New Mexico Court Holds that Bankrupt Entities are Eligible for the Paycheck Protection Program

Joining three other bankruptcy courts, Judge Thuma of the District of New Mexico recently held that the rules issued by the Small Business Administration (“SBA“) that restrict bankrupt entities from participating in the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP“) violated the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, H.R. 748, P.L. 115-136 (the “CARES Act”), as well […]

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Mississippi Court Joins Majority of Courts Finding that Setoff Rights Survive Plan Confirmation

Setoff is a right that allows a creditor to offset a prepetition debt owed to a debtor with its prepetition claim against the debtor.  See In re Luongo, 259 F.3d 323, 334 (5th Cir. 2001).  This remedy is aimed at preventing the inequitable and inefficient result that occurs when a creditor is forced to pay […]

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New Jersey District Court Holds that No Evidentiary Hearing is Necessary to Appoint Chapter 11 Trustee

In MicroBilt Corporation v. Ranger Specialty Income Fund, L.P. et al. (In re Princeton Alternative Income Fund, LP), Case No. 3:18-CV-16557 (D.N.J. Nov. 27, 2019), the District Court for the District of New Jersey recently affirmed a bankruptcy court’s decision to appoint a chapter 11 trustee, without conducting a traditional evidentiary hearing.  The holding reinforces that […]

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“Special Circumstances” did not Save a 12 Year Old Involuntary Case

In Popular Auto, Inc. v. Reyes-Colon (In re Reyes-Colon), Nos. 17-1971, 17-1972, 2019 WL 1785039 (1st Cir. April 24, 2019), the First Circuit recently ruled that “special circumstances” does not authorize a bankruptcy court to use its equitable powers to contravene the numerosity requirement for an involuntary petition under section 303(b)(1) of the Code.  This twelve year dispute did not […]

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Retailers Beware: Santa Claus is Making a Come Back

Many of us were raised to believe that Santa Claus delivers our gifts before we wake up on Christmas Day.  If you believe, behave, and send your wish list on time, you are virtually certain to receive what you want for Christmas.  As we grow older, some of us (not me) begin to doubt the existence of Santa.  […]

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Creditors with Partially Disputed Claims Have Standing to File an Involuntary Bankruptcy

Section 303 of the Bankruptcy Code provides a unique remedy to unsecured creditors seeking to collect their debts against an insolvent entity.  A careful look at this remedy is contained in an earlier post, entitled Creditors’ Strategic Use of Involuntary Bankruptcy.  In summary, pursuant to section 303, three unsecured creditors, with claims in the aggregate of […]

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