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Creditors’ Rights and Bankruptcy

Creditors’ Rights and Bankruptcy. TALK ABOUT PAPER. Bankruptcy. People avoid debts Debtors get a fresh start Should bankruptcy be easy? What should we consider?. MN 4-5 bankruptcies per 1,000 population. Individual Bankruptcy in MN (4,372 filings in most recent quarter available).

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Creditors’ Rights and Bankruptcy

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  1. Creditors’ Rights and Bankruptcy TALK ABOUT PAPER

  2. Bankruptcy People avoid debts Debtors get a fresh start Should bankruptcy be easy? What should we consider? MN 4-5 bankruptcies per 1,000 population

  3. Individual Bankruptcy in MN (4,372 filings in most recent quarter available) 2005 Law Change Chapter 7 Chapter 13 Bus Ch 7

  4. Liens – Creditors’ Rights Filing • Mechanic’s Lien • Artisan’s Lien (Possessory) • Innkeeper’s Lien • Judicial Lien (writ of attachment, writ of execution) Must File Lien in Some Cases and Give Notice of Foreclosure and Sale

  5. Creditors’ Rights • Garnishment • Mortgage Foreclosure • Extra to Mortgagor • Deficiency Judgment Repossession Lien on a Car • Shanks v. Lowe (2001) • Garnishment of tips how can the employer collect the tips? • Are tips wages subject to garnishment?

  6. Guarantor and Surety • Guarantor • Only Liable after default • Surety • Primarily liable

  7. Material Modification of the obligation compensated surety (released to extent of loss) gratuitous surety (released completely) Debt paid Defenses available to principal debtor (but not bankruptcy, incapacity, or statute of limitations) Own Defenses (bankruptcy, etc) Subrogation Reimbursement Right of contribution from co-sureties Defenses and Rights of Surety and Guarantor Defenses Rights End-of-Chapter Q: 13-3 Meredith borrowed $5,000 from a Bank and gave the bank $4,000 in bearer bonds as collateral. Meredith’s neighbor also signed as a surety on the note. Meredith did not pay the note and the Bank asked the neighbor to pay it and he did. Can the neighbor demanded the bearer bonds from the bank?

  8. ISSUE CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER 11 CHAPTERS 12 & 13 PURPOSE Liquidation. Reorganization. Adjustment. Debtor (voluntary) or creditors (involuntary). Debtor (voluntary) or creditors (involuntary). Debtor (voluntary) only. WHO CAN PETITION Any “person” except railroads, insurance companies, banks, savings and loan institutions, investment companies licensed by the Small Business Administration, and credit unions. Farmers and charitable institutions cannot be involuntarily petitioned. Any debtor eligible for Chapter 7 relief; railroads are also eligible. Chapter 12—Any family farmer (one whose gross income is at least 50% farm dependent and whose debts are at least 80% farm related) or any partnership or closely held corporation at least 50% owned by a farm family, when total debt does not exceed $1.5 million. Chapter 13—Any individual with regular income who owes fixed unsecured debts of less than $269,250 or fixed secured debts of less than $807,750. WHO CAN BE A DEBTOR Bankruptcy – A Comparison

  9. ISSUE CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER 11 CHAPTERS 12 & 13 Nonexempt property is sold with proceeds to be distributed (in order) to priority groups. Dischargeable debts are terminated. Plan is submitted; if it is approved and followed, debts are discharged. Plan is submitted and must be approved if the debtor turns over disposable income for a three-year period; if the plan is followed, debts are discharged. PROCECDURE LEADING TO DISCHARGE On liquidation and distribution, most debts are discharged, and the debtor has an opportunity for a fresh start. Debtor continues in business. Creditors can either accept the plan, or it can be “crammed down” on them. The plan allows for the reorganization and liquidation of debts over the plan period. Debtor continues in business or possession of assets. If the plan is approved, most debts are discharged after a three-year period. ADVANTAGES Continued...

  10. Chapter 7 -- Liquidation • Ordinary Bankruptcy • Assets to Trustee • Trustee sells assets distributes proceeds • Remaining debts discharged

  11. Voluntary list of both secured and unsecured creditors/amount owed financial affairs list of property owned current income and expenses order for relief Abuse Involuntary Bankruptcy More than 12 creditors, three must have claims totaling $13,475 Fewer than 12 - one or more must have a claim of $13,475 Not paying debts General receiver took possession of property Filing the Petition

  12. Automatic Stay Creditors’ Meeting Examination of creditor Proof of claim Wages and rents limited to one year Property of the Estate within 180 days Exempted Property motor vehicle ($3,225) Home ($136,875) Terms

