11th Annual Detroit Consumer Bankruptcy Conference

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11th Annual Detroit Consumer Bankruptcy Conference

November 11, 2015 Somerset Inn, Troy, Mich.

Returning this year to the Detroit area, in partnership with the Consumer Bankruptcy Association of the Eastern District of Michigan, is ABI’s 11th Annual Detroit Consumer Bankruptcy Conference. This year’s day-long program features sessions on student loans, Law v. Siegel, a Supreme Court update, claims in chapter 13 cases and various issues in chapter 7 cases, and a plenary session on witness preparation, as well as a case law update. Ten bankruptcy judges from the Sixth Circuit are among the expert panelists this year. It is a must-attend program for all Michigan-area consumer bankruptcy practitioners!

CBA Members Register Here for the brochure.

Sessions

Event Information 231814

Wednesday, November 11

7:30-8:30 a.m.

Continental Breakfast and Registration

8:30-8:45 a.m.

Veterans Day Tribute and Welcome

Chief Judge Phillip J. Shefferly

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (E.D. Mich.); Detroit

8:45-10:15 a.m.

Opening Plenary Session

Witness Preparation

This year’s litigation session will focus on preparing a witness to testify in various bankruptcy circumstances, including § 341 meetings, Rule 2004 examinations, evidentiary hearings and trials. The session will also include “how to” and “how not to” demonstrations of witness preparation by experienced trial lawyers encompassing preparation for both direct testimony and cross-examination.

Presenters:

Thomas W. Cranmer

Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, P.L.C.; Troy, Mich.

Thomas G. McNeill

Dickinson Wright PLLC; Detroit

Witnesses:

Kevin C. Calhoun

Calhoun & Di Ponio PLC; Southfield, Mich.

Kimberly M. Lubinski

Butler, Butler & Rowse-Oberle, PLLC; St. Clair Shores, Mich.

10:15-10:30 a.m.

Coffee Break

10:30-11:45 a.m.

Concurrent Sessions (3)

Litigating Stay Violations and Discharge Injunction Violations in Chapters 7 and 13

This session will discuss the different procedures, legal standards, remedies, burdens of proof and case law applicable when litigating violations of the automatic stay and violations of the discharge injunction in both chapter 7 and chapter 13 cases.

Chief Judge Phillip J. Shefferly, Moderator

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (E.D. Mich.); Detroit

Roberta W. Andrews

Firebaugh & Andrews P.L.L.C.; Westland, Mich.

Hon. Walter Shapero

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (E.D. Mich.); Detroit

Tamara A. White

Holzman Corkery PLLC; Southfield, Mich.

Oyez! Oyez! Oyez! Supreme Court Update

This session will focus exclusively on recent Supreme Court decisions in bankruptcy cases, including this term’s chapter 13 cases, fee disputes and Stern updates.

Hon. Steven W. Rhodes (ret.)

Ann Arbor, Mich.

John A. E. Pottow

University of Michigan; Ann Arbor, Mich.

Law v. Siegel

This session will discuss Law v. Siegel and its implications for debtors’ exemptions,amendments to exemptions, and trustee tools to object to exemptions post-Law v. Siegel. This session will also explore the divergent case law emerging from the dicta in the Supreme Court’s opinion, and what it means to debtors and trustees going forward.

Michael A. Stevenson, Moderator

Stevenson & Bullock PLC; Southfield, Mich.

Leonora K. Baughman

Kilpatrick & Associates, P.C.; Auburn Hills, Mich.

Michael E. Baum

Schafer & Weiner PLLC; Bloomfield Hills, Mich

Hon. Thomas J. Tucker

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (E.D. Mich.); Detroit

11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

Networking Luncheon

12:50-2:00 p.m.

Concurrent Sessions (3)

Current Issues Regarding Objections to Discharge in Chapter 7 Cases

This session will focus on a number of highly debated discharge objection issues, including responsibilities and culpability of debtors’ attorneys, procedures and criteria for settling or dismissing a § 727 objection to discharge in an adversary proceeding, and the “selling” of discharges.

Hon. Scott W. Dales

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (W.D. Mich.); Grand Rapids

Jill M. Gies

Office of the U.S. Trustee; Detroit

Paul R. Hage

Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss PC; Southfield, Mich.

Timothy J. Miller

Schneider Miller, P.C.; Detroit

CFPB, or Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

This session will focus on nonbankruptcy causes of action under the CFPB and similar statutes.

Caralyce M. Lassner, Moderator

Caralyce M. Lassner, JD, PC; Utica, Mich.

