Summary: Separately, both Mr. and Ms. Napoleon signed assignments of insurance proceeds to Bio-Medical for kidney dialysis treatment Ms. Napoleon received. After litigation over the amounts owed and distribution of pre-petition insurance proceeds, the Napoleons filed Chapter 13 bankruptcy and subsequently received addition insurance checks ad amended their exemptions to claim $4,999.00 under Mr. Napoleon’s wildcard. Bio-Medical objected. Relying largely on In re Helms, 467 B.R. 374 (Bankr. W.D.N.C.

Summary: The Pinkneys executed a mortgage note (“the Note”) in favor of Ford Consumer Finance, secured by a Deed of Trust. The Note was later indorsed to Credit Based Asset Servicing and Securitization (“CBASS”), which, in turn, assigned the Note to U.S. Bank, as Indenture Trustee, and lastly to U.S. Bank, without recourse. When U.S. Bank later sought to foreclose and a judgment for money owed, the Pinkney moved to dismiss that action on the basis that U.S.

Summary: Mr. Smith filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy after Wells Fargo commenced foreclosure on real property. The amended proposed plan provided for the cram-down of the secured claim held by Wells Fargo to $60,000.00. The Confirmation Order provided “that confirmation is expressly conditioned upon [Mr. Smith] providing for the payment of all claims assertable against [Mr. Smith’s] estate as specified in the Plan and in this Order.” The Chapter 11 case was, however, dismissed at Mr. Smith’s request two years later, after which Wells Fargo recommenced foreclosure.

Summary: In a long-running case, of which this is the fourth opinion from the court, the Debtor and Bankruptcy administrator objected to the attorney’s fees sought by Bate Land Company (“BLC”). The Court held that BLC was an over secured creditor under 11 U.S.C. § 506(b). The Debtor, however, first contended that the Note provided for attorney’s fees to BLC only in the event of a default and that, since the bankruptcy was filed during the 10-day grace period after the initial missed payment, there had been not default.

Summary: In a dispute between construction contractors, the Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court order denying a demand for arbitration as untimely. Holding normally a trial court should determine the validity of an arbitration agreement (namely that a valid agreement exists and that the dispute is within the scope of the agreement), here the trial court instead found that even assuming arguendo that there was an enforceable arbitration provision, the demand was untimely.

Summary: Uncontested evidence showed that the Debtor had failed to disclose the transfer of real property to her brother 15 days prior to the filing of her bankruptcy as well as the omission of ownership interests in an investment club and several bank accounts. While it was determined in a separate action that the transfer of the real property was subject to a pre-existing lien and had no equity, the Bankruptcy Administrator nonetheless sought denial of the Debtor’s discharge under both 11 U.S.C.

Summary: The Debtors sought to strip-off the lien held by PSNC Energy for a HVAC unit as wholly unsecured based on the value of the real property. Without any answer by PSNC, the Court sua sponte held that based on the record, consisting primarily of the Proof of Claim filed by PSNC, that A UCC-1 fixture filing had been recorded within 20 days of installation of the HVAC unit and was, pursuant to N.C.G.S.

Summary: The Court held that Harris v. Viegelahn, 575 U.S. ___, 135 S. Ct. 1829, 191 L.E. 2d 783 (2015) did not prevent a Chapter 13 trustee from paying administrative expenses funds held by the following conversion of the case to Chapter 7 pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 1326(a)(2) and Bankruptcy Rule of Federal Procedure Rule 1019. Commentary: Attached to the application for fees was an affidavit from the debtor stating that she understood that the funds on hand could be returned to her but that she nonetheless wanted those funds sent to the her attorney.

Summary: In order to provide for attorney's fees and allow for filing of a Chapter 7, Mr. Pace's attorney took a voluntary lien against Mr.

Summary: Ms. Novara deposited a check from her mother for $10,000 into her child's custodial account twenty-seven (27) days prior to filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The Trustee sought to set this aside as a fraudulent conveyance and sought summary judgment. To prevail on a motion for summary judgment premised on a fraudulent transfer, pursuant to 11 U.S.C.