Bankruptcy

Christopher M. Lefebvre, Esq. practices family, bankruptcy and consumer protection law with his father in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Chris is a member of the debtor/creditor committee of the Rhode Island Bar Association and is a frequent speaker on consumer matters. He was the 1995 recipient of the Rhode Island Bar Association's Pro Bono Publico Award for his commitment to equal access to justice for the poor. To date, his largest case was the Sears bankruptcy class action suit where 190,000 former debtors received restitution in excess of $175 million. Chris received his B.S. from Boston College and his J.D. from Suffolk University Law School.CASES OF INTEREST:Melfi v. WMC Mortgage Corp., 568 F.3d 309 (1st Cir. 2009) : TILA class action case where mortgage company left spaces on model form blank for date of refinancing and date of actual deadline for rescission. District Court held that these technical deficiencies did not violate TILA and First Circuit affirmed. Petition for Rehearing en banc and/or Panel Rehearing filed 6/25/09. If denied, Plaintiff intends to seek a petition for certiorari to the United States Supreme Court.Bonney v. Washington Mutual Bank, 596 F.Supp.2d 173 (D.Mass. 2009): Borrower alleged that mortgage company's failure to include the transaction date on the notices of rescission violated TILA. Although the magistrate judge agreed that such a notice stated a claim, the District Court disagreed and called omitting such information "merely technical."Tenney v. Deutsche Bank Trust Corp., 2009 WL 415510 (D.Mass. 2009): Borrower signed a "Certificate of Confirmation of Notice of Right to Rescind."at the closing which both "confirmed" that he would not exercise his right to rescind and stated that the three business days for rescission had already elapsed, when they had not. District Court held that the Borrower had stated a TILA claim and case would not be dismissed.Deandrade v. Trans Union LLC, 523 F.3d 61 (1st Cir. 2008): Consumer litigation under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) regarding the credit bureaus' alleged failure to reinvestigate and delete a disputed debt from consumer's credit report.Megitt v. Indymac Bank, F.S.B., 547 F.Supp.2d 56 (D.Mass. 2008): TILA class action case regarding blank spaces on model form.Dixon v. Calusa Investments, LLC, 554 F.Supp.2d 139, (D.R.I. 2008): Consumer brought a putative class action against a creditor, claiming that it had violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) in sending out various mailers.In re Chiappone, 2007 WL 4178510 (Bankr.D.Conn. 2007): Successful adversary litigation on behalf of non-debtor wife and her divorce attorney regarding non-dischargeability of certain domestic support obligations and related attorney fees arising from Rhode Island Family Court divorce decree.Dixon v. Shamrock Financial Corp., 482 F.Supp.2d 172 (D.Mass.2007): Consumer sued under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) for creditor sending solicitation offering free consultation for purposes of, inter alia, restructuring his debt.Sullivan v. Greenwood Credit Union, 499 F.Supp.2d 83 (D.Mass. 2007): Class action on behalf of creditors who received a "pre-approved" letter for a home loan from credit union, claiming that the credit union unlawfully accessed the credit reports of the recipients.Park v. Ford Motor Co., 928 A.2d 469 (R.I. 2007): Consumer class action against truck manufacturer that failed to provide security system listed on window sticker as a standard feature.In re Wilding, 475 F.3d 428 (1st Cir. 2007): Bankruptcy Court and B.A.P. both held that Debtor could not avoid judicial lien that had already been satisfied, but the First Circuit reversed and held that if the lien existed at the filing of the bankruptcy petition and was not satisfied until afterwards the lien could be avoided.Palmer v. Champion Mortg., 465 F.3d 24, (1st Cir. 2006): TILA litigation where borrower alleged notice of rescission was confusing because dates which were completed had already passed by time borrower received notices in mail.In re Montes, 2006 WL 3898386 (Bankr.D.R.I. 2006): On Debtor's Complaint, Banrkuptcy