How Many Bankruptcies Can a Homeowner File?

22 Friday Mar 2019

Posted by BNG in Bankruptcy, Borrower, Federal Court, Judicial States, Non-Judicial States, Pro Se Litigation, Your Legal Rights

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Attorney Fees, Bankruptcy, bankruptcy court, Bankruptcy Filing Fees, Credit Counseling and Financial Management Courses, homeowners, How Many Bankruptcies Can a Homeowner File, How Much Debt Do I Need To File Bankruptcy

Homeowners often find the need to file for Bankruptcy in order to save their homes. Hopefully, your first bankruptcy filing will be your last, and you’ll be able to start fresh and regain control over your finances. But there are times when people need to file bankruptcy multiple times. For example, a homeowner with serious financial problems may file Bankruptcy not only to save their homes, but equally to protect other assets. Secondly, someone may have a serious medical condition, but can’t get medical insurance. If the medical bills keep piling up, that person may need to file bankruptcy multiple times to get those bills discharged. Homeowners often wonder – how often can we file for bankruptcy?

The Bankruptcy Code does not specify a maximum number of times one can file bankruptcy. Bankruptcy courts are more apt, however, to scrutinize a bankruptcy filing by someone who has already filed previous cases. If the person keeps charging up credit card debt for unnecessary items, the court may dismiss that person’s successive bankruptcy case.

Also, a person may be denied a discharge if he or she received a prior discharge in a previous bankruptcy case. If you file for bankruptcy under Chapter 7, the bankruptcy court may deny your discharge if you already received a discharge in a previous Chapter 7 case filed within eight years of your current case. The court will also deny your Chapter 7 discharge if you previously received one in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy case that you filed within six years of your current case, unless you paid the majority of your creditors in that prior Chapter 13 case. Finally, if you file for bankruptcy under Chapter 13, you’ll be denied a discharge if you received one in a prior Chapter 7 bankruptcy case that was filed within four years of your current case, or in a Chapter 13 case filed within two years of your current case.

There’s a lesson here – if you file for bankruptcy, make sure you do it right, or you may not be able to do it again for a number of years.

Bankruptcy is a federal legal process that consists, at minimum, of filing a court petition, attending credit counseling classes, and meeting with a bankruptcy trustee. In every consumer bankruptcy case there are three categories of fees: (1) bankruptcy filing fees; (2) credit counseling fees; and (3) attorney fees. Filing a bankruptcy case does not have to be expensive or unaffordable. Below are some tips and tricks to keep costs low.

Bankruptcy Filing Fees

Because bankruptcy is a federal legal process, court filing fees are the same throughout the country. For a Chapter 7, an erase-your-debts-start-fresh bankruptcy case, the filing fee is $306. For a Chapter 13, a repayment plan, the filing fee is $281. These fees must be paid to the clerk of the court upon filing. However, with the court’s permission individual debtors may pay in installments. The final payment cannot be later than 120 days after you file the petition. In some rare cases the filing fee may be waived altogether for debtors who earn less than 150% of the poverty level. Bankruptcy filing fees are the same whether a debtor files a single or joint husband and wife bankruptcy.

Credit Counseling and Financial Management Courses

The federal Bankruptcy Code requires each consumer debtor to receive credit counseling from a nonprofit budget and credit counseling agency approved by the United States Trustee within 180 days prior to filing a bankruptcy. This counseling fee is around $50.00 per household and is available in-person, by telephone, or over the internet. After filing, the debtor must complete an “instructional course concerning personal financial management.” This class is also available in-person, by telephone, or over the internet for a fee around $50.00 per filer.

The Bankruptcy Code directs approved providers of the credit counseling and financial management courses to provide services without regard to your ability to pay. If you can’t afford the counseling, the agency may waive the fee or require you to pay a lesser amount.

Attorney Fees

Attorney fees are negotiated between the debtor and the attorney. Attorney fees are paid up-front in Chapter 7 cases. In Chapter 13 cases, the attorney may elect to receive attorney fees in equal monthly installments. The attorney is paid from the debtor’s monthly payment to the trustee, and makes the entire process more affordable. A few not-for-profit agencies and private attorneys provide free bankruptcy representation to indigent individuals.

If you are in need of debt relief, but are afraid that you cannot afford the bankruptcy fees, speak with an experienced bankruptcy attorney and discuss your options. There are strategies that you and your attorney can employ to make the process fit your budget.

How Much Debt Do I Need To File Bankruptcy

There is no qualifying minimum debt limit for an individual bankruptcy in most States. Debtors who otherwise qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy can file with any amount of secured or unsecured debt. The purpose of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy is to provide the debtor a fresh start without the burden of overwhelming debt. In some cases this debt may be objectively very small (perhaps only a few thousand dollars), but it be relatively very large to a person on a fixed income from retirement, disability, or otherwise.

In cases where the amount of dis-chargeable debt is objectively small, both the bankruptcy attorney and the client should take care to consider all of the consequences of filing. First, bankruptcy is not cheap. There is a court filing fee, a credit counseling fee, a personal financial management course fee, and, of course, your attorney’s fees. In some extreme cases some or all of these fees may be waived. Second, a bankruptcy filing can significantly impair the debtor’s ability to borrow money and obtain credit, at least for the short term. Finally, non-exempt property may be at risk. For many poor debtors, these consequences have little, if any, affect. Many poor debtors seek bankruptcy protection simply to rid themselves of the nuisance of debt collection.

While there is no minimum amount of debt required to file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, the bankruptcy laws set a ceiling on the amount of secured and unsecured debt a person can have in a Chapter 13 case. These limits as of April 1, 2010 are $1,081,400 for secured debt and $360,475 for unsecured debt. The Chapter 13 debt limits adjust every three years. Cases that exceed these limits are ineligible for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, but may qualify under Chapters 7 or 11. There is currently some confusion in our courts as to how these debt limits apply in a joint husband and wife Chapter 13 case. Some courts will separately consider debt that is individual and not joint, effectively increasing the Chapter 13 limits.

An experienced bankruptcy attorney can evaluate your case and discuss any issues surrounding your case. Whatever the amount of your debt, if you are unable to pay, the federal bankruptcy laws can offer you substantial relief. Speak with an experienced bankruptcy attorney and discover how the federal bankruptcy laws can help you.

If you are experiencing financial difficulty and are considering bankruptcy, discuss your case with an experienced bankruptcy attorney.

If you are a homeowner already in Chapter 13 Bankruptcy and needs to proceed with Adversary Proceeding to challenge the validity of Security Interest or Lien on your home, Our Adversary Proceeding package may be just what you need.

When Homeowner’s good faith attempts to amicably work with the Bank in order to resolve the issue fails;

Home owners should wake up TODAY! before it’s too late by mustering enough courage for “Pro Se” Litigation (Self Representation – Do it Yourself) against the Lender – for Mortgage Fraud and other State and Federal law violations using foreclosure defense package found at https://fightforeclosure.net/foreclosure-defense-package/ “Pro Se” litigation will allow Homeowners to preserved their home equity, saves Attorneys fees by doing it “Pro Se” and pursuing a litigation for Mortgage Fraud, Unjust Enrichment, Quiet Title and Slander of Title; among other causes of action. This option allow the homeowner to stay in their home for 3-5 years for FREE without making a red cent in mortgage payment, until the “Pretender Lender” loses a fortune in litigation costs to high priced Attorneys which will force the “Pretender Lender” to early settlement in order to modify the loan; reducing principal and interest in order to arrive at a decent figure of the monthly amount the struggling homeowner could afford to pay.

If you find yourself in an unfortunate situation of losing or about to lose your home to wrongful fraudulent foreclosure, and need a complete package that will show you step-by-step litigation solutions helping you challenge these fraudsters and ultimately saving your home from foreclosure either through loan modification or “Pro Se” litigation visit: https://fightforeclosure.net/foreclosure-defense-package/

If you have received a Notice of Default “NOD”, take a deep breath, as this the time to start the FIGHT! and Protect your EQUITY!

If you do Nothing, you will see the WRONG parties WITHOUT standing STEAL your home right under your nose, and by the time you realize it, it might be too late! If your property has been foreclosed, use the available options on our package to reverse already foreclosed home and reclaim your most prized possession! You can do it by yourself! START Today — STOP Foreclosure Tomorrow!

How Homeowners Can Avoid Mistakes During Bankruptcy

22 Friday Mar 2019

Posted by BNG in Bankruptcy, Federal Court, Fraud, Judicial States, Non-Judicial States, Pro Se Litigation, Your Legal Rights

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Avoid Mistakes During Bankruptcy, Avoid Mistakes in Bankruptcy, Bankruptcy, Bankruptcy Attorney, bankruptcy court, bankruptcy mistakes, bankruptcy process, Bankruptcy Trustee, Borrower, Creditor, debtor, federal bankruptcy laws, filing for bankruptcy, fresh financial start, homeowners, Plan for Bankruptcy

Homeowners must do their very best to avoid making mistakes during Bankruptcy Proceedings.

The federal bankruptcy laws promise a fresh financial start for the honest but unfortunate debtor. Bankruptcy balances the interests of the debtor to obtain a fresh start and the interests of the creditor to see that the debtor pays back whatever he or she can afford. But all too often, a debtor makes mistakes in bankruptcy, seriously compromising his or her case before it’s even filed.

In order to help homeowners avoid those unnecessary complications, we’ve prepared this list of the 7 biggest mistakes in bankruptcy:

1. Paying an Insider Creditor

The bankruptcy laws attempt to ensure that all creditors receive fair treatment during the bankruptcy process. One concern is that the debtor will pay loans to family or friends before filing bankruptcy, and therefore deprive other creditors from receiving payment.

Family, friends, business partners, and other creditors who have close relationships with the debtor are called “insider creditors,” and transfers to insider creditors can be avoided by the bankruptcy trustee if the transfer occurred within one year before the bankruptcy filing.

For instance, if you gave your mother $1,000 from your income tax refund as payment for a debt, and then filed bankruptcy two months later, the bankruptcy trustee can sue your mother to recover the $1,000. To make matters worse, often the debtor could have protected the cash money during the bankruptcy and paid the debt without difficulty after the case was filed.

2. Incurring Debt After Deciding to File

Some people decide to charge up credit cards or take payday loans just before filing bankruptcy. If you have decided to file bankruptcy, do not incur additional debt. Taking loans with no intention to repay the creditor could be fraud, which is a crime.

3. Transferring Property Before Bankruptcy

Anytime an individual transfers property for less than full value shortly before a bankruptcy filing, the transfer seems “suspicious.” The bankruptcy trustee scrutinizes all property transfers before bankruptcy, and if a property transfer was not a fair and honest exchange, the trustee may avoid the transfer and get the property back.

One common bankruptcy mistake is transferring property to a friend or family member in an effort to hide it from the bankruptcy court. This is a very bad mistake that can result in: (1) losing the property anyway; (2) denial of your bankruptcy discharge; and/or (3) criminal prosecution for bankruptcy fraud.

If you need to sell or transfer property before your bankruptcy, contact an experienced Bankruptcy Attorney and discuss your options!

4. Paying Off Loans Before Bankruptcy

If you pay off a loan shortly before filing for bankruptcy, the bankruptcy trustee will be very interested in that payment. If you paid a large sum of money to one creditor just before filing, the trustee may ask the creditor to return the money.

Also, paying off an unsecured debt that is otherwise dis-chargeable (like a credit card or payday loan) is like throwing your money away. You need that money to help rebuild your finances after your case is completed.

And even paying off a secured debt can cause you problems. Bankruptcy exemptions commonly apply only up to a certain amount of equity. Your equity in some property is the difference between the fair market value of the property minus any secured loans.

When you pay off a secured loan, you increase your equity in the property. If that causes your equity to exceed the exemption limit, the bankruptcy trustee may ask you for the property or the cash difference between the equity and the exemption amount.

Bottom line: don’t pay off loans before bankruptcy!

5. Cashing out Retirement

Most retirement funds are fully protected from creditors and the bankruptcy trustee. That means if you file bankruptcy, you keep your retirement money. Congress wants you to have money for your retirement.

Unfortunately, some people are unaware of these broad protections and cash out their retirement savings out of fear that it will be taken during the bankruptcy. Along with the obvious problems associated with losing your future retirement money, cashing out retirement funds is also a huge mistake because:

Your attorney may no longer be able to protect available retirement money converted into cash; and
If you used your retirement funds to pay off an unsecured loan, the bankruptcy trustee may be able to undo those payments. Money paid to creditors before bankruptcy does not improve your financial situation or help you recover from bankruptcy.
In short, always discuss cashing out 401(k) or IRA retirement funds with your attorney prior to your filing bankruptcy.

