American Bankruptcy Institute

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DRAFTING MOTIONS FOR RELIEF FROM STAY IN CHAPTER 13CASES: ANTICIPATING DEBTOR’S CHALLENGES AND WITHSTANDINGLITIGATION

By John McNicholas of Korde & Associates, P.C., Chelmsford, MassachusettsandDeidre Keady of Harmon Law Offices, P.C., Newton, Massachusetts

2009 Northeast Consumer Winter Forum

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Drafting Motions For Relief in Chapter 13 Cases: Anticipating Debtor’sChallenges and Withstanding Litigation (by Deidre Keady and JohnMcNicholas)

Most countries build strong military machines to deter attacks by foreignenemies in the first instance and then, only if an attack materializes, to engage inbattle. Likewise, attorneys for secured creditors should strive to draft pleadingsthat deter rather than invite litigation. A due diligence roadmap follows.A.

Conform

your

pleadings

the

Local

Rules

. The minimum requirements fora motion for relief from stay are set forth in MLBR 4001-1. Failure toconform your pleading to the Local Rules may result in the summary denialof your motion. Translation: you or your firm will be absorbing a $150.00filing fee.-

Remember to include a statement as to whether or not your titleexamination revealed a recorded declaration of homestead by thedebtor or by another equity-owner;-

Remember to list other recorded encumbrances in addition to yourclient’s lien in order of descending priority and with an attendant dollaramount obtained either from the recorded lien itself or from theDebtor’s Schedule D.

American Bankruptcy Institute

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Remember to serve the Debtor, the Debtor’s attorney, the Trustee, theTax Collector, all junior lienors, all co-obligors , all co-owners and allother parties who have requested notice under Bankr. Rule 2002.B.

Review the History and Present Status of the Case

Has a plan been filed? If not you may have established another factor tosupport a finding of sufficient cause under Section 362(d)(1) of theCode.2.

If a plan has been filed examine and understand the treatment proposedfor your client’s claim under the plan.-

Has your client filed a timely objection to the plan and, if so, is theobjection still pending?-

Has the plan been confirmed? If so the terms of the confirmed plan arebinding on both creditors and the debtor(s).-

Has your client inadvertently made a referral the subject of which is a junior mortgage that has been stripped off in its entirety due to the lackof any equity above and beyond the total of all senior lien balances(regardless of whether or not the mortgage encumbers a multifamilydwelling or a single family residence)?

See In re Mann,

249 B.R. 831