Finance and Banking

REPORT: FEWER MORTGAGE LOANS PAST DUE, IN FORECLOSURE

Lender Processing Services (LPS), which provides mortgage and consumer loan processing services and default solutions, said that mortgage delinquencies are down by more than 10 percent over the past year, although more than one homeowner in 10 remains at risk of losing their home, MortgageLoan.com reported yesterday. The nation’s mortgage delinquency rate fell to 6.87 percent in August to 3.43 million, according to new figures from LPS. That represents a 10.6 percent decline over the past year and a 2.3 percent drop from the July figure. Delinquent mortgages in the LPS survey include loans that are at least 30 days past due but not in foreclosure. Meanwhile, the national foreclosure rate fell to 4.04 percent, representing 2.02 million homes in foreclosure but not yet repossessed. That number is down 2.0 percent from the August 2011 level and 1.0 percent from July’s figures. Click here.

CONSUMERS GIVEN DIFFERENT CREDIT SCORES THAN WHAT IS PROVIDED TO LENDERS, CFPB SAYS

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released a study today that found that one in five U.S. consumers is likely to receive a credit score that is different than the one provided to lenders, potentially closing off access to credit for millions of Americans who believe that they are eligible for it, Bloomberg News reported today. The study comes five days before the consumer agency, created by the Dodd-Frank law of 2010, begins supervising credit-reporting companies' records and practices. The work involves direct examination of about 30 businesses, including the three biggest, Equifax Inc., Experian Plc and TransUnion Corp. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, consumers are entitled to a free copy of their credit report each year. Consumer advocates have long charged that credit-reporting companies provide varying scores to lenders, potentially driving the cost of credit higher or depriving consumers of it entirely. Specifically, the bureau found that one in five consumers likely receive a "meaningfully different" score than the one their lender receives from credit bureaus, and consumers are unlikely to know about the discrepancy. Read more.

MOODY'S: CARD CHARGE-OFFS, LATE PAYMENT RATE FELL IN AUGUST

Moody's Investors Service said yesterday that the rate of U.S. credit card charge-offs fell to 4.19 percent in August from 4.56 percent in July, the Associated Press reported. Moody's index of credit card delinquencies, or those balances with a monthly payment more than 30 days past due, also improved. The rate declined to 2.32 percent in August from 2.36 percent the previous month. August's card delinquency rate is at a record low, which points to lower charge-offs in coming months, Moody's said. As delinquencies drop, Moody's data shows that card users are increasing the size of their payments. The average amount of principal that cardholders paid as a percentage of their balance hit a new high in August, rising to a rate of 22.71 percent from 22.47 percent a month earlier, the firm said. Read more.

ANALYSIS: PENSION CRISIS LOOMS DESPITE CUTS

Almost every state in the U.S. has made cuts to its public-employee pensions, seeking to dig their way out from the economic downturn, but so far the measures have fallen well short of bridging a nearly $1 trillion funding gap, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday. Since 2009, 45 states have rolled back pension benefits for teachers, police, firefighters and other public workers, including cuts by Michigan and California this month. Next week, Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) is expected to sign legislation requiring, for example, that certain teachers work longer and pay more toward their pensions. The state measures show how economic forces are reshaping traditional rivalries, convincing lawmakers and labor leaders that past public pension plans are unsustainable. Read more. (Subscription required.)

SYMPOSIUM ON OCT. 19 TO EXAMINE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BANKRUPTCY AND RACE

ABI, St. John's Center for Bankruptcy Studies and The Ronald H. Brown Center for Civil Rights and Economic Development are going to hold a symposium titled "Bankruptcy and Race: Is There a Relation?" on Oct. 19 from 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. ET at the St. John's School of Law. In a recent study of personal bankruptcy cases and practitioners, Profs. Jean Braucher, Dov Cohen and Robert Lawless made a troubling finding: the debtor's race appears to affect the advice that lawyers give about whether to file for bankruptcy under chapter 7 or chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code. Is this finding correct? And if so, what are its implications for bankruptcy law and policy? This symposium will bring together leading bankruptcy, empirical, and race scholars to address these questions through commentary on the Braucher study and a reply from the primary study authors. The papers will be published in the winter issue of the ABI Law Review. There is no fee to attend the symposium, but advance registration is required. To register, please complete and submit the online registration form by Oct. 15.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR STEVEN GOLICK, A COLLEAGUE AND ABI LEADER

Our friend Steven Golick (Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Toronto) is facing a medical crisis. He has been diagnosed with a serious brain tumor, requiring complex surgery and treatment. Steven’s spirits are very strong and he and his family remain optimistic, but he can use our support. A prominent international restructuring attorney and an ABI member since 1994, Steven is also a founding member of the ABI house band, the Indubitable Equivalents. Because the band is important to Steven, his fellow band-mates have organized a new Blog site for Steven's friends and colleagues to show their love and support at this critical time. Please click on this link to share your thoughts with many others, and post as often as you'd like.