6. Failing to Plan for Bankruptcy

The federal bankruptcy process is full of traps for the unwary—or the hasty. Most of these problem areas can be avoided with careful planning and a thorough pre-bankruptcy investigation.

When a client needs to file a bankruptcy quickly, the attorney relies heavily on the client to provide complete and accurate financial information. In some cases the client is not able to obtain those important records. To compound the issue, sometimes financial transactions are forgotten or overlooked.

Mistakes like these in hastily-filed bankruptcy cases can lead to big problems. For instance, a debtor who rushes into bankruptcy may forget an employment bonus that was paid or that is owed or underestimate an income tax refund. Under-reporting income can disqualify the debtor from receiving a discharge at the conclusion of his or her case, undermining the entire point of bankruptcy.

Many bankruptcy mistakes can be avoided by consulting a bankruptcy attorney early. Preparing a bankruptcy petition does not take long, but your attorney needs time to analyze your case, review your financial documents, and ask the right questions to avoid problems with your case.

7. Being Dishonest

This is the worst mistake of all because the bankruptcy laws do not protect a dishonest debtor. Failure to truthfully list all of your assets, debts, income and expenses is grounds for dismissal of your case, or you may have to answer allegations of bankruptcy fraud (a federal crime).

The Best Way to Avoid Mistakes in Bankruptcy

If you are experiencing financial difficulty and are considering bankruptcy, discuss your case with an experienced bankruptcy attorney.

When Homeowner’s good faith attempts to amicably work with the Bank in order to resolve the issue fails;

If you have received a Notice of Default “NOD”, take a deep breath, as this the time to start the FIGHT! and Protect your EQUITY!

What Homeowners Should Know About the National Mortgage Settlement for Borrowers in Bankruptcy and Case Trustees

19 Thursday Jul 2018

Posted by BNG in Bankruptcy, Banks and Lenders, Foreclosure Crisis, Foreclosure Defense, Fraud, Judicial States, Mortgage fraud, Mortgage Laws, Mortgage Servicing, Non-Judicial States, Pro Se Litigation, Your Legal Rights

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Bank of America, Bankrupcty, Bankruptcy, bankruptcy court, Bankruptcy Trustee, Borrower, Borrowers in Bankruptcy, Case Trustees, Citi, Foreclosure, foreclosure defense, homeowners, J.P. Morgan Chase, Loan servicing, Mortgage loan, Mortgage servicer, National Mortgage Settlement, Pro se legal representation in the United States, Trustee, United States, Wells Fargo

The National Mortgage Settlement (the “Settlement”) is an agreement among the federal government, 49 states, and the five largest mortgage servicers and their affiliates (the “Banks”).

The Banks are:
Ally Financial, Inc. (formerly GMAC)
Bank of America Corporation
Citigroup, Inc.
J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.
Wells Fargo & Company

The Settlement provides benefits to borrowers, including borrowers in bankruptcy, whose residential mortgage loans are serviced by the Banks.

Information concerning the Settlement and its impact on borrowers in bankruptcy can be found at a dedicated page on the United States Trustee Program’s website at http://www.justice.gov/ust/eo/public_affairs/consumer_info/nms

In addition, the website http://www.nationalmortgagesettlement.com provides resources about the Settlement, including a copy of the Settlement, an executive summary of the Settlement, a fact sheet, and FAQs. The FAQs on that website discuss general issues, including:

• What Bank conduct is covered by the Settlement?

• What loans are covered by the Settlement?

• What are the financial provisions of the Settlement?

• How will the Settlement be enforced?

Finally, the Settlement requires the appointment of an independent monitor to oversee the Banks’ compliance with the Settlement. The website for the monitor is: www.mortgageoversight.com

Question 1: What do these FAQs cover?

The United States Trustee Program, the component of the Department of Justice responsible for overseeing the administration of bankruptcy cases and private trustees, has prepared these FAQs primarily for borrowers in bankruptcy or borrowers who are considering filing bankruptcy, including those who have lost their homes in foreclosure. These FAQs also address questions that trustees who administer bankruptcy cases may have.

These FAQs are provided as a basic resource and should not be considered legal advice. The United States Trustee Program is prohibited from providing legal advice. If you have any questions, you should consult an attorney.

Question 2: What bankruptcy issues did the Settlement address?

The Settlement addresses misconduct by the Banks in bankruptcy cases, including:

• Inflated or inaccurate claims.

Some of the Banks filed inflated or inaccurate documents in bankruptcy courts. When a borrower files for bankruptcy relief, the Bank may file a proof of claim or motion for relief from the automatic stay. These documents tell a bankruptcy court how much the Bank claims the borrower owes the Bank. The proof of claim also governs what a borrower in bankruptcy must pay through a chapter 13 repayment plan, and the motion for relief can determine whether the Bank may seek to commence to foreclose upon a home even if the borrower is in bankruptcy.

The accuracy of these documents is crucial. A number of parties, including the borrower in bankruptcy, the bankruptcy court, the trustee administering the case, the United States Trustee, and other creditors, rely on these documents.

When a Bank inflates or misstates what a borrower in bankruptcy owes in these documents, the consequences can be severe. For example, the Bank may be paid too much and other creditors may not receive amounts they are owed. At worst, the borrower in bankruptcy is unable to propose a repayment plan that can be approved and the bankruptcy case is dismissed, or the Bank improperly obtains relief from the automatic stay and is permitted to foreclose on the borrower’s home. As a result, the borrower in bankruptcy loses the ability to keep the home and obtain a fresh start in bankruptcy.

• Improper accounting of mortgage payments made by borrowers in bankruptcy.

Some of the Banks misapplied payments made by borrowers in bankruptcy. When a Bank does this, it appears on the Bank’s books as if the borrower has failed to make regular monthly payments and the Bank can file a motion seeking relief from the automatic stay to foreclose upon the borrower’s home. This misapplication of payments also results in the Bank improperly asserting that the borrower is behind on mortgage payments and can lead to the Bank imposing loan default fees and other charges.

• Adding improper fees and charges to the mortgage accounts of borrowers in bankruptcy.

Some of the Banks charged borrowers in bankruptcy for services not warranted, or in amounts not allowed. For example, some of the Banks sought to recover escrow payments twice, and conducted unnecessary or excessive property inspections and appraisals.

• Charging “hidden fees” to the mortgage accounts of borrowers in bankruptcy.

Some of the Banks also imposed “hidden fees” – fees that are assessed during the bankruptcy case but are not disclosed until after a borrower in bankruptcy receives a discharge. This can result in borrowers believing they are current on their mortgages, only to have a Bank claim the borrowers owe additional amounts. This deprives borrowers in bankruptcy of the “fresh start” promised by the bankruptcy discharge. These hidden fees also often violate bankruptcy court orders finding that borrowers are current on their mortgages.

• Seeking relief from stay to foreclose while borrowers in bankruptcy have pending applications for loan modifications.

Some of the Banks separated their bankruptcy operations from other aspects of their mortgage servicing business, so they did not have a clear picture of the status of a borrower in bankruptcy’s mortgage.

For example, the Banks sometimes provided borrowers in bankruptcy the opportunity to modify the terms of their home loans. Modification has benefits for both the Bank, which continues to receive payments, and the borrower, who receives a more manageable monthly payment.

However, while applications for loan modifications were being processed by one group of the Bank, its bankruptcy operations might move forward with requests for relief from the automatic stay so the Bank could commence foreclosure.

Question 3: Will the Settlement impact borrowers in bankruptcy?

Yes. The Settlement requires the Banks to collectively dedicate approximately $20 billion toward various forms of financial relief for borrowers including principal reduction, forbearance of principal for unemployed borrowers, short sales and transitional assistance, and specific benefits for service members.

The Banks must also make payments to state and federal authorities exceeding $5 billion. Of this amount, $1.5 billion has been set aside to establish a “Borrower Payment Fund” administered by Rust Consulting LLC (the “Settlement Administrator”).

Much of this relief is available to borrowers in bankruptcy. A borrower should contact the appropriate Bank (see question 4) to determine eligibility for relief. A borrower should contact the Settlement Administrator regarding the Borrower Payment Fund (see question 5).

Additionally, the Banks must implement extensive new mortgage servicing standards, including provisions specific to borrowers in bankruptcy. These standards address what occurs when borrowers fall behind on their mortgage payments, including when borrowers file for bankruptcy relief. As explained in these FAQs (see questions 7 through 11), the servicing standards require, among other things:

• A single point of contact at each Bank for borrowers in bankruptcy, who want information or assistance when they fall behind on their mortgage payments;

• New processes to ensure that the Banks provide accurate information about the amount that borrowers in bankruptcy owe on their mortgages;

• Better dispute resolution processes;

• Clear itemization of the principal, interest, fees, expenses and other charges incurred prior to bankruptcy that the Banks claim in bankruptcy cases;

• Prompt posting of payments and proper designation of pre-and post- petition payments and charges;

• Timely disclosure of fees, expenses, and charges incurred after a ` borrower files for chapter 13 bankruptcy.

Question 4: How will borrowers in bankruptcy know if they are eligible for financial assistance under the Settlement?

The Banks may directly contact borrowers, including borrowers in bankruptcy. However, borrowers should not wait to be contacted. To determine eligibility, a borrower or their attorney should contact the appropriate Bank:

Ally/GMAC: 800-766-4622

Bank of America: 877-488-7814

(Available Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. (CT),
and Saturdays, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. CT))

Citi: 866-272-4749

J.P. Morgan Chase: 866-372-6901

Wells Fargo: 800-288-3212
(Available Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (CT))

A borrower should not use these phone numbers for questions concerning payments from the Borrower Payment Fund. See question 5 for information concerning these payments.

Question 5: Who can a borrower contact for information concerning payments from the Borrower Payment Fund?

The Settlement required the Banks to pay $1.5 billion to a “Borrower Payment Fund” that will be used to make payments to borrowers who lost their homes through foreclosure between and including January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2011. The Settlement Administrator has mailed Notice Letters and Claim Forms to eligible borrowers.

If you believe that you are eligible for relief and have not received a Notice Letter or Claim Form or have other questions concerning the Borrower Payment Fund, please contact the Settlement Administrator at 866-430-8358, Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (CT).

Question 6: What if a borrower in bankruptcy already has a claim against a Bank?

The Settlement includes a release of liability by the federal government and the participating states for certain conduct by the Banks that occurred prior to the Settlement. The Settlement does not release claims a borrower, including a borrower in bankruptcy, may have under state or federal law, and a borrower does not need to choose between accepting relief under the Settlement and pursuing those claims.

Question 7: Can borrowers in bankruptcy participate in the Settlement and receive financial assistance from other sources?

Yes. Borrowers, including borrowers in bankruptcy, may participate in the programs offered under the Settlement and other programs. For example, borrowers may be eligible for a separate restitution process administered by the federal banking regulators, including the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “OCC”). For more information about the federal banking regulator claims process, please visit www.independentforeclosurereview.com or call 1-888-952-9105.

Question 8: Is there someone at the Banks whom borrowers in bankruptcy can contact with questions concerning their mortgage?

Yes. Each Bank has a single point of contact for borrowers (a “SPOC”), including borrowers in bankruptcy, who want information or assistance when they fall behind on their mortgage payments. The SPOCs for borrowers in bankruptcy must be knowledgeable about bankruptcy issues. Also, the Banks must have adequate staff to handle the calls.

Question 9: Do the Banks have special contacts that chapter 13 trustees can utilize to address trustee inquiries?

Yes. The Settlement requires that each Bank establish a toll-free hotline staffed by employees trained in bankruptcy to respond to inquiries from chapter 13 trustees.

Trustees should have received information regarding these hotlines. Any chapter 13 trustee who has not received this information should contact their local United States Trustee office.

Question 10: How does the Settlement address the Banks’ filings in bankruptcy courts going forward?

The Settlement imposes new standards on the Banks to ensure the accuracy of information they provide to bankruptcy courts. These standards are designed to ensure that the Banks provide accurate information about the amount that borrowers in bankruptcy owe on their mortgages.

Moreover, under the new servicing standards, the Banks must implement better dispute resolution processes. If a Bank files inaccurate or misleading documents in a bankruptcy case, a borrower can use these new procedures and make a complaint with the Bank.

In addition, with respect to proofs of claim and certain affidavits attached to documents filed in bankruptcy courts, the Banks must correct any significant inaccuracies promptly and also provide notice of the correction to the affected borrower or counsel to the borrower.

Question 11: What kind of information must the Banks provide concerning a mortgage when a borrower files for bankruptcy?

