Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/20pdf/19-357_6k47.pdf
Page Number: 14

Cite as:  592 U. S. ____ (2021) 

5 

SOTOMAYOR, J., concurring 

30, 2020, Washington, DC: Sept. 25, 2020.

One hundred days is a long time to wait for a creditor to
return your car, especially when you need that car to get to 
work so you can earn an income and make your bankruptcy-
plan payments.  To address this problem, some courts have
adopted strategies to hurry things along.  At least one bank-
ruptcy court has held that §542(a)’s turnover obligation is
automatic even absent a court order.  See In re Larimer, 27 
B. R. 514, 516 (Idaho 1983).  Other courts apparently will
permit debtors to seek turnover by simple motion, in lieu of
filing a full adversary proceeding, at least where the credi-
tor has received adequate notice.  See Tr. of Oral Arg. 81
(counsel  for  the  City  stating  that  “[i]n  most  bankruptcy 
courts, if a creditor responds to a motion [for turnover] by” 
arguing  that  the  debtor  should  have  instituted  an  adver-
sary proceeding, the bankruptcy judge will ask whether the
creditor received “actual notice”); Brief for United States as 
Amicus  Curiae  32  (reporting  that  “some  courts  have
granted  [turnover]  orders  based  solely  on  a  motion”);  but 
see, e.g., In re Denby-Peterson, 941 F. 3d 115, 128–131 (CA3 
2019) (holding that debtors must seek turnover through ad-
versary proceedings).  Similarly, even when a turnover re-
quest does take the form of an adversary proceeding, bank-
ruptcy courts may find it prudent to expedite proceedings
or  order  preliminary  relief  requiring  temporary  turnover. 
See, e.g., In re Reid, 423 B. R. 726, 727–728 (Bkrtcy. Ct. ED 
Pa. 2010); see generally 10 Collier on Bankruptcy ¶ 7065.02
(16th ed. 2019).

Ultimately,  however,  any  gap  left  by  the  Court’s  ruling
today is best addressed by rule drafters and policymakers,
not bankruptcy judges.  It is up to the Advisory Committee 
on Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure to consider amendments 
to the Rules that ensure prompt  resolution of debtors’ re-
quests for turnover under §542(a), especially where debtors’ 
vehicles are concerned.  Congress, too, could offer a statu-