Discharging Willful and Malicious Damages in Bankruptcy

Damages caused by willful and malicious injury to another person cannot be discharged in bankruptcy. Bankruptcy discharges many kinds of debt. However, there are some exceptions under Section 523 of the bankruptcy code. One type of exception relates to Willful and Malicious Injury to another person. For example, Kathryn Knott was recently released from a women’s prison in Northeast Philadelphia. http://www.phillymag.com/news/2016/07/12/kathryn-knott-released-from-jail/  According to Phillymag.com a civil lawsuit has been filed against her and the other two attackers by the victim. If any of them turned to bankruptcy, if the injuries were the result of a Willful and Malicious attack, the damages claim would not be discharged. In other words, they would still owe the money to the victims. The Philly mag article also notes there is a $2000 fine owed. That would also not be dischargeable under Section 523 of the bankruptcy code.