Monday, December 02, 2013

Jones v. US Trustee (9th Cir. - Dec. 2, 2013)

As is often the case after a long vacation, the Ninth Circuit returns from its hiatus with a vengeance.  After a five-day break, the court this morning publishes over a half-dozen opinions.

Fortunately for the Ninth Circuit, some cases aren't that hard.

As I often tell my students, federal courts don't like parties who commit fraud.  That principle is true both generally and -- with particular force -- in bankruptcy court.  When a debtor deliberately lies about his assets in order to obtain a discharge, and we eventually find out about it, don't be at all surprised that federal courts come down hard on the debtor; e.g., by revoking the discharge.

Judge Milan Smith's opinion is short, cogent and entirely right.

Not hard at all.