Bankruptcy Class Website

Prof. Scott B. Ehrlich
Spring, 2013



Welcome to the Bankruptcy Class Website

This web site provides updated information about the course and upcoming assignments. It also contains links to many of the handouts and materials used in the course, as well as links to helpful bankruptcy-related sites on the web.  All materials on this web site for use only by students enrolled in Bankruptcy at California Western School of Law.  Students in the class may copy these materials to their own computers.  However, these materials may not be transferred to others or posted on publicly accessible web sites. SOME DOCUMENTS ARE PASSWORD PROTECTED.  You will receive the password by email.


Assignments

Assignments for the entire course are contained in the first few pages of the Photocopied Assignments & Readings, or on line via this link: Assignments for the Semester. You may also check on the specific assignments already covered in class via this link: Past Assignments.  Make sure you always visit this part of the website a day or two before class to check for changes. SOME DOCUMENTS ARE PASSWORD PROTECTED.  You will receive the password by email.

 

 

1.            Thursday, January 17:

a.    Consumer Debtor Requirements:

                                  i.    Review §707(b)(2)

                                 ii.    Review the case of In re: Patricia Ann Garcia.  The court misinterprets §707(b)(2).  Can you see why?

                                iii.    Carefully review Official Form 22A (in your Supplement). An on-line copy of the latest Form 22A & Committee Notes are at these links: Form 22A (2010)  | Committee Note (22A-C)

                               iv.    Look at the U.S. Trustee Means Testing Page

                                v.    Respond to the following Means Testing Hypotheticals: PDF Format, MsWord Format

b.    Debtor’s Duties & Attorney’s Obligations:

                                  i.    Part IV(A)(1)(c)(4)-(5). 

                                 ii.    Read the Standing Administration Guidelines for Chapter 7.

c.    Involuntary Petitions: Part IV(A)(2).

                                  i.    Carefully read §303(b) and (h) and respond to this situation: Fifteen employees are owed $255,000 in back wages.  It appears that the employer, Magco Partnership (a California general partnership) is not paying suppliers and others creditors as well. The general partners of Magco live in a wealthy suburb and drive fancy cars.  The 15 employees have approached you seeking legal help.  The employees assume that you will bring a standard law suit to help them collect.  You have agreed to represent them and believe you can get them a check in 48 hours.  Here’s what you did next:

1.    You prepared an involuntary bankruptcy petition, naming Magco as the debtor and faxed a copy to the senior partner of Magco.

2.    You called the senior partner and stated the following:  “Check your fax machine.  If you don’t have a certified check in my hands within 48 hours, the petition will be filed.  Your company will be thrown into chapter 7 bankruptcy, and the trustee will have access to all of your personal assets to satisfy the claims of the creditors.

3.    Respond to these two questions:

1.    Are you bluffing?  Do you have sufficient legal grounds under the bankruptcy code to commence an involuntary case?  Would the petition be granted under §303(b) and §303(h) of the Bankruptcy Code?

2.    What risks, if any, are you and the clients facing if the petition is dismissed for failing to meet the requirements of §303(b) and (h).

2.            Tuesday January 24th

a.    There is a "Special Assignment" in Part IV(B).  The assignment is not due until Friday, February 15thSee the Links Section below for more information.

b.    Review Involuntary Petitions:  Re-read §303 with special emphasis on §303(b) and (h).  Review the case of In re Reid.

c.    Jurisdiction:

                                  i.    Parts IV (C)(1)-(5). 

                                 ii.    Read 28 U.S.C. §§157 (b) and (c) very carefully.  What is the difference between sections 157(b) and 157(c)?  Which section controls proceedings: (i) arising in Title 11; (ii) arising under Title 11; (iii) related to Title 11?

                                iii.    Read 28 U.S.C. §158(a), 158(b), (c) & (d). 

                               iv.    The Jurisdiction Problems:  pages 79-96.

                                v.    Read In re Arnold Print Works, Inc. at pages 97-102.

3.            Tuesday, January 24:

a.    Jury Trials & Bankruptcy Proceedings: Parts IV(C)(6)-(7).

                                  i.    Pages 108-109; Granfinanciera, S.A., et al v. Nordberg at pages 110-116 and the notes following the case at pages 117-121; 28 USC §157(d).

b.    Proceedings in Bankruptcy Courts:  §102(1); §105(a); Rules 7001, 9013, and 9014; Local Rules 9013-2, 9013-3, 9013-5 and 9014- "Contested v. Adversary Proceedings" at pages 122-125.

c.    Property of the Estate: Parts IV(D)(1)-(4).

                                  i.    Read §§541(a) and (b)(1)-(2); skim (b)(5)-(7);

                                 ii.    §541(c). Read this subsection carefully. Read the legislative history (it is exceptionally clear).

                                iii.    Pages 126-127.

4.             


The Bankruptcy Code, Rules & Forms

 

The Bankruptcy Code:

1.    Full-Text Version (Edited by Prof. Ehrlich)

2.    The U.S. Bankruptcy Code at Cornell University: Bankruptcy Code

3.    Full Text Version of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure as of December, 2011 (by Prof. Ehrlich)

4.    FRBP on-line

 

Official Bankruptcy Forms:

1.    U.S. Government Links to Official Forms

 

Local Rules:

1.    Local Rules of the Southern District of California Bankruptcy Court

2.    Standing Administration Guidelines for Chapter 7


Links

1.    Ehrlich, Materials for Students Who Have Not Taken Secured Transactions

2.    The Cornell University Bankruptcy Website contains excellent resources and links

3.    The Cornell University Article 9 of the UCC Website.

4.    The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts maintains a site with information and official forms.

5.    The U.S. Trustee Program (contains helpful information)

6.    U.S. Trustee Means Testing Page

7.    U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of California maintains an excellent web site with information and forms.

8.    California Judicial Council Forms

9.    The State of California Codes  


Questions & Answers

 

This section will contain questions posed by students during the course of the semester - - and answers posted by Prof. Ehrlich. To post a message, click here: sbe@cwsl.edu. Your name will not be posted here, just the question & answer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contact Prof. Ehrlich

 

E-mail: sbe@cwsl.edu
Tel: 619-525-1416
Office: Room 313, Administration Building (225 Cedar St.)

Office Hours

Tuesday

1:30-3:15

Wednesday

1:30-3:15

Thursday

1:30-3:15

Other Times:

I’m often available, please knock.