10th Circuit

Amount of an Exemption Isn’t Required to Make an Order Final, Circuit Majority Says

Tenth Circuit majority believes that the grant or denial of an exemption is sufficient to make the order final, even if the bankruptcy court hasn’t ruled on the extent or amount of the exemption.
Court: 

Ponzi-Schemer’s Assistant Liable Under UFTA Even Without Knowledge of Fraud

Providing a necessary service for a Ponzi-schemer was enough to make an employee liable to return compensation as a fraudulent transfer.
Court: 

Automatic Stay Applies Automatically to the Archbishop of a Bankrupt Archdiocese

Although a lawsuit against the archbishop violated the automatic stay, Judge Thuma of Albuquerque declined to impose sanctions because precedent was ‘spotty or nonexistent.’

The Circuits Are Split: Are Referral Fees Paid by a Ponzi Scheme Avoidable?

Utah district judge decides that referral fees paid by a Ponzi scheme aren’t avoidable unless the recipient had reason to suspect there was fraud.
Court: 

Federal Credit Union Held to Be a ‘Governmental Unit’ for All Purposes

Although federal credit unions are not controlled by the government, they are governmental units under the Bankruptcy Code, Judge Jacobvitz says.

Deceased Chapter 13 Debtor Excused from Taking Financial Management Course

Courts are split on whether the estate of a deceased chapter 13 debtor can receive a discharge if the debtor had not completed a financial management course.
Court: 

Bankruptcy Judge Won’t Follow BAP Authority on Derivative Standing for Creditors

Bankruptcy Judge Thuma admonishes the parties to settle and not waste money on litigation that should go to sexual abuse victims.

Chapter 13 Debtors Retain Appreciation in Property After Conversion or Plan Amendment

On an issue where the courts are split, the Tenth Circuit BAP sides with debtors and allows them to retain postpetition appreciation in the value of assets that were in the estate on filing.
Court: 

‘Fair Ground of Doubt’ Under Taggart Isn’t Shown by Intending to Overturn Precedent

The contemnor shoulders the burden of showing ‘uncertainty’ under the Taggart standard for contempt, Judge Barnes says.

Courts Remain Split on Allowing Credit Counseling on the Same Day but After Filing

Another judge follows statutory language that didn’t achieve the result Congress probably intended.

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