For a borrower in a chapter 13 (repayment) case, if a Bank files a proof of claim, the Bank must include an accurate and clear statement of exactly what the Bank claims the borrower owes. That statement must itemize the principal, interest, fees, expenses, and other charges that the Bank claims is owed as of the filing of the bankruptcy case.

Question 12: How does the Settlement affect how the Banks apply mortgage payments made by borrowers or a trustee in bankruptcy?

The Banks must promptly post payments received from a borrower or trustee while a borrower is in bankruptcy and accurately designate payments between any arrearage owed before the bankruptcy filing and what is owed for regular mortgage payments after the filing. The Banks must also reconcile accounts, including funds held in suspense accounts, at the end of each bankruptcy case and update their records so they are consistent with the account reconciliation.

Question 13: How does the Settlement affect what the Banks charge after a borrower files for bankruptcy?

The Banks must timely disclose fees, expenses, and charges incurred after a borrower files a chapter 13 bankruptcy case. A Bank waives fees, expenses, and charges of which the Bank has not given timely notice to the Borrower. The Banks must also timely give notice to a borrower of any changes in payments the borrower will have to make due to, for example, interest rate adjustments or changes in the escrow amount.

Question 14: Should a trustee administering the case of a borrower in bankruptcy seek to recover funds received by the borrower under the Settlement?

Eligible borrowers in bankruptcy may receive payments from the Banks as a part of the Settlement. A trustee should consider all relevant circumstances when deciding whether to seek turnover of the payments in a particular case. Factors to consider include:

• The payment amount and any interest of a non-debtor spouse or other person in the payment;

• The cost of recovering and administering the payment, including litigation with a borrower in bankruptcy who may seek a judicial determination regarding whether the funds are subject to administration;

• The extent to which recovering the payment will enable creditors to receive a meaningful distribution; and

• The applicability of state and federal exemptions.

The United States Trustee Program will not seek to compel a trustee to recover payments that the trustee, in the exercise of discretion, decides not to recover.

Question 15: How does the Settlement affect the trustees’ review of the Banks’ proofs of claim?

Generally, the Settlement will not alter a trustee’s review of claims filed by the Banks. If a trustee concludes, based on a review of a Bank’s bankruptcy filings, that a Bank violated the Settlement, the trustee, usually will contact the United States Trustee’s office in the jurisdiction in which the case was filed.

When Homeowner’s good faith attempts to amicably work with the Bank in order to resolve the issue fails;

What Homeowners Must Know After they Have Been Sued in a Bankruptcy Adversary Proceeding

18 Monday Jun 2018

Posted by BNG in Bankruptcy, Federal Court, Foreclosure Defense, Judicial States, Litigation Strategies, Non-Judicial States, Pleadings, Pro Se Litigation, Trial Strategies, Your Legal Rights

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adversary proceeding, automatic stay, Bankruptcy, bankruptcy adversary proceeding, bankruptcy court, Foreclosure, foreclosure defense, homeowners, Law, Lawsuit, Mortgage Electronic Registration System, Mortgage loan, Plaintiff, Pro se legal representation in the United States, United States

This post will be helpful to the Debtor when defending against a creditor’s/trustee’s objection to your discharge or the filing of a Complaint for Nondischargeability based upon fraud/conversion; however, this post may also assist the Debtor in bringing an adversary proceeding should one be necessary.

Introduction

An adversary proceeding is a lawsuit brought within your bankruptcy. This lawsuit normally centers around whether a particular debt or all of your debts are dischargeable (or forgiven) through the act of your filing bankruptcy. These lawsuits usually focus around some alleged improper act on your part, including fraud, misrepresentation, or your failure to abide by the Bankruptcy Code and accompanying Rules.

You are now at the point of the adversary process where you have received, by mail or by personal service, the complaint filed by your creditor which asks the Court to decide whether or not that particular obligation should be part of your bankruptcy discharge or an objection to your overall discharge should be granted.

This section of the adversary proceeding packet is to inform you of what your obligations are in order to prepare for a trial. Note that there are references to the bankruptcy rules: Local Rules of Bankruptcy Practice = LR; Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure = Fed.R.Bankr.P. You may also find both types of Rules at the county law library or you may access the Local Rules at the court’s website http://www.uscourts.gov. You should take a look at these rules if you have any questions about the information given in this section.

Step 1: Answer

After you receive a complaint, you must file an answer with the clerk of the Bankruptcy Court within 30 days after issuance of the summons. (Fed.R.Bankr.P. 7012) You must provide a copy of that answer to the creditor’s attorney.

Step 2: Pre-Trial Conference

Note that the cover sheet you receive from the Court will set forth a pre-trial conference date in the lower right-hand corner of the Summons. You must attend that hearing. At that time, the Court will set parameters for trial. The Court may also discuss with the parties whether or not any settlement is possible. Prior to this pre-trial conference with the Court, and within thirty (30) days after you have answered the complaint, you are required to meet with the attorney for the creditor to discuss how discovery will be conducted in the case. After you have had this discussion and no later than fourteen (14) days after the meeting with the attorney, the parties are required to submit a discovery plan. (Fed.R.Bankr.P. 7016 and LR 7016) This plan is a form which the creditor’s counsel will have and will be filled out by both parties. The form will then be submitted to the Court and the Court will then approve, disapprove or modify the discovery plan and enter any other orders that may be appropriate.

Step 3: Discovery

After you have gone through the preparation of the discovery plan and have had it approved by the Court, you will then conduct your discovery. Local Rule 7026 will provide you with information as to what the parties may or may not do during the discovery process. You may also want to look at Local Rules 7026 through and including 7036 and Fed.R.Bankr.P. 7026 through and including 7036 which gives further information regarding some of the discovery tools or requirements.

Step 4: Motions

You may find that throughout the time frame prior to trial that motions are being filed. Motions may be filed by either party. If you are served with a motion in your adversary proceeding, please be advised that you are required to file your opposition or response with the Court and serve your response to the creditor’s attorney not more than fifteen (15) days after you have received the motion and, in no event, not later than five (5) business days prior to the date set for the hearing on the motion. (Fed.R.Bankr.P. 9013 and Local Rule 9014) Make sure that you provide counsel with a copy of your response.

When you get to Court, you are basically going to supplement what is in your opposition or your motion so the Court can make a well-informed analysis of the situation and then deliver an appropriate decision. Please note that when you are in front of the Court, your time is limited. Generally, a motion is limited to approximately five minutes for both sides. It is the feeling of all judges in our district that if all motions and oppositions are well-drafted and timely filed, there is no reason to spend lengthy periods with oral argument. Therefore, you will be expected to come in to court, make a brief presentation and then sit down.

Step 5: Trial

After you have completed all discovery and all motions, you will then be at the point where the parties are ready to proceed with trial. Your trial date will be assigned to you at the pre-trial conference and the Court will generally schedule the trial within 60 and 120 days depending upon the nature of the matter being tried.

Approximately two weeks prior to the trial, you are required to file with the Court a trial statement, a list of witnesses, and a list of exhibits. You must also exchange these documents with the attorney for the creditor. If you and the attorney for the creditor can agree on what the basic issues in trial are going to be, the trial statement may be filed jointly. In other words, one statement will represent the facts and information for both sides to the Court.

The day before the trial, the parties will mark all the exhibits and any supplemental information that needs to be added to the trial statements. Although you are not required to agree with the attorney for the creditor as to what exhibits may be introduced into evidence, it is strongly encouraged that the parties try to agree to all exhibits to be placed before the Court in an effort to have an economical and efficient adjudication of the case.

Certain documents have been included in this packet so that you will have the ability to understand what needs to be filed with the Court prior to trial. However, it is strongly recommended that you access the court’s website at http://www.uscourts.gov and download a copy of the Local Rules. These will prove very useful to you through the course of the adversary proceeding. You may also wish to check with the county law library for a copy of the Local Rules.

All bankruptcy judges are willing to set up a time to discuss whether or not the case may be settled. Many times, having an impartial third party listening to the problems will allow negotiations to flow freely and hopefully obviate the need for the trial. If a settlement conference is set up, it will not be the judge in front of whom this matter will be heard, so you need not fear that you will be prejudiced in any way if this matter is not settled.

COURTROOM ETIQUETTE BETWEEN THE COURT AND THE PARTIES

1. Don’t take the argument personally (no personal slurs against the other party.)

2. Advocacy does not mean we cannot be civil and communicate with the other side.

3. Adversary proceedings are intended to be negotiated if possible.

4. If you cannot resolve the matter and proceed to trial, remember the following:

a. Dress Appropriately- Nice attire such as a suit or slacks is acceptable. Please no hats, shorts, thongs, tank tops, etc.

b. Your statements should be addressed to the court and not to the other side- The only time you should speak to opposing counsel is during breaks or with the Court’s permission after requesting a break.

a. Do not interrupt the other side or the judge when they are speaking.

b. Remember to follow the rules as explained in the attached documents regarding the filing of your trial statement, list of exhibits, witnesses, etc.

DEALING WITH THE LAW

1. Understand your responsibilities and respond accordingly. You are held to the same standard as an attorney when presenting your case and arguing the legal issues. You may need to educate yourself on the law at issue by visiting the law library and reading the Bankruptcy Code and cases dealing with those sections of the code involving your case.

2. Sanctions – Remember that if you act disrespectful to the Court or opposing attorney, or if you lie in your court pleadings or under oath at trial, the Court has the power to sanction you by either assessing a fee or ruling for the opposing party.

3. If you have any questions regarding your responsibilities, call the other side’s attorney they will answer procedural questions, but cannot assist you with your legal argument.

4. Know the Local Rules – you can obtain a copy by accessing the court’s website at http://www.uscourts.gov You may also be able to obtain the rules from the county law library or from opposing counsel.

When Homeowner’s good faith attempts to amicably work with the Bank in order to resolve the issue fails;

How Homeowners Can Use Ibanez Case to Fight a Wrongful Foreclosure

26 Monday Mar 2018

Posted by BNG in Bankruptcy, Banks and Lenders, Case Laws, Case Study, Federal Court, Foreclosure Crisis, Foreclosure Defense, Fraud, Judicial States, Legal Research, Litigation Strategies, Loan Modification, MERS, Mortgage Laws, Mortgage mediation, Mortgage Servicing, Non-Judicial States, Pro Se Litigation, Securitization, State Court, Your Legal Rights

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bank forecloses, bankruptcy court, Foreclosure, homeowners, Ibanez Case, Loan, Massachusetts, MERS, Mortgage Electronic Registration System, Pro se legal representation in the United States, US Bank, wrongful foreclosure

Many homeowners who found themselves in wrongful foreclosure situation may have a valid defense, against the perpetrators of these crimes.

How much does it cost to get justice, when a bank forecloses on your house illegally? Thousands of ex-homeowners don’t pursue their rights to a financial settlement because they assume they couldn’t pay the legal fees.

In fact, it costs less than you fear. Consumer lawyers take a few cases at no charge. More likely, you’ll pay fees — upfront or on a monthly plan — tied to the lawyer’s estimate of the time it will take and your ability to pay. If they win your case, they’ll collect from the financial institution, too.

Before readers attack the “greedy lawyers” for defending “deadbeat” clients who couldn’t repay their mortgage loans, let me quote from a groundbreaking decision of 2011 by the Massachusetts Supreme Court. The court reversed two foreclosures because the banks — Wells Fargo and U.S. Bancorp, acting as trustees for investors — couldn’t prove that they actually owned the mortgages. Judge Robert J. Cordy excoriated them for their “utter carelessness.” The fact that the borrowers owed the money was “not the point,” he wrote. The right to deprive people of their property is a powerful one and banks have to prove they have the legal standing to do so.

American law cannot allow property seizures based on backdated, incomplete, or fraudulent documentation, no matter what the circumstances are. Otherwise, no one’s home is safe. Courts enforce private property rights through the cases brought before them. In other words, lawyers.

The Massachusetts case began not with consumers, but with the banks themselves. They asked the courts to affirm that the foreclosures were valid so they could get title insurance. That pulled the borrowers — Antonio Ibanez and Mark and Tammy LaRace — into the fray. When the horrified courts looked at how the foreclosures had gone down, they said, “no way,” and gave the former owners their property back.

Ibanez, a special ed teacher, bought the home for investment in 2005 and defaulted in 2007 on a $103,500 loan, according to the court papers. Even since, the house has been boarded up. Ibanez filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, so he now has title to the home and no obligation on the debt. The mortgage investors will take the loss.

The LaRaces borrowed $103,200 to buy their home in 2005 and also defaulted in 2007. They had an offer on their home, but the servicer foreclosed anyway. (During the trial, the foreclosing law firm admitted that servicers are graded on how quickly they can liquidate a mortgage.)

