Source: http://www.cob.uscourts.gov/campbell/default.asp
Timestamp: 2014-03-10 21:29:55
Document Index: 48757099

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 502', '§ 502', '§ 502', '§ 522', '§ 1334', '§ 1334', '§ 502', '§ 502', '§ 350', '§ 363', '§ 363', '§ 13', '§ 38', '§ 549', '§ 523', '§ 523', '§ 522', '§ 38', '§ 38', '§ 18', '§ 18', '§ 18', '§ 157', '§544', '§ 1327', '§ 1325', '§ 1327', '§ 1327', '§ 327', '§ 1327', '§ 1325', '§ 1325', '§ 1325', '§ 1325', '§ 707', '§ 1325', '§ 1325', '§101', '§524', '§524', '§ 1334', '§1692', '§ 6', '§ 523', '§ 38', '§ 18', '§ 18', '§ 547', '§ 547', '§ 547', '§ 327', '§ 363']

U.S. Bankruptcy Court - District of Colorado - Chambers for the Honorable A. Bruce Campbell
The Honorable Howard R. Tallman, Chief Judge | Ken Gardner, Clerk of Court
Welcome to the Chambers Website for the Honorable A. Bruce Campbell
Thank you for visiting the Chambers Website for Judge A. Bruce Campbell. This site contains general information concerning procedures used by Judge Campbell for proceedings assigned to this division.
Teri Hammack, Judicial Assistant
Phone: (720) 904-7358
Phone: (720) 904-7328
Anne Tunnell, Law Clerk
Phone: (720) 904-7359
If the Court directs that you email an order to Chambers, please use CourtroomC@cob.uscourts.gov
Please click here to view the current docket for Courtroom C.
When You May Appear By Telephone:
Judge Campbell permits you to appear by telephone, and presumes that you prefer to do so for the following types of NON-EVIDENTIARY HEARINGS:
When any notice of hearing advises that you may appear by telephone;
The Originally Scheduled Hearings on Confirmation of a Chapter 13 plan;
Initial Hearings on Motions for Relief from Stay, but limited as set forth below;
Hearings on Reaffirmation Agreements; and
Status and Scheduling Conferences, including Fed.R.Civ.P. 16(b) conferences in adversary cases.
Procedure For Telephone Appearance EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2012 THE COURT WILL NO LONGER INITIATE THE CALL:
Counsel/Parties must call in to access the courtroom within the 10 minutes prior to the scheduled hearing
The phone number to call in to access the courtroom is 720-904-7499. The meeting ID is 1116 #. Provide your name at the prompt and then press the #sign again. Court may be in session on matters scheduled prior to your hearing. Please put your phone on mute and remain silent until your case is called.
Please Be Aware:	Even though you are afforded the opportunity to appear by telephone for non-evidentiary matters, you may, of course, appear in person, in the Courtroom.
The Court conducts telephonic hearings as a courtesy to, and for the convenience of, the parties to NON-EVIDENTIARY HEARINGS. As a general rule, more than one matter is set at a given time. In addition, if a party, or the party's attorney, appears in the Courtroom, the Judge will hear that matter before hearing matters in which the parties or parties' attorneys are appearing by telephone. Thus, your case may be delayed in being called. Please check the Court's Weekly Docket to see where on the docket your case is scheduled, and we ask that you refrain from calling Chambers to check on the status of your case.
CHAPTER 13 PROCEDURES:
EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2012, Judge Campbell will enter an order in the Chapter 13 cases assigned to him prescribing the form of notice to use, a shortened period of time to object and the scope of service for plans amended after the initial hearing on confirmation. Debtors filing such amended plans are directed: To Use L.B.Form 3015-1.7 Notice
That the time to object is shortened to 14 days from service;
To serve the adversely affected creditors, if any, the Chapter 13 Trustee, any objector and any party who has filed an entry of appearance and request for notice in the case; and
To file within 7 days of the expiration of the 14 day period to object:
a certificate of contested matter to request a hearing on any objection filed to the amended plan;
a Verification of Confirmable Plan to request a confirmation order, if no objection is filed; or
another amended plan, if necessary, and prosecute it using the same procedure.
