Views from the Bench
Gain unique perspectives from bankruptcy judges in the Western District of Pennsylvania, the Northern District of West Virginia and the Southern District of West Virginia. The Judges will cover several current bankruptcy topics.
Presenter Information:
Honorable Jeffery A. Deller, Chief Judge
US Bankruptcy Court, Western District of PA
Honorable Patrick M. Flatley, Chief Judge
US Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of WV
Honorable Frank W. Volk, Chief Judge
US Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of WV
Formulating Chapter 13 Plans, Feasibility, Step Payments and Exempt Property as
Disposable Income
The Office of the West Virginia Chapter 13 Trustee presents issues that frequently arise when completing Chapter 13 plans and offers best practices for ensuring plans flow smoothly through confirmation and completion. The second part of the presentation (Bankruptcy Law & Practice Track, 2:50-3:40) concerns the nuts and bolts of completing a Chapter 13 plan, a practice exercise, and a questions and answers session with the Chapter 13 Trustee’s Office.
Presenter Information:
Helen M. Morris is the sole Chapter 13 Trustee for the Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia.
Meagan Preece, Esquire
US Bankruptcy Court, Southern & Northern Districts of WV
Chapter 13 Post-Petition Issues: Mortgage Payment Changes, Taxes, § 1305 Claims
This is a panel discussion regarding individual filings, small business filings, single asset real estate cases, single-member LLC cases, and non-profit bankruptcy. The Panel will generally discuss the pros and cons of Chapter 11 sales of substantially all assets, structured dismissals and plan confirmation.
Presenter Information:
Thomas Fluharty, Esquire
Thomas H. Fluharty Law Offices
James Voithofer, Career Law Clerk
US Bankruptcy Court, Northern District
Arbitration, Mediation & Bankruptcy
Learn about the intersection between bankruptcy and arbitration, how to work in
alternative dispute resolution in pending bankruptcy matters and gain best practice
insight from an experienced bankruptcy mediator.
Presenter Information:
Honorable Jeffery A. Deller, Chief Judge
US Bankruptcy Court, Western District of PA
Matters Affecting the Bankruptcy System, Trends and Topics & Important Case Law Updates
Learn news about the bankruptcy system, bankruptcy statistics, and recent case decisions from the Supreme Court, Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and West Virginia federal courts.
Presenter Information:
Hon. Patrick M. Flatley was appointed as bankruptcy judge in the Northern District
of West Virginia in 2006. Before becoming a bankruptcy judge, he served as the
civil chief for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of West Virginia.
Automatic Stay, Divorce, Property Division and Martial Debts Post-Discharge:When is the Optimal Time to File Bankruptcy for Divorcing Partners
Learn about the collision between domestic relations law and bankruptcy. Learn about whether the automatic stay prevents entry of a divorce, whether a trustee can intervene in a marital dissolution case, how the division of marital property effects property of the estate, and what happens to the rights and obligations of the spouses when one or both file bankruptcy.
Presenter Information:
David Hinkle, Esquire
Hinkle Law, PLLC
Credit Reporting
Learn about the accuracy, preparation and correction of credit reports,access to credit reports and privacy, adverse actions based on credit reporting, disputes,the difference between the Fair Credit Reporting Act and other acts such as TILA, FDCPA, ECOA, and statutory remedies under the FCRA.
Presenter Information:
James Pietz, Esquire
Feinstein Doyle Payne & Kravec, PLLC
Elizabeth Hanes, Esquire
Consumer Litigation Associates
Bitcoin, Cryptocurrency and Smart Contracts
These assets have appeal to entrepreneurs and businesses. They are also a cause
for concern from regulators, and change how we perceive money, property and the
banking system. Find out how to manage cryptocurrency assets in a volatile and
emerging market. Learn how these currencies may be regulated by SEC, CFTC, IRS
and others.
Presenter Information:
Honorable Frank W. Volk, Chief Judge
US Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of WV
Creditor’s Issues in Consumer Cases
Hear a commercial law attorney address common issues that arise in consumer bankruptcy cases.
Presenter Information:
Michael Proctor, Esquire
Bowles Rice LLP
Office Management and Collecting Attorney’s fees for Bankruptcy Work
Learn office management techniques from a solo bankruptcy attorney. Find out how
to get paid for bankruptcy work and how to maximize value from a case for both
the attorney and the client regarding consumer related litigation.
Presenter Information:
Todd Johnson, Esquire
Johnson Law PLLC
State Law Remedies for Debtors and Creditors
Hear a commercial law attorney address common issues that arise in consumer bankruptcy cases.
Presenter Information
Aaron Amore, Esquire
Amore Law, PLLC
Todd Johnson, Esquire
Johnson Law, PLLC