The benefits of filing a Chapter 13 bankruptcy

In  precarious times, when local economies are faltering, many people attempt to retain their homes despite mounting debts.

The Bankruptcy Code, under Chapter 13, provides an individual wage-earner with a mechanism of proposing a "plan" or reorganization, in which the "debtor" may retain the asset and make payments to creditors. The most common reason for a debtor to file a petition under Chapter 13 is to protect his primary residence from foreclosure sale.

As opposed to a bankruptcy petition under Chapter 7, where the debtor turns over to the trustee all non-exempt assets for distribution to creditors in proportion, the Chapter 13 debtor will make regular payments to the trustee pursuant to a plan (which may range in term from three to five years). For instance, if the debtor has a house worth $100,000, and wants to keep it, the debtor will propose a plan to pay creditors during the term of the plan that same value in order to retain the property. A basic tenet of Chapter 13 is that the proposed plan will pay creditors more than if the debtor had filed a Chapter 13 petition for liquidation.

One of the most important considerations in filing a Chapter 13 and, ultimately, confirming the plan is whether the debtor has the ability to make the requisite payments. Since the debtor must pay not only the scheduled plan payments to the trustee for the arrearages on the mortgage and other listed creditors, but also current mortgage payments, special consideration must be made of the debtor's income and expenses to test affordability.

The greatest benefit of filing a Chapter 13 petition is the "automatic stay" under the Bankruptcy Code. This stay stops all actions on the part of creditors to collect their debts. In the typical case, the stay stops the upcoming mortgage foreclosure auction sale on the courthouse steps. It cannot be understated that the timing of the filing of the petition is significant; e.g., the filing of the petition after the foreclosure auction sale is generally fatal to attempting to retain the real property in the debtor's bankruptcy estate. Another benefit of Chapter 13 is to file a plan that proposes to pay creditors less in percentage than that owed. Certain calculations to determine the appropriate reduced percentage are necessary.

— by Richard A. Klass, Esq.

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copyr. 2014 Richard A. Klass, Esq.
The firm's website: www.CourtStreetLaw.com
Richard A. Klass, Esq., maintains a law firm engaged in civil litigation in Brooklyn Heights, New York.
He may be reached at (718) COURT-ST or e-ml to RichKlass@courtstreetlaw.com with any questions.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Bankruptcy: an overview

It is unavoidable to conclude, from the news, that people in the United States are in pain! Financial pain and hurt!

Tens of millions of people in this country suffer from the strains of debt: Mortgage Debt, Credit Card Debt, Auto Finance Debt, Tax Debt, Student Loan Debt!

For some of these people, filing bankruptcy may be the best option to dig out of a bad situation. A consultation with a competent attorney may be the first step in digging out.

What is bankruptcy?

Bankruptcy is a concept as old as the Bible. In biblical times, in the Jubilee Year, all debts owed to creditors would be forgiven. In our United States Constitution, the privilege of filing for bankruptcy is inscribed. While some people still perceive there being a great stigma in filing for bankruptcy protection, most people recognize that it is not only legally mandated, but is well-rooted in good ethical and moral behavior.

The term “Bankruptcy” refers to a proceeding in a special court called the “United States Bankruptcy Court” in which a person (the “debtor”) files a “petition” and obtains “relief” from the court. The petition is a document which lists four broad categories of information about the debtor:

(a) Assets
(b) Debts
(c) Income
(d) Expenses

The bankruptcy process, an overview:

After the petition is filed with the court, the debtor is interviewed by a court-appointed trustee, who inquires as to the circumstances that led up to bankruptcy and determines whether there are any assets to administer on behalf of creditors. The end result of a bankruptcy case is the “discharge” of debts.

In order to prepare for the decision as to whether bankruptcy is appropriate, the person should assemble various documents, such as tax returns, paystubs, account statements for all debts, appraisals of property, deeds or title to property, and bank statements.

Through the bankruptcy process, the debtor may be permitted to retain property which is “exempt” from creditors. There are various exemptions under law which permit a debtor to keep property, such as household furnishings, homestead exemption in real estate, pensions, and other items. The skilled practitioner will assist in finding exemptions for most or all of the debtor’s property. If property is not exempt, then the trustee can sell it and pay over the sale proceeds to creditors.

For many people, the decision to file bankruptcy is motivated by one or both of the following two factors:

1. Discharge of debt: Most debts will be discharged. This means that the debtor will no longer be obligated to repay the debts. Some debts are not dischargeable because they are exceptions to the rule, such as domestic support obligations, tax debt, or government fines. However, even some of these seemingly nondischargeable debts may still be discharged. Other debts may be “secured” on property for collateral for the loan, such as a home mortgage or auto finance loan. These debts might not be discharged because the creditor may seek to take back the property.
   
2. Automatic stay: The other major reason people file for bankruptcy is to get the benefit of the “Stop” sign – the automatic stay. Sometimes, creditors are calling the debtor day and night to get payments on accounts; sometimes, there is a garnishment on the debtor’s wages; and sometimes, bank accounts are being seized. Once the bankruptcy is filed, creditors are “stayed” or stopped from pursuing the debtor further. For many debtors, this is quite a relief!