The LaRaces have moved back into their long-unattended home, but first they had to clean up mold, fix plumbing, and make other repairs. They would gladly resume payments on the mortgage, their lawyer Glenn Russell says. But the trustee bank doesn’t own the loan. The investors don’t own it because the mortgage was never transferred properly. The original lender, Option One, no longer exists. So whom do they pay?

This important case opens the door to thousands of foreclosure do-overs in Massachusetts at the time, and continuing and equally influenced courts in other states, as well. But there hasn’t been a rush by lawyers to get involved, probably because the field is complex and not especially remunerative. No class actions have been certified, as at that time or shortly thereafter, so the cases proceeded one by one. The financial trail can be hard to track (the Massachusetts documents were unwound by mortgage-fraud specialist Marie McDonnell). The lawyer — often, a sole practitioner — is up against the awesome resources of major financial institutions.

Neither Ibanez nor the LaRaces were charged for their lawyer’s services. Collier had file a claim for wrongful foreclosure and was paid from any settlement. Russell did the same. At the time, Russell also thinks the LaRaces are owed something for the cost of repairing their home.

Very few cases start as pro bono, however. Lawyers who defend consumers have bills to pay, just as the banks’ corporate attorneys do. You may opt to fight it Pro Se using the package from our website, or if you want to fight an unfair foreclosure, you might be offered one of several arrangements:

An upfront fee. “Many of my clients were formerly very successful individuals,” Russell says. On average, the value of the homes of the people who contact him is “somewhat north of $500,000.” He suggests a fee based on their means.

Monthly payments. If you’re not making monthly mortgage payments, some portion of that money could be applied to legal expenses. Collier says he puts the payments into escrow and retains them if he gets the house back (he says he always does, in predatory lending cases).

Bankruptcy payment plans. The clients of North Carolina bankruptcy attorney Max Gardner are usually in a Chapter 13 monthly repayment plan. Each state sets the maximum attorney’s fee, payable as part of the plan.

Mostly, the attorneys get paid by suing the financial institutions, who settle claims or suffer court judgements due to their own illegal activity. People who beat up on consumer lawyers scream that they bring frivolous cases just for the fees. But consumer lawyers only get paid if their case is good, so they’re pretty rigorous about whom they choose to represent. “I was called crazy for practicing in this area of law, as in ‘I would be broke’ by not getting enough fees,” Russell says. “Three years later, I am still here and still living my motto of helping people first.”

Most homeowners are successful fighting there case Pro Se using the package we offer for fighting Foreclosure, as your interest is at stake, and you have the most to lose, not Attorneys. They gets paid whether you win or lose. However, homeowners equally have options when fighting wrongful foreclosure.

If you think you have a case, your toughest challenge isn’t fees, it’s finding a lawyer with the expertise to press your claim successfully, Gardner says. If you don’t have a personal reference for a qualified lawyer, the best place to look is the website of the National Association of Consumer Advocates. Next best: the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys. In either case, ask if the lawyer has won other securitization, mortgage servicing, and foreclosure cases. “They have to know what documents to ask for,” Gardner says. That’s what wins.

When Homeowner’s good faith attempts to amicably work with the Bank in order to resolve the issue fails;

How Homeowners Can Effectively Challenge Bankruptcy on Credit Reports

20 Tuesday Feb 2018

Posted by BNG in Bankruptcy, Judicial States, Non-Judicial States, Your Legal Rights

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Bankruptcy, bankruptcy court, bankruptcy on credit report, chapter 11, chapter 13, chapter 7, credit disputes, credit report, homeowners, items on credit report, remove bankruptcy, remove bankruptcy on credit report

Removing a bankruptcy from your credit reports is somewhat complicated because bankruptcy is a legal action which dismisses you in part or in whole from your debts.

A Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding stays on your credit reports for 10 years. A Chapter 13 bankruptcy proceeding remains on your credit reports for 7 years.

After you file bankruptcy make sure all of your creditors and accounts which were included in the filing are listed on your credit reports as “included in bankruptcy.” If not, the creditors, late accounts, collection accounts and charge-off accounts will continue to be listed as due and owing and will severely lower your credit score.

Disputing a bankruptcy and getting it removed is difficult. It may be a waste of time disputing a bankruptcy as “not mine”, especially when it really is yours and can be easily verified. However, verifying disputes based upon facts is not as easy.

Disputing facts such as filing date, balance of liabilities, type of bankruptcy, social security number, discharge dates on debts, type of accounts and even docket dates are a lot harder to investigate.

There are a few ways to dispute bankruptcy listings that may work. First, remember that credit reporting agencies verify records through a third party database such as PACER or LEXIS NEXIS and some even verify through other creditors.

Even though credit reporting agencies will list the bankruptcy court as the “furnisher” of information, no one at the credit reporting agency actually contacts the bankruptcy courthouse where the proceeding was filed. Below are several strategy options to remove a bankruptcy from credit reports:

1. Inaccurate Reporting
Look for incorrect reporting of facts and dispute the listing. It may get deleted and no further work is necessary. A bankruptcy must be listed accurately in your credit reports.

2. Method of Verification
If the listing gets verified and remains you have the right to request the credit reporting agencies’ method of verification. Request the credit reporting agencies send you the following:

(a) The name of the courthouse;
(b) the person’s name they verified the dispute with;
(c) the address;
(d) the telephone number; and
(e) the documentation used to verify the dispute.

The CRA’s must respond to your request within 15 days and provide the information. Undoubtedly they will only respond with the name and address of the courthouse. But this is good.

3. Follow-up Letter to Credit Reporting Agency
Now you can mail another letter to the credit reporting agency and let them know you contacted the court and were informed they do not furnish records and information to the credit reporting agencies, which they do not.

Can you imagine the time and legal ramifications if court clerks spent the time to personally verify and follow procedures of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The courts rarely, if ever, verify public records with credit reporting agencies according to the FCRA.

4. Get your Proof in Writing
In order to create your paper trail you may wish to send a letter to the court administrator of the courthouse where the bankruptcy was filed. In your letter request what their procedure is for verifying records with the credit reporting agencies. When sending court clerks any letters ALWAYS INCLUDE A SELF-ADDRESSED STAMPED ENVELOPE if you want a response.

Depending on their response, you will have proof on paper that the actual courts do not verify information directly with the credit reporting agencies. Now take that letter from the court and follow-up with another letter to the credit reporting agency with your proof the courts do not verify bankruptcy filings.

5. Request a Deletion
Should the credit reporting agency respond by telling you they are not required to give you that information, they have violated the FCRA. If the credit reporting agency does not respond within 15 days they have violated the FCRA and the entry must be deleted.

The FCRA, Section 609 a (2) regarding disclosures provides leverage to get the item deleted. You can request to see what they used as proof to verify the bankruptcy and if they are unable to provide it, the bankruptcy must be deleted. The credit reporting agency must disclose the source of the information.

Also, FCRA, Section 611, paragraph (6)(B)(iii) regarding procedures and results of reinvestigation states “…if requested by the consumer, a description of the procedure used to determine the accuracy and completeness of the information shall be provided to the consumer by the agency, including the business name and address of any furnisher of information contacted in connection with such information and the telephone number of such furnisher, if reasonably available…”

Credit reporting agencies are required to conduct investigations of disputed items with the “furnisher” of information. The Bankruptcy Court should be the furnisher of information, not a third party source such as PACER or LEXIS NEXIS.

Vigilant nagging and challenging the credit bureaus on the method of verification process may be the best way to get a bankruptcy removed, but there are no guarantees.

As you have read removing a bankruptcy from your credit report is possible; however it is time consuming and complicated. If you do not have the time to invest in removing a bankruptcy from your credit report or have been unsuccessful in your attempts, consider Lexington Law. In 2011 Lexington Law removed 22,968 from consumer credit reports. Call (877) 587-4574 for a free consultation on bankruptcy removal and credit repair.

Concentrate on Re-establishing Good Credit

Begin re-establishing your credit as soon as possible after a bankruptcy. There will be fewer options and some credit card companies and banks will deny an application when a bankruptcy is listed on your credit report. But start with secured credit cards where you deposit a specific amount in an FDIC-insured account and your credit limit is equal to what you’ve deposited with the card issuer.

If you belong to a credit union ask about a credit builder loan or a loan secured with a savings account. A personal loan is an installment loan and this can really boost credit scores.

Make sure the card reports your payment history to all three major credit bureaus. As you begin to repay on time, your good payment history will be factored into your credit score and the sting of bankruptcy will matter less.

As more time passes the negative effect of bankruptcy will diminish as long as you continually pay all of your bills on time. Bankruptcies on credit reports take on less significance as the filing becomes older. In fact most banks, lender, mortgage companies and auto dealers know consumers with a bankruptcy can some times be a better credit risk because they have less debt and a clean slate.

When Homeowner’s good faith attempts to amicably work with the Bank in order to resolve the issue fails;

Why Do Homeowners Need to File Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

27 Wednesday Dec 2017

Posted by BNG in Bankruptcy, Federal Court, Foreclosure Defense, Judicial States, Non-Judicial States, Pro Se Litigation

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bankruptcy court, chapter 7 bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, Pro se legal representation in the United States

WHY DO YOU NEED TO FILE “CHAPTER 7” PRO SE BANKRUPTCY?

Bankruptcy laws does not require debtors to have an attorney to file for bankruptcy relief. You are allowed to represent yourself in Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy as a “Pro se” debtor. “Bankruptcy” can be a daunting and even frightening, concept.

A better way to deal with these fears was conceived by the founders of our country when they, purposefully, included in the Constitution the “subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States.” And so, through several incarnations, the present bankruptcy law remains the surest way to obtain a fresh financial start.

Individuals can file bankruptcy without an attorney, which is called filing Pro se.

One out of every 10 Bankruptcy cases is filed WITHOUT a lawyer.

Once you have filed for bankruptcy, your wage garnishment will cease. Creditors included in the filing must stop all collection activity after a bankruptcy is filed, including garnishment proceedings. Your extra wages should help you catch up on your mortgage payments and assist in solving one of your financial troubles.

SO YOU MAY ASK – WHY DO YOU NEED TO FILE “CHAPTER 7” BANKRUPTCY?

Fresh Start
Chapter 7 bankruptcy is a form of debt relief by which you may eliminate unsecured debts such as credit cards, medical bills and personal loans. In most cases, you can keep your home, car and other personal belongings. In order to be eligible for Chapter 7, your income, usually, can be no greater than the medium income for your State, based on the size of your family.

Stop Garnishments
A Chapter 7 is one of the most effective ways to immediately stop garnishments. Garnishments can take a portion of your hard-earned wages, making it nearly impossible for you to afford basic necessities. By filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy and stopping the garnishment, you will be able to use your income for more important necessities for your family and possibly start saving for your family’s future.

Stop Creditor Harassment
If creditors are bothering you at work or home, harassing your family, friends and neighbors, call at all hours, you can put an end to it immediately simply using our Bankruptcy package to file your Bankruptcy.

Cosigner Is Not Paying
If you cosigned for a friend or relative, and their failure to pay that debt has resulted in collection activity or a lawsuit against you, Chapter 7 can eliminate your liability for the cosigned debt.

Eliminate Repossession Debt
After your vehicle is repossessed, they auction it off to reduce their loss, usually at a sales price much less than the retail value. You are still responsible for the balance on the car, called a “deficiency balance.” Remove the risk of law suits & garnishments arising from the deficiency balance by filing a Chapter 7.

“Reaffirm” Credit Cards You Want to Keep
The process of “reaffirmation” during the chapter 7 bankruptcy, will allow you to retain credit cards for which you, and the credit card company, want the relationship to continue. When you “reaffirm” the debt, you usually must promise to pay the debt you otherwise would eliminate in the proceedings.

End Law Suits
Lawsuits to collect debts are automatically enjoined upon the filing of a chapter 7 bankruptcy. The worry of a judgment with resultant garnishments and levies will no longer be a concern. The creditor must abide by bankruptcy laws and stop the lawsuit!

Rebuild Your Credit
Chapter 7 is one way for you to begin re-establishing your credit by reducing your debt-to-income ratio. With little or no remaining debt, lenders may see that you will be better able to repay your debts in the future. Many people who file Chapter 7 will finance cars after discharge and may even receive solicitation for unsecured credit within months. With our package, your can also see the estimate of what your credit score will be 1 year after the bankruptcy is completed, if you follow the prescribed plan.

Now What?

Our Pro se Bankruptcy package may be able to provide you with many of the following benefits. BUY NOW
(Forms, Pleadings and Guides, Case Law, References – Including Adversary Proceeding).

