Georgia Bankruptcy Blog

Georgia Bankruptcy Blog

Tag Archives: Georgia Bankruptcy

LaVie Care Centers (and 281 Related Entities) File Chapter 11 Petitions in the Northern District of Georgia

I don’t typically post about new Chapter 11 filings unless there is something compelling about them, but almost 300 Chapter 11 cases for Lavie Care Centers and related entities filed on the same day qualifies as news here in the Northern District of Georgia. The Motion for Joint Administration alone is 49 pages, most of… Continue Reading

US Trustee Investigating Possible Scheme to Take Debtors’ Equity in Real Property in Multiple Cases; Lawyer Sanctioned

In a very detailed 91-page Order entered in the Northern District of Georgia- and adopted by all Judges in the District – Judge Sacca addressed serious concerns of the United States Trustee over the handling of a Chapter 13 case by the Debtor’s lawyer. The United States Trustee is also investigating several other cases with… Continue Reading

Terms of Confirmed Chapter 11 Plan Prohibit Malpractice Claim Against Debtor’s Counsel

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals issues a reminder to debtors’ counsel that they can protect themselves with beneficial (boilerplate) terms in a Chapter 11 Plan. In In re SC SJ Holdings, LLC, 2024 WL 1328233 (3rd. Cir. March 28, 2024), the Debtor was the owner of a hotel that was operated by Accor Management… Continue Reading

The Discharge Injunction – Violations and Damages

It seems like violations of the discharge injunction get much less publicity than violations of the automatic stay.  Perhaps that is because by the time a discharge is entered the creditor has received the message.  When there is a violation the Eleventh Circuit has a good body of law on the issue and I happen… Continue Reading

The Trap of Merchant Cash Advances and Financing

If you have a business, you have no doubt received advertisements for “merchant cash advances,” “merchant loans” or “merchant financing,” whether or not those specific terms are used.  If in doubt, just do a search for those terms and you will get a couple pages of sponsored ads (but be warned the big brother of… Continue Reading

In a Case of First Impression, 11th Circuit Rules “New Value” Can Be Both Preference Defense and Administrative Claim

In Auriga Polymers, Inc. v. PMCM2, LLC, as Liquidating Trustee, No. 20-14647, 2022 WL 2800195 (11th Cir. July 17, 2022) (click here for .pdf) the creditor, Auriga, received transfers of more than $2.2 million in the 90 days before the Debtor, Beaulieu Group, LLC, filed its Bankruptcy case on July 16, 2017.  During the 90… Continue Reading

Judge Bonapfel – When Are Educational Loans Business Debts For Purposes of Qualifying for Chapter 7?

In the case of In re Ruff, 2022 B.R. 1638964, Ch. 7 Case No. 20-68855-pwb (Bankr. N.D.Ga. March 31, 2022) (click here for .pdf) the issue was whether the educational loans owed by the Debtor were “consumer” debts as defined by 11 U.S.C. §101(8) of the Bankruptcy Code, and incorporated into 11 U.S.C. §707(b).  If… Continue Reading

11th Circuit Rules On The Georgia Real Property Remedial Statute – Who Is A “Subscribing Witness?”

Once again, a Bankruptcy case leads to a key opinion in Georgia real estate law and, as often the case, the Chapter 7 Trustee prevails.  In In re Lindstrom, 2022 WL 1041192 (11th Cir. April 7, 2022) (click here for .pdf) the issue was the validity of a security deed, the interpretation of the Georgia… Continue Reading

Eleventh Circuit Addresses Deadlines to Appeal Order of District Court (when Acting as Bankruptcy Appellate Court) to Court of Appeals

In a relatively brief opinion, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on the deadlines for appealing an order from the District Court (acting as an appellate court for a Bankruptcy Court Order) to the Court of Appeals.  Appellants appealed a Bankruptcy Court Order to the District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.  On… Continue Reading

Elite Bankruptcy Consulting Firms Battle It Out With Fraud and RICO Claims Related to Bankruptcy Disclosures and Lost Engagements

In Jay Alix, as assignee of AlixPartners, LLP v. McKinsey & Co., Inc., 2022 WL 163800 (2nd Cir., January 19, 2022) (click here for .pdf), two major competitors in the niche market of Bankruptcy advising to estates with a billion dollars or more of assets were in court against each other over lucrative consulting assignments.… Continue Reading

Roth IRA Is Exempt Under New Georgia Exemption Laws, 11th Circuit Says in Case of First Impression

In In re Hoffman, 2022 WL 203415 (11th Cir. January 24, 2022) (click here for .pdf) the issue before the Court was whether Roth IRAs were exempt pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §541(c)(2) or O.C.G.A. § 44-13-100(a)(2)(E).  This is a case of first impression in the Circuit, based upon recent amendments to the Georgia exemption statutes.… Continue Reading

Recent Chapter 11 Filings: Verso Technologies, Inc. And Related Companies File Chapter 11 In Northern District

After a slow three weeks for Chapter 11 filings, Atlanta-based technology company Verso Technologies, Inc. (yahoo! Finance, Google Finance), and four related entities, filed Chapter 11 petitions in the Northern District of Georgia on April 25, 2008. The cases are —   08-67659 Verso Technologies, Inc. Filed: 04/25/2008 Entered: 04/25/2008 08-67660 Verso Backhaul Solutions, Inc. Filed: 04/25/2008 Entered: 04/25/2008 08-67661 Verso Verilink… Continue Reading

The Rumor Mill: Jefferson County, Alabama, Which Includes Birmingham, Might Be Largest U.S. Municipal Bankruptcy

From Bloomberg – April 11 (Bloomberg) — They’re talking more about Chapter 9 municipal bankruptcy in Jefferson County, Alabama, the home of the largest city in the state, Birmingham. Who can blame them? The county is now being whipsawed by an ill-thought-out debt policy and the collapse of the bond insurers. Credit-rating downgrades all around… Continue Reading

11th Cir: Trustee’s Abdndonment Of Cause Of Action Already Ruled Upon By Bankruptcy Court Did Not “Re-Vest” Plaintiffs With Ability To Re-Litigate Claims

By:Scott B. Riddle, Esq. Matthews, Wilson & Matthews, Inc. v. Capital City Bank, 2008 WL 901919, 07-15615 (April 4, 2008). MWM [Debtor] had trouble making loan payments, and ultimately filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The bankruptcy trustee sought approval from the bankruptcy court to sell the Conyers property [owned by Debtor] and use the sale… Continue Reading