Opinions
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Court Opinions Database
The court's provides free access of some opinions, at the discretion of the judges, for the years 1998 to present. The results shown below are automatically displayed for all years, all judges, and all keywords/topics.
A search may be performed using the Search box above, or filtering by year, judge, and/or keyword/topic. To search for more than one judge and/or keywords/topics simultaneously, hold down the Ctrl key (or Command key) and select each item.
Keywords/Topic | Date | Title | Description | Judge | |
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Equitable Remedies, Miscellaneous, Property of the Estate | 08/05/2016 | WAS, LLC v. Clarke Coll |
Creditors asked the Court to impose a constructive trust on Debtor's funds after Debtor essentially breached its obligation to remit to Plaintiffs 32% of its operating revenues. The Court determined that constructive trusts are an extraordinary remedy in bankruptcy, and typically are only imposed in cases involving fraud, extreme injustice, or egregious conduct. The Court declined to impose a constructive trust because Debtor's failure to remit the income stream to Creditors did not rise to that level. |
Judge David T. Thuma | |
Adversary, Evidence | 08/01/2016 | Cronk et al v. Bushey |
Creditor-plaintiffs who intend to offer only portions of a deposition transcript at trial are required under Rule 32(a)(6) to offer additional portions of the deposition transcript that in fairness should be considered together with the initially designated portions. Opposing party-defendant, who did not attend the depositions and did not pay for a copy of the deposition transcripts would be given an opportunity to review the transcript to designate additional portions of the transcript that offering party would be required to introduce to comply with Rule 32(a)(6). However, the opposing party-defendant could not obtain a complete copy of the transcript through the pre-trial exchange of exhibits process. The opposing party-defendant must pay for the deposition transcript per Rule 30(f)(3) if he wishes to introduce other portions of the transcript at trial, or wants to obtain a complete copy of the transcript. Creditor-plaintiffs may file a motion in limine if they disagree that the counter-designated portions of the deposition testimony need not be included to comply with Rule 32(a)(6). |
Chief Judge Robert H. Jacobvitz | |
Adversary, Evidence | 08/01/2016 | Cronk et al v. Bushey |
Creditor-plaintiffs who intend to offer only portions of a deposition transcript at trial are required under Rule 32(a)(6) to offer additional portions of the deposition transcript that in fairness should be considered together with the initially designated portions. Opposing party-defendant, who did not attend the depositions and did not pay for a copy of the deposition transcripts would be given an opportunity to review the transcript to designate additional portions of the transcript that offering party would be required to introduce to comply with Rule 32(a)(6). However, the opposing party-defendant could not obtain a complete copy of the transcript through the pre-trial exchange of exhibits process. The opposing party-defendant must pay for the deposition transcript per Rule 30(f)(3) if he wishes to introduce other portions of the transcript at trial, or wants to obtain a complete copy of the transcript. Creditor-plaintiffs may file a motion in limine if they disagree that the counter-designated portions of the deposition testimony need not be included to comply with Rule 32(a)(6). |
Chief Judge Robert H. Jacobvitz | |
Motion to Sell | 07/25/2016 | Christopher R. Moreno and Ernestina S. Moreno |
The Court granted the Trustee’s amended motion to sell real property free and clear of liens, claims and interests to a relative of the debtor, pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 363(b), (f), and (h) with such liens, claims and interests, if any, to attach to the proceeds of the sale with the same validity and priority and to the same extent that they attached to the asset sold. The Court applied the sound business judgment test which requires the Trustee to establish sound business reasons for the sale. A non-debtor party who objected to the sale had a ½ interest in the property, which was located in a rural area. The property had significant access, water, and septic issues. The purchaser, a relative of the debtor and the objecting party, agreed to purchase the property “as is,” and provided independent estimates for the needed repairs and upgrades to the property to justify the low sales price. |
Chief Judge Robert H. Jacobvitz | |
Motion to Sell | 07/25/2016 | Christopher R. Moreno and Ernestina S. Moreno |
The Court granted the Trustee’s amended motion to sell real property free and clear of liens, claims and interests to a relative of the debtor, pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 363(b), (f), and (h) with such liens, claims and interests, if any, to attach to the proceeds of the sale with the same validity and priority and to the same extent that they attached to the asset sold. The Court applied the sound business judgment test which requires the Trustee to establish sound business reasons for the sale. A non-debtor party who objected to the sale had a ½ interest in the property, which was located in a rural area. The property had significant access, water, and septic issues. The purchaser, a relative of the debtor and the objecting party, agreed to purchase the property “as is,” and provided independent estimates for the needed repairs and upgrades to the property to justify the low sales price. motion |
Chief Judge Robert H. Jacobvitz | |
Cause, Dismissal | 07/15/2016 | Herman Herrera |
Debtor sought to voluntarily dismiss this case under 11 U.S.C. § 707(a). The Court balanced the interests of the Debtor and the creditors, and closely scrutinized the Debtor's motivations for dismissal and any prejudice to creditors. The Court concluded that Debtor carried his burden to show cause for dismissal. |
Judge David T. Thuma | |
Adversary Proceedings - Procedural Matters, Dismissal, Standing | 07/08/2016 | Jim R. Hunter et al v. Madrid et al |
Debtor moved to dismiss the Chapter 7 case he filed, upon learning that he would not be able to retain a non-exempt rental property. The trustee opposed the motion. The court held that dismissal was appropriate under the facts and circumstances of the case. |
Judge David T. Thuma | |
Discharge, Dischargeability, Relief from Judgment, Res Judicata | 06/21/2016 | Pantano v. Sasso |
Plaintiff sought to alter or amend the judgment denying defendant’s discharge pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 60(b) and the Court’s §105 equitable powers to increase the amount of a monetary judgment relating to plaintiff’s non-dischargeability claims. Plaintiff’s non-dischargeability claims were based on the same conduct that resulted in a state court judgment. Claim preclusion principles barred the Court from changing the amount of the non-dischargeable debt represented by the state court judgment in a subsequent non-dischargeability proceeding. The Court was required to give full faith and credit to the state court judgment, and, under Illinois law, the state court judgment was entitled to preclusive effect. |
Chief Judge Robert H. Jacobvitz | |
Automatic Stay, Relief from Stay | 06/15/2016 | Alliance Well Service, LLC. |
Secured creditor filed motion for relief from stay or alternatively adequate protection, and sought to establish that its right to adequate protection began on the petition date. Absent specific guidance from the Bankruptcy Code, the Court considered three possible dates identified in the case law: petition date, motion date, or state law remedies date. The Court concluded that the motion date was consistent with the code, practical, and fair to both sides. The Court held that the creditor's right to adequate protection began to accrue as of the date the motion was filed. |
Judge David T. Thuma | |
Assumption and Rejection, Contract Interpretation | 06/14/2016 | SPOVERLOOK, LLC. |
Debtor moved to reject settlement agreement with a homeowner's association pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 365(a). The settlement agreement required the Debtor to convey property and the HOA to release its claims against Debtor. Neither had occurred as of the petition date. The Court held that the settlement agreement was an executory contract because both parties had material unperformed obligations. The fact that the HOA's obligation was contingent and self-executing did not change the result, as the mechanism for performance does not determine executoriness. |
Judge David T. Thuma |