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 [...]

General Motors Corporation filed a petition for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this morning in the Second District of New York Bankruptcy Court. According to the bankruptcy filing, as of March 31, 2009, General Motors employed approximately 235,000 employees worldwide.  In addition, General Motors had consolidated global recorded assets of approximately $82.3 billion and liabilities of [...]

We have been discussing preferential payments, defenses and avoidance tactics.  But what businesses care about most is getting paid for goods and services provided. This entry will discuss how to collect from a customer who has declared bankruptcy.   

We previously dissussed what preferences are and some common defenses.  Many small businesses may be wondering if there is any way to get your money, but avoid claims of preferential payment.   Unfortunately, there is no absolute, “slam dunk” way to avoid a bankruptcy preference claim risk. 

Yesterday we discussed preferential payments – payments made to an insolvent company within 90 days of the bankruptcy filing.  To more equitable or fairly divide the limited assets among the creditors, these payments must be returned to the debtor.  Your first question upon receiving a preference demand letter is likely to be:  Do I have to [...]