What Every Homeowner in Foreclosure Need to Know About Bankruptcy Appeals

27 Wednesday Dec 2017

Posted by BNG in Bankruptcy, Federal Court, Foreclosure Defense, Legal Research, Litigation Strategies

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Appeal, Bankruptcy, bankruptcy appeal, bankruptcy court, Loan, mortgage, Mortgage loan, Pro se legal representation in the United States

Every appeal requires an appellate advocate to understand and follow a series of rules. When an appeal is from a decision by a federal bankruptcy court, there is yet another layer of rules and complexity to consider. This article briefly identifies a dozen important points
about bankruptcy appeals.

1. The Time for Filing a Notice of Appeal in a Bankruptcy Appeal Is Generally Shorter Than in Other Appeals.
Under 28 U.S.C. § 158(c)(2) and Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure (“Bankruptcy Rule”) 8002(a), a party seeking to appeal a decision by a bankruptcy court has 10 days to file its appeal.1 This is 20 days less than the 30 days a party generally is given under the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure (“F.R.A.P.”) to appeal from district court to a federal appellate court.2 As with F.R.A.P. 4(a)(5), the Bankruptcy Rules permit some leeway if an appellant misses its deadline. Under the Bankruptcy Rules, a bankruptcy court may allow an appellant who fails to timely file up to 20 additional days to file where that appellant can demonstrate “excusable neglect.”3 After 30 days, however, a bankruptcy appellant loses its right to appeal even if there is excusable neglect.4 Factors to be considered in determining whether there is excusable neglect include the danger of prejudice to the appellee; the length of delay and its impact on the judicial proceeding; the reason for the delay; whether the delay was in the movant’s control; and the movant’s good faith.5

2. An Appellant May Waive an Issue Not Raised at the Outset of its Bankruptcy Appeal.
Under Bankruptcy Rule 8006, within 10 days of filing its Notice of
Appeal, an appellant must file and serve a designation of the items to be
included in the record on appeal and a statement of issues to be presented
on appeal. If an appellant fails to include an issue in this Statement, the
issue is waived even if this had been raised and/or decided by the bankruptcy
court.6

3. Those Who Ignore Deadlines and Procedural Rules May Forfeit Their Appeal.
Bankruptcy Rule 8001(a) authorizes dismissal of a bankruptcy appeal when a party fails to take any required step other than filing its Notice of Appeal. Courts adjudicating bankruptcy appeals may dismiss appeals when a party fails to take a necessary step, such as filing its record designations, statement of issues or its brief.7
While the Bankruptcy Rules permit dismissal, however, certain circuits require the appellate court to weigh a series of factors before it dismisses a case in its entirety. For example, the Third Circuit requires the balancing of six factors before a case is dismissed. These are:
• The extent of the party’s personal responsibility;
• The prejudice to the adversary caused by the failure to meet scheduling
orders;
• A history of dilatoriness;
• Whether the conduct of the party or the attorney was willful or in bad
faith;
• The effectiveness of sanctions other than dismissal, which entails an
analysis of alternative sanctions;
• The meritoriousness of the claim or defense.8

4. In Five Circuits, Bankruptcy Appeals May Be Heard in the First Instance by Two Different Types of Courts.
Under 28 U.S.C. § 158(c)(1), an appellant in an appeal from bankruptcy court may choose in the first instance to appeal either to a district court acting as an appellate court or, if the relevant circuit provides for one, to a Bankruptcy Appellate Panel (“BAP”). Even if the appellant chooses a BAP, however, any other party to the appeal may, no later than 30 days after service of the notice of appeal, ask to have the appeal heard by the relevant district court. The First, Sixth, Eighth, Ninth and Tenth Circuits each have a BAP. If an appeal is to a BAP, then the Bankruptcy judge’s decision will be reviewed by fellow sitting bankruptcy judges.

Usually a BAP consists of three sitting bankruptcy judges in the circuit who are assembled for a particular day of argument. By their very nature, BAPs will consist of judges who have special expertise regarding bankruptcy issues, while district courts may not. The BAP may sit in different places in the circuit. For example, the Eighth Circuit BAP conducts hearing in Omaha, St. Louis, Kansas City, and other locations where its bankruptcy courts sit.

5. BAP Rules Vary by Circuit.
Just like the individual federal circuit courts of appeal, the various BAPs each have their own rules. These vary between each circuit. Any party in a BAP appeal, therefore should know the specifics and particularities of the specific BAP’s rules and should follow these.
Among these specialized rules, for example, are that, in the Eighth Circuit BAP, parties are limited to opening briefs of 6500 words.9 The Ninth Circuit BAP Rules provide that only those portions of transcripts included in the excerpts of the record will be considered in an appeal and that these must include excerpts necessary for the BAP to apply the required standard of review to a matter.10 The First Circuit BAPRules generally limit argument to 15 minutes per side.11 The Tenth Circuit BAP requires that a brief include a statement of related cases—i.e., one that includes the same litigants and substantially the same fact pattern or legal issues – that are
pending in any other federal court.12 The Sixth Circuit BAP Rules provide
for a possible pre-argument conference and mediation.13

6. The Bankruptcy Rules Generally Govern Appeals to the District Court.
As noted in the prior section, BAPs have elaborate rules that govern all aspects of appeals before them. By the terms of the Bankruptcy Rules, these specific rules can supersede conflicting terms in the Bankruptcy Rules. However, when an appeal is to the district court, the Bankruptcy Rules generally apply in the absence of a local rule or district court rule specifically addressing bankruptcy appeals, which are much less common.

While not as comprehensive as the F.R.A.P., the Bankruptcy Rules have 20 provisions governing all aspects of appeals.14 These rules addresses appellate issues, including, among others, the filing and service of appellate papers;15 the filing and service of briefs and appendices;16 the form of briefs and their length;17 motions;18 oral argument;19 disposition of the appeal;20 costs;21 and rehearing,22 among others. (These rules also provide for the accelerated filing of district court appeals, as an appellant is to serve and file its brief within 15 days after entry of the appeal on the docket; the appellant is to serve its brief within 15 days after service of the appellant’s brief and the appellant is to serve its reply within 10 days after service of the appellee’s brief.)23 In the absence of rules to the contrary, opening briefs may be up to 50 pages and reply briefs up to 25 pages.
Under Bankruptcy Rule 8012, oral argument is to be generally allowed in all cases. In practice, however, oral argument is much less common before district courts. When an appeal is before district court, there is some question about whether its decision has precedential effect.24

7. Bankruptcy Appeals Often Include an Extra Tier of Review.
Generally, before an appeal reaches a federal circuit court of appeals, it is adjudicated by either a BAP or a district court. The findings of these first tier courts are not binding on the circuit court of appeals and, the appellate court owes no deference to the decisions by the BAP or district court.
Review by the circuit court of appeals is plenary.25 Nonetheless, some circuit courts have noted that the first tier of appeal acts as a helpful filter.26
An appellate court may reach issues brought up before but not decided by the district court or BAP.27

8. Direct Appeal to the Circuit Court of Appeals Is Allowed in Limited Instances.
Pursuant to Section 1233 of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (“BAPCPA”), a circuit court of appeals has discretion to permit a direct appeal frombankruptcy court where there is uncertainty in the bankruptcy court, either due to the absence of a controlling legal decision or a conflicting decision on the issue and the issue is of great importance, or where the court finds it is patently obvious that the bankruptcy court’s decision either was correct or incorrect, such that the first tier of review in the district court or BAP is less efficient and helpful.28

9. At Each Tier of the Appeal, The Bankruptcy Court Is Given the Same Level of Deference and Same Form of Scrutiny.
Courts in bankruptcy appeals review issues of law de novo and findings of fact for clear error.29 Courts of appeal apply the same standard of review as do BAPs and district courts.30 Courts of appeal generally review issues of procedure under an abuse of discretion standard. These include motions to compromise or to lift a stay, for example.31

10. This Is a Greater Threat of Mootness in Bankruptcy Appeals Than in Other Federal Appeals.
A bankruptcy appeal may become constitutionally moot where events may occur that make it impossible for the appellate court to fashion effective relief.32 Thus, for example, if, while an appeal is pending, a plan is confirmed pursuant to which all assets are distributed, all creditors with allowed claims are paid in full, and the bankruptcy case is closed such that the debtor no longer exists, an appeal against that debtor is moot because there is no meaningful relief that may be granted.33 An appeal may also be considered “equitably moot” where a change in circumstances makes it inequitable for a court to consider the merits of an appeal.34
However, if there remains any possibility that an appeal may result in a tangible benefit to the appellant, it is not moot.35

11. Only Those Persons Aggrieved Have Standing to Bring a Bankruptcy Appeal.
Only those whose rights or interests are directly and adversely affected pecuniarily by an order of the bankruptcy court have standing to bring an appeal.36

12. Appellate Courts Take a Broader Notion of “Finality” in Bankruptcy Appeals Than in Other Appeals.
Because of the length of many bankruptcy proceedings and the waste of time and resources that may result if the court denied immediate appeals, federal courts of appeal apply a broader concept of “finality” when considering bankruptcy appeals under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 than in considering non-bankruptcy appeals.37 Courts apply a number of factors in determining whether to assert appellate jurisdiction. These include:
1) the impact on the assets of the bankruptcy estate;
2) the necessity for further fact-finding on remand;
3) the preclusive effect of the court’s decision on the merits in further litigation,
and
4) the interest of judicial economy.38
Each of these issues, of course, could justify an article in itself. I hope
these provide some helpful thoughts and issues to consider when participating
in a bankruptcy appeal.
NOTE
1 Certain types of motions toll this time for filing until the last such motion
is disposed of. See Bankruptcy Rule 8002(b).
2 See F.R.A.P.4(a).
3 Bankruptcy Rule 8002(c)(2); Bankruptcy Rule 9006(b). Of course where
an appeal is from a district court to a federal circuit court on a bankruptcy
issue, F.R.A.P. 4’s 30-day rule applies.
4 See Shareholders v. Sound Radio, Inc., 109 F.3d 873, 879 (3d Cir. 1997).
The law is unsettled as to whether bankruptcy appellate deadlines are “jurisdictional,”
such that objections to untimeliness may be waived if not promptly
made. See In re Fryer, 2007 WL 1667198 (3d Cir. June 11, 2007) (citing
Kontrick v. Ryan 540 U.S. 443 (2004), and Eberhart v United States, 546 U.S.
12 (2005)).
5 See Pioneer Inv. Servs. Co. v. Brunswick Assocs. Ltd. P’Ship, 507 U.S. 380,
395 (1993).
6 See In re GGM, P.C., 165 F.3d 1026, 1032 (5th Cir. 1999). Of course, one
may not first raise new issues on appeal that were not presented before the
bankruptcy court. See In re Ginther Trusts, 238 F.3d 686, 689 & n.3. (5th Cir.
2001).
7 See, e.g., In re Lynch, 430 F.3d 600 (Cir. 2005); In re Braniff Airways, Inc.,
774 F.2d 1303, 1305 n.6 (5th Cir. 1985).
8 Poulis v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 747 F.2d 863, 868 (3d. Cir. 1984).
See also In re Harris, 464 F.3d 263 (2d Cir. 2006) (failure to include required
transcript of oral argument did not warrant dismissal of appeal where lesser
sanctions were available); In re Beverly Mfg. Corp., 778 F.2d 666, 667 (11th
Cir. 1985) (“Dismissal typically occurs in cases showing consistently dilatory
conduct or the complete failure to take any steps other than the mere filing
of a notice of appeal.”).
9 8th Cir. BAP Rule 8010A.
10 9th Cir. BAP Rule 8006-1.
11 1st Cir. BAP Rule 8012-1.
12 10th Cir. BAP Rule 8010-1.
13 6th Cir. BAP Rule 8080-2.
14 Bankruptcy Rules 8001-8020.
15 Bankruptcy Rule 8008.
16 Bankruptcy Rule 8009.
17 Bankruptcy Rule 8010.
18 Bankruptcy Rule 8011.
19 Bankruptcy Rule 8012.
20 Bankruptcy Rule 8013.
21 Bankruptcy Rule 8014.
22 Bankruptcy Rule 8015.
23 Bankruptcy Rule 8009.
24 See In re Shattuck Cable Corp., 138 B.R. 557, 565 (Bankr. N.D. Ill. 1992).
25 See In re Best Prods. Co., 68 F.3d 26, 30 (2d Cir. 1995).
26 See Weber v. United States Trustee, 484 F.3d 154 (2d Cir. 2007) (“In many
cases involving unsettled areas of bankruptcy law, review by the district court
would be most helpful. Courts of appeal benefit immensely from reviewing
the efforts of the district court to resolve such questions”).
27 See Hartford Courant Co. v. Pellegrino, 380 F.3d 83, 90 (2d Cir. 2004).
28 See Weber, 484 F.3d at 157 (citing BAPCPA § 1233, 28 U.S.C.
§ 158(d)(2)(a)(i)-(iii)).
29 See In re ABC-Naco, Inc., 483 F.3d 470, 472 (7th Cir. 2007).
30 See In re Senior Cottages of Am., 482 F.3d 997, 1000-1001 (8th Cir. 2002)
31 See In re Martin, 222 Fed. Appx. 360, 362 (5th Cir. 2007).
32 See In re Focus Media Inc., 378 F.3d 916, 922 (9th Cir. 2004).
33 See In re State Line Hotel, Inc., 2007 WL 1961935 (9th Cir. July 5, 2007);
see also Gardens of Cortez v. John Hancock Mut. Life Ins. Co., 585 F.2d 975,
978 (10th Cir. 1978) (dismissal of bankruptcy petition moots appeal to lift
stay).
34 See Ederel Sport v. Gotcha, Int’l, L.P., 311 B.R. 250, 254 (9th Cir. BAP
2004).
35 See In re Howard’s Express, Inc., 151 Fed. Appx. 46 (Oct. 5, 2005) (conversion
from Chapter 11 to Chapter 7 did not moot appeal because liquidation
was not complete and preference actions remained to be tried, which
could generate assets to satisfy claims of appellants).
36 See In re PWS Holding Corp., 228 F.3d 224, 249 (3d Cir. 2000).
37 See In re Owens Corning, 419 F.3d 196, 203 (3d Cir. 2005).
38 Id.