If a debtor fails to timely file a certificate of contested matter, a Verification of Confirmable Plan, or another amended plan prosecuted in accordance with the procedure established by the Order, the case may be dismissed.
THE ORDER PRESCRIBES THE PROCEDURE FOR PROSECUTING AMENDED PLANS FILED AFTER THE AMENDED PLAN DISCUSSED AT, OR FILED IN ADVANCE OF, THE INITIAL HEARING ON CONFIRMATION OR ANY SUBSEQUENT HEARING ON CONFIRMATION, OR THE AMENDED PLAN FILED PURSUANT TO ANY ORDER OF THE COURT.
THE PROCEDURE PRESCRIBED BY THE ORDER DOES NOT REPLACE OR SUPERCEDE ANY PROCEDURE SPECIFICALLY ESTABLISHED BY COURT ORDER IN A PARTICULAR CASE OR PRESCRIBED IN ANY MINUTES OF PROCEEDING.
MOTIONS FOR RELIEF FROM STAY:
Please carefully review LOCAL BANKRUPTCY RULE 4001-1
You may obtain AVAILABLE HEARING DATES on the front page of this Court's Weekly Docket posted on this web page.
Judge Campbell's Weekly Docket lists only those motions for relief from stay as to which an objection/response has been filed.
Telephone appearance for such initial hearings is LIMITED to:
the attorney for a movant or respondent when that attorney OFFICES OUTSIDE THE METRO DENVER/BOULDER AREA; or
a party who is not represented by an attorney, and that party RESIDES OUTSIDE THE METRO DENVER/BOULDER AREA
See the procedure for appearance by telephone set forth above.
Settlement or resolution of a motion for relief from stay listed on the weekly calendar. If you resolve a motion for relief from stay as to which a response is filed and which is listed on Judge Campbell's Weekly Docket, you must call 720-904-7358 and leave a message so advising us. Please include in your message: your name, whether you are movant or respondent, the case number, and the docket number of the filed document reflecting your stipulation/resolution. Thereafter, please check this Court's Weekly Docket on the web page to determine if the hearing in your case has been vacated.
If the resolution of the response to the Motion for Relief from Stay is filed later than 3:00 p.m. the day prior to the scheduled hearing on the motion for relief from stay, you must appear in court at the time of the hearing and advise Judge Campbell of your settlement/resolution.
In re Michael Theodor George Burch and Ashley Rae Burch, Case No. 11-27539 ABC; Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(b)(1); November 20, 2013. The Court entered an order granting Debtor's motion to redeem motor vehicle after creditor failed to appear at a scheduled hearing. Creditor filed motion, under Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(b)(1), for relief from the order, arguing that its default was the result of excusable neglect. Creditor attributed its failure to appear to its counsel's lack of actual knowledge of the hearing date. In the absence of evidence that counsel's lack of knowledge was the result of any defect in the Court's electronic notification system, the Court ruled that creditor's neglect was not excusable. Posted: 11/20/2013 2:02:35 PM In re BAAB Steel, Inc. 08-12067ABC, Docket #202 entered on August 22, 2013; 11 U.S.C. §§ 502(f), 503(b) and 507(a). Attorney who represented the alleged debtor in opposing an involuntary petition made a claim against the estate for fees. The Court ruled that there are no provisions in the Bankruptcy Code which authorize payment of such attorney's fees from the bankruptcy estate.
Posted: 8/27/2013 8:59:33 AM In re Carter, Case No. 11-13475 ABC; 11 U.S.C. §§ 502(d), 547, 550; Fed R. Bankr. P. 3007(b). The Court denied Chapter 7 trustee's objection to claim under § 502(d) because trustee had not obtained a judicial determination of the avoidability of the transfer from the debtor to the claimant. On reconsideration, the Court ruled that, according to Rule 3007(b), preference avoidance could not be litigated in conjunction with the claim objection unless the trustee commenced an adversary proceeding. Posted: 6/26/2013 11:32:54 AM
In re Donald Harry Allen, Case No. 12-24413 ABC; 11 U.S.C. § 522(b). Trustee's allegations concerning debtor's conduct in failing to turnover non-exempt property did not demonstrate "bad faith" in claiming exemptions such that exemptions would be denied. Posted: 5/16/2013 8:02:32 AM LAR MHP Holdings, LP v. Robert D. Mordini, Jr., et al (In re Robert D. Mordini, Jr.), Adv. Pro. No. 11-1920 ABC ("related to" jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1334(b)). The Court dismissed non-debtor plaintiff's state-law claims against other non-debtor entities for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. The Court ruled that the economic effect of litigation on the value of a separate non-debtor entity in which a debtor owns an equity interest is not sufficient to confer "related to" jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1334(b) on the bankruptcy court. Posted: 5/3/2013 8:02:32 AM In re Carter, Case No. 11-13475 ABC; (trustee's objection to claim under § 502(d))
The Court denied Chapter 7 trustee's objection to claim under § 502(d) because trustee had not obtained a judicial determination of the avoidability of the transfer from the debtor to the claimant.
