Opinions

 

All court opinions may be accessed at no charge via PACER through the "Written Opinions" link on the Reports page. You must, however, have an account to access the report via CM/ECF or PACER.

 

Access to opinions from 1997 to present, that are PDF searchable, unrestricted & unsealed, are also available through the Government Printing Office using the Advanced Search for Government Publications. There is no login required and publications are available free of charge.

Court Opinions Database

The court's provides free access of some opinions, at the discretion of the judges, for the years 1998 to present. The results shown below are automatically displayed for all years, all judges, and all keywords/topics.

A search may be performed using the Search box above, or filtering by year, judge, and/or keyword/topic. To search for more than one judge and/or keywords/topics simultaneously, hold down the Ctrl key (or Command key) and select each item.

Keywords/Topic Date Title Description Judge
Redemption, Valuation     04/18/2019     Ruben R. Maynes, Jr. and Donna L. Maynes,     

After determining that the proper time for fixing redemption value under 11 U.S.C. § 722 is the petition date rather than the date of the valuation hearing, the Court fixed the value of the debtor’s truck for redemption purposes. 

 Chief Judge Robert H. Jacobvitz
Automatic Stay, Removal     03/25/2019     CAshco Inc., a New Mexico Corporation     

The Court determined that the automatic stay does not apply to the removal of a state court action to the bankruptcy court.  Once removed to the bankruptcy court, the automatic stay applies to the continued litigation in the adversary proceeding, other than filing a motion for remand and/or abstention. 

 
Evidence     03/21/2019     Katheryn Ramona Esquibel     

The Court granted a motion seeking to exclude from the final hearing on an objection to claim any evidence that the claimant allegedly engaged in tortious conduct, acted unethically, or committed other wrongdoing in representing the debtor in a prior state court action. The Court also refused to consider whether the New Mexico District Court or the New Mexico State Court of Appeals engaged in judicial misconduct or made a mistake of law. 

 Chief Judge Robert H. Jacobvitz
Appeals     03/12/2019     Manuela Q. Franco     

Creditor filed a motion to extend the time to appeal arguing excusable neglect.  After reviewing the motion and the facts of the case, the Court concluded that excusable neglect had not been shown and denied the motion.

 Judge David T. Thuma
Avoidance Actions, Judicial Liens - Avoidance     02/11/2019     Teresa Christine Tapia     

Debtor brought motion to avoid a judgment lien on her house to the extent that it impaired her homestead exemption.  Judgment creditor countered that his lien did not attach to the homestead exemption, did not impair it, and therefore could not be avoided.  The Court found that the judgment lien did attach to the homestead exemption and that the judgment lien impaired Debtor’s homestead exemption and was subject to avoidance.

 

 Judge David T. Thuma
Jurisdiction     02/08/2019     Sunnyland Farms, Inc.     

Debtor and creditor disagreed about Debtor’s proposed merger with another corporation.  Debtor asked the Court to enforce a provision of its bylaws that allegedly required creditor to arbitrate a dispute.  The Court concluded that it lacked jurisdiction to compel arbitration.  

 Judge David T. Thuma
Dischargeability     02/04/2019     Diane Gentry v. Gregory Paul Szymczyk     

The Court granted partial summary judgment in favor of Plaintiff determining the debt represented by an amended equitable distribution order entered by a North Carolina State court in connection with the parties’ divorce proceeding was non-dischargeable under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(15).

 

 Chief Judge Robert H. Jacobvitz
Attorneys Fees, Chapter 13     01/28/2019     Jenice R. Walton     

Debtor’s counsel could be paid her allowed attorney’s fees for Chapter 13 services following conversion from Chapter 13 to Chapter 7 based on Debtor’s knowing, voluntary Assignment of undistributed plan payments held by the Chapter 13 Trustee as of the conversion date.   

 Chief Judge Robert H. Jacobvitz
Avoidance Actions, Summary Judgment     01/25/2019     Dedee Diana Brakhahn v. Marvin and Linda Nash et al     

Plaintiff sought to avoid Defendant’s unrecorded special master’s deed to Plaintiff’s former homestead.  Defendant argued that a bona fide purchaser would be on notice of the foreclosure action because the lien at issue was a transcript of judgment.  The Court ruled that the transcript of judgment was sufficient to put a bona fide purchaser on notice.

 Judge David T. Thuma
Adversary Proceedings - Procedural Matters, Relief from Judgment, Statutory Construction     01/17/2019     Sandia Area Federal Credit Union v. Charles A. Fiorenza et al     

Plaintiff in adversary proceeding moved to revive a default judgment that was more than seven, but less than 14 years old. Defendant Debtor argued revival was inappropriate because it was a satisfied in rem judgment and that enforcement was inequitable under F.R.C.P. 60(b)(5). The Court held that revival was appropriate and overruled Debtor’s argument.

 Judge David T. Thuma

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