The Equitable Mootness Doctrine
November 02, 2015
Over time, equitable mootness, a court-created doctrine, had been consistently applied and embraced by appellate courts. The doctrine, as it has been applied, provides that appeals from orders confirming Chapter 11 plans will be considered moot ' and thus not subject to appellate review ' if: 1) a plan has been substantially consummated; and 2) granting appellate relief would unravel the plan or be inequitable to third parties relying on the order confirming the plan. Based on, and consistent with, decisions such as that of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in In re Chateaugay , 94 F.3d 772, 776 (2d Cir. 1996), and the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in In re Continental Airlines , 91 F.3d 553, 560 (3d Cir. 1996) ( en banc ), the equitable mootness doctrine has been read broadly to create a presumption that if a plan has been substantially consummated, appeals of the confirmation order are equitably moot.
Arbitration: Rethinking the Pitfalls
November 02, 2015
Much has been written about the use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) to address equipment leasing disputes, some of it positive and much of it negative. For a variety of reasons, the equipment lessor legal community has historically been reluctant to embrace alternative methods of avoiding protracted litigation.
State, Federal Law Differ on Franchisors As Joint Employers
November 02, 2015
It seems that the definition of employer under state law is becoming more restrictive but the definition under federal statutes has become more flexible. The reason is a federal political agenda to empower the National Labor Relations Act to encourage collective bargaining of employees of franchises.
Leasing and Finance Industry Economic Outlook
November 02, 2015
The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation's Q4 update to its 2015 Equipment Leasing & Finance U.S. Economic Outlook reports that investment in equipment and software is expected to grow 4.1% in 2015, which is down from the 5% growth forecast in its Q3 Update to the 2015 Annual Outlook released in July.
Ninth Circuit Insulates Corporate Insider from Preference Liability
October 02, 2015
"A corporate insider who personally guaranteed" the debtor's loan was not liable on a bankruptcy trustee's preference claim when the corporate debtor repaid its lender, held the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on May 6, 2015. Here's an in-depth analysis of the ruling.
Forum Selection Clause Held Waiver of Removal Right
October 02, 2015
A forum selection clause in an agreement provides that the parties "irrevocably consent to exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts in the state of Delaware." Does the provision constitute a waiver of a party's right to remove the case to federal court if the other party files suit in a Delaware state court?
Electronic Chattel Paper
October 02, 2015
One of the significant benefits bestowed upon chattel paper financers is the ability to perfect a security interest via possession, and in so doing potentially achieve priority over pre-existing secured lenders who perfected by filing a UCC Financing Statement. Now, the system is moving toward electronic chattel paper. What does this mean?
