In an opinion issued on June 1 in a case entitled Bank of America, N.A. v. Caulkett, the United States Supreme Court answered a question that has split lower courts since the Supreme Court decided Dewsnup v. Timm in 1992. The question answered in Caulkett was whether a debtor in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case can “strip off” a lien on the debtor’s property if the bankruptcy court determines that the lien is worthless, leaving the former secured creditor with an unsecured claim that can be discharged. The Supreme Court’s answer is no.

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