March 2012 | Emil Fleysher, P.A.

TaxMasters Files for Bankruptcy

Emil Fleysher March 26, 2012

TaxMasters, the tax-resolution firm, sought bankruptcy protection after coming under fire from multiple states’ attorneys general. The company listed debt of more than $1 million and assets of less than $50,000 in Chapter 11 documents filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Houston. TaxMasters said it has between 1,000 and 5,000 creditors. The company estimates that funds will be available for distribution to unsecured creditors. Three affiliates also filed for

Using Tax Refunds to Pay for Bankruptcy Fees

Emil Fleysher March 26, 2012

While saving up to declare bankruptcy sounds odd, that’s exactly what many people have had to do. Ever since the 2005 Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act was passed. Many families wait for their tax refund to file for bankruptcy. This trend has been increasing as costs related to the filing have gone up. Researchers have looked at the relationship between tax refunds and bankruptcy filings in 2001 and

Senator Durbin Targets Private Student Loan Defaults

Emil Fleysher March 26, 2012

A top Senate Democrat took aim at the private student-loan industry, calling for new rules that would allow wiping away of educational debts during bankruptcy. Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) convened a Senate judiciary subcommittee hearing Tuesday to address what one consumer group has called the nation’s next potential “debt bomb.” Research by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that Americans owe about $870 billion in student

Pride may be a Bad Reason to Avoid Bankruptcy

Emil Fleysher March 26, 2012

For years economists and financial advisers have scratched their heads and wondered how so many Americans wound up in bankruptcy. The numbers show that total U.S. bankruptcies are in decline. U.S. bankruptcies dropped by 12% from November 2010 to November 2011. The total number of U.S. consumer bankruptcies should come in lower than 1.4 million. Research has shown that Americans tend to wait far too long to look into bankruptcy

Are Fewer People Benefitting from Bankruptcy?

Emil Fleysher March 26, 2012

Consumer debt, which drove almost 1.37 million consumers into bankruptcy during 2011, is on the rise. Yet, consumer bankruptcies slowed down last year from the 1.55 million bankruptcy filings in 2010, a decline of 12 percent. Some experts attribute it to more cautious consumer spending and a decline in credit card debt. Others say that we’re just running out of people who can benefit from filing. Despite the drop in

Bank of America in Side Deal with Government on Mortgage Foreclosures

Emil Fleysher March 21, 2012

Bank of America, one of the five banks in the $25 billion settlement with the government over foreclosure practices, has struck a side deal. It will allow it to reduce penalties in return for bigger cuts to borrowers’ mortgage balances. Bank of America will make deeper and broader cuts than other banks; it will allow it to avoid as much as $850 million in penalties. And, it will give more

Robo-Signing Claims could be Trouble for Bank of America in Litigation

Emil Fleysher March 21, 2012

Bank of America could be far from clear of securities claims over the robo-signing scandal under a ruling allowing a mortgage-backed securities investor to press allegations over suspect mortgage documents. A U.S. District Judge in Los Angeles refused to dismiss federal and state securities claims; alleging BofA and its Countrywide unit failed to properly assign loans and deliver their files to MBS trusts. The decision marks a rare bright spot

Florida Court of Appeal Rules Amended Foreclosure Action Should Have Been Allowed

Emil Fleysher March 20, 2012

The 2nd District Court of Appeal has entered an opinion in favor of a foreclosing bank. The opinion of the Court of Appeal states that the trial court should have allowed the plaintiff to amend the complaint in their foreclosure action; where the Plaintiff sought to amend its foreclosure complaint to add a count to reestablish a lost promissory note. Unable under penalty of perjury to verify the alleged facts

Florida Foreclosure Speed-Up Bill Dies as Session Ends

Emil Fleysher March 15, 2012

A controversial bill to speed up foreclosure did not pass as the lawmaker session ended. The proposal would have accelerated foreclosure proceedings on abandoned properties. And, it should make it easier for lenders to complete proceedings when both parties agreed to end the process. For consumers, the foreclosure bill would have reduced the length of time lenders could go after a borrower following a foreclosure sale from five years to

Homeowners in the 7th Circuit can Sue Banks over Mortgage Modification Malfeasance

Emil Fleysher March 15, 2012

Although the Home Affordable Mortgage Program doesn’t allow for private federal actions against banks over their implementation of the program, a homeowner can bring state law claims, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled. The Home Affordable Mortgage Program and its enabling statute do not contain a federal right of action. But, neither do they preempt otherwise viable state-law claims. Permitting suits such as this will not expose mortgage

Fleysher Law Blog

TaxMasters Files for Bankruptcy

Using Tax Refunds to Pay for Bankruptcy Fees

Senator Durbin Targets Private Student Loan Defaults

Pride may be a Bad Reason to Avoid Bankruptcy

Are Fewer People Benefitting from Bankruptcy?

Bank of America in Side Deal with Government on Mortgage Foreclosures

Robo-Signing Claims could be Trouble for Bank of America in Litigation

Florida Court of Appeal Rules Amended Foreclosure Action Should Have Been Allowed

Florida Foreclosure Speed-Up Bill Dies as Session Ends

Homeowners in the 7th Circuit can Sue Banks over Mortgage Modification Malfeasance

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