by Devin Sawdayi | Dec 27, 2013
A Georgia woman recently claimed half of the second-largest Mega Millions lottery prize in history, totaling $648 million. The only larger award occurred in March 2012, when three winners split $656 million. The woman’s story has led to an examination of lottery...
by Devin Sawdayi | Dec 20, 2013
Congress passed a massive overhaul of the bankruptcy system, known as the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (BAPCPA), in 2005. The law changed many features of individual bankruptcy, including the addition of mandatory counseling and education. A...
by Devin Sawdayi | Dec 6, 2013
For most debtors filing for personal bankruptcy under Chapter 7 or Chapter 13, a primary goal is obtaining a discharge of debt at the end of the case. Federal bankruptcy law sets limits on what debts may be subject to discharge, in part to protect creditors who are...
by Devin Sawdayi | Nov 21, 2013
A federal district court upheld a bankruptcy court’s order holding a debt to be nondischargeable in a Chapter 7 case. In re Kurtz, No. CV 12-07175, order (C.D. Cal., Jul. 10, 2013). The case dealt with a judgment against the debtor based on an arbitrator’s decision in...
by Devin Sawdayi | Nov 18, 2013
A California federal district court ruled recently on a debtor couple’s application to proceed with an appeal in forma pauperis (IFP), meaning without payment of filing fees and other costs. This is available to people bringing a variety of claims in the federal court...
by Devin Sawdayi | Nov 11, 2013
When considering whether to file for bankruptcy, most people worry about losing their home, their car, or other familiar assets. Creative works, such as music, films, and literary works are also considered assets, in the category of intellectual property. This type of...
