In Re Wisotzke 392 B.R. 39 (Bky.W.D.N.Y. 2008) (Chapter 13 bk 08-21178; Judge Ninfo; decision August 14, 2008) The debtor filed a chapter 13 petition the day that Ontario County, NY, was selling his residence in a tax foreclosure sale. The County argued that the...
Casenotes: 2008 WDNY Bankruptcy Cases
Cash Collateral agreements needed in business Chap. 13: In re Kjoller
In re Kjoller (07-23133) (Decision November 10, 2008; Judge Ninfo): Bankruptcy Code section 1304 and Section 363(c)(2) and (4) makes a Chapter 13 business debtor a trustee of an explicit statutory trust covering cash collateral. These sections require a business...
Funds in bank account are bankruptcy asset until check clears: In re Borowiec
In re Borowiec Bk 07-04258 (Decision November 5, 2008; Judge Bucki, Buffalo). Debtor's property tax payment check cleared the bank four hours after the bankruptcy was filed. The trustee brought a turnover motion against the debtor. The court ruled that the actual...
Economic stimulus package cases: In re Daniel and Wendy Alguire
In re Daniel & Wendy Alguire; Bk 08-10691; decision June 24, 2008; Judge Kaplan in Buffalo.) Remember the "economic stimulus" rebate checks received earlier in 2008? What was the status of those checks in a New York bankruptcy? Judge Kaplan took this case and...
Dischargeability of a bar fight claim: In re Donald L. Wright
In re Donald L. Wright (Bk 04-17680; AP 08-1075; decision July 21, 2008; Judge Kaplan in Buffalo.) Debtor injured another person in a bar fight, and the other person sued in bankruptcy court to have the claim for injuries from the fight excepted from discharge. A...
Equitable ownership of a car: In re Brenda Dufoe
In re Brenda Dufoe (Bk 08-20468; decision August 27, 2008) (Judge Ninfo). New York Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 2108 says that the owner listed on the title certificate of a motor vehicle is presumed to be the owner of that vehicle. In this case, the debtor and...
ADA Claim not exempt in New York: In re: Graci
In re: Graci (Bk 05-18224; Decision September 23, 2008; Judge Bucki, Buffalo). When this debtor filed bankruptcy, she was litigating a claim under Americans with Disabilities Act (42 USC Sect. 12101 et sec.). In New York, a debtor can exempt (that is, keep free and...
Short term home mortgages can be modified in Chapter 13: In re Latimer
In re Latimer (Bk 08-21242; Decision October 28, 2008; Judge Ninfo): Chapter 13 case: the debtors had a second mortgage where the final payment was due within the five year time period of the plan. Following the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals (in re Paschen, 296 F3d...
Some mortgage proof of claim expenses allowed: In re Zunner
In re Zunner Bk 08-10862 (Decision November 5, 2008; Judge Bucki, Buffalo). In Chapter 13 case where the mortgage bank filed a proof of claim for the bank's expense in obtaining a title report and a broker's price opinion, even though the mortgage was current at the...
Debtor must claim an exemption to avoid a transfer: In re Gross
In re Gross (Bk 99-16587; Decision October 7, 2008; Judge Bucki): Debtor's original case was filed 12/1/99 and she claimed the cash exemption. Less than a month prior (11/19/99), a creditor filed a judgment lien on her house. The debtor was unaware of the lien until...