There are two general types of bankruptcy cases:

The first type is a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, also known as a “liquidation proceeding” or “straight bankruptcy.” In this case, the debtor turns over to the trustee all non-exempt assets, in order for the assets to be liquidated or sold by the trustee to pay creditors. It is no secret that 95% of personal bankruptcies are “No Asset” cases, in which the debtor has no non-exempt assets to turn over to the trustee.

The second type is a “Reorganization” proceeding, which can be filed under Chapter 9 (municipalities); Chapter 11 (corporate entities and larger-debt cases); Chapter 12 (family farmers); and Chapter 13 (individual wage-earner cases). In a reorganization case, the debtor has non-exempt assets he wants to keep, such as a home, and proposes a plan to repay creditors a certain amount of money over a certain term.

If you have questions concerning bankruptcy, please feel free to contact the law offices of Richard A. Klass, Esq. by phone or e-mail for more information.

— by Richard A. Klass, Esq.

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copyr. 2014 Richard A. Klass, Esq.
The firm's website: www.CourtStreetLaw.com
Richard A. Klass, Esq., maintains a law firm engaged in civil litigation in Brooklyn Heights, New York.
He may be reached at (718) COURT-ST or e-ml to RichKlass@courtstreetlaw.com with any questions.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

"Wild Card" (Or How Mad Max Got to Keep His Camaro!)

It was a really nice car - a 1999 Chevy Camaro with only 51,000 miles. Maybe it wasn't the most expensive car (like a Chevy Corvette) but Mad Max loved driving it on weekends. Mr. Max also had another vehicle (a truck) that he needed for work during the week. Unfortunately, Max's business wasn't doing well and he was forced to file for personal bankruptcy due to his mounting debts. As part of filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, Max had to submit to the Bankruptcy Court his Petition.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Petition

When a person files for bankruptcy (the “debtor”), he has to file a Petition, in which the debtor lists comprehensive financial information, including his (a) assets; (b) liabilities; (c) income; and (d) expenses. In the Petition, the debtor will detail all of his assets, such as real estate, bank accounts, life insurance policies, pensions and all other personal assets. Among the typical assets that are listed in the Petition is a debtor’s car.

Exempt Assets

There is a concept in the law that, even though a person is a debtor and owes debts to creditors, there are certain types of property and income that will be left with the debtor (“exempt”) — and, thus, beyond the reach of creditors. These types of “exempt” property and income are enumerated under various sections of law. In New York, for instance, those sections of law include various provisions under the Debtor and Creditor Law, Civil Practice Law and Rules (CPLR), Insurance Law and other sections. The usual types of exempt property owned by people filing bankruptcy include clothing, household furnishings, security deposits with a landlord, life insurance and annuity policies, and retirement/pension plans (such as 401(k) plans; Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs); Roth IRAs; 403(b) plans; and similar qualified plans). The usual types of exempt income of a debtor include social security benefits, disability, unemployment, worker’s compensation, and 90% of wages earned 60 days prior to filing. In fact, over 90% of the bankruptcy cases filed throughout the country are commonly referred to as “no asset” cases in which, after taking the debtor’s exempt property off the table, there are no assets to distribute to creditors.*

Specifically as to a debtor’s car, under New York’s Debtor and Creditor Law Section 282(1), a debtor may take 1 exemption as follows: “Bankruptcy exemption of a motor vehicle. One motor vehicle not exceeding four thousand dollars in value above liens and encumbrances of the debtor; provided, however, if such vehicle has been equipped for use by a disabled debtor, then ten thousand dollars in value above liens and encumbrances of the debtor.”

Two Cars; Only One Exemption

In Max’s situation, he owned 2 cars (Truck worth $3,600 and Camaro worth $8,800). Under New York State law, Max had only 1 exemption for a car, and he needed to keep his truck for work purposes. But, Max really wanted to keep his Camaro. He could only keep the truck, using the $4,000 car exemption; the Camaro would have to be turned over to the bankruptcy trustee and sold to pay off creditors’ claims.

Fortunately for the debtor, he came to Richard A. Klass, Your Court Street Lawyer, for help. The first step was trying to figure out how Max could retain both cars even though he was going to file for bankruptcy.

The Federal “Wild Card” Exemption

A few years ago, the law was changed to allow New York debtors to opt to take either the New York or federal exemptions. Up until then, debtors who filed for bankruptcy in New York State could only use the New York State exemptions (as opposed to the exemptions afforded to debtors under the federal Bankruptcy Code). Some of the New York exemptions are actually quite generous in some respects, including the “homestead” exemption for real estate up to $150,000.

Under the federal exemptions, there is, however, a really good exemption for debtors in the same situation as Max — the “Wild Card” one! Under Bankruptcy Code Section 522(d)(5), a debtor is allowed to take an exemption on any property up to $12,725 (“The debtor's aggregate interest in any property, not to exceed in value $1,225 plus up to $11,500 of any unused amount of the exemption provided under paragraph (1) of this subsection [the homestead exemption].”)**

In preparing the Petition, the federal exemptions were selected for Max. The truck was exempted as the one car permitted ($3,675 exemption) to be taken under federal law. The Chevy Camaro was exempted for its full amount ($8,800) because Max was allowed to use the "Wild Card" exemption. Mad Max got to keep both cars!

— by Richard A. Klass, Esq.

* Source: National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees (www.nabt.com/faq.cfm)

** (1) The debtor's aggregate interest, not to exceed $22,975 in value, in real property or personal property that the debtor or a dependent of the debtor uses as a residence, in a cooperative that owns property that the debtor or a dependent of the debtor uses as a residence, or in a burial plot for the debtor or a dependent of the debtor.


