6th Circuit

Dispositions of Marital Property Aren’t Always Beyond the Avoiding Powers

A division of marital property on consent to someone other than a spouse might be a fraudulent transfer.

Courts Are Split on Including a Nonfiling Spouse’s Social Security Benefits

Judge Beth Buchanan decided that the ‘totality of the circumstances’ test for ‘abuse’ doesn’t permit disregarding the exemption for Social Security benefits.

U.S. Trustee Dodged Payment of Attorneys’ Fees Under the Equal Access to Justice Act

The Sixth Circuit holds that a debtor cannot recover attorneys’ fees from the U.S. Trustee under the EAJA in a contested matter, but leaves open the possibility of liability for counsel fees in a losing adversary proceeding.
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Discharge Isn’t an Automatic Bar to Conversion from ‘7’ to ‘13’

A district court opinion from Michigan raises the question of whether the Supreme Court’s decision in Marrama is still good law after Law v. Siegel.

Bankruptcy Judge Refuses to Enforce an Arbitration Agreement

An exculpation clause in a chapter 11 plan protected the owner’s counsel from a malpractice suit.

Debtors May Avoid Judicial Liens Under Section 522(f) Securing Nondischargeable Debts

Bankruptcy Judge Alan Koschik declined to follow cases decided before Congress amended Section 522(f) to preclude avoiding judicial liens securing domestic support obligations.

Personal Injury Settlement Was Not ‘Income’ Payable to Creditors in Chapter 13

Memphis Bankruptcy Judge Denise Barnett reads the BAPCPA amendments as excluding personal injury settlements from the calculation of ‘projected disposable income.’

Rising Home Values and Chapter 13: A Deepening Split

When, post-confirmation, a chapter 13 debtor sells his or her home, who gets the benefit of the appreciation: the debtor, or his or her creditors? Judge Randon in Michigan adopted the so-called “estate replenishment approach” and held that sale proceeds derived from post-confirmation appreciation of a home belong to the debtor.

Sixth Circuit Holds that Constitution Requires Hearing Within Two Weeks of Vehicle Seizure

In addressing Michigan county’s car-seizure and forfeiture practices, Sixth Circuit sets a clear benchmark for debtors.
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Three Circuits Agree: The ACA’s ‘Penalty’ Is Actually a Tax Entitled to Priority

Looking beyond the label assigned by the Affordable Care Act, three circuits have now held that failure to pay the ‘individual mandate’ for purchasing health insurance gave rise to a tax entitled to priority in bankruptcy.
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