Posted: 4/30/2013 3:33:06 PM In re Castro, Case No. 11-17771 ABC; (court denied motion to open asset case to list previously unscheduled creditor)
In re Castro, Case No. 11-17771 ABC; 11 U.S.C. §§ 350(b), 523(a)(3). The Court denied debtors' motion to reopen their Chapter 7 "asset" case to add a creditor. Reopening to add a previously unscheduled creditor in this situation will not result in discharge of the debt unless creditor had notice or actual knowledge of the case in time to file a timely proof of claim. Posted: 4/26/2013 12:20:03 PM "In re Andrew and Pamela Jaussi, Case No. 12-34062 ABC
Chapter 7 Trustee filed motion to sell real property free and clear of liens under 11 U.S.C. § 363(f)(1) and/or (3). Trustee proposed to sell property to holder of first deed of trust for less than the aggregate face amount of the first deed of trust plus two junior judgment liens. The Court denied the Trustee's Motion because neither § 363(f)(1) or (3) applied.
Posted: 3/19/2013 2:30:51 PM Robertson B. Cohen, Chapter 7 Trustee v. Prudential Insurance Company, et al., Adv. Pro. No. 11-1481 ABC (In re Marlene Moosman, Case No. 10-32206 ABC); C.R.S. § 13-54-102(1)(l)(A).
The Court ruled in favor of the Chapter 7 trustee and against the debtor on cross-motions for summary judgment, construing the Colorado exemption of the cash surrender value of a whole life insurance policy to exclude increases in "cash value" of the policy during the 48-month period immediately preceding the bankruptcy. The debtor contended that because "cash surrender value" of the policy declined during that period, no exclusion from the exemption applied. Posted: 7/6/2012 12:36:25 PM "In re: 11-1723-ABC Durwick v Nizhoni et al
In granting a summary judgment against plaintiff/debtor in this adversary proceeding; the Court ruledthat the postpetition vesting of title under C.R.S. § 38-38-501; following a prepetition public trusteeforeclosure sale; was not a voidable "transfer" for purposes of 11 U.S.C. § 549(a).
Posted: 6/6/2012 8:18:50 AM
In re Brundage-Bone Concrete Pumping, Inc, case 10-10758abc
In this ruling the Court denied lender/lessor's application for reimbursement of their legal expenses as a priority administrative expense claim, notwithstanding their important role in this Chapter 11 reorganization effort, concluding it did not amount to a necessary, "substantial contribution" under 11 U.S.C. sections 503(b)(3)(D) and 503(b)(4).
Posted: 5/18/2012 9:28:28 AM
Diamond v. Vickery (In re Terry Kenneth Vickery), Adv. Pro. No. 11-01164 ABC 11 U.S.C. §§ 523(a)(2), (a)(4), and (a)(6), and collateral estoppel
Plaintiff judgment creditor's motion for summary judgment based on issue preclusion was denied. The Court analyzed the preclusive effects of Plaintiff's two judgments according to the law of the forums in which they were rendered. With respect to the judgment from the federal district court in California, the Court could not determine from the jury verdict that the elements necessary for nondischargeabilty under 11 U.S.C. §§ 523(a)(2), (a)(4), or (a)(6) had been necessarily decided. With respect to the Colorado judgment, issue preclusion did not apply because the judgment was pending on appeal. Posted: 10/19/2011 5:40:42 PM In re Neil W. Elliot, Case No. 10-31663ABC; 11 U.S.C. § 522 (b)(1) and (3), C.R.S. § 38-41-207.Trustee objected to Debtor's claim of "homestead proceeds" exemption for surplus funds from public trustee's foreclosure sale of Debtor's former residence which were held in a segregated bank account. Though Colorado's exemption statute for homestead proceeds explicitly refers only to proceeds from sale by owner or sale following levy and execution, the Court predicted that the Colorado Supreme Court would liberally construe the statute to apply to proceeds from public trustee sale. Debtor's exemption was upheld. Posted: 5/12/2011 9:31:37 AM
In its motion for summary judgment, Plaintiff sought to establish that a debt owed by Defendant pursuant to the Colorado Mechanics Lien Trust Fund Statute, Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-22-127, was nondischargeable pursuant to 11 U.S.C. 523(a)(4). Plaintiff also sought treble damages, plus interest and attorneys' fees, pursuant to Colorado's Rights in Stolen Property Statute, Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-4-405, along with a summary judgment that such award was nondischargeable.
