Texas Southern District

Reference Withdrawal on Houston Ethics Probe Pits UST Against Bankruptcy Judge

Despite consent by the firm to withdraw the reference of motions to disgorge its fees, a bankruptcy judge in Houston recommended against withdrawal to district court and against transfer to another district.

Bankruptcy Code Overrides Contrary Delaware Corporate Law, Judge Lopez Says

Whether a creditor violated the automatic stay is not arbitrable in bankruptcy.

Two Judges Agree: A Class with No Votes Isn’t Considered in Confirming a Sub V Plan

One month apart, two Houston bankruptcy judges held that a non-voting class is not deemed to have voted against a plan.

Issue Preclusion Saddles Alex Jones with $1.2 Billion in Nondischargeable Debt

Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez of Houston will hold trials that could result in more nondischargeable debt for Alex Jones.

In Sub V, a Class with No Votes Isn’t Considered in Confirming a Chapter 11 Plan

Former Bankruptcy Judge David R. Jones disagreed with a colleague, who had held that a non-voting class is considered as having voted against a plan.

Payments Were Preferences Even Though They Were Made with Insurance Proceeds

A preference opinion from Houston counsels creditors to be cautious when they are expecting payment from insurance.

Judge Isgur Allows 401(k) Contributions in Chapter 13 Up to What the IRS Code Allows

Contributions to 401(k) plans are deducted from ‘projected disposable income,’ even though the debtor was not making contributions before filing

Later Developments Don’t Undo Subchapter V Eligibility, Houston Judge Says

In the Alex Jones corporate Subchapter V case, Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez said that the later chapter 11 filing by Jones himself, with about $1.5 billion in debt, didn’t kick the corporate debtor out of Subchapter V and into ‘ordinary’ chapter 11.

Nonseverability Won’t Make a Confirmation Appeal Equitably Moot in the Fifth Circuit

When it comes to overbroad exculpations and nondebtor releases, a nonseverability clause in a chapter 11 plan won’t invoke equitable mootness to dismiss an appeal from confirmation.

A UCC Lien on ‘Accounts’ Won’t Attach to a Postpetition Sale of Real Property

Although a UCC lien on ‘accounts’ would attach outside of bankruptcy to proceeds from the sale of real property, Section 552(b) cuts off attachment if the sale occurs after filing

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