Opinion ID: 779769
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Leetien Sustained Actual Damages

Text: 30 Section 362(h) allows for actual and punitive damages, including costs and attorneys' fees, as sanctions for willful violations. Leetien sustained actual damages in defending against a continuing stay violation and preventing a default judgment. We find no abuse of discretion from the bankruptcy court's joint award of $1,000 against Eskanos and First Select for its willful violation of § 362(a). IV 31 We conclude that § 362(a) imposes an affirmative duty to discontinue post-petition collection actions. Sanctions are appropriate pursuant to § 362(h) because Eskanos willfully violated the automatic stay by maintaining the active collection action and unjustifiably delaying its dismissal after receiving notice of the bankruptcy petition. Leetien sustained actual damages defending against the state action. 32 AFFIRMED.