The Court determined that - notwithstanding the statutory language limited to subcontractors, laborers, and suppliers - Plaintiff, a general contractor, had standing under the particular circumstances of this case to assert a claim under the Mechanics Lien Trust Fund Statute. The Court went on to determine that Defendant had committed defalcation while acting in a fiduciary capacity, rendering the debt owed by Defendant's company to Plaintiff nondischargeable pursuant to 11 U.S.C. 523(a)(4).
The Court also determined that, because Plaintiff had failed to provide evidence of a specific violation of Colorado's Civil Theft Statute, Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-4-401, arising from Defendant's use of trust funds, Plaintiff had failed on summary judgment to establish a right to treble damages and attorneys's fees under Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-4-405.
J. Hunter Banbury v. Bowen W. Banbury (In re Bowen W. Banbury), Adv. Pro. No. 10-1125 ABC; 28 U.S.C. §§ 157 and 1334. In dischargeability litigation, Plaintiff sought to compel joinder of Debtor's wife and trustee of trust of which Debtor was beneficiary so that all claims raised in Debtor's answer and counter-claims could be resolved. The purely state-law claims between Plaintiff, the Debtor, and the parties sought to be joined were raised or could be raised by the parties in a state court lawsuit that was pending at the time Debtor filed bankruptcy. Because of the uncertainty regarding the extent of the Bankruptcy Court's jurisdiction over all claims sought to be litigated in the dischargeability proceeding, the Bankruptcy Court's inability to conduct a jury trial, and in the interest of judicial economy, the Court abstained from hearing the state law claims and granted relief from the automatic stay to allow these claims to be determined and liquidated by the state court. The Court reserved its concurrent jurisdiction to determine the dischargeability of any debt found to be owed by the Debtor to Plaintiff at the conclusion of the state court proceedings. Posted:05/27/2010 7:15:30 AM
Hill v. Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP (In re ms55, Inc.), Adversary Proceeding No. 04-1650 ABC. 11 U.S.C. §544. Chapter 7 trustee was unsuccessful in his claims against law firm for aiding and abetting and conspiring to breach fiduciary duties owed by directors and officers of debtor corporation to unsecured creditors. The Court found that, under Delaware law, directors and officers owed no duties to creditors. Even if Colorado law applied, limited duty of officers and directors of insolvent corporation not to favor their interests at the expense of general creditors' claims was not breached by the conduct of officers and directors in granting a security interest for antecedent debt to insider in connection with new loan which was intended to rehabilitate the debtor.
Posted: 12/10/2009 7:51:30 AM
Chapter 13 Opinions:
In re Conley/Carroll, Case No. 10-12949 ABC, Docket No. 91 (Bankr.D.Colo. January 14, 2014); 11 U.S.C. §§ 1327 and 1329.
Debtors proposed a postconfirmation modified plan to surrender a vehicle to a lender whose secured claim had been determined under section 506 and provided for in a certain amount in Debtors' confirmed plan. Debtors further proposed to recalculate the secured creditor's allowed secured claim after taking into account the amount the secured creditor would recover upon liquidation of the vehicle. The Court denied Debtors' request to approve such a modification citing to its prior opinions which denied approval of similar postconfirmation modifications. In re Knapp, Case No. 08-24134 ABC, Docket #51 (July 5, 2013), In re Rentie, Case No. 10-18997 ABC, Docket #66 (August 8, 2013), and In re Rutt, 07-13448 ABC, Docket #76 (September 10, 2010).
