In this carefully written Opinion Judge Schmetterer evaluates the arguments in a Motion to Dismiss an Adversary Complaint based on fraudulent behavior. Beyond its examination of Bankruptcy Fraud, this Opinion is notable for its recitation of the ways this former Attorney conned his Client out of money.Read More

One option for those who've gone through Bankruptcy and are looking to borrow again is the FHA Loan. Before the housing bubble burst in 2008 FHA loans were considered the choice for buyers with little credit or bad credit; or for those with low incomes. But since everyone's home value began falling - taking credit...Read More

The Bankruptcy Court pries apart a Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings brought by banks and servicers that claim to be entitled to collect mortgage payments from the Debtor while peering into the world of securitized mortgages - the process of bundling loans into trusts, slicing trusts into securities, and trading those securities on Wall...Read More

As a Bankruptcy lawyer I can't count how many times people have asked why Courts won't reduce their mortgage debt to match the deflated value of their home, or why they should pay anything on that second mortgage, line of credit, or HELOC, when they're underwater. I even discussed these questions and the state of...Read More

In response to questions we get over and over, here is our unofficial Guide to Discharging Taxes in Bankruptcy. We've gathered many of the tried-and-true rules on the topic but they are constantly evolving, so take this guide with a grain of salt and always consult a competent Bankruptcy Attorney before making any decisions.Read More

When it comes to Bankruptcy, many Debtors don't know what they don’t know about real estate taxes. Confused? So were the District Courts until the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals addressed the issue in the case of In re LaMont, Opinion 13-1187 (January 7, 2014).Read More

Yes Virginia, it is possible to both discharge unsecured debts forever (Chapter 7) and strip down secondary mortgages (Chapter 13). But why would a Debtor file two cases when it's hard enough to put themselves through one? Read on and find out.Read More

Your customer or borrower has been paying like clockwork and you, the creditor or vendor, have been dispensing goods and services as promised. Then your customer starts to pay a little later, then later still. Why not? Times are tough. So you do the decent thing and take their payments without complaining. Next thing you...Read More

What happens when the property taxes of a Chapter 13 Debtor, protected by the Automatic Stay, are sold at auction? Here the Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, had to decide whether a Chapter 13 Plan of Reorganization affects the deadline for the Debtor to redeem sold taxes. The answer is,...Read More

Small business remains the backbone of the most vibrant economy in the world. America leads in innovation and hard work thanks in large part to small businesses and their owners. But in lean times, business owners need to know they have options. This post is about those options.Read More