Consumer Bankruptcy

This panel will provide a general overview of dischargeability litigation under § 523 of the Bankruptcy Code, then delve into advanced litigation strategies derived from the panelists’ personal experiences in representing and adjudicating such matters. Understanding the far-reaching implications of the Supreme Court’s Bartenwerfer decision — allowing nondischargeable conduct to be imputed to debtors under applicable state law — will be the focal point of this panel’s discussion, which will highlight of a number of recent decisions applying Bartenwerfer to various dischargeability claims.

This session will cover recent Supreme Court and Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Circuit cases that you need to know about.

Join us for a special session honoring our retiring regional judges as they reflect on their careers, share insights into the evolution of bankruptcy law, and offer valuable perspectives gained from years on the bench. This candid conversation celebrates their service and provides attendees with a unique opportunity to learn from their experiences and legacy.

Have you ever fallen in and then out of love with someone or something? If you have, was that love ever rekindled? Those questions set the stage for our Saturday morning plenary conversation between Prof. Melissa Jacoby, author of Unjust Debts, and Sam Gerdano, formerly the executive director of ABI. The story involves a deep analysis of, among other things, bankruptcy law’s origins, policy objectives, interpreting the Bankruptcy Code, lawyers’ ethical duties, and consequences in practice. Both Prof. Jacoby and Mr.