  13. Trustee’s Powers take delivery of property rts of creditors and debtor cancel transactions Voidable Rights (fraud, incapacity, duress, mutual mistake) Preferences recover payments - w/in 90 days) if insolvent at time made If “insider” one year Fraudulent Transfers (one year) Secured Creditors Unsecured Creditors Trustee’s Role End-of-Chapter Q: 13-2 Peaslee borrowed $6,000 from his father to pay creditors in February. Three months later he paid his father back. Peaslee also paid Cool Springs half the amount Peaslee owed Cool Springs on July 1. On Sept 1, Peaslee voluntarily claimed bankruptcy. Do his father and Cool Springs have to pay the money back? Start here after break but back up and refresh on exempt property – did ring example but pull out MN’s other exemptions sheet

  14. 1. Admin. Expenses 2. Bus. Expenses 3. Unpaid Wages ($4,300) 4. Benefit Plans 180 days ($4,300) 5. Farmers and Fishers ($4,300) storage 6. Consumer Deposits ($1,950) Color Tile Example. 7. Paternity, alimony, child support 8. Taxes 9. General Creditors (everyone else - credit cards) Unsecured Priority - Each class paid in full prior to next

  15. Back Taxes Amounts borrowed to pay federal taxes money obtained by false pretences creditors not notified of the bankruptcy fraud, misuse, larceny Judgments against a debtor’s drunk driving Alimony/child support claims based on willful or malicious conduct Gov. fines Student Loans (hardship) Consumer Debts for Luxury goods w/in 60 days Cash advances totaling more than $1,075 w/in 60 days Not Dischargeable • $200,000 acquired and spent without telling trustee • Purchased $30,000 guard dogs (family pets?), $60,000 fur coat and jewelry worth $47,000 (gave as gifts – to whom he could not recall) • Transferred $81,000 to former spouse of Hecker’s ex-wife – used to buy gift cards

  16. Mistake in Syllabus • Will have class Wed Nov 21 • Will not have class Fri Nov 23 Discharge of Student LoansIn Re Savage • Graduated at age 41 • 5 loans – owed $32,248 • Made $3,079 per month (possible her income might increase) • 15 year old son – attended private school

  17. Credit Card Fraud—The Intent Factor • Benethel Rembert took $11,600 in cash advances on her credit card. She used it to gamble, which she hoped to repay with her winnings. The court decided there was no fraud because she intended to repay the debt. • The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit also addressed this issue. It concluded that the “hopeless state of a debtor’s financial condition should never become a substitute for an actual finding of bad faith.” • What steps might creditors take to protect themselves against such problems?

  18. Objections to Discharge • Concealment or Destruction of Property • Concealment or Destruction of Financial Records • Discharge Granted within Previous 6 Years

  19. Chapter 13–Repayment Plan • Chapter 13 – Repayment Plan. Provides for the “Adjustment of Debts of an Individual with Regular Income.” • Less Expensive. Repayment plans are less expensive and less complicated than reorganization proceedings or liquidation proceedings. • Confirmation Hearing. After the plan is filed, the court holds a confirmation hearing, at which interested parties may object to the plan.

  20. Chapter 13 - Repayment Plan • Individuals (not corps or partnerships -- but sole proprietorships) Voluntary only • Regular Income • Limited Debt • Unsecured Debt < $269,250 • Secured Debt <$807,750 • Can be converted to a ch 7 or 11. • Repayment Plan (5 years max)

  21. Chapter 11 -- Reorganization • Voluntary or Involuntary • Workout - out of court • Court may dismiss for cause -- • absence of reasonable likelihood of rehabilitation • no plan • unreasonable delay • Debtor in Possession • Creditors’ Committees • (debts < $2 mil) Start here thurs

  22. Ch 11 - Reorganization Plan • Designate Classes of Claims and Interests • Specify Treatment to be afforded the classes • Means of Execution. Provide an adequate means for execution • Only debtor first 120 days • any party if not consent w/in 180 days • Crammed Down on Creditors who do not consent

  23. Chapter 11–Reorganizations • Critics of CH11. According to some critics, the main beneficiaries of Chapter 11, corporate reorganizations, are not the shareholder-owners of the corporations but attorneys and current management. • Eliminate Ch11? Should Chapter 11 be scrapped, as some critics recommend? Should it be amended to set time limits on reorganization proceedings?

  24. 2005 Changes • The "Means Test“ • Stringent expense allowances • Residency requirements There are both federal and state bankruptcy laws and some state laws are more favorable than others. For example, both Florida and Texas have generous "homestead allowances," which permit debtors to shield assets under the umbrella of homeownership. But the new law aims to discourage "shopping around" for the best deal, so you can't file in a more favorable state unless you've lived there for at least two years. • Mandatory credit counseling • More paperwork In the new "get tough" environment, consumers will have to provide a lot more documentation to show that bankruptcy is warranted. • Valuation increases The law provides that "collateral," which includes your furniture, clothes, autos and electronics, be assessed at a higher value than under the previous law. The new benchmark: replacement value. Chances are, by the time you add up the total value of your possessions using this formula, it will be pretty high. • You'll wait longer to file again CH7 – 8 years 13 four • Student loans. Under the old law, you couldn't get rid of student loans backed by the government or a non-profit. This protection has been extended to private lenders as well.

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