Recent appellate decisions reflect a distaste for appeals from bankruptcy court sanction orders. A split Fourth Circuit even refused to hear such an appeal. Other courts tend to limit sanctions or, alternatively, accept a bankruptcy judge's findings under a stringent "abuse of discretion" standard.
- July 01, 2024Michael L. Cook
The U.S. Supreme Court has issued its most anticipated bankruptcy decision in recent memory. In a 5-4 decision entered June 27, the Supreme Court struck down the nonconsensual third-party releases. Writing for the Court, Justice Neil Gorsuch ruled that nothing in the Bankruptcy Code authorized the nonconsensual release or discharge of claims of opioid victims against the Sacklers, who were not debtors themselves.
July 01, 2024Angelo CastaldiIn a recent published decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit addressed a previously unresolved question in that circuit: whether a debtor's failure to properly schedule a debt in an "asset case" renders the debt nondischargeable.
July 01, 2024Lawrence J. Kotler and Geoffrey A. HeatonThis article discusses the value of prepackaged bankruptcy as an alternative route for addressing commercial mortgage defaults in high tax jurisdictions.
July 01, 2024Timothy Little, Scott Vetri, Julie Lee and Peter SiddiquiRule 9031 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure prevents all bankruptcy judges, and, if broadly interpreted, any federal judge hearing bankruptcy cases and proceedings, from appointing special masters. The rule has not been amended since its adoption in 1983. It is outdated and should be repealed or amended to accord with the reality of today's complex Chapter 11 cases.
July 01, 2024Mark B. Conlan and Noel L. HillmanAn influential appellate court has agreed to take up a bankruptcy involving the controversial "Texas two-step," potentially deciding the merger tactic's fate in future Chapter 11 cases. The Fourth Circuit agreed to hear a petition to dismiss the bankruptcy of Bestwall, a subsidiary of Koch Industries-owned Georgia-Pacific, created through a "Texas two-step" to resolve 60,000 lawsuits over asbestos exposure.
July 01, 2024Amanda BronstadThe appropriate remedy for the past disparity in bankruptcy fees between federal Bankruptcy Trustee and Administrator districts is simply to ensure all the courts are charging the same going forward, the Supreme Court ruled on June 14.
July 01, 2024Steve LashHighlights some of the in-depth analysis and insights from lawyers and other practice area experts from the nine LJN Newsletters titles over the first quarter of 2024.
June 05, 2024LJN Editorial StaffIf a foreign debtor doesn't reside in, have a domicile or place of business in, or have property in the U.S., can the foreign representative of the debtor utilize Chapter 15 to obtain discovery to use in the foreign proceeding?
June 01, 2024Daniel A. LowenthalA recent decision from Chief Judge Glenn of the Southern District of New York Bankruptcy Court provides clarity to creditors and debtors alike in cases where the parties' settlement negotiations include an agreement requiring a creditor to support the debtor's Chapter 11 plan.
June 01, 2024Paul A. Rubin and Hanh V. Huynh











