Blogs
Bailout Up to $500 Million Proposed for Taxi Drivers Trapped in Loans
The proposal is the most far-reaching step taken in response to a Times investigation into exploitative practices in the industry.
New York Times Article
Bailout Up to $500 Million Proposed for Taxi Drivers
A high-level New York City panel appointed by Mayor Bill de Blasio and other officials intends to propose a bailout for thousands of taxi drivers trapped in exploitative loans that could cost as much as $500 million, several panel members said this week.
The panel, which has been meeting regularly since last summer, wants a new public-private partnership to essentially absorb much of the debt that the drivers took on in recent years in order to buy medallions, the city-issued permits that let them own cabs. Many of the medallions were sold at artificially inflated prices by industry leaders who brought about one of the biggest speculative loan bubbles since the American financial crisis.
The drivers, nearly all of whom are immigrants, were channeled into reckless loans totaling billions of dollars, leaving many bankrupt and struggling to survive.
The proposal would call for the partnership to buy medallion loans at discounted prices and ease the burden on borrowers by forgiving much of the debt and lowering interest payments, panel members said.
Officials cautioned that they were still working out the details of the proposal. Mr. de Blasio has not indicated whether he would support it. In the past, he has expressed skepticism about a city-funded bailout. His office said this week it would review the panel’s recommendations after they are finalized.
Corey Johnson, the City Council speaker, who appointed most of the panel’s members, said on Wednesday that its emerging plan was an important milestone, an indication that he was open to spending a significant amount of city money to help drivers.
“We know that folks in this industry have suffered tremendously,” Mr. Johnson said. “I’m really excited that after six months of painstaking work and effort, the task force is going to be releasing a variety of recommendations that we think could stabilize the industry, plan for the future and help alleviate the suffering.”
Some panel members said the partnership would aim to raise up to $500 million, while others, including leaders of the City Council, said the numbers were still being finalized and the report would not list any amounts. The city might have to contribute a portion of the total, but most of the money would come from private donors. Investors could receive incentives for contributing to the fund and would earn a return on the loans.
The 19-member panel, which is headed by two powerful members of the Council, is set to release a report with the proposal this month.
Even with the mayor’s backing, organizers would have to raise money and convince lenders to sell loans. One issue is that the National Credit Union Administration, a federal agency that is now the largest holder of taxi medallion loans, is already considering selling off its loans to for-profit debt collectors and others who are unlikely to give borrowers a break.
Bhairavi Desai, founder of the Taxi Workers Alliance, a group of drivers, who is on the panel, expressed confidence in the plan.
“This is the most optimistic I have ever felt about solving this crisis,” said Ms. Desai, adding that several donors have already expressed interest.
“We’re going to win,” she said.
The proposal would be the most far-reaching step taken so far in response to a New York Times investigation that revealed more than a decade of exploitative practices in the industry.
The Times found that a group of industry leaders artificially inflated the price of a medallion to more than $1 million from about $200,000, channeled immigrant drivers into reckless loans to purchase medallions and extracted hundreds of millions of dollars before the bubble burst.
The practices set off a crisis that has been intensified by the arrival of ride-hailing companies such as Uber and Lyft. The new apps have reduced the revenue that yellow cabs receive, but virtually all of the hundreds of industry veterans interviewed by The Times said the bubble would have burst even if ride-hailing had never been invented.
Taxi industry leaders have denied wrongdoing, describing their tactics as normal business practices and noting that regulators approved their methods. They have blamed the industry’s financial crisis exclusively on Uber and Lyft.
A party who believes that a bankruptcy court erred in either granting or denying relief from the automatic stay needs to act fast to appeal such a decision. In the recently decided case of Ritzen Group, Inc. v. Jackson Masonry, LLC, the U.S. Supreme Court held that: “[A]djudication of a motion for relief from the automatic stay forms a discrete procedural unit within the embracive bankruptcy case” which “yields a final, appealable order when the bankruptcy court unreservedly grants or denies relief.” Read More ›
Tags: Chapter 11, Collections, U.S. Supreme Court
A party who believes that a bankruptcy court erred in either granting or denying relief from the automatic stay needs to act fast to appeal such a decision. In the recently decided case of Ritzen Group, Inc. v. Jackson Masonry, LLC, the U.S. Supreme Court held that: “[A]djudication of a motion for relief from the automatic stay forms a discrete procedural unit within the embracive bankruptcy case” which “yields a final, appealable order when the bankruptcy court unreservedly grants or denies relief.” Read More ›
Tags: Chapter 11, Collections, U.S. Supreme Court
Negotiations a Primer As many of our clients and colleagues know, at Shenwick & Associates we do a lot of negotiating and to date we have had many successes. First, client’s ask what is an “out-of-court” settlement? An out-of-court settlement is a settlement that is obtained without Court intervention and without the use of a mediator or an arbitrator. Simply stated, an out-of-court workout is a negotiation between a party that owes money ( a debtor) and a party who is owed money ( a creditor). The benefit of an out-of-court negotiation is that they can be cheaper, quicker and more effective than litigation, mediation or arbitration.People often ask what is the secret of our success or the “secret sauce”? Provided below is a “blueprint” that we use in negotiating.