In response, Debtors filed another motion to modify wherein they proposed again to bifurcate the secured claim of the same vehicle lender. Debtors argued that the secured creditor had filed an amended proof of claim in which it recalculated the amount of its claim and asserted a wholly unsecured claim after taking into account the amount it had received upon liquidation of the vehicle. The Debtors proposed to limit the payment to the secured creditor to the total of the amount the creditor had received upon liquidation of the collateral plus what Debtors had paid the creditor through the confirmed plan. That aggregate amount was less than the allowed secured claim provided for by the Debtors' confirmed plan. The Court again denied Debtors' motion holding Debtors were bound to their confirmed plan and that section 1329 of the Code would not permit the rebifurcation of the secured creditorrâs allowed secured claim
Posted: 1/23/2014 9:22:19 AM Posted: 1/23/2014 9:22:19 AM
In re Kurtz, No. 11-35725 ABC (Bankr. D.Colo. November 26, 2013) ECF#71 Debtor, joined in by Douglas Kiel, Chapter 13 Trustee, moved to reconsider the Court's order denying a postconfirmation motion to modify his confirmed Chapter 13 Plan. Debtor proposed in his modified plan to surrender his home and discharge any deficiency balance owed to the first mortgage holder. The Court denied Debtors' motion to reconsider holding that: (1) the Debtor is bound to the provisions of his confirmed plan; (2) section 1329 does not contemplate the bifurcation of a secured claim not subject to bifurcation at confirmation; (3) Debtors could not seek to discharge any deficiency because the claim of the first mortgage holder was one excepted from discharge by section 1328(a)(1).Posted: 12/2/2013 8:35:05 AM In re Rentie, Case No. 10-18997 ABC, Docket #66, entered on August 8, 2013; The "hanging paragraph" of 11 U.S.C. § 1325(a) and 11 U.S.C. §§ 1327, 1328 and 1329.
Debtors moved to modify their plan post confirmation to surrender their home to the first mortgage holder and a vehicle to the purchase money lender secured by the vehicle. Judge Campbell denied Debtors' motion relying on In re Knapp, 08-24134 ABC, Docket #51 (July 5, 2013). Furthermore, the Court ruled Debtors could not modify their plan post confirmation to surrender their vehicle so as to effect a bifurcation and discharge of any deficiency balance. Debtors are bound to the treatment provided for secured creditors in their confirmed plan and section 1329 does not permit the type of modification of such claims which Debtors proposed.
Posted: 08/16/2013 7:38:40 AM
In re Knapp, Case No. 08-24134 ABC, Docket #51, entered on July 5, 2013; 11 U.S.C. §§ 1327, 1328 and 1329.
Debtors proposed in their modified plan to surrender their home and discharge any deficiency balance owed to the first mortgage holder. The Court denied Debtors' motion to modify holding that: (1) the Debtors were bound to the provisions of their confirmed plan; (2) section 1329 does not contemplate the bifurcation of a secured claim previously not subject to bifurcation; (3) Debtors could not seek to discharge any deficiency because the claim of the first mortgage holder was one excepted from discharge by section 1328(a)(1).Posted: 08/16/2013 7:37:14 AM
In re Jennie Mae Smith, Case No. 10-36842 ABC; 11 U.S.C. §§ 327(e), 547(b)
Debtor's application for her counsel to be employed as special counsel to pursue a preference action against a creditor was denied because only the Chapter 13 Trustee may exercise avoidance powers in a case under Chapter 13, and the application to employ special counsel was not filed by or on behalf of the Chapter 13 Trustee.
Posted: 9/13/2010 7:58:01 AM
Summary of In re Rutt, 07-13448 ABC, Docket #76 (September 10, 2010). 11 U.S.C.§§ 1327 and 1329, post confirmation modification of Chapter 13 plan to strip off second mortgage against residence.