ABI IN-DEPTH

MEMBERS WILL NOT WANT TO MISS ABI'S PROGRAM AT NCBJ'S ANNUAL MEETING ON OCT. 26

Members planning to attend the 86th Annual NCBJ Annual Conference in San Diego from Oct. 24-27 will not want to miss the exciting line-up scheduled for the ABI program track on Oct. 26. In addition to roundtable discussions on the hottest consumer and business bankruptcy topics, ABI will be hosting a ticketed luncheon that will feature the presentation of the 7th Annual Judge William L. Norton, Jr. Judicial Excellence Award and entertainment by Apollo Robbins, a sleight-of hand artist, security consultant and self-described gentleman thief. Robbins gained notoriety after pick-pocketing Secret Service agents accompanying former president Jimmy Carter. Click here to register for the Conference.

ABI's Chapter 11 Reform Commission will also be holding a public hearing on Oct. 26 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. PT at the San Diego Marriott. Interested parties have the opportunity to submit testimony at the hearing. For further information, please contact ABI Executive Director Samuel J. Gerdano at [email protected].

LATEST CASE SUMMARY ON VOLO: OLICK V. KEARNEY (IN RE OLICK; 3D CIR.)

Summarized by George Utlik of Arent Fox LLP

Affirming three decisions from the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit held that: (1) plaintiff-appellant waived his objections to the summary judgment order and oral opinion rendered from the bench in March 2008 because he had failed to secure a transcript of proceedings in the bankruptcy court, despite having ample time to do so and despite having the option of moving for transcripts to be provided at the government's expense under 28 U.S.C. § 753(f)); (2) plaintiff-appellant failed to meet his burden of showing that defendants’ proffered reason for an adverse employment action (poor employment performance) was pretext because no reasonable jury would find that defendants-appellees acted with discriminatory intent when they terminated him; (3) with respect to plaintiff-appellant’s claim under Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”), no causal connection existed between plaintiff-appellant’s protected activity and the termination of his field-agent contract.

There are more than 600 appellate opinions summarized on Volo, and summaries typically appear within 24 hours of the ruling. Click here regularly to view the latest case summaries on ABI’s Volo website.

NEW ON ABI’S BANKRUPTCY BLOG EXCHANGE: LEHMAN TO PAY LEGAL FEES OF PAULSON GROUP, GOLDMAN

The Bankruptcy Blog Exchange is a free ABI service that tracks 35 bankruptcy-related blogs. A recent blog post examines how a number of Wall Street banks and hedge funds—including Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Paulson & Co. and Mark Brodsky’s Aurelius Capital—received bankruptcy court approval to have Lehman’s estate cover their legal fees.

Be sure to check the site several times each day; any time a contributing blog posts a new story, a link to the story will appear on the top. If you have a blog that deals with bankruptcy, or know of a good blog that should be part of the Bankruptcy Exchange, please contact the ABI Web team.

ABI Quick Poll

Bankruptcy courts should have unfettered discretion in adjusting fee applications, even when no party-in-interest has raised objections.

Click here to vote on this week's Quick Poll. Click here to view the results of previous Quick Polls.

HAVE YOU TUNED IN TO BLOOMBERG LAW'S VIDEO PODCASTS?

Bloomberg Law's video podcasts feature top experts speaking about current bankruptcy topics. The podcasts are available via Bloomberg Law's YouTube channel so that you can access the programs from your computer or device of your choice! Click here to view the Bloomberg Law video podcasts.

INSOL INTERNATIONAL

INSOL International is a worldwide federation of national associations for accountants and lawyers who specialize in turnaround and insolvency. There are currently 37 member associations worldwide with more than 9,000 professionals participating as members of INSOL International. As a member association of INSOL, ABI's members receive a discounted subscription rate. See ABI's enrollment page for details.

Have a Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn Account?

Join our networks to expand yours.

September
- "When Is an Individual Chapter 11 the Best Fit?" Live Webinar
     September 27, 2012
- American College of Bankruptcy's "Bankruptcy: Back to the Future" Program
     September 28, 2012 | Chicago, Ill.

October
- Nuts & Bolts for Young and New Practitioners - KC
     October 4, 2012 | Kansas City, Mo.
- Midwestern Bankruptcy Institute Program, Midwestern Consumer Forum
     October 5, 2012 | Kansas City, Mo.
- Bankruptcy 2012: Views from the Bench
     October 5, 2012 | Washington, D.C.
- Chicago Consumer Bankruptcy Conference
     October 8, 2012 | Chicago, Ill.
- "Trending Issues: Examiners and Select Plan Confirmation Issues" Webinar
October 15, 2012
- ABI/Bloomberg Distressed Lending Conference
October 16, 2012 | New York, N.Y..
- International Insolvency and Restructuring Symposium
     October 18, 2012 | Rome, Italy
- ABI/St. John's "Bankruptcy and Race: Is There a Relation?" Symposium
     October 19, 2012 | Queens, N.Y.
- ABI Program at NCBJ's Annual Conference
     October 26, 2012 | San Diego, Calif.

November
- U.S./Mexico Restructuring Symposium
     November 7, 2012 | Mexico City, Mexico
- Professional Development Program
     November 9, 2012 | New York, N.Y.
- Detroit Consumer Bankruptcy Conference
     November 12, 2012 | Detroit, Mich.
- Winter Leadership Conference
     November 29 - December 1, 2012 | Tucson, Ariz.

December
- Forty-Hour Bankruptcy Mediation Training
     December 4-8, 2012 | New York, N.Y.

2013

February
- Kansas City Advanced Consumer Bankruptcy Practice Institute
     February 17-19, 2013 | Kansas City, Mo.

