Firm Update No. 2026-21本所动态 2026-21 号
In re Joint Chapter 7 Debtors, Case No. XXXX5972 (Bankr. E.D.N.Y.): A Stay-Relief Motion and a Pending Lawsuit as an Estate Asset第7章共同债务人一案（纽约东区破产法院，案号XXXX5972）：解除自动中止动议及作为破产财产的未决诉讼
- Practice领域
- Bankruptcy破产法
- Jurisdiction管辖
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court, E.D.N.Y.美国纽约东区破产法院
- Our role本所角色
- Counsel to the joint debtors共同债务人律师
- Status进展
- Discharge entered Sept. 21, 2026; case closed2026年9月21日获得免除，结案
IFacts事实
A married couple filed a joint Chapter 7 petition in December 2025. In January 2026 their residential landlord moved for relief from the automatic stay. The parties resolved the motion by a stipulation, which was noticed to creditors and approved as a consent order in March 2026. Separately, one debtor was the plaintiff in a pending pre-petition personal injury action in state Supreme Court, and the debtors also had a consumer collection suit pending against them. The trustee kept the § 341 meeting open for several months while she evaluated the injury claim.一对夫妇于2025年12月提交第7章共同破产申请。2026年1月，其住宅房东申请解除自动中止。双方以和解协议解决该动议，协议经通知债权人后，于2026年3月以同意令形式获批。另一方面，其中一名债务人在州最高法院有一件申请前即已提起、尚未审结的人身伤害诉讼；债务人另有一件消费债务追讨诉讼尚未了结。受托人在评估该人身伤害请求期间，使第341条会议持续数月未结束。
IIQuestions Presented争议问题
(1) How should debtors respond to a landlord's motion for relief from the automatic stay? (2) Is a debtor's pending pre-petition lawsuit property of the estate, and how does that affect the timing of the discharge?（一）面对房东解除自动中止的动议，债务人应如何应对？（二）债务人申请前已提起的未决诉讼是否属于破产财产？这对债务免除的时间有何影响？
IIIRelevant Law相关法律
11 U.S.C. §§ 302, 362(a), (d)(1), 541(a)(1), 704(a): joint petition; automatic stay; relief for cause; property of the estate; trustee's duties11 U.S.C. §§ 302, 362(a), (d)(1), 541(a)(1), 704(a)：联合申请；自动中止；因正当理由解除中止；破产财团财产；受托人职责
11 U.S.C. § 727(a): Chapter 7 discharge; grounds for denial of discharge11 U.S.C. § 727(a)：第7章免责；拒绝免责事由
11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(11): personal financial management course; condition to discharge11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(11)：个人理财管理课程；免责条件
11 U.S.C. § 341: meeting of creditors; first date set11 U.S.C. § 341：债权人会议；首次确定日期
Fed. R. Bankr. P. 4001(d), 4004: stipulation modifying the stay; notice and opportunity to object; objection deadline; entry of dischargeFed. R. Bankr. P. 4001(d), 4004：变更中止之协议；通知与异议机会；异议期限；免责裁定
In re Sonnax Indus., Inc., 907 F.2d 1280 (2d Cir. 1990): Sonnax factors; cause; movant's initial burdenIn re Sonnax Indus., Inc., 907 F.2d 1280 (2d Cir. 1990)：Sonnax因素；正当理由；申请人初步举证责任
In re Mazzeo, 167 F.3d 139 (2d Cir. 1999): cause; case-by-case determination; burden of proofIn re Mazzeo, 167 F.3d 139 (2d Cir. 1999)：正当理由；个案认定；举证责任
Chartschlaa v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., 538 F.3d 116 (2d Cir. 2008): pre-petition cause of action; accrual; property of the estateChartschlaa v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., 538 F.3d 116 (2d Cir. 2008)：申请前诉因；诉因成立；破产财团财产
State Bank of India v. Chalasani (In re Chalasani), 92 F.3d 1300 (2d Cir. 1996): denial of discharge; extreme remedy; strict construction against objector; liberal construction in favor of debtorState Bank of India v. Chalasani (In re Chalasani), 92 F.3d 1300 (2d Cir. 1996)：拒绝免责；极端救济；对异议方严格解释；对债务人从宽解释
IVDisposition结果
The court entered the Chapter 7 discharge of both joint debtors, with a final decree, on September 21, 2026, and the case was closed.法院于2026年9月21日裁定两名共同债务人均获得第7章债务免除并发出终结令，案件已结案。
Client details are withheld to protect confidentiality. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.为保护客户隐私，相关信息已隐去。过往结果不保证类似案件的结果。