Topics: Creditor/Debtor - 57 results

California’s top lawyer has filed a suit against JPMorgan Chase for fraudulent and unlawful debt collection practices. Attorney General Kamala Harris accused the lender of burying California courts in thousands of debt collection lawsuits without verifying the validity of the suits or even serving the defendants with court papers. The suit specifically alleges a widespread practice of robosigning — signing hundreds of pages of legal paperwork without reading them — in JPMorgan Chase’s credit card collection efforts. JPMorgan Chase was …

The trial over Michael Jackson’s alleged wrongful death continued last week with the testimony of his stylist, stating the pop star was in danger. Plus, a Neverland visitor is changing his tune of molestation accusations. The trial in a Los Angeles courtroom centers on allegations by Michael Jackson’s family that concert promoter AEG Live is responsible for the actions of the doctor who fatally overdosed the pop star with an anesthetic.   ‘Whatever It Takes’ The plaintiffs’ witness testimony so …

While students get breaks on their loans in some ways, filing bankruptcy has never been one of them. But if a federal appellate opinion and action in Congress are any indicators, that could be changing.   Rural and Poor The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Apr. 10 held that a woman’s student loan debt fell under the “hardship exception” to the general rule that such debt is not dischargeable in bankruptcy. The exception is nothing new; what’s notable …

Lawyers.com reported earlier today that singer Dionne Warwick recently filed for bankruptcy, due to a $10.2 million tax debt with the state of California and the IRS. But as to the overall country, bankruptcies are down, comparing 2012 with the prior three years. The Start Fresh Today infographic below also shows important upcoming dates for federal bankruptcy exemptions, new regulations on student loans and revisions to bankruptcy forms. Warwick filed for bankruptcy in New Jersey. Can you guess the states …

Debtors going through bankruptcy can boost their chances of a successful outcome with one simple step, according to a new study: apologize. Judges are more likely to look favorably on a repayment plan and accept discretionary spending budgets if the person filing for bankruptcy says they’re sorry, University of Illinois law professors Jennifer K. Robbennolt and Robert M. Lawless found in their research. Apologies have been shown to improve outcomes in criminal and civil disputes, but there had been little …