On March 23, 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 9 – 0 opinion in United Student Aid Funds, v. Espinosa  (08-1134) in which the Court affirmed the 9th Circuit’s holding that a chapter 13 debtor can obtain a discharge of a student loan by including it in a chapter 13 plan, if the creditor fails [...]

In today’s economic environment, businesses are looking to modify and re-structure debt to pull through until the economy turns around. Rather than allowing so many loans to go bad, lenders are working with debtors to re-structure loans in a manner that allows the debtor to stay in business. For example, a lender may allow a [...]

For nearly two years, the credit markets have been tightening, making it difficult for consumers and businesses to get credit for purchases and operations.  Several financial institutions declared bankruptcy or were on the brink of failure.  The federal government has used a variety of strategies to prevent a full-scale financial meltdown, including slashing interest rates, [...]

MAKE THE MOST OF TROUBLED TIMES.   After serving on a recent panel with three local entrepreneurs at our local American Marketing Association luncheon. I thought some of the themes and ideas that were discussed at that lunch belong on this blog, because I firmly believe that small businesses, privately owned businesses,  – businesses started, [...]