Debtor sought to modify his confirmed Chapter 13 plan to strip off the second mortgage of a secured creditor due to decline in the value of his residence. Debtor's confirmed plan treated the creditor as fully secured and paid it directly in accordance with the terms of the loan. Judge Campbell adopted the reasoning of In re Nolan, 232 F.3d 528 (6th Cir. 2000), and In re Cruz, 253 B.R. 638 (Bankr.D.N.J. 2000), and denied Debtor's motion. The Court held that section 1329 of the Code does not permit a reclassification of a creditor from secured to unsecured. Posted: 9/13/2010 7:58:01 AM
In re: Sanchez, Case No. 09-36815 ABC.
Chapter 13 Trustee objected to confirmation of debtor's plan because in applying the "means test," the debtor deducted debt service on a "stripped off" junior mortgage. The Court sustained the objection and denied plan confirmation for debtor's failure to commit necessary "projected disposable income" to fund the plan as required by 11 U.S.C. § 1325(b). Posted 05/27/2010 In re Jerold and Monica Brown, Case No. 07-22718 ABC; 11 U.S.C. §§ 1325(b)(1)(B), 1325(b)(4)(October 10, 2008).
In a case involving debtors with income above the applicable median income, the Court sustained the Chapter 13 Trustee's objection to confirmation of a plan of a duration which was less than the 5 year "applicable commitment period." Under the agreed facts, debtors' "projected disposable income" was zero. Nevertheless, the Court denied confirmation of debtors' plan because it would not pay "allowed unsecured claims" in full during the 42 month period proposed in violation of 11 U.S.C. § 1325(b)(4)(B). The applicable commitment period is a fixed period of time which a plan must span even if the debtor has no "projected disposable income." Posted 11/14/2008 In re Christopher and Mindi Barajas, Case No. 08-13684 ABC; 11 U.S.C. §§ 1325(a)(3), 1325(b)(Transcript of Oral Ruling, August 11, 2008, Docket #57).
The Court denied confirmation of the Debtors' Chapter 13 plan based on failure of the Debtors to pay all of their "projected disposable income" into the plan. It was improper for the Debtors to deduct from their "current monthly income" the payment for a secured debt on a vehicle which the debtors surrendered to the secured creditor beyond the "reasonable time" for disposition of the collateral allowed the secured creditor under applicable state law; after that, there is nothing "contractually due" to a secured creditor on the loan. See, § 707(b)(2)(B)(iii)(I). The Court also ruled that where the debtors had proposed payment of more than what was required by the "disposable income" definition in § 1325(b)(2), a § 1325(a)(3) good faith objection to confirmation, based only on the amount proposed to be paid under the plan, could not be sustained. Posted 11/14/2008
In re Odom 08-25341 ABC
"Projected Disposable Income;" 11 U.S.C. 1325(b)(1)(B) and (b)(2).
Chapter 13 debtors proposed a plan to which they contributed slightly more income than they would be required to when using "current monthly income" as defined in 11 U.S.C. §101(10A) ("CMI"). An unsecured creditor objected arguing that debtors were not contributing all their projected disposable income to the plan. The creditor maintained that Debtors' actual monthly income, projected to be received during the term of the plan, was greater than CMI requiring debtors to pay more into their plan. Both debtors and creditor argued the holding of In re Lanning, 545 F.3d 1269 (10th Cir. 2008), petition for cert. filed 77 U.S.L.W. 3449 (Feb.03, 2009)(NO.08-998) to support their respective positions. The Court distinguished the facts of Lanning and denied confirmation holding that debtors must pay into the plan that which is actually available to them. Posted: 6/25/2009 1:59:43 PM Other Opinions of Note:
In re Shepard, Case No.10-41987 ABC, Docket #53 , (September 16, 2011) 11 U.S.C. §524(c)(3) and (6).Prior to the entry of the discharge order, the Chapter 7 debtors and one of their secured creditors ("Creditor") entered into a reaffirmation agreement. Although debtors filed their case with the advice and assistance of an attorney, the attorney had not signed the declaration in support of the reaffirmation agreement. Creditor and debtors, on their own behalf, filed a joint motion to requesting a hearing to consider approval of the reaffirmation agreement. The Court denied that request because debtors were represented by an attorney during the course of negotiating the reaffirmation agreement.
