feud. And they cannot envision the future of their feud with accuracy. An Ancient Illustration from London A recent essay [Fn. 1] provides details of a multi-year feud between London-area grocers, back in the early 1600s. That feud involved two lawsuits, a criminal complaint, and extensive... Continue Reading →
By Donald L. Swanson Every now and then a mediator gets stiffed on fees. It doesn’t happen often. But it happens. And it’s always a shame. Mediators of bankruptcy disputes have an additional payment-related hurdle they must navigate. The hurdle is this: --Advance court approval is required for getting paid from bankruptcy funds. Statutory Requirements... Continue Reading →
By: Donald L. Swanson Mediation has become the go-to process for dealing with large-scale sexual abuse claims in bankruptcy. The latest example is the Chapter 11 case of In re USA Gymnastics, filed on December 5, 2018, at Case No. 18-09108, in the Southern Indiana Bankruptcy Court. Background USA Gymnastics is where Larry Nassar volunteered as... Continue Reading →
By: Donald L. Swanson Consumers often delegate the responsibility for making difficult decisions to others. This is the finding of a recent study by two college professors [Fn. 1]. Avoiding Regret v. Avoiding Disappointment The study distinguishes between a consumer’s desire to avoid “regret” and to avoid “disappointment.” While both regret and disappointment “capture a person’s... Continue Reading →