- Preparation, preparation and more preparation! Many attorneys believe that since they do not need to draft a motion or file a legal brief, in a negotiation, all they need to do is pick up the phone and call their adversary and begin talking. Experience has taught us that nothing could be further from the truth. Prior to commencing a negotiation, a lawyer should engage in extensive fact gathering or due diligence, gathering as much information as they can from various sources about their adversary, counsel for their adversary and the nature of the conflict.
For example, is the dispute related to a divorce where inflicting pain is more important than the dollars involved in the case? Does the dispute involve former partners one or both who may feel that a trust was breached as well as money being owed? If you skip the preparation step you are shortchanging your client and undermining your chance of success in the negotiation. At Shenwick & Associates we have developed a “negotiation worksheet” which we complete before we commence any negotiation.Additionally, during the preparation step an attorney should formulate their strategy or tactics for the negotiation. 2. Before we pick up the phone and call our adversary to begin the negotiation, we also review our client’s assets and liabilities and we engage in asset protection planning, to the extent possible (consistent with the law). Very simply we want to make sure that the client’s property and assets are protected as much as possible from creditor collection actions if the negotiations fail.
3. We also advise our client that in every negotiation there are two adversaries, our opponent and the “clock”. Timing is crucial in many negotiations and the pace and timing of a negotiation can often affect the outcome or be the difference between success or failure. If a client is anxious for a negotiation to be concluded quickly, oftentimes they will concede points and end up on the losing side of a negotiation, rather than allowing a professional to determine the pace of the negotiations. For example, does the negotiation involves a foreclosure (with a fixed day for the judgment of foreclosure), or is it a garden-variety debtor-creditor dispute where litigation has not yet been commenced and there are no deadlines pending?4. We then commence the negotiation and negotiate aggressively on our client's behalf. As an experienced bankruptcy attorney (having filed hundreds of cases), we will often advise our adversary that if there is no settlement, our client will consider a bankruptcy filing and we will advise our adversary on what their likely recovery will be if a bankruptcy case is filed. This factor alone can often times affect the outcome of a negotiation.
5. Also remember to consider the tax consequences of a settlement and specifically section 108 of the Internal Revenue Code. “Relief of indebtedness” income can be taxable income and that issue must be discussed with the client and factored into the settlement. James Shenwick, Esq. has an LLM in Taxation from New York University Law School and is very familiar with this issue. Finally, while there is no guarantee of success, our 20 plus years of negotiating for clients has shown that using the above “blueprint” will often result in a successful outcome for a client. Client’s or attorneys who have questions about negotiations or negotiation strategy are welcome to contact Jim Shenwick at 212-541-6224 or [email protected]
This Man Got $221,000 Of Student Loans Discharged In Bankruptcy
Zack FriedmanSenior Contributor Personal Finance
Author, The Lemonade Life. I write about leadership and greatness.
GettyGETTY
Can you now discharge your student loans in bankruptcy?Here’s what you need to know.Student Loans: BankruptcyA Navy veteran will have $220,000 of his student loans discharged, even though he is not unemployable, not disabled or wasn’t defrauded. A U.S. bankruptcy judge in New York, Cecilia G. Morris, ruled that Kevin J. Rosenberg will not have to repay his student loan debt because it will impose an undue financial hardship.According the Wall Street Journal, Rosenberg borrowed $116,500 of student loans between 1993 and 2004 to earn a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona and a law degree from Cardozo Law School at Yeshiva University. He filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2018 and asked the court last June to discharge his student loan debt, which had grown to $221,400, including interest. At the time of filing, Rosenberg’s annual salary was $37,600, and after living and debt expenses, his monthly net loss was $1,500.Traditionally, unlike mortgages or credit card debt, student loans cannot be discharged in bankruptcy. There are exceptions, however, namely if certain conditions regarding financial hardship are met.Today In: MoneyThe Brunner Test: Financial HardshipThose conditions are reflected in the Brunner test, which is the legal test in all circuit courts, except the 8th circuit and 1st circuit. The 8th circuit uses a totality of circumstances, which is similar to Brunner, while the 1st circuit has yet to declare a standard.PROMOTEDIn plain English, the Brunner standard says:
- the borrower has extenuating circumstances creating a hardship;
- those circumstances are likely to continue for a term of the loan; and
- the borrower has made good faith attempts to repay the loan. (The borrower does not actually have to make payments, but merely attempt to make payments - such as try to find a workable payment plan.)
