Consumer Debt

A year into the global pandemic, U.S. businesses and consumers remain affected in unprecedented ways. This panel of public policy and insolvency experts will share their insights and answer questions relating to the most recent federal stabilization programs, including updates to the PPP program, relief for municipalities and other relief provisions. The panelists will also discuss the administration's priorities and additional potential congressional action. Sure to be part of the discussion are student loans, the Consumer Bankruptcy Reform Act and the SBRA.

Sponsored by ABI's Consumer Bankruptcy Committee It is commonly understood that student loans are nearly impossible to discharge in bankruptcy. The standard has become mythical — akin to a “certainty of hopelessness.” Are the Brunner and totality-of-the-circumstances tests realistic standards? If not, what should legislators consider as an alternative? Will successful litigation break the mythical standard, and what could that look like? The prevalence of these cases is increasing every day, as courts are asked more often to evaluate the appropriateness of, and apply, these impossible standards. Simultaneously, the total amount of U.S. student loan debt continues to accelerate toward $2 trillion. Join ABI’s Consumer Committee as two consumer bankruptcy experts, Ed Boltz and Ray Hendren, debate what can — and should — come next.

This panel will discuss options and issues surrounding distressed shopping centers, retail spaces, apartments, office buildings, and other distressed real estate assets, plus proactive planning for distressed real estate assets.

This panel will discuss such personal-injury issues as mesh, malpractice and abuse cases in chapters 7 and 13. The discussion will include interviewing the client, appropriate disclosure of such claims, property of the estate, judicial estoppel, medical liens, federal and state exemptions, and settlements.

This panel will discuss the effects that the pandemic has had on both business and consumer bankruptcy filings, as well insolvency case work in general. The panelists will provide their insights on whether there will be permanent changes to bankruptcy and insolvency practice spurred by COVID-19. Sponsored by AlixPartners, LLP

Sponsored by Hinkle Law Firm LLC The panel will examine four distinct emerging issues in consumer cases that are related to the effects of COVID-19: (1) the decrease in cases; (2) remote signings and appearances; (3) national and local moratoriums on foreclosures and evictions and similar protective measures; and (4) the legislative efforts to increase the chapter 13 debt limits.

This year's ABI Talks, presented in the style of the ever-popular TED Talks, will focus on four timely topics: The Rhetoric and Reality of Student Debt, Not Your Parent’s Loan, Energy in Bankruptcy, and Health Care in Bankruptcy.

This past year has seen a remarkable number of wide splits and controversial opinions. This panel of experts, moderated by ABI Editor-at-Large Bill Rochelle, will discuss and analyze current notable business and consumer bankruptcy cases.

The panel will focus on counseling clients once we enter a post-COVID period, including when you should counsel your client to file, issues related to medical debts and tax refunds, and timing considerations.

Presented by the Hon. Eugene R. Wedoff Seventh Circuit Consumer Bankruptcy Conference The panelists will discuss systemic/unconscious bias, defects in the system, and what the bar and the judiciary can do to correct disparate treatment.