On Bankruptcy and Mediation
By: Donald L Swanson It happens. There are businesses in financial stress who, for a variety of reasons, can’t qualify for Subchapter V. Owners want to save the business, but Subchapter V is not available. Reasons why Subchapter V might be unavailable include: Debtor has more than $7.5 million of qualifying debt and can’t get enough... Continue Reading →
A permanent extender? (photo by Marilyn Swanson) By: Donald L. Swanson The Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019 (aka “Subchapter V”) has been in effect since February 19, 2020. And here’s something we’ve learned since then: Subchapter V meets a definite need in our society for helping small businesses and owners in financial stress. I’ve seen... Continue Reading →
The path to confirmation? (Photo by Marilyn Swanson) By: Donald L Swanson 11 U.S.C. § 1191 is Subchapter V’s plan confirmation statute. One confirmation essential, from § 1191(b), is that a Subchapter V plan must be “fair and equitable” to each impaired class that does not accept the plan. This article summarizes two bankruptcy court opinions... Continue Reading →
Voting (photo by Marilyn Swanson) By: Donald L Swanson In Subchapter V of the Bankruptcy Code, the “Post-Petition Disclosure and Solicitation” provisions of § 1125 do not apply without a specific court order (see § 1181(b)). Voting Questions So, a question exists on how the plan voting provisions of § 1126 and Fed.Bankr.R. 3018 might apply... Continue Reading →
Well-defined limits (photo by Marilyn Swanson) By Donald L. Swanson The opinion is In re Parking Management, Inc., Case No. 20-15026, in the Maryland Bankruptcy Court (decided August 28, 2020, Doc. 224). The Question The question is whether Debtor has too much debt to qualify for Subchapter V relief. Background —Subchapter V The new Subchapter V... Continue Reading →
An election system and process (photo by Marilyn Swanson) By: Donald L Swanson Wow—didn’t expect to see an § 1111(b) election opinion under Subchapter V this soon! But here it is: In re Body Transit, Inc. d/b/a/ Rascals Fitness, Bky. No. 20-10014 in Eastern Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Court (decided August 7, 2020, by Hon. Eric. L. Frank,... Continue Reading →
The wheels of commerce must continue to turn (photo by Marilyn Swanson) By: Donald L Swanson Under UCC § 9-332, a debtor’s attorney can receive, and keep, pre-petition retainers paid from a lender’s collateral proceeds—absent collusion. That’s the conclusion of a recent Bankruptcy Court opinion in Walters v. Lynch (In re 3P4PL, LLC), Adv. No. 15-1120,... Continue Reading →
A Bed & Breakfast (photo by Marilyn Swanson) By: Donald L Swanson Chapter 11 Debtor owns her home and uses it as a Bed & Breakfast. The mortgage on Debtor's B&B/residence is her primary debt. This raises Subchapter V issues like: Eligibility—is her primary debt a consumer debt or a business debt?Eligibility—is her bankruptcy a "single... Continue Reading →
By: Donald L Swanson Subchapter V exists "to improve the reorganization process for small business chapter 11 debtors." In re Wright, Case No. 20-01035 (Bankry.S.Car., Order dated 4/27/2020, Doc. 37 at 5). Charles Wright (“Debtor”) files a Chapter 11 case on February 28, 2020, designating himself a small business debtor and electing to proceed under Subchapter... Continue Reading →
We have failed to craft a bankruptcy relief that is viable for the needs of today’s entrepreneurs.
MEDIATBANKRY 