The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit recently held that wages withheld as a voluntary 401(k) contribution prior to filing bankruptcy were not considered “disposable income” under a Chapter 13 bankruptcy plan.
A copy of the opinion in In re Camille Davis is available at: Link to Opinion.
An individual debtor (“consumer”) filed a Chapter 13 bankruptcy with more than $200,000 in debt ($189,000 unsecured debt) and fewer than $39,000 in assets.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit recently held that bankruptcy courts could confirm Chapter 13 plans proposing estimated time periods to complete the plan if unsecured creditors and the trustee did not object, reversing a contrary ruling from its Bankruptcy Appellate Panel.
A copy of the opinion in In re Nanette Sisk is available at: Link to Opinion.
As most global markets attempt a return to normal (or a new form of normal) business, it is hard to imagine a sector or an industry that isn’t already reeling from the effects of the past three months. Getting back on your feet is hard enough in the current environment, without having to worry about further setbacks impacting your business. But how would you react if your key supplier called tomorrow to let you know that they were insolvent and unable to provide you with goods or services?
For some time we have been following with interest the case of Bresco Electrical Services Ltd (in liquidation) v Michael J Lonsdale (Electrical) Ltd as it progresses through the courts. Why? Because this concerns an important question which comes up time and time again: are the regimes of construction adjudication and insolvency set off compatible?
The U.S. Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Eighth Circuit recently held managing members of a limited liability company that filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy were equitably estopped from asserting ownership of equipment where the members previously verified documents in the bankruptcy showing ownership of the equipment by the company.
A copy of the opinion in Richards v. Rabo ArgiFinance, LLC is available at: Link to Opinion.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit recently held that absent unforeseen extraordinary circumstances, debtors in Chapter 13 cases cannot proceed on appeal in forma pauperis.
A copy of the opinion in Bastanipour v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is available at: Link to Opinion.
Part II: Customer Considerations: Risk Mitigation = Smarter Sales
In the coming months, very few companies, whether public or private, will be able to avoid including statements in their quarterly reports or financials that attribute single or double digit percentage declines in revenue to doubtful accounts and insolvencies of major customers caused by the pandemic. For many, if not most, that disclosure will continue beyond Q4 of 2020 and through 2021.
This brief article considers the currently active restructuring markets in Asia and provides examples of where insolvency procedures from outside of Asia come to the rescue or, depending on your side of the table, torment, those trying to implement an orderly restructuring.
Introduction
Reforms to the Corporate Restructuring and INsolvency Framework
Moratorium
The Bill introduces a moratorium for companies during which they will benefit from a ‘payment holiday’ in respect of certain pre-moratorium debts and protection from legal action and security enforcement without the court’s permission.
The U.S. Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Eighth Circuit recently reversed a bankruptcy court’s disallowance of postpetition interest at the default contract rate, holding that “the bankruptcy court erred in applying a liquidated damages analysis and ruling the default interest rate was an unenforceable penalty,” and also erred in weighing “equitable considerations” to avoid enforcing the contractual default interest rate.