California Eastern District

Debt of $46,000 Discharged Despite a Flagrantly False Loan Application

Even though the debtor defaulted, Judge Christopher Klein held a trial and ruled that the lender had not relied on a false loan application.

If It’s Consensual, a Plan Can Discharge a Nondischargeable Debt

A debt that’s been paid in full under state law is discharged even if the debtor never receives a discharge, Judge Klein says.

U.S. Trustee May Not Appoint an Unsecured Committee in a Municipal Bankruptcy

California judge sides with former Bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes by holding that the U.S. Trustee does not have statutory power to appoint an unsecured committee in a chapter 9 case.

The Rule 3001(f) Presumption of Claim Validity Doesn’t Include the Value of Collateral

California judge differs with the Third Circuit regarding the presumption of collateral value flowing from a lender’s proof of secured claim.

Portions of Rule 4004 Violate the Rules Enabling Act, Bankruptcy Judge Klein Says

Objection is not required to bar a discharge to an individual who received a chapter 7 discharge within eight years.

Judge Refuses to Vacate Opinion Socking a Bank with $40 Million in ‘Punies’

California judge won’t bar the debtor from settling for more than the original $6 million in compensatory damages while forsaking $40 million in punitive damages earmarked for public interest groups.

Judge Describes an ‘Important Tool’ to Deal with Incompetent Debtor’s Counsel

Judges uses Section 329(a) to vacate a contingency lien for more than the value of the lawyer’s services.

Obscure Provisions in Title 37 Bar Discharge of Unearned Reenlistment Bonuses

California judge counsels Ninth Circuit about procedures for enforcing discharge injunctions.

Student Loans Incurred for a New Profession Are Consumer Debts

Non-consumer debts must be related to an existing business or current job.

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