What Maryland Homeowners Needs to Know About Withdrawal Of The Reference Of Bankruptcy Matters From The United States Bankruptcy Court To The United States District Court In Maryland

29 Tuesday Dec 2015

Posted by BNG in Bankruptcy, Federal Court, Judicial States, Litigation Strategies, Non-Judicial States, Pro Se Litigation

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bankruptcy court, chapter 11, chapter 13, chapter 7, District Court, foreclosure defense, withdrawal of reference

This post is intended to be a useful guide to the procedures and practice involved in withdrawal of the reference of bankruptcy matters from the United States Bankruptcy Court to the United States District Court in Maryland. It is, however, not intended to be an exhaustive treatment of the subject and should not be used as a substitute for Pro se Homeowners or attorneys doing their own research and reviewing carefully all applicable statutes, rules and case law.

Background
Congress vested all original jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases in the United States District Court. 28 U.S.C. § 1334(a). Congress further provided that the District Court could refer all cases in bankruptcy and any and all proceedings arising under, in, or related to cases in bankruptcy, to the Bankruptcy Court. 28 U.S.C. § 157(a). The United States District Court for the District of Maryland has referred all cases under the Bankruptcy Code and all proceedings arising under the Bankruptcy Code or arising in or related to cases under the Bankruptcy Code to the United States Bankruptcy Court. Rule 402, Rules of the United States District Court (Maryland) (hereinafter referred to as “District Court Local Rule”). Accordingly, until and unless the reference of jurisdiction to the Bankruptcy Court is withdrawn by an Order of the District Court, all jurisdiction over bankruptcy
matters resides with the Bankruptcy Court.

Statutory and Rule Provisions With
Respect to Withdrawal of Reference

28 U.S.C. § 157(d) provides as follows:

(d) The district court may withdraw, in whole or in part, any case or proceeding referred under this section, on its own motion or on timely motion of any party, for cause shown.
The district court shall, on timely motion of a party, so withdraw a proceeding if the court determines that resolution of the proceeding requires consideration of both title 11 and other laws of the United States regulating organizations or activities affecting interstate commerce.

As set forth in § 157(d), the District Court has the authority to
withdraw the entire bankruptcy case, or any part thereof, or any proceeding in the bankruptcy case or part thereof. The District Court can exercise its authority to withdraw cases or proceedings on its own motion or on timely motion of any party, for cause shown. This authority is sometimes referred to as discretionary withdrawal of the reference.

28 U.S.C. § 157(d) also provides for what is often called mandatory
withdrawal of the reference. Pursuant to the second sentence of § 157(d), the District Court shall, on timely motion of a party, withdraw a proceeding if the court determines that resolution of the proceeding requires consideration of both the Bankruptcy Code and other federal laws regulating organizations or activities affecting interstate commerce. Note that the mandatory withdrawal of reference is only applicable to proceedings in the bankruptcy case and only on timely motion of a party, not on the District Court’s own motion.

Bankruptcy Rule 5011 (“Withdrawal and Abstention from Hearing a
Proceeding”) provides in pertinent part as follows:

(a) Withdrawal. A motion for withdrawal of a case or proceeding shall be heard by a district judge.

(c) Effect of Filing of Motion for Withdrawal or Abstention.
The filing of a motion for withdrawal of a case or proceeding or for abstention pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1334(c) shall not stay the administration of the case or any proceeding therein before the bankruptcy judge except that the bankruptcy judge may stay, on such terms and conditions as are proper, proceedings pending disposition of the motion. A motion for a stay ordinarily shall be presented first to the bankruptcy judge. A motion for a stay or relief from a stay filed in the district court shall state why it has not been presented to or obtained from the bankruptcy judge. Relief granted by the district judge shall be on such terms and conditions as the judge deems proper.

District Court Local Rule 405 (“Rules of procedure for withdrawal of reference”) provides as follows:

1. General rule. When a case or proceeding has been referred by this Court to the Bankruptcy Court, all documents and pleadings in or related to such case or proceeding shall be filed with the Clerk in the Bankruptcy Court.

2. Withdrawal of reference of bankruptcy case or proceeding.

a. Filing of motion for withdrawal of reference with bankruptcy clerk. A motion pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 157(d) and Bankruptcy Rule 5011 to withdraw the reference of any bankruptcy case, contested matter or adversary proceeding referred to the Bankruptcy Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 157(a) and Local Rule 402 shall be filed with the Clerk in the Bankruptcy Court. If the motion requests withdrawal of only a portion of the case, a contested matter, or a portion of an adversary proceeding, the motion shall be accompanied by the filing of a designation of the documents and pleadings filed in the case or proceeding to which the motion relates.

b. Withdrawal of reference of bankruptcy cases. A motion to withdraw the reference of a case to the Bankruptcy Court must be timely filed, and in any event, before the case is closed.

c. Withdrawal of reference of adversary proceeding or contested matter. A motion to withdraw an adversary proceeding or a contested matter in a case which has been referred to the Bankruptcy Court must be filed by the earlier of eleven (11) days before the date scheduled for the first hearing on the merits; and

i. in the case of an adversary proceeding, within twenty (20) days after the last pleading is permitted to be filed pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 7012; or
ii. in the case of a contested matter, within twenty

(20) days after the last responsive pleading or memorandum in opposition is permitted to be filed pursuant to Local Bankruptcy Rule 9013-1(b)(3).

3. Filing of pleadings after reference withdrawn.

a. If the reference of an entire case has been withdrawn from the Bankruptcy Court to the District Court, all pleadings and documents in or related to such case shall be thereafter filed with the Clerk in the District Court.

b. Where the reference of only a portion of an entire case has been withdrawn, pleadings and documents with respect to the case (including any parts thereof that have been withdrawn or transferred) shall continue to be filed with the Clerk in the Bankruptcy Court. Any pleadings and documents which relate to any parts of the case which have been withdrawn or transferred to the District Court shall also be filed with the Clerk of the District Court. The Clerk of the Bankruptcy Court
shall keep a separate docket sheet of those pleadings and documents filed in the portion of the case that has been transferred to the District Court.

c. Upon withdrawal or transfer of any complaint to the District Court, the plaintiff may forward to the defendant a notice and request to waive service of summons or the Clerk shall issue a District Court summons pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. 4(d) unless either of the aforementioned has already occurred pursuant to the Bankruptcy Rules.

d. This subsection (d) governs personal injury tort and wrongful death claims which must be tried in the District Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(5). Except for the procedures contained within this subsection, personal injury tort and wrongful death proceedings shall be filed with the Clerk in the Bankruptcy Court. However, beneath the bankruptcy number, the pleading or other document shall designate the pleading or document as a “SECTION 157(b)(5) MATTER.” When filing a complaint a completed District Court civil cover sheet (A.O. Form JS-44c) should be submitted beneath the Bankruptcy Court cover sheet required by Local Bankruptcy Rule 7003-1. No summons shall be issued until the proceeding
is transferred to the District Court. Upon filing the complaint, the Clerk in the Bankruptcy Court shall immediately transfer the proceeding to the District Court and plaintiff may send to the defendant(s) a notice and request to waive service of summons pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(d) or the Clerk of the District Court shall issue a summons.

4. Motions concerning venue in bankruptcy cases and proceedings. All motions concerning venue in cases arising under Title 11 or arising in or related to cases under Title 11 shall be determined by the Bankruptcy Court, except in those cases to be tried in the District Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(5).

See also Local Bankruptcy Rule 5011-2, which provides in pertinent part as
follows:

A motion for withdrawal of reference is governed by Local Rule 405.2 of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.

Filing of Pleadings Before Withdrawal of Reference

In accordance with District Court Local Rules 402 and 405.1, all papers and pleadings in, or related to a bankruptcy case or proceeding, shall be filed with the Clerk of the Bankruptcy Court. Until an Order is entered by the District Court removing the reference from the Bankruptcy Court for all or part of a matter, the Clerk of the District Court will not accept the filing of any pleadings or papers in any bankruptcy-related matter. Unless the party filing a paper or pleading in the Bankruptcy Court is exempt from electronic filing,1 all papers and pleadings should be filed in the Bankruptcy Court electronically through the CM/ECF system.

Filing of a Motion to Withdraw Reference

A party on timely motion or the District Court upon its own motion may withdraw, in whole or in part, any case or proceeding pending in the Bankruptcy Court for cause shown. The party’s motion to withdraw the reference must be filed in the Bankruptcy Court. If the motion requests withdrawal of only a portion of the case, contested matter or adversary proceeding, the motion shall be accompanied by the filing of a designation of the documents and pleadings filed in the case or proceeding to which the motion relates. After the filing of a response or the expiration of the response time period, if no response is filed, the Bankruptcy Clerk shall transmit the motion to the District Clerk’s office. The transmittal shall include copies of the motion and any response thereto and the transmittal form for a motion for withdrawal of reference. As set forth in Bankruptcy Rule 5011(a), the motion for withdrawal of reference will be decided by the District Court.

_____________________________

1 Parties who are representing themselves (pro se), other than those who are members of the Bar of the Bankruptcy Court, are exempt from the electronic filing requirements and should file their papers and pleadings with the Clerk of the Bankruptcy Court in paper format.

Unless and until the motion for withdrawal of reference is granted by Order of the District Court, the only matter over which the District Court will exercise jurisdiction is the motion for withdrawal of reference. Until the reference is actually withdrawn, the original referral of jurisdiction (District Court Local Rule 402) remains in place. Accordingly, while the motion for withdrawal of reference is pending, pleadings and papers in or related to the bankruptcy case shall continue to be filed with the Bankruptcy Court. After the motion to withdraw reference has been transmitted to the District Clerk, the Bankruptcy Clerk shall send copies of any additional filings concerning the motion to withdraw reference to the District Clerk. Until the reference is withdrawn, the Bankruptcy Court shall continue to handle all matters in the bankruptcy case including adversary proceedings and contested matters in such case.

Timeliness of Motion to Withdraw Reference

As set forth in 28 U.S.C. §157(d) and District Court Local Rule 405.2.b, a party’s motion to withdraw the reference must be timely filed. With respect to motions to withdraw the reference of the bankruptcy case itself, the District Court Local Rule further provides that the motion must be filed before the case is closed. With respect to motions to withdraw the reference of adversary proceedings or contested matters, District Court Local Rule 405.2.c provides that such motion must be filed by the earlier of eleven (11) days before the date scheduled for the first hearing on the merits and, in the case of an adversary proceeding, within twenty (20) days after the last pleading is permitted to be filed pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 7012, or, in the case of a contested matter, within twenty (20) days after the last responsive pleading or memorandum in opposition is permitted to be filed pursuant to Local Bankruptcy Rule 9013-1(b)(3).

Mandatory and Discretionary Withdrawal of Reference

As noted above, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 157(d), the authority for a District Court to withdraw the reference is divided into two parts, mandatory withdrawal of the reference (“if the court determines that resolution of the proceeding requires consideration of both title 11 [the Bankruptcy Code] and other laws of the United States regulating organizations or activities affecting interstate commerce”) and discretionary withdrawal of the reference (“for cause shown”).

