Changes in Bankruptcy Preference Laws

On Behalf of | Dec 27, 2019 | Business & Commercial Bankruptcy |

When a business files a bankruptcy, under certain circumstances the bankruptcy trustee can assert a preference claim against certain creditors and take back from those creditors money previously paid to the creditor by the debtor. For example, if within 90 days of the filing of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy a payment is made on a past due invoice, in certain circumstances the trustee can assert that the creditor received a preference which is unfair to the other creditors and therefore, even though the money was owed, they must give it back to the debtor so the money can be redistributed to treat creditors equally. Trustee’s would take advantage of this power by filing suit in order to try and get a settlement even though there may be valid defenses such as new value or contemporaneous exchange. In addition, if a company in, say Maple Shade NJ files a chapter 11 and the the debtor paid a company in Bozeman, Montana within 90 days before filing, the company in Bozeman could be forced to litigate in New Jersey. Under the new law, a trustee must do reasonable due diligence  and consider defenses before they can file a suit. In addition, all lawsuits for less than $25,000.00 must be filed in the District where the defendant business is located. Both changes were badly needed.

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