Art Credits:
Image on page one: Joker red 02.svg; Author: David Bellot, Berkeley, CA, USA.  Used under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation.

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copyr. 2014 Richard A. Klass, Esq.
The firm's website: www.CourtStreetLaw.com
Richard A. Klass, Esq., maintains a law firm engaged in civil litigation in Brooklyn Heights, New York.
He may be reached at (718) COURT-ST or e-ml to RichKlass@courtstreetlaw.com with any questions.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

The Producer: overselling available interests

The Rehearsal Onstage (detail), c. 1874, by Edgar Degas (1834–1917).

Mel Brooks’ movie and musical The Producers may have been a fictional story of fraudsters selling more shares in the production of their Broadway show “Springtime for Hitler” than actually existed, but such fraudsters exist in real life, overselling available interests not only in Broadway productions, but in every type of investment, including real estate.

In this modern day The Producers story, a particular real estate broker (we’ll give him the name “Bob”) had a plan. The idea behind this particular investment was simple: purchase a house in Passaic, New Jersey; fix it up; and then resell it for a profit—the classic real estate “flip.” This broker solicited a number of investors. Each investor would purchase a membership interest in a limited liability company [LLC]. With the funds provided by the members, the LLC would buy the house. A contractor-partner would be hired to renovate the house. Each investor was promised a certain percentage of the net proceeds from the ultimate sale of the house. Unfortunately, the real estate market tanked, construction costs soared and the investment became a huge loss before construction was ever completed.

New Jersey state court action

One of the investors (we’ll call him “John”) brought a lawsuit in the Superior Court in New Jersey for breach of contract, misappropriation of funds, and fraud. In that case, the judge appointed a special fiscal agent (similar to a court-appointed receiver) to manage the operations of the house, list the house for sale, and take all steps necessary to sell the house and distribute the net proceeds to the LLC’s investors.

Real estate broker files for bankruptcy

Bob filed for personal bankruptcy in the New Jersey Bankruptcy Court to avoid his liability to the investors. John filed a lawsuit (known as an adversary proceeding) against Bob in the New Jersey bankruptcy case to have Bob’s liability in this house-investment-gone-wrong declared “nondischargeable.” (The adversary proceeding here was a mini-lawsuit inside of the bankruptcy case, intended to have the effect that Bob would remain liable to John for the collapse of the real estate deal.) In the adversary proceeding, John alleged that Bob brought too many investors into the deal without telling the other investors. A settlement was reached between John and Bob in the “adversary proceeding” and John negotiated with the bankruptcy trustee to purchase the house directly from the trustee to recoup some of his (John’s) losses.

Another investor (we’ll call her “Sally”) who lost money in the same Passaic real estate deal then sued John (now the owner of the Passaic real estate) in New York City’s Civil Court, claiming that John defrauded Sally by not including her in the buy-out of the house. This is when John sought help from Richard A. Klass, Your Court Street Lawyer. The aim was to have Sally’s lawsuit, brought in New York, dismissed.

Lack of jurisdiction in the New York Civil Court

There is a basic concept involving any court system that a particular court maintains the authority (“jurisdiction”) to make decisions and orders over a particular controversy.

According to New York’s Civil Practice Law and Rules [CPLR] Section 302, New York State courts may exercise jurisdiction over nonresidents under certain circumstances, when the defendant:

1. Transacts any business within the state or contracts anywhere to supply goods or services in the state; or 2. Commits a tortious act within the state, except as to a cause of action for defamation of character arising from the act; or 3. Commits a tortious act without the state causing injury to person or property within the state.

There is a separate rule as to when New York City’s Civil Court may exercise jurisdiction over cases because it is considered a court of “limited” jurisdiction (See Civil Court Act Section 202).

In asking the judge to dismiss the New York Civil Court case, Richard A. Klass argued that any action that could be brought by Sally must be brought in the State of New Jersey, and not in New York. The project-house was located in New Jersey; the LLC was a New Jersey entity; both the New Jersey Superior Court and New Jersey Bankruptcy Court had pending cases involving the house and the LLC; and all of the events transpired in New Jersey. It was urged that New York was the wrong forum for Sally to bring this dispute, citing to Epstein v. Sirivejkul, 48 NY2d 728 [1979]; Irrigation and Industrial Development Corp. v. Indag S.A., 37 NY2d 522 [1975].

The Civil Court judge agreed with the arguments of Richard A. Klass and determined that the New York Civil Court lacked jurisdiction over the case. The judge specifically found that the transaction in dispute occurred in New Jersey and the plaintiff presented no allegations that there was tortious conduct within New York State; also, the fact that there were existing proceedings in New Jersey courts confirmed the conclusion that New Jersey was the proper forum for any dispute. The court then dismissed the plaintiff’s case.

— by Richard A. Klass, Esq.

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copyr. 2013 Richard A. Klass, Esq.
The firm's website: www.CourtStreetLaw.com
Richard A. Klass, Esq., maintains a law firm engaged in civil litigation at 16 Court Street, 28th Floor, Brooklyn Heights, New York.
He may be reached at (718) COURT-ST or e-ml to RichKlass@courtstreetlaw.com with any questions.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

529 Plans in Bankruptcy

Americans rely on easy credit in order to fund their lifestyles.  We are lured by good credit terms, the desire to buy a home, and the need to pay for things like education and home improvements.  We do our best to save for our future, putting money into Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) or 401Ks, money that is not to be used until retirement.  When we have children we consider their futures and the ever increasing costs of college, and we want to save for our children’s future education by opening Education IRAs or 529 Savings Plans.