Court held any obligation for car repairs could not be deemed an extension of the original retail installment contract and was merely an unsecured claim discharged in bankruptcyMorrissey v. Webster Bank, N.A., 417 F.Supp.2d 183 (D.Mass. 2006): Consumer who was not customer of bank brought action against bank, challenging adequacy of fee notices posted on automatic teller machines (ATMs) owned by bank under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act.Belini v. Washington Mut. Bank, FA, 412 F.3d 17 (1st Cir. 2005): As matter of first impression, TILA permits damages claim based on lender's alleged failure to respond properly to borrower's notice of rescission.In re Watson, 403 F.3d 1(1st Cir 2005): Litigated to the First Circuit issue of whether or not cost of private school tuition for Chapter 13 debtors' minor children was "reasonably necessary" expense so as to be included in "disposable income" available to debtors for payments under their chapter 13 plan (no longer relevant under BAPCPA).Hoefs v. CACV of Colorado, LLC, 365 F.Supp.2d 69 (D.Mass. 2005): Consumer brought action against collection agency, law firm, and lawyer alleging violations of Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and state law - arbitration compelled.In re Ladds,2005 WL 1365078 (Bankr.D.R.I. 2005): Bankruptcy Court denied non-debtor spouse's request for abstention to allow litigation regarding litigation against debtor wife regarding non-dischargeability of certain credit card debt to proceed in Rhode Island Family Court.Rodrigues v. Members Mortgage Co., Inc., 323 F.Supp.2d 202 (D.Mass. 2004): TILA class action against mortgage company and lender alleging violation of disclosure requirements in federal Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and Massachusetts Consumer Credit Cost Disclosure Act (CCCDA).Barrett v. Avco Financial Services Management Co., 292 B.R. 1 (D.Mass. 2003): Class action to recover for creditor's alleged practice of attempting to collect discharged prepetition debts pursuant to "reaffirmation agreements" which did not satisfy statutory requirements.Mann v. Chase Manhattan Mortg. Corp., 316 F.3d 1 (1st Cir. 2003): Chapter 13 debtor-mortgagors sued to recover for mortgagee's alleged violations of automatic stay.Arruda v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 310 F.3d 13 (1st Cir. 2002): Former Chapter 7 debtors brought putative class action against creditor-retailer, its affiliated entity, and retailer's law firm, alleging that defendants violated the Bankruptcy Code, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), and/or state law by entering into post-discharge redemption agreements with plaintiffs without bankruptcy court approval.In re Lamanna, 285 B.R. 347 (Bankr.D.R.I. 2002): Litigation regarding dischargeability of student loan obligations where Bankruptcy Court adopted the "hybrid approach" to student loan dischargeability, whereby the undue hardship analysis is applied to a debtor's educational debt on a loan-by-loan basis.In re Singleton, 284 B.R. 322 (D.R.I. 2002): Bankruptcy Court could only certify debtor class from Rhode Island district regarding creditor's alleged violation of discharge injunction in connection with reaffirmation agreements.In re Larocque, 283 B.R. 640 (Bankr.D.R.I. 2002): Bankruptcy court exercised its discretion to deny enforcement of arbitration clause and retained jurisdiction over TILA dispute.In re Mann, 249 B.R. 831, (BAP 1st Cir. 2000): Bankruptcy Appellate Panel affirmed that consumer debtor could "strip off" wholly undersecured second mortgage on residential real property and treat it as unsecured.Conley v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 222 B.R. 181 (D.Mass. 1998): At the time, the largest class action case in bankruptcy court history, holding Sears liable for obtaining unauthorized reaffirmation agreements from Debtors and failing to file them with various bankruptcy courts.In re Kheng, 202 B.R. 538 (Bkrtcy.D.R.I. 1996): Debtor allowed to "strip off" portion of nonresidential real estate mortgage that was undersecured and continue to pay agreed to monthly mortgage payments for term of note under chapter 13 plan.