CHANGES IN MORTGAGE SERVICING PRACTICES TAKE EFFECT TODAY

A significant element of the government’s historic settlement with big banks over foreclosure abuses takes effect today, when firms face a deadline for carrying out more than 300 changes in the way they service mortgages and treat struggling homeowners, the Washington Post reported today. Much of the attention surrounding this year’s $25 billion government settlement has focused on the banks' agreement to reduce the loan balances of some borrowers and undertake more refinancings for thousands of Americans. Although the new standards have not received as much attention, they are crucial for fixing a broken mortgage system, government officials said. The standards forbid the pervasive practice of "robo-signing," and mortgage servicers can no longer foreclose on a borrower while simultaneously negotiating a loan modification, a practice known as "dual tracking." They must provide customers with a single point of contact, rather than shuffling them around to different employees with each call. Read more.

U.S. CREDIT CARD LENDERS SHUN ADD-ONS AS CFPB CRACKS DOWN

JPMorgan Chase & Co., Bank of America Corp. and American Express Co. are among credit card lenders retreating from a $2.4 billion market as regulators seek curbs on deceptive marketing of products including debt cancellation, Bloomberg News reported today. Scrutiny from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has led to fines against banks including Capital One Financial Corp. and Discover Financial Services, prompting them to curtail sales of so-called add-ons that offer to help customers pay credit card bills if they get sick or lose their jobs, or help monitor their credit. American Express, the biggest U.S. credit-card issuer by purchases, said yesterday that it will pay $112.5 million to settle claims that it violated consumer safeguards from marketing to collections in products sold to about 250,000 customers. That case did not involve add-on products. The crackdown is CFPB Director Richard Cordray's first enforcement campaign after the Dodd-Frank Act consolidated regulation of retail financial products under one federal agency. With U.S. banks already complaining that regulation has squeezed revenue, the bureau is considering new limits on payday lending and fees for checking overdrafts, and has proposed an overhaul of mortgage practices. Read more.

COMMENTARY: MONEY MARKET MUTUAL FUNDS AND MORAL HAZARD

The wrangling over money-market mutual funds is a vivid illustration of some of the hidden costs of bailouts — in this case, the government rescue of the $2.6 trillion money-market mutual fund industry in 2008 that was so successful it took away any sense of urgency for major reform, according to a commentary in Friday’s Washington Post. Last month, SEC Chair Mary Schapiro canceled plans to move forward on a reform proposal for regulating the mutual fund industry after concluding she did not have the votes for passage of the proposal. SEC Commissioner Luis A. Aguilar had indicated he would oppose her proposal, favoring a more overarching approach to overseeing the cash-management industry. To step up pressure on the SEC, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner’s letter to the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC), created by the Dodd-Frank Act, advocated for regulators to step up oversight of money-market mutual funds. Read the full commentary.

CALIFORNIA DAIRIES GOING BROKE DUE TO FEED, MILK PRICES

Across California, the nation's largest dairy state, dozens of dairy operators large and small have filed for bankruptcy in recent months, and many teeter on the edge of insolvency, the Associated Press reported on Saturday. Others have sold their herds or sent them to slaughter and given up on the business. Experts say California dairymen face a double hit to their operations: exorbitant feed costs and lower milk prices. The Midwest drought has led to corn and soybean costs increasing by more than 50 percent this summer, stressing dairymen from Wisconsin and Minnesota to Missouri. But in California, milk prices have also lagged behind those in the rest of the nation, exacerbating the crisis. And while milk revenues in California have soared to over $7.5 billion in 2011, making milk the top agricultural commodity, higher revenues mean little, farmers say, because it costs so much more to produce the milk. Read more.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR STEVEN GOLICK, A COLLEAGUE AND ABI LEADER

Our friend Steven Golick (Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Toronto) is facing a medical crisis. He has been diagnosed with a serious brain tumor, requiring complex surgery and treatment. Steven’s spirits are very strong and he and his family remain optimistic, but he can use our support. A prominent international restructuring attorney and an ABI member since 1994, Steven is also a founding member of the ABI house band, the Indubitable Equivalents. Because the band is important to Steven, his fellow band-mates have organized a new Blog site for Steven's friends and colleagues to show their love and support at this critical time. Please click on this link to share your thoughts with many others, and post as often as you'd like.

ABI IN-DEPTH

SEE THE N.L. EAST DIVISION CHAMPION WASHINGTON NATIONALS IN THE PLAYOFFS: ABI HAS YOUR TICKET!

Don't miss playoff baseball in Washington, D.C.! Only 20 tickets are available to the ABI Endowment's special event at the Nationals first home playoff game to be played either Oct. 9 or 10 (depending on Major League Baseball scheduling). For $400, you will receive a game ticket to a luxury suite, food and open bar. Click here to register!

Sponsorships Are also Available!
Stand out from the crowd and sponsor this historic playoff event! Bring a client- tickets included with your sponsorship. All sponsorships are tax deductible. Click here for details.