In New York State, when someone obtains a money judgment against you, they have several remedies in order to obtain payment of the judgment, including garnishing your wages, putting a lien on bank accounts and other property held in your name.  This may include a 529 Savings Plan.  CPLR section 5205 provides several exemptions to protect debtors.  It lists several types of property that cannot be reached by creditors.  CPLR 5205(j) provides protection for New York 529 Savings Plans by exempting and thus protecting from creditors a New York State 529 Savings Plan in an amount not exceeding $10,000.   This is good news and bad news for debtors.  It protects smaller 529 plans from being plundered by a creditor, but if you’ve saved for many years, the 529 Savings Plan may exceed the $10,000 balance and is thus open season for a creditor looking for repayment of an outstanding debt.

Bankruptcy can offer better protection for a debtor who is trying to protect a 529 Savings Plan he has created for his children.  Bankruptcy Code 541(b)(6) provides that funds placed in an 529 Savings Plan 1 year or longer before the date the debtor files for bankruptcy is not property of the bankruptcy estate if the designated beneficiary is a child, stepchild, grandchild or step-grandchild, and the funds contributed do not exceed the total contributions permitted.  In addition, in order to ensure debtors have not transferred assets to exempt accounts in preparation of filing bankruptcy, any contributions made between year one and year two before filing are limited to a total contribution of $5,850. The exemption regarding an education IRA is similar in nature to the 529 Savings Plan, but include a requirement that the account could not be pledged to have credit extended to the debtor.  This language can be found in Bankruptcy Code 541(b)(5).

Therefore, for individuals who are contemplating bankruptcy but are concerned about 529 Savings Plans they have established for their children can now rest easy in the knowledge these accounts may be protected and may not be reached by creditors.

— by Elisa S. Rosenthal, Esq.,

Associate

Law Office of Richard A. Klass

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copyr. 2013 Richard A. Klass, Esq.
The firm's website: www.CourtStreetLaw.com
Richard A. Klass, Esq., maintains a law firm engaged in civil litigation at 16 Court Street, 28th Floor, Brooklyn Heights, New York.
He may be reached at (718) COURT-ST or e-ml to RichKlass@courtstreetlaw.com with any questions.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Home! Sweet Home!

The homeowner had a bunch of problems. Not only was he saddled with over $30,000 in credit card debt spread across several credit card accounts, he had also just received the Summons and Complaint, filed by his mortgage lender, seeking to foreclose on the mortgage recorded against his home. He was delinquent on his mortgage and owed many months’ worth of mortgage arrears. This homeowner is one of the tens of thousands of homeowners across the State (and more across the country) who have fallen into foreclosure with little help or support. Fortunately for the homeowner, he came to Richard A. Klass, Your Court Street Lawyer, for help.


Establishing the Best Strategy

In order to establish the best strategy for the particular situation, the house’s fair market value first had to be considered.

Many homeowners have seen their property values drop so low that their houses are “underwater,” meaning they owe more on their mortgage than the house is worth. In such circumstances, there are different strategies which may be taken by homeowners, including offering the lender a deed in lieu of foreclosure or staying in possession of the house for as long as possible until the foreclosure auction sale. In this case, the homeowner was unsure of his house’s fair market value, so he was advised to hire a licensed appraiser for an honest, unbiased opinion as to the value of the house. The appraisal came back and showed that the amount due to the mortgage lender on the outstanding mortgage was nearly equal to the fair market value. The homeowner and his wife liked their home and neighborhood, so he wanted to figure out a way to save the house, if possible.


Defending the Mortgage Foreclosure Case

The foreclosure proceeding brought by the mortgage lender had to be answered. The homeowner answered the Complaint and also brought Counterclaims against the lender, alleging that the lender engaged in predatory lending practices, fraud, and violations of the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act (HOEPA). Filing the Answer and Counterclaims placed an obstacle in the path of the mortgage lender and helped slow down the foreclosure process.

As another part of slowing down the mortgage lender’s case, discovery demands were served, including a request for copies of all documents signed at the closing, when the mortgage was first obtained. It is crucial to a homeowner’s defense of a mortgage foreclosure case, in a time when affidavits are “robo-signed” by non-bank representatives, original documentation is lost by mortgage departments, and mortgages lack assignment from the original lender, that all documents be reviewed for their authenticity and truthfulness.


A Dollar Can Be Stretched Only So Far!

After establishing that the house was not very much “underwater” and that the homeowner wanted to keep the house, the next step was to consider how to pay the mortgage, property taxes and other carrying charges of the house. The homeowner’s take-home salary could only go so far — he could not afford to make the regular monthly mortgage payment as well as the minimum payments on all the various credit card accounts. However, if he could shed the credit card debt, he could more easily afford all of his other expenses.