Winterbotham Parham Teeple, a PC has over 40 years experience working in Bankruptcy law and will work for you to obtain the best results available. Our law firm's knowledge of current law and skillful techniques are your keys to successful debt relief, relief your creditors must accept and the courts will approve. We provide representation for debtor's whose primary residence is located in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside & San Bernardino counties of California.

A native of the Oklahoma City area, Attorney B. David Sisson has provided bankruptcy assistance to area individuals and businesses for nearly twenty-seven years. Mr. Sisson is certified as a specialist in consumer bankruptcy law by the American Board of Certification. Prior to beginning his career in the law, Mr. Sisson attended University of Central Oklahoma, where he earned his undergraduate degree, graduating summa cum laude in 1973. He later attended the University of Oklahoma, where he graduated with a Juris Doctor in 1990. While in law school, Mr. Sisson belonged to Phi Delta Phi, an international legal fraternity. He is a member of several professional law organizations, including the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees, the American Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, the American Bankruptcy Institute, the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, the National Association of Chapter Thirteen Trustees, and the National Association of Consumer Advocates. Mr. Sisson is also a member of the Cleveland County Bar Association, and the bankruptcy and reorganization section of the Oklahoma Bar Association. He is admitted to practice law in all state courts of Oklahoma; the U.S. District Court for the Northern, Western, and Eastern Districts of Oklahoma; the U.S. Tax Court; the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit; and the United States Supreme Court.

Carol Sales concentrates her practice in bankruptcy, insolvency matters, and commercial litigation. She has approximately 20 years of experience representing a wide variety of clients in all stages of litigation. Carol has also represented debtors, creditors, and parties in interest in numerous Chapter 7, 11, and 13 bankruptcy cases for individuals and businesses. She takes a personalized approach to counseling clients to achieve their goals in a cost-effective manner. Carol has been recognized as a Law Bulletin Media Leading Lawyer from 2021 to the present and Emerging Lawyer from 2018 to 2020 in the practices of Bankruptcy/Workouts and Business Litigation across the Chicagoland area. She co-authored the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education’s (IICLE) chapters on the Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019; Representing Clients in Bankruptcy Cases; Chapter 11 Cases for Individuals and Small Business Debtors; Mechanics Liens in Bankruptcy; and Filing a Chapter 7 Petition and Exemptions. She obtained her J.D. cum laude from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law. During law school, Carol was a lead articles editor for the John Marshall Law Review and a Distinguished Scholar Award recipient. She worked as an extern in the Circuit Court of Cook County for various judges hearing foreclosure cases and received an LL.M. in real estate law, with honors. Carol has been recognized as a 2026 honoree for Thomson Reuters’ Super Lawyers® List. This is Attorney Sale’s third year receiving this honor. She also was selected as a honoree for Crain’s Chicago Business 2024 Notable Women of Law.

Sheree Cameron is a highly respected Bankruptcy Lawyer in Raleigh, NC, with over 20 years of experience in helping individuals and families achieve financial relief. Known for her integrity and deep knowledge of bankruptcy law, Sheree is a trusted name in the Raleigh community. Her academic achievements are as impressive as her legal expertise. Sheree graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Tennessee and went on to earn her law degree from UNC-Chapel Hill on a full scholarship. Licensed to practice in all three districts of North Carolina, Sheree has helped clients throughout the state resolve their financial issues and start anew. Sheree’s clients praise her for her strategic approach and caring demeanor, reflected in her A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and over 120 5-star reviews. She’s helped countless clients facing creditor harassment, overwhelming debt, or wage garnishment get back on track financially.

Robert H. Cooper, Esquire, is the owner of The Cooper Law Firm and has practiced bankruptcy law almost exclusively since 1990. Mr. Cooper practices in all areas of bankruptcy law, with a focus on consumer and business cases. "Bob" Cooper, as he is known by all, received his law degree (Juris Doctorate) from The University of South Carolina. He has been a member of the South Carolina Bankruptcy Law Association since its inception in 1990. He has served on its Board of Directors since 1999. Additionally, he is a past member of The South Carolina Bankruptcy Court Local Rules Committee, and has served as its chairman, as well. He has been appointed by the court to serve on committees that have shaped bankruptcy policies within the state of South Carolina and has served as Vice Chairman and co-chairman of the Annual Seminar Planning Committee of the South Carolina Bankruptcy Law Association. Mr. Cooper has represented thousands of bankruptcy clients and is well known throughout the state of South Carolina as a competent and experienced attorney in both consumer and business bankruptcy cases. He has litigated difficult issues, some of which had never before been litigated on behalf of debtors in this state and has set new law regarding certain of these legal issues. Mr. Cooper has been invited on numerous occasions to speak on the subject of bankruptcy law and frequently does so at Bankruptcy Seminars.

