» Interesting Articles

Law360 Satisfaction Survey finds that student loans are burdening lawyers too.

According to Forbes magazine, “student loan debt is now the second highest consumer debt category – behind only mortgage debt – and higher than both credit cards and auto loans and according to Make Lemonade, there are more than 44… Read More
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America is heading for a level of income inequality that hasn't been seen since 1928

Economists have noted that the level of income inequality between the top 1% and the rest of the country is approaching levels last seen in 1928, which, of course, was just before the tragic financial meltdown that pre-dated, or even caused, massive… Read More
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New Bankruptcy Rules Proposed for Student Debtors

This article in U.S. News and World Report provides a useful summary of some current efforts to address burgeoning student loan problem. Well worth the read. Read More
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Inflation-adjusted Wages Slipping in Second Quarter

According to a recent report, median weekly earnings of the nation’s 115.8 million full-time wage and salary workers were $876 in the second quarter of 2018 (not seasonally adjusted), the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This was… Read More
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Is a Recession on the Horizon

According to an article in the Business Insider a key metric for the onset of a recession is leaning towards a downturn. In this case, the yield on 10-year US Treasury notes declined for a fifth consecutive week and is close to the yield on a 2-year… Read More
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Teamwork with business people analysis cost graph on the desk in the meeting room. The business team discussed meetings and briefing strategies. Negotiation, Analysis, Discussion

Rising Home Values Are Nudging More Chicago-Area Homeowners to Tap the Equity in Their Homes via Lines of Credit

There appears to be an increase in consumer debt that is reminiscent of the near-collapse of 2008-2010. A recent article in Crain’s Chicago Business (reprinted below), reports that consumers are using increases in home equity to secure further… Read More
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Supreme Court Sets a Trap for the Unwary Debtor

“One of the ‘main purpose[s]’ of the federal bankruptcy system is ‘to aid the unfortunate debtor by giving him a fresh start in life, free from debts, except of a certain character.’” Lamar, Archer & Cofrin, LLP v. Appling, 584 U.S. _… Read More
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Chicago Court orders City to surrender vehicle to Debtor notwithstanding asserted possessory lien to secure traffic tickets

In a recent case, Judge Schmetterer held in In re Cross, Adversary No. 18 AP 00154, that the City of Chicago did not have the right to retain a chapter 13 debtor’s vehicle to protect its possessory lien on the car that allegedly secured payment… Read More
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Documents for filing bankruptcy

Boston Judge Allows Conversion to Chapter 13 Just to Prevent the Sale of a Home

As reported by the American Bankruptcy Institute on December 29, 2017, a Boston Judge Allows Conversion to Chapter 13 Just to Prevent the Sale of a Home Consumers are entitled to convert a Chapter 7 case to Chapter 13 even if the only reason is to pr… Read More
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Credit Scores May Improve After Bankruptcy

One question people often have about bankruptcy is how it will affect their credit scores. In a recent article (link), Paul Goldsmith-Pinkham, an economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Research and Statistics Group, shows that credit… Read More
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