ABI's 29th Annual Midwestern Bankruptcy Institute
The ABI and the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law couple up once again to present the 29th Annual Midwestern Bankruptcy Institute on October 2 at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. This day-long program will feature top national and regional speakers who will discuss and debate timely issues. The format allows attendees to follow either a business or consumer-oriented track, so there is something for everyone! Four sessions will be of particular interest to the committee.
Panelists in the plenary session "Case Law Update" will discuss recent decisions that have a significant impact on setting precedent in bankruptcy courts. Panelists will include Barkley Clark of Stinson Morrison Hecker, LLP in Kansas City, Mo., Hon. Dennis R. Dow of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court (W.D. of Mo.) in Kansas City, Mo. and Hon. Robert E. Nugent of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court (D. of Kan.) in Wichita, Kan. Please click the link below to view the materials.
The session "Consumer Ethics: Prebankruptcy Estate Planning" will address issues that need to be considered when planning a bankruptcy and how to best protect assets from creditors in an ethical manner. Panelists will include Robert J. Blackwell of Blackwell & Associates, PC in Fallon, Mo., Thomas M. Mullinix of Evans & Mullinix, PA in Shawnee Mission, Kan. and Bruce E. Strauss of Merrick, Baker & Strauss, PC in Kansas City, Mo. Please click the link below to view Mr. Mullinix's materials.
Protecting Assets from Creditors
Panelists in the great debate session "Resolved: Congress Must Allow Courts to Lienstrip Home Mortgages" will discuss the dramatic rise in home foreclosures, the anti-modification rule on home mortgages and whether Congress needs to take action to allow modification of primary residential mortgages by bankrupty courts. Paul D. Sinclair of Polsinelli Shughart PS in Kansas City, Mo. will moderate the discussion. Tara Twomey of the National Consumer Law Center in Carmel, Calif. will argue in favor of reform and Paul H. Berens of Bradshaw, Steele, Cochrane & Berens in Cape Girardeau, Mo. will oppose. Please click the link below to view the materials.
Is It Time to Reconsider Bankruptcy Reform?
Panelists in the session "Consumer: Representing Small Business Clients" will give practical advice on how to best represent small business owners, many of whom do not operate in the traditional business sense. Panelists will include Cynthia F. Grimes of Grimes & Rebein, LC in Lenexa, Kan., David P. Leibowitz of Lakelaw/Leibowitz Law Center in Waukegan, Ill. and Cathleen Cooper Moran of the Moran Law Group, Inc. in Mountain View, Calif. Please click the link below to view the materials.
Representing the Small Business Debtor: Problems, Issues, Solutions
Help Us Help You... And Your Practice
Take advantage of the Consumer Bankruptcy Center website by linking it to your firm's website. Your clients can take advantage of helpful resources that explain the general concepts and process of bankruptcy. This will save you and your clients time going over the fundamentals. We suggest using a simple hyperlink such as the following: The American Bankruptcy Institute's Resource Center for Consumer Bankruptcy Fundamentals.
The Consumer Committee Wants Your Ideas for ABI's Annual Spring Meeting
The Consumer Committee meeting at ABI's national conferences is your meeting. The planners want to hear your ideas and want your participation in the session. Consumer Committee Members are invited to submit topics for consideration for the session or volunteer to paticipate in the session by e-mailing Consumer Committee Education Director Judge Pamela Pepper at Pamela_Pepper@wieb.uscourts.gov.