There are variances across federal districts, but that’s the basic framework. To discharge student loans through bankruptcy, an Adversary Proceeding (a lawsuit within bankruptcy court) must be filed, where a debtor claims that paying the student loan would create an undue hardship for the debtor.So, Can You Now Discharge Student Loans In Bankruptcy?This is only one legal ruling. That said, federal judges and Democrat and Republican members of Congress are open to changing the law to make it easier for borrowers to discharge their student loans in bankruptcy. While these tactics may be welcomed by some student loan borrowers, critics may question whether judges should actively try to circumvent the existing law (suggesting that Congress, and not judges, should make the law).
From: cnbc.com
By: Sarah O'Brien
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/07/bankruptcy-would-be-easier-option-for-consumers-under-warren-plan.html
Why student loan debt is ballooning for those 50 and upFrom: USAToday.comBy: Susan Tompor Detroit Free Presshttps://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/12/29/retirees-student-loans-debt/2769065001/
Student Loans & Bankruptcy – Interview with Diane Drain and Bobby Zavala
Download the audio
LAWGITIMATE Attorney Diane Drain and Bobby Zavala with University of Dubuque
Diane Drain established her law firm in 1991 in order to provide education for those facing financial troubles. She believes that basic legal advice should be free and her commitment is to help her clients get their lives back on track. Her greatest reward is helping a family to establish credit so they can purchase a vehicle or home.
Diane loves her work. As a well known Phoenix bankruptcy attorney, she truly believes that “when you find your passion, going to work every day is a joy, not a job.” Her clients and fellow lawyers can attest to her passion and commitment to excellence. She practices only the areas of bankruptcy and foreclosure laws.For many years our clients and fellow lawyers rate my work as the highest possible.
Diane is a retired professor of law and taught bankruptcy since 1990 to both law students and the general public. Diane’s clients and peers have given her the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards. 
Diane’s code: to quote Abraham Lincoln: “Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can. Point out to them how the nominal winner is often a real loser – in fees, expenses, and waste of time. As a peacemaker the lawyer has a superior opportunity of being a good man. There will still be business enough.” “The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln edited by Roy P. Basler, Volume II, Notes for a Law Lecture, July 1, 1985, p. 81” ]
Connect with Diane on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.
Bobby Zavala with University of Dubuque The University of Dubuque is a private university offering undergraduate, graduate, and theological seminary degrees, and other educational opportunities with the intention of educating and forming the whole person. The university is comprised of individuals from the region, our nation, and the world.
The LIFE advantage: The University of Dubuque designed the Learning Institute for Fulfillment and Engagement specifically for adult learners. LIFES’s accelerated degree program and services–available during the hours you need them–help you balance your family life, your career, and your studies.
The University of Dubuque (UD) LIFE Adult Learning Program offers a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Marketing, Health Care Administration, Accounting, and Criminal Justice. UD also offers a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA). Convenient scheduling: Classes are Monday -Thursday; Classes are face to face; Classes are from 6PM-9PM; Students take one class per session; Students can attend nine sessions per year; Sessions are five weeks in length; Childcare will be provided for children of students enrolled in the LIFE accelerated degree program.
An Arizona native, Senior Director Bobby Zavala has over 20 years of Active Military Service and 10 years Law Enforcement experience. He is a Deputy Sheriff with the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office. During his tenure with the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office he was a General Instructor, Physical Fitness Instructor, RADAR Instructor, Team Leader for the Accident Investigation Team, and a Field Training officer. He culminated his previous ten years as a Tactical Flight Officer and the Training Officer for the Aviation Support Unit “Geronimo”. He is still a Certified Arizona Peace Officer and remains on Reserve status with Cochise County.
He is active in the Phoenix area with many Civil Rights and Veteran groups. He is currently the Deputy Director of District 1 (LULAC), League of United Latin American Citizens, LULAC State Deputy Director of Elderly Affairs, Chair of the Tempe Military Affairs Committee (MAC), member of the Tempe Diplomats, a Life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and a member of the American Legion. Senior Director Bobby Zavala holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Wayland Baptist University and is in pursuit of a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice.
Bobby is married, lives in Maricopa and enjoys reading, long distance running, spending time with his family.
Follow the University of Dubuque on LinkedIn and Facebook.
Special Guest Host
Mike Poulton, with Poulton & Noroian, was born in North Carolina, and has lived in Nebraska, Kansas, Vermont and Arizona throughout his life. Mike earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Construction Management with minors in Physics and Business from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. As an undergraduate, he worked as a physics research assistant in the Polarized Electron Group at UNL, designing and building scientific apparatus in support of a national nuclear physics research project. Prior to his career in law he was a project engineer and field superintendent for an international commercial contractor, helping manage large office and retail construction projects in Phoenix.
