  |
  |
  |
    
  
   |
 | |||
|
|
|
|
| |||
| I. COMMENCEMENT, TIMING AND PROCEDURE | 1 |
| A. Commencement | 1 |
| 1. Adversary proceeding governed by Part VIII of the Bankruptcy Rules. Bankr. R. 7001 | 1 |
| 2. Commenced by filing a complaint. Bankr. R. 7003 | 1 |
| B. Timing and extensions of time | 1 |
| 1. Section 523(a)(2), (4) or (6) complaint must be filed no later than 60 days after the first date set for the meeting of creditors. 11 U.S.C. § 523(c); FED. R. BANKR. P. 4007(c | 1 |
| 2. No specific limitation on other dischargeability complaints. Case can be reopened without payment of additional filing fee. Bankr. R. 4007(b) | 1 |
| 3. Complaint objecting to discharge in a Chapter 7 case must be filed no later than 60 days after the first date set for the meeting of creditors. Bankr. R. 4004(a) | 1 |
| 4. Complaint objecting to discharge in a Chapter 11 case must be filed no later than the first date set for the hearing on confirmation. Bankr. R. 4004(a) | 1 |
| 5. Sixty days from meeting of creditors at which debtor was present, 60 days from date first set, or 60 days from date of continued meeting? | 1 |
| 6. Cause for extension of time | 1 |
| 7. Party in interest must seek extension of time before original deadline expires | 1 |
| 8. Deadline affected by notice or actual knowledge? | 1 |
| 9. Deadline affected by debtor's misconduct | 1 |
| 10. Effects of clerk's office notice and administrative mistakes | 1 |
| 11. Conversion from Chapter 11 to Chapter 7 commences new period | 1 |
| 12. Can timeliness of complaint be waived? | 1 |
| 13. Effect of conversion to Chapter 13 | 1 |
| C. Statutes of limitations | 1 |
| D. Service of process | 2 |
| 1. Delayed service of summons | 2 |
| 2. Error in service of process | 2 |
| 3. Debtor and debtor's attorney must be served | 2 |
| E. Amending complaint after filing deadline | 2 |
| 1. Allowing amendment | 2 |
| 2. Not allowing amendment | 2 |
| F. Intervention; substitution | 2 |
| G. Counterclaims | 2 |
| H. Jury trial in discharge and dischargeability proceedings | 2 |
| I. Estoppel and res judicata | 2 |
| 1. Res judicata or "claim preclusion" generally not available in discharge and dischargeability proceedings. | 2 |
| 2. Collateral estoppel or "issue preclusion" may be available in discharge and dischargeability proceeding | 2 |
| 3. Judicial estoppel | 5 |
| 4. Equitable estoppel | 5 |
| 5. "Quasi-estoppel" and "Judicial admissions" | 5 |
| J. Exceptions to dischargeability apply to individual debtors only | 5 |
| K. Individual debtor's fifth amendment privilege | 5 |
| L. Exceptions to discharge and community property | 5 |
| M. Exceptions to discharge and dischargeability are narrowly construed | 5 |
| N. Jurisdiction, concurrent jurisdiction and abstention | 5 |
| O. Eleventh amendment immunity and sovereign immunity | 5 |
| P. Standing | 5 |
| Q. Settlement of discharge and dischargeability litigation | 5 |
| R. Effect of prebankruptcy settlement or novation | 5 |
| S. Enhanced damages and costs | 6 |
| 1. Punitive damages are dischargeable | 6 |
| 2. Punitive damages are nondischargeable | 6 |
| 3. Treble damage | 6 |
| 4. Attorney fees, interest, other damages and costs | 6 |
| T. Motion for new trial | 6 |
| U. Motions to alter or amend and motions for relief from judgment | 6 |
| V. New Issues or evidence on appeal | 6 |
| W. Default judgments | 6 |
| X. Entry of final judgment | 6 |
| II. LITIGATION OF DISCHARGEABILITY COMPLAINTS: 11 U.S.C. S 523 | 6 |
| A. Standard of proof | 6 |
| B. 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(1) | 6 |
| 1. Counting and tolling of time periods | 6 |
| 2. Dummy, substitute and unsigned returns | 6 |
| 3. Trust fund, excise or gross receipts tax | 6 |
| 4. Fraudulent return or willful attempt to evade | 6 |
| 5. Dischargeability of interest and penalties | 6 |
| 6. "Responsible person" liability | 6 |
| 7. Subrogation | 6 |
| 8. Miscellaneous § 523(a)(1) cases | 6 |
