Posted by NCBRC - July 30th, 2015
Filing a proof of claim for a deficiency judgment that was discharged in a previous bankruptcy violates the discharge injunction. Green Point Credit v. McLean, No. 14-14002 (11th Cir. July 24, 2015). Green Point Credit, LLC and Green Tree Servicing LLC (Green Tree) filed a proof of claim for a debt that had been discharged in the McLean’s previous bankruptcy and the McLeans filed an adversary proceeding seeking damages for violation of the discharge injunction. Four days later, Green Tree, acknowledging that the claim had been filed in error, withdrew it. The bankruptcy court found that Green Tree violated the discharge injunction and awarded compensatory damages for the McLean’s emotional distress, attorney’s fees, and a “coercive” sanction. The district court affirmed. Read More
Posted by NCBRC - October 31st, 2014
There is no private right of action for violation of the discharge injunction but a debtor may move for contempt in the main bankruptcy case. An abuse of process action, however, may be brought in an adversary proceeding and be established by repeated use of protected personally identifiable information of debtors to file unenforceable proofs of claim in Chapter 13 cases. Moore v. Comenity Capital Bank, No. 13-11325, Adv. Pro. 14-1011 (Bankr. E.D. Tenn. Sept. 29, 2014). Read More
Posted by NCBRC - September 16th, 2014
An Alabama district court upheld a sanction award for violation of the discharge injunction based on the creditor’s filing a proof of claim in a subsequent bankruptcy. McLean v. Greenpoint Credit (In re McLean), No. 13-925 (M.D. Ala. Sept. 4, 2014). Read More
Posted by NCBRC - September 2nd, 2014
Two cases out of the Western District of Louisiana found that attorney Glay H. Collier’s fee collection practices violated sections 526, 528, 362 and 524 of the Bankruptcy Code. Wheeler v. Collier (In re Wheeler), No 11-1670 (W.D. La. May 22, 2014) and (July 17, 2014), and Patrick v. Collier (In re Patrick), No. 14-11203 (Bankr. W.D. La. July 23, 2014). Read More
Posted by NCBRC - April 7th, 2014
Three recent cases involve sanctions for violation of the discharge injunction by a creditor filing suit in state court over a debt discharged in bankruptcy. King v. Williams (In re King), No. 12-3701 (8th Cir. March 5, 2014); In re Gracia, No. 13-1373 (B.A.P. 9th Cir. April 4, 2014); In re Hopkins, No. 09-5835 (Bankr. S.D. Ia. April 1, 2014). Read More
Posted by NCBRC - March 15th, 2012
Creditor’s counsel is appealing an order by the Bankruptcy Court of the Western District of Missouri awarding chapter 7 debtor sanctions in the amount of $1,500.00 as a result of creditor’s violation of the discharge injunction under section 524(a)(2) and (3). In re King, No. 12-6014 (B.A.P. 8th Cir.). The appeal, filed on February 21, 2012, is before the 8th Circuit BAP. The debtor had filed a motion to reopen his bankruptcy case to add the creditor and the underlying debt was thereafter discharged with no objection. The creditor then filed suit in State Court seeking recovery on that debt. After notifying creditor’s counsel of the bankruptcy discharge to no avail, debtor sought sanctions and attorney fees against creditor’s counsel. The creditor’s counsel appeals the bankruptcy court’s denial of creditor’s motion for reconsideration of the court’s order granting sanctions.
The BAP for the 9th Circuit is also considering an appeal of an order granting sanctions against creditors and their counsel in the amount of $11,217 for violation of the automatic stay under section 362(a). In re Knapp, No. 12-1092 (B.A.P. 9th Cir.). Like King, that case involves pursuit of a state court lawsuit against chapter 7 bankruptcy debtor even after debtor’s counsel sought to educate creditor’s counsel about the automatic stay.