“Straight” Bankruptcy

Generally, homeowners have to file a “Chapter 13” bankruptcy case to save their home. In a Chapter 13 case, a monthly payment plan over a three- to five-year term is proposed by the debtor, reviewed by the trustee, and then approved or denied by the Bankruptcy Judge. However, in the present situation, a Chapter 13 bankruptcy case was not necessary because there was no equity in the house to protect (net equity being the fair market value of the house less the balance due on the mortgage). Accordingly, the decision was made to file a “Chapter 7” bankruptcy case. A Chapter 7 bankruptcy case — also known as a “straight bankruptcy” — is a legal proceeding in which all of the debtor’s ‘unsecured debts’ (such as credit cards, personal loans and lines of credit) are discharged or extinguished. Once the bankruptcy case was filed, the homeowner benefited from the automatic stay provisions of the Bankruptcy Code. Basically, these provisions act as a “Stop Sign” against creditors, prohibiting them from taking any collection actions against debtors. When this homeowner/debtor received his Discharge, by which he discharged or extinguished all of the unsecured credit card debt, he was left with only the mortgage debt (also known as ‘secured debt’ because the house is collateral for the loan).


Mortgage Foreclosure Proceeding — Round Two!

In New York State, when a homeowner/defendant puts in an appearance in a mortgage foreclosure case, the court puts the case onto its Foreclosure Settlement Conference calendar and schedules a conference between the mortgage lender and the homeowner. The purpose of the conference is to see whether there is any way to mediate and settle the dispute, including exploring the loan modification process.

In our present situation, with the bankruptcy case over and the homeowner coming straight out of his Chapter 7 case with his Discharge of all other debts (his “fresh start!”), the mortgage foreclosure proceeding was placed back onto the Supreme Court’s Foreclosure Settlement Conference calendar. Pursuant to the conference, the homeowner applied for loan modification with the mortgage lender and provided all documentation required, including the application, and his tax returns and paystubs.

With no outstanding credit card debt, the homeowner’s salary clearly demonstrated that he had more than sufficient income to support the mortgage and carrying charges of the house. The good news came at the next foreclosure settlement conference: the homeowner’s application to modify his mortgage loan was approved by the lender and the foreclosure proceeding was dismissed. Home! Sweet Home!

— by Richard A. Klass, Esq.©2012 Richard A. Klass.

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copyr. 2012 Richard A. Klass, Esq.
The firm's website: www.CourtStreetLaw.com
Richard A. Klass, Esq., maintains a law firm engaged in civil litigation at 16 Court Street, 28th Floor, Brooklyn Heights, New York.
He may be reached at (718) COURT-ST or e-ml to RichKlass@courtstreetlaw.com with any questions.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.


Credits:
Legal services marketing by The Innovation Works, Inc. www.TheInnovationWorks.com
Image at top: Flowering Plum Tree, Eragny, 1894, by Camille Pissarro (1830-1903). This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to Australia, the European Union and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 70 years. This image is in the public domain in the United States. This applies to U.S. works where the copyright has expired, often because its first publication occurred prior to January 1, 1923.

Seminar Announcement: "Nuts and Bolts of Collection Law"

In early November, Richard Klass will help present a seminar entitled The Nuts and Bolts of Collection Law.  This seminar, presented by the National Business Institute, will take place at the Hyatt Place Garden City, in Garden City, New York.  Information follows.

Nuts and Bolts of Collection Law

Date: Wednesday, November 09, 2011

Time: 9:00 am-4:30 pm

Location:

Hyatt Place Garden City
5 North Avenue
Garden City, NY

Facility Phone: 516-222-6277

NBI Product ID#: 57049ER

For more information and to register, click this link:

http://www.nbi-sems.com/SemTeleDetails.aspx/R-57049ER%7C?ctname=SPKEM

Program Description

Ensure Your Clients Get Paid
Winning a judgment against a bad debt doesn't necessarily mean cash in hand. Do you have a firm grasp of the procedures for legally collecting that debt? Are your recovery actions in compliance with the strict guidelines governing collection? Don't rush in unprepared. Maximize your chances for recovery with the practical steps provided in this strategic seminar. Enroll today!

• Avoid collection activities that violate the FDCPA and/or state laws. 
• Learn best practices for discovering debtor assets both pre- and post-judgment. 
• Recognize what provisional and final remedies are available to creditors to collect what is owed. 
• Walk through the procedural steps for executing wage garnishments, judgment liens, attachments and other methods of collection. 
• Know the creditor's rights when collecting debt and when the debtor files for bankruptcy.

Who Should Attend

This basic-to-intermediate level seminar is primarily designed for attorneys and other legal professionals. Those who may also benefit from the collection techniques provided include: collection and loan officers, accounts receivable personnel, credit managers, bankers and controllers.


