Pete Wall Plumbing (PWP) sought to enforce its materialmen's lien against property developed by Sandra Anderson Builders (SAB), in conjuction with Carolina Bank and the Greensboro Housing Authority.
Due to the multiparty nature of a development, SAB was both an owner of the properties under Chapter 44A, Article 2, Part 1, by virtue of the Subleases, see N.C. Gen. Stat.
By Ed Boltz, 7 November, 2011
Creditor objected to cram-down of mobile home and land under §1322(b)(2). The Debtors contended that §1322(b)(2) did not apply since the mobile home still had its wheels, axles, and hitch attached and never had its DMV Certificate of Title cancelled.
The Court turned to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 105- 273 (13) (d) to determine if the mobile home was real or personal property, finding the pertinent requirements to be all of the following:
1. It is a residential structure.
2. It has the moving hitch, wheels, and axles removed.
3.
By Ed Boltz, 7 November, 2011
In determining if the 60-day wages of the debtor were exempt, the Court determined that the Debtor's fiance and her son were part of his "family". “North Carolina courts understand the word ‘family’ to imply that the debtor has other dependents who rely on the debtor for support.” The use of the word 'dependent' here implies an actual situation of dependency, rather than a potential legal dependency.
By Ed Boltz, 7 November, 2011
A finding that a debt is non-dischargeable under 11 U.S.C.
By Ed Boltz, 7 November, 2011
The Debtor had obtained a series of loans from Creditor, pledging three automobiles as collateral for those loans.
By Ed Boltz, 7 November, 2011
Debtors failed to file complete schedules within 45 days due to mistake by new employee at attorney's firm.
By Ed Boltz, 7 November, 2011
Husband and Wife Debtors were guarantors of a business loan and pledged Deeds of Trust as collateral securing the loans.
The Debtors filed Chapter 7 and asserted that by requiring the Wife ot join in the guaranty, the Creditor had violated the Equal Credit Opportunity Act ("ECOA") and the Deed of Trust should be void.
Creditor brought a Motion to dismiss arguing that:
1. The Debtors did not have standing under ECOA since as guarantors, they ere not "applicants" under the statute.
By Ed Boltz, 7 November, 2011
The bankruptcy court held that despite the excision in BAPCPA of "substantial" from the abuse provision of 707(b)(3), that the factors laid out by the 4th Circuit in Green v. Staples, 934 F.2d 568 (4th Cir. 1991) were still good law.
By Ed Boltz, 7 November, 2011
The Debtor brought a Motion for Turnover of a boat used to haul construction material, that had been seized by the North Carolina Department of Revenue. The NCDOR objected on procedural grounds that an Adversary Proceeding was required.
The Bankruptcy Court rejected this, holding that the "relationship between §§363, 542(a), and 1303 gives chapter 13 debtors the right to demand turnover" since, pursuant to 11 U.S.C.
By Ed Boltz, 7 November, 2011
The Debtor was in an automobile accident and had not maintained liability insurance. Judgment was entered in state court for negligence, but after filing Chapter 13 the Plaintiff brought a non-dischargeability action alleging that the failure to maintain liability insurance cause a willful or malicious injury.
The Debtor argued that the failure to raise either willfulness or malice in the state court action precluded later raising them in the bankruptcy.
Relying on Brown v. Felsen, 442 U.S. 127, 135, 99 S.Ct.