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No. 18-489October Term 2018Decided Jun 3, 2019

Docket 18-489October Term 2018 (2018–2019)

Taggart v. Lorenzen

This case asked when a creditor can be punished for violating a bankruptcy discharge order by trying to collect a debt that was wiped out in bankruptcy.

Case status

Current stage
Decided
Latest event
Decision released Jun 3, 2019
Case Accepted
Arguments
Decision ReleasedJun 3, 2019
What it's about

This case asked when a creditor can be punished for violating a bankruptcy discharge order by trying to collect a debt that was wiped out in bankruptcy. Bradley Taggart argued that the creditors should be held in contempt for seeking attorney’s fees after his discharge, while the lower court had ruled that a creditor’s good-faith belief that the discharge did not apply prevented contempt.

Question presented

Whether, under the Bankruptcy Code, a creditor's good-faith belief that the discharge injunction does not apply precludes a finding of civil contempt.

Case path

United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit / Decision released Jun 3, 2019

Area

Decided Supreme Court case

Timing

Decided June 3, 2019

The Court released its decision on June 3, 2019 without hearing oral argument.