Course Content

1. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and State Collection Laws
2. Ethical Issues in Collection
3. How to Find Debtors and Their Assets
4. Obtaining a Judgment: A Procedural Guide
5. Collecting a Judgment: A Procedural Guide
6. Creditors' Rights When a Debtor Files Bankruptcy

Continuing Education Credits:

Continuing Legal Education
CLE 7.20 - NJ
CLE 7.00 - NY*

Continuing Professional Education for Accountants

CPE for Accountants: 7.00

Institute of Certified Bankers

ICB: 6.75*

* denotes specialty credits


Agenda

THE FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT (FDCPA) AND STATE COLLECTION LAWS

9:00 - 9:45, Richard A. Klass

Scope of the FDCPA
Understanding the Actions Permitted or Restricted by the Act
Demand Letters: Pitfalls to Avoid
Liability and Defenses
State Collection Laws and Their Application/Preemption

ETHICAL ISSUES IN COLLECTION

9:45 - 10:45, Richard A. Klass
Communication With Clients and Other Parties
Disclosure Issues
Aggressive Collection Practices
Unauthorized Practice of Law
Reporting Professional Misconduct

HOW TO FIND DEBTORS AND THEIR ASSETS

11:00 - 12:00, Michael Cardello III
Prejudgment Discovery Methods
Personal vs. Business Assets
Replevin/Self-Help Repossession Considerations

OBTAINING A JUDGMENT: A PROCEDURAL GUIDE

1:00 - 2:00, Michael Cardello III
Filing the Lawsuit
Service of Process
Affirmative Defenses and Counterclaims
Judgments (Default, Summary, etc.)

COLLECTING A JUDGMENT: A PROCEDURAL GUIDE

2:15 - 3:15, Kenneth H. Wurman
Post-Judgment Discovery
Judgment Liens
Wage and Bank Account Garnishment
Attachments
Writ of Execution/Seize and Sale by Sheriff
Charging Orders
Debtor Slow-Pay Motions
Turnover/Receivership
Exemptions by Debtors
Dealing With Fraudulent Transfers

CREDITORS' RIGHTS WHEN A DEBTOR FILES BANKRUPTCY

3:15 - 4:30, Michael D. Brofman


Speakers

RICHARD A. KLASS is an attorney in the Brooklyn office of Your Court Street Lawyer. Mr. Klass is an arbitrator for the small claims part of the civil court of the City of New York, County of Kings. He practices in the areas of collections, bankruptcy, debtor and creditor, commercial litigation, legal malpractice, medical malpractice, personal injury, real estate condominium law, family law, divorce, child custody and private placement adoption law, wills, probate, trusts and estates. Mr. Klass has written numerous articles and has lectured frequently for the Brooklyn Bar Association and New York County Lawyers Association, as well as other professional groups and organizations. Mr. Klass is a member of The American Association for Justice, the New York State Bar Association, the New York County Lawyers Association (chair, The Mentoring Program, Group Mentoring Program) and the Brooklyn Volunteer Lawyers Project (Pro Bono Counsel). He earned his B.A. degree from Hofstra University and his J.D. degree from New York Law School.

MICHAEL D. BROFMAN is a member in the New Hyde Park law firm of Weiss & Zarett P.C., where he practices in the areas of bankruptcy law, debtor/creditor rights, non-judicial workouts and commercial litigation. He has lectured for the Nassau County and New York State bar associations on topics relating to his areas of practice, and is a frequent lecturer for National Business Institute on bankruptcy and secured creditor topics. He is a member of the Nassau County (member, Bankruptcy and Bank sections) and the New York State (member, Committee on Bankruptcy Law and General Practice Section) bar associations, the American Bankruptcy Institute and the Volunteer Lawyer's Project Pro Bono Bankruptcy Panel. Mr. Brofman earned his B.A. degree from the State University of New York at Binghamton and his J.D. degree from Fordham University.

MICHAEL CARDELLO III is a partner in the Litigation Department of Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP, concentrating in business and commercial litigation. Mr. Cardello represents large and small businesses, financial institutions and individuals in federal and state courts. He has a wide range of experience that includes trials and appellate work in the areas of corporate disputes, shareholder derivative actions, dissolutions, construction disputes, equipment and vehicle leasing disputes and other complex commercial and business disputes. Mr. Cardello earned his B.A. degree in marketing, his M.B.A. degree in finance and his J.D. degree from Hofstra University. While in law school, he was associate editor of the Hofstra Law Review. Mr. Cardello is the current vice-chairman of the Commercial Litigation Committee of the Nassau County Bar Association and also is a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution and Securities Committee of the Nassau County Bar Association. He lectures on discovery, trial practice, equipment and vehicle leasing issues and e-discovery.

KENNETH H. WURMAN is a partner in the law firm of Naidich Wurman Birnbaum & Maday, LLP, where his practice areas, for more than 30 years, include collections and real estate. Mr. Wurman is a lecturer for National Business Institute on collection matters. He earned his B.S. degree from the State University of New York at Albany and his J.D. degree from New England School of Law. Mr. Wurman is a member of the Nassau County and New York State bar associations.

For more information and to register, click this link:

http://www.nbi-sems.com/SemTeleDetails.aspx/R-57049ER%7C?ctname=SPKEM

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copyr. 2011 Richard A. Klass, Esq.

The firm's website: www.CourtStreetLaw.com

Richard A. Klass, Esq., maintains a law firm engaged in civil litigation at 16 Court Street, 28th Floor, Brooklyn Heights, New York.

He may be reached at (718) COURT-ST or e-ml to RichKlass@courtstreetlaw.com with any questions.

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Amendment to Bankruptcy Petition Worth Millions!

A brother tried to help his sister, and it almost cost him millions of dollars. Based upon the brother’s good credit, his sister bought a house in Queens in his name. At some point, she was unable to keep up with the mortgage payments and the house fell into foreclosure.