MEMBERS WILL NOT WANT TO MISS ABI'S PROGRAM AT NCBJ'S ANNUAL MEETING ON OCT. 26

Members planning to attend the 86th Annual NCBJ Annual Conference in San Diego from Oct. 24-27 will not want to miss the exciting line-up scheduled for the ABI program track on Oct. 26. In addition to roundtable discussions on the hottest consumer and business bankruptcy topics, ABI will be hosting a ticketed luncheon that will feature the presentation of the 7th Annual Judge William L. Norton, Jr. Judicial Excellence Award and entertainment by Apollo Robbins, a sleight-of hand artist, security consultant and self-described gentleman thief. Click here to register for the Conference.

To view the list of ABI programs on Oct. 26 and the full NCBJ Annual Conference schedule, please click here.

ABI's Chapter 11 Reform Commission will also be holding a public hearing on Oct. 26 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. PT at the San Diego Marriott. Interested parties have the opportunity to submit testimony at the hearing. For further information, please contact ABI Executive Director Samuel J. Gerdano at [email protected].

LATEST CASE SUMMARY ON VOLO: MATOS V. RIVERA (IN RE MATOS; 1ST CIR.)

Summarized by Guy Moss of Riemer & Braunstein LLP

As a threshold matter, the First Circuit BAP ruled that all tax refunds received by a chapter 13 debtor are property of the estate whether pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 541(a) to the extent that they are rooted in pre-petition earnings, or 1306 to the extent that they relate to earnings from services performed by the debtor post-petition. Reversing the rulings of the bankruptcy court, the BAP next determined that an objection to the debtor's claimed exemption in the refund (defined below) did not lie because (1) the refund was property of the estate, (2) the exemption was valid on its face, and (3) the trial court incorrectly considered an alleged infirmity in plan confirmation, i.e., whether the refunds had to be devoted entirely to a plan pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §§ 1322(a)(1) and 1325(b)(1)(B), to determine the validity of an exemption. Rather, consideration of that issue arises only if and when there is an objection to the plan. The BAP reserved comment on whether such an objection to an exemption is a necessary "placeholder" to preserve the objecting party's ability to object to plan confirmation on the ground that not all future earnings and income are being devoted to plan payments.

There are more than 650 appellate opinions summarized on Volo, and summaries typically appear within 24 hours of the ruling. Click here regularly to view the latest case summaries on ABI’s Volo website.

NEW ON ABI’S BANKRUPTCY BLOG EXCHANGE: PILGRIM'S PRIDE OPINION ALLOWS ENHANCEMENTS IN BANKRUPTCY, OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW OF BANKRUPTCY FEES

The Bankruptcy Blog Exchange is a free ABI service that tracks 35 bankruptcy-related blogs. A recent blog post examines the Fifth Circuit's ruling in Matter of Pilgrim's Pride Corp., No. 11-10774 (5th Cir. 8/10/12), to allow a $1 million fee enhancement to a chief restructuring officer who achieved results described as "rare and exceptional." The court rejected the argument that a recent Supreme Court opinion on fee-shifting precluded enhancements, and in the process set forth a comprehensive framework for allowance of professional fees in bankruptcy.

Be sure to check the site several times each day; any time a contributing blog posts a new story, a link to the story will appear on the top. If you have a blog that deals with bankruptcy, or know of a good blog that should be part of the Bankruptcy Exchange, please contact the ABI Web team.

ABI Quick Poll

Bankruptcy courts should adopt formal loss mitigation procedures to facilitate the negotiation of residential mortgage modifications for consumer debtors.

Click here to vote on this week's Quick Poll. Click here to view the results of previous Quick Polls.

HAVE YOU TUNED IN TO BLOOMBERG LAW'S VIDEO PODCASTS?

Bloomberg Law's video podcasts feature top experts speaking about current bankruptcy topics. The podcasts are available via Bloomberg Law's YouTube channel so that you can access the programs from your computer or device of your choice! Click here to view the Bloomberg Law video podcasts.

INSOL INTERNATIONAL

INSOL International is a worldwide federation of national associations for accountants and lawyers who specialize in turnaround and insolvency. There are currently 37 member associations worldwide with more than 9,000 professionals participating as members of INSOL International. As a member association of INSOL, ABI's members receive a discounted subscription rate. See ABI's enrollment page for details.

Have a Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn Account?

Join our networks to expand yours.

October
- Nuts & Bolts for Young and New Practitioners - KC
     October 4, 2012 | Kansas City, Mo.
- Midwestern Bankruptcy Institute Program, Midwestern Consumer Forum
     October 5, 2012 | Kansas City, Mo.
- Bankruptcy 2012: Views from the Bench
     October 5, 2012 | Washington, D.C.
- Chicago Consumer Bankruptcy Conference
     October 8, 2012 | Chicago, Ill.
- "Trending Issues: Examiners and Select Plan Confirmation Issues" Webinar
October 15, 2012
- ABI/Bloomberg Distressed Lending Conference
October 16, 2012 | New York, N.Y..
- International Insolvency and Restructuring Symposium
     October 18, 2012 | Rome, Italy
- ABI/St. John's "Bankruptcy and Race: Is There a Relation?" Symposium
     October 19, 2012 | Queens, N.Y.
- ABI Program at NCBJ's Annual Conference
     October 26, 2012 | San Diego, Calif.

November
- U.S./Mexico Restructuring Symposium
     November 7, 2012 | Mexico City, Mexico
- Professional Development Program
     November 9, 2012 | New York, N.Y.
- Detroit Consumer Bankruptcy Conference
     November 12, 2012 | Detroit, Mich.
- Winter Leadership Conference
     November 29 - December 1, 2012 | Tucson, Ariz.

