Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Commercial Leasing Law & StrategyFeaturesBankruptcyCommercial LitigationLandlord Tenant LawLitigation

Lessor Repossession of Property on Eve of Lessee Bankruptcy: Voluntary Turnover or Face Contempt

By Theresa A. Driscoll

Lessors who repossess property immediately prior to a lessee bankruptcy filing may be required to return such property or face sanctions by the bankruptcy court. Federal courts are currently split on the issue of whether the lessor must voluntary surrender property seized pre-petition or may hold such property until such time as the debtor seeks, and obtains, an order of turnover. In June, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit weighed in and decided four appeals involving chapter 13 debtor filings following the City of Chicago's seizure of vehicles based on unpaid fines. See, In re Fulton, 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 18393 (7th Cir. 2019). In Fulton, the Seventh Circuit ruled that the City of Chicago must comply with the automatic stay by returning impounded cars immediately after being notified of a chapter 13 filing. (The Fulton decision is not the first time the Seventh Circuit decided the issues presented. In 2009, the court held that a creditor must comply with the automatic stay and return a debtor's vehicle upon her filing of a bankruptcy petition. See, Thompson v. General Motors Acceptance Corp., 566 F.3d 699 (7th Cir. 2009)).

The Seventh Circuit's holding in Fulton is consistent with decisions from the Second, Eighth, and Ninth Circuits, each of which hold that a secured creditor or owner must turn over repossessed property immediately or face a contempt citation. See, Weber v. SEFCU (In re Weber), 719 F.3d 72 (2d Cir. 2013); Cal. Emp't Dev. Dep't v. Taxel (In re Del Mission), 98 F.3d 1147 (9th Cir. 1996); Knaus v. Concordia Lumber Co. (In re Knaus), 889 F.2d 773 (8th Cir. 1989). A minority of the circuits disagree. Specifically, the Tenth and the District of Columbia Circuits and the District Court for the District of Delaware have ruled that holding property of the estate seized prepetition does not violate the automatic stay in Section 362(a)(3) because such section applies prospectively and prohibits “any [postpetition] act … to exercise control over property of the estate.” WD Equip., LLC v. Cowen (In re Cowen), 849 F.3d 943 (10th Cir. 2017); United States v. Inslaw, Inc., 932 F.2d 1467 (D.C. Cir. 1991); Denby-Peterson v. Nu2u Auto World, 595 B.R. 18 (D.N.J. 2018).

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
Beach Boys Songs Written Decades Ago Triggered Current Quarrel With Lawyers Image

There's current litigation in the ongoing Beach Boys litigation saga. A lawsuit filed in 2019 against Nevada residents Mike Love and his wife Jacquelyne in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada that alleges inaccurate payment by the Loves under the retainer agreement and seeks $84.5 million in damages.

The Article 8 Opt In Image

The Article 8 opt-in election adds an additional layer of complexity to the already labyrinthine rules governing perfection of security interests under the UCC. A lender that is unaware of the nuances created by the opt in (may find its security interest vulnerable to being primed by another party that has taken steps to perfect in a superior manner under the circumstances.

Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright Laws Image

This article highlights how copyright law in the United Kingdom differs from U.S. copyright law, and points out differences that may be crucial to entertainment and media businesses familiar with U.S law that are interested in operating in the United Kingdom or under UK law. The article also briefly addresses contrasts in UK and U.S. trademark law.

Strategy vs. Tactics: Two Sides of a Difficult Coin Image

With each successive large-scale cyber attack, it is slowly becoming clear that ransomware attacks are targeting the critical infrastructure of the most powerful country on the planet. Understanding the strategy, and tactics of our opponents, as well as the strategy and the tactics we implement as a response are vital to victory.

Transfer Tax Implications on Real Property Leases Image

The real property transfer tax does not apply to all leases, and understanding the tax rules of the applicable jurisdiction can allow parties to plan ahead to avoid unnecessary tax liability.