On Bankruptcy and Mediation
By: Donald L Swanson Business people value their reputations because they take pride in their good names, and “not for some nebulous financial gain.” They: are guided “by their consciences”; and avoid cheating and “keep promises” because they “believe it is right to do so, not because it is good business.” [Fn. 1] The internal drive... Continue Reading →
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 →
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 →
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 →
The setting of the sun (photo by Marilyn Swanson) By Donald L. Swanson Here’s a vindication for the Small Business Administration’s discrimination against bankruptcy debtors: On March 16, 2022, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals reverses a Bankruptcy Court Order that prohibited the SBA from denying PPP funds to bankruptcy debtors. The opinion is Springfield Hospital,... Continue Reading →
Ignoring the issue? (photo by Marilyn Swanson) By: Donald L Swanson A Petition for certiorari is before the U.S. Supreme Court in Speech & Language Center, LLC, and Chryssoula Marinos-Arsenis v. Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (Case No. 21-1154, filed 2/16/2022). Petition’s Question The Question presented in the Petition is this: “Can parties... Continue Reading →
Unimpaired (photo by Marilyn Swanson) By Donald L. Swanson Claims are “impaired,” unless the plan “leaves” their rights “unaltered.” § 1124(1). This rule is not as simple and unequivocal as it seems, according to an In re Hertz opinion. [Fn. 1] Here’s why. Plan Treatment of Unsecured Claims Claims of unsecured creditors in the Hertz bankruptcy... Continue Reading →
Fed.R.Bankr.P. 9023 & Fed.R.Civ.P. 59 By: Donald L Swanson Imagine this: a U.S. District Court enters judgment in a case that’s “related to” a bankruptcy, and we want to file a motion for new trial or to amend the judgment. So, which deadline applies to the motion: 28 days under Fed.R.Civ.P. 59(e); or14 days under Fed.R.Bankr.P.... Continue Reading →
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