On the eve of the foreclosure sale, the brother filed bankruptcy to “stay” the sale. In the mad rush to save the family home (which, unfortunately, is common these days!), the brother did not understand something very important: the personal injury lawsuit he filed years earlier, relating to a construction work-site injury in which he was severely injured, was an “asset” of his to be listed in his bankruptcy petition. Unfortunately, the Chapter 13 bankruptcy case was dismissed because the brother could not make the mortgage or bankruptcy plan payments. The house was later sold at foreclosure sale.

State Court Motion to Dismiss:

Subsequently, the defendants in the state court personal injury case asked the judge to dismiss the case based upon the failure of the plaintiff/injured person to list the pending lawsuit as a “contingent asset” in his bankruptcy petition. Substantial New York case law, going all the way up to the New York State Court of Appeals, has held that the failure to list the asset in the petition is fatal to the continuance of the personal injury case – every case on point says the injured person’s lawsuit gets dismissed without any recovery, no matter how grave the injury.

 

Uncharted Course to Be Taken:

Faced with this apparently insurmountable challenge, Richard A. Klass, Your Court Street Lawyer, was brought in to help save the man’s personal injury case. The strategy developed was to return to the Bankruptcy Court to seek to amend or fix the petition to reflect the existence of the personal injury claim. This was trail-blazing!


In determining that the debtor/personal injury plaintiff should be permitted to amend his bankruptcy petition to list the claim as an asset, Chief Bankruptcy Judge Craig stated: “This Court has not found any statute, rule or precedent that provides that a debtor’s right to amend expires upon dismissal of the case, or that the order dismissing the case must be vacated before schedules, statements or lists may be amended.” In re Severius Raggie, New York Law Journal 7/9/2008.

Interplay between “Closed” and “Closed”:

At first glance, the court noted that the bankruptcy case was marked “closed.” The judge was skeptical that an amendment to the petition could be made because Bankruptcy Rule 1009 provides that “a voluntary petition, list, schedule, or statement may be amended by the debtor as a matter of course at any time before the case is closed.”


However, in relying upon the decision in In re Critical Care Support Services, 236 BR 137, it was pointed out that a case can only be “closed” when the assets of the bankruptcy estate have been fully administered. The term “closed,” as used in Bankruptcy Rule 1009 and Bankruptcy Code §350, does not encompass “dismissed” cases. Thus, an Order dismissing a case accomplishes a completely different result than an Order closing it would; essentially, upon dismissal of a bankruptcy case, all of the debtor’s rights in his property revert back to him.


Separately, the court also held that, as part of accepting the debtor’s amendment, it could reject the amendment when “the facts and circumstances presented indicate that the amendment was filed in bad faith, fraudulent or prejudicial.” Citing to In re Nye, 250 BR 46. In this case, Judge Craig held that there was no evidence of bad faith, fraud or prejudice; the state court defendants’ argument that granting the amendment would “reward” the debtor was not persuasive. In the absence of any evidence that the debtor deliberately omitted the personal injury claim from his schedules to defraud his creditors, permitting the debtor to amend did not reward wrongdoing.


After Judge Craig granted the debtor’s motion to amend his bankruptcy petition, the state court defendants in the personal injury lawsuit withdrew their motion to dismiss the case. The plaintiff’s case is now winding through the New York State Supreme Court towards a trial, in which his serious injuries will be considered by a jury.

— Richard A. Klass, Esq.

©2008 Richard A. Klass. Art credits: Selbstporträt mit fünfzig Jahren, by Giovanni Fattori, 1884; Porträt der dritten Ehefrau, by Giovanni Fattori, 1905. Newsletter marketing by The Innovation Works, Inc.

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copyr. 2011 Richard A. Klass, Esq.
The firm's website: www.CourtStreetLaw.com
Richard A. Klass, Esq., maintains a law firm engaged in civil litigation at 16 Court Street, 28th Floor, Brooklyn Heights, New York.
He may be reached at (718) COURT-ST or e-ml to RichKlass@courtstreetlaw.com with any questions.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

$73K Buys $200,000 House, Thanks to Debtor’s "Hat Trick" Screw-up.

The foreclosure auction of the defendant’s Staten Island house came up on a Wednesday at 9:30AM. The courtroom was packed with people ready to bid on the house. The Referee announced the sale of the house, took bids, and struck down the sale at $73,000 to the successful bidder.


Moments later, the Referee informed the successful bidder that one of the two owners of the house had filed bankruptcy at 9:26AM; therefore, the foreclosure sale was invalid and the bidder should take back his bid deposit. At that moment, the successful bidder called Richard A. Klass, Your Court Street Lawyer about whether the sale was indeed invalid.

Automatic Stay Operates as a “Stop” Sign:

People normally file for bankruptcy protection for one or both of two reasons: (1) to discharge debt; and (2) to “stay” (or stop) proceedings against the debtor, such as foreclosures, lawsuits, repossessions, evictions, etc.


Under Bankruptcy Code §362(a), the filing of a bankruptcy petition with the United States Bankruptcy Court imposes an automatic stay upon creditors from taking certain actions, including specifically auctioning off the debtor’s house (Note: there are exceptions which may apply). Generally, actions taken after the filing of the bankruptcy petition are null and void, as if they never occurred. In this particular situation, the foreclosure auction happened 4 minutes after the bankruptcy filing. Under normal circumstances, the automatic stay would have voided this sale and the successful bidder would have merely gotten back his bid deposit, without getting the house.


