Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Bankruptcy Court Says Bankruptcy Case Is 'Filed' When Uploaded, Not Stamped

By Lawrence J. Kotler and Drew S. McGehrin
September 01, 2023

"Mere minutes can be the difference between saving one's home … or losing that home to a foreclosure." With this statement, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (the Bankruptcy Court) summed up the importance of the determination as to when a bankruptcy case is actually filed of record, thereby triggering the imposition of the automatic stay. In In re Francisco Procel, Case No. 23-10697-CGM (Bankr. S.D.N.Y., July 25, 2023), Docket No. 47, the Bankruptcy Court thoroughly examined this issue and found that the "upload" time of a bankruptcy filing — and not the time physically "stamped" on a bankruptcy petition — determines when a case is commenced. In doing so, the Bankruptcy Court offered direction and guidelines that debtors and creditors will be well advised to observe in future cases.

Facts and Procedural History

In this case, the debtor filed for relief under Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code on May 2 — the same day that a foreclosure sale was scheduled to be held on an investment property the debtor owned. The foreclosure sale was scheduled to commence at 2 p.m., proceeded as planned, and concluded by 2:05 p.m. The debtor's bankruptcy petition, however, bore a "time stamp" of May 2 at 2:25 p.m. — 20 minutes after the foreclosure sale concluded.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
The Article 8 Opt In Image

The Article 8 opt-in election adds an additional layer of complexity to the already labyrinthine rules governing perfection of security interests under the UCC. A lender that is unaware of the nuances created by the opt in (may find its security interest vulnerable to being primed by another party that has taken steps to perfect in a superior manner under the circumstances.

Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright Laws Image

This article highlights how copyright law in the United Kingdom differs from U.S. copyright law, and points out differences that may be crucial to entertainment and media businesses familiar with U.S law that are interested in operating in the United Kingdom or under UK law. The article also briefly addresses contrasts in UK and U.S. trademark law.

Beach Boys Songs Written Decades Ago Triggered Current Quarrel With Lawyers Image

There's current litigation in the ongoing Beach Boys litigation saga. A lawsuit filed in 2019 against Nevada residents Mike Love and his wife Jacquelyne in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada that alleges inaccurate payment by the Loves under the retainer agreement and seeks $84.5 million in damages.

Strategy vs. Tactics: Two Sides of a Difficult Coin Image

With each successive large-scale cyber attack, it is slowly becoming clear that ransomware attacks are targeting the critical infrastructure of the most powerful country on the planet. Understanding the strategy, and tactics of our opponents, as well as the strategy and the tactics we implement as a response are vital to victory.

Transfer Tax Implications on Real Property Leases Image

The real property transfer tax does not apply to all leases, and understanding the tax rules of the applicable jurisdiction can allow parties to plan ahead to avoid unnecessary tax liability.