December
- Forty-Hour Bankruptcy Mediation Training
     December 4-8, 2012 | New York, N.Y.

2013

February
- Kansas City Advanced Consumer Bankruptcy Practice Institute
     February 17-19, 2013 | Kansas City, Mo.

REPORT: HAMP INCREASED MORTGAGE RENEGOTIATIONS, BUT ONLY REACHED ONE-THIRD OF TARGETED HOUSEHOLDS

A recent report by academics and Federal Reserve researchers revealed that the 2009 Home Affordable Modification Program generated an increase in the intensity of renegotiations while adversely affecting the effectiveness of renegotiations performed outside the program. Renegotiations induced by the program resulted in a modest reduction in the rate of foreclosures, but did not alter the rate of house price decline, durable consumption or employment in regions with higher exposure to the program. The overall impact of HAMP, according to the report, will be substantially limited since the renegotiations it induces will reach just one-third of its targeted 3 to 4 million indebted households. To read the full report, please click here.

COMMENTARY: TOO MUCH PROTECTION FOR DERIVATIVES IN BANKRUPTCY

Current "safe harbors" in the Bankruptcy Code are too broad and amount to little more than a subsidy to the derivatives industry, according to a commentary by Prof. Stephen Lubben in the New York Times DealBook blog today. The safe-harbor provisions Prof. Lubben addresses are derivatives and repo contracts that are exempt from the automatic stay, the prohibition on termination of contracts with the debtor, the prohibition on constructively fraudulent transfers and the prohibition on obtaining preferential treatment on the eve of bankruptcy. Similar provisions protect "securities contracts," and open up the argument that any transaction that occurs in the general vicinity of a broker-dealer is immune from the normal rules of bankruptcy. Prof. Lubben's concern with the safe harbors is not so much the statutory provisions but the role that courts have come to play in expanding the provisions beyond their already-broad statutory language. Read more.

DEBT COLLECTORS CASHING IN ON STUDENT LOANS

As the number of people taking out government-backed student loans has exploded, so has the number who have fallen at least 12 months behind in making payments — about 5.9 million people nationwide, up about a third in the last five years, the New York Times reported on Sunday. Nearly one in every six borrowers with a loan balance is in default. The amount of defaulted loans — $76 billion — is greater than the yearly tuition bill for all students at public two- and four-year colleges and universities, according to a survey of state education officials. In an attempt to recover money on the defaulted loans, the Education Department paid more than $1.4 billion last fiscal year to collection agencies and other groups to hunt down defaulters. Unlike private lenders, the federal government has extraordinary tools for collection that it has extended to the collection firms. Overall, the government recoups about 80 cents for every dollar that goes into default — an astoundingly high rate, considering that most lenders are lucky to recover 20 cents on the dollar on defaulted credit cards. Read more.

TOUGHER DODD-FRANK FIDUCIARY STANDARD FOR BROKERS STALLED

Despite support from both Wall Street and consumer advocates, a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission proposal to raise standards for brokers advising retail investors has run aground, Bloomberg News reported yesterday. The SEC, which has been drafting a rule for almost two years, has scheduled no action on the measure as 2012 wanes and a presidential election approaches. SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro, who pushed to include the measure in the Dodd-Frank Act to ensure that clients receive equal treatment from brokers and investment advisers, said that other rules will probably take precedence in coming months. Dodd-Frank instructed the SEC to consider mandating that brokers operate under a fiduciary standard as rigorous as that for investment advisers. Lawmakers sought the uniform standard to eliminate investor confusion over the roles of brokers and advisers, and to protect customers from being overcharged or sold inappropriate products. Schapiro declined to predict when the SEC will act on the rule, which is considered optional under Dodd-Frank. The agency is "steadily working through all the mandated rulemakings," she said. Read more.

SOME EXPERTS SEE AIG BAILOUT SUCCESS AS A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD

The Treasury Department estimated yesterday that its pending sale of shares in global insurance giant American International Group would put taxpayers in the black, four years after the government rescued the company in one of the largest bailouts of the financial crisis, according to a Washington Post report today. Officials estimated that after the sale, the Treasury and the Federal Reserve will have netted $194.7 billion from its AIG investment, about $12 billion more than the government committed in aid. The stock sale would leave Treasury with approximately 317 million shares in AIG — a 21.5 percent stake in the company, down from a high of 92 percent — and leave open the possibility for future additional profit as the government exits the company. However, some experts insist that even a largely successful bailout comes with its own set of circumstances. "It creates perverse incentives,” said Prof. William Black of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Law School. "There's an enormous danger to providing bailouts to systemically dangerous institutions and, in particular, bailing out their creditors 100 cents on the dollar." Christy Romero, the special inspector general for the government’s bailout fund, the Troubled Assets Relief Program, shares concerns that the success of the AIG bailout could lead investors to expect the government to rescue other firms whose failure could threaten the economy and thereby does not adequately discourage excessively risky practices. Read more.

ABI IN-DEPTH

LATEST CASE SUMMARY ON VOLO: IN RE KNIGHT-CELOTEX LLC (7TH CIR.)