Before the drastic changes to the Bankruptcy Code in 2005 (under the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act [BAPCPA]), debtors would go in and out of bankruptcy to prevent their houses from being sold. Since BAPCPA, it has gotten more difficult for debtors to get the benefit of the “Stop” sign – the first filing will trigger a stay, the second filing a briefer stay, and the third filing no stay unless requested. These “Stop” signs begin to feel like a “Hat Trick,” where one player scores three times.

Searching for Details:

The first step in trying to salvage the foreclosure sale for the successful bidder was reviewing every document filed in the bankruptcy case. This included the “bare bones” petition and the “Credit Counseling Certificate.” This Certificate states that the debtor completed a credit counseling course within six months before the bankruptcy filing, which must be done in order to be eligible to file bankruptcy. Upon very close review, it appeared that the debtor simply took the old, expired Certificate from her prior bankruptcy case the year before (more than 6 months old) and filed the same one again – a big but little-noticed “no-no.”


Upon further digging, it appeared that the co-owner of the house had previously filed bankruptcy and there was an order terminating the stay a year earlier. Also, the debtor had both unsuccessfully filed a bankruptcy before and had filed the current one without complying with the rules, including paying the court’s filing fee.

Validation of Post-Petition Foreclosure Sale:

The Court found that grounds existed to warrant the annulment or termination of the automatic stay and validation of the foreclosure sale. Citing to several cases, the court identified various factors that should be considered in determining whether to validate a post-petition foreclosure sale, including whether:


(1) the creditor had actual or constructive knowledge of the bankruptcy filing and, therefore, of the stay;
(2) the debtor has acted in bad faith;
(3) there is equity in the property of the estate;
(4) the property is necessary for an effective reorganization;
(5) grounds for relief from stay exist and a motion, if filed, would have been granted prior to the violation;
(6) failure to grant retroactive relief would cause unnecessary expense to the creditor;
(7) the creditor has detrimentally changed its position on the basis of the action taken;
(8) the creditor took some affirmative action post-petition to bring about the violation of the stay; and
(9) the creditor promptly seeks a retroactive lifting of the stay and approval of the action taken. In re Campbell, 356 BR 722 (WD Mo.2006); In re Williams, 257 BR 297 (Bankr.WD Mo. 2001).


Reviewing the facts of the particular situation, the Court found “ample support” for annulling the stay retroactively and validating the post-petition foreclosure sale. These facts included the bare bones petition filed by the debtor with the expired Certificate, her case being filed on the same date as the auction sale, her significant prior experience in bankruptcy, and the negative effect to the successful bidder’s (an independent third party) rights.


In granting the successful bidder’s motion, the Bankruptcy Judge determined that the “debtor’s failure to act in good faith in this case warrants the annulment of the automatic stay and the validation of the petition day foreclosure sale.” In re Annie Williams, US Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of New York, Case No. 1-09-44856-dem [Decision dated January 27, 2010]. Since the Bankruptcy Court validated the foreclosure sale, the successful bidder achieved his desired result – the purchase of the Staten Island house, valued at more than $200,000, for $73,000.

— by Richard A. Klass, Esq.

Credits:
Staudacherhaus at the Tegernsee, by artist August Macke (1887-1914).
Photo of Richard Klass by Tom Urgo, 2008.
Law firm business communications services provided by
The Innovation Works, Inc.


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copyr. 2011 Richard A. Klass, Esq.
The firm's website: www.CourtStreetLaw.com
Richard A. Klass, Esq., maintains a law firm engaged in civil litigation at 16 Court Street, 28th Floor, Brooklyn Heights, New York.
He may be reached at (718) COURT-ST or e-ml to RichKlass@courtstreetlaw.com with any questions.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Announcing a Special Public Seminar on Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy Basics: a primer for the public
Moderated by Richard A. Klass

October 19, 2010
6 - 8 pm

Brooklyn Bar Association Meeting Hall
123 Remsen Street, Brooklyn Heights, New York

Topics will include:
1. Overview of the Bankruptcy Process
2. Differences between Chapter 7 (Liquidation) and Chapter 13 (Reorganization)
3. What to Expect at the Meeting of Creditors
4. The Automatic Stay: the Bankruptcy Law's "Stop Sign"
5. Discharging Debts (and what is not dischargeable)
6. Questions and Answers

Moderator:
Richard A. Klass

Speakers:
Hon. Elizabeth S. Stong
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of New York

David J. Doyaga, Sr.
Doyaga & Schaefer

Mary Fox
Pro Se Bankruptcy Law Clerk
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of New York

Light refreshments will be served.

To reserve a seat and for more information,
please contact:
Avery Eli Okin, Esq., CAE
E-mail: aokin@brooklynbar.org
Phone: (718) 624-0675

Directions:
By Subway:
2, 3, 4 or 5 to Borough Hall
A, C or F to Jay Street
M or R to Court Street

This program is a joint presentation of:
The Brooklyn Bar Association, The Brooklyn Bar Association Foundation, Inc., The Brooklyn Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project, Inc., and the Brooklyn Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service.

This program does not provide CLE credit.


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copyr. 2010 Richard A. Klass, Esq.
The firm's website: www.CourtStreetLaw.com
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

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Richard A. Klass, Esq., maintains a law firm engaged in civil litigation at 16 Court Street, 28th Floor, Brooklyn Heights, New York.

He may be reached at (718) COURT-ST or e-ml to RichKlass@courtstreetlaw.com with any questions.

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.