With respect to mandatory withdrawal of the reference, the statutory language appears to be quite broad. Nevertheless, it has been observed that “[t]he great weight of the case law interpreting § 157(d) holds that this seemingly broad language concerning mandatory withdrawal should be narrowly read. . . . The fact that resolution of the matters in question calls merely for consideration or application of both bankruptcy law and other federal laws is plainly insufficient, in that mandatory withdrawal should only be made where substantial and material consideration of non-bankruptcy statutes is necessary in the case.” In re Merryweather Importers, Inc., 179 B.R. 61, 62 (D. Md. 1995). Thus, mandatory withdrawal has been denied in cases involving “straightforward application of federal statutes to a particular set of facts. . . . By contrast, cases involving federal questions that are complex or are of first impression must be withdrawn from reference.” Id. at 62.

With respect to discretionary withdrawal of the reference (sometimes called permissive withdrawal), the statutory test is “for cause shown.” Cases have recognized that the District Court has broad discretion in deciding whether the reference should be withdrawn for cause shown. See In re Millennium Studios, Inc., 286 B.R. 300, 303 (D. Md. 2002). Among the factors to be considered by the court are whether the matter at issue between the parties is “core” within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2) and “the uniformity of bankruptcy administration, forum shopping and confusion of fora, conservation of creditor and debtor resources, expediency of the bankruptcy proceeding, and the fact that only equitable issues are posed, not requiring a jury trial but falling within the traditional equitable powers of the bankruptcy judge as chancellor.” In re Millennium Studios, Inc., 286 B.R. at 303; In re EquiMed, Inc., 259 B.R. 269, 273 (D. Md. 2001); In re Merryweather Importers, Inc., 179 B.R. at 63. Additional factors identified also include whether withdrawal “would promote judicial economy and the economic use of the parties’ resources.” In re EquiMed, Inc., 254 B.R. 347, 351 (D. Md. 2000). Finally, it has been stated that it is the movant’s burden to show cause for discretionary withdrawal of the reference. See In re Millennium Studios, Inc., 286 B.R. at 303-304.

Procedure in the Event that Entire Matter is Withdrawn

If the District Court grants the motion for withdrawal of reference, it shall enter an order providing for the same. A copy of said order shall immediately be transmitted to the Clerk of the Bankruptcy Court. If the reference of jurisdiction for the entire bankruptcy case or adversary proceeding is withdrawn by the District Court’s Order, all pleadings and papers in or related to such case or adversary proceeding shall thereafter be filed exclusively with the Clerk of the District Court. District Court Local Rule 405.3.a.

Procedure in the Event that Part of a Matter is Withdrawn

If the Order of the District Court withdraws the reference for less than the entire case or less than an entire adversary proceeding (for example, resolution of a contested matter), all pleadings and papers with respect to that bankruptcy case or adversary proceeding (specifically including those pleadings relating to the withdrawn matter) must continue to be filed with the Clerk of the Bankruptcy Court. In addition, counsel shall electronically file copies of all pleadings and documents relating to any parts of the case which have been withdrawn with the Clerk of the District Court through the CM/ECF system.2 Local District Court Rule 405.3.b.

Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Claims

Any personal injury or wrongful death claim filed in a bankruptcy case, or related to a bankruptcy case, shall be filed in the Bankruptcy Court. Local District Court Rule 405.3.d. The pleading shall contain a designation: “SECTION 157(b)(5) MATTER” and, if such pleading is a complaint, shall be accompanied by both a Bankruptcy Cover Sheet and a District Court Civil Cover Sheet. After docketing the initial pleading, the Clerk of the Bankruptcy Court shall forthwith transmit the matter to the Clerk of the District Court including a copy of the pleading, the District Court Civil Cover Sheet and a transmittal form. The Clerk of the District Court shall issue any necessary summons and the matter shall thereafter proceed in the District Court.

Final Orders of the District Court

If the District Court denies the motion to withdraw the reference, the Clerk of the District Court shall docket such order and forthwith transmit a copy of the docketed order to the Clerk of the Bankruptcy Court, after which the District Court file shall be closed. The Clerk of the Bankruptcy Court shall docket the order upon receipt from the Clerk of the District Court in the bankruptcy case or adversary proceeding in which the motion was filed.

With respect to a matter where reference has been withdrawn by the District Court, at such time as the District Court by final order decides such matter, the Clerk of the District Court shall docket the order of the District Court and forthwith transmit a copy of the docketed order to the Clerk of the Bankruptcy Court. The Clerk of the Bankruptcy Court shall docket the order in the case or adversary proceeding in which the motion to withdraw reference was filed.

__________________________________

2 The District Court also requires counsel to submit a paper courtesy copy of any document which, including attachments, is fifteen pages or longer.

Jury Adversary Proceedings That Must be
Tried by the District Court

With respect to jury trials, 28 U.S.C. § 157(e) provides as follows:

(e) if the right to a jury trial applies in a proceeding that may be heard under this section by a bankruptcy judge, the bankruptcy judge may conduct the jury trial if specially designated to exercise such jurisdiction by the district court and with the express consent of all the parties.

In addition, 28 U.S.C. § 1411 (Jury trials) provides as follows:

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, this chapter and title 11 do not affect any right to trial by jury that an individual has under applicable nonbankruptcy law with regard to a personal injury or wrongful death tort claim.

(b) The district court may order the issues arising under section 303 of title 11 to be tried without a jury.

A discussion of the circumstances in which a right to a jury trial exists in a
particular adversary proceeding or other matter is beyond the scope of this
Memorandum.

With respect to the procedure applicable to jury trials, Bankruptcy Rule 9015(b) provides as follows:

(b) Consent to Have Trial Conducted by Bankruptcy Judge. If the right to a jury trial applies, a timely demand has been filed pursuant to Rule 38(b) F.R.Civ. P., and the bankruptcy judge has been specially designated to conduct the jury trial, the parties may consent to have a jury trial conducted by a bankruptcy judge under 28 U.S.C. § 157(e) by jointly or separately filing a statement of consent within any applicable time limits specified by local rule.

Local Bankruptcy Rule 9015-1 provides as follows:

A statement of consent to have a jury trial conducted by a bankruptcy judge under 28 U.S.C. § 157(e) must be filed before the conclusion of the initial pretrial conference.

With respect to the procedure for requesting a jury trial in a
bankruptcy proceeding, Local District Court Rule 406 (Jury trial) provides as follows:

1. Demand. In any bankruptcy proceeding any party may demand a trial by jury of any issue triable of right by jury by (1) serving upon the other parties a demand therefor in writing at any time after the commencement of the action and not later than ten days after the service of the last pleading directed to such issue, and (2) filing the demand as required by Bankruptcy Rule 9015. Such demand may be indorsed upon a pleading of the party. If the adversary proceeding is one that has been removed from another court, any demand previously made under the rules of that court shall constitute a demand for trial by jury under this rule.

2. Specification of issues. In the demand a party may specify the issues which the party wishes so tried; otherwise the party shall be deemed to have demanded trial by jury for all the issues so triable. If the party has demanded trial by jury for only some of the issues, any other party within ten days after service of the demand or such lesser time as the Court may order, may serve a demand for trial by jury of any other or all of the issues of fact in the action.

3. Waiver. The failure of a party to serve and file a demand as required by this rule constitutes a waiver by the party of trial by jury. A demand for trial by jury made as herein provided may not be withdrawn without the consent of the parties.

4. Consent to jury trial before the United States Bankruptcy Judge. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 157(e), with the consent of the parties, a District Judge may designate a Bankruptcy Judge to conduct a jury trial.

A. No Motion to Withdraw Filed.

When an adversary proceeding is filed in which a party rightfully claims a right to trial by jury and the bankruptcy judge is not designated, or the parties have not consented to have the jury trial conducted by the Bankruptcy Judge, unless the complaint is accompanied by a motion to withdraw the reference, all jurisdiction over the adversary proceeding remains with the Bankruptcy Court until the reference is later withdrawn.

Accordingly, all pleadings must continue to be filed with the Clerk of the
Bankruptcy Court and all matters to be resolved within the adversary
proceeding, short of trial, remain before the Bankruptcy Judge. Included in
such matters to be resolved by the Bankruptcy Court, are disputes between
the parties as to the right to trial by jury.

B. Motion to Withdraw Reference Filed, but Denied at Outset of
Adversary Proceeding.

If the complaint or answer is accompanied by a timely filed motion to
withdraw reference under District Court Local Rule 405.2.c, the procedures
discussed above shall be followed for the disposition of the motion to
withdraw reference. An early motion to withdraw the reference may be
denied without prejudice to refiling the motion when the case is trial ready.
See In re Stansbury Poplar Place, Inc., 13 F.3d 122 (4th Cir. 1993); Furniture Rentors of America v. NYNex Information Resources Co., 162 B.R. 728 (D. Md. 1994). If the motion for withdrawal of the reference is denied at an early stage in the adversary proceeding and therefore the adversary
proceeding remains for pre-trial purposes with the Bankruptcy Court, all
jurisdiction over the adversary proceeding remains with the Bankruptcy
Court until a motion is granted withdrawing the reference of the adversary
proceeding.

C. Pre-Trial Phase.

The pre-trial phase of the adversary proceeding shall encompass the
period of time allowed for discovery and the filing of and decision on all
dispositive motions. At the time that discovery has been completed, any
dispositive motions ruled upon, and the adversary proceeding is otherwise
ready to be scheduled for trial, the pre-trial phase of the adversary
proceeding is completed.

D. Withdrawal of Reference for Trial

If the reference has not been withdrawn by Order of the District Court
prior to the completion of the pre-trial phase of the adversary proceeding, at the end of the pre-trial phase of the adversary proceeding the Bankruptcy Court shall issue a summary report and recommendation to the District Court, recommending that the reference be withdrawn so that the trial by jury may go forward in the District Court. This report and recommendation shall be docketed in the adversary proceeding by the Clerk of the Bankruptcy Court and a copy transmitted to the Clerk of the District Court for action by the District Court upon the report and recommendation. If the District Court agrees that the reference should be withdrawn at that time, the District Court will enter an Order withdrawing the reference and transmit a copy of the Order to the Clerk of the Bankruptcy Court. Upon entry of an Order withdrawing the reference, all jurisdiction over the adversary proceeding shall be in the District Court and the Bankruptcy Court shall have no further authority to act in the adversary proceeding. All pleadings thereafter shall be filed with the Clerk of the District Court.

Miscellaneous

The transmission of a motion for withdrawal of the reference should not be delayed by the Clerk of the Bankruptcy Court pending the issuance of any report and recommendation by the Bankruptcy Court. Where it deems it appropriate, the Bankruptcy Court may provide such a report and recommendation to the District Court, or the District Court may request such a report and recommendation from the Bankruptcy Court, for any motion for withdrawal of the reference.

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Why Homeowners Must Know these Important Points of Bankruptcy Appeal

23 Wednesday Sep 2015

Posted by BNG in Appeal, Bankruptcy, Federal Court, Foreclosure Defense, Judicial States, Non-Judicial States

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Bankruptcy, bankruptcy appeal, bankruptcy court, homeowners, Plaintiff, Pro se legal representation in the United States

Every appeal requires an appellate advocate to understand and follow
a series of rules. When an appeal is from a decision by a federal
bankruptcy court, there is yet another layer of rules and complexity
to consider. This article briefly identifies a dozen important points
about bankruptcy appeals.