For more than three decades, the bankruptcy attorneys at Rothschild & Ausbrooks, PLLC, in Nashville, Tennessee, have been devoted to helping individuals find relief from overwhelming debt. If you are facing significant financial challenges, you are not alone. Many people face debt due to job loss, medical bills, divorce and other unfortunate events. Sometimes, overspending can play a role, resulting in unpaid credit card bills and overextended mortgages. Whatever your reason for considering bankruptcy, Rothschild & Ausbrooks, PLLC, can help. We will provide the experienced guidance on bankruptcy and debt relief that you need to regain control of your financial situation. We understand that you are worried about the future and are probably skeptical about how bankruptcy can help you find a stronger financial footing. We will take the time to explore all of your options with you and explain all of the potential effects of bankruptcy so that you can be confident in whatever decision you make. Partners Edgar Rothschild and Mary Beth Ausbrooks are board-certified specialists in bankruptcy law with extensive experience devoted specifically to helping people overcome debt. This experience ensures that you receive thorough and knowledgeable representation in a complex area of law. Our law firm encourages communication. We respond to calls and e-mails promptly. This is your case, and you will be involved every step of the way.

My name is Scott R. Schneider, and I'm committed to bringing more than two decades of bankruptcy law experience to help you unburden yourself if you are overcome with debt. I understand that bankruptcy can be an intimidating experience, and many people have reservations. When clients partner with me, I care about their circumstances, so I always strive to understand their situations, dispel any misconceptions and give a comprehensive understanding of how each step will work throughout, from free initial consultation to the end of the court proceedings. Because I have been in bankruptcy court three to four days a week for the last 20 years, clients quickly realize the deep level of comprehensive competence that I bring to the table. While I primarily focus on Chapter 7 and 13 bankruptcy proceedings, I've also had success with the most complex types of Chapter 11 filings. To arrive at successful outcomes, I combine my bankruptcy knowledge with my personal approach of working directly with clients. This fusion results in clarity in even the most complex bankruptcy proceedings so that you can see the direct road to financial freedom. To discuss any aspect of Nassau County, New York, bankruptcy with Long Island bankruptcy lawyer Scott R. Schneider, call 516-433-1555 or e-mail him here. I am a federally designated debt relief agency. I help people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code.

Alison Briggs is very knowledgeable and efficient. She really cares about her clients needs. No situation is ever too difficult for her to handle. Miss Briggs offers appointments that will fit around your schedule, and will accommodate you wherever she can. Attorney Alison Briggs is an Arizona Bar Licensed attorney in Good Standing practicing law throughout Arizona. Alison, a Massachusetts native, grew up on the East Coast. She received a Bachelor degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Alison went on receive a Masters in Social Work from Salem State university in Salem, Massachusetts. Alison is a Licensed Certified Social Worker. In her spare time,

Carl R. Gustafson is a Certified Bankruptcy Law Specialist with the California Board of Legal Specialization! In 2003, Carl graduated from UCLA Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors in History. In 2005, he was a legal intern for Global Justice in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he drafted sections of human rights situation reports and submitted them to the United Nations and other international bodies. He also researched issues of international jurisdiction and the enforcement of international treaties. Carl went on to graduate with honors from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law in 2007, where he was also an associate editor for the Ecological Law Quarterly. It was Carl's yearning to right wrongs and preventing injustice that made law his calling. When Carl lived in Brazil he enjoyed the sights and playing pickup sports on the beach, but he was also witness to a cold reality: one of corruption and injustice. Carl has a passion for consumer rights. "It made me angry to see people get ripped off," said Carl. "I feel like we are hitting the big guys. We are punching back and making them pay for all the bets they thought they wouldn't get caught in." The confidence and ease of Carl is born of experience that is well beyond his years. He started working with bankruptcy in 2003 when he graduated from UCLA. Carl opened the Lincoln Law California offices and focuses his practice exclusively on bankruptcy law in the East Bay area. In August 2011, Carl was a presenter panelist on Practising Law Institute's seminar and webcast "Chapter 13 Bankruptcy: Its Value and How It Benefits Low-Income Debtors."