Summarized by Attorney Karl Johnson

Affirming the district court, the Seventh Circuit held that the bankruptcy court did not abuse its discretion by finding that a trustee was not judicially estopped from assigning claims against the principal of corporate debtors due to the trustee's failure to state an intent to pursue or abandon those claims in an application to employ counsel; instead, the omission was found to be a harmless violation of the disclosure requirements of Section 327(a) and Rule 2014(a) because the claims had been prominent in prior court records and because it "defie[d] belief to think that the trustee would abandon a possible multimillion dollar recovery on behalf of the companies’ creditors without a word."

There are more than 600 appellate opinions summarized on Volo, and summaries typically appear within 24 hours of the ruling. Click here regularly to view the latest case summaries on ABI’s Volo website.

NEW ON ABI’S BANKRUPTCY BLOG EXCHANGE: SECOND CIRCUIT TO WEIGH IN ON TRADING OF BANKRUPTCY CLAIMS

The Bankruptcy Blog Exchange is a free ABI service that tracks 35 bankruptcy-related blogs. A recent blog post examines how the Second Circuit Court of Appeals recently heard arguments in a case that could have substantial implications on the trading of bankruptcy claims. While the court could choose to resolve the case, Longacre Master Fund, Ltd. v. ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc., based on a straightforward analysis of New York contract law, it may also take the opportunity to consider the controversial claims trading case of Enron v. Springfield Associates decided several years ago by the district court for the Southern District of New York.

Be sure to check the site several times each day; any time a contributing blog posts a new story, a link to the story will appear on the top. If you have a blog that deals with bankruptcy, or know of a good blog that should be part of the Bankruptcy Exchange, please contact the ABI Web team.

ABI Quick Poll

Bankruptcy courts should have unfettered discretion in adjusting fee applications, even when no party-in-interest has raised objections.

Click here to vote on this week's Quick Poll. Click here to view the results of previous Quick Polls.

HAVE YOU TUNED IN TO BLOOMBERG LAW'S VIDEO PODCASTS?

Bloomberg Law's video podcasts feature top experts speaking about current bankruptcy topics. The podcasts are available via Bloomberg Law's YouTube channel so that you can access the programs from your computer or device of your choice! Click here to view the Bloomberg Law video podcasts.

INSOL INTERNATIONAL

INSOL International is a worldwide federation of national associations for accountants and lawyers who specialize in turnaround and insolvency. There are currently 37 member associations worldwide with more than 9,000 professionals participating as members of INSOL International. As a member association of INSOL, ABI's members receive a discounted subscription rate. See ABI's enrollment page for details.

Have a Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn Account?

Join our networks to expand yours.

September
- Complex Financial Restructuring Program
     September 13-14, 2012 | Las Vegas, Nev.
- Southwest Bankruptcy Conference
     September 13-15, 2012 | Las Vegas, Nev.
- 38th Annual Lawrence P. King and Charles Seligson Workshop on Bankruptcy & Business Reorganization
     September 19-20, 2012 | New York, N.Y.
- "When Is an Individual Chapter 11 the Best Fit?" Live Webinar
     September 27, 2012
- American College of Bankruptcy's "Bankruptcy: Back to the Future" Program
     September 28, 2012 | Chicago, Ill.

October
- Nuts & Bolts for Young and New Practitioners - KC
     October 4, 2012 | Kansas City, Mo.
- Midwestern Bankruptcy Institute Program, Midwestern Consumer Forum
     October 5, 2012 | Kansas City, Mo.
- Bankruptcy 2012: Views from the Bench
     October 5, 2012 | Washington, D.C.
- Chicago Consumer Bankruptcy Conference
     October 8, 2012 | Chicago, Ill.
- "Trending Issues: Examiners and Select Plan Confirmation Issues" Webinar
October 15, 2012

- International Insolvency and Restructuring Symposium
     October 18, 2012 | Rome, Italy

November
- U.S./Mexico Restructuring Symposium
     November 7, 2012 | Mexico City, Mexico
- Professional Development Program
     November 9, 2012 | New York, N.Y.
- Detroit Consumer Bankruptcy Conference
     November 12, 2012 | Detroit, Mich.
- Winter Leadership Conference
     November 29 - December 1, 2012 | Tucson, Ariz.

December
- Forty-Hour Bankruptcy Mediation Training
     December 4-8, 2012 | New York, N.Y.

2013

February
- Kansas City Advanced Consumer Bankruptcy Practice Institute
     February 17-19, 2013 | Kansas City, Mo.

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT PROBE TURNS UP HEAT ON BANKS

The Justice Department is targeting banks that service a broad range of what it considers questionable financial ventures, including online payday lenders, the Wall Street Journal reported today. The Justice Department is targeting banks that service a broad range of what it considers questionable financial ventures, including online payday lending, that officials worry may harm consumers. The government has issued subpoenas to banks and other companies that handle payments for an array of financial offerings, ramping up an investigation that has been under way for several months, according to Justice Department officials. It's a shift in strategy: Rather than just targeting individual firms, the government is now going after the infrastructure that enables companies to withdraw money from people's bank accounts. The volume of online payday lending -- a term for smaller, short-term loans at high interest rates -- grew to $18.6 billion in 2012, up 10 percent from the previous year, accounting for nearly 40 percent of industrywide payday-loan volume, according to investment bank Stephens Inc. Regulators are also trying tamp down phone and online offers in which marketers try to get people to pay for services that they don't intend to deliver. These can include offerings to erase debt or offerings of work-from-home programs that don't lead to jobs, officials say. Read more. (Subscription required.)

