Practice and Procedure

Section 303(a) Precludes Substantive Consolidation Among Religious Institutions

Pleading hierarchical control is insufficient for substantive consolidation.

New York District Judge Lays Down Lenient Standard for Imputing Fraudulent Intent

Former Bankruptcy Judge Gerber reversed in Lyondell for being too strict, then for being too lenient.

Award of Attorneys’ Fees to the Government Is a Dischargeable Debt

Section 523(a)(7) interpreted narrowly in a fee-shifting dispute.

Rooker-Feldman Is No Bar to Overruling a State Court on the Automatic Stay

Despite concurrent jurisdiction, courts are split on Rooker-Feldman and the stay.
Court: 

Class Claims Not Categorically Barred in Bankruptcy, Delaware Judge Rules

Failure to notice all class members was pivotal in permitting a class proof of claim.
Court: 

Improperly Taking $297.72 Results in $250,000 in Punitive Damages for Stay Violation

Creditor’s unrepentant attitude escalates punitive damages from $33,700 to $250,000.

Ninth Circuit to Rehear Case Denigrating the Status of Bankruptcy Appellate Panels

Ninth Circuit will decide en banc whether BAPs were “established” by Congress.
Court: