In re Licking River Mining, LLC

(Bankr. E.D. Ky. Dec. 14, 2016)

The bankruptcy court grants the U.S. Trustee’s motion to disqualify the law firm from representing the trustee in certain adversary proceedings. The firm was retained pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 327(e). However, after the court approved the firm’s employment, the firm supplemented its initial disclosures, stating it had previously represented certain parties adverse to the trustee in the adversary proceedings. The court finds that the prior representation created a conflict of interest and thus the firm must be disqualified in those actions. Opinion below.

Judge: Wise

2016-12-14-in-re-licking-river-mining

Author: Matt Lindblom

Oaks v. Miller (In re Miller)

(Bankr. E.D. Ky. Dec. 6, 2016)

The court enters judgment declaring the state court judgment nondischargeable under 11 U.S.C. §523(a)(2)(A). The debtor represented to the plaintiff that he needed a loan to expand his construction business. The plaintiff loaned the debtor $62,000 based on this representation, but the debtor used the money to purchase vending machines that were disposed of within eight months. The debtor did not repay the loan, and the plaintiff obtained a judgment against him for the loan balance, interest, and punitive damages. The bankruptcy court finds the debt non-dischargeable, with the exception of certain attorney fees. Opinion below.

Judge: Schaaf

Attorney for Plaintiff: John E. Hinkel, Jr.

Attorney for Defendant: John M. Simms

2016-12-06-in-re-miller

Author: Matt Lindblom

Security Seed and Chemical, Inc. v. French (In re French)

(Bankr. W.D. Ky. Dec. 1, 2016)

Following trial, the bankruptcy court excepts from discharge a debt arising from a loan, but holds the plaintiff failed to meet its burden with respect to other debts. The court also finds that a lien was not created where there was no proof of an actual levy, but a seperate judgment lien is held valid. The court denies the debtor’s motion to avoid the lien. Opinion below.

Judge: Stout

Attorneys for Plaintiff: Thomas, Arvin & Adams, James G. Adams, III, David E. Arvin

Attorneys for Defendant: King, Deep & Branaman, Harry L. Mathison

2016-12-01-in-re-french

Author: Matt Lindblom

In re McCoy

(6th Cir. B.A.P. Nov. 29, 2016)

The Sixth Circuit B.A.P. reverses the bankruptcy court’s order denying the debtor’s motion to reopen his Chapter 7 case. Four years after filing the bankruptcy and receiving a discharge, the debtor filed a motion to reopen his case to avoid judicial liens. No creditors objected. However, the bankruptcy court denied the motion based primarily on the delay in filing the motion. The B.A.P. holds that the mere passage of time does not necessarily cause prejudice to a creditor sufficient to bar reopening of a case. The bankruptcy court did not find prejudice and thus the motion should have been granted. Opinion below.

Judge: Harrison

Attorney for Debtor: Carlo A. Ciccone

2016-11-29-in-re-mccoy

Author: Matt Lindblom

Nelson v. Taylor (In re Taylor)

(Bankr. E.D. Ky. Nov. 28, 2016)

The bankruptcy court enters summary judgment in favor of the plaintiffs in this 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(6) nondischargeability action. The plaintiffs had obtained a state court default judgment against the debtor for damages caused to them when the debtor drove to their home and shot one of the plaintiffs and injured the other plaintiff with flying debris. The court holds that collateral estoppel bars the debtor from relitigating the issue of whether the debtor caused a willful and malicious injury to the plaintiffs. Opinion below.

Judge: Wise

Attorney for Plaintiff: Noah R. Friend Law Firm, PLLC, Noah R. Friend

Attorney or Defendant: Jeanne K. Channell

2016-11-28-in-re-taylor

Author: Matt Lindblom