| C. 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2) | 6 |
| 1. Standard of proof | 6 |
| 2. Elements of proof under § 523(a)(2)(A) | 6 |
| 3. Elements of proof under § 523(a)(2)(B). | 6 |
| 4. 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2)(C): Luxury goods and cash advances | 6 |
| 5. 11 U.S.C. § 523(d): Fees and costs | 6 |
| D. 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(3) | 7 |
| E. 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(4) | 8 |
| 1. Fraud or defalcation | 8 |
| 2. Fiduciary capacity | 8 |
| 3. Embezzlement or larceny | 9 |
| F. 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(5) | 9 |
| 1. Procedure and jurisdiction | 9 |
| 2. To spouse, former spouse or child | 9 |
| 3. Separation agreement, divorce decree, order of a court of record, determination by government unit, property settlement | 9 |
| 4. Alimony, maintenance or suppor | 9 |
| 5. Changed circumstances | 9 |
| 6. Assignment of support rights | 9 |
| 7. Postpetition and postdischarge alimony or support modification | 9 |
| G. 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(6) | 9 |
| 1. In general | 9 |
| 2. Libel and slander. | 9 |
| 3. Drunk driving | 9 |
| 4. Conversion | 9 |
| 5. Assault or battery | 9 |
| 6. Professional "negligence" | 9 |
| 7. Breach of contract | 11 |
| 8. Other wrongful acts | 11 |
| 9. Agency, master-servant and imputed liability | 13 |
| H. 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(7) | 13 |
| I. 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(8) | 15 |
| 1. Cosigners, guarantors and non-students | 15 |
| 2. Government made, government guaranteed or funded by non-profit institution | 15 |
| 3. Scholarship v. loan or educational benefit | 15 |
| 4. Measurement of seven-year period | 15 |
| 5. Undue hardship | 15 |
| J. 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(9) | 15 |
| K. 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(10) | 15 |
| L. 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(11) | 15 |
| M. 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(12) | 15 |
| N. 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(13) | 15 |
| O. 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(14) | 15 |
| P. 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(15) | 16 |
| 1. Standing | 16 |
| 2. Burden of proof | 16 |
| 3. Timing of decision | 16 |
| 4. "Hold harmless" or similar language | 16 |
| 5. Tests and standard | 16 |
| 6. Income or property of debtor | 16 |
| 7. Partial discharge? | 16 |
| 8. In general. | 16 |
| Q. 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(16) | 16 |
| R. 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(17) | 16 |
| S. 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(18) | 16 |
| T. 18 U.S.C. § 3613(e) and (f) | 16 |
| U. 37 U.S.C. § 302(g)(3) | 16 |
| V. 11 U.S.C. § 523(b) | 16 |
| W. 11 U.S.C. § 523(c)(1) and (2) | 16 |
| W. 11 U.S.C. § 523(e) | 16 |
| III. LITIGATION OF COMPLAINTS TO BAR DISCHARGE: 11 U.S.C. § 727 | 16 |
| A. In general | 16 |
| B. 11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(1) | 16 |
| C. 11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(2) | 16 |
| D. 11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(3) | 19 |
| E. 11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(4) | 20 |
| F. 11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(5) | 20 |
| G. 11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(6) | 20 |
| H. 11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(7) | 20 |
| I. 11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(8) | 20 |
| J. 11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(9) | 20 |
| K. 11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(10) | 20 |
| L. 11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(11) | 20 |
| IV. REVOCATION OF DISCHARGE: 11 U.S.C. § 727(c), (d) AND (e) | 20 |
| V. DISCHARGE INJUNCTION | 23 |
©2009 Keith M. Lundin