Melissa Byrd

Midland Credit Management, Inc.; Warren, Mich.

Kurt A. O’Keefe

Kurt A. O’Keefe; Grosse Pointe, Mich.

Karen L. Rowse-Oberle

Butler, Butler & Rowse-Oberle, PLLC; St. Clair Shores, Mich.

Adam G. Taub

Consumer Law Group, PLC; Southfield, Mich.

End-of-the-Road Issues in Chapter 13

This special session will focus on issues that frequently arise at the end of a chapter 13 case, including post-confirmation fee applications, notice of final cure issues, and other last-minute discrepancies as a debtor completes a chapter 13 case.

Christopher W. Jones, Moderator

Acclaim Legal Services, PLLC; Warren, Mich.

Lisa K. Mullen

Office of the Chapter 13 Trustee; Southfield, Mich.

Hon. Daniel S. Opperman

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (E.D. Mich.); Detroit

Kim-Su Morden Rattet

Trott Law, P.C.; Farmington Hills, Mich.

2:00-2:10 p.m.

Break

2:10-3:20 p.m.

Concurrent Sessions (3)

Forgotten and Overlooked Issues in Chapter 7

This session will discuss the various issues that exist in chapter 7 cases but are frequently overlooked, including § 350 motions to reopen, § 365(p) lease assumptions, § 366 utility motions, post-petition loan modifications, and debtors’ attorneys’ responsibilities regarding reaffirmations.

Michael P. Hogan, Moderator

Schneiderman & Sherman, P.C.; Farmington Hills, Mich.

Hon. James W. Boyd

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (W.D. Mich.); Grand Rapids

Stuart A. Gold

Gold Lange & Majoros, P.C.; Southfield, Mich.

Mark H. Shapiro

Steinberg Shapiro & Clark; Southfield, Mich.

Claims, Claims, Claims in Chapter 13 Cases

This session will cover chapter 13 claims issues, both from the creditor’s point of view (“What happens if I don’t file my claim by the bar date?”) and from the debtor’s point of view (“Can I file a protective claim?”), along with emerging claims issues regarding priority tax claims and nondischargeable post-discharge interest.

Kurt A. Steinke, Moderator

Office of the Chapter 13 Trustee; Kalamazoo, Mich.

Danielle M. Klyce

Frego & Associates PLC; Dearborn Heights, Mich.

Hon. Marci B. McIvor

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (E.D. Mich.); Detroit

Noel J. Ravenscroft

Potestivo & Associates, P.C.; Rochester Hills, Mich.

Student Loans A-Z

This session will discuss student loan issues that arise both pre- and post-petition. Among the pre-petition issues are collection actions against borrowers, nonbankruptcy alternatives for borrowers, and legislative updates. Among the post-petition issues are the elements of nondischargeability under § 523(a)(8), classification of student loans in chapter 13 cases, preference actions to recover pre-petition payments on student debt and more.

Craig S. Schoenherr, Sr., Moderator

O’Reilly Rancilio P.C.; Sterling Heights, Mich.

Corey M. Carpenter

B.O.C. Law Group, P.C.; Pleasant Ridge, Mich.

Steven J. Cohen

Lieberman Gies & Cohen PLLC; Farmington Hills, Mich.

Hon. John T. Gregg

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (W.D. Mich.); Grand Rapids.

3:20-3:35 p.m.

Refreshment Break

3:35-5:00 p.m.

Closing Plenary Session

Annual Case Law Update — from the Circuits Down

This annual favorite will cover all of the recent consumer bankruptcy law decisions, hot topics and new cases from the circuit level on down through the district courts and bankruptcy courts, concentrating on the Sixth Circuit and the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan. The session may also include any cases of interest from any other circuit or district court.

Thomas D. DeCarlo, Moderator

Office of the Chapter 13 Trustee; Southfield, Mich.

Hon. John P. Gustafson

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (N.D. Ohio); Toledo

5:00-6:00 p.m.

Networking Reception

 

Judicial Chair

Chief Judge Phillip J. Shefferly

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (E.D. Mich.); Detroit

Conference Chair

Caralyce M. Lassner

Caralyce M. Lassner, JD, PC; Utica, Mich.

Planning Committee

Melissa S. Byrd

Encore Capital Group; Warren, Mich.

Corey M. Carpenter

B.O.C. Law Group, P.C., Pleasant Ridge, Mich.

Thomas D. DeCarlo

Office of the Chapter 13 Trustee; Southfield, Mich.

