Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

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

What Happens When Nondischargeable Student Loan Is Later Determined to Be Dischargeable?

By Lawrence J. Kotler and Drew S. McGehrin
June 01, 2024

One of the key aims of the bankruptcy process is affording debtors a "fresh start" by granting them a discharge of their debts, However, the Bankruptcy Code has excepted certain debts that are incapable of being discharged as a matter of right, including, without limitation, certain "qualifying" loans used to fund a debtor's education. For a debtor to be able to receive a discharge of such loans, the debtor must file a lawsuit and obtain a judgment determining their dischargeability.

In the case of In re Irigoyen, the U.S. Bankruptcy appellate panel for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit addressed a matter of first impression associated with this process: namely, the issue of what happens when a debt that may be considered nondischargeable is later determined to be dischargeable, and more importantly, whether efforts to collect such a debt be exempt from penalties for violating the discharge injunction.

Facts and Procedural History

In this case, Reanna Leigh Irigoyen, the debtor in this case, borrowed funds to finance her education from a traditional student lender. The debtor disputed certain amounts with respect to this loan and commenced litigation in connection with the same. In order to finance that litigation, the debtor obtained a separate loan from 1600 West Investments LLC, a for-profit lender. That loan was later assigned to White Knight Funding LLC (White Knight, and together with 1600 West, the lenders).

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
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.

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.

Role and Responsibilities of Practice Group Leaders Image

Ideally, the objective of defining the role and responsibilities of Practice Group Leaders should be to establish just enough structure and accountability within their respective practice group to maximize the economic potential of the firm, while institutionalizing the principles of leadership and teamwork.

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.

Removing Restrictive Covenants In New York Image

In Rockwell v. Despart, the New York Supreme Court, Third Department, recently revisited a recurring question: When may a landowner seek judicial removal of a covenant restricting use of her land?