In analyzing the parameters surrounding a state law assignment for benefit of creditors, as well as the extent and limits of the powers of the assignee, the Eleventh Circuit inUllrich v. Welt (In re NICA Holdings, Inc.), 2015 WL 9241140 (11th Cir. 2015) held that an assignee for the benefit of creditors lacks the authority to file a bankruptcy petition on behalf of the assignee.
The U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey recently dismissed a debtor’s claims for violations of the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the New Jersey Truth in Consumer Contract Warranty and Notice Act (TCCWNA), holding the debtor’s failure to schedule his lawsuit as an asset of his bankruptcy estate deprived him of standing to later assert the claims.
The U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey recently dismissed a debtor's claims for violations of the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the New Jersey Truth in Consumer Contract Warranty and Notice Act (TCCWNA), holding the debtor's failure to schedule his lawsuit as an asset of his bankruptcy estate deprived him of standing to later assert the claims.
A copy of the opinion is available at: Link to Opinion
As we end one of the slowest years for corporate bankruptcy filings, all indicators point to the fact that filings should heat up in 2016. Bankruptcy can be extremely disruptive to clients; however, the following tips may help your clients that could find themselves creditors, or debtors, in the new year.
The Buzz of Burgeoning Bankruptcy Filings
Prepackaged Bankruptcy Offers Investors a Quick Return to Liquidity Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases are typically lengthy and expensive, potentially lasting years and costing millions of dollars in fees and expenses. One valuable technique to minimize a debtor’s time in Chapter 11, reduce cost and disruption, and still secure the benefits of a Chapter 11 plan is a prepackaged bankruptcy (also called a “prepack”). In a prepack, a debtor negotiates the terms of a chapter 11 plan and solicits votes prior to the bankruptcy filing.
The Bankruptcy Forms Modernization Project is an initiative that will require filers to use new bankruptcy forms effective December 1, 2015. The new forms are part of a forms modernization project that was started by the Advisory Committee on Bankruptcy Rules in 2008. The petitions, schedules and other official forms will all be revised, reformatted and renumbered. The goal of the initiative is to improve the interface between technology and the forms to increase efficiency and reduce the need to produce the same information in multiple formats.
In a prior post, we explored the risks of utilizing an involuntary bankruptcy petition as a litigation tactic. That post examined a July 2015 decision from the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in the TPG Troy LLCbankruptcy case, in which the court held that when an involuntary bankruptcy petition is dismissed there is a presumption that costs and fees will be awarded irre
Several of the Official Bankruptcy Forms will be replaced on December 1, 2015. For creditors, the most notable changes will be to two forms: the Proof of Claim form, Form 410, and the Mortgage Proof of Claim Attachment, Form 410A. These changes reflect an effort by the Bankruptcy Courts to elicit a clear and complete picture of what the debtor owes and how much must be paid to cure a pre-bankruptcy arrearage. Due to the Bankruptcy Court’s focus on clarity, creditors are well advised to closely follow the claim forms and accompanying instructions.
Starting today, you may notice a new look for some of the forms used in bankruptcy cases. Some of the key forms now make a distinction between non-individual bankruptcy cases and business bankruptcy cases. For your convenience, we are attaching some of the key forms used in business bankruptcy cases.
The following are among the changes to the less compact form of petition for business bankruptcies:
Most loan contracts include provisions allowing the collection of attorneys’ fees in the event the borrower defaults. These attorney fee provisions are routinely enforced in collection suits brought in state courts.