Contact: John Hartgen
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ABI PARTNERS WITH UMKC TO HOLD THE 28TH ANNUAL MIDWESTERN BANKRUPTCY INSTITUTE PROGRAM IN OCTOBER
 

June 12, 2008, Alexandria, Va. — The American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI) and the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law are partnering to present the 28th Annual Midwestern Bankruptcy Institute program and Midwestern Consumer Track on Oct. 3. The conference will take place at the H. Roe Bartle Hall Convention Center in Kansas City, Mo. The Midwestern Bankruptcy Institute features distinguished speakers on current developments. There will also be a special discounted Consumer Track that will feature breakout sessions specifically designed for consumer practitioners.

Bankruptcy Judges Dennis R. Dow (W.D. Mo.; Kansas City) and Robert E. Nugent (D. Kan.; Wichita) will join Prof. G. Ray Warner of St. John’s University/Greenberg Traurig, LLP (Jamaica, N.Y.) and ABI Resident Scholar Prof. Jack F. Williams of Georgia State University/BDO Seidman LLP (Atlanta) for the “Case Law Update” plenary session.

The luncheon program will feature a forward-looking analysis of ABI’s landmark Professional Fee Study with panelist C.R. “Chip” Bowles Jr. of Greenebaum Doll & McDonald PLLC (Louisville, Ky.) and U.S. Trustee Nancy J. Gargula (Regions 10 and 13; Indianapolis).

The conference will also feature ABI’s popular “Great Debates” program, consisting of two debates. In Debate No. 1, “The failure of a sole supplier without a contract to ship to a debtor in the early days of a chapter 11 case violates the automatic stay,” Bankruptcy Judge Arthur B. Federman (W.D. Mo.; Kansas City) will debate Richardo I. Kilpatrick of Kilpatrick & Associates, PC (Auburn Hills, Mich.).

In Debate No. 2, “Official Form 22C conclusively determines 'projected disposable income' for chapter 13 debtors with above-median income,” Claire Ann Resop of von Briesen & Roper, SC (Madison, Wis.) will debate Bankruptcy Judge Robert D. Berger (D. Kan.; Kansas City).

Also included in the programming is a “Judges Roundtable” with Bankruptcy Judges Robert D. Berger (D. Kan.; Kansas City), Dennis R. Dow (W.D. Mo.; Kansas City), Arthur B. Federman (W.D. Mo.; Kansas City), Janice M. Karlin (D. Kan.; Topeka), Robert E. Nugent (D. Kan.; Wichita), Dale L. Somers (D. Kan.; Topeka), Kathy A. Surratt-States (E.D. Mo.; St. Louis) and Jerry W. Venters (W.D. Mo.; Kansas City).

The session “Business Ethics: Does Conflicts Counsel Solve the Problem? Reconciling a Practical Solution and State Ethics Rules” will feature Bankruptcy Judge Jerry W. Venters (W.D. Mo.; Kansas City), Craig D. Hansen of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, LLP (Phoenix) and Mark A. Shaiken of Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP (Kansas City).

Mark V. Bossi of Thompson Coburn LLP (St. Louis), Daniel C. Cohn of Cohn, Whitesell & Goldberg LLP (Boston) and Douglas M. Neeb of Dickinson Financial Corp. (Kansas City) will participate in the “Nonbankruptcy Business Alternatives” session.

“The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act and Other Hot Topics in Bankruptcy Tax” plenary session will feature Prof. Michelle Arnopol Cecil of University of Missouri School of Law (Columbia, Mo.) and is part of the Consumer Track.

The Consumer Track breakout sessions include:

“Consumer Ethics: Balancing the Multiple Roles of Consumer Debtor’s Counsel under BAPCPA: Can You Be a Watchdog, Counselor and Advocate at the Same Time?” will be presented by E. Rebecca Case of Stone, Leyton & Gershman (St. Louis), Daniel J. Casamatta of the Office of the U.S. Trustee (Kansas City) and Cynthia F. Grimes of Grimes & Rebein, LC (Lenexa, Kan.).

The “Mortgage Claims in Chapter 13: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly” session will feature Bankruptcy Judge Kathy A. Surratt-States (E.D. Mo.; St. Louis), Chapter 13 Trustee Richard V. Fink (Kansas City), and Chapter 13 Trustee Debra L. Miller (South Bend, Ind.).

Click on the link below for more information on the 28th Annual Midwestern Bankruptcy Institute program.
http://www.abiworld.org/MW08
 

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ABI is the largest multi-disciplinary, nonpartisan organization dedicated to research and education on matters related to insolvency. ABI was founded in 1982 to provide Congress and the public with unbiased analysis of bankruptcy issues. The ABI membership includes more than 11,700 attorneys, accountants, bankers, judges, professors, lenders, turnaround specialists and other bankruptcy professionals providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and information. For additional information on ABI, visit www.abiworld.org. For additional conference information, visit http://www.abiworld.org/conferences.html.