1. The Time for Filing a Notice of Appeal in a Bankruptcy Appeal Is Generally Shorter Than in Other Appeals.

Under 28 U.S.C. § 158(c)(2) and Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure (“Bankruptcy Rule”) 8002(a), a party seeking to appeal a decision by a bankruptcy court has 14 days to file its appeal.1 This is 16 days less than the 30 days a party generally is given under the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure (“F.R.A.P.”) to appeal from district court to a federal appellate court.2 As with F.R.A.P. 4(a)(5), the Bankruptcy Rules permit some leeway if an appellant misses its deadline. Under the Bankruptcy Rules, a bankruptcy court may allow an appellant who fails to timely file up to 20 additional days to file where that appellant can demonstrate “excusable neglect.”3 After 30 days, however, a bankruptcy appellant loses its right to appeal even if there is excusable neglect.4 Factors to be considered in determining whether there is excusable neglect include the danger of prejudice to the appellee; the length of delay and its impact on the judicial proceeding; the reason for the delay; whether the delay was in the movant’s control; and the movant’s good faith.5

2. An Appellant May Waive an Issue Not Raised at the Outset of its Bankruptcy Appeal.

Under Bankruptcy Rule 8006, within 14 days of filing its Notice of
Appeal, an appellant must file and serve a designation of the items to be
included in the record on appeal and a statement of issues to be presented
on appeal. If an appellant fails to include an issue in this Statement, the
issue is waived even if this had been raised and/or decided by the bankruptcy
court.6

3. Those Who Ignore Deadlines and Procedural Rules May Forfeit Their Appeal.

Bankruptcy Rule 8001(a) authorizes dismissal of a bankruptcy appeal when a party fails to take any required step other than filing its Notice of Appeal. Courts adjudicating bankruptcy appeals may dismiss appeals when a party fails to take a necessary step, such as filing its record designations, statement of issues or its brief.7
While the Bankruptcy Rules permit dismissal, however, certain circuits require the appellate court to weigh a series of factors before it dismisses a case in its entirety. For example, the Third Circuit requires the balancing of six factors before a case is dismissed. These are:
• The extent of the party’s personal responsibility;
• The prejudice to the adversary caused by the failure to meet scheduling
orders;

• A history of dilatoriness;
• Whether the conduct of the party or the attorney was willful or in bad
faith;
• The effectiveness of sanctions other than dismissal, which entails an
analysis of alternative sanctions;
• The meritoriousness of the claim or defense.8

4. In Five Circuits, Bankruptcy Appeals May Be Heard in the First Instance by Two Different Types of Courts.

Under 28 U.S.C. § 158(c)(1), an appellant in an appeal from bankruptcy court may choose in the first instance to appeal either to a district court acting as an appellate court or, if the relevant circuit provides for one, to a Bankruptcy Appellate Panel (“BAP”). Even if the appellant chooses a BAP, however, any other party to the appeal may, no later than 30 days after service of the notice of appeal, ask to have the appeal heard by the relevant district court. The First, Sixth, Eighth, Ninth and Tenth Circuits each have a BAP. If an appeal is to a BAP, then the Bankruptcy
judge’s decision will be reviewed by fellow sitting bankruptcy judges.
Usually a BAP consists of three sitting bankruptcy judges in the circuit who are assembled for a particular day of argument. By their very nature, BAPs will consist of judges who have special expertise regarding bankruptcy issues, while district courts may not. The BAP may sit in different places in the circuit. For example, the Eighth Circuit BAP conducts hearing in Omaha, St. Louis, Kansas City, and other locations where its bankruptcy courts sit.

5. BAP Rules Vary by Circuit.

Just like the individual federal circuit courts of appeal, the various BAPs each have their own rules. These vary between each circuit. Any party in a BAP appeal, therefore should know the specifics and particularities of the specific BAP’s rules and should follow these.
Among these specialized rules, for example, are that, in the Eighth Circuit BAP, parties are limited to opening briefs of 6500 words.9 The Ninth Circuit BAP Rules provide that only those portions of transcripts included in the excerpts of the record will be considered in an appeal and that these must include excerpts necessary for the BAP to apply the required standard of review to a matter.10 The First Circuit BAP Rules generally limit argument to 15 minutes per side.11 The Tenth Circuit BAP requires that a brief include a statement of related cases—i.e., one that includes the same litigants and substantially the same fact pattern or legal issues – that are
pending in any other federal court.12 The Sixth Circuit BAP Rules provide
for a possible pre-argument conference and mediation.13

6. The Bankruptcy Rules Generally Govern Appeals to the District Court.

As noted in the prior section, BAPs have elaborate rules that govern all aspects of appeals before them. By the terms of the Bankruptcy Rules, these specific rules can supersede conflicting terms in the Bankruptcy Rules. However, when an appeal is to the district court, the Bankruptcy Rules generally apply in the absence of a local rule or district court rule specifically addressing bankruptcy appeals, which are much less common.
While not as comprehensive as the F.R.A.P., the Bankruptcy Rules have 20 provisions governing all aspects of appeals.14 These rules addresses appellate issues, including, among others, the filing and service of appellate papers;15 the filing and service of briefs and appendices;16 the form of briefs and their length;17 motions;18 oral argument;19 disposition of the appeal;20 costs;21 and rehearing,22 among others. (These rules also provide for the accelerated filing of district court appeals, as an appellant is to serve and file its brief within 15 days after entry of the appeal on the docket; the appellant is to serve its brief within 15 days after service of the appellant’s brief and the appellant is to serve its reply within 10 days after service of the appellee’s brief.)23 In the absence of rules to the contrary, opening briefs may be up to 50 pages and reply briefs up to 25 pages.
Under Bankruptcy Rule 8012, oral argument is to be generally allowed in all cases. In practice, however, oral argument is much less common before district courts. When an appeal is before district court, there is some question about whether its decision has precedential effect.24

7. Bankruptcy Appeals Often Include an Extra Tier of Review.

Generally, before an appeal reaches a federal circuit court of appeals, it is adjudicated by either a BAP or a district court. The findings of these first tier courts are not binding on the circuit court of appeals and, the appellate court owes no deference to the decisions by the BAP or district court.
Review by the circuit court of appeals is plenary.25 Nonetheless, some circuit courts have noted that the first tier of appeal acts as a helpful filter.26
An appellate court may reach issues brought up before but not decided by the district court or BAP.27

8. Direct Appeal to the Circuit Court of Appeals Is Allowed in Limited Instances.

Pursuant to Section 1233 of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (“BAPCPA”), a circuit court of appeals has discretion to permit a direct appeal frombankruptcy court where there is uncertainty in the bankruptcy court, either due to the absence of a controlling legal decision or a conflicting decision on the issue and the issue is of great importance, or where the court finds it is patently obvious that the bankruptcy court’s decision either was correct or incorrect, such that the first tier of review in the district court or BAP is less efficient and helpful.28

9. At Each Tier of the Appeal, The Bankruptcy Court Is Given the Same Level of Deference and Same Form of Scrutiny.

Courts in bankruptcy appeals review issues of law de novo and findings of fact for clear error.29 Courts of appeal apply the same standard of review as do BAPs and district courts.30 Courts of appeal generally review issues of procedure under an abuse of discretion standard. These include motions to compromise or to lift a stay, for example.31

10. This Is a Greater Threat of Mootness in Bankruptcy Appeals Than in Other Federal Appeals.

A bankruptcy appeal may become constitutionally moot where events may occur that make it impossible for the appellate court to fashion effective relief.32 Thus, for example, if, while an appeal is pending, a plan is confirmed pursuant to which all assets are distributed, all creditors with allowed claims are paid in full, and the bankruptcy case is closed such that the debtor no longer exists, an appeal against that debtor is moot because there is no meaningful relief that may be granted.33 An appeal may also be considered “equitably moot” where a change in circumstances makes it inequitable for a court to consider the merits of an appeal.34
However, if there remains any possibility that an appeal may result in a tangible benefit to the appellant, it is not moot.35

11. Only Those Persons Aggrieved Have Standing to Bring a Bankruptcy Appeal.

Only those whose rights or interests are directly and adversely affected pecuniarily by an order of the bankruptcy court have standing to bring an appeal.36

12. Appellate Courts Take a Broader Notion of “Finality” in Bankruptcy Appeals Than in Other Appeals.

Because of the length of many bankruptcy proceedings and the waste of time and resources that may result if the court denied immediate appeals, federal courts of appeal apply a broader concept of “finality” when considering bankruptcy appeals under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 than in considering non-bankruptcy appeals.37 Courts apply a number of factors in determining whether to assert appellate jurisdiction. These include:
1) the impact on the assets of the bankruptcy estate;
2) the necessity for further fact-finding on remand;
3) the preclusive effect of the court’s decision on the merits in further litigation,
and
4) the interest of judicial economy.38
Each of these issues, of course, could justify an article in itself. I hope
these provide some helpful thoughts and issues to consider when participating
in a bankruptcy appeal.

NOTE

1 Certain types of motions toll this time for filing until the last such motion
is disposed of. See Bankruptcy Rule 8002(b).
2 See F.R.A.P.4(a).
3 Bankruptcy Rule 8002(c)(2); Bankruptcy Rule 9006(b). Of course where
an appeal is from a district court to a federal circuit court on a bankruptcy
issue, F.R.A.P. 4’s 30-day rule applies.
4 See Shareholders v. Sound Radio, Inc., 109 F.3d 873, 879 (3d Cir. 1997).
The law is unsettled as to whether bankruptcy appellate deadlines are “jurisdictional,”
such that objections to untimeliness may be waived if not promptly
made. See In re Fryer, 2007 WL 1667198 (3d Cir. June 11, 2007) (citing
Kontrick v. Ryan 540 U.S. 443 (2004), and Eberhart v United States, 546 U.S.
12 (2005)).
5 See Pioneer Inv. Servs. Co. v. Brunswick Assocs. Ltd. P’Ship, 507 U.S. 380,
395 (1993).
6 See In re GGM, P.C., 165 F.3d 1026, 1032 (5th Cir. 1999). Of course, one
may not first raise new issues on appeal that were not presented before the
bankruptcy court. See In re Ginther Trusts, 238 F.3d 686, 689 & n.3. (5th Cir.
2001).
7 See, e.g., In re Lynch, 430 F.3d 600 (Cir. 2005); In re Braniff Airways, Inc.,
774 F.2d 1303, 1305 n.6 (5th Cir. 1985).

8 Poulis v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 747 F.2d 863, 868 (3d. Cir. 1984).
See also In re Harris, 464 F.3d 263 (2d Cir. 2006) (failure to include required
transcript of oral argument did not warrant dismissal of appeal where lesser
sanctions were available); In re Beverly Mfg. Corp., 778 F.2d 666, 667 (11th
Cir. 1985) (“Dismissal typically occurs in cases showing consistently dilatory
conduct or the complete failure to take any steps other than the mere filing
of a notice of appeal.”).
9 8th Cir. BAP Rule 8010A.
10 9th Cir. BAP Rule 8006-1.
11 1st Cir. BAP Rule 8012-1.
12 10th Cir. BAP Rule 8010-1.
13 6th Cir. BAP Rule 8080-2.
14 Bankruptcy Rules 8001-8020.
15 Bankruptcy Rule 8008.
16 Bankruptcy Rule 8009.

17 Bankruptcy Rule 8010.
18 Bankruptcy Rule 8011.
19 Bankruptcy Rule 8012.
20 Bankruptcy Rule 8013.
21 Bankruptcy Rule 8014.
22 Bankruptcy Rule 8015.
23 Bankruptcy Rule 8009.
24 See In re Shattuck Cable Corp., 138 B.R. 557, 565 (Bankr. N.D. Ill. 1992).
25 See In re Best Prods. Co., 68 F.3d 26, 30 (2d Cir. 1995).
26 See Weber v. United States Trustee, 484 F.3d 154 (2d Cir. 2007) (“In many
cases involving unsettled areas of bankruptcy law, review by the district court
would be most helpful. Courts of appeal benefit immensely from reviewing
the efforts of the district court to resolve such questions”).
27 See Hartford Courant Co. v. Pellegrino, 380 F.3d 83, 90 (2d Cir. 2004).
28 See Weber, 484 F.3d at 157 (citing BAPCPA § 1233, 28 U.S.C.
§ 158(d)(2)(a)(i)-(iii)).
29 See In re ABC-Naco, Inc., 483 F.3d 470, 472 (7th Cir. 2007).
30 See In re Senior Cottages of Am., 482 F.3d 997, 1000-1001 (8th Cir. 2002)
31 See In re Martin, 222 Fed. Appx. 360, 362 (5th Cir. 2007).
32 See In re Focus Media Inc., 378 F.3d 916, 922 (9th Cir. 2004).
33 See In re State Line Hotel, Inc., 2007 WL 1961935 (9th Cir. July 5, 2007);
see also Gardens of Cortez v. John Hancock Mut. Life Ins. Co., 585 F.2d 975,
978 (10th Cir. 1978) (dismissal of bankruptcy petition moots appeal to lift
stay).

34 See Ederel Sport v. Gotcha, Int’l, L.P., 311 B.R. 250, 254 (9th Cir. BAP
2004).
35 See In re Howard’s Express, Inc., 151 Fed. Appx. 46 (Oct. 5, 2005) (conversion
from Chapter 11 to Chapter 7 did not moot appeal because liquidation
was not complete and preference actions remained to be tried, which
could generate assets to satisfy claims of appellants).
36 See In re PWS Holding Corp., 228 F.3d 224, 249 (3d Cir. 2000).
37 See In re Owens Corning, 419 F.3d 196, 203 (3d Cir. 2005).
38 Id.

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Introduction

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Step 2: Pre-Trial Conference

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Step 4: Motions

Step 5: Trial

DEALING WITH THE LAW

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