Consumer Bankruptcy

This panel will address a multitude of issues relating to the attorney client privilege that can arise in a bankruptcy case. These include: a general review of the privilege and client confidentiality; whether the privilege applies to the disclosures that a debtor makes to his or her attorney, or to the attorney's advice to the debtor, in the course of preparing the schedules; the case law on whether the trustee can control the privilege after a bankruptcy is filed, for example, in obtaining information from the debtor's pre-petition personal injury attorney; whether the privilege applies in a hearing under § 329; whether the privilege applies to disclosures required in an attorney fee application or to disclosures requested by the court in a hearing on an application; and the scope of the crime-fraud exception to the privilege in Michigan, and when that exception might apply in apply in bankruptcy cases.

Administrative Order No. 12-05 requires all Chapter 13 cases filed in the Eastern District of Michigan to use the new Model Plan 3.0. Panelists will discuss the challenges presented by the new form Plan, common alterations and strategies for Plan proponents, and observations from the office of the Chapter 13 Trustee following nearly a year of administering the new Plan.

Panelists will cover the proper disclosure of assets in a Chapter 7 proceeding held pre-petition as well as assets obtained post-petition and after confirmation of a Chapter 13 plan, including the debtor’s continuing duty and the timing of required disclosures. Properly advise your client when there has been a change of income, receipt of inheritance, life insurance, lawsuit proceeds, or a national mortgage settlement. Gain knowledge of the implications for making or failing to make the disclosures of the debtor’s assets.

Who, What, Where, When and Why to use mediation. Come listen and learn from those of us who have used our unique Mediation system effectively and in situations you may not think are possible. Our expert panel includes mediators and experienced colleagues who have used our mediation process to resolve disputes in our Court. They will explain how the process works, what actually happens during the process and how to successfully resolve disputes without trial.

Beyond the basics, the panel will discuss topics of importance to the practitioner who is interested in revisiting some of the most common questions and issues in Chapter 7 practice, including: unusual titling of assets and related exemption issues – is it or isn’t it mom’s house; resolving matters before getting to the courthouse; how did that amended Schedule B and C to add a bank account result in an objection to the cat? Can the Trustee even do that?; and to round it all out, a little bit of ‘horseshoes, hand grenades, and….voluntary petitions? (also known as: how accurate is accurate-enough?)’

With the Supreme Court due to hear oral argument on a critical bankruptcy case on January 14, ABI has released the following free video preview of the upcoming High Court bankruptcy cases. This 75 minute program features ABI Resident Scholar Kara Bruce talking with noted appellate advocate and law professor Eric Brunstad (Dechert LLP; Hartford, Conn.). Eric has argued many cases before the Court and is an expert in bankruptcy appellate practice. He discusses in depth Law v. Siegel, which questions whether the court may use its general equitable authority under §105 of the Bankruptcy Code to surcharge a debtor's exempt assets, and Executive Benefits Insurance Agency v. Arkison (In re Bellingham), which will address the bankruptcy court's authority to adjudicate Article III matters. The latter case will be argued in January and represents another opportunity for the Court to clarify (or reverse) its holding in Stern v. Marshall. He also provides a candid view of what it is like to argue a case before the Court.