Jill M. Gies

Office of the U.S. Trustee; Detroit

Michael P. Hogan

Kilpatrick & Associates, P.C.; Auburn Hills, Mich.

Christopher W. Jones

Acclaim Legal Services, PLLC; Warren, Mich.

Danielle M. Klyce

Frego & Associates, PLC; Dearborn Heights, Mich.

Lisa K. Mullen

Office of the Chapter 13 Trustee; Southfield, Mich

Noel J. Ravenscroft

Potestivo & Associates PC; Rochester Hills, Mich.

Craig S. Schoenherr, Sr.

O’Reilly Rancilio P.C.; Sterling Heights, Mich.

Michael A. Stevenson

Stevenson & Bullock PLC; Southfield, Mich.

Conference Information

Hotel

The elegant Somerset Inn, our host hotel, is located in the heart of Troy’s business and financial district in close proximity to The Palace at Auburn Hills, Ford Field, Comerica Park, a golf course, and several museums and theaters. ABI has reserved a block of rooms at the special conference rates of $119 for a Tower Room and $139 for an Executive Room. To secure these special rates, reservations must be made by October 27, 2015. Reservations are limited, and rooms are held on a first-come, first-served basis. ABI cannot guarantee anyone a room after the October 27 cutoff or after the specially rated ABI block has been filled.

Continuing Education Credit

6.5 hours of general CLE credit are pending in states calculating CLE on a 60-minute hour, and 7.5 hours of general CLE credit are pending in 50-minute-hour states. Credit hours granted are subject to approval from each state. California MCLE: ABI certifies that this activity has been approved for MCLE credit in the amount of 6.5 hours of general CLE. NY MCLE: This transitional and non-transitional program has been approved in accordance with the requirements of the CLE Board for a maximum of 7.5 credit hours, which 1.5 can be applied toward professional practice. 7.5 hours of CPE credit are also available.

 

*ABI offers intermediate-level courses, which assume that attendees will have at least some detailed knowledge in insolvency matters (pursuant to the “Statement on Standards for CPE Programs” established by AICPA and NASBA). ABI is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE sponsors. State boards of accountancy have the final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be addressed to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors, 150 Fourth Ave. North, Suite 700, Nashville, TN, 37219-2417, or www.nasba.org For more information regarding administrative policies such as complaint and refund, please contact the American Bankruptcy Institute at (703) 739-0800. For more information about the conference, please e-mail [email protected].

Financial Hardship Statement

ABI acknowledges that in some instances there will be persons who need to attend an educational seminar for CLE credit who are not able to pay full registration fees. ABI will handle such instances on a case-by-case basis and will work with the individual on alternative solutions. Financial assistance is available for this program; all applications for financial assistance must be submitted by September 25, 2015. For persons who cannot meet the full registration rate, ABI will offer a reduced rate based on what the individual can reasonably afford to cover the cost of meals and materials. For persons unable to pay a reduced rate, ABI may allow the individual to work at the registration area for a few hours during attendee check-in, or assist in conference set-up. ABI also has reduced rates for government employees, professors, law clerks and students. For more information or to request an application, please contact the American Bankruptcy Institute at (703) 739-0800 or send an email to [email protected].

Cancellation Policy

All fees, except a $75 handling fee, will be refunded if written notice of cancellation is received by October 21, 2015. No refunds will be granted after October 21, but substitutions will be allowed. After October 21, upon written request, a coupon for 20% off the registration fee (not including optional events) will be issued, which can be used (by the canceling registrant only) for any ABI educational program up to one year after this conference, or for this same conference next year.

Special Thanks

We extend our special thanks to Conway MacKenzie for the educational materials on USB drives, Donlin, Recano & Co., Inc. for the conference lanyards, Thomson Reuters for the printed educational materials and Wilmington Trust for the tote bags.

Rates

Registration Rates Early Bird
(postmarked by 8/28/15)
Regular
(after 8/28/15)

ABI or CBA Member
$225
$295
ABI Gov’t./Academic/Nonprofit Member
$225
$295
New ABI Member*
$500
$570
Govt./Academic/Nonprofit New ABI Member*
$320
$390

Exhibitor Rates

ABI Member Exhibitor**
$1,000
New ABI Member Exhibitor***
$1,295

* Includes a one-year ABI membership for first-time members — a $295 value! Expired members should select the member rate and add in the membership renewal fee. You must be an ABI or CBA member to attend the conference.

** Includes one 6’ table and full registration for one booth representative.

*** Includes one 6’ table and full registration for one booth representative AND a one-year ABI membership.