No. 18-489October Term 2018Decided Jun 3, 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
- 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.
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Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 3, 2026
- Method
- Methodology