Mike attended the Sandra Day O’Connor School of Law at Arizona State University, where he was awarded the Charles E. Jones Merit Scholarship and was named a Scholar at the Center for the Study of Law, Science and Technology. He won the Moot Court Oral Argument Competition and was an editor of Jurimetrics, the academic journal of the American Bar Association’s division of Law Science and Technology. His published article “Particles of What? A Call for Specificity in Airborne Particulate Regulation” won Best Student Note, and was a nominated for the American Society of Legal Writers Law-Review Award Competition.
Mike’s legal practice draws on his knowledge and experience in other fields to serve his clients. As an experienced science researcher, Mike understands technical issues that many other attorneys cannot, and applies that knowledge for his clients’ benefit. His construction management experience also provides him with a broad knowledge base not only in construction law, but also in regulatory compliance, worker safety, and negotiation.
In addition to law, Mike has a passion for hands-on work with technological hardware and has a number of projects he is actively pursuing at any time – presently including an attempt at the world speed record for a hovercraft. He is a professional pyrotechnician who frequently produces public fireworks displays on the Fourth of July and other holidays. He has worked on the crew of many electronically fired shows in Kansas, Nebraska, Ohio, Vermont, and Arizona and has set up explosive special effects at airshows around the country. Mike has been active in canine search and rescue to find lost and missing people in the wilderness of Arizona, is a ham radio operator, a gun collector, amateur watchmaker, and enjoys camping in the mountains of Prescott, Arizona.
Michael is licensed to practice law in Arizona and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Federal District Courts in Arizona.
Connect with Mike on LinkedIn.
About This Show 
Lawgitimate and its awesome guests highlight everyday financial topics including credit scores, debt management, small business, and real estate.
Lawgitimate’s goal is to raise awareness and provide the full perspective, including the legal lens attorneys use to address these complicated and fun topics.
About Your Host
Rochelle Poulton is an attorney and owner of AZCLG. Rochelle has been helping people with Credit and Debt issues since 2012, owns several small businesses, and has nearly 20 years of real estate experience.
Rochelle created Lawgitimate to bring in a network of awesome people to raise awareness and educate people about the litany of legal issues she faces everyday at AZCLG.
Download the audio
The post Student Loans & Bankruptcy – Interview with Diane Drain and Bobby Zavala appeared first on Diane L. Drain - Phoenix Arizona Bankruptcy & Foreclosure Attorney.
Broken Promises: Bankruptcy is advertised as the solution to financial problems.
Bad, lazy or greedy attorneys fail to warn clients about the problems they could face in bankruptcy.
People in financial distress look to attorneys for help and guidance. They assume their attorneys care more about them than about the attorney’s bank account. An attorney is ethically required to have the skill and knowledge in order to offer good advice to their clients. Attorneys are not supposed to take more clients than they can efficiently and professionally assist. Law firms that mass-produce bankruptcies are treating their clients like cattle – herding them into a holding pen for slaughter, with little regard about the legal consequences to those clients (losing their home, tax refunds or inheritance, to name a few problems).
The United States Trustee, the trustees, and their attorneys
The United States Trustee is aware that lawyers and law firms are mistreating their clients, but with few exceptions, they fail to take action to curb the abuses (at least where I practice). Some Bankruptcy Trustees and their attorneys view the debtors as walking cash registers. They keep cases open that should be closed, they collect funds for themselves that should be used pay taxes, the sins go on and on.
“A Bankruptcy Christmas”
For a very insightful expose’ on how bad this process has become – watch Stephen Berken‘s YouTube presentation “A Bankruptcy Christmas“. He is not afraid to call a turd a turd.
MUSINGS FROM DIANE:
The bankruptcy system was designed to help individuals and businesses get a fresh start. That fresh start comes in many flavors – depending on the debtors and their goals. Unfortunately, the process has become so corrupt that some trustee’s attorneys regularly earn approximately ONE MILLION DOLLARS a year (much of that money is from debtors who did not have attorneys or whose attorney abandoned them). The only conclusion is that the process is broken.
A good debtor’s attorney should look out for their client, that includes helping their client avoid obvious problems. The system should not rely on the debtor’s attorney to bring an action against a bad attorney who is abusing their own clients. But, in 2019 that was dropped in my lap. The chapter 13 trustee and US Trustee said they just “thought this young attorney was sloppy”. I had to take months of my time to bring the spot light on the bad attorney. Others started to pay attention once I exposed the terrors this attorney suffered on his clients, but why did I have to do their job (they get paid for this type of work, I don’t).
Sorry for the whining :-(
How Can I Help You?
The post Debtors Abused by the Bankruptcy System appeared first on Diane L. Drain - Phoenix Arizona Bankruptcy & Foreclosure Attorney.
Updated daily, this blog will keep you informed on the latest bankruptcy news! 
Learn more about how Bankruptcy works and what you need to know.