Following the entry of the discharge order, debtors' attorney moved to withdraw from representing the debtors. The court authorized the attorney's withdrawal. A month later, Creditor and debtors filed a second joint motion wherein they asserted that the debtors were then pro se and requested the court to set a hearing to consider approval of the same reaffirmation agreement under 11 U.S.C. §524(c)(6)(A).The Court denied the second joint motion. The Court relied on its opinion in In re Shepard, 453 B.R. 416 (Bankr.D.Colo 2011) (Shepard I). In Shepard I, the court explained its conclusion that an attorney representing a Chapter 7 debtor is presumed to represent the debtor during the course of negotiating a reaffirmation agreement, regardless of whether he or she filed the declaration required by section 524(c)(3). The court ruled that the attorney's later withdrawal from representation of debtors did not change the court's conclusion that the attorney represented the debtors during the course of negotiating the reaffirmation agreement. Thus, no hearing could be set.Posted: 10/6/2011 8:35:38 AM Britney J. King v. 1602 LLP, et al., A.P. No. 10-1432 ABC (In re Britney J King,, Case No. 10-15870 ABC); 28 U.S.C. § 1334(b)
The Court dismissed Chapter 7 Debtor's claims for violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ("FDCPA"), 16 U.S.C. §1692, et. seq., and the Colorado Consumer Protection Act, C.R.S. § 6-1-101, et seq., for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Where the alleged violations took place after Debtor's bankruptcy case was filed, the claims were not property of the Chapter 7 estate and their resolution could not "conceivably have any effect on the estate being administered in bankruptcy." Thus, the Bankruptcy Court did not have "related to" jurisdiction over these claims under the 10th Circuit's Gardner test. Posted 9/28/2010 Marvel Concrete, Inc. v. Helmke, Adv. Pro. No. 06-1264 ABC; 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(4), C.R.S. § 38-22-127(5); C.R.S. §§ 18-4-401, 18-4-405.
The Court denied the debtors' motion for reconsideration of its order awarding treble damages to a creditor upon proof of the debtors' violation of the Colorado Mechanics' Lien Trust Fund Statute. The Court's finding that the debtors had the subjective hope and intent to keep their business open so that all creditors would eventually be paid did not negate its finding that they knowingly used the specific funds held in trust in a manner which was practically certain to deprive the creditor of the use and benefit of those trust funds, thereby satisfying the elements of the Colorado theft statute, C.R.S. § 18-4-401. Posted 12/09/2008 Simon E. Rodriguez v. Scott Whatcott, Adversary No. 07-1500 ABC (In re Christopher S. Walker, Chapter 7 Case No. 07-17102 ABC). §§ 547(b)(5) and 551.
Voidable preference. Where liens senior to a judgment lien sought to be avoided by a trustee under § 547(b) aggregate more than the value of the encumbered property, but one of the senior liens has previously been avoided by the trustee and preserved for the benefit of the bankruptcy estate pursuant to section 551, the previously avoided lien is excluded from the calculation in determining whether a transferee of an alleged preference thereby received more than he would receive in a Chapter 7 for § 547(b)(5) purposes. Posted 06/20/2008 In re Cheryl L. Perez, Chapter 7 Case No. 05-25535 ABC; 11 U.S.C. §§ 327-330; Bankruptcy Rules 2014 & 2016.
The Court denied special counsel to Chapter 11 debtor-in-possession's application for professional fees and costs for failure to comply with the Bankruptcy Code and Rules' disclosure requirements. Posted 06/20/2008 In re Suchkova, 05-17862 ABC and In re Hounsom, 05-42529 ABC, slip op. (Bankr.D.Colo. February 8, 2006) (11 U.S.C.§ 363 sale motions; and Fed.R.Bankr.P. 6004 and 2002(c)(1)).
Judge Campbell issued an order authorizing the Chapter 7 trustee to sell property of the estate but did not issue the order pursuant to section 363(f) of the Code authorizing the sale free and clear of liens because the trustee had not alleged that the property to be sold was encumbered nor had he identified lienholders and served them with the notice and motion in the manner prescribed by either 2002(g) or 7004. If the property to be sold is unencumbered, the trustee must include that allegation in his motion. In addition, the notice pursuant to L.B.R. 202 must contain the information regarding the date and time of a public sale or terms and conditions of a private sale as required by F.R.Bankr.P. 2002(c)(1). Posted 02/09/06