DETROIT RATTLES MUNI MARKET

A fight over bankrupt Detroit's sewer system threatens to reshape the nation's $3.7 trillion municipal-bond market, the Wall Street Journal reported today. The battle pits Detroit Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr against the fund companies, insurers and individuals that hold more than $5 billion of Detroit water and sewer bonds, over a plan to restructure the debt. Orr wants bondholders to sign off on a plan to tear up some outstanding bonds and replace them with new ones that could have different terms. The switch could free up millions of dollars in city revenue, potentially reducing losses for other creditors in the city's more than $18 billion bankruptcy case. Some bondholders say that they don't want that deal, even though Orr says they wouldn't suffer losses on the debt switch. They say tearing up the bonds could set a dangerous precedent that may shock buyers of supposedly safe municipal debt and impair financing for other U.S. states and cities. Read more. (Subscription required.)

For the latest information and analysis about the Detroit case, be sure to visit ABI's dedicated website, http://news.abi.org/Detroit.

COMMENTARY: PENSION REFORM COULD DISRUPT INVESTMENT FUNDS

Detroit's financial woes, exacerbated by underfunded pension liabilities, have brought renewed scrutiny to public pension plans, according to a commentary yesterday on the New York Times DealBook blog. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and others have suggested overhauling these plans to shift more responsibility to the private sector. Private insurance companies would assume responsibility for these defined benefit plans, offering annuities to beneficiaries in exchange for employer-paid premiums. Proponents argue that privatization could reduce the risk of municipal bankruptcy and federal bailouts. One downside, according to the commentary, is the possible increase in fees associated with external management of retirement savings; it creates another way for Wall Street to extract wealth from Main Street. Phasing out public pension funds could also cut off an important source of financing for venture capital and private equity. Pension funds like the California Public Employees' Retirement System, or CalPERS, and the Teachers Retirement System of Texas are among the largest and most powerful institutional investors in venture capital and private equity. Read the full commentary.

CONSUMERS FIND INVESTORS EAGER TO MAKE "PEER-TO-PEER" LOANS

There has been a growing shift among lenders with many individual investors jumping to fund unsecured, high-interest-rate loans to bring in high yields, the Wall Street Journal reported yesterday. Even some investment funds are getting into the game, snapping up entire loans before individual investors can act. Prosper Loans Marketplace Inc., and a bigger competitor, Lending Club Corp., dominate an obscure corner of the financial-services sector called "peer-to-peer" lending, in which consumers bypass banks altogether to borrow money from other individuals. It is part of a shadow-lending system that has thrived since the 2008 financial crisis caused many banks to tighten their credit standards. With more money chasing the loans, lenders such as Prosper are working hard to come up with enough borrowers to meet the demand. Each month, Prosper mails more than a million preapproved loan applications. In June, the company arranged $27.5 million in loans, a bit short of its goal. In July, it originated $30.3 million. Prosper and Lending Club together originated about $871 million in loans last year, more than double the prior year's total and up tenfold since 2008. Lending Club says it is on track to lend $2 billion this year. Read more. (Subscription required.)

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT - abiLIVE WEBINAR DISCUSSING § 1111(b) ELECTION, PLAN FEASIBILITY AND CRAMDOWN ISSUES RECORDING IS NOW AVAILABLE!

If you were not able to attend ABI's recent abiLIVE webinar examining § 1111(b), a recording of the program is now available for downloading! Utilizing a case study, ABI's panel of experts explored the issues surrounding a lender's decision on whether or not to make an election under § 1111(b), plan feasibility and voting. The abiLIVE panel also walked attendees through the necessary mathematical analyses used to examine these issues. The 90-minute recording is available for the special price of $75 and can be purchased here.

abiLIVE WEBINAR ON AUGUST 20: HOW WILL THE NEW U.S. TRUSTEE FEE GUIDELINES IMPACT YOU?

The new U.S. Trustee Fee Guidelines will affect all attorneys and firms who work on larger chapter 11 cases filed on or after Nov. 1. ABI's Ethics & Professional Compensation Committee will present a panel of experts, including Clifford J. White, the director of the U.S. Trustee Program, to discuss some of the ways the new guidelines could change day-to-day operations in firms, issues relating to the new market rate benchmarks, and how these changes might alter insolvency practice. Register today to hear government, attorney and academic perspectives speak on this important and timely topic.

ABI GOLF TOUR UNDERWAY; NEXT STOP IS THE SOUTHWEST BANKRUPTCY CONFERENCE ON AUG. 22

The 6th stop for the ABI Golf Tour is on Aug. 22 at the Incline Village Champion course, held in conjunction with ABI's Southwest Bankruptcy Conference. Final scoring to win the Great American Cup — sponsored by Great American Group — is based on your top three scores at seven scheduled ABI events, so play as many as you can before the tour wraps up at the Winter Leadership Conference in December. See the Tour page for details and course descriptions. The ABI Golf Tour combines networking with fun competition, as golfers "play their own ball." Including your handicap means everyone has an equal chance to compete for the glory of being crowned ABI's top golfer of 2013! A 22-handicapper won the tour event at July's Southeast Conference. There's no charge to register or participate in the Tour.

ABI IN-DEPTH

ASSOCIATES: ABI'S NUTS & BOLTS ONLINE PROGRAMS HELP YOU HONE YOUR SKILLS WHILE SAVING ON CLE!

Associates looking to sharpen their bankruptcy knowledge should take advantage of ABI's special offer of combining general, business or consumer Nuts & Bolts online programs. Each program features an outstanding faculty of judges and practitioners explaining the fundamentals of bankruptcy, offering procedures and strategies tailored for both consumer and business attorneys. Click here to get the CLE you need at a great low price!

NEW CASE SUMMARY ON VOLO: WASHINGTON GROUP INTERNATIONAL INC. V. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (IN RE WASHINGTON GROUP INTERNATIONAL INC., ET AL.; 9TH CIR.)

Summarized by Joel Newell of Lane & Nach P.C.

In the unpublished ruling, the Ninth Circuit BAP affirmed Bankruptcy Judge Gregg W. Zive's application of the 9th Circuit precedent as set forth in In re Cal. Dep't of Health Svcs. V. Jensen (In re Jensen), 995 F.2d 925 (9th Cir. 1993), denying debtor's motion to enjoin the subsequent litigation.

There are more than 900 appellate opinions summarized on Volo, and summaries typically appear within 24 hours of the ruling. Click here regularly to view the latest case summaries on ABI’s Volo website.

NEW ON ABI’S BANKRUPTCY BLOG EXCHANGE: DEBTOR'S BANKRUPTCY APPEAL TOSSED FOR DELAY BY ELEVENTH CIRCUIT

The Bankruptcy Blog Exchange is a free ABI service that tracks 35 bankruptcy-related blogs. A recent blog post looks at a case out of the Eleventh Circuit in which a pro se debtor filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2009 and disclosed that he had nearly $40,000 in student loan obligations. The debtor filed an adversary complaint against the lender and sought a determination that his student loan obligations were dischargeable. The lender served a set of interrogatories on the debtor, which the debtor steadfastly refused to answer (even after being compelled to do so by the court). Ultimately, the court dismissed the debtor's case. On appeal to the district court, the debtor failed to file or serve his initial appellate brief, never requested an extension of time, and had not otherwise appeared in the case. More than five months after the debtor filed his notice of appeal, the district court sua sponte dismissed the appeal for failure to prosecute.

Be sure to check the site several times each day; any time a contributing blog posts a new story, a link to the story will appear on the top. If you have a blog that deals with bankruptcy, or know of a good blog that should be part of the Bankruptcy Exchange, please contact the ABI Web team.

ABI Quick Poll

A class of claims should not be considered impaired for purposes of § 1129(a)(10) if the impairment results from the plan proponents' exercise of discretion (i.e., artificial impairment) and not driven by economic need. (In re Village at Camp Bowie I LP).

Click here to vote on this week's Quick Poll. Click here to view the results of previous Quick Polls.

INSOL INTERNATIONAL

INSOL International is a worldwide federation of national associations for accountants and lawyers who specialize in turnaround and insolvency. There are currently 43 member associations worldwide with more than 9,000 professionals participating as members of INSOL International. As a member association of INSOL, ABI's members receive a discounted subscription rate. See ABI's enrollment page for details.

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2013

August
- abiLIVE Webinar: How Will the New U.S. Trustee Fee Guidelines Impact You?
     August 20, 2013
- Southwest Bankruptcy Conference
    August 22-24, 2013 | Incline Village, Nev.

September
- ABI Endowment Golf & Tennis Outing
    Sept. 10, 2013 | Maplewood, N.J.
- ABI Endowment Baseball Game
    Sept. 12, 2013 | Baltimore, Md.
- Lawrence P. King and Charles Seligson Workshop on Bankruptcy & Business Reorganization
    Sept. 18-19, 2013 | New York
- abiLIVE Webinar: Complex Requirements and Ethical Duties of Representing Consumer Debtors
     Sept. 24, 2013
- Bankruptcy 2013: Views from the Bench
    Sept. 27, 2013 | Washington, D.C.

October
- Midwestern Bankruptcy Institute Program and Midwestern Consumer Forum
    Oct. 4, 2013 | Kansas City, Mo.
- Professional Development Program
    Oct. 11, 2013 | New York, N.Y.

- Chicago Consumer Bankruptcy Conference
    Oct. 14, 2013 | Chicago, Ill.
- International Insolvency & Restructuring Symposium
    Oct. 25, 2013 | Berlin, Germany

November
- Complex Financial Restructuring Program
   Nov. 7, 2013 | Philadelphia, Pa.
- Corporate Restructuring Competition
   Nov. 7-8, 2013 | Philadelphia, Pa.
- Austin Advanced Consumer Bankruptcy Practice Institute
   Nov. 10-12, 2013 | Austin, Texas
- Detroit Consumer Bankruptcy Conference
   Nov. 11, 2013 | Detroit, Mich.

December
- Winter Leadership Conference
    Dec. 5-7, 2013 | Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.
- ABI/St. John’s Bankruptcy Mediation Training
    Dec. 8-12, 2013 | New York